Dear Taylor List Firstly I would like to thanks Diane for doing a fantastic job and reading the unreadable. She helped by volunteering with others to read the wills. They are very difficult - anyone wishing to have copies you are more than welcome. (Better than the Times Crossword). For reference I am sending this to the list in order that it shall be in the Taylor List Archive for future generations to use and read and make use of I hope? This concerns the 2 Wills of Robert Taylor and of William Taylor of Heckington, Lincolnshire. 1658. The Taylor's in this area were quite prolific and held much land. I believe these gentlemen to be GGGGGGGGGGF and GGGGGGGGGGGU respectively. I have been helped tremendously through the work or Denise Mell, whom I found is a relative but the line diverges 1812. These wills may prove interesting to various members of the list, and I hope may ring a few bells. They are in part related to the Linwood (America / Canada) Taylors, being the founder family. >>> In the name of God Amen. I William Taylor of Heckington in the County of Lincoln Ironmonger praysed be god being very weak of body but yet having my perfect sense and memories doe recommend my soul unto Almighty god and my Saviour Jesus Christ And my body to be buried within the parrish Church of Heckington, doe make and constitute this my last will and testament the seaventh daye of November in the year of our Lorde god one Thousand Six hundreth fiftie and seaven in manner and forme following I--------- I give unto my brother Robert Taylor All that farme wherein he now liveth which I purchased of John Browne gentleman with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertayning and to him only for to dyspose on, according as he the said Robert Taylor pleaseth Item I give unto my said brother Robert All that part and parcelle of land that is now in the occupation of Richard Graves in as full and ample manner as I purchased the same of John Browne gentleman with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appurtaining And to bee at his disposeing according as he pleaseth Item I give unto my said brother Robert Taylor one windmill which I built on part of the land now in the occupation of the said Richarde Graves and to him only for him to dispose of as he pleaseth Item I give unto my said brother Robert Taylor All that Twenty acres of land and meadow in as fair and ample manner as I purchased the same of Henry D-h gentleman and fully to be at his disposeinge Item I give unto my said brother Robert Taylor, one (croft or close - I'm not sure of this word) abutting upon the fendikes north and uppon the land of Stephen Wills gentleman North and uppon the land of Abraham Farron Southward to him only in as fair and amply manner as I purchased the same of John Browne gentleman and for him to dispose of as he pleaseth Item I give unto my said brother Robert Taylor the said house (at this point the will is copied to another page and I think the clerk signed it at the bottom) And tenement I now live; with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertayning and to him only for to dispose of as he pleaseth Item I give unto my brother Robert one cottage or tenement lyeing in Heynor in the County of Derby in as fair and ample manner as I lately purchased the same of Francis (Tantem) yeoman with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appurtayning and to him only for him to dispose of as he pleaseth Item I give unto my kinswoman Elizabeth Taylor Two hundred pounds of current English money to be paid unto her by my executor when as shee shall accomplish the age of twenty years but if the said Elizabeth dos not live to accomplish the age of twenty years that then the said two hundred pounds to returne to my executor and to him only. Item I give unto my kinsman William Taylor the sonne of my brother Anthony the somme of tenne shillings Item I give unto my brother Robert three pounds Robert William and Anthony Taylor the some of fieve shillings a piece to be paid within fouer months after my departure Item I give unto my two kinswomen Elizabeth Wilson and Mary Wilson to each of them tenne shillings a piece to be paid within fouer months after my departure Item I give to my sister Mary Taylor the summe of tenne shillings to be paid with in fouer months after my departure Item I give unto my sister Faith Browne the somme of five shillings to be paid unto her within fouer months after my departure Item I give unto Edmond Elliott and my three servants Robert L(ewis) Richard Browne and William Harper to each and every one of them ------ shillings a piece to be paid within four months after my departure. Item all the rest of my goods and chattels unbequeathed I give unto my brother Robert Taylor whom I do make my full and sole executor and in full testimony of this my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and year --------- above written William Taylor These being witnesses Richard Browne Robert (Lewis) William Harper. This will was proved at London before the Judges for Probate of wills and granting administrations lawfully authorized this nineteenth day of February in the year of our Lord god one Thousand six hundred fiftie and seaven By the oath of Robert Taylor brother of the said deceased and executor in the said will named to whom was nominitted administration of all and singular the goods chattels and debts of the said deceased Hee being first by commission sworne --- ------ and fairly to administer. >>> In the name of God Amen I Robert Taylor of Heckington in the county of Lincoln yeoman, being infirm in body but of good and perfect memorie praised be God doo make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme followeing first I commend my soule into the hand of Almighty God my onely Creator and to Jesus Christ my onely Saviour and Redeemer and my body to be buryed in the Parish Church of Heckington and as for my personall estate as followeth, first I give to William Taylor my brother my best suit of apparrell and cloake Item I give to my brother William's three children every one of them one Ewe and one lambe of those best I have within one month after my decease Item I give unto my sister Bridget Soull(Saull) such things as my mother Soull(Saull) gave to me, Item I give to my sister Elizabeth Goodyear one silver --------, Item I give to the poore of Heckington Tenn shillings to be paid within one month after my decease Item I give to Mary Atkin m Aunt Tenn shillings (There was only a letter "m") Item I give unto my wifes mother twenty pounds to be paid by my Executor Item I give unto Ann my loving wife all my land dureing her naturall life, and after her decease I give my said land to Robert Taylor and to his heirs forever being my brother William Taylor's sonn, which he had by Lucy his wife All the rest of my goods and chattels ungiven and unbequeath I give unto Anne my loving wife whom I make my whole and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament my debte ------- and my funerall expenses dis----ryed In witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the first day of February in the year of our Lord 1656. Robert Taylor his marke sealed and delivered in the presence of Tho. Nixon, John Goodyear Jr. Wm W---- This will was proved at London before the judges for probate of wills and granting Administrations lawfully authorized the seaventeenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty seaven by the oath of Ann Taylor the ---- and sole Executrix named in the said will to whome Administration was Committed of all and singular the goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased, she being first sworn by Comission fairly to Administer >>> In the name of God Amen I Robert Taylor of Heckington in the county of Lincoln yeoman, being sicke of bodie but of perfect memorie God be praised doo publish and ordaine this my last will and Testament as followeth first I bequeath my soule into the hand of Jesus Christ my Redeemer and my bodie to be buried in the parish Church aforesaid Item I give to Frances my wife the house where I now dwell with all the profitts and appurtenances thereto belonging, and all other my land and tenemente whatsoever to her for and dureing her naturall life and after her decease my will is that Robert Taylor and Anthony Taylor my sonns shall possesse and enjoy the said dwelling house land and tenemente in as large and ample manner as ever I my selfe did farme who enjoy the same to the use and ------- of them two, their heirs and Assignes forever Item I give the aforsaid Robert Taylor my sonn one cow one black mayre and foale and one browne colt, Item I give to my sonn Anthony Taylor foure horses or mayres and also he shall have the use of my ---- or ---- or ploughes and their furniture and ------ my Executrix and to him not together the said Anthony is to have halfe the ----- ----- ploughes and furniture for them Also I give him one (cow) and my Executrix shall furnish him with ---- to sowe his next croppe It: I give to John Taylor my sonn twelve (pounds) Item to his sonn Robert Taylor fortie shillings Item to William Fox my son in lawe two shillings and to Bridget his wife five shilling It: I give the three children of the said William Fox to each of them forty shillings It: all the rest of my goods and chattels undisposed I give and bequeath to Frances my wife whom I doo constitute and appoint my sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have set to my hand and seale the thirtieth day of July one thousand six hundred fifty eight Robert Taylor sealed and signed in presence of George Christopher John Jeffrey James Kil---- This will was proved at London before the judges for probate of wills and granting Administrations lawfully authorized the three and twentyeth day of April in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty (nine) by the oath of Frances Tayler Relect and sole Executrix named in the said will to whome was committed Adion of all and singular the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased, she being first sworn by Com:on fairly to Adster (the recorder used shorthand on this last part of the will) >>>>>> I hope that you find these translations interesting and that they are of use in any of your research. Please remember that this work has only been made possible by the brillaint work of Diane. I thank her most humbly for he work. (The spaces are unreadable) Gareth Taylor North Yorkshire Of the Lincolnshire Taylors (I shall also say for reference purposes - Great Hale, Hale Magna, Horbling, Heckington, Sleaford, Hale Parva, Little Hale, Pubs, ironmongers, Taylor, George Taylor 1815 - This is so a search can be made and the information found).