Will of John Bale late of Cullompton, Dyer
Proved 21 May 1659
© Crown Copyright
National Archives Catalogue Reference PROB 11/291/378 Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Pell Quire Numbers: 249 – 299
Transcribed by Art Ames
In the name of God Amen I John Bale the elder of Collompton in the county of Devon dyer being but weake and sicke of body but of good and perfect memory praysed be to God doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament revoking all former Wills by me made whatsoever in manner and forme following
First of all I give and bequeath my soule unto Almighty God my maker whome I believe will bee pleased in and through the meritts of the bitter death and passion of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to rescind into mercy and favour and my body to the Christian burial in such decent order and manner as by my executors hereafter named shall be fit thought fit
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Bale all that my now dwelling house dye house and all other outhouses thereto belonging together with the deed deeds or writings of the same during all the terme therein to come and unexpired
More I give him the furnace dye fattse pestles and mortar and the two old dyehoses caldrones and the bason to carry dyestuff in to have it all immediately after my decease giveinge my executors hereafter named one whole yeare of tyme of riddance in the said house
Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Peter Bale sonne of John Bale the tableboard in the hall and the [ ] [ ] and the settle and the glass case standing going into the parlours doore and five chaires all now and actually are in the said hall hole of my now dwelling house and four pewter dishes or platters of them that are used ordinarily about the house and the bedstead and bedd with one coverall and blankett whereon he useth to lie and two frame stooles and my house or barn and the same to have all immediately after my decease
Item I give unto my daughter Mary Hole the cupboard in the hall and all them eight dishes of pewter and the two tyming candlesticks and one of brass and [ ] salts and two [ ] [ ] upon the said cupboard and one chest in the hall and three [ ] of the best lynnings and one paire of pillowtyes and one table cloth and one coffer behind the [ ] door and a black coffer in the said parlour and a box and the bedstead in [ ] chamber over the shopp and the bedds therein and the greene coverall and two pillows one the best and the other the worst and halfe of the whole of my other pewter not given particularly Mary to choose the first foure dishes
More I give her my brewing [ ] and two of my best brass panns and my best brass cauldron and the washing tubb and my best brass [ ] and my [ ] skillet and the best board in the shopp chamber and the table board in the outer chamber and one [ ] chair in the fore chamber and the chest in the outer chamber and five frame stooles in the house and the [ ] and the little board in the [ ] all immediately after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Elizabeth Bale daughter of my sonne Richard Bale deceased the bedstead and bed and boulster that is in the parlour wherein she did use to lye and the yellow coverall upon my bedd and the blankett of ye same bedd in the shopp chamber and three payre of lynnen sheets and one paire of pillowtyes and the little table board in the parlour and the coffer standing at the higher end of the said board and the second best pillow and halfe of the whole of my other pewter dishes not before given and my great cauldron and [ ] thereto belonging and foure of my [ ] brass panns and two brass caldrons and my five [ ] brass [ ] and the [ ] table board in the fore chamber and the settle and [ ]board and the coffer in the shopp all immediately after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Robert Bale the great [ ] skillet which was his owne and all the writings and deeds that I have of and in pawne of several sums of money lent him and the money soe lent him and [ ] in the shopp and one glass [ ] in the milkehouse immediately after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Bale daughter of Richard Bale deceased and one of my grandchildren the house att upper end of the towne wherein that one John Wadhaine liveth in and until Margaret Bale her sister I give and bequeath the house att upper end of the towne wherein one Butcher did live but now in the possession of one John Timlett husband of the said Margaret
And unto Thomas Bale their brother I give and bequeath the house wherein one Blackmore liveth and they to have the same as soon as falle in hand the said Elizabeth Bale Margaret Bale and Thomas Bale to have and to hold the same unto each of them as before duringe their natural lives and the life of their first child and noe longer
And further my will is that Elizabeth Bale shall paye during her life and child if any unto my executors hereafter named the yearly rente of one shilling and sixpence and Margaret one shilling and foure pence and Thomas one shilling and two pence duringe their severall termes after it come in hand
And farther my will is that if Elizabeth Margarett or Thomas Bale or eyther of them shall happen to dye and have noe childe then that Elizabeth Faye one other of my grandchildren shall have the first of the said houses that shall happen to fall during her naturall life and her first child’s life that shall then living paying the same rent aforementioned
Further my will is and I give unto Robert Hole my grandchild all other my right and interest of and in the same after their decease I give unto Mary Hole my daughter all that dwelling house with the appurtenances wherein one Edward Maye now living with the writeings thereto belonging and also all that little house wherein she now dwelleth immediately after my decease for and during all the estate and terme therein to come and unexpired
Item I gave unto Robert Hole my grandchild the barne adjoyning to his mother’s house which I bought of Thomas [ ] esquire for and during all the tyme and terme that I have will or can or may have hereafter her payeing her one half of the rent issuing out of the same and out of the little meade to the said barn belonging here next following bequeathed and the same to have after my decease paying the rent to the Chief Lord and Mellony Drew
Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Drewe my grandchild and sonne of John Drew all that aforesaid little meadowe belonging to the said barne that William Smyth rented of mee during all the estate and terme that I have or may or can have in it hee to have the same immediately after my decease payeing one halfe of the rente issuing out of the same and out of the barne before bequeathed unto the Chief Lord of the same and unto Mellony Drew
Item I give unto Joseph Drew Robert Hole and Joane Drew my grandchildren all the yearly rents and profitts of my kitchinge house in Church Lane wherein Alice House widdowe one of my grandchildren now liveth with and [ ] of the said house the said profitt to have immediately after my deceased equally divided betweene them for their better maintenance untill that the barne and little close before given shall fall into the hands of the said Robert Hole and Joseph Drew being after the death of one Nicholas Rap[ ] and not longer
But farther then my will is and I doe give and bequeath unto the said Joanne Drew my said grandchild all that the said kitchinge house with the profitts thereof dureing all the rest of the estate terme and interest that I shall have therein to come and unexpired
Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren not having given any thing before to five shillings apiece and unto my great grandchildren two shillings and sixpence apiece to be paid in Edward shillings as [ ] they goe and the rest in other coynes to be payd them within one month next after my decease by my executors hereafter named
Item I give unto the poore of the parishe twentie shillings to bee bestowed in bread for them thirtie of the most aged poore three penny loafes apeice given them by my executors hereafter named in two days next after my funerall
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marie Hole and unto Peter Bale and Elizabeth Bale daughter of my sonne Richard Bale deceased my grandchildren all the rest of my goods and chattelsls not before given my debts being paid and funerall expenses disbursed whome I make my joynte executors of this my last Will and Testament Lastlie my desire and request is that Mr Maximilian Madocks and Mr William Skinner will be my Rulers in trust praying them to bee ayding and assisting unto my said executors to see this my last Will and Testament performed and for their paynes taking here my desire is that my executors will give unto unto each of them five shillings a piece
In witness hereto I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this eighth daye of Januarie in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and eight John Bale senior
Sealed signed published and acknowledged in the presence of us
Alexander Bullpen The mark of Thomas Canninge
This Will was proved at London the one and twentieth day of May in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie and nyne before the Judge for Probate of Wills and granting Administration lawfully authorized by the oathes of Mary Hole Peter Bale and Elizabeth Bale the grandchildren and joynte executors in the Will named to whome was committed adminstration of all and singular the goods chattells and debts of the deceased they being first sworne by commission well and truely to administer