Langton Matravers Wills

John Chapman of Langton, Dorset (unsure if this is Langton Matravers)
Dated: 29 October 1581

- ‘sick of body’

- to be buried in Chancel of Langton Church

- Church of Bristol: 12d

- Church of Langton: 10s

- Poor of Blanford: 20s

- Poor of Pymperne: 6s 8d

- Church of Tourneworthe: 10s

- Parish of Ewrone Minster and East Orchard: 13s 4d

- All Godchildren: a sheep each

- My brothers: £10 each at next Michaelmas

- William the younger (brother): lease of tenement and lands in East Orchard for 4 score and 19 years
  for rent of 13s 4d with the covenants specified on the same lease

- Jone Jenkens: 3 score 6 pounds 13s 4d on marriage

- Elizabeth Chapman: 4 score 6 pounds 13s 4d on marriage

- John Brockewaye: £50 to him or to his daughter Margaret Brockwey ‘that now dwelleth with me’ on her
  marriage, if he take ‘leave of his pretended claim that he challenges and claimeth’ in my lands and
  tenements in East Orchard

- Thomsyn (wife): £110/year ‘in consideration she shall not challenge the thirds out of my lands’
  and 2 featherbeds furnished, plus the lease of years in the benefice of Langton in her widowhood
  paying the rents in the lease.

- ‘If my wife be with child as she supposeth she is, and being a man child born and do live then he shall
  have all my lands that I have given to my executor to dispose’ ‘if a maid child then she gets goods
  appointed to my executor’.

- Richard (brother): obligation of £200 (dated 16 June 18^th year of Elizabeth I) that Mr Androwe Rogers
  stands bound to me for the assuring and sale of fee simple of lands in the farm and parish of Langton

- Thomas Chapman (nephew): lease of fee simple and mortgage of the farm and land of Langton Farm
  with the benefit of the ‘Statute morchant Indenture Knowledged at new Sarum’ 16 June 18^th year of Elizabeth I

- John (brother): rest of goods and lands

Executor: John (brother)
Overseers: William Chapman of Orchard, John Jenkens and Richard Chapman to govern my stocks
of cattle and other of my doings upon my farms tenements and lands. 20s each for their labours and pains
Witnesses: Richard Chapman, William Chapman, John Walshe, Edward Scryor [?] with others
Proved: 15 May 1582 by John Chapman (brother)
Confirmed by sentence: 23 May 1584
‘Ad. de bo.’ [administration of goods?]: 15 June 1596

Alice Dennett, Widow, Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Dated: 10 February 1615

- ‘sick in body’

- body to be buried in church or churchyard, Langton Matravers

- Church of Langton: 10s for reparation of the church

- Poor of Langton: 13s 4d

- Poor of Swanwiche: 6s 8d

- Thomas Havyland, gentleman of Langton, William Harvey, gentleman of Langton and kinsman
  William Mayo, William Fisher and Roger Fisher, gentleman (‘friends’): £200 on trust to be recovered
  from the following debts:

- John Phelps, yeoman of Turners Pudle, and Richard Phelpes son of John: £40
  William Loope and Thomas Meader of Bere Regis, yeomen: £10
  William Loope and John Loope of Bere Regis, yeomen: £20
  Richard Notting and Thomas Scavier, yeomen of Winterbourne Kyngston: £20
  Edward Clavell, Gentleman of Winfrith and William Hodges, Esquire of Chaldon Lyenning: £50
  George Dawe, yeoman of Bere Regis and William Burges, yeoman of Wareham: £28 12s
  Edward Lilington of Great Kimmeridge [‘Chymeridge’] and Bartholmew Parris of the same
  place, husbandman: £22
  Henry Wells, Gentleman of Swanwiche: £10

- The recovered debts to be paid to:

- Mary Welles (daughter): profits from the £200 to be paid on Feasts of the Annunciation of the
  Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Michael the Archangel or within 20 days next.

- The following to be paid within a year after Mary Welles decease:

  - Alexander, Edward, John and Thomas Dennett (‘nephews’) sons of Anthony Dennett (‘son’): £20 each
  - Anthony Dennett (‘nephew’) son of Anthony Dennett (‘son’): £40
  - Nicholas Welles, Avis Atwater, John Welles and Elizabeth Welles (‘nephews’ and ‘nieces’) sons
    and daughters of John Welles (son-in-law): £20 each

- John Dennett (son): £50 to be paid 1 year after my decease. New ‘crocke’ and my cupboard in the Parlour

- Mary Welles (daughter): my great ‘crocke’ and wheat ‘reeke’ being the ‘carne’ of 1 acre of ground

- Anthony and John Dennett and Mary Welles (my children): all pewter vessels

- Anthony Dennett (‘nephew’): £20, 20 ewes, 1 cow

- Amy Dennett (‘niece’): £10, 20 ewes, 1 cow

- Elizabeth Fry daughter of Roger Fisher (brother), deceased, and her children now living: £5
  (and 1 ewe for each child)

- Alexander Dennett (said nephew): 1 privy seal of £13 6s 8d and money due the same which
  I lent to the King’s ‘Majestie’

- Children of Mary Harvye (cousin): 2 ewes each

- Anthony Dennett (son): capital house in Wareham commonly called the George, now known by the
  name of Anchor with ‘sellers, sollers’, gardens and backsides with common pasture for 1 cow or horse
  in the meadow and commons of Wareham with 4 acres of meadow in Portland Meade held by lease of
  15 September 41^st year of Elizabeth I, made by Thomas Cadbury, Gentleman of Wareham to me for
  120 years. Anthony to pay yearly profits to Mary Welles (daughter).

- Also messuage or burbage 4 gardens in Wareham held by lease by Roger Gerrard of ‘Worthgreate’
  1 June 12^th year of James I, for 99 years determinable on 3 lives. Anthony to pay yearly profits to
  Mary Welles (daughter). If Mary dies then profits of last mentioned lease go to John Welles (‘nephew’)
  for rest of term. After the death of myself, Mary Welles (daughter) and John Welles (‘nephew’) then it
  remains with Elizabeth Welles (‘niece’)

- John Major son of John Major, grocer of Blandford: 3 ewes

- Alice Dennett daughter of Anthony (son): £10, 20 ewes, 1 cow

- John Dennett (son): featherbed and bolster in the ‘Trucklebed in my Chamber’, pair of blankets,
  pair of sheets and a coverlet and the bedstead in the Parlour

- Mary Welles (daughter): wearing apparel, ‘a downe bed wherin I now lye’, 2 feather bolsters,
  pair of blankets, an ‘orras coverlet in the Parlour’, the coffer and all that is mine in it, and the trunk
  in the Chamber where I lie and one half of contents of said trunk (except such writings that are in the
  said chest or coffer and trunk) and except 1 silver salt gilded and 5 silver spoons therein which I give to:
  - Anthony (son): the salt
  - John (son): 3 spoons
  - The 2 daughters of William Fisher (kinsman abovenamed): 2 spoons

- Mary Harvey (cousin): 1 heifer bullock 2 year old

- Mary Welles (daughter): best draper table cloth

- Mary Welles (daughter) and Anthony Dennett (son)’s wife: dozen of Holland table napkins,
  10 draper table napkins and my pillows

- Anthony (son): 2 pair of sheets (one pair of which is ‘peced’ by the sides)

- Mary Welles (daughter): 4 pair of sheets and 1 red cow with a white face

- Godchildren: 12d each

- Anthony (son): residue

Executor: Anthony (son)
Overseers: David Grove, Gentleman of Worth and Mathew Harvey (kinsman): 10s each
Trustees: 10s each
Signed by testatrix
Witnesses: Thomas Havyland, Anthony Dennett, John Quoke

Memorandum - John Wells is not to question the executor ‘or demand which he may pretend to be due unto him
in the right of his said wife’

- William Fisher (cousin) his wife: 11s in gold

- Roger Fisher (cousin) his wife: 11s in gold

- Cicely Havyland (Godchildren): 11s in gold

- John Dennett (son): best carpet

Signed by testatrix
Witnesses: Thomas Havyland, John Dennett, Robert Maynard, John Quoke
Proved: 22 November 1616 (by Anthony (son))
Sentence (in Latin): not transcribed here

Richard Smith or Smithe, Yeoman of Langton, Dorset
Dated 15 February 1624/1625

- ‘sicke of bodie’

- ‘my bodie to be buried in the churchyard of Langton’

- Richard (son): £16, best bed furnished and best ‘crocke’

- Thomas (son): £5 and a crock

- John (son): £20

- Thomas and John (sons): one obligation of £20 ‘wherein Christopher [-ettie?] and
  Robert [Bettie?] stand bound unto me’

- ‘Gyles’ (son): £8

- Margaret (daughter): 3s 4d

- Anne Keylway (grandchild): £5

- Susana Keylway (grandchild): 20s

- Joane Scott (grandchild): 20s

- Edith Scott (grandchild): 20s

- Thomas Scott (grandchild): 10s

- Thomas ‘the sonne of my daughter Elizabeth’: 40s

- My ‘sister Carpenter’s children which she [haild?] by her husband [Clare?]’:
  20s equally divided between them

- Margerie Smithes (sister) children: 20s equally divided between them

- ‘Poore of the parish os [Late Godforde?]’: 5s

- Poor of Langton: 3s 4d

- Thomas Scott (son-in-law): 10s

- ‘John Dibsdaie’ of Langton: 2s 5d

- Robert Keylwaye (son-in-law): rest of my goods

Executor: Robert Keylwaye
Overseers: John Dibsdale and Thomas Scott the elder
Signed by testator
Witnesses: John Dibsdale, Thomas Scott, [?] White, Roger Lodder.

Codicil ‘to be added to my father in lawe his will’ 24 February 1624. ‘He gave’: Richard (son):
‘beste cetle and one Iron barre his best cloake and all his apparell [?] his best [coate?] which
he gave to his sister Carpenter but if she be dead then he will was that Henrie Reades father
of [Ibsly?] should have it if he did assure unto Elizabeth the wife of the said Henrie Reade her
widdowes [estate?] in the Tenement he dwelleth in and upon that condicon he gave unto the saide
Henrie Reade his mare.’

- Thomas (son): second best ‘cetle’ and his two best platters

- Richard (son): ‘goodes at his house at Blanford’

- Thomas son of his daughter Elizabeth: one obligation or Bill by which ‘Thomas [Damell?]’ of
  Ringswood is bound to pay him 40s

Witness: Robert Keylwaie.
Proved: 8 February 1626

John Reade or Read, Husbandman of ‘Knightstone’, Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Dated: 1 April 1625

- ‘weak in body’

- to be buried at Langton churchyard

- Thomas Vie son of Richard: £50 when 21 years old

- Agnis Vie daughter of Richard (‘son-in-law): £5 to be paid 12 months and 6 days after the
  death of Alice Phippard

- Poor of Langton: 2s

- Langton church: 12d

- Richard Vie (son-in-law): ‘out of love and affection and in lieu of kindness received
  of him’: all my goods

Executor: Richard Vie (son-in-law)
Overseers: John Ball, Minister of Langton and Hugh Vie of Langton
Mark of testator
Witnesses: John Ball, Edward Marshall (his mark)
Proved: 5 December 1627 (by executor)

William Cull, marbler of Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Dated: 10 October 1670

- ‘weak of body’

- William (younger son): west part of house and garden which stands on my land

- John (son): east part of house and garden to be enjoyed after my decease

- Dorothy (wife): remainder of land and house and garden where I now live. Then to John (son). £4 score

- John, Dorothy, Sarah, Mary and William (sons and daughters): £4 score each

- John (son): to pay my children £10 each at end of 7 years after my and my wife’s decease

- ‘because some of my children are under age my will is that my wife Dorothy and son John
  do take care of their education and manage their legacies for their maintenance and best advantage’

- John (son): the work and service of my two apprentices Thomas Grove and Thomas Trenchfeild
  during their term maintaining them and perfecting them in their trade

- John (son) and Dorothy (wife): rest

Executor and executrix: John (son) and Dorothy (wife)
Overseers: Samuel Serrell and Bartholemew Pyke (‘loving friends’): for their pains
a pair of gloves of half a crown each
Mark of testator (X)
Witnesses: George King, Thomas Grate[?]
Proved: 23 January 1670/1671 (by executrix and executor)

John Cull of Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Dated: 18 July 1685

- ‘weak in body’

- Bridget (‘beloved wife’): lands in Langton Wallis then to John (son) forever on condition that
  he pays Sarah (daughter) £40 within half a year after my wife’s decease and let her enjoy the
  west part of the house and garden during her life

- William (brother): house where I live for exchange for his life in the west part of the house where
  my land is which was given him by will of my father

- Bridget (wife): Stephen Dowland (my apprentice boy) for her ‘to have the benefit of his work during
  the time he is to serve my wife maintaining him and taking care to have him perfected in his trade’

- Bridget (wife) and children: household goods which are my own

- Bridget (wife), William Cull (brother) and Mary Cull (sister): rest

- William and Mary Cull (brother and sister): £100 each due from wills of my father and mother and
  sister Sarah. If money does not arise, it is to be made up from the rents from one of the houses on my land

- ‘and my earnest desire as a dying man is that my wife brother and sister would carry things
  fairly among them and preserve peace in the family’

Executrixes and Executor: Bridget (wife), William Cull (brother) and Mary Cull (sister)
Overseers: Edward Taylor (father-in-law) and Edward Cole (friend)
Signed by testator
Witnesses: George King, John ‘Hancoke’, Ephraim Taylor, William Bower, Thomas Coomes
Proved: 9 October 1685 (by executrixes and executor)

Thomas Dowland of Langton Matravers, Dorset
Dated: 9 July 1725

- Samuel (eldest son): £10 when 21 years. £40 to be paid in 6 months by John Cull after the
  decease of Bridget Hancock wife of Edward of Langton. If she dies before my son reaches
  21 years then sum of money to remain with Tryphena Dowland (wife) until he reaches 21 years.

- Tryphena (‘beloved wife’): houses with gardens at Comb, Langton for the life of Samuel (son)
  and Johannah (daughter). Then to Johannah (daughter) and James (youngest son) during the
  lives of Samuel and Johannah.

- Tryphena (‘beloved wife’): rest

- James and Johannah (son and daughter): goods

Trustees and Guardians: ‘If my said wife Tryphena Dowland should die without will my children
being young I do by her consent nominate and appoint’ William Melmoth of Sandwich and
John Dowland (brother) of Langton

Executrix: wife
Signed by testator
Witnesses: William Melmoth, Thomas Manning
Proved: 10 August 1726 (by wife)

John Cull, Marbler of Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck , Dorset
Dated: 7 September 1738

- Edward Hancock (father-in-law): house I now dwell and use of household goods that were
  given between me and my late mother by my late father deceased. Annuity of 40s/year paid half yearly.

- Elizabeth Dowland (kinswoman), widow of Samuel, deceased, Marbler of Langton:
  ‘my new built house at Langton’ so long as she continues a widow and use of household goods
  not given to Edward Hancock

- Samuel Serrell, Esquire of Langton, Robert Nineham, Yeoman of Quarr, Worth Matravers and John Smith,
  Yeoman of Ulwell, Swanwich (‘worthy friends’): rest of goods etc on trust for the following:
   - Elizabeth Dowland (kinswoman): to have use of and receive profits from leasehold tenement in
     Studland, for the education and breeding up of Sarah Dowland her daughter (‘an infant now of
     the age of 16 months’) until 21 years or married provided that Elizabeth Dowland does not marry.
     If she dies then trustees are to give the land to Thomas and Jane Duke of Studland for remainder of the term.

- Sarah Dowland: education from rents from freehold land. In default of issue to Thomas Duke and
  William Swyer of Galton, Dorset son of William, deceased

- Household goods to be sold and money from rents to be used to buy lands of inheritance in fee
  simple in counties of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire or Southampton

Executors: Samuel Serrell, Robert Nineham and John Smith
Signed by testator
Witnesses: Joseph Foot, Betty Bonfield, Samuel Foot
Proved: 26 March 1745 (by Robert Nineham and John Smith)

John Sanders, Yeoman, of Langton Matravers, Dorset
Dated: 5 May 1746

- Benjamin (son): living at Pucklake, then to Joseph (son).

- Joseph (son): living at Worth Matravers 'during the lives that are upon it'

- Ann Phiphard (daughter): £10

- James (grandson) son of Benjamin (son): £70 10s either when 21 years old or 'otherwise this
  money is to be laid out in putting in of his life into his mothers Living called Loargrow
  [or Hargrow?] to be paid by his father'

- Joseph (son): 'My goods in my Two rooms above and below Except a Chest I Give unto my
  Grandson James [son of Benjamin]… which was my Fathers'

- Robert (son), Susanna Butler (daughter), Sarah Osmon (daughter), Jone Kingsell (daughter): 2s 6d each

- My grandchildren: 1s each and also 'the Bond one Thomas Serrell of Forty Pounds if it is ever likely to be paid'

- Susanna Butler (daughter), Jone Kingsell (daughter), Ann Phipard (daughter), Sarah Osmond (daughter)
  and John (grandson) son of Robert: £5 each

- Rest of money to remain with Executors.

- 'the Clock and Jack and two Furnesses and rack are to remain in the House not to be removed
  till after the death of Benjamin Sanders or Joseph Sanders'.

- Wife: the rest 'if she keep herself in my Name'

- 'If Joseph Sanders out live his Father and Mother for to have all the Fewell that is mine and to have
  two weeks Liberty to carry the Cowss and Fewell away Twenty Shillings in Bread I Give the first
  Sabbath after I am Buried'

Executrix and executor: wife and Joseph (son)
Witnesses: Katherine Harson [Haxson?], Marth Masters, Daniel Masters
Proved: 20 March 1759 (by son Joseph).

William Chinchen, Stone Merchant of Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Dated: 17 February 1764

- Titus (son): leasehold house and garden in Langton Matravers and now in my own possession,
  for the remainder of my term therein

- Mary Lander (daughter) wife of Thomas Lander, Stone Merchant of Langton Matravers: £50

- Robert (son): £50 and also ‘all such Monies as he now Owes me on a Ballance of Account or otherwise’

- James Chinchen (son): £20

- William Chinchen (son): £60

- Mary Brown (servant): £10

- All above legacies to be paid 1 year and 1 day after my decease

- Titus (son): rest and residue of my moneys, goods and personal estates

Executor: Titus (son)
Mark of testator
Witnesses: John Talbot, William Filliter   Proved: 15 March 1764

John Edmonds or Edmunds , Yeoman of Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck , Dorset
Dated: 12 October 1808

- ‘my desire is that my grave shall be made close at the south side of my son William’s grave
  and level at the bottom and that my sons wagon shall carry my corpse to Kingston and four of his
  labourers to carry my corpse to the grave and each man to be paid half a crown for his trouble’

- George (grandson) son of George and Dorcas Edmonds: silver watch. £300 when 21 years old.
  Executors to pay him interest at 5% per annum and if he dies money goes to executors

- Ann (granddaughter) daughter of John and Ann Edmonds: fourth best featherbed, bolster and 2 pillows

- Joseph Baker (son-in-law): £100 at my decease.

- John Edmonds (eldest son), Jabez Edmonds (youngest son) and Joseph Baker (son-in-law): remainder

Executors: John Edmonds, Jabez Edmonds and Joseph Baker
Signed by testator
Witnesses: John Butler Dugdale, Jasper Rabbetts   Proved: 13 February 1811 (on oath of executors)

John Chaffey, Dairyman late of Kimmeridge, now of Langton Matravers, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset
Dated: 27 January 1829

- Jane daughter of George Stickland, Dairyman of Warmwell, Dorset: lifehold messuage with fuel houses,
  garden and land at Knighton, Winfrith Newburgh. Then to Richard son of Samuel Chaffey (my brother),
  Labourer of Burton, for the rest of the term unexpired

- Jane Stickland and Richard Chaffey: household goods, to be divided by executors when Jane reaches 21 years age.

- Hannah Chaffey, widow of James (my late nephew), baker of Corfe Castle, and John Hardy,
  Yeoman of Langton Matravers: £200 on trust to invest in Parliament Stocks or Public Funds
  and give the interest to Mary Best, spinster, of Hyde, Steeple for her life then to her children.
  If no issue then to Jane wife of Robert Best, deceased Labourer of Kimmeridge

- Hannah Chaffey: £100

- Frances wife of John Hardy: £100

- Elizabeth Palmer, late Servant, wife of Charles, Labourer of Piddle Town: £10

- All legacies to be paid in 12 months.

- Sarah House (niece), wife of William, Victualler of Herston: my house

- Samuel and Joseph Chaffey (brothers), Hannah Chaffey and Jane Best: residue

Executor and Executrix: John Hardy and Hannah Chaffey
Witnesses: Isaac Hatchard, Robert D Marshfield and John Thorn
Proved: 19 March 1829 (by executrix and executor)