ID: MARG_102

TitleWill of Henry Taillour 1501
AbstractWill of Henry Taillour 1501 transcribed from document in the J.B. Bennett papers at Essex Record Office.

Transcriber: Jools Hoyle, September 13, 2019
There is a translation to Modern English further down the page

[Page 1]

1. In the name of god Amen. the xijth day of the moneth of Septembr. In the yer[e] of our[e] lord god ml vc and oon I henry
2. Taillo[ur] of Westm[er]sey in the Counte of Essex of the Dioc[ese] of London husbandman at Westm[er]sey befor[e]said make my testament
3. and last will in the fo[ur]me folowing. First I comende my soule to god. and to our[e] Lady and to alle the saint[es] in hevin. And my
4. body to be buried in the Chirch yarde of the parissh chirch of Saint Petre at Westm[er]sey abovesaid. It[e]m I bequeth to the high
5. Auter there a yonge bullok in the name of a foredrove. It[e]m I bequeath to the Freris of Maldon xs. It[e]m to the Freris of Colcheste[r]
6. xs It[e]m to the Freris of Clare xs to pray for me and theym which I am bounde to p[ra]y fore. It[e]m I bequeth to William Wood
7. A skore of my Shepe best going at home and also ij quart[e]s Whete. ij quart[e]s barly. and ij quart[e]s of Ot[es] vj silver sponys
8. v mylche kene and the baken hogg[es] for him and his wife ther[e]of to dispose ther[e] freewill. Also I will by the Licence of
9. the lord. that the said William Woode and Johann[e] his [wife] shall have to them and to ther[e] heris forev[er]. After the custume of the
10.man[er] of all my tenement callid Tybbenh[a]ms other wise Denott[es] with alle the lond[es] m[er]sshes Rightes and customes
11.to the same belonging paying to Rose my Dought[er] at hir age of xviij. yeris old iiij £ sterling be fore the which age
12.yf she shall happen to decesse thenne I will that the said payement of the said iiij £ to seace and stond voyde. Also
13.I bequeth to the said Rose my dought[er] at hir said age of xviij yeris old alle that tenement with thappo[ur]ten[au]nc[es] which
14.Lytilbury leyde to me in morgage with a medowe callid busshes medowe to have and to hold by the Licence of the.
15.lord to the said Rose. and to hir heris for ev[er] aftre the custome of the man[er] there. Provided alwey that yf it shall happen
16.the same tenement and medowe by the sayd litylbury to be Redemyd according to his co[ve]n[au]nt at the day ther[e]of Due

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17.thenne I will and bequeath to the said Rose at the said hir age alle the sum[m]e of xvj £ sterling[es] which the said Litilbury oweth me uppon
18.the same tenement and medewe and if it shall happen the same Rose before the said age to decesse that thenne and from thensforth
19.I will that the said my bequest as wele of the said tenement and medewe as of the said xvj £ due of and for the same Re[-]
20.mayne hooly and fully to myne Executo[ur]s and to their[e] heres aftre ther[e] discrecion to dispose the same for my soule helth. Also
21.I bequeth to the said Rose at hir said age a maser [ Note 1 ] vj silver spones and v the best of alle my kyne and yf she deceasse before
22.the same age thenne the same bequest to stonde voyde and to Remayne fully to the discrecion of myn Executo[ur]s. Also by
23.the licence of the lord. I will that my ij Litill tenement[es] called busshes and Pitott[es] be put and Remayne always fromhens
24.forth in feoffees hands and w[ith] the Revenues and profitt[es] thereof I will have yerely forev[er]more in the saide Chirch by the view
25.of myne Executo[ur]s while they live and aftreward by the view of the Chirch Wardeyns ther[e] for[e] ever to be kept for me and
26.my frendis soulis Placebo, Dirige [ Note 2 ] and masse of Requiem, pulsacion of alle the bellys ther[e] and a drynkyng in the sayd
27.Chirch aftre the custume of other ther[e]. the said chirch Wardeyns whenne they have the brewyng ther[e]of. to have yerely
28.ev[er]yche of them for his labo[ur] vj d. It[e]m by the Licence of the lord I will that myne Executo[ur]s have and selle my tenement[es]
29.callid Northende and busshies marsh with there appo[ur]ten[au]nc[es] And with the money of the same sale I will that they fynd
30.an honest prest to singe in the said Chirch for my soule and all christen soulis by the space of an hoole yer[e] next or soone
31.aftre my decesse. The Residue of alle my goodes Catailles londes and tenemment[es] above not bequethid I bequeth to myn
32.Executou[r]s. they the same to selle and dispose for me to goddis pleasur[e] and my sowlis helth Executou[r]s of this my testa[-]
33.ment I ordeyne and make Nicholas taillo[ur] and William Pollard, and William Comyn Sup[er]viso[ur] of the same to which
34.myn Executou[r]s I geve my full power this my testament to execute. According to right and fo[ur]me of lawe Witnesse
35.of the same John Dunnyng the elder Rob[er]t Man John Fynche John Chapman Richard Denotte and other Yeven att
36.Westm[er]sey the day and yere abovesayd.

Probatum fuit sup[ra]scriptum testamentum apud lamehith xxviijmo die mensis Novembr[is] Anno domini Mill[esi]mo CCCCC [oon??] Iuramento executorum &c ac app[ro]batum & Insinuat[ur] & Et com[m]issa fuit admi[ni]strandum [??sub unanimi consensu & assensu??]. Ac de ple[ni?] et fideli Inventario omni[um] et sing[u]lorum bonor[um] & debitorum &c. cit[ra] f[estu]m Purificacionis b[ea]te marie virginis p[ro]ximo futur' exhibend' Necnon de pleno et vero compoto &c ad sancta dei Evangelia Iurat.

[The above-written testament was proved at Lambeth on the 28th day of November AD 1501 on the oath of the executors, and approved and adopted. And administration was granted by unanimous consent and agreement[?]. And [they are to present] a full and faithful inventory of all and singular goods and debts etc, before the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary next coming, and to present, indeed, a full and true account etc. Sworn on the holy gospel of God.

Note 1. a precious bowl
Note 2. These are two opening words of the Latin readings from the Vespers and Requiem which preceded the Mass on the eve and morning of a funeral

Translated to Modern English by Jools Hoyle 23 September 2019

Page 1

1. In the name of God, Amen. On the 16th day of the month of September in the year of our Lord God 1501, I, Henry
2. Taillour, of West Mersea in the County of Essex, in the Diocese of London, husbandman [farmer] at West Mersea, make my testament
3. and last will in the following way. First, I commend my soul to God and to Our Lady and to all the saints in Heaven and my
4. body to be buried in the churchyard of the parish church of Saint Peter at West Mersea. Item: I bequeath to the High
5. Altar there a young bullock to be a fordrove [ Note 1 ] at my funeral. Item: I bequeath ten shillings to the Friars of Maldon. Item: I bequeath to the Friars at Colchester
6. ten shillings. Item: To the Friars at Clare I bequeath ten shillings to pray for me and for those for whom it is my duty to pray. Item: I bequeath to William Wood
7. a score of my best sheep, 2 quarts [quarters, probably of a ton, or tun] of wheat, 2 quarts of barley, 2 quarts of oats, 6 silver spoons,
8. 5 dairy cows and the bacon pigs for him and his wife to dispose of as they wish. Also, I will, by the licence of
9. the lord [of the manor], that the said William Wood and Joan his [wife] shall have for themselves and their heirs in perpetuity, after the custom of the
10.manor, all of my property called Tybbenhams, otherwise known as Denotts, with all the land, marshes, rights and income
11.from it, paying to Rose, my daughter, when she reaches the age of 18, £4 sterling.
12.If Rose should die before the age of 18, then I will that the said payment of £4 should cease and be void. Also
13.I bequeath to Rose, my daughter, at the said age of 18 years all that property with appurtenances which
14.Lytilbury has pledged to me under mortgage, with a meadow called Bushes meadow, to have and to hold by the licence of the
15.lord to the said Rose and her heirs for ever, according to the custom of the manor there, provided always that if
16.that same property and meadow be redeemed by Lytilbury in accordance with his covenant by the due date

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17.then I will and bequeath to the said Rose at her said age all the sum of £16 sterling which the said Lytilbury owes me upon
18.the same property and meadow. If it should happen that Rose should die before the age of 18 then
19.I will that the said bequest of the property and the meadow, or of the £16 due for the same
20.be left wholly to the discretion of my executors and their heirs to be disposed of and for the proceeds to be used for the welfare of my soul. Also
21.I bequeath to the said Rose at the said age a maser [ Note 2 ], 6 silver spoons and 5 of the best of all my cattle. If she dies before
22.reaching that age, then the bequest is to stand void and to remain at the sole discretion of my executors. Also by
23.the licence of the lord. I will that my small properties called Bushes and Pitotts from henceforth be placed in and always remain
24.in the hands of trustees and that the income and profits from them be used each year for evermore in the said church by
25.my executors while they live, and afterwards forever by the church wardens, for me and
26.my friends' souls, for Placebo, Dirige [ Note 3 ] and a Requiem Mass to be kept, for all the bells to be rung there, and for a drink to be provided in the said
27.church in accordance with the custom there. For the churchwardens each year when brewing takes place,
28.each of them is to receive 6d for their labour. Item: By the licence of the lord I will that my executors sell my properties
29.called Northende and Bushes Marsh with their appurtenances, and with the money from that sale they find
30.an honest priest to say mass in the said church for my soul and for all Christian souls, within the space of one year or sooner
31.after my death. The residue of all my goods, chattels and properties not bequeathed above I bequeath to my
32.executors, to sell or dispose of the same for God's pleasure and for my soul's wellbeing. I ordain as executors of this testament
33.Nicholas Taillour and William Pollard, and as supervisor of the same, William Comyn. To these
34.my executors I give full power to execute my will. Witnessed according to the law
[by]
35.John Dunnyng the elder, Robert Man, John Fynche, John Chapman, Richard Denotte and others, given at
36.West Mersea, on the day and year given above.

[The above-written testament was proved at Lambeth on the 28th day of November AD 1501 on the oath of the executors, and approved and adopted. And administration was granted by unanimous consent and agreement[?]. And [they are to present] a full and faithful inventory of all and singular goods and debts etc, before the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary next coming, and to present, indeed, a full and true account etc. Sworn on the holy gospel of God.

Note 1 An animal or animals driven before the corpse at a funeral, a corse-present or mortuary i.e. a gift to the clergy from the deceased's estate.
Note 2 a precious bowl
Note 3 These are two opening words of the Latin readings from the Vespers and Requiem which preceded the Mass on the eve and morning of a funeral.

Published1501
SourceMersea Museum
IDMARG_102