Will of John Alben, 1463/4
Herts RO 1AR109
[translated from Latin]
In etc. On 20 February AD 1463, I John Alben of the parish of Wynselowe, sound of mind etc. First I bequeath my soul to God etc, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of the parish church of Wynselowe aforesaid. Item I bequeath to the high altar 4 bushels of barley. Item to the altar of St Mary 1 bushel of barley. Item to the altar of St Mary in purification 1 bushel of barley. Item to the light of St Nicholas 1 bushel of barley. Item to the light of St Thomas 1 bushel of barley. Item for the repair of the torches 40d. Item for the maintenance of the porch 6s 8d. Item to the church of St Albans 12d. Item for the decoration of the high altar 40d. The residue etc. to my executors, and Joan my wife and Stephen my son I ordain, make and appoint my executors, and Master John Browne the supervisor to dispose etc.
[Probate granted 27 Aug 1464]
Notes
Several men called John Albyn are mentioned in the court books up to 1460, and it is not possible to identify this one.
Master John Browne is presumably the John Broune, chaplain, mentioned in the court books in 1460 (WMCB p.707). He is referred to as vicar in 1467.
Herts RO 2AR26v
[translated from Latin]
In etc. On 12 August AD 1477, I Stephen Alben of Wynselowe, sound of mind, make etc. Item I bequeath to the high altar 4 bushels of barley. Item I bequeath to the altar of St Mary 1 bushel of barley. Item to the altar of St Mary in purification 1 bushel of barley. Item to the altar of St Nicholas 1 bushel of barley. Item to the light of St Thomas the martyr 1 bushel of barley. Item for the repair of the torches 4 bushels of barley. Item to the mantenance of the bells 6s 8d. Item I wish that the ordinaries should perform a trental. The residue indeed of my goods not bequeathed above I give and bequeath to my executors, and Joan my wife and Walter Palmer I ordain, make and appoint my executors to dispose for the salvation of my soul as to them etc.
[Probate granted 23 Sep 1477]
Notes
Stephen's bequests were almost identical to his father's but the bells had now replaced the porch as the church's big expense.
Albyn was one of the commonest surnames in Winslow in the 14th and 15th centuries but seems to disappear after Stephen. Walter Palmer (d.1521) became a very prominent figure and may have been Stephen's son-in-law. One of Walter's former holdings mentioned in the 1556 survey had previously been John Albyn's.