These two wills were registered consecutively
Will of William Everesdon, 1449 (proved 1453)
Herts RO 1AR68
[translated from Latin]
In etc. 18 November 1449 53 I William Eversdon, of healthy memory, make my will in this way. First I bequeath my soul to God almighty, the blessed Mary and all the saints, and my body to be buried in the graveyard of the church of St Laurence of Wynselowe. Item I bequeath to the high altar of the aforesaid church 6d. Item I bequeath to each altar of the aforesaid church 2d. Item I bequeath to Alice, wife of William Eversdon my son, a chest holding 11 bushels. Item I bequeath to the same Alice a bowl [patella] holding 10 gallons. Item I bequeath to John Eversdon, son of William my son, a chest. Item I bequeath to Agnes, daughter of William my son, a chest and a small pot [olla]. Item I wish that of the four marks being in the hands of William my son, ten shillings should be paid to the church of Wynselowe aforesaid as was the last wish of Thomas Raynold, and I wish that the residue of those four marks should be disposed according to the wish of Robert Eversdon and William my son for the salvation of my soul, as may seem best to them and most opportune for my soul. Item I wish that the church of Wynselowe should have 3s 4d of the six shillings & 8d being in the hands of William Jankyn. The residue indeed of all my goods not bequeathed above I give and bequeath to William Eversdon my son, and William himself and Robert Eversdon I ordain, make and appoint my executors, to dispose for the salvation of my soul as may seem best to them. Given the day and year stated above.
Proved etc. 16 December 1453. And administration was entrusted etc. to the executors named within, etc., and they were discharged.
Will of Robert Everysdon, 1451 (proved 1453)
In etc. 28 April 1451 I Robert Ev(er)ysdon of Wynselowe, sound of mind and of healthy memory although sick in body, make my will in this way. First I bequeath my soul to God almighty and the blessed virgin Mary, and my body to be buried in the graveyard of the parish church of Wynselowe. Item I bequeath to the high altar 4d. Item to each of the others 2d. Item I bequeath to the vicar 6d. Item to Walter Lane clerk 2d. Item to the vicar's clerk 2d. The residue indeed of all my goods not bequeathed I give and bequeath to Emota my wife to dispose for my soul as seems (best) to her, and to this will I ordain, make and appoint her, the aforesaid Emota my wife and Richard Lane my executors.
Proved 16 December 1453.
Notes
William Evresdon senior was deceased by 15 May 1453 (WMCB p.667). He surrendered a cottage and 7 acres 1 rood of land to his son William in 1448 (p.640). He had already (if it was the same man) made a retirement agreement with his son in 1424, surrendering a messuage and virgate of land in Shipton (p.478).
Robert Everesdon was recorded in 1452 as making a deathbed surrender to his wife Emma for her life of three cottages and three half-acres of land; they were to be sold after her death and the money used for the church of Winslow (WMCB p.661). In fact she and Richard Lane sold them as executors in 1454 (p.672).
Thomas Reynold and Emma Woodward his wife made a complaint in 1436 that William Evresdon had deprived them of a messuage and garden in New Winslow which they should have inherited from Emma's father John, but they apparently did not did not pursue the complaint after 1438 (pp.572, 585, 590). William seems to have bought the property from Emma's mother Alice Janyn in 1435, to hold for his life only; after his death 2/3 of the value was to go to the church and 1/3 to Emma, or all to be used for the good of their souls if Emma died first (pp.566-7). The provision in William's will must have been connected with this.