Administration and inventory of Thomas Godwin, innholder, 1695

Herts RO 132AW34 and A25/4437

Declaration of Mary Godwin

[Latin text]

Quo die comparuit personaliter Maria Godwin et allegavit
quendam Thomam Godwin nuper parochiae de Winslow in
Com’ Bucks defunctum ad decem Menses ult’ elapsos
ab intestato decessisse Seq’ fuisse et esse viduam et
Relictam dicti defuncti Quare humil(ite)r petiit L(itte)ras
Administracionis bonor(um) jurium et Creditorum ejusdem def(unc)ti
sibi sub idonea Caut(i)one remitti ac jus etc

Jurata fuit tam de veritate hujus all(egatio)nis
quam de bene et fid(e)le Administrando
Coram
Johanne Cole Archi(diaco)no
S(anc)ti Albani

[translation]

On that day there appeared in person Mary Godwin and claimed that one Thomas Godwin, late of the parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks, deceased ten months ago, died intestate, and that she was the widow and relict of the said deceased.  Therefore she humbly sought letters of administration of the goods, rights and credits of the same deceased to be granted to her under suitable security, and the right etc.

She was sworn both on the truth of this claim and on good and faithful administration in the presence of John Cole, Archdeacon of St Albans.

Letters of administration

[Latin text – the italicised words were added in a different hand to a pre-written pro forma]

Noverint universi per presentes nos Mariam Godwin
paro(ch)ie de Winslow in Com’ Bucks viduam Joh(ann)em Abmerow
de Winslow Maulster et Robertum Gibbs de Winslow
pr’d’ victualer
teneri et firmiter obligari ven(erab)ili viro Guilelmo Hoyg legum
Doctori in et per totum Archi(diaco)natum Sti Albani Offi(cia)li pr(i)n(cipa)li
l(egi)time constituto in Centum libris
libris bonae et legalis monetae Angliae solvend’ eid’ D’ Hoyl
aut suo certo Attornato Executor(i) vel Administrator(i) suis Ad quam quidem solu(t)ion(em)
bene et fideliter faciend’ Obligamus nos et quemlibet nostrum per
se pro toto et in solido heredes Executores et Administratores n(ostr)os firmiter per
presentes Sigillis n(ost)ris sigillat’ Dat vicesimo Octavo die mensis
Maii Anno D(omi)ni 1695

[translation] 

May everyone know through the present (documents) that we, Mary Godwin of Winslow in the County of Bucks, widow, John Abmerow of Winslow maltster and Robert Gibbs of Winslow aforesaid victualler, are held and firmly bound to the venerable William Hoyg doctor of laws, legally appointed principal official in and by the whole archdeaconry of St Albans for a hundred pounds <pounds> of good and legal money of England to be paid to the same Dr Hoyl or his due representative, executor or administrator.  For the making of which payment well and faithfully we bind ourselves and each of us individually and collectively, our heirs and administrators, firmly by the present (documents), sealed with our seals.  Given on 28 May 1695.

[text continues in English]

The Condition of  this Obligation is such that if the above bounden Mary Godwin the widow and  relict and Administratirix of all and singular the Goods Chattells and  Creditts of Thomas Godwin late of the Town and parish of winslow in the County of Bucks inholder deceased doe make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands pos(ess)ion or knowledge of her the said Mary Godwin or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for her and the same soe made doe exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of ye  Reg(istr)y office belonging to the Archdeaconry of  St Albans at or before the last day of Sept(embe)r next ensuing  And the same goods chattells and credits and all other the goods chattells and credits of the said deceased at the time of his death which at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of the said Mary Godwin or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for her doe well and truely Administer according to law and further doe make or cause to be made a true and Just accompt of her said  Ad(ministrat)ion  at or before  the last day of April next ensuing and all the rest and residue of the said goods chattells and credits which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrat[blank] accompt  the same being  first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of the  said Court shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively as the said Judge or Judges by his or their decree or sentence  (p(er)suant to the true intent and meaning of an act of Parliament Intituted an Act for the better settling of Intestates Estates) shall limitt and appoint And if it shall hereafter appeare that any last Will and Testament was made by the said deceased and the Executor or Executors therein named doe exhibit the same into the said Court makeing request to have it allowed and approved accordingly if the said Mary Godwin the above bounden being thereunto required doe render and deliver the said l(ett)res of  Ad(ministrat)ion  (approbation of such testament being first had and made) in the said Court Then this Obligation to be void and of none effect or else to remaine in full force and vertue.

Signed sealed and delivered                                           
Edm Browne N.P.  [signature]  

the mark of Mary Godwin


the mark of John Ambrow


Robert Gibbs [signature]

Inventory of Thomas Godwin

An Inventory of the Goods & Chattels of Thomas Godwin of Winslow in the County of Bucks Deceased July ye 21th 1694

 
li
s
d
Imprimis his Purse money & wearing Apparel           
03
00
00
In the Hall, A little Lumber
00
05
00
In the Garrets, Bedding & other lumber    
04
00
00
In Knaves Hall Chamber  Bedstead, Bedding and other lumber
02
15
00
In the Chamber over the Hall   1 Bedstead, 1 Rugg 2 Blankets, Bolsters, Curtains & Counterpin
01
11
04
  8 Pairs of sheets and other lumber 
03
00
6
  1 Round table & Chairs
01
00
4
  1 Looking Glass 2 stools and 1 paire of fire Tongues
00
05
3
In the Kitching 1 Brass pan, A Bushel, old stool and an old seeve, and 1 Tubb  
00
15
3
In the yard 3 Hoggs
03
07
6
  Wood
07
05
0
  Hay
01
00
0
In the Cellar Ale
04
02
0
  Wine
01
05
0
  Brass & pewter
02
09
0
  Spit, Dripping pan & Hand Irons & 1 table
00
11
3
1 fowling Peice, 1 Carbine & 1 Pistoll
01
02
6
At Tho. Smalbones House A furnace, Barril  & other Lumber
01
15
0
A But of Beans in the field
00
06
8
Sume is     
39
16
7

Viewed and valued
  By us
Rich: Phipps [signature]
John Ambrose [signature]
Henry Hughes [signature]

Click on the pictures for full images of the documents:

The declaration:

Decalaration of Mary Godwin

 

 

The letters of administration:

Letters of administration to Mary Godwin

 

The inventory:

Inventory of Thomas Godwin

 

Notes

Thomas Godwin was the son of John Godwin of Swanbourne, bap. there on 26 July 1635. He kept The Angel from at least 1688, renting it from Nathaniel Haslewood (he had earlier lived at the Brick House, on the site of Winslow Hall). He also made a deathbed surrender of his own property (a messuage and 2 acres) to his wife Mary, who was admitted tenant in Oct 1694. Mary sold it all in 1696. The surrender refers to his children (he was recorded as "Mr Thomas Godwyn" for most of the baptisms):

Thomas married Mary, daughter of William Seager or Seayre of Leighton Buzzard, on 26 Sep 1658; the marriage was recorded at Winslow and Leighton.

Centre for Bucks Studies, BAS 376/22 no.1
Endorsed "Surr of Brick house from Godwin to Underwood"
9 Oct 1661. Thomas Godwin of Winslowe and Mary his wife, and John Godwin and Mary his wife, surrendered the messuage in Winslowe in which John Underwood and Henry Norman now live. To the use of John Underwood and Elizabeth his wife for their lives, then John's heirs. Rent 4d, fine 5s, heriot by composition 2s 6d.

The payment of heriot shows that Thomas Godwin held no other property in the manor at the time but must have been a sub-tenant of the house in which he lived. The house in the surrender was described as being in Sheep Street when the Underwoods sold it to John Dymock and Jane his wife in 1671 (it was in the occupation of John Dymock and Richard Purchase, BAS 376/22 no.4), and William Lowndes pulled it down when he built Winslow Hall.

Centre for Bucks Studies, BAS 376/22 no.22: mortgage, 1670
Court of George, Duke of Buckingham, 7 Oct 1670 before John Smith gent., deputy of Thomas Bradgate esq. steward.
Thomas Godwyn surrendered 9 acres of land [list in English]:

To the use of Thomas Smith. To be void if Thomas Godwyn pays him 48s on each of 8 April and 8 Oct 1671 and 1672 and 8 April 1673 and £82 8s on 8 Oct 1673. Rent 2s 3d, fine 18s, no heriot because he has other lands.

Endorsed: "I am satisfied all the sumes of money conteyned in the Coppy". Signed: Thomas Smith. Witness: Oliver Lawrence

A Mary Godwin received £4 p.a. under the will of her brother-in-law Nicholas Godwin of Mursley, yeoman, made in 1712/13 and proved 1714/15 (later copy at Centre for Bucks Studies, D/FR/5/1/13). Nicholas had also arranged for Mary to receive a sum of money which he was owed by Robert Lowndes esq. of Winslow. He also left 20s to John Daniell of Winslow collermaker, and £10 to John's daughter Susannah when she was 21.

 

Copyright 3 June, 2023