Will of Alice Kenestone, widow, 1672 (proved 1675)
Herts RO 111AW/10
In the name of God Amen the five and twentieth day of October Anno Do(mini)
one thousand six hundred seaventy and two, And in the foure and twentieth year of the
Reigne of o(u)r Soveraigne Lord Charles the second by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France
and Ireland kinge defender of the faith & c I Alice Kenestone of Winslow in the County of
Bucks widdow beinge aged and weak of bodie but of p(er)fect minde and memory praysed bee
God therefore knowinge the certeynetey of death and the uncertainetey of the time and
hower thereof doe therefore make ordeyne and declare this my last will and testament
in manner and forme Following. First I Committ and Commend my soule in to the
hands of Almighty God my creator Restinge assured of the Remission of all my sinnes by
the merrits of his ever Blessed sonne o(u)r Lord and saviour Jesus Christ my bodey I commit
to the earth from whence it came to bee decentley Interred. And as touchinge and
concerneinge my worldley estate with which it hath pleased God to bless mee I doe
heareby declare my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First
I give and bequeath unto my sonne George Kenestone the sume of one shilling of
currant English money to bee paied unto him within one yeare next after my decease
if it bee Lawfully demanded. Item I give and bequeathe unto Ursliah Kenestone one
of my Grandchildren the sume of one shilling of Currant English money to bee paid
unto her within one yeare next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath
unto John Kenestone one other of my Grandchildren one Cow or horse common
in Swanbourne feild with all the right and title thereunto belongeinge Lateley
purchased of one William Leno allias Webb and alsoe the sume of ten pounds of
Currant English money to be paid to him the said John Kenestone within twelve
months next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Alice Kenestone
one other of my Grandchildren and daughter of my sonne John Kenestone the sume
tenn pounds of good and lawfull money of England to be paid unto her the said
Alice Kenestone within one yeare next after my decease. Item I give and
bequeath unto Edward Kenestone one other of my Grand Children one large
table and frame and alsoe the sume of tenn pounds of Lawfull English money
to be paid to him the said Edward Kenestone within one yeare next
after my decease. All and singular other my goods cattells and Chattells of
what kinde and nature soever my debts and Legacies beinge payed and funeral
charges defrayed I wholey give and bequeath unto my sonne John Kenestone
whom I make whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament.
And I the said Alice Kenestone doe heareby renounce revoke and repeale all
former wills by me made and declared and all Legacies bequests and things in
them or any of them conteyned And I doe pronounce and declare this to bee my
last will and testament. In witness wheareof to this my last will and testament
I the said Alice Kenestone have sett this my hand and seale the day and yeare
first above written
Alice Kenestone
her marke
Signed sealed published and
delivered in the presence of us
[signed]
Andrew Stutsbery
Mathew Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop
[Probate granted at Winslow 27 May 1675 by Mr Samuel Dix clerk to John Kenestone executor]
Inventory of Alice Kenestone, 1674/5
Herts RO A25/3956
A true and perfect Inventary taken the fifth day of February 1647 of the goods which late weare the goods of Alice Kenestone wid(ow) of Winslow in the County of Bucks deceased praysed and vallewed by us Andrew Stutsbery Nicholas Bigg William Norris & Mathew Bishop
li |
s |
d |
||
Impr(i)mis | her weareinge apparrell | 03 |
0 |
0 |
Item | In the Halle one table and frame one cubbard one side table seaven pewter platters one porridge pott one brass pann one warmeing pann, two chayres one forme 2 joyned stooles one ketle [deletion] and one pewter flaggon one fire shovle and tongues. 2 hangers one spitt and 1 payre of handirons with other Lumber | 3 |
3 |
4 |
Item | In the Chamber adjoineing one Joyned Bedstead three Coffers one feather bed, one feather bolster three feather pillowes two blankets one coverlett seaven payre of hempen sheets, one payre of holland sheets one payre of flaxen sheets three pillowbeeres one bord cloath and one dosson of napkins | 7 |
00 |
00 |
Item | In the roome over the said chamber one table and frame two joyned stooles two shelves and other Lumber | 00 |
12 |
0 |
Item | one Roode of wheat growinge | 0 |
10 |
00 |
Item | In money and debts | 40 |
00 |
00 |
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Some totall |
54 |
5 |
4 |
Apprised & vallewed
by us
[signed]
Andrew Stutsbery
Nicholas Bigg
William Norris his marke
Mathew Bishop
[Inventory presented 3 June 1675]
[another hand]
Send the will & Inventaries directed to Mr Dix at Winslow to be left at John Watts his shop in Leyton
rt xs in p(ar)t
Notes
Alice Kenestone was buried at Winslow on 23 Feb 1674/5. She was the widow of Edward, bur. 16 May 1645. The sons mentioned in the will were George (bap. 21 Feb 1624/5) and John (bap. 7 July 1630); they had a number of other children. George as the eldest inherited his father's cottage and 2 acres at the 1645 manor court, which may be why his mother only left him a shilling. He was the father of Ursula (bap. 19 March 1646), and perhaps of John, whose baptism is not recorded. The children of John mentioned in the will are:
- Edward (b. 14 Jan, bap. 23 Jan 1659/60)
- Alice (bap. 2 May 1665; later Alice Guest)
The surname was written in many different ways including Kinnaston and Kinnerston.
At the manor court on 18 Oct 1654 (Centre for Bucks Studies D175/6, f.6r), Alice entailed to her son John after her death "all that Messuage which is behind her Messuage wherein [she] dwelleth & the yard soe far as Mr Paxtons peare tree & two acres of land & two yerdes on the backe side of the said Messuage". She had previously (1645 court) entailed it to her son Edward, who had presumably died.