Nuncupative will of Oliver Styles of Little Horwood, gentleman, 1642 (proved 1661/2)

National Archives, PROB 11/307/464

Memorandum That on or about the Nyne and Twentieth day of Aprill, In the Yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six Hundred Fourtie Two, Oliver Styles late whilest hee lived of Little Harwood in the Countie of Bucks Gentleman deceased beinge of perfecte mynde and memory made and declared his last Will and Testament Nuncupative in manner and forme Followeinge viz. That his daughter Anne Cope should have Three score Poundes, and his Sister Samuell, should have the Copie hold Land wherein shee lived, duringe her life All the Rest and Residue of his goodes ch(at)ells rights and Creditts hee gave and bequeathed to his Sonne Anthony Stiles, whome hee Constituted and appointed his sole Executor of this his last Will and Testament in the Presence and heareinge of Credible Witnesses To Witt Thomas Samuell, Gabriell Samuell and Elizabeth Deeley.

[Probate summarised from Latin] On 20 March 1661 at London before Dr Sir William Mericke commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury a commission went out to Elizabeth Styles relict and executrix named in the will of Anthony Styles deceased, while he lived son, executor and residuary legatee named in the nuncupative will of Oliver Styles late of Little Harwood deceased, to administer the goods, rights and credits of the said Oliver according to the tenor of his will. She was sworn and the witnesses at the time of the declaration of the nuncupative will were also sworn, the said Anthony having died previously.

Notes

Oliver Styles is shown by taxation returns to have been a Roman Catholic. Anthony, a goldsmith in London, took over his father's lands in 1645. Probate was apparently left until the pre-Civil War probate jurisdictions were restored under Charles II.