Will of William Wyatt the elder, butcher, 1658
National Archives Prob/11/281 f.503
In the name of God Amen the Third day of May in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand sixe hundred Fiftie eight I William Wiatt thelder of Winslowe in the county of Buckingham Butcher, beinge weake in body but in perfect memorie (praise I give unto Almighty God) doe make and ordayne this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme followinge First I bequeath my Soule unto Almightie God my maker and Creator and to Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer By whose merritts onely I hope to bee saved; And my body to the earth Concerneinge my worldly Estate as followeth. Imprimis I give unto my sonne Henry Wyatt One Shilinge. Item I give unto my sonne William Wyatt, One Messuage or Tenement with all and every thappurtenances scituate lyeinge and beinge and [sic] Laighton Buzard in the county of Bedford commonly called and knowne by the name of the Cocke nowe in the occupation of Daniell Alden to enter uppon the same presently after my decease. Item I give unto my sonne Robert Wiatt, the summe of one hundred and thirtie pounds of Currant English money To bee paid unto him within one whole yeare next after my decease Alsoe I give unto him my biggest Kettle to bee delivered unto him presently after my decease Item I doe give unto my daughter Miller The summe of Thirty pounds of currant English money To bee paid unto her within one whole yeare next after my decease Item I give unto my daughter Hester Starns the summe of Thirtie pounds of currant english money, to bee paid unto her within one whole yeare next after my decease Item I give unto my Grandchilde Joseph Miller, the sonne of my daughter Anne deceased The summe of Twentie pounds of currant english money To bee paid unto him when he cometh to the age of one and Twentie years If the said Joseph shall soe longe live Item I give unto my wife Eliner All my Implements of Houshould stuffe of what kinde or sort soever they be that is knowne to bee mine, Except the great kettle aforesaid, To enter thereupon presently after my decease and to have the use of them dureinge her naturall life, And to give them after her decease unto my Children uppon whom shee shall please to bestowe them. Alsoe I give unto my said wife The summe of Fortie shillings of currant English money To bee paid unto her within eight dayes next after my decease Item I doe give unto my Grandchildren, each of them Five shillings, To be paid unto them within one whole yeare next after my decease. Item All other my goods, Cattells and Chattells unbequeathed of what kinde or sort soever they bee I give and bequeath unto my Sonne Nicholas Wyatt, whom I doe make my full and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament. Item I doe make my Overseers to see that this my will shall bee performed, Benedict Holland the sonne of William Holland of Grandburrowe in the Countie of Buckingham yeoman, and Benedict Holland the sonne of Thomas Holland of the same Towne and County yeoman And for their paines I doe give unto eyther of them Tenn shillings In witnes whereof I the said William Wyatt have hereunto put my hand and seale the day and yeare above written. William Wyatt his marke, Witnesse hereunto Nicho. Brinsall, Robert Wells
This will was proved att London the Thirteenth day of July in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand sixe hundred Fiftie and eight Before the Judges for probate of wills and granting Administrations lawfully authorized By the oath of Nicholas Wyatt the sonne and sole Executor named therein To whom Administration of all and singuler the goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased was Committed Hee beinge first sworne by Commission truelie to administer the same.
Notes
William Wiett was buried at Winslow on 8 May 1658. Eleanor was his second wife. He married Agnes (or Anne), daughter of Henry and Marian Wallis, on 30 Oct 1615. She was buried on 6 Feb 1640/1. Their children baptised at Winslow were:
- Henry: bap. 10 Nov 1616, m. Cicely Scott 26 Dec 1641. d.1670. He was also a butcher and was presumably cut out of the will because he had already taken over the business.
- Nicholas: bap. 11 Oct 1618
- Margaret: bap. 4 March 1620/1, bur. 1 Aug 1621
- Agnes: bap 28 July 1622 - presumably the Anne wife of John Miller bur. 12 Jan 1655/6. Their son Joseph bap. 1 Jan 1655/6.
- Dorothy: baptism not recorded but Thomas Miller married Dorothy Wyat on 21 Nov 1641 so she is "daughter Miller" in the will. She died in 1688.
- Hester: bap. 3 Feb 1627/8 = Hester Starns
- William: bap. 6 March 1630/1, d.1696
- Robert: bap. 30 Nov 1634
In 1636 William Wyat confessed to the Archdeacon that he had broken the sabbath "for the which he is hartily sorry", and then accused John Seaton of allowing people to drink in his house on the sabbath.