William Weller
The 1634 Visitation of Sussex (p. 156) states that William was of Shipley, Sussex. His surname there is given as "Wells."
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: between 10 December 1573 and 2 February 1573/4.
William made his will 10 December 1573 and it was proved 2 February 1573/4.
Relationships
Father: Thomas Weller.
Mother: Joan.
See the Commentary section below.
Spouse: Joan.
William mentions his wife, Joan, in his will.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Isabel Weller (buried 28 May 1603 in Warminghurst, Sussex) married Richard Bridger.
Bridget Weller.
Joan Weller.
Commentary
Thomas Weller in his 1531 will names his sons Thomas and John, and Thomas son of James Weller. He makes Hugh a Deane of his executors, and makes a bequest to Hugh’s daughter.
I haven’t discovered anything further of Thomas son of James Weller.
John Weller left a 1544 will which shows that he had three sons – Thomas, William, and Richard – and several daughters. William lived in Horsham and left a 1565 will. Thomas left a 1581 will, which records that his brother Richard was still living.
Thomas Weller left a 1548 will. I think it is the will of Thomas son of Thomas Weller rather than that of Thomas son of James Weller since there are these connections to the 1544 will of John Weller:
Both make Richard Holland an overseer.
Both name their youngest daughters Agnes and Beters.
Also, Hugh a Dean, an executor of the 1531 will of Thomas Weller, is a witness of the 1548 will. In the 1548 will, Thomas names his sons Thomas and Hugh. Hugh left a 1572 will which names his brother William. Another brother was presumably the Richard who left a 1565 will, since in that will Richard makes John French an overseer and Hugh and his first wife were involved in a Chancery suit with John French. Richard names his brother William in his will. I think the William Weller of this page is the William named as a brother in Richard’s and Hugh’s wills.
Evidence
Williams' will (1573):
In the name of god Amen the x daye of the monithe of dessembere in the xvj yere of the Raine of our soueraine Lady Ellizabethe I Willm Willar [‘Weller’ written above] of the parrishe of Shippellie being sike in body and yet in parfitt and sound memorie praysed be to god doe ordayne and mak this mi tistiment consarnyng contayning hir in my veri parfet and last will in manar and form folling// Fyrst I bequief mi solle to all miti god and mi body to be berid in the chirche yerthe of Shipplli// All soo I will geve too the mother Chirche of Chechestar iiij d allso I will & geue to the par. in shippllie hir named Hari Jopp ij s to Water Koope xij d to Gats widoe xij d to Phillipe March xij d to John Shippard xij d to Longs widoo xij d to Thornden xij d to John a Gat iiij d to Havery iiij d/ allsoo I will geve to thre of mi god chilldarne Willm Jopp, Isbill Aden, Isbel Willar, yeueri on of thim xij d and yeuery god chill besid iij d allsoe I will & geve to Iamis Willar my god chille a cowe all so I will & geue to Jone Hamane my maid on fivemonthing bollok/ allso I will & geue to two of my sisters Aylls and Margatt yeche of thim vj s viij d also I will & geue to three of my dawters Isbill Brigate and Jone yeche of thime x pound to be paid to thim whin they com to the ayge of xx yers or be for if thiy mary all so I will that iyf anye of my chilldarn do dy be for thiy ar marrid or be for thiy com to the aig of xx yers thin his stok to Remain to the Riste and all the Rist of my goods in whos hands yeuer thiy be fond or known I will geue and be quief to Jon my wif whom I mak my wholl Exseketer// all so I put in trost to be my ouer sears Edward Penfolld and Thomas Willar witness to the making of this will
Edward Penfold Thomas Willar
Richard Shippard and John Hallar
[Proved 2 February 1573/4]
The will of Thomas Weller (1548):
In the name of god Amen the ixth daye of Maye in the yere of our lord god mb vc. xlviij I Thomas Weller of the p[ar]ysshe of Shepley beying of p[er]fyt mynd thanks be to god do orden and make this my last will & testmet In man[ner] and forme fowloyng fryst I bequith my soull to almyghte god our layday sciynct Marye & to all the holey companye in heven and my bodye to be buryed in the church erthe of Shiplye Item I bequeth to the high aulter of Shiplye iiij d Item I to the mother churche of Chichester iiij d Item to the almys boxe of in the churche of Shipley vj s viij d Item I bequethe to hewe my sonne vj li xiij s iiij d in monye or mony worth to be delyueryd to him at thage of xviijth yers yf it please god he lyve ther to Item to Thomas my sonne v marks in monye or monye worthe to be delyueryd as to his brother a forsayd Item I will my Indenture of Sadll lands and Coke to thomas my sonne all same vj yere next after my decease which I will Jane my wyfe shall occupie the sayde lands to her owne use Item to Julyan my daughter iiij li in monye or monye worthe one peare of Sheats ij pewter plater and a pewter Dyshe Item to my ij yongyst doughters Agnys and Beters v marks apyce in money or monye worthe to be delyuered when they be maryed or maryable and also the rest of my goods my debts payd and my will fulfilled I gyue unto Jane my wyfe and she to be my executrix of this my last will and Testament bestowing somestlye in debts of charitie of at my burynge and monyth daye as shalbe thought most convenyent for the welth of my soyll as I do put my truste in her and Richard Hollande to be over sear to se the p[ro]mysys trewly executyd and fulfillyd and he to haue iij s iiij d and his costys In wytnes herof Syr Richarde Kinland clerke Richarde Hollande John Soytte Hew adean wyth other moyr
[proved 31 July…
The will of Richard Weller (1565):
In the name of god Amen in the yeare of our Lord god 1565 / in the xxjth day of march I Richard Weler of the p[ar]ishe of Shipligh beinge sicke in bodie But hole & p[er]fecte in mynde & memorye; thanks be geven to almyghtie god do ordaine & make this my last will & testamente in man[er] and forme followinge first I bequeth my Soule to the mercie of Almyghtie god my saviour & redemer / And my bodye to be buried earthe from whence it com Itm I bequethe to the mother church of Chechester iid Itm I bequethe to my Sonne Henrye a fetherbed & a boulster a [...]bed and a blanket a paire of shets a brasse pote & iiijs in money Itm I bequeth to Isabel my daughter three pounds of Lawful money of Englande Itm I will that theye shall receave my bequets at theire age of xviij yeares And if any of them shall fortune to die before they com to thage of xviij yeares then I will that my bequets shall [...] to the other that shall [...] Lyve / the resydewe of all my goods in whose hands soever they shalbe founde or knowne my debts paid & my will p[er]formed I geve and bequethe to Joane my wife whom I make myne executrix Itm I make my brother Willm̄ Weller & John Frentch myn ov[er]seers of this my Last will & testamente In witnes whereof. Willm̄ Weller & John Frentch wth others
[proved 30 April 1566]
Chancery pleading National Achives catalogue C 3/67/49
Plaintiff: John Frenche
Defendantns: Hugh Weller and Joan Weller his wife.
Subject: property in Blatchington, Sussex.
Date: 1558-1579
The will of Hugh Weller (1572):
In the name of god amen the syxte day of March in the yere of or lorde god A thousand fyve hundreth saventie two I hugh Weller of the parishe of Shepley in the Countie of Sussex of good and p[er]fecte memorie thankes by to god do make and ordeyn this my last will and testament in manner and forme folowing / First I bequeath my soule to Jesus Christ my savior trusting through his onelie merites to be saved And my body after this life ended to be buried in the Churcheyarde of Shepley Item as touching the disposing of my Lands and tent:s First I give and bequeath unto Margery my wife all my Lands and tenements being in Shepley called by the name and names of Mawle Landes Prestes mede Kennels[?] als Whitemans and Hadue[...] during the naturall life of the said Margery And I will that she mayneteyne and kepe almanner rep[ar]acons aswell aboute the Dwelling house barnes stable and other houses as also paling and hedging aboute the p[re]misses as it is at this p[re]sent tyme And so to leave it at the tyme of her death/ Item I will that all the said Lands and tenements after the death of the said Margery my wife shalbe and remayne unto Hugh Weller my eldest sonne and to the heires of his body lawfullie begotten And for lacke of suche yssue I will and bequeath all my said Lands and tenements to William my sonne and to the heires of his body lawfullie begotten and for wante of suche yssue to remayne to Thomas my sonne and to the heires of his body lawfullie begotten/ Item I will that Margery my wife shall pay unto my mother six and twentie shillings and eight pence by the yere as longe as she lyveth to be paied out of my landes in recompence of suche title and right as she had to the same, and if my brother William chance to die before my mother then I will that my mother shall have of sufficient and convenient lodging and rome in the house where I now dwell and the said Foure [...bles] a yere to be paied unto her half yerelie Item I will unto my said mother all suche proffitts as I pay or might have taken of the lease of stocke parke after thende and terme of eight yeres next after the death of John Gratewicke my father in law during her life condicionallie that she suffer my wife quietly to enioye the said lands before gyven unto her [...] I will all the said proffitts of the said Lease of Stocke parke to remayne to the said Margery my wife towards the bringing up of her said children Item I will unto the said Margery my wife the custody & the Lease of the wardship of the bodies and Lands of her children Margaret Emilie and Margery So as the said Margery shall do [..che] as in her lieth to procure a mariage betwene her eldest daughter and hugh weller my eldest sonne yf god sende them life together/ And if thone like not to marry withother when they come to yere of Discretion/ Then I will that Margery my wife shall pay unto ever one of my said children now lyving twentie pounds at their severall ages of one and twentie yeres or at their severall mariags which shall first happen/ Item I will that hugh my sonne shall pay unto my other thre children William Thomas and Bridget tenne pounds a pece when they shall accomplishe the full age of one and twentie yeres oute of my said lands in Shepley and I will that my said wife shalbe abated of the money aforegyven tenne pounds a pece/ Item I will that if Margery my wife and hugh my sonne do refuse to pay the said legacies unto my said children and will not put in sufficient surety to my overseers then I will that my overseers shall enter upon all my Lands and tent:s and take the proffitts thereof with the wardship of my wives children with the Lease in as lardge and ample manner as my said wife shoulde have had it/ and they to be bounde unto my said wife to take the proffitts of the same to thuse of my said children/ Item I will unto hugh weller my sonne my best wyned bedstedle Two fetherbedds a boulster a coverlet a paire of blanketts fyve paire of the best shetes the best carpet the table on the frame all the Joyned stoles and all the sealing of the p[ar]lor a furnes a brasse pot the new close presse and ij of the best chestes Item I will that my wife shall have thoccupacon of all the said goods gyven unto my said sonne as longe as she lyveth/ Item I will unto Mary Gratewicke her mothers best gowne a golde ring one paire of shetes and a silver spone Item I will unto Bridget my daughter two paire of shetes two silver spones two platters Two Disshes Item I give unto william my sonne a greate kitle one brasse pot a fetherbed a bolster a coverlet a paire of blanketts and two paire of shetes/ Item I make my wife my sole executrix to pay my debts and legacies and Mr John Apsley mylnr and Mr william Apsley his sonne myne overseers and I will to either of them twentie shillings for their paynes/
[proved 27 April 1573]
The 1580 will of Edward Penfield mentions:
-his son-in-law Steven Horley
-his son-in-law Richard Michell
-his wife Bettres
-his son Edward
-his son Richard
-his son William
-his overseers: his kinsman John Haller and his neighbour Richard Haller the elder
The 1596 will of Bettrys Penfold widow of Shipley mentions:
-her children Bettryce Michell, Alice Horley, and William Penfold
-her overseers: Thomas Wassher clerk and Thomas Juppe.
The will of John Weller (1544):
In the name of god amen the xiij day of Aprill in the yere of our lord god a m v c xliiij & the xxxv yer of the reayn of our soveryn lord Kyng Henry the viijth I John Weller of the parish of Shepley parfyt of my mynd do order & mak this my testament as folwoith first I bequeth my soule to almyghty god Item I bequeth to the hy altar of Shepley xij d to the mother church of chichester iiij d Item I bequeith to Thomas & Willm my sons iiij marks a pees to Ric my sone v marks Item to agnes my doughter xxvj s viij d to betteres my daughter v mark Item to Edward Lye my sone in lawe a ij yers hekfer I will the porcions a forsayd be delyueryd to my chelderen when they be maryid or mariable yf any of them dissese or they be marriyd or mariable that part or parts be delyueryd amongst the rest of my chelderen afor sayd the reste of my goods I gyve to Johan my wife and she to be executur & Ric Holland & Edward Le ouerseers Ric Holland to haue iij s iiij d for his payns & Edward le to haue a yerying helfer as is afor sayd thes beryng witnesse Rc Holand clark Ric Hunt Nicholas Hyrst with other
[Proved 29 June 1544]
The 1565 will of John Weller’ son William Weller of Horsham:
In the name of god Amen the vjth day of Februarie in Anno dm’ 1565 I Willm Weller of the parishe of Horsham in the Dioc of Chechester Sicke in my bodie but of whole and perfecte remembraunce god be thanked doe make and ordaine my testament and Last will in manner and forme followynge First I bequethe my soule unto almyghtie god my maker & redemer and saviour and my bodie to be buried in the church yard of horsham aforesaid Item I bequith to the mother or cathedrall churche of Chechester ij d Item I bequithe to the poore mens box iij s iiij d Item I bequith to Rich Weller my Sonne fyve marks in money my cobbord in the hall my great caldron a Littil brasse pott twoe pewter plattars and twoe pewter dishes and ij parie of shets a couerlet and a table, Item I bequethe to Margerie Weller my daughter fyve marks in money two pewter platters and ij pewter dishes ij paire of shetes the which and other stuffe I will myne Executrix to deiuer unto thands of myne ouerseers when my children come to thage of xvjth yeares and they to use it to the most profitt of my children till they come to theage of xxj yeares or day of mariage and then to deliuer their stocke with thentrest or profit that shall rise therof and yf any of my ij children happen to die before the age of xxjti yeares or day of mariage then I will the Longer Lyver to be the others heyre Item I bequethe unto Johan Mychill my wifs dowghter a twoyeringe heffer and a peir of shets, Item I bequeth to Johan Lee my goddoughter xijd and to all the rest of my godchildren that will come and aske it iiij d a pece./ and as for the cobbord willed to Rich my Sonne I will my wife to have the occupiyinge of the same for terme of her Lyf. The rest of all my goods and debts not geven nor bequithed I geve and bequeth unto Elnor weller my wiffe. She to have all & to paie all which Elnior weller my wiffe I make ordaine and constitute my whole and sole Executrix of this my Testament and Last will to see the same proved and performed accordinge to the trewe meanynge therof and I honestlie buried Item I will that yf my wife do happen to marrie then I will that before she marrye shee putt in sufficient suerties and bound unto my ouerseers to deliuer my childrens stocke saffe & whole at the tyme appointed & to bringe up my children in the feare of god and yf she refuse so to doe then my ouerseers by vertu of this my Last will to sease and take in to theire handes so moch of my goodes as my childrens stocke cometh unto unto my childrens use. Item I make my ouerseers and supervisors of this my Last will and testament my welbelouid Freinds in christ Richard Nye Thomas Weller my Brother Richard Patchinge and John Soper my brother in Lawe and I bequeth to eche of them for their goodwill and paine ij s vj d apece & theire chargs borne when soeuer they be put to any paine or busines hearaboute Witnesss heare unto the day and yeare aboue written John Lyntad James Shawe Richard Hollande Edward Lee Rich Weller and Rich Kyffine clerke writer herof with others
The will of John Weller’s son Thomas (1581):
In the name of god amen the xix day of february Ano dni 1580 I Thomas Weller of the Parishe of Shepley in the Countie of Sussex beyng sicke of boddy but in perfect mind and remembrance thanks be to almightie god I ordaine and make this my last will and Testament in maner and fourme followinge first I bequeathe my soulle into the handes of almightie god my Savior & redemer & my boddy to be buried in the church yard of Sheply Item I give to the mother churche of Chechester iiij d Item I geve to the makinge of Colliton hanen iiij d Item I bequeathe unto the poore people of Shepley xx s to be distripited by the Descressyon of my ouersers Item I geve unto John a lee my godsonne one toyearelinge haffar boullocke Item I bequeathe unto the residew of Edward a lees childarn that he had by my sester to eyther of them iij s iiij d Item I geue unto the said Edward a Lyes daughter that he had by that he had by Joane Hollon vj s viij d Item I geve & bequeathe unto Harry Nyman my servant xl s Item [I geve] unto my brothers sonne Richard Weller vj li xiij s iiij d to be delivered unto him withe in To years after my desease by Executours & yf fortune that the sayd Richard dye before the tyme that is a pointed then I will that the sayd stocke shall Remayne unto margery weller my brothers doughter Item I bequeathe unto the said Margery Weller my brothers doughter xl s Item I geve unto Annes A Deane my sarvant one To yearlinge hayffar bullocke I geve to every one of the said Annes a Deanes sesters the doughters of James a Deane to eyther of them iij s iiij d Item I bequeathe to Willem Nyman brother to Harey Nyman my sarvant iij s iiij d Item I geve & bequeathe to Edward a Lee my brother in lawe – xx s Item I bequeathe to John Hallar my wifes younger brother xx s Item I geve to Willem Hurste my godsonne vj s viij d Item I geve to Edward Biglee my godsonne xij d Item I geve to Harry Wood & Margaret Wood my systers cheldren to eyther of them ij s Item I geve unto every one of the Reste of my god childerin vj d (yf yt de demanded) I geve unto Larence Channell my godsonne vj s viij d Item I bequeathe to Larence Channell Father to the said Larence one five monthenge haiffer bullocke Item I will that my free lond lyinge in the parishe of Shpley shall Remayn unto Richard Weller my brother duringe his naturall lyfe & yf he dye with owt eayr malles of his boddy lawfully begotten then I will that the said Lands shall Remayn to Richard Weller my brother William Wellers sonne and to his eayers for ever Item I geve & bequeathe to Joan my wyfe all my wheat that is stondinge on my farm lond saving halfe a qarter of the same wheat to Remayne to my brother Richard that shall be mad for sead wheat & shee to have my best fether bead & my beste beadstead with all that belongethe thear unto & all my Lennen in my house & ij of my beste covertlets & To of my beaste chastes Item I will that my farm in Shepley called Letenhurste shall remaine to Joan my wyfe & Richard Weller by brother to beeqally deavided betwen them so that she kepe her selfe a widdowe I will that yf Joan my wyfe do leat geve sealle or pute hiri parte of the said farm that shee shall not so doe to none other but only to my brother Richard Weller & my brother shall no do the like in the farme to none other but onelie to Joane my wyfe Item I will that yf Joan my wyfe or Richard Weller my brother or anye of them do dye before the lease be expirid then I will that his or hir parte so dyenge shall Remayne to the said parte then Leveinge Item I will that yf Richard my brother dye withe owte eayears malles of his boddy lawfully begoten then I will his estate of my farme shall Remayn to my kinseman Richard Weller my brothers sonne & yf the sam Ric dye withowte eayears of his boddy lawfully begoten than I welle the said Lease shall Remayn to Harry Nyman & his eayears the Reste of my goods moveables and unmovbles in whose hands they are to be found or known I geve & bequeathe unto Joan my wyfe and Richard Weller my brother whom I make my wholle executors of this my last will & Testament my debtes and legacies being first paid & discharged to be eqally desided be twen them Itam I ordain & macke my faithfull oversears John Hallar my kinseman and my nayghbor Thomas Juppe & them I do pute in trust to deside my londs & houses of my farm & my goods eqally betwen my executours for the good quietness of them bothe and they to have for ther paynes vj s a pese witnesses theare of John Wasshar mynester John Hallare Thomas Jopp Edward Ducke John Maydman withe owthers
References
Bannerman, W. Bruce (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Sussex, made and taken in the years 1530 by Thomas Benolte, Clarenceux king of arms, and 1633-4 by John Philipot, Somerset herald, and George Owen, York herald, for Sir John Burroughs, Garter, and Sir Richard St. George, Clarenceux (London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1905).
Will of Bettrys Penfold widow of Shipley, 1596, Consistory Court of Chichester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Edward Penfold of Shipley, 1580, Consistory Court of Chichester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of John Weller of Shipley. Proved 1544 in the Consistory Court of Chichester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Hugh Weller of Shipley, Sussex, 1573, Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Richard Weller, proved 1566, Consistory Court of Chichester registered wills, Volume 10, page 256. FHL film 194564, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Will of Thomas Weller, 1531, Consistory Court of Chichester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of Thomas Weller, 1548, Consistory Court of Chichester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of William Weller of Horsham, 1565, Consistory Court of Chichester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org.
Will of William Weller, 1573, in Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Sussex Consistory Court Wills, 1570-1589, Folder F 156 (Film # 1068591)