Beds

Bedfordshire probate records

1505 James Mead, Meppershall

1534 William Mead, Sutton

1534 William Mead, Meppersall

1605 John Mead, Leighton Buzzard

1612 Richard Mead, Silsoe, smith

James Mead of Meppershall 1505

(in Latin)

In the name of God amen, the year of our lord 1505, the seventh day of the month of May, I James Mede of Meppersalle, being of sound mind and memory, make my testament in this form. First I give my soul to God almighty, to the Blessed Mary and to all the saints, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Meppershall. Item I give for my mortuary ____. Item I give to the church of Lincoln ii d. Item I give to Elizabeth my wife my tenement situated in the aforesaid village of Meppsalle with vii acres & three rods of arable land in the fields of Meppersale with all appurtenances for term of her life, and after her death I will that the said tenement, seven acres of land, and three rods of land to be divided between my children. Item the residue of all my goods not bequeathed I give and bequeath to Elizabeth my wife whom I make and constitute my executrix, she to dispose in acts of charity for my soul. To this testament witness Thomas Rawlyns, rector of the same, Thomas Calnehull, chaplain.

William Mede of Meppershall, Beds, 1534

In dei nomine Amen, the xxviii day of January in the year of our lord God m cccc xxx iiii, I William Mede of Mapesall being in good mind and perfect remembrance loved be God, make this my testament of my last will in this manner. First I bequeath my soul unto almighty God and lady Saint Mary & to all saints in heaven and my body to buried in the church yard of Mapesall. Item I bequeath to the high altar there for tithes and oblations forgotten iiii d. Item to the mother church of Lincoln iiii d. Item I will that Alice my wife shall have my house with the appurtenances during her natural life. Also I will that whereas my said wife is (?) with child, if it please God that it be a male child then I will that my said house and land remain to my said child after my wife's decease, and if it fortune the said child to die then I will that my said house and land remain to my daughters and to be equally divided between them. The residue of my goods not bequeathed, my debts paid and the legacies in this my last will prformed and fulfilled, I give and bequeath them to Alice my wife who I order and make to be my faithful executrix and another person to be overseer as my trusty friend. Witnesses William Legrace and William Dilly with others.

William Mede of Sutton 1534

In the name of God amen, the x day of September in the year of our lord God M ccccc xxx iiii I William Mede of Sutton of whole mind and perfect remembrance make my testament & last will in manner & form following. First I commit my soul to almighty God & to our lady Saint Mary and to all the holy company of heaven and my body to be buried in the church yard of All Hallows in Sutton. Also I bequeath to our lady of Healy (?) iiii d. Also I bequeath to the high altar in Sutton church for tithes forgotten iiii d. Also I bequeath to our Lady's light iiii d. Also I bequeath to the sepulchre light iiii d. Also I bequeath to the bells iiii d. Also I bequeath to John my son a bullock. Also I bequeath to Margaret my daughter a bullock. The residue of my goods not bequeathed I leave to the discretion of Alice my wife whom I institute, ordain and make my true, lawful and faithful executrix, she to see this my last will well & truly to be performed and fulfilled, and she to bestow the residue for the health of my soul an all Christian souls as she thinks the best. Also I make my father Harry supervisor of this my testament and last will. These being witnesses Sir Robert Turner priest, John Friend, William Freeman with others.

John Mead of Leighton Buzzard 1605

The will and testament of John Mead, deceased, in the town of Leighton Buzzard

I John Mead sick in body but in perfect health of my mind, I thank my lord Jesus, do make this my last will & testament. Imprimus I do bequeath my soul to almighty God and my body to buried in the churchyard etc. Item I give and bequeath all my goods to be equally divided amongst my four children after my son James Mead hath paid all my debts with my said goods. Item I give and bequeath to my youngest daughter Anne xl s to be paid unto her out of the others' portions after they have been equally divided amongst them, if she shall be then living.

Richard Mead of Silsoe, Flitton, Beds. 1612

In the name of God amen, in the year of our lord God one thousand six hundred & twelve & in the reign of our sovereign lord by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France & Ireland king, defender of the faith viz. of England the tenth & of Scotland the six & fortieth, I Richard Mead of Silveshoe in the parish of Flitton & in the county of Bedford, smith, being sick in body but well & perfect of memory, thanks be to God, do make this my last will & testament in form & manner following.

First I bequeath my soul unto almighty God my maker & redeemer, trusting wholly in the merits & mediation of my saviour Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all my sins & my perfect salvation in the glory of God the father. Next I do will my body to be buried in the south side of the churchyard of the parish church of Flitton & Silveshoe, there resting and expecting the resurrection of the dead & the life of the world to come. Item I give & bequeath to my natural mother Elizabeth Meade widow of my father Robert Meade deceased a pair of gloves of twelve pence price. Item I give to Elizabeth my sister one sixpence in silver. Item I give & bequeath to my cousin Elizabeth Allin the wife of John Allin of Silveshoe aforesaid two of my wearing shirts. Item I give to my godchildren all my other usual wearing apparel, willing that it should be divided at the will & discretion of my wife. And all other my goods, cattle, chattels or whatsoever else pertaining to me that is now due or any wise shall be due or appertaininto me or my executors forever (these legacies, my debts & burial discharged) I do freely & fully give & bequeath to my loving & faithful wife Anne Meade, whom I do will and ordain to be full & only executrix of this my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have set to my hand and seal the eighteenth day of February in the year above written in the presence of William Burden, Reginald Burden.

the mark of Richard Meade