Wills

William Mede of Iffley, died 1532

The year of our lord 1532, the 4th day of February, I William Mede of Iffley, having my right mind, sick in my body, make my testament and last will under this manner and form. First I bequeath my soul unto almighty God and my body to be buried in the church of Iffley as it shall please God. Item I bequeath to the mother church of Lincoln 4d. Item to the church of Iffley a cow to be prayed for while the stock and the increase endure. Item to Our Lady light in the same church 6 bushels of barley for a stock to maintain the light before her. Item I bequeath to the brotherhood of St Katherine two sheep, to the church of Cowley 4 bushels of barley, to the church of Barford 26d, to the almsmen of Bartylins (?) any one 4d. Item I bequeath to Robert Mede my brother's son 6 sheep, my third gown, one pot, one platter and pottinger, one pair of sheets, and my leather doublet. Item I bequeath to Joan Ives my daughter a chafer with a cover and my best girdle so that my wife have the use of it while she liveth. Item to John Ives a piece of silver. Item to Katherine Ives one silver spoon. Item to Agnes Ives one silver spoon. Item to Peter Ives one silver spoon. Item to Joan Barnard one silver spoon. Item to John Brown one silver spoon and 6 sheep. To Alice Barnard one silver spoon. Item to any child of Walter Barnard one sheep. Item to any child of William Ives one sheep. Item to Margery Person one sheep. Item to Thomas Person one sheep. Item to Joan Barnard one cow. Item to any godchild that I have 2d. The residue of my goods I bequeath unto Anys my wife and Edward Ives whom I make mine executors to dispose for the wealth of my soul. Item I will that my executors have 30 masses said for my soul. For overseers of my will I make Walter Barnard, William Ives, Richard Brown, any one to have for his labour one quarter of barley. Witnesses of this my last will be Philip Kystyll, vicar, William Ives. Item I will that my wife have all her due goods that she brought unto me. Item I will that she have half the profit of my house at Hedington as long as she is widow and Edward Ives likewise to have half in heir of my house at Cowley so that he bear half of all manner of charges and she likewise for the house. Item I will that if she chance to be put out of her house at Cowley that she to dwell in my house at Hedington as long as she is widow, paying half the rent to the foresaid Edward. Witnesses of this my last will be Philip Kystell, William Ives, Walter Barnard.

Richard Meade of Hensington, Woodstock, died 1552

In the name of God, amen, the 11th day of November the year of our lord God 1552, I Richard Meade of Hensington in the county of Oxon, sick in body but of good and perfect remembrance, make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I commend my soul to almighty God my maker & redeemer and my body to be buried in the chapel yard of New Woodstock. Item I will that my executrix shall distribute to the poor upon the day of my burial or before or after at her discretion such part of my goods as she shall think sufficient for my portion. Item I give to any one of my godchildren one sheep apiece. Item I give to Thomas Lowan a land of barley. Item I give to Matthew Powater a (unclear). The residue of all my goods, and legacies paid, I give to Elz / Elizabeth my wife whom I make and constitute my sole executrix to execute this my last will or testament as my special trust is in her. Item it is my will that after the decease of Elz my wife that the residue of my goods which shall be left at her departure out of this world shall be evenly divided between John my son and Margaret my daughter and if it fortune either of them my said children die afore my said wife's departure out of this world, then it is my will that the survivor of the twain shall have those goods that shall so remain as is aforesaid. In witness wherof I the aforesaid Richard Meade to this will have set to to my hand the day and year above specified. These bearing witness Martin Cuvice, priest, John Savage, Thomas Lowan with others.

Edmund Meade of Oddington, 1560

In the name of God amen, the year of our lord God 1560, the 25 day of January, I Edmund Meade of Oddington Super Otmore (?), being sick in body but in perfect mind and remembrance, thanks be unto God, ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I bequeath my soul unto almighty God and to our blessed lady and to all the blessed company in heaven, and my body to be buried in the parish churchyard of St Andrew's in Oddington. Item I give to the poor men's box 8d. Item I give to my son john a grey mare, a brown heifer, the best cupboard and my bound cart, the which cart his mother for to have in occupying during her widowed state, a yoke and a chain, a pair of harness, a great spit, a pair of sheets. Item I give unto Agnes my daughter a black cow and a brown cow, a bed and all that belongeth to it, a great table, a new cupboard for to be made for her, 4 pieces of pewter, a tub, 2 linens, (unclear), a towel and a spice. Item I give to Joan my daughter a red heifer, the old ccupboard, a pair of sheets, 3 pieces of pweter, a bolster, a blanket, a candlestick. Item I give to my son Michael a blck heifer, the best table, a yoke and a chain, a pair of sheets. Item I give to Thomas my son a colt, a great pot, a table, two axe pins (?), a candlestick, a platter. Item I give to my son James a calf, a pair of sheets, a laver, a pair of harness, a yoke and a chain, and my wife to have the occupying of the said harnesses, yoke and chains during her widowed state. Item I give to Margaret my daughter a calf, a new pan, 2 pieces of pewter, a pair of the best sheets, a cover. And if any of my children fortune to die before they come to the age of full years then I will that their part so dying to be equally divided unto the rest of my children. Item I give to any one of my godchildren 1½d. All the rest of my goods not bequeathed I give unto Agnes my wife whom I make my executrix of this my last will and testament, desiring her for to be a good mother unto her children and mine, as my special trust is in her. And I make overseers hereof James Rayne, Henry Collett, Richard Hícke, and for their pains to have 8d apiece. These being witnesses hereof William Franklyn, John Anders with others.

Agnes Meade of Oddington, Oxon, widow, 1561

In the name of God, amen, in the year of our Lord God 1561, xxvii day of May, I Agnes Meade of Odington, sick of body but perfect of remembrance, thanks be to almighty God, ordain and make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I bequeath my soul to almight God and to our blessed Lady, and to all the holy company of heaven, and my body to be buried in the parish churchyard of St Andrew in Odington aforesaid. Item I give to Agnes my daughter half a quarter of wheat, a quarter of barley, a land of wheat in Pynnocke, a pair of sheets of the middle sort, a tablecloth, 2 table napkins, a salt seller, a platter. Item I give to Jane my daughter a pair of sheets, a ... being named gentle, a tablecoth, a pillow bear wrought with woad work, half a quarter of wheat, half a quarter of barley, a skillet with a long handle, a form, my best kertle, a dish and rayler, and 2 hams and a cock. Item to Mary my daughter half a quarter of wheat, half a quarter of barley, one ox bullock weaned this year, a new pan of brass, a little chafer, a little skillet, 2 new pillow bears, 3 sheets, a fine fork. Item to John my son one oxe of woad... Item I give to the mother church 2d. All the rest of my goods not bequeathed I give to John, Michael, James and Thomas my sons, whom I make my executors of this my last will and testament, jointly together, desiring they my sons to see my will done in all points as my special trust is in them. And for the overseeing thereof I appoint Harry Collet, Simon Rays, Richard Hicke to be overseers of this my last will and testament. These being witnesses hereof Harry Collett, Richard Hicke, Thomas Boswell.

Jane Meade of Heathe, Oxon, 1578

In the name of God, amen, in the year of our lord God 1578 and the 27th day of July, I Jane Mede, sick in body but of good and perfect remembrance, make my last will after this form and manner. First of all I bequeath my soul to almighty God and to his son our lord Jesus Christ, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Heathe. Item I bequeath to the mother church of Oxford 2d. Item I bequeath to John Meade my brother a coffer of all my linen and also four silver rings. Also I bequeath to my brother John Meade a candlestick, a coffer with other ..., a table board, a pair of tweshells(?). Item I bequeath to my brother John Meade 40 shillings which is due to me that John Smythe of Washiercole(?) oweth me. Item I bequeath to my brother John Meade 30s. Also I give to my brother 20s in money which is to my burial and to give to the poor, also all my raiment, my brother to give at his pleasure. Recorders of the same Elizabeth Watson, Jane Flaxman, Christine Cawdrey, and Johnm Huxleye.

John Meade of New Woodstock, innholder, 1587

Inn: the sign of the George

Wife Jane

Son Michael Meade

Son Richard Meade

Daughter Ursula Meade

John Meade of New Woodstock, inn holder

-My body is to be buried within the chapel yard of New Woodstock.

-To my wife Joane Mead my new dwellinghouse in New Woodstock known as "The Sign of the George" with all my goods and household stuff for life if she remains unmarried, and I make her my executrix.

-After her decease I give [all the above] to my son Michael Mead and his heirs forever.

-To my daughter Ursuley Mead £40, to be paid £20 at marriage and £20 within 3 years of the birth of her first child.

-To my son Michael Mead £13 1s 4d "which Mr Whitton had wrongfullie from me contrary to the award of Cromewelle Lee and William

Spenser"

-My son Richard Mead is to be co-trustee of Ursula’s money

-To the poor people of Woodstock 20s

-To my overseers Henry Fletcher, Nathan Sharpe and John Kennt 10s apiece

-Witnesses Henry Fletcher, Nathan Sharpe, John Kennt

Michael Meade of Woodstock, 1588

Brother Richard Meade

Michael Meade of Weston on the Green, 1597

Wife Julian

Daughter Jane

John Meade of Hinton, Chinnor, 1611

In the name god Amen the first day of July & in the year of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god of England France & Ireland king, defender of the fayth &c the ninth and of Scotland the four and fortieth, Anno domini 1611, I John Meade of Hinton in the parish of Chinner in the County of Oxon Carpenter being sick in body but of perfect mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner & form following. First I commend and bequeath my soul to Almighty God which he of his goodnes gave unto me and I hope will receive into his kingdom of glory, and my bodie to be buried in the churchyard of Chinnor. And as touching my worldly goods wherewith God hath endowed me I dispose of them as followeth. Imprimis I do give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes Trippe of Longewicke three shillings four pence in money. Item I do give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Toovey of Chinnor twelve pence in money and a brazen candlestick. Item I do will and bequeath to my son Robert Meade of Bledlow twelve pence in money and a pewter platter. Item I do will and bequeath to my sonne William Meade of Bledlow xij pence in money & a pewter platter. Item I do give and bequeath to my sonne John Meade of Chinnor ten groats in money. Item I do give to my son Christopher Meade six shillings in money or a kettle that he now hath in his use and custody, paying to his brother John of Hinton if he have the kettle six shillings in money for the same. All which legacies in money and certain implements of household stuff given and bequeathed to my sons and daughters severally named in this my last will and testament, my intent and meaning is that the small matters of househould stuff shall be delivered by my executor to each one of them within ten days after the day of death being lawfully demanded and the several sums of money to be paid likewise by my Executor within ten days after the feast of St Michael the Archangel next & immediately ensuing the day of my departure out of this world. Item I do will & bequeath to my son Richard Meade seven pounds in money to be paid to him by mine executor at the full end and term of two years next after the day of my decease. All the rest of my goods moveable & unmoveable neither given nor bequeathed I give and bequeath to my eldest son John Meade of Hinton whome I constitute and ordain to be the sole executor of this my last will and testament and I desire my neighbours Thomas King and Thomas Bigge to be the overseers, who being present with me at the time of the making hereof according to the day and year first above written have here unto as witnesses set to their hands or marks in the presence of John Meade the younger and Richard Winlow.

Ralph Meade of Swerford, 1615

Wife Annesse / Agnes

Eldest son Richard Meade

Second son William Meade

Third son Anthony Meade

Fourth son Raphe Meade

Eldest daughter Elizabeth Keeling

Second daughter Joan Symmonds

Grandchildren

William the son of Richard Meade

Mary the daughter of Richard Meade

William the son of William Meade

John Keeling the son of Elizabeth Keeling

John the son of Raphe Meade

Mary the daughter of Raphe Meade

Richard Meade of Woodstock, 1620

To be buried by my father and mother

Eldest son John Meade

Son Richard Meade

Brother (in-law) Thomas Hethe

Brother (in-law) Thomas prior

Wife's brothers Thomas and Edmond Hethe

Thomas Meades of Beckley, 1623

Husbandman

Eldest son Raphe / Ralph Meades

Daughters Ellen and Agnes

Grandson John Meades

Wife "now my wife" Agnes

Thomas Meade of Oddington, 1624/25

Brother James

Cousin Thomas Meade

Thomas Meade, son of cousin Thomas Meade

Cousin Thomas Meade of Chargrove

Executors Elizabeth (wife) and cousin Thomas Meade of Oddington

Thomas Meades of Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, 1629

In the name of God amen, the three and twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred twenty and three I Thomas Meades of Henley upon Thames in the county of Oxon, weaver, sound in mind & body (God be praised) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first I commend my soul into the hand of God my maker, hoping assuredly through the only merit of Jesus Christ my saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting. And I commend my body to the earth whereof it is made & to be buried according to the discretion of my executor hereafter named. Item whereas I stand seised to me and my heirs forever of and in one messuage or tenement with the appurtenances wherein I now dwell, scituate and being in Beggaridge in the parish of Henley aforesaid, my will is that the inheritance of the said messuage or tenement with the appurtenance thereunto belonging shall immediately from and after my decease descend and come to John Meades my son ando his heirs to have and to hold to him the said John, his heirs and assigns forever. And my will is that he the said John and his heirs shall from after my decease permit and suffer Elianor my now wife quietly to enjoy the third of and in the said messuage or tenement with the appurtenance as she by the laws of this realm ought to have for and during her natural life. Item I give and bequeath to Elianor my said wife all my bedding and all my linen and woollen whatsoever and my bedstead, my old cupboard, my four chests, my table board, my iron pot and all my pewter and brass whatsoever, excepting my great brass pot. Item I give and bequeath to my said son John Meades my great brass pot and twelve pence in money. Item I give to Andrew Meades my second son twelve pence. Item I give unto my third son Edward Meades the sum of twenty four pounds the which he now oweth unto me & standeth bound by obligation unto me for the same, he the said Edward paying yearly therefore to me or my assigns for & during my natural life the sum of forty & eight shillings at four of the most usual feasts in the year, that is to say in and upon the annunciation of our blessed lady Mary the virgin, the nativity of St John the baptist, the feast of St Michael the archangel and the nativity of our lord Christ, by even and equal portions. Item all the rest of my goods, money, credit, cattle & chattels, moveable and immoveable not before bequeathed, my debt paid and funeral expenses discharged, I give and bequeath to Gabriell Meades my youngest son whom I make and ordain executor of this my last will and testament, and of the execution of the same I make & ordain John Abram & John Goade of Henley aforesaid my overseers, and I utterly revoke and annul all and every other former testaments, wells, legacies, bequests, executors & overseers by me in any wise before this time named, willed and bequeathed. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and set my seal the day and year first written.

Published and delivered by the said Thomas Meades as his last will & testament in the presence of Hugh Ellys, Jeremy Hall.

Thomas Meades, of Henley on Thames, Oxon, gent, 1677, PCC

(originally from Chinnor: Thomas Meade the son of John Meade of Chinnor, baptized 1 October 1608)

In the name of God, amen, I Thomas Meades, of Henley on Thames in the County of Oxon, gent, being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I give my soul to God that gave it and my body to be buried in Christian-like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. Also I give and bequeath unto Richard Meads my elder brother twenty shillings of lawful money of England to be paid unto him by my executors within one year next after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto Robert Meads the son of the aforenamed Richard Meads ten shillings of like lawful money to be likewise paid unto him by my executors within one year after my decease. Also I give unto my half-brother Ambrose Meades twenty pounds of like lawful money to be paid unto him by my executors within one year after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my other half-brother Edward Meades twenty pounds of like lawful money to be paid unto him by my executors within one year after my decease. Also I give unto my two half-sisters twenty shillings apiece of like lawful money to be paid unto them by my executors likewise within one year after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto Edward Meades his wife and to my brother Ambrose his wife forty shillings apiece and to Ambrose his daughter forty shillings of like lawful money to be paid unto them likewise within one year after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Pauling formerly my daughter (one word unclear) the sum of five pounds of lawful money and her mother’s ring and bible, and to her two sons five pounds apiece of like lawful money to be paid unto them likewise within one year after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto the poor of the town of Henley upon Thames, where I now live, the sum of five pounds of lawful money of England to be given unto them by the (unclear) my funeral or suddenly after, being paid unto them by my executors at my funeral or suddenly after. Also I give and bequeath unto Thomas Allen the younger of Henley aforesaid forty shillings of like lawful money to be paid unto him likewise within one year after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto James Maynard and John Beard my living friends ten pounds apiece of like lawful money, whom I make and appoint to be my full executors of this my last will and testament. Also I give and bequeath unto Robert Stiles now apprentice to John Greene, shoemaker, of Henley aforesaid, forty shillings of like lawful money, and to his sisters twenty shillings apiece to be paid unto them as they shall come to the age of one and twenty years by my executors aforenamed. Also I give and bequeath unto John Meades of Chynnor in the county of Oxon one “Seule” ring of gold with this condition that he bequeath the said ring of gold to the next heir and in the name of the Meades when he dyeth and to none other. Also I give and bequeath unto William Meades of the same parish of Chinnor one silver bowl to remain unto him and to continue in the name of the Meades so long as there be any of that name or generation living. Also I give and bequeath unto John Beard’s son that he had by his wife Anne Maynard and to his daughter that he hath by the wife he now hath twenty shillings apiece of like lawful money to be paid by my executors at their ages of one and twenty years. Also my will is that my executors shall have full power and authority to sell and dispose of all my messuages, lands and tenements whatsoever for the payment of my debts and legacies. And if it shall happen that my messuages, lands and tenements being sold shall amount to a greater sum than I owe or have given away by the legacies herein mentioned, or my stock of household goods being appraised and valued and likewise by them sold towards the payment of my debts and legacies aforesaid, then my will is that my executors shall as equally divide the overplus amongst the legatees as they possibly may. Also I do desire that Thomas Allen the elder of Henley aforesaid shall have the sum of twenty shillings of like lawful money to be paid likewise unto him by my executors for his pains in making this will upon the delivery of it. In witness whereof I have to the first sheet set my hand and to this sheet set my hand and seal and do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, the eighth day of December one thousand six hundred seventy six. The mark of Thomas Meades on the presence of Thomas Allen. The mark of Thomas Parlowe the elder.