Extracts from the wills of Takeley residents, and also wills with references to land or property in Takeley.
Printed with the permission of the Essex Record Office.

References with BR are on micro fiche.
References with BW are on microfilm

(   ) indicate direct quotations.
[   ] indicate note by the compiler.
... indicates that there are words left out.
?  indicates that the compiler is uncertain of the reading.

The words God, Redeemer. Saviour etc. have been given capital letters throughout, even where they are not in the original.
The word (decease) has been rendered (death) to avoid confusion
1/- has been rendered 1s.
Probate dates have been given where known.
All land houses etc. are in Takeley unless otherwise specified.
All personal and place names have been given capital letters.

Full A to D List (those found to date)

Bad, Robert, yeoman, 1723 BR/18/381
Banks, Mary, spinster, 1712 BR/16/229
Banks, Thomas, yeoman, 1680 BR/11/76
Barker, John, farmer, 1804 BR/29/626
Barnard, John, 1621 BW/44/89
Baysey, William, yeoman, 1729 BR/20/200
Beard, Jeremiah, 1723 BR/18/390
Bearman, Hugh, 1559 BR/2/46
Bickner, John, yeoman, 1687 BW/72/148
Bickner, Mary, widow, 1707 BR/15/289
Brewer, Thomas, 1580/1
Brewer, Philip, yeoman, 1680 BR/10/456
Brewer, Robert, 1629 BW/51/279
Brewer, Robert 1707
Brown, Elizabeth, widow, 1633 BW/52/74
Brown, John, senior, husbandman 1634 BW/52/108
Brown, Thomas, yeoman, 1711 BR/16/186
Brown, Mary, widow, 1770 BR/ 26/188
Brown, Thomas, 1723 BR/18/346
Bull, James, 1692 BW/28/74
Bull, James, malster, 1720 BR/18/8
Bull, Thomas, 1711 BR/13/80
Burling, Robert, 1661 BR/5/317
Burling, Michael,
Burr, Thomas, 1625 BW/47/242
Bush, Margaret, widow, 1622 BW/47/183

Campe, Mary, 1700
Campe, John, 1672
Campion, John, carrier, 1639 BW/56/22
Cavell, William, husbandman, 1560 BR/2.65
Cawbeck, John yeoman, 1650 BW/60/154
Cawbeck, Michael, yeoman, 1624 BW/45/129
Cawbeck, Edward, husbandman 1567 BW/10/205
Clarke, Henry, senior, gent, 1803 BR/29/509
Clark, Rebecca, widow, 1730 BR/20/274
Clark, Susan, spinster, 1834 BR/34/96
Clark, John, senior, husbandman, 1625 BW/46/167
Clark, Thomas, yeoman, 1631 BW/50/160
Clarke, John, 1571/2 MR/3/152
Collyn, William, gent 1668 BR/8/143
Coote, Robson, farmer, 1773 BR/26/355
Coote, Thom, yeoman, Colchester Hall 1797 BR/29/92
Cramphorn, John, carpenter, 1688 BR/12/221

A to D Transcriptions (work in progress)

MARY BANKS, spinster. BR/16/229
Will dated 15 January 1711.
[Early section is unreadable]
Canfield....my wearing apparel both linen and woolen.
to the above Elizabeth Fitch a feather bed and all the things belonging to it
which was left by her late grandfather.
John Stock, loving kinsman, all the rest of goods and chattels which was not
hereto fore disposed of
Executor; John Stock, kinsman.
Witnesses; J. White, William Gambling
Quanto die January 1712.

THOMAS BANKS, yeoman. BR/11/76
Will dated 24 March 1680.
On his sick bed when the minister of the parish did demand of him whether he
had made his will.
To his wife, all his estate whatsoever, she giving which she pleaseth to his
loving cousen Anne King at her death as she should find herself able.
Witnesses; Jo. English, Vicar of Takeley. William Bankes, Henry Stanes,
Probate at Dunmow; 7 July 1681.

JOHN BARNARD, BW/89/44
Will dated 12 September 1620.
Body to be buried in Takeley churchyard.
£63 to be delivered to Edward Browne of Hertford, glover, Christopher Browne
of Hertford, mercer and Joan Barnard of Hertford, widow, so that it can be divided
among the children of his son John Barnard, late of Hertford at 21 years as follows.
John Barnard, £12
Jonathan Barnard, £12
Ane Barnard, £12
Marie Barnard, £12
Joane Barnard, £12
Hester Barnard, £12
Bridget Barnard, wife, and Joan Barnard, daughter, to share equally the goods,
chattels and household stuff and implements.
Witnesses; the mark of Thomas Speller, James Harwood,
Signed; John Barnard
Probate;

WILLIAM BAYSEY, yeoman. BR/20/200
Will dated 23 April 1712
( being not in health and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life)
Mary, wife, messuage or tenement with all the houses, outhouses, yards, garden,
orchards and the other little pastures thereunto adjoining with all appurtenances,
containing by estimation 2 acres, more or less, situate and lying in Takeley Street
for her life.
Elizabeth Baysey, daughter, to inherit the above after the death of her mother.
If Mary Baysey remarries it is all to go to Elizabeth ( and the said Mary my wife
foreswears out of and from the said Messuage and premises and wholly to be
dispossed of the same.
Mary and Elizabeth to share equally the goods chatells and personal estate,
having first paid the debts.
Executrix; Mary, his wife, and Elizabeth, daughter.
Mark of William Baysey.
Witnesses; William Pollard, John Gibbins, Peter Mountford.
Probate;

HUGH BEARMAN BR/2/46
Will dated 1 August 1559.
Agnes, wife, all his goods not otherwise bequeathed.
John Bearman, son, his lands in Takeley at 21 years.
Alice Bearman, daughter, £6.13s.4d to be paid out of his goods.
Anne Bearman, daughter, £6.13s.4d to be paid out of his goods.
Executrix; Agnes, his wife.
Probate ; 1 August 1560.

JOHN BICKNER, yeoman. BW/72/148
Will dated 18 February 1686.
Mary, wife, all goods and chattels.
Mother, 20s. and a dwelling house in Takeley.
Susannah, eldest sister, wife of William Speller.
Alice, sister, 20s.
Jean, sister, 20s/
John Speller, son of his sister Susannah, £40 and a gold ring.
Thomas Speller, son of sister Susannah, 10s/
.William Speller, son of sister Susannah, 10s.
Judith, eldest daughter of sister Alice, 30s.
Alice, daughter of sister Alice, 10s.
Susannah, daughter of sister Alice, 10s.
John Clarke, son of sister Joan, 20s.
Mary, daughter of sister Joan, 40s.
Thomas Baysey, godson, 10s.
Elizabeth Lyes. maidservant, 20s.
Mark of John Bickner, mark of Thomas Browne, mark of Thomas Stock.
Signed by Robert Mumford.

MARY BICKNER, widdow. BR/ 13/121
Will dated 23 June 1689.
John Speller, son of her late husbands sister, messuage called Cooks , with
orchard, outhouses and appurtenances.
Also that close of pasture and 2 closes of arable.

Unreadable section here.

......Mary, William and Thomas, children of William Basse, her deceased brother,
in 1 year after her death.
William Baysey, son in law,
John Basse, brother,
Bridget Basse, sister, all £10 apiece in 6 months after her death.
Elizabeth Burton, kinswoman, daughter of the said deceased brother William Basse
£5 at 21 years, if she happens to live to that age.
If John Speller or Thomas refuse to pay the above legacies, then the above can enter
in to the messuage and lands until they have their legacy.
Jean Brown, widow,, daughter of Thomas Brown, brother. croft of land called
Chapman Crofte, by estimation 4 acres, more or less, with the appurtenances,
now also in the occupation of her and her heirs.
In default of heirs it goes to Jone Brown, daughter of Thomas Brown, brother
of the said Jone Brown, and of the said John Brown.
Mary Basse, kinswoman, and daughter of William Basse, £5 in one and a half years
after her death.
Wife of Thomas Bass a feather bed which was bought of Mary Ramsey, one...had my
bedsteddle and 20s.
One part of all goods and chattels to the said John Speller on condition that he payeth
all legacies which were given by will of John Bickner, her late husband.
Executor; John Speller. If the said John Speller is under the age of 21 years at the time
of her death, she appoints Thomas Stock of Much Canfeild, brother in law,
and Thomas Baysey of Hatfield Broad Oak, to be Guardians to her kinsman during his
minority.
Mark of Mary Bickner
Witnesses; Mark of Thomas Stock, mark of Thomas Browne, John Vinyer.
Probate; 20 July 1692.

PHILIP BREWER, yeoman. BR/10/456
Will dated; 1680
(sorned and infirm of body but sound and perfect mind), calling to mind the uncertainty
of this life....praise be to God and the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer.
Matthew Brewer, son, 3 acres of meadow and parcells of arable land containing 6 acres,
more or less, called Forgers with the appurtenances, which property he purchased of
James Fitzheugh
Joane, daughter, now the wife of Joseph White of Takeley, the tenement with
appurtenances purchased of James Fitzheugh and now in the occupation of
Thomas Williams.
John Brewer, son, all the Wilnesbury land called Forgers and all the lands and
tenements which he bought of Richard Pamplyn, and the land, tenements, free
and copyhold.
Matthew, son, £100 out of his Colledge least, stocks, and goods, that is £20
every year until the £100 is paid, with the first £20 within 1 year of his death.
Matthew is to enter into that land which he lately let to one John Staines of Takeley,
yeoman, by lease, being part of the land which he held of New Colleedge in Oxford,
and is to hold and enjoy the rents of these profitts until he shall be fully paid the £100.
Elizabeth Brewer, daughter, £120 to be paid within 6 months after his death from
his stocks and personal estate at the rate of £6 until fully paid.
Jane, daughter, now the wife of Henry Mumford £20 to be paid within 12 months
of his death, over and above the threescore pounds what her husband hath in
portion with her already.
Susan, daughter, wife of William Matthews, £35 to be paid within 12 months
of his death, over and above what her husband owed him
William Matthews, grandson, £10 at ?10 years.
All household goods and stuff within his now dwelling house to such of his
children as he shall give the same by a writing under his hand or by word of mouth

ROBERT BREWER, weaver, 279/BW/51
Will dated 21 October 1629.
Mary, wife, houses and tenements in Takeley, orchards yards and croft of land,
1 acres, for life.
Use of house hold stuff and moveables for life.
Ann, Jeane, Mary, and Ellyn, her fower daughters, the above to be divided
equally after the death of their mother.
Daniel, son, tenement, yard, orchard and croft of land after his mothers death
and after four years use by the four daughters.
John Brewer, son of brother William Brewer, £13. 6s.8d one year after Daniel
gets his inheritance.
If Daniel refuses to pay then John Brewer gets those house which standeth
by the highway leading from Hatfield to Newport which are now all Mault
houses, and part of the yard from a aysh tree standing against the Kings
highway leading from Dunmow to Bishops Stortford, and so from that
aysh tree directly to the pond, and so from the pond to Alytell Dych or Gutter,
that now against the which dich or gutter that standeth at some Plum trees,
and so directly to the Kings highway again.
Executrix; Mary, his wife.
Witnesses ; Timothy Herd, Samuel Gaynsfforf.
Probate;
N.B. We have a definite identification of this property with the present
Yew Trees by the Four Ashes Public House. Everything except the plum trees
were in the garden of the house in recent memory. The centre section of the
present house is 16C. As yet we have not been able to establish if the barns
to the North-East of the house could have been the Malthouses.
The Brewer family were a wealthy family in this period, and the name
Brewers End is certainly derived from them. The Essex Place Names volume
confirms this.
Timothy Herd, or Heard, was Vicar of Takeley from 1629--1643 when he was
removed by the Commonwealth. He was reputedly a very colourful character.
The name Heard is associated with Takeley, but as yet we have not made a
connection between the Takeley Heards and Timothy

THOMAS BROWNE, yeoman. BR/16/186.
Will dated 7 September 1702.
[Opening is unreadable.]
Anne, daughter, wife of Thomas Hills, messuage or tenement, lands etc. If Anne
has no legitimate heirs then goes to
Thomas Browne, grandson, son of his son Thomas.
Thomas Browne, John Browne, the wife of William Browne, and Charles and
Jane Browne the children of his son Thomas Browne, £15
[This section is very confused, overwritten and difficult to read]
Thomas Browne, son, £2 in 6 months after his death
Anne, daughter, and Thomas ,son, to share the rest of his goods equally.
Executrix; Anne, his daughter.
Witnesses; William Clarke, Robert Mountford. mark of William Judd.
Probate; 1 March 1711.

MARY BROWN, widow. BR/26/188
Will dated 1767.
Ann , niece, wife of John Nicholls. £200
Remainder of her estate after paying her debts.
Mary, wife of Thomas Tibury £10 to be paid within 6 months after her death.
Executor; James Rous, shopkeeper and friend.
Witnesses, Charles Clubby, Daniel Ramsey.
Marke of Mary Brown.
Probate ;
N.B. This may be the Mary Brown who was at the Green Man public house.
The dates match and both James Rous and the Ramseys lived in Takeley Street.

JAMES BULL, malster, late of Takeley, but now of Bishops Stortford. BR/18/8
Will dated 8 November 1719.
Sick and weak in body, but of sound disposing mind and memory. Thanks be to
Almighty God for the same.
First, with fear and reverence, bequeaths soul to the mercifull hands of Almighty God
his Creator, hoping assuredly alone by the merits and death and passion of his
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to perceive the same with comfort at the Great
general day of Judgement.
Body to the earth at discretion of Executor.
Lydia Alefounder, sister the messuage or tenement in Saffron Walden where
James Orell now dwelleth, with all appurtenances, on condition that she pays
the Interest on the loan taken out to buy it. The rest of his personal estate, cattell,
chattels, moveables, household stuff etc.
John Alefounder, son of Lydia, to have the above at her death.
Joseph Bull, brother, £10? { there is a blot here } in 6 months after his death.
Robert Boyton, his well beloved friend of Hatfield broad Oak, £8 in 6 weeks
after his death The residue to him to pay out to Lydia Alefounder at the rate
of £5 a year.
Sole executor; Robert Boyton.
Witnesses; mark of Ann Walker, William Walker, Thomas Barnard, esq.
Probate; 11 February 1719/20.

THOMAS BURR . 202.BW/47
Will dated 16 November 1622
To be buried in the churchyard at Takeley.
John Phillips, his house which he last let along by Thomas Halfords yard,
containing 20ft more or less, with a way into it out of the street, through the
two ?coots between the ?.. and Thomas Halfords yard, with ?acres of ground,
which I have appointed already, containing 1 rod of ground more or less.
For the rest of his natural life, and then to be layed to this house wherein I now dwell.
Also all the timberwork of a bed standing under the parlour next the street ,
with a table and frame standing by it.
William Halford £3. a table and frame standing in the little buttery which abutteth.
Daughter, ???, 20s.
Edward, to him ???
Judith Burr, daughter, the messuage and tenement where she dwelleth with houses,
buildings, yard, orchard and garden known by the name of Fayders headers,
but now called The Cock, or by whatever other name it is called, for her life.
If she die, it is to go to my daughters children, Robert, Margaret, Catherine,
Thomas, Edward, and William, to be divided among them
Executrix; Judith Burr.
Witnesses; Henry Langley, Edwin Jaffe, John Morrell, William Barden.
Probate;

N.B. It seems probable that The Cock was the now Whites Farm[ see the
will of William Parsley]
There is a lane on the East of the house leading to a field called Cockfield,
and the age and size of the house make this a reasonable supposition.

WILLIAM CAVELL, husbandman. BR 2/65.
Will dated 19 June 1560.
Agnes, wife, all goods except for a bequest to John Browne.
John Browne 6s 8d (for his good behaviour)
Executrix; Agnes, his wife.
Witnesses; Thomas Tame, William Brewer, John Seale.
Probate; 10 December 1560.

EDWARD CAWBECKE, husbandman. BW/10/205.
Will dated 22 July 1567.
Margaret, wife, 2 copyhold pieces of land called Jackes Common Mead by
the highway in Takeley. All other goods not already bequeathed. After her
death to son
Richard. If Margaret is with child then Richard is to pay the child 5 marks
after he enters into the pieces of mead.
Executrix; Margaret, his wife.
Supervisor; John Cawbecke, brother.
Witnesses; Roger Tyller, curate of Little Canfield. Thomas Clarke,
Andrew T or B? {rueu?} John Whyte, John Bush.
Probate; 30 July 1567

JOHN CLERKE, husbandman. MR/3/152.
Will dated 1571/2
Takeley poor to have 6s.8d.
Elizabeth, wife, for her life the tenement called Goodings with the copyhold
lands belonging, and the free lands and tenements in Takeley bringing up his
children and paying his legacies. The residue of goods after paying the legacies.
John, son, the lands etc. after the death of Elizabeth. During her life, Elizabeth
is to pay him 13s. 4d yearly after he has reached 21 years.
Joan, daughter, £6 13s. 4d. at 21 years, a feather bed at marriage, the best
cupboard and a kettle of 8 gallons., or else 6s.8d. for the kettle.
Executrix; Elizabeth, his wife.
Overseers; George Kelsey, Thomas Phillippe alias Sander, brother.
Witnesses; John Cawbeck, John Bryant, John Phillip alias Saunder, Thomas More.
Probate; 21 May 1572.

WILLIAM COLLYN, gent. BR/8/143.
Will dated 1665.
Being in reasonable health of body, but good and perfect mind and memory,
thanks and praise to Almighty God, knowing and well considering the frailty
and uncertainty of this mortal life.
Soul to the hands off God my Maker and Creator hoping and assuredly
believing through the only merritts, death and passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour
to obtain remission and pardon of all my Sinns and to enjoy Eternal happiness
in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Body to be committed to the earth in Christian burial in Takeley churchyard,
and such wordly goods and estate as God in his mercy hath pleased to lende me
Lists the people to whome he owes debts;
Mr William Fellowe, cousin, citizen and woodmonger in London, £113.
Hannah Knowles, sister, £50
Mr John James of Moll End Grene, £50
Mr John Kendall of Hatfield, £10.
Thomas Poole of Takeley, £10.
All outstanding debts and interest are to be paid. out of the yearly tenements
issuing and all Lands and estate in Hatfield and Takeley, and from such payments
as due to him from the estate of his loving wife Margaret Collyn.
Hannah Knowles, sister, £10 , and she is to be the guardian of his son William
during his minority, but his son is to remain with his wife so long as she
remains a widow.
If she remarries she is to hand over son to Hannah Knowles with an account
of all monies etc. since his death.
The estate is not to come to the son until he is 20 years old.
Margaret , wife, all goods , cattell, household stuff within the house, so long
as wife carries out his will and testament and performs at own cost the land
she holds in Takeley from New College, Oxford., and also that she pays to
Mr William Rods all the interest due to him at his death. of the sum of money
as her former husband Mr Thomas Rode heretofore borrowed.
Margaret, his wife, on his death is to deliver immediately , surrender, deliver
all her rights, title etc. in the one third of all his estates to the son William
Executrix; Margaret, his wife.
Witnesses; Thomas Sheirman, James Mitchell, John Whitehall, servant to
Edward Wolring, solicitor.
Probate; .