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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.
Marshall, Daniel, 1803 BR/29/582
Marshall, Daniel, farmer, 1813 BR/31/89
Marshall, John, yeoman, 1767 BR/25/549
Mead, William, yeoman, 1667 BR/8/59
Meller, George, yeoman, 1631 BW/50/83
Morrell, Thomas, fletcher, 16 ?? BW/26/164
Morris, Rebecca, 1675 BR/9/450
Mountford, John 1662 BR/5/594
Mountford (Mumford), Philip, shopkeeper, 1746 BR/23/187
Mumford, John, gent, Waltham Hall, 1834 BR/34/114
Sar, widow 1799 BR/29/221 can't find
Myller, Thomas, husbandman, 1563/4 BW/25/208
Myller, Thomas, yeoman, 1565 BR/3/113
Nichol(l)s, Ann, widow, 1801 BR/29/405
Nicholls, John, yeoman, 1775 BR/26/510
Nicholson, Mary, wife of William, clerk, 1775 BR/26/527
Norton, John, palemaker, 1633 BW/51/132
Norton, Thomas, palemaker, 1624 BW/46/204
Pake, William the younger, 1567/8
Pake, William, husbandman, 1568 BW/28/279
Pane, John, yeoman, 1568 BW/28/276
Patmore, Nicholas, farmer, 1850 BR/36/380
Parsley, William, innholder, 1672 BR/9/143/reel 4
Parsly, William, yeoman, 1644 BW/26/58
Parson, Nash, 1778 BR/27/46
Parsons, John, senior, collarmaker, 1752 BR/24/89
Phyllyppes, als Saunders, Thomas, 1559 BR/1/12
Phillipes, John, senior, husbandman, 1640 BW/26/58
Pigram, Joshua, turnpike gatekeeper, 1761 BR/34/157
Pigram, Richard, yeoman, 1785 BR/27/510
Poole, Jeffrey, single man 1750 BR/23/512
Poole, Jeffrey, butcher, 1766 BR/25/473
Poole, John, husbandman 1680 BR/10/407
Prestland, Henry, fannewright, 1666 BR/7/224
THOMAS MORRELL, fletcher. BW/26/164
Good whole mind and perfect memory, but sick in body.
Believe in Almighty God his Maker and in Jesus Christ his only Saviour and
Redeemer, trusting assuredly through his Passion and Mercy to have eternal life,
and into whose hand he commends his soul.
Body to the earth at the discretion of his executrix.
Alice, wife, all his lands in Takeley and one piece of land, 1 acre more or less, in
Hatfield Broad Oak, lying in the Change.
All of which until the Feast of St Michael the Archangel next after the death of
Alice, keeping the house and buildings in good repair. The croft of land called
Longcroft which Alice bought jointly with him, to her until the next Feast of
St Michael after his death
If Alice refuses to give the required assurances then she is to have only half
of the above.
She has all the rest of the household stuff, corne in the house and fields, debts,
moveable and unmoveables not already bequeathed, paying his debts , legacies
and funeral expenses.
John, son, all the above at the death of his mother.
William Grave, son in law, £6 which he was promised at marriage in one year
after his death.
Francis Reade, son in law, £5 in 3 years after his death.
Francis Morrell, daughter, £10, in one year after his death.
John Smith, son in law, £6 in 2 years after his death.
Thomas Dowsett, godson, son of his son in law Gabriel Dowsett, 40s. to be paid to
Gabriel for the use of Thomas, in 4 years after his death.
Francesse, Elizabeth, Johanne Reade and Margaret his (fower) daughters to inherit
equally if John dies without lawful heirs.
Executrix; Alice, his wife.
Witnesses; Benjamin Goomeld, the mark of John White, and Thomas Barnarde, senior.
Mark of Thomas Morrell is very complicated.
Probate; 13 November 1603.
N.B. Thomas Morrell almost certainly built the second stage of the house called
The Black House alias The White Hart and now called Joyners, Yew Tree House
and Yew Tree Cottage. He is called an ale house keeper in the Quarter Sessions
records.
His son John seems to have been a ne’er do well and had to sell the property.
REBECCA MORRIS, widow, late the wife of William Morris. BR/9/450.
Will dated 27 November 1669
Being in health and good memory, praise be to God
Soul to the hands of Almighty God and body to be decently buried.
Rebecca Samford, daughter, 1s in 1 year after her death.
Sarah Newman, daughter, 1s. in 1 year after her death.
Mary, daughter, the bedstead with a flock bed in Camlett and Side Clase? both
with a woollen linen? thereunto belonging. with the bed that I do lye on.
Elizabeth Chackling?, daughter, and Mary Morris rest of goods to be divided
equally.
Executrix; Elizabeth Chackin.
Mark of Rebecca Morris.
Witnesses; Gregory Newman, Robert ??, mark of Thomas Pointer?
[difficult to read]
JOHN MUMFORD, of Waltham Hall, gent. BR/34/114
Will dated 13 January 1834
Strong and disposing of mind and memory and mindfull of Almighty God.
All funeral expenses and debts etc. to be paid.
Thomas, son, his Manor, messuage, lands, testamentary freehold and copyhold,
and out of his personal estate{ this is obscure on the fiche}. All the rest of his
money in Public Funds, personal estate etc. not otherwise willed.
John, son, messuage, tenement, lands, copyhold and freehold, in Tye Green
Elsenham, now in the occupation of Henry Pickford.
Mary ( his dearly beloved wife) to have an annual annuity of £60, paid by
Thomas out of the real estate left to him, and to start one calendar month
after his death. She is to have such of the household stuff etc. as she shall
desire.
John Greensore? grandson, now an infant , £400 at 21, but without interest,
to be paid by Thomas.
John Swan, grandson, now an infant, £100 at 21, but without interest, to be
paid by Thomas.
Executors; ( dear brother)Daniel Mumford, and son Thomas Mumford.
Daniel to get £19 13s for his trouble.
Witnesses; Thomas Mumford, James Church of Takeley, farmer,
Samuel Fisher, solicitor.
Probate; 5 November 1834.
THOMAS MYLLER husbandman. BW/25/208
Will dated 21 April 1563/4
Joan, wife, all his goods as corn, cattle and household stuff, except for those
already bequeathed.
Thomas, son, land in the common called Honey Croft in Broxted, 20s and a
cow of the best.
William, son, 20s and a cow.
Robert, son, 20s and a cow.
Margaret, daughter, 20s and a cow.
Elizabeth, daughter an angel noble.
Joan, daughter, an angel noble
Executors; Joan, his wife and William his son. William is to get 6s 8d for
his pains.
Witnesses Walter Wybard, Thomas Sonder, Richard Bruwett.
Probate;
THOMAS MYLLER, yeoman. 113/BR/3
Will dated 15 December 1565.
To the poor folk 20s, saving that Mother Kent shall have 18s.
Thomas, son, 4 beasts, his red bull, 10 sheep, a new shod dung cart, 6 pewter
platters, 1 of his best feather beds in the solar, 1 bedstead, the table in the hall,
2 of his oldest horses, and a cart and plough harness for them.
Avice, daughter, 4 feather beds,(2 that I lie on) the others the best of the rest,
with bedsteads, his 2 best brass pots, 2 of his best kettles, 6 pewter platters,
6 pewter dishes, 6 saucers, his best chaffing dish, 2 latten dishes, all his linen
unbequeathed, his tubs, vats, troughs, and such like, his other 4 horses,
the rest of his plough harness, 8 beasts, and a bull, and his hogs.
Also customary tenement called Malt lands and Jackes lands, also the rest of
his sheep, 2 wennels, the corn in his barns as wheat, barley, oats peason, his
stover both straw and hay within the house or stacks, and his wheat growing
on his lands. She being permitted to take the same at harvest next.
Also his stock of woade and all other woade { wood} that is felled, and his timber.
Also her mothers worsted kirtle, his cup[board and press.
Francis Soperwyck, alias Gylham is to pay her £46 at the Nativity of Our Lord.
That is £30 in 1569 and £16 in 1571,
Avice also gets all the leases and profits of the land held of the Manor of
Waltham Hall which the testator has redeemed of Mr Trappes, Mr. Thorpe or
one Thomas Stockbridge. Avice is to pay Mr Archer 40s of the £12 that he
receives of the Manor.
To each of his godchildren that shall demand it, she is to pay 12d.
The rest of his goods not already bequeathed are to be shared with son,
{son in law} Francis Soperwyck
Margaret Crabbe, daughter, 2 bullocks that had calves this year, and 20 marks
to be paid by his son Francis Soperwyck according to an obligation
Joan Gylham, daughter, 2 milch kine.
William Hawkynne, sometime servant, 1 milch cow.
John Peter, his boy, 1 wennel calf.
Francis Meade, 1 wennel calf and his wifes black frock.
Roger Payne, 1 wennel calf.
Overseers; Thomas, his son, Michael Williams.
Witnesses; Thomas Wyberd, Andrew Tame, Richard Hedge, Michael Williams,
Robert Lukyn, William Collins, John Sare of (Saddes)
Probate 5 January 1565/6
JOHN NICHOLLS, yeoman. B.R./26/510
Will dated 28 March 1769
Ann, wife, messuage with all appurtenances and rights of commonage for the
term of her life.
John, son of his brother Joseph Nicholls, to inherit after Anns death. Mary Nicholls,
widow, his mother, £3.
Also the customary or copyhold messuage in Little Hadham, Hertford, now in the
occupation of his brother Joseph, subject to paying his mother Mary Nicholls 40s.
a year during her life.
Also on the same property, to pay sister Elizabeth Nicholls, £30 in 3 months after
his mothers death.
Joseph Nicholls, brother, £3 a year and £20.
Thomas Nicholls, brother, after the death of wife Ann, 2 crofts of copyhold land,
held of the Manor of Thremhall Priory, lately purchased from John Guyver. Also £20.
Children of brother Thomas Nicholls, £30, to be paid to them at 21 years
Child, or children, of brother William Nicholls, £10 to be paid at 21 years.
Mary Nicholls, his mother, £20, outright.
Mary Nicholls, daughter of mother Mary Nicholls, £30
Martha, wife of Nathaniel Godfrey of Stanstead Mountfichet, glover, £10
Sarah Nicholls, spinster, sister, 330
Ann Nicholls, sister, £20.
Elizabeth Nicholls, sister, £20.
Children of late brother Zachariah Nicholls, £10 each.
Son of brother Joseph Nicholls, £10.
Zachariah Nicholls of Kings Hatfield or Hatfield Broad Oak, 1 guinea.
Witnesses; Robert Garrit, Simon Knught, R. Bush.
Probate; 26 June 1775
WILLIAM PAKE the younger, husbandman. BW/28/279
Will dated 8 March 1567/8
Agnes, wife, to have all the rest of his goods not already bequeathed and the house
where he dwells and the land he bought from his father.
William Pake, father to have £3 of the old debt which he owes him, and also 30s a
year pension for his keeping, at 7s 6d every quarter for life.
Takeley church to have the 20s which he owes it.
Executrix; Agnes, his wife.
Overseers; Thomas Myller of Moll Green in Takeley, Robert Marden.
Witnesses; Robert Lukyn, Richard Saring, William Oake (my father), (Bartrobe) Lukyn.
Probate ; 13 September 1568.
WILLIAM PAKE, husbandman. BW/28/279.
To 8 poor folke 2s 8d.
John Grene, son in law, £3 when due from his son Williams will. and the rest of his
goods after his debts and legacies have been paid.
Margaret Browne, daughter, 6s8d.
Executor; John Grene.
Witnesses; Francis Gaynesford, Thomas Mellere, William Sander, Robert Engelgolde.
Probate; 12 October 1568
JOHN PANE, yeoman. BW/28/276
Will dated 2 May 1568.
Wife,{no name] 1 acre of wheat in Great Tonneles, 1 acre of barley in U[?]er Lye,
where she will, and 1 acre of oats in Mel Field in the hither side. The red cow,
3 sheep, and 1 lamb. Also such stuff as is left that she brought, saving the best
pewter platter.
Nicholas, son, a piece of ground called Mel Field, saving that his brother Richard
shall have it for 6 years, he shall neither crop nor lop to make his fences with, and
to have the dung cart.
Roger, son, Gore Field, which is held of the manor of Colchester Hall,
a black horned cow and £3.
Henry and Nicholas, sons, a lease held of the Manor of Bassingbourn Hall ,
also the horse and harness and things belonging for the plough and cart.
Henry, son, the long cart.
Ellen, daughter, 2 pigs and £6.13s.4d. to be paid within 7 years after his death
at 20s a year. John Allbone to have 6s.8d. at marriage.
John, son of Richard, 6s.8d. at marriage.
Robert Walter, son of his daughter, 6s.8d. at marriage.
Executors; Richard and Henry his sons.
Overseers over his sons; Austen Walter, Nicholas Pane, Roger Pane, and each
to have 6s.8d.
Witnesses; Francis Gaynesforde, Austin Walter, Richard Pane, George Wyght,
writer Richard Serringe.
Probate; 18 May 1568
WILLIAM PARSLEY. innholder and malster. BR/9/143.
Will dated 24 July 1668.
In the name of God Amen. Commends his soul to the manifold mercies of God.
Body to be buried in Takeley churchyard.
Bridget White and Judith White, two of the daughters of John and Bridget White
of Takeley, one small croft of meadow or pasture ground containing by estimation
half an acre, which he lately purchased of his sister Judith, now the wife of
William Churche of Takeley.
The said croft lyeth butting to the east upon John Whites orchard, and towards
the West butting on the house where he now dwelleth, commonly called
The Cock in Takeley Street. The price and value of which is to be divided
equally between Bridget and Judith White after the death of his mother.
Judith White, the youngest of the two sisters, all and singular the goods and
moveables in the brewhouse and buttery--that is to say
In the ??? One copper, one meaching fatt [vat] containing two hogsheads by
measure and upwards, one large meilding fates, one tub containing a hogshead
in measure or more, dial Cowler containing in measure hogshead and upwards,
a large kettle containing sixteen to eighteen gallons of ? Malt, one with 2 small
tubs in the buttery, five hogsheads, and one half hogshead, and a barrel.
Also one downe bed each, a bolster pillow and bedstead standing in the Chamber
over the stellar, except the sheet wherein my mother usually lyeth, and which the
said goods and moveables and peertaining...of household stuff to be employed to
the best use by the father and mother of the said Judith White.
Also her part in the meadow and pasture aforesaid to them, also the said to the use
and behoof of the said Judith White.
Elizabeth White, sister and wife of John White of Takeley aforesaid all the goods
and moveables in the said Chamber and the bedstead which the said bedding
thereunto belongeth.
One table, six joyned stools, a forme and joyned Chaires, one joyned liverie
Cupboard with a joyned inlaid dresser standing in the Chamber over the little
parlour wherein I keep my writtings.
Judith, sister and wife of Nich[orRich] Tucker of Takeley, carpenter, all the
goods, moveables in the Chamber over the little parlour, that is to say ,
one joyned bedstead, with the bed bolster and pillow and rugg and whatever
thereunto belongeth, one trundle bed with the bedding and blankets thereunto
belonging, one joyned chest in the little parlour room. Small table and forme.
John Parsley , brother, of Much Eyston, with the consent of his mother,
the house wherein he dwells, formerly called by the name Fayerhead, but
now commonly called by the name of The Cock , situated and being in
Takeley Street aforesaid , with the yard, barns, stable, henhouse and other
outhouses, with small parcels of land in the backside, containing 8 or 10 rodds
wherein is a small garden.
William Parsley, the eldest son of the above John Parsley, to inherit the above
when he accomplishes the age of 21 years To him and his heirs for ever.
John Parsley, his next brother to inherit if William dies without heirs.
Thomas Parsley, the younger brother to inherit if John then dies without heirs.
Bridget White, wife of John White to be paid by executor John Parsley within
2 years after the death of testators mother.
John Parsley and John White, all the moveable goods in the great Parlour, called
the ?Sideboard parlour.
Executors; John White and John Parsley.
Judith Brewer, widow, the mother of William Parsley, testifies in the presence of
John White and Samuel Taylor, that she agrees to the above will.
Probate; 1672.
N.B. See the note to the will of Thomas Burr.
THOMAS PHILLYPPES alias SAUNDERS, paleman. BR/12/1
Will dated 13 December 1559.
Margaret, wife, the house where he now dwells, for life.
Thomas, son , his house after the death of Margaret his mother,. He is to pay
his brother John £5 after his mothers death, and his sisters Agnes and
Elizabeth 40s each.
John, son, his house if Thomas leaves no male heirs.
Joan, Agnes, Elizabeth, daughters, to inherit the house equally if both
Thomas and John leave no male heirs.
Executrix Margaret, his wife.
Overseers; Thomas and George Kelsey.
Witnesses; George Kelsey, Robert Batesford, Thomas Batesford.
Probate; not recorded.
JOHN POOLE. BR/10/407
Will dated 14 February 1680.
Mary, wife, freehold lands, tenements, and hereditaments where he now
dwelleth for her life.
Also all the moveable goods within and without, for the payment of debts,
and bringing up his children until( they shall be able to shift for themselves)
John, son, the above after the death of his mother
Jane, daughter, best feather bed after his wifes death and one potage pott
and one kettle.
Robad, son, one pair of Quern stones and one mare.
Witnesses; William Wrenn, the mark of Robad Poole, the marke of Thomas Poole.
Probate;
HENRY PRESTLAND, fannewright. BR/7/224
Will dated 16 August 1666
Beinge sicke and very ill in Body, but of good and perfect memory, blessed
be God for it. Yeilds up soul into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ my
onely Saviour and Redeemer by whose merritts I do hope to be saved and
my Bodie I do commend to the earth from whence it was taken and for the
small portion of Worldly goods to which the Lord in his mercy hath bestowed
upon me to
Dorothy, wife, all that messuage or tenement where he now dwells with all the
house, and house yards, and hoppetts belonging, containing by estimation 3 acres,
commonly called Cornwell Croft or Crofts, for her life and then to his son Henry.
Also to Dorothy all moveable goods, household goods, Tables, Bedds and bedding,
brasse and all other things whatsoever , and the Cattle and all outward Estate,
his Stock of Rodds and all things belonging to his trade.
She is to pay all debts.
Dorothy Prestland, daughter, £10 at the end of 10 years after the death of his
wife to be paid by Henry Prestland or his heirs. If she dies before the end of
the three years , then Henry to have £5, and the rest to be divided among the
rest that are living.
Hannah Prestland, daughter, £10 in six years on the same terms.
Joseph Prestland, son, £10 in nine years on same terms.
Mary Prestland, daughter, £10 in twelve years on same terms.
John, Francis and William, the sons of Henry, 40s each in fifteen years on the
same terms.
Thomas Staines, grandson, 40s in fifteen years on same terms.
If any of the legacies are not paid, then any of the above can enter into the
two closes until they receive their legacy.
Mark of Henry Prestland
Sole Executrix; wife Dorothy.
Witnesses; Thomas Mumford, Gregory Newman.
Probate; 29 October 1666.
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