Will and Probate
Derived from The National Archives; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Piece: 111
Will Date: Uncertain but Probate granted 26 March 1608
Witnesses: William Stone, William Martyn
| Beneficiary | Relationship to Testator | Bequest |
| Church of Stalbridge | Institution | Ten shillings |
| Poor of Stalbridge | Community | Six pounds in money and twenty or thirty faggots each ‘as far as they will go’ |
| Robert Legge | Unspecified | Half an acre of wheat |
| Alice Legge (wife of Robert) | Unspecified | A black cow, featherbed in chamber, pair of sheets, bolster, canvas boardcloth, green gown, red petticoat, smock, partlet, silver spoon |
| John Hunte | Unspecified | Half an acre of wheat, dust bed, bolster, pair of blankets, coverlet, pair of sheets, bedstead in maid’s chamber |
| Joane Hunte | Daughter of John Hunte | A hunter’s yearling |
| Nicholas Brute | Unspecified | Half an acre of wheat |
| Wife of Nicholas Brute | Unspecified | Pair of canvas sheets, holland kerchief, partlet, gown, petticoat, old cloak |
| William Cutberd | Man/servant | Bedstead, dust bed, pair of blankets, coverlet, bolster, pair of sheets, two bushels of wheat, one bushel of malt, hunter’s bullock of a year old |
| Margarett Hunte | The elder | Two bushels of wheat, two bushels of dredge malt, forty cord faggots, old gown, petticoat, smock, kerchief, partlet, canvas apron |
| Margarett Hunt | The younger | Cow called Young Duffett, red heifer, bedstead with flockbed, bolsters, blankets, coverlet, sheets, six new table napkins, second biggest caldron, peeced crock, long-legged skillet, plates and dishware |
| William Martin | Man/servant | Five shillings |
| Prescilla Campin | Maid | Five shillings |
| Brother’s two daughters of Ennwill | Nieces | Ten shillings each |
| John Lodge | Son of Walter Lodge | Twenty shillings |
| John Norman | Unspecified | Ten shillings |
| Johane Wattes | Daughter of Richard Watts | One heifer with two stars in the face, a year old |
| Grace Attynnes | Unspecified | Five pounds |
| Elizabeth Attyne | Unspecified | Ten shillings |
| Faith Attyne | Unspecified | Ten shillings |
| Susan Attyne | Unspecified | Ten shillings |
| Daughter of Barnard Chamberlin | Unspecified | A heifer of a year old |
| Thomas Combe | Son of Robert Combe | A bull at Newnam |
| Katherine Combe | Sister-in-law | Black mare |
| Agnes Wood | Unspecified | Wreded? heifer and wrought cushion for a window |
| Johane Scooler | Unspecified | Best gown, best petticoat, green cloak, silver spoon, band with gorget, silk apron |
| William Scooler | Unspecified | Bullock of a year old |
| Thomas Scooler | Unspecified | One weanling in the house |
| Frances Scooler | Unspecified | Forty pounds in money (to be held until age 21), chamber furnished (except one featherbed), adjoining chamber with contents, all pewter and brass not otherwise given |
| William Wattes | Brother-in-law and executor | All remaining goods, chattels, debts, and demands not otherwise bequeathed |
| William Wood | Friend and overseerMany wills of the period appointed one or more Overseers. An Overseer is distinct from an Executor and acts as... In full. | Twenty shillings |
| John Scooler | Overseer | Twenty shillings |
Notes:
- The reference document should be consulted to check unusual words.
- The original will includes a noteworthy section listing debts owed to Johane Wattes, including fifteen pounds from Lady Awdley and various amounts from other individuals. There are no reasons mentioned for any of the debts. Consult the reference document for the remaining list of names.
Grant of Probate: 26 March 1608 awarded to William Wattes (the Executor)
The will was challenged by Walter Lodge (her brother’s son) but a judgement on 5 February 1611/12 confirmed that it was valid. [TNA, Sentence of Joan Watts, Widow of Stalbridge, Dorset. PROB 11/117/95]