Top Section: Contains a modernised English version of the Will set out in a way that makes it easier to follow and understand the intentions of the testator without losing the original sentence structure. I have added some punctuation and genealogical notes and links where appropriate. Second Section: Shows the original transcription, where to aid researchers with identification, I have deliberately retained the original line structure, paging, spelling, abbreviation and superscript used in the Will. It is a good example of the changeover between Court Hand and Secretary Hand. Probate as always is written in Latin. My Latin leaves more than a bit to be desired but I have attempted a rough translation. I am happy to be corrected by anybody who can transcribe it properly. In the Name of God Amen: The Fifth Day of February in the year of our Lord God 1602 And in the last year of the Reign of our late sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth I Thomas Davidge of Weston Buckhorn in the County of Dorset Yeoman being sick of body but yet of good and perfect remembrance (thanks be given to god therefore) do ordain and make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following In the First place: I bequeath my soul unto Almighty God my maker, hoping and faithfully believing (that), by the merit of Christ's passion, to be saved Item: I give to the church of Weston Buckhorn 12 pence Item: I give to the poor of Weston Buckhorn 3 shillings and four pence Item: my mind will and intent is that my executors shall hold and enjoy my ground called Cowe Leaze (1) for the term of four years next after my decease or death, to the paying of debts and legacies and five pounds a year to John Davidge (for) my sons maintenance during the said term paying therefore the Lords Rent and discharging all other duties and reparations due for and out of the same according to my just and true meaning Item: I give my lease of Cowe Leaze after the said term of four years next after my death, to my son John Davidge for the term of fourscore years of the said term, if the said John Davidge do or shall so long live and no longer nor any otherwise Item: If it shall please god that Grace Davidge my daughter shall survive and outlive the aforesaid John her brother, Then: I do give the remainder of the years and term to come of and in my said lease of Cowe Leaze unto the aforesaid Grace my daughter fully and absolutely and in such manner and form as I hold the same Item: I give to my aforesaid daughter Grace Davidge twenty pounds of lawful money of England Item: I give to Jane Davidge my daughter twenty pounds of lawful money of England Item: I give to Henry Davidge my son one cow Item: I give to the aforesaid John Davidge my son two bullocks of one years age Item: I give to Marie Davidge my daughter ten pounds of lawful money of England to be paid her at the 25th day of March in the year of Our Lord 1604 And one cow. The Residue: of all my goods and chattels moveable and immoveable my debts paid and my legacies performed I give and bequeath to Margery my wife and Henry Davidge my son whom I make and ordain my whole executors of this my Testament and last will appointing and requesting these my good friends to be Overseers of the same Edmund Clarke clerke and John Davidge my brother. Witnessing to these presents these whose names are hereunder written. (Note:- no names of witnesses are given) (Probate: Rough Translation only:-) Approved was this testament (will) at London before the worshipful [man] Lord John Bennett Doctor of laws at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury -- committed upon twenty ninth day in the month of January in the year of Our Lord -- one thousand six hundred & five by the oath of Margery Davidge relict of the deceased and Henry Davidge son In the Name of God Amen: the vivth day of ffebruary in the yeare of our Lorde god 1602 And in the last yeare of the Raigne of our # late sovereigne ladye Queene Elizabethe I Thomas Davidge of Weston Buckhorne in the # # County of Dorset yeoman being sick of body but yet of good and pfect remembrannce (thanks be given to god therefore) doe ordeyne and make this my last wyll and Testament in manner and forme followinge Imprimis I bequeath my sowle unto almightie god my maker, hopinge and faith fully beleivinge by the merrite of Christs passion to be saved Item I give to the church of Weston Buckhorne xijd Item I give to the poore of Weston Buckhorne iijs iiijd Item my minde will and intent is that my executors shall hould and enjoy my grounde called Cowe leaze for the terme of fower yeares next after my decease or death to the paying of debts and legacies and five pounds a yeare to John Davidge my sonnes mainetenannce duringe the saide terme payenge therefore # the Lords rente and discharging all other duties and reparens due for and out of the same accordinge to my iust and true meaninge Item I give my lease of Cowe leaze after the saide terme of fower years # next after my death to my sonne John Davidge for the terme of fourescore yeares of the said terme if the saide John Davidge doe or shall soe longe live and noe longer nor aine otherwise Item if it shall please god that Grace Davidge my daughter shall survive and overlive the aforesaid # John her brother Then I doe give the Remainder of the yeres and terme to come of and in my said# lease of Cowe lease unto thaforesaid Grace my daughter fullie and absolutely and in such manner and forme as I hould the same Item I give to my foresaid daughter Grace Davidge twentie pounds of lawful money of England Item I give to Jane Davidge my daughter Twentie pounds of lawfull money of England Item I give to Henrie Davidge my sonne one cowe Item I give to the aforesaide John Davidge my sonne two bullocks of one yeares age Item I give to Marie Davidge my daughter tenne poundes of lawfull money of England to be paied her at the xxvth day of March Anno Domini 1604 And one # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------end of page 1 cowe. The Residue of all my goods and chattels moveable and imoveable my debts paied and my # legacies pformed I give and bequeath to Margery my wife and Henry Davidge my sonne whom I make and ordaine my whole executors of this my Testament and last will appointinge and reque stinge these my good friends to be Overseers of the same Edmonde Clarke clerke and John Davidge my brother. witnessinge to these pidts these whose names are hereunder written. My Latin leaves a great deal to be desired and I can only give a very rough translation as I cannot even be sure of transcribing the words correctly in latin:- Happy to be corrected by someone who actually knows what he/ she is doing & will copy the text to them if interested. In the meantime I have attempted a rough translation of some of the key elements:- Probatum fuit huiod (abbreviation of hujusmodi?) testum (abbr. of testmentum?) apud London coram ven∧abili (abbr. venerabile) viro domino Johe Bennet milito et legum dcore curie Prerogative Cant (abbr. Canterbury) mro? custode fuit Comissario Etui?? constituto vicesimo Nonus die mensis January Anno Domini nixta cursum et computacoem enlie Anglicane millimo sepcentesimo quinto Juramento Margerie Davidge relce dufi defuncto et Henrici Davidge fili ?alis et ltuini einsdem defuncti etc etc etc Genealogical Notes:- (1). I have not been able to locate any deeds concerning a property of this name or to a Thomas Davidge of Buckthorn Weston. The most likely reason the lease is left in the care of his executors for 4 years and only then assigned to his son John is that he was considered too young to directly inherit. (2). Edmund Clarke clerk seems to have had a son Edmund in Weston circa 1615 as this son matriculated 15 Jun 1632 aged 17 at Balliol College Oxford. He also joined the church (deacon 1636 priest 1637) and became rector of Kingston Magna in Dorset, but records of his appointment seem to have been lost. He was there however in 1662 as he signed the Act of uniformity. |