Lucas Jacobs 1656 of London, merchant

Lucas Jacobs is a well-off Flemish merchant living in London. He lists items to go to each of his daughters including a harpsicord, numerous pictures and an atlas.  His daughter Anna is the wife of Elias Beake (Will 1667) and Catharine is the wife of Christian Pauwells Santen (Will 1667). Summary Will Date:  25 August 1655Executor:  …

Edward St Barbe 1617 of Whiteparish, Wiltshire

Edward St Barbe is the brother of Thomas (Will 1610). There is a detailed inventory which includes weaponry, household / farming items and a few books and pictures, but little finery. Plenty of new words - you may need the Glossary. Summary Will Date:   7 April 1617Executor: Wife Christian and son EdwardOverseers:Cousin SadlerWitnesses:William Parkes, Richard Wooles, Joane Woodes …

Thomas Dorchester 1463 of London, ironmonger

Thomas Dorchester makes arrangements for religious observances, expects his daughter Maud will become a nun and bequeaths his book Fasciculus Morum to his overseer. His daughter Cecily is the wife of John Marshall (Will 1465). Summary Will Date:  25 January 1463Executors: Nicholas Marshall and Roger MarshallOverseer: Edward StoreyWitnesses:   NonePeople: Late wife Maud, deceasedDaughter Maud who may become a …

John Love 1679 of Rector of Greatham, Hampshire

John Love is the son of John Love of Basing and Rebecca Eyre. He wants his son, who is nine years old, to be well educated. His possessions include books and a clock, and also the stock and implements of a typical husbandman. Summary Will Date: 21 September 1679Executor: Wife ElizabethOverseers:NoneWitnesses:  Peter Binstead, Alice Collier, Jane Hunt[?] People:Wife ElizabethSon …

Margery Langrich 1471 of London, widow

Margery Langrich is the widow of Walter Langrich (Will 1465). She describes her valuables and furnishings using many interesting words of the time. She owns a primer book and some of the items given to her children are marked with their initials. Summary Will Date:  19 November 1470Executors: Son John Langrich and William Yorke of London, …

Elizabeth Thursby 1518 of Norwich, Norfolk, widow

Elizabeth Thursby has outlived three husbands - Robert Aylmer (Will 1493), John, and Thomas Thursby. She makes elaborate provision for religious observance after her decease and makes charitable bequests, including a cart for cleaning the streets of Norwich. Her sons Richard (Will 1512) and Thomas have predeceased her. Summary Will Date: 13 December 1518Executors: Thomas Alderich, Leonard …

Thomas Guybon 1570 of Kings Lynn, Norfolk

Thomas Guybon is the son of Thomas Guybon of West Lynn (Will 1531). He leaves his wife a 'book of gold' - a small devotional book with a decorative cover worn on a necklace or girdle. Some of the lands he bequeaths to his sons came from the dissolution of the monasteries. His daughter Beatrice …

William Martyn 1537 of West Smithfield, London, gentleman

William Martyn's will has many interesting social, religious and linguistic details. His bequests to his wife are made 'as though she were a stranger and not my wife', and he suggests some of his books may 'be mete to lye in wyndows for comyn lernying of the lokers on them'. His daughter Isabel is the …

Thomas Bonnell 1607of Norwich, dyer

Thomas Bonnell is a Flemish emigree living in Norwich. He bequeaths books, including his 'greatest bible' and 'Josephus' - presumably by the 1st Century Romano-Jewish historian. He is the father of Elizabeth Vansolt nee Bonnell (Will 1665) who married Abraham Vansolt (Will 1662). Jacquelyn his 'now wife' is unlikely to have been his first wife. …

Peter Mattheus 1588 of London, painter

Peter Mattheus / Matthews is the son of Jacob Matheeusen (Will 1570). He is a painter and has family and friends who are artists, including his cousin Adrian Vanson who painted a portrait of James VI of Scotland. He is grateful for the help he has received in his illness and mentions John Van Solt …