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Mail David
Will of Thomas May the Elder
of Farringdon
Hampshire, 10th April 1531
In the name of God amen the 10th day of April in the year of Our Lord God 15 hundred and 31st I Thomas May the elder of Farringdon in the diocese of Winchester being whole of good remembrance make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I bequeath my soul to Almighty God and to Our Lady saint Mary and to all the saints and my body to be buried in the church of All saints’ in Farringdon aforesaid Item I bequeath to my mother church 12d Item I bequeath unto the high altar of the church of Farringdon aforesaid for tythes forgotten 12d Item I bequeath to the Friars Augustines in Winchester to have a trendal of masses sung there for me in the day of my burying 10d Item I bequeath to the sustentation of the masses of Jesus in the church of Alton one cow or four like of the same mass of Jesus to the reparations of the said church Item I bequeath to the fraternity of the Trinity in the church of Petersfield one cow Item I bequeath to the reparations of the church of Farringdon aforesaid two kine and one cow to the bead-roll there to be prayed for forever Item I bequeath to the reparations of the church of East Tisted two kine and one cow to the maintaining of the bead-roll there to be prayed for forever Item I bequeath to the reparations of the church of Newton one cow Item I bequeath to my month’s mind to have 30s priests to sing a trendal of masses and then to have bestow 3 quarters wheat and 3 quarts malt and sustenant vitally according for the same honestly then to be bestowed among the people Item I bequeath one quart wheat to be bestowed among my poor relations where whose aid is to be done Item I bequeath to Joan my wife all her own chambers and all that appertaineth to the same with linen and woollen except my kine and ready money the which kine and ready money I will to be received to the use of my Executors and there to pay my debts and to inform my legacies and to bestow for the health of my soul and there to find an honest priest to sing for me and my wife and our friends one year in the church of Farringdon aforesaid and he to have for his labour and wages £6 sterling and bread wine and wax all at the costs and charges of my Executors Item I bequeath to John May my son 12 horses two carts and two ploughs with all the goods and apparel to the same appertaining and belonging 10 kine and a bull one hundred ewe sheep and half a hundred sheep Item my farm at Farringdon aforesaid with all that is within except and resigned to me and my Executors all my kine and ready money and all such goods and chattel as I will to and form my last Will and Testament as legacies and bequests Item I bequeath to William May my son one cow and fifty sheep Item I bequeath to Harry May my son one cow and fifty sheep Item I bequeath to Richard May fifty sheep Item I bequeath to Alice Porter 10 sheep of those that been in her hands ready Item I bequeath to Alice May daughter of Thomas May of Wood one cow Item I bequeath to Alice Porter daughter of Robert Porter one cow Item I bequeath to Mr. Harry Norton gent my godson 20s Item I bequeath to john Horston of Petersfield 20s for his labour to search my writings and to be loving and friendly to me my children and my Executors Item I will and grant that all the foresaid legacies and bequests to be performed of and with the stocks and stores that the foresaid John May my son hath of me for to ryne of my lease by lease as whole malt vittles kine and sheep Item I bequeath to every one of my godchildren being present at my month’s mind 6d and those that be not to have nothing Item I bequeath and give to Thomas May son of William May my son all my tenements with the apputenances in Petersfield called “the Swarm” that Thomas Payne now holdeth Item I give and bequeath to the son of Thomas May all my tenements with the apputenances set in Alton next to the market place to hand and to yield the foresaid two tenements with the appretinances to the said Thomas May and to his heirs male according to a form of will thereof declared seisin a deed of feoffment thereof made bearing date 26th day of November the 22nd year of the reign of King Henry the 8th the which feoffors been William Beale of Petersfield John Compton of Slade Richard Land of Petersfield aforesaid Richard Smith of Alton and the said Thomas May item I give and bequeath to Thomas May son of Harry May my son all my tenements and garden with the apputenances set and lying next to the market place in the borough of Petersfield aforesaid that William Mayden will holdeth Item I give and bequeath to the same Thomas May all my tenements with the apputenances set in alron aforesaid that current late held to have and to hold the foresaid two tenements with the apputenances to the said Thomas and to his heirs male according to the tenure and form of a will declared upon a deed of feoffment thereof made to the aforesaid feoffors bearing the date aforesaid Item I give and bequeath to Richard May son of Thomas May of Wood my son all my tenements and grounds with the apputenances that Richard Benyars holdeth set and lying next to the borough of Petersfield aforesaid within the tything of Weston within the manor of Mapledurhill to have and to hold the foresaid tenement and ground with the apputenances to the said Richard May and to his heirs male according to the tenement form or effect of the will declared upon a deed of feoffment thereof made to the foresaid feoffors item I bequeath to Thomas May my son 40s Item I bequeath to John porter 5s Item I bequeath to every of my women servants 12d Item I bequeath to every of my men servants 4d Item I will that £33 6d 8d that William Knight oweth to me that Richard Borton Esquire to order and refer me the matter between the said William Knight and my Executors as he thinketh it most necessary and the forfeiture of the bounds to be discharged so the said sum of money be paid by the reader o the said Mr. Richard Norton the residue of all my goods not first given and bequeathed away I give and bequeath to Thomas May son of William May and to Thomas May son of Harry May my sons the which I ordain and constitute to be my true Executors of this my last Will and true Testament and them to receive all my Debts and pay my debts and to disperse thereof as they thinketh it most expedient and necessary for the wealth of my house and all Christian souls and I will and devise Mr. Richard Norton Esquire of Charity to be supervisor of this my last Will and true Testament and he to see that in every case it may be fulfilled and performed according to my Will at nigh God will give him grace and knowledge and he to have for his labours and business 5 marks sterling and half that be allowed for his charges and costs as every time that he take business with the same matters after the first time and witnessed Harry Norton gentleman Harry Egerton John Horston William Whateley William Vincent Thomas Abridge and Richard May with diverse other moo.
Proved 1531.