The Stables Families of Ledsham
The Stables Family of Ledsham began with John Stable, the son of William Stable of Allerton Bywater, who moved to the village of Fairburn in the late 1600s or early 1700s.
He was buried in the parish church yard in May 1716. He left a Will, which is very revealing of his life at the time, as it includes a full inventory and valuation of his possessions at the time of his death.
His Will was signed, not only by himself, but also by his brothers William Stables (of Allerton Bywater) and Henry Stables (of Barnburgh). This shows that all of them were literate and had been duly educated, as stipulated in their father's Will.
John Stables of Fairburn (d. 1746 Ledsham)
The Will of John Stables of Fairburn (dated 1716).
There is a rectangular section of parchment missing from the original Will, hence the missing sections.
In the name of God Amen / May ye 10th 1716 /
I John Stables being sick in body but of good and perfect memory praised be Almighty God do make, constitute, ordain and declare this my last Will and testament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by these presents all other Wills by me heretofore made.
I commit my soul into ye hands of Almighty God hoping for salvation through ye merits of my dear Redeemer Jesus Christ and my body to be buried at ye discretion of my Executor hereafter named.
I give & bequeath to my daughter Martha Stables one Bedstead with bedding & furniture belonging it she shall make choice of one from dripping pan one little double mettled brass pan, half of all my Linnen, half of my Pewter & one from pot [missing] and one bag ma[missing]
I give and bequeath to my aforesd Daughter Mar[missing] Stables the sum of eighty pounds to be payd [missing] executor within ye space of two years after my decease.
I give and bequeathe to my son John Stables all the rest of my estate whom I appoint sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament my sole executor to discharge all my just debts and funerall expences.
My will is that my sd Daughter Martha shall peaceably enjoy without paying rent for ye term of six years ye chamber in which I now lye.
Signd, Seald, Published
and declared in ye presence of
Tho: Raynor John Stable
William Stable
Henry Stable
John, William and Henry all signed their names in their own hand. I am prevented, by the copyright restrictions of the Borthwick Institute, from publishing the actual Will on the web-site but I hope they won't prosecute me if I just show you the signatories:
 Signatories to the Will of John Stables of Fairburn (dated 1716). |
The Inventory of John Stable's Possessions - June 7th, 1716
A True Inventory or appraisement of the Goods and Chattles ofJohn Stables of Fareburn Said Deceased.
| Within the house | £ | s | d |
| ___ his purse and Apparell | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dresser and Shelves | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| One Oval Table | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| One White Table | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 pewter dishes 16 plates | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| other small pewter utensills | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| One Brass Pan | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| 3 lesser Brass pans | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| One Warming Pan | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2 Brass Candlesticks with some more Brass | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| One Brass Morter and Pestill | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| One Iron pott | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Range and Irons and Gate with some other Iron things | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| One Gallow Bawk with Reckons | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2 Spitts 3 Cleavers with some more iron things | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| 3 chairs 2 shelves with some other things | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| In the parlour One Range | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 chairs | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2 child chairs | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| One oval table | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| One Side Board Table | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| One Chest | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| One dozen huggaback napkins | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 3 Table Cloths | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 5 pair of Sheets and a half | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 8 pillowbears | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Other Linnen | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| In the dairy dresser and shelves | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 dozen bowls | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1 Cupboard with other things | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| In the Kitching One brewing pan with Grate | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| 3 Tubbs | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 3 Iritts 2 flasks with other wood vessells | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2 dozen ______ | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| The Street Chamber One bedstead with hangings and other furniture | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| One Little Table | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| half a dozen of Chairs | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| One Wanded Chair | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| One Livery Cupboard with other things upon it | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| The House Chamber One bed & bedding with other furniture | 2 | 15 | 0 |
| One _____ bed with furniture | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Corn oth ground 12 acres and ¼ band Corn and Barley | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 acres Beans and Oates | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 acres fault | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Corn In Chambers 13 Quarter of Oates | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| Eight Load of Wheate | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| Seven Load Mashlegen | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| threescore Quarter of Malt | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| a Bean Stack | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Straw | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| two yoke of Oxen | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| five cows | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| five young beasts | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| Black horse | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Black Mare and Sorrell horse | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| fourteen sheep | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| plough and Wand | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| two waines | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 harrows 1 Swaithrake | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 ploughs with Iron er | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Gears for horses and oxen | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dove Mant and Mant ith folds | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Stand hecks with other things | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| two ladders | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2 load Sadles with riding Sadles and bridles | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Wool | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Sow & piggs | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| -- | -- | -- | |
| 250 | 14 | 6 |