The Will of Richard Stables (d. 1637 Armthorpe)
This is a full transcript of the Will of Richard Stables, a yeoman, from Armthorpe, who died in 1637. The original Will is held at the Borthwick Institute in York.
In the name of god Amen The fifth day of August anno Im~ 1636 I Richard Stables of Armethorpe in the County of Yorke yeoman sicke of body but of good & perfect memory (god be praysed for it) do ordaine & constitute this my last will & testament in manner & forme following. First & principally I commit my soule into the hands of Almighty god my maker redeemer & sanctifier assuredly trusting through the merits of my blessed saviour Jesus Christ I shall attain eternal life & be made one of the elect & my body to the earth whereof it was made to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor & that concerning my worldly goods that it hath pleased good [sic.God] to bestow upon me dispose of these as followeth. Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my eldest sone John Stables in full satisfaction of his childs past the sume of six pounds & sixteene shillings four pense to be payde within five moneths to my said sone John or to his tutor or guardian to his use & I do give unto my said sonne John one silver spoone, going with [illegible word]as a legacie. Item I give unto my daughter Anne Stables one silver spoone, one of the best paire of linne sheats, two pillowbeares, one long table cloath & six table napkins with a velvet quission [sic. cushion] as a legacie. Item I give unto my said daughter Anne the sume of Twenty pounds in full satisfaction of her childs percent to be paid to my said daughter Anne within twelve months after my decease or to her guardian & tutor for her use. I do give unto my sister Margrett Wright one ewe & to each one of her children ey:d to bee paid within siex months after my decease. Item I do give unto my brother John Stables two of the best [weathens?] & to his wife Bridgett one of my best ewes & to any one of my brother Johns children xy:d a peece. Item I doe give unto my son John Stables & my daughter Anne Stables the sume of Three pounds six shillings eight pence in full satisfaction of a debt for two [quiet?] given them by their grandfather to be payde to them equally or to their tutor to their use within the space of twelve months Item I doe give unto my cousin Catharane West the elder xy:d Item I do give & comit the tuition of my son John & daughter Anne to my brother John Stables Item I do commit the tuition of my son Francis Stables Richard Stables & Elizabeth Stables to my wife Bettrice Item I doe give to the church of armethorpe uy6 uy:d to be payde by my executor within twelve months after my decease Item I do give more unto the poore of armethorpe u:yd uy:de to be payde at the next Easter after my decease Item I do give to my three younger children Francis Stables Richard Stables & Elizabeth Stables & to any one of them Ten pounds for their childs portion & if my said wife bee with child then my will is that it shall have ten pounds & if not then to be given to my three younger children Item I doe give unto my sons Francis Stables Richard Stables & my daughter Elizabeth Stables each of them one ewe & a lamb to bee put to my brother John Stables to goe forward for their use Item I doe give unto my wife Bettrice one of my best swine Item the residue of all & singular of my goods & chattells unbequeath debts payde legacies deducted funerall expenses discharged I do give unto Bettrice my wife and my three youngest children Francis Richard & Elizabeth & I doe make my wife Bettrice sole & full Executrix or this my last will & testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seale the day & yeare above written.
Sealed acknowledged & delivered in the presence of
Robert Wate Francis Newsome Richard Tyne Eckle
Ric: Stables de Armethorpe. Done 1637.