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Tudor P.C.C. Will Transcription by L. L. Duncan - Book 55 page 36

 JOHN MILLES,  Will 9 August 1559

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JOHN MILLES of Biddenden, clothmaker, 9 August 1559, 1 Elizabeth. To be buried in a convenient place where as it shall please God my sowle to departe from yt (The burial place of the Milles family is outside the South porch where there are tombs to them of a later date). At the day of my buriall in dedes of Charitie £6. 13. 4.
To the mendinge of the hie wayes wt in the parishe of Biddenden £6. 13. 4. Vnto fortie of the poorest householders of Biddenden whiche doe seeke to lyne after a godlie and a sober life 6s. 8d. a peace.
Vnto all my weavers that is to saie John Tomsett, John Hasenoth, Thomas Whitton, Richarde Monke, John Floodd, and John Morelaine my seruaunts to everie one of them 10s. a pece.
I doe forgive Richard Mounte and John Mounte sonnes of William Mounte late of Godmersham all debtes.
To J------- Ducks 10s. in recompence of suche certayne yarne as she lefte with me and allso I do forgive her husband all debts duties and money as the oweth me.
To Katherine Milles my doughter and to Elizabeth Milles my doughter one hundrethe marks a pece at 21 or mariage.
To Robert Collier my seruaunt 40s. To Agnes Webbe my servaunt my wives beste gowne and 40s.
Vnto her mother Evernden my wives best frocke. Vnto Tomasin Bordon my seruaunt 40s. at 20 or mariage and a pece of clothe of 10s. if she dwell in Byddenden eyther with my brother Bodynded or with them at his assignment. Vnto Thomas Gofferson 20s. and a yarde of cloth of 6s. 8d. Vnto Jeromye Evernden my seruaunt 20s. at 20.
Vnto Edwarde Milles and Nycolas Milles of Hedcorne 13s. 4d. a peace and to euerie one of theire children 13s. 4d. apece. Vnto ----------- Limings of Rye a gowne clothe of my fyne remblante of tenn yardes.
Vnto Richarde Milles my seruaunt a sake of wolle wayinge fortie Todd and if he within 2 yeres after my decease do endever himselfe so that in that tyme of 2 yeres he be worth a value £30 then my executors shall lend vnto him £20 vpon suertie for repainment when as William Milles my eldest sonne shall accomplish thage of 21.
To my sister Stacie 40s. and a pettecote cloth of 10s. the yarde and to euerie one of her children £3 a pece at 21.
To Elizabeth Carpynter 40s. To Mr. Edwarde Brighte of London a gowne clothe for his wife, a cassocke cloth and to his sonne a cote cloth and to euerie of his doughters a frocke clothe. To Sheppards wife of Biddenden 13s. 4d.
To Elizabeth Sheppard her doughter 20s. To John Williamson my marble colte which is my best savinge two. To euerie one of John Tomsetts children 6s. 8d. To Thomas Jurdens children 10s. apece. To euerie one of Clement Athurst children 10s. To Joane Stacie wydowe as moche clothe of 8s. a yarde as will make her a frocke. Vnto George Stacie the sonne of Joan Stacie 6s. 8d. Thomas Prestone a cote clothe of his wiffe 2 yardes and a halfe of cloth of 6s. 8d. the yarde. James Hamptons wife 10s. Symond Hampton a ierkin cloth of 8s. the yarde.
To Lawrence Milles, John Milles, Edward Milles and Richarde Milles my brother William Milles children £3 a pece at 21.
To euerie of my brother Bodyndens children 40s. at day of mariage or 21. Vnto Water Godyier 40s. Vnto my brother Bodyndens wiffe 40s.. My Vncle Webbe 40s. and to euery one of his children 13s. 4d. a pece at 21 except Agnes Webbe and Rabagie Webbe and unto Rabegye Webbe theire sister 40s. Vnto Mother Cockowe 6s. 8d. Walter Godgiers wiffe 2½ yards of clothe of 8s. the yarde. James Swetings wiffe 2½ of 6s. 8d. the yarde.
Where as Frannces Pope of London oweth me withoute a bill for 2 clothes wheras one of them is now at Burling yf when he hath receyved the saide cloth againe if he pay vnto my executors £10 I do forgive him the reste.
Vnto Monkes wiffe 2½ yardes of 6s. 8d. Vnto Richarde Monke a cote cloth of 6s. 8d. the yarde. Richard Lull 1½ yardes of cloth price 10s. John Stonehurst wife 2½ yardes of clothe to make her a frocke of that that lyeth within my chamber. William Mears wiffe of Chillham a frocke clother. Lenarde Daye 40s. Roger Garretts wiffe a frocke cloth of 8s. the yarde.
Residue I will be solde and the money in fee simple landes or rents to the vse of both my sonnes when 21 or mariage.
Lawrens Milles my brother sonne and William Bodynden my sole executors. I desire Mr. John Mayney to be ouerseer and give him £5.
Last will: by me personally declared of my landes and tenements in the parrish of Biddenden. Vnto William Milles my eldest sonne my messuage I nowe dwell in and all my landes and tenements I have within the parish of Wodchirche and the messuage that Richrde Monke nowe dwellith in lying in Betnams Woode and the landes I late bought of John Patinden lyinge in Byddenden called Shevells and all those lands in the parish of Wodchurch and Hawkehurste for euer when he shall accomplish his age of 21 or daie of his mariage.
If he die then to Grigorie Milles my yongest sonne.
Where as I have one yerely rent of 18s. oute of the londes of the heirs of William Grible lyinge in Tenderden and £20 rente oute of landes of William Lawles of Rolvinden lying in Biddenden and £20 vppon a rente oute of the landes of John Pattynden yf it fortune the saide Richarde Neythersole [not before mentioned] William Lawles and John Pattenden that they do not redeme the said londes then to Gregory Milles my yongest sonne at 21.
If my sonnes departe this life then to remayne vnto the heires male of my brother William Milles equally, the to apy to my doughter then lyvinge £600 and if bothe my sonnes and doughters do fortune to die before they have received the sayde £600 then £40 to poore maydens mariages and the rest equally amonge my kinsmen Edward Milles, Richard Milles, Nicolas Milles and the heires males of my sister Stace.
Item, wheras I have certaine timber, bricke, stone and tile towards the makinge of a howse I will yt to be bylded according to the descression of my executors vppon my goods at my mansion howse aforeseid and I will all my implements belonginge to my workehowse shall remayne thereunto.
Witness: William French, John Moreland, John Williamson and me Roger Garott the writer hereof.
I do forgive Roger Garrott all suche debts as he oweth me, which wordes were spoken afterwards in the pressence of Thomas Prestone, Richarde Gessopp and Thomas Robarts.
Super ista clausula executor non erat juratus eo quod dictus Testator in sana memoria, vt executor asseruit, dixit se nolle remittere dictum debitum.
Proved 20 October 1559 by William Bodynden executor. Power to Lawrence Milles reserved as he is a minor. (P.C.C. 48 Chaynay)

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