... written in phonetic English, with the same word being spelt many different ways [...] Capital letters are used indiscriminately, punctuation is arbitrary [...] Once the reader becomes accustomed to the text the documents become easier to understand.

William Mansell 1661 (FHC 270)

In the name of God Amen. I William Maunsell of Cradley in the County of Worcester, yeoman, being weak in body but in good and perfect memorie consitchering the certenty of death & the uncertenty of the time thereof, due for the good of my children & the orderly disposing of my estate do make and declare this my last will & testament in manner & forme followinge.

First I commend my soule into the hands of God who gave ytt. And of Christe Jesus who redeemed ytt and my body to the earth from whych ytt came decently to be buried at the discretion of my executrix here after named. And as for that worldly estate which God of his mercy hath bestowed upon me I due hereafter dispose as followeth.

Imprimis I give and bequeathe unto my two daughters Abigail Mansell and Hanna Maunsell the summe of fourscore pounds a peece of lawful English money to be payde unto them successively as they shall accomplish the age of twenty and one yeares or day of marriage then my mynde and will is that the aforesaid eightscore pounds shalbe raysed out of my lands and tenements as ys hearafter expressed an d d eclared. And yf either of them shall happen to dy before shee shall accomplish the sayde age of twenty & on yeares or day of marriage then my mind & will is that the survivor shall have and inioy the sayde sum of eightscore pounds.

Item. I give and bequeathe unto my two daughters before named Abygall Maunsell and Hana Maunsell all that my message burgage or tenements with the appurtenances and the eddifices buildings and garden and backside theireto belonging or appertayninge situate and being within the Burrogh of Dudley in the county of Worcester . Together with the evidences an d d eedes of conveyance or purchase containinge the said messuage burgage or tenements together with their appurtenances unto the said Abygall Maunsell and Hanna Maunsell and unto their heirs and assigns for ever paying unto the lord of the Burrough such rents and service as is due and of righte acustomed.

Item. My mynde and will is that if either of my two daughters Abygall or Hana before named shall happen to dy without children or children of their body lawfully begotten. Then my mind and will is that the survivor shall have all the tenements house messuage burgage or tenements together with the appurtenances whatsoever to hir and hir heires for ever. Item. My mind and will is that whether soe ever or which soever of my two daughters shalbee married firste Abigail or Hana shall have hir choyce whether ytt shall continue between them I mean the house with the appurtenances or whether there will have fforty pounds in money[ ] English money of the other for hir moity, or give forty pounds and have the whoale estate well and firmely assured to the byer or [ ] of the moity or on halfe of the forementioned messuage with the appurtenances there unto belonging & pertayning.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Abigail Maunsell on of my best cowes on joyne cheste on joyne table boarde standing in the chamber where I now ly and six of my best sheape. Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hana Maunsell on of my best cowes on joyne chest with a smooth lyd, on joyne table board standing in the lower room and six of my beste sheape and each of my daughters before named on laundeiron on paire of cheekes to be at the end of ytt on fire shovell a peece and each of them a paire of tonges.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hana on joyne seate with a boarde which joyne or belongs unto yt standinge usually in the midst of my oulde house wheare we live. Item. I give and bequeath unto John Maunsell my sun and heire apparente on medowe which I purchased and bought of mistris Margret Dallabere of Southam in the County of Gloucester and Robert Hunte of the same place and county commonly called & knowne by the name of Pensnett Medowe now or late in the occupation of George Norburrow lying and being in the parish of Kingswinford and county of Stafford with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to him and his heirs for ever paying unto the lord of the manor such rents services as is of due and of right accustomed.

Item. I give and bequeath unto John Maunsell my son on plate standing in the oulde house where I nowe dwell one joyne board standing in the same roome and on malt mill standing in a little house and on garner standing in the same little house.

Item. I give and bequeath unto Sara Longmore & Ann Longmore my sisters daughters each of them on sheepe.

Item. I give and bequeathe unto my servants Will Maunsell John Mints? and Joane Hill each of them on shilling.

And all other my goodes cattell and chattells moveable and immoveable my debts legasied and funeral expenses being discharged and payde I do hereby give and bequeath unto -my loveinge wife Abigail whom I due make and appoynte to be my sole executrix this my last will and testament.


And I due also ordayne and desire my trusty and lovinge friends Mr Edward Paston of Kingswinford in the county of Stafford and Richard Parkes of Cackmore in the parish of Halesowen and county of Saloppe yeoman to be overseers of this my last will and testament not doubting of their fidelity therein and I give and bequeath them two shillings six pence a peece. Item. I give and bequeath unto my trusty and loving friend Edward Paston and Richard Parkes before mentioned and named all that moiety or on halfe of all my houses, barnes -buildings freehold lands and tenements to have and to houlde the sayde premises and every parte thereof immediately ffrom and after my decease until the said sume of eightscore pounds be raysed to and for my daughters as aforesaid and not longer although this last devise of raysing my daughters portion should have soever or formerly is written in this my last will and testament ytt is my mynde and will that they my daughters should have their portions thus raised.

In witness whereof I have put my hande & seale in the twelfth yeare y the reigne of our sovergn lord King Charles the Second - 1660

William Wortun. The mark of Nicholas Brettle John Wheeler

Postscript [written in very shaky writing]

My will and desire is that five pounds should be abated of my daughter Abigalls porton for her disobeyence to me in my sickness

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