Sprackling Will 1540/1

Will of Nicholas Sprackelyn

of Thanet St. Laurence, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/21/224b
Submitted by Margaret Glenn
In the name of God Amen the xxixth day of Marche the yere for the Inoannaeyon [Annunciation] of oure lord God a CCCjlti? xxxixti [1539]
I Nycholas Sprakelyn of Newlande Courte in the p[ar]ishe of Saynte Laurence the Martyr in the Ile of Thanett in the countie of Kent Yeoman sycke in body but Jhesu bethin bye havyng my good parfecyte and stedfaste memory make and ordeyne this my prsent testament conteynyng my last wyll as hereafter folowyth
Fyrst I comend my soule to almyghtie God my creator and Redemer to hys gloryanse mother Mary the Vyrgyn And to all the holy company of hevyn And I wyll my body to be buryed in the p[ar]isshe churche of Saynte Laurence the Martyr aforesaide in our lady channcell

Item I bequeth to the vycar of the same churche for my tythes and oblacons there by me neclygently forgotten or wythholden xxd
Item I bequeth to the vycar of the pyshe churche of Saynte Peter the Apostle in the sayed Ile for my tythes and oblacons there by me neclygently forgotten or wthholden xxd
Item I bequeth to the vycar of the pisshe churche of Saynte John Baptyste in the saide Ile for my tythes and oblacons there by me neclygently forgotten or wthholden a xijd
Item I wyll that mye executors theire executors or assigneis shall cause to be sung and saide in the saide pisshe chirch of saynte Laurence the Martyr in evry of the dayes of my forthspace [for the space] thirtye and myn farye placebo dirige and x [10] masses
And also I wyll that they shall dystrybute there lyke wyse in evry of the same dayes to poore people a xls [40s] in money
Item I bequeth towarde the mendyng of the hygh waye in the ..... callyd Ramfelds Lane in the saide pisshe of Saynte Peter th'appostell vjs viijd
Item I bequeth towarde the mendyng of the hygh waye at Fayer Strete in the same prysshe a xs

Item I bequeth to Robert Spraklyng my brothers sonne a xls in money, x ewes and x lambes
Item I bequeth to James Spracklen brother to the same Roberte two quarts of barley
Item I bequeth to Nycholas Spraklyn therie brother one quarter of whete and one quartr of barley, ij ewes and ij lambes
Item I bequeth to evry of my god chyldren now lyvyng a xijd
Item I bequeth to Robert Baker my savnte [servant] ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Frocke Haynes my svante ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Rychard Howlett my svannte one ewe
Item I bequeth to Dampkyn Foxe my svannte one ewe
Item I bequeth to Clement Cooper my svannte one ewe
Item I bequeth to Wakefelde my Sheperde my best sleveles cote of clothe
Item I bequeth to Katheryn Kennett [or Bennett] my svannte A yong cowe of two yers and ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Myldrede Plane my svannte A yong cowe of two yers and ij ewes
Item I bequeth to John Benett ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Rycharde Bennett ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Roberte Benett ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Elynor Bennett ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Rycharde Bobbyng thelder ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Thomas Bobbyng ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Rycharde Bobbyng the yonger ij ewes
Item I bequeth to my Sister Thatcher ij ewes
Item I bequeth to Johan Spracklyn my brothers daughter ij yeawas?
Item I bequeth to my Sister Thorpe A haffer [heifer]
Item I bequeth towarde the mendyng of the hygh way at Upper Courte a vjs viijd
Item I bequeith to John Tyler aforesaide of Saynte Laurence aforesaide my coote nexte the beste
Item I bequeth to Rycharde Cowper of the same pishe my warrsted [worsted] Jackett
Item I bequeth to John Sandytt my Roussett Jerkyn and one payer of my wainste? horses
Item I bequeth to John Igulden of Sandwyche xxti [20] quart[er]s of lambe woull

Item I bequeth to Isabell my wyff in money, corne and cattall the somme of fyfte pownds
Item I bequeth to the same Isabell the one half of my howsholde stuffe
Item I bequeth to Alice Spraklyn my doughter xxiijli [£23] in money
Item I bequeth to Roberte Spraklyn my sonne in money, corne and Cattall the somme of eyghtscore pownds
Item I bequeth to John Spraklyn my sonne of lli [£50]
Item I bequeth to Leonarde Spraklyn my sonne in money, corne and Cattall the somme of lli

Item I bequeth to Lucke Spraklyn my sonne in money, corne and Cattall the somme of syxscore pownds ovr and above the eyghtscore pownds whych is in the hands of Thomas Hamon of Mynster uppon his lands which I also bequeth to the said Luke wt the yerely p[ro]feyts
I do also bequeth to the saide Luke wt the yerely pfeyts comyng of the same That is to saye the vijli xs which the saide Thomas Hamond is bounde by Indenture to pay yerely for the same

And yf any of my sonnes shall happen to dye before he come to the age of xxjti yers wythout heyers of hys body laufully begotten Then I wyll that hys p[ar]te whose so deceasyth shall remayne to the ovrlyvrs [over-livers] betweene theyme equally to be devyded
Item I wyll that my saide sonne Roberte shall have the kepyng of the portyon bequethed to my saide sonne John unto the tyme that my saide sonne John shall come to the age of xxjti yeres
And I wyll that yf my ovrseers do appteuyve? by saide Roberte my Brother or other cause by the whych it ..... be thought that the same Robert shall not be able to repaye and delyvr to the saide John all hys saide portyon at hys age of xxjti yeres That then my ovrseers or theire assignes shall compell the saide Roberte to delyvr unto theyme all the same portyons for my saide sonne John or els to fynde suffycent suertie for the payment and delyvrng of it to the saide John at hys saide age of xxjti yers

Item I wyll that the saide Isabell my wyff shall have the kepyng of my saide sonne Leonarde and of all hys saide portyon to hym bequethed unto the tyme he shall come to the age of xxjti yrs
Pr[o]vyded alwayes that yf it shall happen my saide wyff to marry agayne then I wyll that before she be marryed she shalbe bounde to my ovrsears in convienyent bounde for the redelyvry and payment of all the same portyon to my said sonne Leonarde at hys age of xxjti yers or els I wyll that my ovrseers or theire assignes shall compell her to the delyvr unto theyme att the same portyon for the same Leonarde tyll he shall come to the age of xxjti yers And they to use it after theire best dyscrecon [discretion] for hys profecyte

Item I wyll that my ovrseers shall have all the sayde portyon of vjxx li [6 score pounds] bequethed to my saide sonne Luke now beyng at the age of vj [6] yers unto the tyme he shall come to the age of xxti yers betwene theyme equally to be devyded imedyatly after my decesse
Provyded alwayes my wyll is that yf my ovrseers wtin the saide tyme can p[ro]vyde A purehase of land of the value of syxe score pounds That then they shall bey [buy] the same for the saide Luke And he that shall have the kepyng of hym shall have the pfeyts thereof towarde hys fyndyng tyll he shall come to the age of xxjti yers
And furthermore I wyll that as concernyng the eyghtscore pounds bequethed to the saide Luke now beyng in the hands of the saide Thomas Hamond That he also that shall have the kepyng of hym shall have the vijli xs [£7 10s] which is yearely payed for the same for hys kepyng And for the ovrplus above hys necessary kepyng to make hym accompte when he shall come to the age of xxjti yers
And furthermore I wyll that when soevr the saide Thomas Hamond wyll pay agayne the saide Clxli That then wythin so shorte tyme as it may be it shalbe bestowed by my ovrseers of theire Assigneis uppon lands for the saide Luke
Also I wyll that the said Isabell my wyff and Alexander Norwoodd of Dane Courte in the saide pyrsshe of Saynte Petre th'appostall Yeoman shall have the Rents and kepyng of the saide Luke And they to fynde hym to scole And hys other necessaryes

Item I bequeith to my saide sonne Roberte and to hys heyers and assigneis my lesse or terme of yers of Newland Courte wt thapprtenncs [the appurtenances] duryng my yers
Item I bequeth to the same Roberte and to hys heyeres and assigneis my lesse or trme of yers of A mersshe callyd West Mersshe in the saide pisshe of Mynstre unto the tyme that saide John my sonne shall come to thage of xxj ti yers At the which age of xxjti yers of the saide John I wyll that he hys heyers and Assigneis shall have the one halffe of the saide mrsshe callyd weste mersshe And the saide Roberte hys heyers and Assigneis the other halff duryng my yers
And yf it shall happen John my sonne to dey [die] or if ..... to the age of xxj ti yers wtout heyers of hys body laufully begotten Then I wyll that the saide Robert my sonne hys heyers and assigneis shall have all the seid mrsshe callyd westmersshe unto then tyme that Leonarde and Luke my sonnes come to thage of xxj ti yers at the whiche age of xxj ti yers of the saide Leonarde and Luke I wyll that they theyire heyers and assigneis shal the one halff of the saide mersshe duryng my yers betwene theme equally to be devyded
And yf eyther of theyme shall happen to dey before hys sayed age of xxj ti yers wtout heyers of his bodye laufully begotten Then I wyll the ovrlyver shall have hys parte that so deceeasyth
And yf the saide Roberte my sonne shall happen to dye before he do come to thage of xxj ti yers wtout heyers of hys body laufully begotten lyvyng my saide sonne John Then I wyll that the same John hys heyers and assigneis shall have the lesse or trme of yers of the saide Newlande Courte duryng my yers
And also I wyll that he shall have to hym hys heyers and Assigneis my lease or trme of yers of the saide mrshe unto the tyme the saide Leonarde and Luke my sonnes shall come to theire ages of xxj ti yers At the whiche age of xxj ti yers I wyll that the saide Leonarde and Luke shall have to theyme theire heyers and Assigneis the one halffe of the saide mrsshe betwene theyme equally as is before expressyd
Item I wyll that yf it shall happen the saide John my sonne to dye before he do come to thage of xxj ti yers wtout heyers of hys bodye laufully begotten that then the saide Leonarde and Luke shall have to theyme theyre heyers and assigneis both my saide leases betwene theyme equally to be devyded And yf eyther of theyme happen to dye before the same age wtout heyers of hys body laufully begotten Then I wyll the ovrlyver shall be hys heyer And yf bothe of theyme happen to dye before the same age wtout heyers of theire bodyes laufully begotten Then I wyll that my brothers sonnes shall have to theym theire heyers and assigneis betwene theyme equally bothe my saide leases duryng my yers

Provyded alwayes that nether of my saide sonnes shall nether sell mor gyve to any man other parson [person] the saide leasses nor no pte nor parcell of theyme before he shall come to thage of xxxti [30] yers And yf any of theyme happen to do to the contrary then I wyll that he or they which shalbe Suceede and have the saide leasses or any parte thereof shall entre and have the same any gyfte or sale made to the contrary to this my wyll notwtstandyng

Furthermore I wyll that the saide Isabell my wyff shall have yerely duryng her naturall lyff of the yerely p[ro]fetts of my saide ij leases xls laufull money of Englande to be payed to her and her assigneis quartrly by hym of theyme that shall have the occupying of the same
And I wyll that for lacke of paymente thereof It shalbe laufull to the same Isabell and to her Assigneis to dystreyne [distrain] in an uppon the saide lands and evry parte thereof And to deteyne the distresses unreplevysable [irrepleviable] tyll she be paied

Item I wyll that the saide Roberte my sonne hys executors or Assigneis shall of hys and theire p[ro]pre costs and chargs wtin ij yers nexte imedyatly after my decesse buylde and edefye of new or cause to be buylde and edefyed of newe of good sunstaneyabl new tymbre at my mansyon place at branston bequethed to my sonne John one new p[ar]lor thorowly lastyd wyth a good chymney of Brykke And also one newe kytchyn And he to bestowe uppon the same parlor, Chymney and kytchyn xlli sterlyng by the advyse of my ovrseers or theire Assignes
And I bequeith to the same Robte for the same And for th'accomplyshemente of this my prsent testament conteynyng my last wyll lxxli [£70] whiche is in the hands of Roberte Wygfoote of Byrchyngton

Furthermore I wyll that yf any of my saide sonnes portyons to theyme bequethed shalbe thoughte not indifferently devyded or that my moveable goods and detts wyll not extende so fare and to p[er]forme this my prsent testament in all thyngs as is before declaryd and expressyd that then my ovrseers or theire assigneis by theire duscretyons [discretions] shall pforme and aborte the saide portyons and sett theyme A newe as they shall thynke moste indifferent
And also I wyll that yf there be any thyng conteyned in this my prsent testament not conformte [conform] to reason or contrary to the lawe That then it shalbe in lykewyse by theyme Resaluyd? by the advyse of learned counncell accordyng to the lawe and Reason nor changyng my mynde

The Resydues of all my goods and cattalls not bequethed, my detts and legacyes payed and contentyd And this my present testament in all thyngs accomplysshed and p'formed I gyve and beueth the same to the saide Roberte Spraklyn my sonne
The which said Roberte and John Coppyn thelder of the saide pisshe of Saynte Laurence the Martyr I do make and ordeyne my executors of this my present testament conteynyng my last wyll, Chargyng theyme as they wyll answere before God at the day of Judgement to see it all thyngs p'formed and fulfylled
And I bequeth to the saide John Coppyn for his labor xs
And I do make my ovrseers of the same John Crypse of the pisshe of Manketon [Monkton] in the saide Ile, gentylman and John Johnson otherwyse callyd John Anthonye of the saide pisshe of Saynte Laurence the Martyr, Merchant and the said Alexander Norwode of Dane Courte aforesaide
And I bequeth to evry of theyme for hys labor xls

And furthermore I wyll that yf my executors or eyther of theyme shall happen to be omysse [remiss] or sho fault in payng or fulfyllyng of this my present testament That then my saide ovrseers and evry of theyme shall have full power and auethoryte to reforme theyme and eyther of theyme And yf they or eyther of theyme wyll refuse to be by my saide ovrseers reformyd that thenm it shall be laufull for my saide ovrseers and evry of theyme to prove this my prsent testament and to see it in all thyngs p'formyd and fulfylled accoryng to the true meanyng of the same

These beyng wytnes
Alex Norwod; John Coppyn thelder; Huge Norwood; Alexander Culmer; Sylvestre Turratt; John Lihewoud?; Thomas Cob wt others and John Johnson

Probatum fuit: 9th January 1540/41

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason 9th February 2023


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Will of Nicholas Sprackelyn
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