The Shakespeare Family History Site

In the Name of God Amen; I John Shakspeare of Lapworth in the Countie of Warwick Yeoman taking into consideration the uncertainty of this life being now s---- of bodie but of short memory thanks be to God doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of almighty God my creator and my bodie I bequeath to the earth to be buried in the parrish church of Lapworth in expectation of a joyfull resurrection by the merrits and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ this as concerning my worldly goods which God hath blessed me. Whereas I have placed the indenture of all my freehold land in Lapworth after the adress of me and Dorothie my wife upon John Twycross my nephew upon --- and in consideration heretofore his heirs or executors or administrators shall disregard and paye such securities and sums of money as I shall charge upon him by my last will and testament. I do heretofore will and bequeath him the sayed John Twycross his heirs executors or administrators to pay debts and legacies and somes of money following. That is to say: Item I give and bequeath to Alice and Margaret Twycross: two of his sisters and Thomas Twycross his brother the some of three pounds five shillings and eight pence a yeare to be payed them one year after the decease of me and Dorothie my wife. Item I give and bequeath to Robert Twycross Henry Twycross and Mathew Twycross being three of the brothers of the aforesaid John Twycross three pounds five shillings and eight pence a yeare: to be payed them two years after the decease of me and Dorothie my wife: such said severall legacies amounting to the some of twenty pounds. I doe hereby appoint my said nephew John Twycross to paye upon request at some convenient place and on some or said day by him his heirs executors or administrators to be appointed within the tyme heretofore according to my such intention and meaning. Item I give and bequeath to the three daughters of William Shakspeare my brother three pounds five shillings and eight pence a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to Katherine Hynott wife of John Hynott fortie shillings. Item I give and bequeath to William Shakespeare and Thomas Shakespeare two of the sonnes of my brother William Shakespeare fortie shillings a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to John Robins and Anthony Robins sonnes of Richard Robins twenty shillings a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to William Walton of Packwood the sayde sevrall legacies amounting to the some of eighteen pounds and ten shillings. I do hereby appoint my aforesaid nephew John Twycross to pay upon the severall requests of the legatees aforesaid their executors or administrators at some convenient place and on some -- daye or days by him the said John Twycross his heirs executors or administrators to be appointed within four years after the decease of me and Dorothie my wife. Item I give and bequeath to John and Francis Shakespeare sonnes of John Shakespeare sonne of Christopher my brother twentie shillings a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to the two sonnes of Edward Shakespeare sonne of my brother William Shakespeare twentie shillings a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to the fower children of Margaret Hudson wife of Edward Hudson ten shillings a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to John Sotterell sonne of John and Elizabeth Sotterell of Lapworth the some of fortie shillings. Item I give and bequeath to the two children of John Shotteswell my nephew of Packwood twentie shillings a yeare. And my mind is and I doe appoint my nephew John Twycross his heirs executors or administrators to paye said last mentioned legacies at some convenient place by him or them to be appointed within three months after request after they shall attain the severall ages of twentie and one yeares. Item I give and bequeath to Alice Shakespeare daughter of Francis Shakespeare sixpence weekly -- I doe hereby appoint my nephew John Twycross to paye after the decease of me and Dorothie my wife at some convenient place until the some of sixtie shillings be payed to the said Alice Shakespeare. Item I give and bequeath twelve pence yearly to be paid at the parish Church of Packwood in penny loaves of bread to be payed by the said John Twycross and his heirs forever to the poore of Packwood at the discretion of the said John Twycross and his heires forever on or upon the last day of All Saints yearly. Item I give and bequeath the some of twelve pebce yearly to be payed at the parish Church of Lapworth likewise by by said nephew John Twycross and his heirs forever on all Souls daye to add to the poore peoples -- -- daye. And whereas I have a settled the indenture of my coppiehold land in Kingswood uppon my nephew William Twycross by a surrender made by me into to the hands of the lord of the mannor of Kingswood by the hands of John Fetherstons Esquire and John Shakespeare of Kingswood aforesayd yeoman two of the customary tenants of Kingswood aforesayd upon -- and in consideration of -- the said William Twycross his heirs executors or administrators shall paye and discharge such legacies as I shall appoint them to pay by my last will and testament. Item I doe give and bequeath to the aforesaid Alice Twycross Margaret Twycross and Thomas Twycross the some of three pounds eight shillings and six pence a yeare to be payed within one yeare after the decease of me and Dorothy my wife. Item I give and bequeath to Robert Henry and Mathew Twycross three pounds eight shillings and six pence a yeare to be payed within three yeares after the decease of me and Dorothie my wife; the said sevrall legacies amounting to twenty pounds I do hereby appoint my nephew William Twycross to pay upon request at some convenient place and on some -- daye by him the said William Twycross his heirs executors or administrators to be appointed by him the tymes before limitted according to my intention and true meaning. And I doe hereby appoint and charge my executor to paye these legacies following: Item I give and bequeath to my brother Christopher Shakespeare the yeare - - - his life. Item I give and bequeath to Richard Price of Rowington a sow to be delivered within three months after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to William Shakespeare sonne of my brother Christopher Shakespeare fortie shillings. Item I give and bequeath to Catherine Shotteswell my sister wife of John Shotteswell twentie shillings, Item I give and bequeath to John Shotteswell and William Shotteswell the sonnes of the said John and Catherine Shotteswell five pounds a yeare. Item I give and bequeath to Dorothie Banks tenn shillings and to Dorothy Share tenn shillings and to all my Godchildren twelve pence a yeare. And to Edwd Prise my servant tenn shillings. And my mind is that with this last legacie more I doe by this my last will charge my executor to paye that legy shall be payed within one yeare after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to the two children of John Shotteswell my nephew sixtie shillings a yeare to be payed when they shall attain their sevrall ages of twentie and one yeares. Item I give and bequeath to John Twycross my nephew a Table and cupboard in my Hall and a table in my new building and a joyned bedstead in the chamber in the new building. Item I give and bequeath the bed and bedding and curtens of the Bedd to Dorothie my wife. Item I give and bequeath the better bedsted over the hall to Margaret Twycross and the other bedsted to Alice Twycross. Item I give and bequeath to my nephew William Twycross my - in the hall. Item I give unto Margaret Twycross Alice Twycross and William Twycross half the - brass - and half the household stuff not bequeathed. And I doe make - and appoint Dorothie my wife my sole executrix of this my last will and testament. And I doe desire my lovinge friend John Fetherstone of Packwood Esquire and John Shakespeare of Kingswood to be my overseers of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby bequeath to them for their paines herein tenn shillings a yeare; And if - raise any doubt or ambiguity arising upon this - of this my last will and testament in any yeare, My mind is and I doe hereby desire that my said overseers shall make - thereof and their - shall be - will and -. And in testimony that this is my last will I have hereto published my hand this twentieth daye of october Anno Dom 1637. And I do hereby revoke all former wills. John Shakespeare his mark - - the legacies given to Katherine Elizabeth and Winnifred Shakespeare and to Humfrey Thomas and John Shakespeare, and Elizabeth Shakespeare children of the said Humfrey Shakespeare are now - . I doe hereby desire and my will is such to that my nephew John Twycross shall regard so my heresaid sevrall legacies - about and in such manner and forme aforesaid - my above named nephew William Twycross before - since. And I do hereby discharge the said William from payment. And memorand that this information and the additions and alterations in this my last will and testament before publication thereof by me the twentieth day of November Anno Dom 1637. This was published to be the last will and testament of John Shakepeare in the personne of John Fetherstone John Shakespeare of Kingswood his mark Richard Robins Katherine Shotteswell her mark William Twycross