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The will of Anne Soper of Hannington, Kingsclere, Hampshire, 15 June 1658
- To eldest son William Soper, the little table & chair in the study & the books there
- To youngest son Richard Soper, my brass cauldron & next best pot.
- To grandsons Richard & Robert Soper (sons of Robert) & Richard & John Soper (sons of John), �5 each
- To grandchild Anne Soper (daughter of John), her clothes & the box in her chamber & all it�s contents
- To grandson Richard Soper (son of Richard), my best brass pot
- To sons John & Robert, all my goods, chattels & cattle, equally shared
- To Hannington Church, 20 shillings & 10s to Hannington poor
- Request to be buried near her husband in Hanninton Church
- Overseers; my kinsman Thomas Denham of Basingstoke & Rowlan Drewett of Hannington
- Witnesses; Rowland Drewett, & John Wyth
- Probate; in London 8 Oct 1658 by the oath of executor John Soper
The Family
- Husband Richard Soper (c1600-1655) died 3 years earlier. Born Freemantle, Hannington yeoman of North Oakley : see husband's will
- Sons
- William (c1624-1689) - [no mention of grandsons; John age abt 14, William 8 & Richard 5 in this will]
- John (c1624-?) - grandchildren Richard abt 13, John 11 & Anne 8
- Robert (1627-1676?) - grandchildren Richard & Robert [presume Ann not yet born]
- Richard (c1630-1675) - grandson Richard [not born; Amy, John, Judith, Patience, William & Elizabeth]
Why no mention of the 3 grandsons through her eldest son William? They would have been about 14, 8 & 5
Anne's husband, Richard died 3 years earlier. Her 4 sons (approx ages) William 34+, John 34, Robert 31 & Richard 28. All married (Speculate that for 4 farming sons to marry young might indicate some family wealth)
Presume burial in Hannington Church also indicates wealth & a major family in the parish, though 20s seems a small amount
Why did only the 2 middle sons share the balance of the will? Presume there was not much, as the bulk of the couples wealth transfered to the sons on husband death. Pure speculation, but perhaps these two were at home running the farm [Freemantle Farm?]. Perhaps William the eldest may have moved out [to Axford Farm & Nutley?]. Speculate the youngest had moved out also (a youngest boy would try & marry into property & -move out)
Anne was presumably about 60. Perhaps the bequest of all her clothes to her 8 year old grandaughter confirms that she was the only other female in a family with 4 sons & 8 grandsons
Presume the family were mainly sheep farmers, so leaving cattle seems surprising, but cattle refered to all livestock not just bovines in the King James Bible
Who was John Wyth? witness of the will John WYTH was the alias of John Mostyn : 24 Jun 1636, Heckfield [phillimore] Pesume connection with Wythers : Agnes Wythers (w) married John Millingate (snr) Dummer 1600 : a John Withers b Manydown park 1610
Who was Thomas Denham? of Basingstoke, he was a kinsman overseer of the will. No obvious web mentions. Perhaps spelling wrong Denhoues or Denhones
Who was Rowland Drewett? : Witness & overseers of the will. Kinsman presumably only appied to Denham? He was not left anything in her will or paid to be an overseer of it, so perhaps a brother in law? He witnesses another will & a valuation, so perhaps the local lawyer/scribe?
Rowland Drewett married Sibbell Camber 11 Apr 1612, Kingsclere : Roulande Drewet married? Mrs Sibill Drewet 21 Apr 1627, Hannington : Rowlands Druit m. Joan Hall 18 Nov 1639 Hurstbourne Priors : Mr & Mrs Sibill Rouland Drewet & son Rouland wills 1 Apr 1642 Hannington : all IGI records
Rowland Drewett valued John May's possessions on his death, Worting (nr B'stoke) 1677 source
Rowland Drewett witnessed will of Thomas Bates, Kingsclere (abt 1706?) source
Soper v Drewett : Chancery cases 1690-2 (same court, Bliss v Drewett 1694 & Burr v Drewett 1698) national archives
Rowland Drewett of Hannington's will 1697 probate (a local family, other Hannington wills Richard Drewett 1626 Sybil Drewett 1647 & Thomas Drewett yeoman 1650) source
Rowland Drewett defended a 1610 case : Richard Ayliff v Rowld. Drewett, Sybil his wife, Richard Wyeth, sr & jr & Henry Burnell : Gold & silver coin found under a seat used by Rowland Feron when parson of Hannington, in the church's chancel, supposed placed there by him. Alleged the defendants took the money. Feron's will mentioned. [Thomas Ayliff deceased, plaintiff's father, Richard, his grandfather & Johannah wife mentioned] date 8 Jas 1 National Archives a year earlier a Hannington inquisition as to gold & silver coins found in the chancel of the church 7 James I. [William Soper (presume Anne's father=in=law) involved in law suit concerning the treasure 5 Oct 1609 : from Gen JFP.Hope's tree]
Will of Anne Soper � 1658
In the name of God amen:-
Anne Soper the 15th day of June in the year of the jurisdiction of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and fifty eight.
I, Anne Soper of North Oakley in the parish of Kingsclere in the County of Southampton widow, being aged, but in good health, and of perfect memory (I give God thanks for it) do ordain, and make this my last Will, and confirm it in manner and form following for it, and spiritually I bequest my soul into mercy of Almighty God my Maker trusting confidently to obtain salvation by the merits death and passion of Jesus Christ my redeemer, and my body to be buried in the parish of church of Hannington as near as it may be conveniently successfully done by my late husband.
cont.......
A copy of the will (from probate court in London?)
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