Extract from Bonaventure Wolverscroft Will proved in 1677
In 1640's Bonnye was a servant of William Laughtenhouse and inherited land in the Cauldon area when William died in 1649. From Williams will and other family wills Bonaventure is known to have four brothers, Leonard d.1643, William d.1669, Roger and Humphrey. He also had a sister called Anne. The evidence suggests that he is either the son or grandson of Humphrey Wollascroft who was living in Farley, Staffordshire at the turn of the 17C. However, so far in my research I have been unable to find a baptismal record for him.
Bonaventure was living in Cauldon in 1665 and assessed for 'one hearth' on the Hearth Tax Returns. On the 27 February 1673/4 Bonaventure was one of the appraisers of the Inventory of Thomas Finney at Cauldon. In 1668 he held land in Cauldon in tenure of his brother William.
Bonaventure was a Yeoman and widower when died in August 1677 and his Inventory was appraised on the 14 August by Christopher Johnson, William Woollescroft, William Hall and George Kent. William was his son and William Hall was the future husband of Bonaventure’s niece Mary.
At the time of his death his niece Mary Woolliscroft, the daughter of Roger was living with him. Mary was executrix of his will and inherited the lease for the house he was living in and it’s contents after bequests were made. This is possibly the same property referred to in the will of his brother William of Farley where he states Bonnye was his tenant and ownership of the messuage passed to their sister Anne on William's death. After Anne's death the messuage passed to Bonnye and then to his son John on payment of five pound to the executrix of William’s estate, his niece Elizabeth.
Bonaventure left legacies to his grandchildren John and Elizabeth the children of William; Will, Bonaventure and Sara the children of John; Bonaventure Radcliffe. They were to receive these when they reached the age of 21. He also left a legacy to Mary’s sister to be paid in 1679. I assume that is when she reached the age of 21. I assume that his children had received their inheritance prior to his death and this is the reason they do not receive a legacy in his will.
From the Cauldon Parish Records and wills Bonaventure is known to have had at least four children William, John, Humphrey and Dorothy. Dorothy married William Ratcliffe.
Probate for his estate was granted to Mary on the 22 September 1677.