National Archives Reference: PROB 11/158
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LAST WILL & TESTAMENT National Archives Reference: PROB 11/158 © Transcribed for the Dorset OPC Project by Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester September 2018
In the name of God Amen: I Joanna GOULD The fowerth daie of November in the yeare of the raigne of our Lord Charles by the grace of god King of England Scotland Ffrannce and Ireland defender of the faith on the sixth Anno Dm [Domini] 1630 I Joane GOULD of Dorchester in the Countie of Dorset widow being in pfect [perfect] sence and memory (thankes be given unto Allmightie // god) considering the frailtie of my weake bodie subject to death every moment, and yet uncertaine of the tyme when it shall please god to call me out of this fraile estate, and being desirous to settle in peace that small person with Allmightie god hath bestowed upon mee in this world revoking all former Wills and Testaments, doe make and ordayne this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme followinge and:- Ffirst and especially I commend my soule unto the mercy of Allmightie god my heavenlie father who hath redeemed the same by the only merritts death and passion of his onlie sonne my Lord and only Saviour Jesus Christ and my body I comitt to Christian buriall to be buried in St Peter's Church in Dorchester aforesaid before the seate wherein I did herebefore sitt in such decent manner as to my Executors and Overseers herein nominated shall be thought fit and conveinient In Consideration thereof and of the love I beare for the good of the same church I give thereunto the some [sum] of ffive poundes to be delivered wth in [within] three monthes next after my buriall. Item: I give and bequeath unto the poore people of the three pishes in Dorchester the some [sum] of nyne poundes to be distributed amongst them according to the discretion of myne Executor and Overseers herein nominated Item: I give unto the poore people of Ffordington the some [sum] of fforty shillings to be distributed amongst them by the Overseers and Churchwardens of the same parrish for the tyme being as they shall thinke meete [best] Item: I give unto the poore people of Upwaye the some [sum] of fforty shillings to be distributed amongst them by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the same pish for the tyme being Item: I give and bequeath unto the pish church of Weeke Regis the some [sum] of three poundes Item: Whereas I have heretofore given and delivered unto certaine Townsmen in Dorchester the some [sum] of one hundred markes towards the erecting and procuring of an Hospital for the poor of the same town
Item: I give and bequeath unto William LEDDOZ nowe dwelling at Axminster the some [sum] of five poundes to be paid unto him at his age of one and twenty yeares. Item: I give and bequeath unto George LEDDOZ nowe dwelling with Richard REDWORTH the some [sum] of eight pounde to be paid unto him at his age of one and twenty yeares. Item: I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth GARDNER wife of Andrew GARDNER one bedstead with a half head one bed; one bolster; one pair of canvas sheetes; one pair of blankettand one yarne coverlett
Item: I give unto Elizabeth GARDNER daughter of the said Elizabeth the some [sum] of ten poundes to be payd unto her wth [within] one yeare after my decease Item: I give unto Anne MOORCOTT, John GARDNER the Younger, Barbara and Isack GARDNER four other children of Elizabeth GARDNER the some [sum] of fforty shillings a peece [each] to be payd unto them wth [within] two yeares after my decease Item: I give and bequeath unto the children of John BREWER wth [which] he had by Sibell his former wife deceased vitz to Thomas BREWER, Andrew BREWER and Elizabeth KINGE the some [sum] of three poundesa peece [each] to be payd unto them wth [within] one yeare after my decease Item: I give unto Grace SHORTON daughter unto James SHORTON deceased the some [sum] of five poundes to be payd unto her wth [within] one yeare after my decease Item: I give unto Elizabeth ALLEN wife of Hugh ALLEN one payre [pair] fine canvas sheets and fortye shillings in money to be payd unto her wth [within] one yeare after my decease Item: I give unto William LEDDOZ grandchild of my brother William LEDDOZ the some [sum] of tenn pounde to be payd unto him wth [within] one yeare after my decease Item: I give and bequeath unto Joseph LEDDOZ sonne of James LEDDOZ of Waymouth the some [sum] of tenn // to be to be payd unto him at his age of one and twenty yeares and in the meantyme my Will and desire is that the same Ten poundes may be ymployed by my kinsmen Gilbet [Gilbert] LODER by such pson [person] as he shall make chice of for the benefit of the said Joseph by breeding him up as an apprentice or otherwise as he shall thinke fit Item: I give and bequeath unto Mr John WHITE Preacher of Dorchester the some [sum] of ten poundes to be payd unto him wth [within] one yeare after my decease
Item: I give and bequeath unto Angell GOULD one of the sonnes of George GOULD of Gyyewell? decesed the some [sum] of fiftie poundes in satisfaction and recompence of all such guift legacy porton [portion] as was to him given lymited or intended by the said James GOULD deceased in his life tyme wth [which] to be paid unto him at his age of one and twenty yeares If I do not pay the same unto him in my life tyme. Whereas: I bought and purchased to me and my heirs for ever of Walter GOULD Merchant certaine lands tenemts [tenements] and hereditamts [hereditaments] wth [with] thappetenances [their appurtenances] situate lying and being wth [within] the West Walles in Dorchester aforesaid wth [which] sometimes was the inheritance of James GOULD my late husband deceased And Whereas: the said James GOULD in his lyfr tyme had a purpose to give the same lands unto charitable uses for the releefe of poore Alms people wth [within] the saide towne of Dorchester but died before the same could take effect , Now: for as much as it hath pleased god to restore me unto the same lands I hold it my duty accordingto my small ability to further my said husbands good and charitable purposes Item: I give and bequeath unto the Maior [Mayor] Bayliffe Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Dorchester in the Countie of Dorsett wth [which] shall bee living at the tyme of my decease and to their successors for and duringe the lives of John GARDNER and Temperance his wife to the uses hereafter expressed one Annuity or yearlie rent charge of Thity shillings by the yeare to bee yssuing payable and renewed yerelie out of all that my backside garden and houses thereunto adioyning [adjoining] wth [with] thappetenances [their appurtenances] wth [which] I lately bought and purchased to me and my heirs in fee simple of William GOULD to be paid yearlie unto the said Maior [Mayor] Bayliffe Aldermen and Burgesses and their successers on the ffeast day of St Thomas the // Apostle [i.e. 21st December] upon trust and confidence neverthelesse that the sayd Maior [Mayor] Bayliffe Aldermen and Burgesses and their successers doe and shall yearly before or on the Eve of the ffeast of the birth of or [Our] Lord God distribute paye imploy and bestowe the said Annuity or yearlie rent charge of thirty shillings per ann in clothes or otherwise for the benefitt of the poore widowes and other poore people living in the said towne of Dorchester as by the Maior [Mayor] Bayliffe Aldermen and Burgesses for the time beinge and their successors shall thinke most conveinient Item: I doe give and bequeath and appoint my kinsman Gilbert LODER the said backside garden and howses thereunto adjoining wth [with] their appurtenances and all my estate therein charged with the said Annuity of thiry shillings per ann as aforesaid To have and to hold the same premises together wth [with] all deeds and writings touching the same unto the said Gilbert LODER his heirs and assigns for ever Item: My will and meaning is that my cousens? Gilbert LODER and Alice his wife or one of them their assignee or assigns shall and will wthin [within] two years next after my decease paye or cause to be paid unto the said Maior [Mayor] Bayliffe Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Dorchester aforesaid for the tyme being the some [sum] of one hundred markes of lawful mony [money] of England to be used ymployed by the said Maior [Mayor] Bayliffe Aldermen and Burgesses aforesaid for the tyme being to and for charitable uses wthin [within] the said Borough according as they with the consent of the Recorder [i.e. Sir Francis Ashley JP] of the said Borough for the time being shall think fittest
And shall also paye unto the ffree schoole in the towne of Dorchester aforesaid five pounds more to be bestowed on booke(s) for the Library there if I shall not buy some bookes in my lifetime and bestow them on the same schoole Upon payment whereof I doe give and bequeath unto the said Gilbert LODER and Alice All that my messuage Burgage or Tenement wth [with] their appurtenances in Dorchester aforesaid wth [which] I purchased to me and my heirs of Luke ADYN and wth [which] are now in the tenure and occupation of William JOLIFFE Draper and my Will and meaninge is that the said Gilbert LODER shall have and enjoy the same from the tyme of my decease untill the tyme of payemt of the said sevall [severall] somes [sums] as aforesaid together wth [with] all deeds and writings concerning the same prmisses [premises] To have and to hold the said Messuage or Tenement wth [with] the appurtenances unto the said Gilbert LODER their heirs and assignes for ever Item: I give and bequeath unto James GOULD of Dorchester Marchannt [Merchant] the some [sum] of twenty poundes to beepaid unto him wthin [within] two years after my decease if I shall not pay the same in my lifetyme Item: I give and bequeath unto the daughters of my Cozen [cousin] Arthur GREGORY deceased the some [sum] of Tenn poundes to be equally devided betweene them to bee paid wthin [within] two years next after my decease Item: I give unto Susan FFOX the daughter of Robert GREGORY deceased late of Poole to bee paid wthin [within] two years next after my decease Item: I give and bequeath unto Jane the wife of Thomas ROBERTS of Poole to bee paid wthin [within] two years next after my decease Item: I give and bequeath unto my Cozens [cousins] James GOULD and Angell GOULD sonnes of the said George GOULD of Eggewell deceased All those grounds lands common of pasture and rents wth [with] their appurtenances tennanced lyinge in Ffordington wth [which] my my late husband and since myself bought of Robte [Robert] BISHOP deceased and all writtings touching the same To hold to them and their assigns from and after my death for and during the residue the term assigned over to the said // James GOULD deceased then to come
I doe also give and bequeath the same lease and all my estate therein to the said James GOULD and Angel GOULD
Item: I give and bequeath unto Mrs Mary WHITEWAY the elder; Mrs WHITE; Mrs Margery GOULD; Mrs SANDFORD; and to my cosen [cousin] Alice LODER severally to each of them a gold ring of twelve shillings pricedesiring them to weare the same in remembrance of my love to them Item: Whereas I purchased lately tp me and my heirs of my kinsman Thoams BAGG deceased one messuage or stable wth [with] thappetenances [their appurtenances] situatt and being in Waymouth in the County of Dorsett late in the possession of Thomas GARDNER
Item: On condition that my cosen John GARDNER the Elder shall quietly permit and allow myne executor and assigns wth [with] out interruption to remove all such goods and household stuff e as at the tyme of my decease I shall leave behind in my house wherein I now dwell I give and bequeath unto the said John GARDNER the some [sum] of twenty poundes to be paid unto him within two years after my decease for the use and benefitt of his children to bee equally devided betweene them
Item: I give and bequeath unto Margarett BAGG sister of the said Nicholas BAGG the some [sum] of Ten Poundes to be paid unto her at the daye of her marriage or age of one and twenty years wth [which] shall first happen Item: I give unto Joane LOADER daughter of the said Gilbert LOADER one guilt bole [bowle], one redd leather chaire, my great chest standing my lodging chamber, one boxe, one paire middle sheetes, one diap tablecloth, one dozen of diap table napkins, one diap cupbbard [cupboard] colth, one canvas tablecloth, one dozen of canvas table naplins, two holland pillowties, one towell, my best greene rugg. Item: I give also unto my kinsman James GOULD Clothier ten pounds to bee paid unto him wthin [within] one yeare after my decease
Item: I give unto my cosin Joane GARDNER daughter of my cosin John GARDNER my bedsteed standing in the chamber over the butterye, one featherbed, one bolster, one pillow, one pair of middle sheets, one paire of blanketts and one green rugg Item: I give unto my goddaughter Marye WHITEWAYE my spare chest and tapisery coverlett Item: I give unto William WHITEWAYE the younger my godson ffortye shillings to buy him a silu [silver] bole [bowl] Item: I give unto Barbara MARCHANNT als [Blank] dwelling in Ireland the some [sum] of three poundes Item: I give unto Ann MORCOTT wife of William MORCOTT one trundle bedsteed , and one paire of canvas sheetes and one yellow rugg Item: I give unto Joane GOULD the wife of George GOULD the some [sum] of ffive poundes to bee paid to her wthin [within] one yeare after my decease also I give her one trunk, one paire of sheets, one plaine tablecloath, one dozen of canvas naplins, one pillow, one pillowtie, and one round copper kettle Item: I give unto my cosen Alce LODER myguiltsalt and trenchard salt and guilt bole, one silu [silver] beaker and one dozen of my best silu spoones Item: I give unto the children of Samuel GOULD the some [sum] of ffotye shillings a peece [each] to be paid to them at the age of one and twenty yeares or daye of marriage Item: I give unto the children of Robert POLDEN deceased to be paid to them at the age of one and twenty yeares or daye of marriage wth [which] shall fisrt happen Item: I give unto Mary SAUNDERS daughter of Margery DALL? the some [sum] of ffive poundes to be paid unto him wthin [within] ywo yeares after my decease Item: I give unto the children of my cosen Walter GOULD the some [sum] of ffortye shillings a peece [each] to be paid to them at their ages of one and twenty yeares or daies of marriage wth [which] shall fisrt happen Item: I give unto the children of my // cosen William MORCOTT that shall be living at the tyme of my decease the some [sum] of fforty shillings a peece [each] to bee paid unto them at their ages of xxi (21) yeares or daies of their marriage wth [which] shall fisrt happen Item: I give unto my cosen William GOULD of Ilminster the some [sum] of ffoure pounde to be paid unto him wthin [within] two yeares after my decease for the use of his two sonnes to buy each of them a silver bole [bowl] therewth [therewith] Item: I give and bequeath unto Joane DENCH and [Blank] DENCH now dwelling at Waymouth and daughters of John DENCH the some [sum] of ffive pounds a peece to be paid unto them wthin [within] two yeares after my decease Item: I give and bequeath unto my cosen James LEDOZ of Waymouth and Melcombe Regis shoomaker one Annuitye or yearely paymt [payment] of ffive pounds ffower shillings p.anm [per annum] to bee paid unto him weeklye for and duringe the terme of his nrall [natural] life by my executor herein nominated out of my psonall [personal] estate wth [which] I shall leave behind me for his better maintenance in meat drink and apparrell Item: I give and bequeath unto the Maior Aldermen Bayliffe and Burgesses and Comunalty [commonality] of the towne of Waymouth and Melcombe Regis in the County of Dorset the some [sum] of twenty pounds lawfull mony [money] of England to be by them and their successors ymployed and used to and for charitable uses for better releefe of the poore wthin [within] the same towne as in their discretions they shall thinke most fitt and conveinient wth [which] mony [money] to be paid wthin [within] one yeare after my decease Item: My Will and meaning is and I doe hereby signify and declare my Will to be that all and every pson [person] and psons [persons] to whom any legacie or legacies or bequests is hereby given and intended. shall uppon paymt [payment] thereof make seale and deliver unto myne executor herein nominated a general release, aswell of all such legacye and legacies to them given, As also of all other clayme [claim] challenge or demand whatsoever wth [which] they or any of them can may or might clayme [claim] to have touching my estate or the disposeing thereof
Joane GOULD Signed : sealed and acknowledged by the said Joane GOULD to bee her last Will and Testament conteyned in thirteen sheets of paper before written unto wth [which] the said Joane GOULD hath severalie sett her name in the presence of us W: WHITEWAYE; Will: DERBIE; Robte LODER; T MATTHEWDERBYE; John LODER Probate:of this written testament was approved at London before Magistrate Roland JENKINS Clerk Surrogate of the Honourable Henry MARTIN Doctor of Law of the Perogative Court of Canterbury this 22nd day of December in the year of Our Lord 1630 when administration was granted to Gilbert LODER Executor of the deceased Genealogical Notes:- (1) Sources: (Under construction)
(1.2) Fire From Heaven Life in an English Town in the 17th Century by David Underdown published by Pimlico 1992 (1.3) History of Parliament Website - Members (1.4) Mayor of Dorchester (1.5) Municipal Records of Dorchester by Charles Herbert Mayo - 1908 (1.6) Parish Registers: Bath Abbey burials 1613; (1.7) Studies in Dorset History by Maureen WeinstockPub 1953 (1.8) Visitations of Devon 1620, and Dorset 1623 [Note:- John Gould the elder age 65 in 1623 =born c1558 - John Gould his son age 33 in 1623= born 1590 and James his brother age 30 in 1623 =born c1593] (1.9) William Whiteway of Dorchester - His diary 1618-1635 based on notes compiled by Thomas D Murphy Dorset Record Society - factual account by an eye witness (1.10) Wills: National Archives (2) BACKGROUND to the GOULD Families of Dorchester: [Source:- Extract from page 42 'Fire From Heaven' by David Underdown Published in 2003]
James GOULD was born into a large family in Dartington in Devon so he had no prospects in the village. Being 'very industrious in his calling', his admiring widow recalled, he came to Dorchester and made a fortune in the cloth trade: in the 1610 subsidy he and his cousin John were rated only only slightly below Matthew CHUBB himself. Strongly solicitous for his kinsfolk, James nevertheless made a clear distinction between the godly and industrious on the one hand, and those like the nephew whom he accused of 'living idly and wasting his estate', on the other. His cousin John [GOULD] was also a Devonian, from Staverton near Exeter, and he retained close ties with friends and kinfolk in the city. John did almost as well in business as his cousin. He died in 1630, the same year as Jame's widow; both were major benefactors to Dorchester charities." For information about his cousin John GOULD (1588-1630) follow link to a transcription of his Will. (3) Joanna [Joane] GOULD (1549-1630) nee LEDDOZ the subject of this Will, was the widow of James GOULD (d.1613) referred to above, a clothier by trade who had died at Bath in Somerset and was buried at Bath Abbey 27th April 1613. Unfortunately Joane failed to properly adminster her husbands estate so her executor Gilbert LODER had to also file for a Letter of Administration for James GOULD's estate to legally prove her own inheritance. The matter was raised during probate for her will and a separate Letter of Administration for her husbands estate was also issued on 22nd Dec 1630. Source PCC Admons year books abstracts Folio 207 Will Joan Scroope 109. There is a further legal document at the National Archives for Joanne GOULDE Widow of Dorchester and her executor Gilbert LODER Probate date 2nd July 1631 but this is written all in Latin which I cannot decipher. It appears to refer to bequests to Elizabeth Gardner. Charter 712 in the Municipal Records of Dorchester refers to an indenture dated 22nd July 1625 which states " a messuage now or late in the occupation of Joane Goulde Widow in High South street in St Peters Parish Dorchester late a parcel of the possessions of Sir John Williams of Herringston Knt deceased". (4) Her husband James GOULD (d.1613) was appointed Bailiff of Dorchester for the following years 1600/1 ; 1601/2 ; 1607/8 and 1611/12. He is named as one of the Capital Burgesses of Dorchester under the Charter of James I granted to Dorchester on 26th June 1610. (5) George LEDDOZ His Will is at the National Archives proved 10th Feb 1647/8. Main beneficiaries kinsman Gilbert Loder Gentleman and Arthur Golde [Gould] + brother William LEDDOZ (of Axminster see Joan GOULD will 1630) 40s : + Poor children of School of Holy Trinity Witnesses William Hasselbury; James Gould and James Loder (6) Temperence GARDNER A letter of Administration for her estate was granted in 1657 when she is decribed as being a widow of Dorchester |