Will of Richard DAVIDGE the elder [d.1599]
Merchant of Bridport

Will dated [Undated?] - Proved PCC 11/93 on 19 May 1599

Transcribed by Michael Russell OPC Dorchester - January 2011-
for Nancy Frey of Newcastle, Ontario, Canada
who has kindly agreed to this being displayed on the OPC website.


Note:- As an aid to researchers I have transcribed into modern English but in the section at the end I have also retained the original transcription with its line structure and spelling as given in the Will

In the Name of God Amen:

I Richard DAVIDGE the elder of Bridport and in the County of Dorset, Merchant sick of body and whole of mind, thanks be given to God, do make my last will and testament in manner and form following,

First: I bequeath my Soul to Jesus Christ my redeemer and saviour and cede my body to be buried in our Lady church of Bridport in the South aisle of the same church where Gilbert Hollman do used to sit:

Item: I give and bequeath unto every one of my children's children that be now living five shillings a piece,

Item: I give unto my Son-in-law Thomas Hodder the lease of my dwelling house, and all the years yet to come according to the assignment, that I have heretofore, had past and made unto the said Thomas Hodder, as by the same assignment, with the lease doth appear more at large;

Item I give and bequeath my barque called the 'Jesus' (1) the one half to Elizabeth Tiggins the wife of John Tiggins and the other half to Mary Hodder the wife Thomas Hodder, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging equally between them to be divided by the bailiff's that now be

Item I give unto Elizabeth Tiggins one brewing lead; (2)

Item I give unto the said Elizabeth Tiggins my second best brewing pan;

Item I give the brewing furnace and all the other pans not given or bequeathed to Thomas Hodder my son-in-law;

Item I give to my son Richard DAVIDGE all my leases of Bellynes land in Stake lane; (3)

Item I give a piece of land next to the same adjoining in Stake lane to the said Richard DAVIDGE;

Item I give to Alice Westens twenty shillings;

Item I make my son-in-law Thomas Hodder my Executor to whom I give and bequeath all the rest of my goods not given or bequeathed;

Item I give Richard DAVIDGE the younger of Bridport my house that he now dwells in, in fee to him and his heirs forever, so long as he pays nineteen pounds to Mr Gallopp at Christmas next and six pounds thirteen shillings four pence (4) to Elizabeth Tiggins; and six pounds thirteen shillings four pence to Joane DAVIDGE the daughter
of William DAVIDGE, this six pounds thirteen shillings four pence to be paid at Christmas next to John Tiggins, And the other six pounds thirteen shillings four pence to be paid Joane DAVIDGE at or on Lady day next following; And if the said Richard DAVIDGE, do refuse to pay that then my Executor:

In Witness whereof those parties have put their hands the day and year first written; The Sign of Richard DAVIDGE the Elder: John Dyff; Richard DAVIDGE, Thomas Hodder: And I do appoint Mr Bayleyff J Dyff to be my Overseer and I doe give him three shillings four pence.................................................


In the Name of God Amen: I Richard DAVIDGE
the elder of Brydeport and in the countie of Dorset Merchant sicke of Bodye and
whole of mynde, thankes begeven to God, Doe make my last will and testament in
manner and forme followinge,first I bequeath my Soule to Jesus Christ my Redmr
and Saviour and cede my body to be buryed in our Lady church of Brideporte in the
Southe yelle of the same church where Gilbert Hollman doe use to sett: Itm
I gyve and bequeath unto every one of my childrens children that be now ∞ ∞
levinge fyve shillinges a peece, Item I gyve unto my Sonne in Lawe Thomas ∞ ∞
Hodder the leasse of my nowe dwellinge house, all the yeares yet to come accordinge
to the assignment, that I have heretofore, hath past and made unto the sayde;
Thomas Hodder as by the same assignment, with the lease doth apeare more
at Large; Item I gyve and bequeath my barke called the Jesus the one halfe
to Elizabeth Tiggines the wiffe of John Tiggines and the other one halfe unto
Mary Hodder the wiffe Thomas Hodder, with thappurtences there unto ∞ ∞
belonginge equallie betwene them to be devided by Mr Bailiffes that nowe be
Item I geve unto Elizabeth Tiggines one Brewinge Leade; Item I gyve unto the
sayd Elizabeth Tiggines my best seconde brewinge pane; Item I gyve the
brewinge ffurnese and all the other pannes not geaven nor bequeathed to Thomas
Hodder
my sonne in lawe; Item I gyve to my sonne Richarde DAVIDGE all my leases of
Bellynes land in Stacke lane; I gyve a peece of lande next to the same
adioyninge in stacke lane to the sayd Richarde DAVIDGE; Item I gyve to Alice
Westens twentie shillinge; Item I make my sonne in Lawe Thomas Hodder my
Executor to whome I give and bequeath all the rest of my goods not geven
nether bequathe; Item I gyve Richard DAVIDGE the yonger of Brydeporte
my howse that he nowe dweleth in fee to he and his heires forever, Soe
as he paye therefore nyntene pounds to Mr Gallopp at Christmas next
And Six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence to Elizabeth Tiggines; And
Six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence to Joane DAVIDGE the daughter
of William DAVIDGE, this Six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence to be paide
at Christmas next to John Tiggines, And the other Six pounds thirtene
shillings foure pence to be paide Joane DAVIDGE at or on Lady daye next ∞ ∞
followinge; And yf the sayd Richard DAVIDGE, doe refuse to paye that then
my Executor: In wittnesse whereof those partyes have put to there∞ ∞
handes the daye and yeare ffirst written; The Signe of Richarde∞ ∞
DAVIDGE the Elder: John Dyff; Richarde DAVIDGE, Thomas Hodder: And
I doe appoynte Mr Bayleyff J Dyff to be my Overseer and I doe gyve him∞ ∞
three shillinges ffowre pence.................................................
Genealogical Notes:-
(1). See A2A Website D/FRY/31  11 Jan 7 Elizabeth [1564/65]Customs cocket
Of the port of Lyme Regis
For "Le Jhesus" of Bridport
En route for Falmouth and elsewhere in England
Cargo: ?10 packs of ropes, 30 beams of timber, 20 hemp weights and 45 measures of peas.
Owner: Richard Davidge, merchant
Master: Robert Peach
Lyme R[egis] Trasire permitatis sub nomine
Ricardi Davidge m[ercator]is x decim packes ropes, triginte coppell balcis et viginte weightes hempe, et quadraginta et quinque quarteriis pisarnium, carcectum in Le Jhesus de Brittport unde Robertus Peache est m[agist]er versus Fawmouthe vell allibie infra hoc regnam anglie, sed non extra, traducendis neque trancferendis et ideo invenit nobis sufficientem securitatem, iuxta tenorem et effect proclamacionis, inde edite et provise. Testibus sigillis nostris officii dat' apud lime undecimo die Januarii Anno regne Elizabeth dei gra' anglie frauncie et hib[er]nie regine septimo.

(2). A brewing lead is a leaden cooling vessel used in brewing

(3). Evidence of Stake lane See A2A Website  D/BTM/A6/32  29 Dec 1750 and  D/VIZ/3  1748-1755

(4). Thirteen shillings and four pence is a mark in value or 160 old pence.

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