Fordington

Will of William Barnes, Yeoman

Dated 20th July 1658 with an Inventory taken on 1st December 1660

©Transcribed by Michael Russell OPC for Fordington from CLDS Film 1067158 Images 4000-4003 May 2008.
(now available on line at Wiltshire Archives Probate Records 1530-1858 - P15:0002 & Ancestry.com )


Will William Barnes Fordington 1587-1660

The Twentieth daye of July one thousand six hundred and ffiftey and eight
      I William BARNES of Fforthington in the County of Dorset Yeoman being well stricken in years but God I give him the praise in perfect sound and memory and not knowing how soone or in what manner the Allmighty God may be pleased to lay his hands upon me I also here make my Last Will and Testament in manner and fform as followeth

      Ffirst I bequeath my soule unto the Allmighty God my creator and Redeamer
        And my body to be buried in the pish [parish] churchyeard of Fforthington aforesaid
      Impremis: [Latin for in the first place] I give unto the church of Fforthington one shilling

      Item: I give unto the poor of the pish [parish] of Fforthington Ten shillings to be paid at my ffunerall ;

      Item I give unto my sonn in law Ralph MULLETT (1) of Glanville Wootton twelve pound

      Item: I give unto my sonn in law Nicholas BUGG (2) of Fforthington twelve pound

      Item: I give unto my sonn Charles BARNES ten pounds five pounds to be paid twelve months after his brother Anthony is taken tenant unto the letting that his ffather now posseth and five pounds two years after hee hath injoyed the said letting,

      Item: I give unto my Grand Child Anthony BARNES Twenty pounds and my bruing pann to be paid by my executors when hee is eighten years of age, but if God should please to take him to his mercie before then the same twenty pounds to be equally distributed betwixt the rest of his brothers and sisters

      Item: I give unto my Grand Child Phallie BARNES five pounds to be paid when she is eighteen years of age or if shee should deye before then to be distributed betwixt the rest of the children,

      Item: I give unto my sonn Anthony BARNES all the rest of my goods and chattells mandable and unmandable of this my Last Will and Testament whome I make my whole and sole executor [writen?] under my hand and seal the daye and yeare first above written

      [Signature]

      William BARNES

      Signed and witnessed in the presence of

      Mathew GAYNARD
      Jo: [John] HARBRUGH?
      Jonathan EAMES (3)

Inventory William Barnes Fordington 1587-1660

An Innventorye of the goodes And Chattells of William BARNES of Ffordington in the County of Dorset
whose deceased the twentie first of December in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and sixtye
(taken & appraised ?? of December 1660)

      Imp: [Impremis - In the first place] for his wearing aparrell £6.00.0d

      It [Item:] in the hall one tabell board and frame [i.e. a trestle to stand the tableboard on] one cupboard one forme one dresser three joint stoles one chair one paire of Andirons one Bibell five pewter dishes} £1.10.0d

      It [Item:] in the kitchen to [two] brass pottes [pots] one skillett one frying pan one spitt one paire of tonges one paire of Bellows too [two] Brass pans six woden dishes} £1.13.0d

      In the parlor one fetherbed one Bolster one Bedsheet three coverlets £1.15.0d

      In the Chamber one featherbed one paire of Blankets one Rugge too [two] Coffers one Chest one Cradell one warming pan one Brush} £3.00.0d

      In the Laiugge? too [two] storing troughes three planters? too [two] trendelles one Barell with other Lumber £1.00.0d

      In the Reckbackine? one Reckstanill? £0.05.0d

      Praised by us hose [whose] names are subscribed

      John RASKER (4)
      Arthur HACKHAM (5)

Genealogical Notes:-

(1) This Inventory confirms that William BARNES (1587-1660) died 21st Dec 1660 and his Will asks for him to be buried in the churchyard at Fordington. His Will refers to 4 children living in 1658, 2 married daughters and sons Charles and the main beneficiary Anthony BARNES. This William BARNES is recorded as a tenant in the Survey of Fordington taken in 1650 who held a copyhold grant dated 22nd Oct 1639 for a tenement and 56 acres and 3 roods of land in Fordington Fields for three lives. His age was then estimated to be about 60 (i.e.born c1590), his brother Robert Barnes aged about 57 (c1593) and his son Anthony Barnes then aged 28 (c1622). William was actually baptised at FStG on 25th Nov 1587 (close to 1590) the son of William Barnes Senior (c1545-1620) , who held the same plot in 1615, so was actually aged 63 in 1650 and 73 at death. He was churchwarden of St Georges Church in Fordington in 1638.

(2). A Reafe [Ralph] MULLETT married an Elizabeth LIE in Glanville Wootton on 31st January 1589 who might just be his son in laws father? (Ancestry.com image 30 of 181)

(3). Nicholas BUGG or BUGGE: Parish Records for the period 1640 to 1663 have not survived but a CLDS member has made an entry on the IGI that a Nicholas BUGGE married a Dorothy BARNES in Fordington on 2nd June 1640. This information has been entered as a part of a CLDS sealing and as such details are not open to public scrutiny and it would be necessary to contact the church as per the notes attached to Film 178117 which was created in 1944. As an exact date has been given it possibly stems from information held by direct descendants. Nicolas BUGG was buried at FStG on 26th Jan 1678/9 followed by his wife Dorothy on 27th Apr 1679.

(4). Jonathan Eames (1628-1702) was the third known child and second son of John Eames the brother of Anthony Eames who emigrated to New England and the few facts known about him are covered in Anthony's biography to which I have provided a link. Jonathan died intestate in 1702 and I have also provided a link to Letters of Administration given to his wife Mary.

(5). A Will and inventory survive for a John Rasker of Fordington dated 1661 and can be accessed via this link

(6). A Will and inventory survive for an Arthur Hackham of Fordington Yeoman in 1679.

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