PROB 11: Will Registers Piece 56: Martyn (1574) : Ancestry.com:image 511 of 783
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In the name of God Amen I William Downton of ffordington in the county
of Dorset yeoman being sicke in boddy but whole in mynde thankes be to god doo heare make
my laste will and testament in manner and fourme following ffirst I bequethe my Sowle
into the hands of almightie god my creator and redemer my boddy to be buryed with in the
churche yard of my parish of ffordington aforesaid also I bequethe unto my parish church
of fordington two shillinges and six pens Also I give to the vicar of ffordington two shillinges and
six pens Item I give to the poore people of ffordington six shillinges and eight pens also I give unto
the poore people of Dorchester six shillinges and eight pens wheareof two shillinges and eight pens shall
goo to the prison. Item I give unto my daughter in lawe [1] Jone Goole [2] together with her fathers
legacy Threscore and tenne pounds Also I give unto my daughter in law Alice Goole [2] together
with her fathers legacy Threscore and tenne poundes Item I give unto my man Roger
Winsor one white doblet roffe my old Russet hose and Spannish lether jerkyn Item I give
unto my man John Carter six hogge sheep Item I give unto my mayde servante two shillinges
Item I give unto Thomas Tappe clarcke my coot and my black fustyan doblet Item I
give unto my brother Thomas Downton one Capped cowe [3] and my white Russet cloke
and one hatte. Item I give unto my brother in law Benet Martyn my better Spannish lether
jerkyn and my black russet gally breeches also my will is that he shall paie Tenne
shillinges of the money which he dothe owe me and two dossens of hurdles the reste I give
unto him Item I give unto George Jolyfe and Jhon [4] Birde foure trees that I have in
Blackmore two of them lyeth in The Coppes and thother in the common Item I give unto my
godsonne William Downton three pownde six shillinges and eight pens Item I give unto the
rest of my brother and sisters children Twelve pens a peece The rest of my goods movable
and unmovable I give unto Elizabeth Downton my wife whome I doo make my Executor
Item I ordaine and appoynte to be overseers of this my laste will and testament Thomas
Tappe clarck George Jolyfe and Jhon Bride. These witnes Thomas Tappe Clarcke
George Jolyfe and Jhon Birde.
PROBATE: This Will was approved before the prerogative court of Canturbury commissioner on the 27th day in the month of July in the year of our Lord 1574 on oath before Peter Johnson Notary Public by Elizabeth DOWNTON the relict and executrix named in the testament who was granted admninistration
Genealogical Notes on the Will by Anne Vincent July 2025 :-
[1] Daughter in law here is what now would be called a step-daughter. In law was used for any relationship established by marriage.
[2] Jone and Alice Goole were the daughters of William's wife Elizabeth from her previous marriage to Robert Goulde who died in 1558.
[3] Probably referring to a hooded cowl.
[4] Jhon is an alternative spelling of John.
The diagram below shows the family tree for William based upon the information contained within the will supplemented by:
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• A Letter of Administration for the estate of Thomas Downton of Dorchester was granted to
his relict Edith 7th February 1585/6. It is probable that this was William's brother Thomas.
• Robert Goulde's will of 14th August 1558 proved on 14th June 1559 names his daughters
Johanne and Alice and wife Elizabeth. It seems William married Robert's widow.
• A survey of tenants of Fordington Manor made in 1600 records an Elizabeth Downton
holding half a place (between 20 – 25 acres) in the East Tything.
• Elizabeth Downton was buried St George's Fordington 25th January 1604/5.
