Christopher Hoddesdon

Prerogative Court of Canterbury will made: 26th April 1609
Probate Date: 19th February 1610/1
Proved by Elizabeth Hoddesdon, widow of the testator
National Archive Catalogue reference: PROB 11/117 Image Reference 164 & 165

The original document is in the custody of the National Archives. Additionally the National Archives hold a sentence relating to this will, which is written in Latin dated 4th November 1612 and reference PROB 11/120

See also: Biography, Leighton or Grovebury Manor, Prebendal Manor, Second Will

Transcript

In the name of God Amen. The Sixe and twentieth daie of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord god one thowsand sixe hundred and nyne And in the yeares of the Raigne of our most gratious Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god of England France and Ireland Kinge defender of the faithe &c. the seaventhe and of Scotland the two and fortiethe I S[i]r Christopher Hoddeson of Layton Bussard in the Countie of Bedford knight beinge of good & perfect healthe and sounde memorie (the Lord be praised) And knowinge that nothinge is more certaine then deathe and nothinge more uncertaine then the tyme thereof and therefore preparinge my selfe readie to sett a godlie and quiett order of such temporall blessinges as it hath pleased Almightie god to blesse me w[i]thall to thintent that I may be the more readie to dep[ar]te out of this worlde whensoever it shall please god to call me, doe make and ordaine this my present Testament concerninge herein my last Will in manner and forme followinge (that is to saie) First I bequeathe my Soule to Almightie god my maker and to Ihesus Christe my onelie Saviour and Redeemer trustinge by the mercy of the Almightie to be saved and not by anie other meanes and my bodie to be buried in the Church of Laighton Bussard afore saide in the place therefore by me prepared if it please god it may soe be I give and bequeathe unto Ellyn Smith Alice Smith and Joane Smith the daughters of Joane Smith my neece to either of them twentie poundes a peece w[hi]ch said severall sommes of money I will shalbe paide to them by my wife her executors adm[inistrato]rs or assignes when and soe soone as they shall accomplishe or come unto their severall ages of fifteene yeares a peece or at their marriage w[hi]ch of them shall first severallie happen Item I give and bequeathe unto Christopher Hoddesdon of Staple Inn gent[leman] my nephue One hundred poundes to be paide to him w[i]thin one yeare next after my decease And whereas I the saide Christopher Hoddesdon did latelie receave of Richard Wilkes of Strettham in the Countie of of Surrey gentl[eman] six score poundes of lawfull money of England to the onelie use and behoofe of Bridgett Hoddesdon Elizabeth Hoddesdon and Ann Hoddesdon the daughters of John Hoddesdon late of Strettham aforesaid gent[leman] my nevewe deceased w[hi]ch saide six score poundes as alsoe twelffe poundes more for the use benefitt thereof for one whole yeare I did deliver unto Edward Hoddesdon one other of my nephewes uppon the twentieth daie of November in Anno D[omi]ni one thousand six hundred to the use of the saide Bridgett, Elizabeth, and Anne Hoddesdon: if the said Edward Hoddesdon doe fullie cleerelie and absolutilie acquite and discharge the said Elizabeth my wiffe and the foresaid Christopher Hoddesdon my nephew their heires exe[cuto]rs adm[inistrato]rs and Assignes and everie of them from and against the said Bridgett Elizabeth and Anne and everie of them for and concerninge the said six score poundes and the use benefitt and profitt thereof then I will that my saide wife her executors administrators or Assignes shall paie or cause to be paide to the saide Edward Hoddesdon one hundreth poundes within sixe monthes next after that my said wiffe and the saide Christopher Hoddesdon my nephewe their heires excutors and adm[inistrato]rs shalbe soe discharged of the saide six score poundes and all the use benefitt and profitt thereof as is aforesaid It[e]m I will that my messuage or Tenement wherein John Doggett doth dwell in Leeke ende of Layton Bussard aforesaid w[i]th all the howses edifices buildinges orchardes gardens closes landes meadowes and pastures there unto belonginge w[i]th all & singuler thappurten[a]nces shall ymediatelie after my death or decease goe and remaine to the Bayleiffe and Churchwardens of the Towne of Laighton Bussard aforesaide for the tyme beinge and to their Successors forever uppon Condic[i]on hereafter followinge That is to saie) they or some or one of them shall procure a godlie learned preacher or preachers from tyme to tyme (vid.) a Master of Art after my decease to make in the Church of Laighton aforesaid twoe godlie and lerned Sermons (that is to say) every halfe yeare one, To w[hi]ch saide preacher the saide Bayleiffe and Churchwardens for the tyme beinge presently & after every Sermon ended shall paie to the said Preacher Tenne shillinges parcell of the profitt of the rent of the saide messuage or tenement and other the premisses for and towardes his paines and the overplus of the rent of the saide messuage or tenement and other the premisses shalbe by the said Bayleiffe and Churchwardens for the tyme beinge distributed in the said Churche amongest the poorest and impotent widdowes Inhabitantes of the saide towne of Layton aforesaid at the discretion of the saide Bayleiffe and Churchwardens for the tyme beinge. Item I give and bequeathe to my nephewe Henry Hoddesdon preacher all the money that Sir William Leighe knight doth owe me w[i]th the rent increase and benefitt thereof and alsoe all such wrightinges as were made betweene him and me testifyinge the saide debtes that he doth owe me Item I doe forgive and discharge the executors of my late brother Nicholas Hoddesdon deceased all the debts w[hi]ch he did owe at the tyme of his decease or at anie tyme after Item I forgive my sister in lawe M[ist]ris Carlyhill the hundreth and fortie poundes w[hi]ch her late husband Mr. Carlihill did owe me at the tyme of his decease w[i]th all the profittes arisinge thereby whatsoever Item I give unto Edmund Boulsworth my servannt tenne poundes Item I give unto John Edwardes and Tymothie Mathewe my servantes to either of them five poundes a peece Item I forgive my neece late the wief of John Hoddesdon all the debte w[hi]ch her saide husband did owe me at the tyme of his decease Item I doe forgive Henry Webbe all the debtes w[hi]ch he doth owe me And further my will is that Thomas Benett my servant and his wiffe shall have their dwelling in the house wherein they doe dwell in Layton aforesaid duringe their naturall lives and the longer liver of them w[i]thout any rent payinge for the same, Item I give and bequeathe all my land tenementes and hereditamentes whatsoever that I nowe stand seysed of in fee simple and not assured uppon the marriadge of my late daughter Ursula lying and beinge w[i]thin the townes feildes and parishes of Leyton Bussard aforesaid except the foresaide messuage wherein the foresaide John Dogget doth dwell in Layton Bussard aforesaid and disposed as aforesaid unto the foresaid Elizabeth my wief for the terme of her naturall life, and after the decease of my saide wief then to the heires of the bodie of me the saide Sir Christopher Hoddesdon and of the said Elizabeth lawfullie begotten or to be begotten betweene us And for defaulte of such yssue then to such use and uses intentes and purposes as in and by certaine severall Conveyannces thereof heretofore made of the premisses by me the saide Sir Christopher Hodddesdon in the waye of feofement of some part thereof to Sir Thomas Pope Blunt Knight and of some other part thereof to John Edwardes and William Turney as in and by the saide recyted severall Conveyannces doe more plainelie appeare Alsoe I \doe/ give unto my saide wife the Rectorie of Whitenashe and all my landes and tenementes w[i]thin the Countie of Warwicke w[i]th all and singuler thappurten[a]nces unto the said Eliz[abeth] my wiffe for the terme of her naturall lieff, and after her decease then to Thomas Leighe Esquier my Granndchilde late sonne of Sir John Leighe knight deceased and after his decease to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten or to be begotten And for default of such yssue then to the aforesaid Christopher Hoddesdon my nephewe and his heires forever Provided alwaies and my will and true meaninge is and I doe further ordaine by this my pr[esen]te testament that if Sir Thomas Leighe knight grandfather of the said Tho[mas] Leighe Esquire my granndchilde or the saide Tho[mas] Leighe Esquier my granndchilde or aine of them or the heires or Assignes of them or any of them doe not from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter permitt and suffer my foresaide wieff and her Assignes peaceablie and quietlie to have holde use occupie and enioye all such landes tenementes and heriditam[en]tes whatsoever w[hi]ch I the saide Sir Christopher Hoddesdon by anie deede Conveyannce Surrender or any other writinge whatsoever or by this my pr[esen]te testament have before this tyme given conveyed surrendered or bequeathed unto my saide wife or to any other to her use accordinge to the true entent and meaninge of these pr[esen]tes or of the saide deedes conveyannces Surrenders or writinges whatsoever then I doe give will & bequeathe the saide Rectorie of Whitenashe and all my saide landes and tenementes within the saide Countie of Warwick w[i]th all and singuler thappurten[a]nces unto the said Elizabeth my wiffe her heires and Assignes for ever And moreover I will that my said wiffe shall have and enioye for the terme of her said naturall life all those p[ar]cells of meadowe or swerd grounde lyinge at Billington w[i]thin the parishe of Layton Bussard aforesaid comonlye called Beane meade And after the deceasse of my said wiffe my will is that the saide p[ar]cells of meadowe and swerd ground w[i]th the appurten[a]nces shall goe and remaine unto the afore said Christopher Hoddesdon of Staple Inn gentl[eman] and to his heires for ever accordinge to the former assurannces thereof from me the said Sir Christopher made unto my said wiffe for the terme of her liffe and after her decease to the said Christopher Hoddesdon and to his heires All the residue of my landes tenementes and hereditamentes whatsoever w[hi]ch I nowe stand seized of or shall have at the tyme of my decease w[i]thin the Counties of Bed[for]d and Warwick or any of them not before given or bequeathed w[i]th all and singuler thappurten[a]nces I give and bequeathe to the heires of the bodie of me the said Sir Christopher Hoddesdonn and of the said Eliz[abeth] my wiffe lawfullie begotten or to be begotten betweene us And for defaulte of such yssue then to remaine to the foresaid Tho[mas] Leigh my granndchilde and after his decease to the heires of his bodie lawfullie to be begotten And for defaulte of such yssue then to remaine to the foresaid Christopher Hoddesdon my nephewe and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten, and for defaulte of such yssue then to Edward Hoddesdon one of the brethren of the saide Christopher Hoddesdonn and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten And for defalte of such yssue then to Henry Hoddesdon one of the brethren of the said Edward and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten And for defalte of such yssue then to the next heires of me the said Sir Christopher Hoddesdon for ever Item I give and bequeathe unto the foresaid Bridgett, Eliz[abeth] and Anne Hoddesdonn the children of John Hoddesdon my nephewe deceased to either of them Twentie poundes \a peece/ to be paid to my nephue Christopher Hoddesdon of Staple Inn gentl[eman] to the use of the foresaid Bridgett Eliz[abeth] and Ann Hoddesdon w[i]thin three yeares next after my decease Item I give and bequeathe unto Anne Sanders and Eliz[abeth] Sanders my daughters in lawe to either of them five hundreth poundes a peece to be paid to them when they shall accomplishe their severall ages of sixteene yeares or at their severall daies of marriadge w[hi]ch of them shall first happen to come provided alwaies that if the said Ann or Eliz[abeth] or any of them doe marrie w[i]thout the consent and good likinge of my foresaid wief their mother if she be then livinge, if she be then deceased then w[i]thout the consent of Sir Thomas Pope Blunt knight their unckle that then anie of them soe marryinge w[i]thout the consent and good likinge of their said mother as is aforesaid shall loose the benefitt of the said five hundreth poundes to them before in theise pr[esen]tes given or bequeathed as is aforesaid Item I give & bequeathe unto the aforesaid Christopher Hoddesdon my nephue one hundreth poundes uppon Condic[i]on whereof my will is that the said Christopher Hoddesdon his heires executors adm[inistrato]rs or Assignes shall well and truelie paie or cause to be paid to the said Ioane Smith his sister Tenn poundes everie yeare duringe her naturall life And further I will that if it fortune that George Smith her husband doe dep[ar]te this life at anie tyme she then livinge That then he the saide Christopher Hoddesdon shall paie the said hundred poundes unto the said Ioane Smith w[i]thin sixe monthes next after the decease of the said George Smith provided alwaies and my will and true meaninge is and I doe further ordaine by this my present testament that if the aforesaid Sir Thomas Leighe knight or the said Tho[mas] Leighe Esquire my granndchilde or any of them or the heires or assignes of them or any of them doe not from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter p[er]mitt & suffer my foresaide wife and her assignes peaceablie and quietlie to have holde occupie and enioye all such landes tenementes and hereditamentes whatsoever w[hi]ch I the saide Sir Christopher Hoddesdon by anie deede conveyannce surrender or wrightinge whatsoever or by theise presentes have before this tyme given conveyed surrendered or bequeathed unto my said wife and others accordinge to the true entent and meaninge of theise pr[esen]tes or of the saide Deedes Conveyances Surrenders and wrightinges whatsoever That then and from thence forth all the saide landes tenementes and hereditamentes before given as is aforesaid and everie p[ar]te and p[ar]cell thereof w[i]th all and singuler thappurten[a]nces except the aforesaid Rectorie of Whitenashe and all my landes and tenementes aforesaide w[i]thin the Countie of Warwick before given as is aforsaide shall goe and remaine unto the saide Christopher Hoddesdon my nephue ymediatelie after the Deathe or decease of my saide wife and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten And for defaulte of such yssue then to the said Edward Hoddesdon and to the heires of his Bodie lawfullie begotten And for defaulte of such yssue then to the foresaid Henry Hoddesdon and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten And for defaulte of such issue then to the next heires of me the saide Sir Christopher Hoddesdon for ever any thinge in the saide deedes or wrightinges or in these pr[esen]tes or in any of them whatsoever before menc[i]oned to the contrarie hereof in anie wise not w[i]thstandinge The ressidue of all my goodes chattells debtes bondes writinges whatsoever aswell moveable as unmoveable I give will & bequeath unto the foresaid Elizabeth Hoddesdon my welbeloved wife whome I doe make & ordaine my sole Executrix of this my pr[esen]te testament to paie my debtes and to receave them and to bringe me honestlie upon the earthe. In wittnesse whereof to this my pr[esen]te Testament I the saide Sir Christopher Hoddesdon have subscribed my name and putt my Seale dated the daie and yeare first above written theise beinge wittnesses An Leighe. Richard Eliot. John Tapping. John Holliman and Edmund Bolsworth. Memorandum that theise wordes (Tymothie Mathewe) was raysed by the consent and direction of the abovenamed Sir Christopher Hoddesdon in the presence of Richard Elliott. John Edwardes [Christ]ofer Hoddesdon. Memorandum that I Christopher Hoddessdon knight doe ordaine and appoint by these pr[esen]tes that my last will and testament hereunto annexed shall stande remaine and be in full strength force and effect in all thinges accordinge to the true meaninge thereof savinge that whereas in the same my last will and Testament I have given and bequeathed unto Ann Saunders one of the daughters of Eliz[abeth] Hoddesdon my \nowe/ wiffe five hundreth poundes to be paide to her at such dayes and tymes as in the saide my last is expressed nowe by reason that the said Ann Saunders is married unto Sir Robert Lovet knight to whome I the same Sir Christopher have given in marriage w[i]th the said Sir Robert Lovet above one thowsand poundes And therefore nowe my will is and I doe ordaine by theise pr[esen]tes that the said Ann nor her Assignes shall not have the said five hundreth poundes given unto her as is aforesaid nor any part thereof And whereas in the same my last will and testament I did give unto Ioane Smith my neece one hundred poundes to remaine in the handes of Christopher Hoddedon of Staple Inn gentl[eman] her brother to her use untill that George Smith her then husband were departed outof this worlde w[hi]ch said George Smith is nowe deceased and therefore I doe give the said hundred poundes unto her the same Ioane Smith and that she shall have the receyte thereof to her owne and onely use In wittnes whereof to this my pr[esen]te Codicill I the said Sir Christopher Hoddesdon have subscribed my name and putto my Seale in the yeares of the raigne of our most gracious Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of god of England France and Ireland Kinge defendor of the faithe &c the eight and of Scotland the foure and fortiethe Theise beinge wittnesses Tymothie Mathewe, Tho[mas] Mytton and Edmond Boulsworth ./ [Christ]opher Hoddesdon ./