Anthony Sclater

Prerogative Court of Canterbury will made: 16th June 1624
Probate Date: 13th June 1628
Mentioned in the probate: John Sclater, son of the testator, and Mary Cletheroe wife of Francis Cletheroe and daughter of the testator
National Archive Catalogue reference: PROB 11/153

The original document is in the custody of the National Archives

See also: Vicars of Leighton Buzzard

Transcript

In the name of God Amen The sixteenth daye of June in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand sixe hundred Twentie fower I Anthony Sclater of Leighton Bussard in the Countie of Bedord Clarke and Vicar there, Weake of body but of perfect minde, expecting daily the blessed houre of my dissolution, doe now intend to sett mine house in order, and to that end doe ordaine this my last will and Testament in maner and forme following, Revokeing all other wills & Testaments by mee formerly made, First into the handes of my blessed Saviour I commend my spirit w[hi]ch he hath Redeemed, being perswaded that he is both able and willing to keepe that pretious thinge w[hi]ch I have committed unto him My body I ordaine decently to bee buried in the Chauncell of Leighton according to the discretion of my Executors hereunder named, Unto the poore of the Towne of Leighton, I bequeath Twentie shillings, and to the poore of Heath and Reach three shillinges and fower pence, and to the poore of the two Billingdons three shillinges fower pence All w[hi]ch said somes I will to be distributed amongst them upon the daie of my funeralls Item to every one of my sonnes and daughters (whose education and placeing in marriage hath bin noe smale charge unto mee) as a memoriall of my love and theire duties mutuallie? performed I give and bequeath ten shillinges And to every of my sonnes wives, and daughters husbandes or like consideration ten shillinges Item to my grandchildren and godchildren namely William the sonne of Willia[m] Sclater, Edward the sonne of John Sclater William the sonne of [Christ]ofer Sclater Thomas sonne of Willia[m] Jones Samuell the sonne of Franncis Cletheroe unto every one of these I give twenty shillinges And to every of my other Grandchildren severally five shillinges Item more I give unto my son Christopher three pounds sixe shillinges eight pence And for the p[er]forming and discharging of the foresaid legacies, whereas I have five acres of arable land lying dispersedly in the fields of Leighton aforesaid, as by my evidences thereof maie more fully appeare. I give and bequeath the said five acres of land together with the deeds thereto belonging unto my sonne Willia[m] Sclater and his heires upon condition neverthelesse, that he the said William Sclater his heires Executors or Administrators doe paie or cause to bee paid unto mine Executors hereafter named the full some of five and Twentie pounds of lawfull English money within one whole yeare next after my decease w[hi]ch said condition he hath to mee undertaken and promises to p[er]forme, w[hi]ch condition \if/ he the said William Sclater shall refuse or neglect to fullfill and satisfie Then my will is that the said five acres of land together with the deeds and evidences thereto belonging shalbe to the use of mine Executors to bee by them sold disposed, had held and imoyed according to theire discretions for and towards the fullfilling of my said legacies and payment of my debts Item more I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Cletheroe my grandchild my bullocke my second best fetherbed and bedsteed boulsters Coverlett two pillows, two pillowbeers two blankettes two paire of sheets and the curtaines thereunto belonging Item more unto Francis the daughter of Christopher Sclater my best Cowe Item I further give and bequeath unto my sonne Christopher all the furniture of the parlor except one chaire Alsoe my will is that the said Christopher shall gather upp all oblations and Tithes w[hi]ch shalbe due unto mee at the tyme of my decease, excepting mortuaries from any inhabitants of the parish of Leighton aforesaid, and that he deliver the one halfe unto mine Executors and reserve the other halfe to his proper use Item I doe further give unto my grandchild Elizabeth Cletheroe all the furniture of the hall, The rest of my goods & Chattells undisposed my debts first paid legacies fullfilled and funerall expences satisfied I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Sclater and my daughter Mary the wife of Francis Cletheroe whom I doe appoint \& ordayne/ myne Executors of this my last will and Testament to bee by them faithfully performed according to my trust committed unto them In witnes whereof I have to these p[re]sentes sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first abovewritten Signum et sigillum Anthony Sclater Sealed and as the last Testament of the said Anthony Sclater published in the presence of us Jeremy Deacon and Will[ia]m Howe. I request my Sonne William Sclater and my sonne in lawe William Jones to oversee the performance of this my last will and Testament to whom I give a peice of gold of ten shillings a man or the value thereof in Silver ./.