Washington Will Inventory
Nominated by Mrs Joyce Moss
I have nominated this document because :
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It is the first of a long line of Washington wills in Staffordshire
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It is a pre-Reformation will, just as the Reformation was happening in England. Edmund wills about £7,000 (modern money) to the Church to pray for his and his family's souls.
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It establishes the link between Edmund and the Abbots of Dieulacresse, who leased him land, which his family later bought.
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His inventory is that of a prosperous yeoman farmer.
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As he is the first recorded Washington in Staffordshire, it raises the question as to where his parents came from. Was he originally from Lancashire or Cumberland like other Washington's? Ideas please!
Will of Edmund Washington, 1537
Note : There is a small amount of paraphrasing, as some of the sentences in the will are repetitious and convoluted by 21st century standards, and some modernization of language in both will and inventory.
In the name of God, Amen, the 21st day of June, in the year of our Lord God, 1537, I Edmund Washington, sick in body but whole in mind, do make my Testament in this manner - first I bequeath my soul to Almighty God, unto Our Blessed Lady St.Mary and all the holy company of Heaven and my body to be buried within the parish church of Leek in my own form before St. Catherine and my best goods to be my herriott(1), according to the law. Also I bequeath to St Mary's house of Coventry, 2d, also to St Chad's house of Lichfield, 2d. Also I bequeath to the parish church of Leek, for my burial, a mass book. Also, I bequeath to the new chapel of St. Catherine, within the parish church of Leek, £26/13/4 to find a priest as long as the stock(2) lasts and the parish thinks best to pray for my father's soul, my mother's soul and all their children and all Christian souls. The sum of money for which I will to be put into the hands of John Ashenhurst and William Greenhaigh, with the best council of the parish as long as the stock lasts and I have made them a letter of attorney and sealed it with my own hands (to gather the debt which is contained in the same letter of attorney). Also I will that William, my son, shall sing for me if he will as long as the stock lasts and if he live and after him to take another at the pleasure of the parish. Also I will that John Ashenhurst and William Greenlaigh shall make their Covenant yearly to William, my son and William Hulme of Thorncliffe, to see how the stock is ordered to a priest's wage.
Also, I bequeath to Thomas Gallymore, my godson, a heifer, also to Elizabeth Washington, 6/8, also to Alice Mason, 3/4. Also I will after my death and that of my wife that my son Thomas shall have my house and all the grounds. I will that John, my son, shall have all the grounds that I hold of my Lord of Dieulacresse beyond Hilleswood, paying thereto his rent. Also, I will, after my decease, my debts paid, the church paid and my bequest fulfilled, the possession of all my goods is to remain upon Agnes, my wife and John, my son. Also, I make Agnes, my wife and John my son my true and lawful executors of all my goods, if my will be fulfilled in all things, as they shall answer before the High Judge. Also I will that Master John Petye of the parish of Ranton and William, my son shall be my true overseers, to see my last will performed.
The witnesses, Richard Gent, vicar of Leek, John Allen, Thomas Goodrych and others.
Notes
1 Herriott - the best goods paid by a tenant to a landlord.
2 Stock - sheep or farm animals given to the church to pay for a priest to say Masses
Inventory of Edmund Washington
This is the inventory of all the goods of Edmund Washington, lately deceased, apprised by Richard Fowell of Birchall, william Hulme of the parish, John Gent and Hugh Ball of Leek, the 3rd day of July, 1537
In the first place, 5 cows, the price
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46/8
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Item 2 calves
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2/8
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Item a horse and a filley's colt
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14/-
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Item 18 old sheep
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24/-
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Item 8 lambs
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8/-
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Item in brasse
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8/-
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Item in pint vessels
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5/8
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Item in bedding and raiment
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20/8
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Item a coffer and awmbery
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2/-
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Item in ironware
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3/-
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Item a hanging cloth
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8d
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Item in trene ware
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2/-
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Item 2 swarms of bees and a stall
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2/4
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Item 4 loads of hay
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6/8
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Item 6 loads of turves
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12d
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Item 2 waynes and yokes
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4/-
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Item 2 foodclothes and 3 towels
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2/8
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Item boards and chairs
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2/-
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Item a plough and harrow
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12d
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Item 3 swine
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5/-
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Item a dishboard and a swinetub
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12d
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Debts owing to him
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In the first place, the vicar of Leek
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20/-
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Item Richard Jolys
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13/4
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Item Hugh Heath
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16/8
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Item Robert Tofte
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5/13/4
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Item Roger Alyn
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33/4
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£9/13/4
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Item to the church
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£26/13/4
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Summa totallis
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£44/4/-
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