The Will of John Butter of Thorrington, co. Essex, yeoman, 26 January 1624/5.
To be buried in the church of Thorrington.
To Margaret my wife, all my lands and tenements, free and copy, in Thorrington for life, and after her death the premises are to be sold by Pearce Butter and James Butter, my brothers, and by George Lincoln of Sutton, co. Suffolk, Samuel Backley of Dedham, John Cogeshall, and Edward Rand, my kinsmen, or by the most of them then living, and the money therefrom is to be paid as follows:
to my brother Pearce Butter £10, to my brother James Butter £40, to my sister Anne Cogshall £20, to John Cogshall, son of the said Ann, £40, to the daughters of my said sister Anne Cogshall, namely, Anne Cogshall and Katherine Cogshall, £40 each, to the three children of my sister Stokes, namely to Thomasin Stokes, Mary Stokes, and the youngest daughter which she had be her late husband Stockes, deceased, £10 each, to Judith Butter, daughter of my brother William Butter, £20, and to my servant Roger Wheeler - all the legacies to be paid within one month after the sale of the said lands and tenements. To William Butter, my uncle's son, 20s yearly for life. To John Butter, my uncle's son, 30s. To my aunt Morphewe 40s. If my said brothers Pearce or James or my sister Anne Cogshall or any of her children or any of the said children of my sister Stokes die before receiving said legacy, then reversion to the residue of said persons then living. To Anne Rand, one of the daughters of my brother-in-law John Rand, £21. To Edward, John, Nicholas, Robert, George, Samuel, Benjamin, Susan, Mary, and Sarah Rand, children of the said John, £13. 10s. apiece, within three months after my land is sold, and if any die before [the legatee attains the age of] twenty-one. To Samuel, John, Elizabeth Backley, children of my brother-in-law Samuel Backley of Dedham, £15 apiece, to be paid as to the Rand children. To George Lincoln 20s., to buy a ring. To Mr. Richard Hord, minister of Thorrington, Samuel Ward of Ipswich, Mr. Rogers of Dedham, and Mr. Wittam of Mistleigh, co. Essex, 40s. each for a ring. To the poor of Thorrington 20s, and also 20s. more owing to me from one Bridgman of Bricklingsea. Executrix: Margaret, my wife. Supervisor: John Rand, my brother-in-law. Witnesses: Richard Hord, minister, John Rand, Stephen Williamson (X), Anthony Burrodall (X), William Moore (X), Debora Barnard (X).
Proved May 1626 by the executrix named in the will. (P.C.C., Hele, 77.)
