The will of William Wells of Nether Dean (i.e. Lower Dean), Bedfordshire, which was probated in 1615 on file at the Bedfordshire Record Office shows that John Wells son of William Wells above had children John, Prudence and Grace.
The last will and Testament of William Wells of Nether Deane in the Countie of Bedford being in pfect memory thankes be unto god, I do commit my soule unto god in the name and mediacon of Jesus Christ my Saviour who have made by his death and sufrings a full satisfaction for all my sins, and also I doe comit my body to the erth from whence it was taken. Imprimis my will is that John Wells and Robert Wells my two sons shall joyntly together be my full executors Item I doe give unto my eldest sonne Thomas Wells five pounds Item I doe give unto the same Thomas Wells my eldest sonne on[e] score of ethers after sheredaye and that they be shered Item I do give unto the same Thomas Wells my sonne my best brass pate All which is to be payed within six monthese after the buryall of the aforesayd William Wells Item I doe give to Elizabeth Tatnall my daughter five pounds allso to be payed within the same time aforesayd Item I doe give to Martha Godfry three pounds Item I doe give to Mary Godfry three pounds [both] to be payd within on[e] year after my burial! Item I doe give to Sarah Godfry twelve pounds Item I doe give to Alce Godfry twelve pounds to be payed to the sayd Sarah and Alce at the day of theyr marriage and i f it doe please god that any of these foure sisters do depart this life be fore the time that these Legasies should be payed then it is to remayne still unto my executors provided also that the sayd Sarah and Alce shall not match in mariage without the councell and advice of the afar sayed executors but if they will not be ruled by them in ther marching it shall be lawfull for them to detayne and hold that porcion or legasie geven to them to the proper use of the aforsayd executors Item I doe give to Daniell Wells sonne to Robert Wells thyrtyr pounds to be payed within three yeares after my death and if he die before he be married his father shall injoy the sayde legasie Item I doe give to John Wells my sonn John Wells his sonne ten pounds Item I doe give to the same John Wells a browne Bullocke Item I doe give to Prudence Wells daughter of my sonne John Wells ten pounds and my second Brase pott Item I doe give to Grace Wells daughter to John Wells ten pounds a l so I doe give unto her my second Kettle which sayed somms of money shall be payed to them within three yeares after my death And if it please god to take any of these thre brother or sisters awaye by death before they be maried the porsion of the diseased shall be equally devided betwixt the other two and if two of them doe die theyr porsions shall remayne to the third Item I doe give unto Grace Wells my wife ten pounds a yeare during her life to be payed unto her by my executors at two termes in the yeare that is to saye five pounds at Saint Michaell tharkangell and five pounds at the Lady daye Item I doe give to her alsoe that Bedd she useth to lie in and two payre of sheets and fether bed and al other things belonging ther unto and all the pewter belonging to my house Item I doe give unto the poore of Nether Deane twenty shillings to be devided among them with in two monthes after my death and to be payed to Robert King and ffrancis Ostler to be devided acording to theyer discresion All things which are here unbequeathed and not given awaye shall remayne unto my executors whollv
William Wells
Witnessed by
Francis Ostler
Robert Kinge
Probated 24 June 1615
