© MJH 2003
The following Hale family information is © Copyright MJH and is displayed with permission.

Suffolk Records Office ref J545/4 Fuller 119v

In the name of God, Amen, on the first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and sixtyone,

I William of Hale of Hertest in Norwich diocese, being of sound mind and of good memory, make my testament in this manner.

First I commend my soul to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to all the saints in heaven, and my body to the church officers to be buried, that is to say, in the churchyard of All Saints of Hertest next to the tomb of my parents.

Item I leave, and on behalf of God I require of my executors, that ( they should pay ) all and singular my debts which I owe.

Item I leave to the high alter of the aforesaid church, for my tithes and oblations forgotten and underpaid, 12d.

Item I leave to the picture of the Blessed Virgin in the holy chapel in the Churchyard of Hertest 10s, ( to be paid ) with all possible haste after my decease.

Item I leave to a certain needy pauper called Thomas Capemaker, to pray for my soul, 1 smock, 1 tunic called ‘le doublet’, 1 pair of breeches, 1 pair of hose, 1 pair of sandals and 1 gown of ‘blod’ colour.

Item I leave to John Waryn, a needy pauper, to pray for my soul, my best gown with coif.

Item I leave to each one of my godsons and god daughters, to pray for my soul, one sheep to the value of 12d, and to each of them holding a cerge ( small candle ) about my body on the day of my burial, a single penny.

Item I leave to Agnes my daughter, the wife of Thomas Noble, 20 sheep and ewes.

Item I leave to Robert, the son of the same Thomas and Agnes, my god son, to pray for my soul, one bullock of the age of one year.

Item I leave to Ellen the daughter of John Watton my servant, to pray for my soul, one heifer of the age of three years, and six sheep.

Item I leave to William Lasy, my servant, to pray for my soul, six sheep.

The residue, indeed, of all my goods not before bequeathed, I give and leave to my executors, to dispose of in works of charity for the health of my soul, or in praise of God and for my salvation, as may seem most expedient to them.

Of which above testament I make, ordain and constitute my executors Majory my wife, John Smythe of Stansfield and Walter More of Stanstead.

Item I leave to each of them, for their diligent labour, 20d.

In witness whereof to this my present testament I have affixed my seal and put my hand in evidence.

Given in the place and on the day and year of our Lord abovewritten.





This is the last Will of me, William of Hale, of Hertest, made in the same place, in the neighbourhood of my house, on the day and year of our Lord abovesaid.

First I Will that all and singular before bequeathed and assigned in my present testament should, in all matters, be well and faithfully carried out and performed.

Item I Will that Marjory my wife and William my son should have a certain bond tenement of mine in which I dwell in Hertest, with all its appurtenances, which I lately acquired from William Longe, to have and to hold to the same Marjory and William, their heirs and assigns for ever, at the Will of the Lord.

To whose use I have surrendered that the same tenement, with its appurtenances, into the hands of John Freeman, one of the tenants of the Manor, in the presence of Sir Richard Frost, Chaplain, William Frost, John Gardyner, and others, to hold of the Lord according to the customs of the Manor.

Item I Will that my aforesaid wife should have all my free lands and tenements, and all their appurtenances , in the towns of Hertest, Somerton, Boxted, and Hawkedon or elsewhere in the county of Suffolk, to have and to hold all the aforesaid free lands and tenements, with all their appurtenances, to the aforesaid Marjory my wife, her heirs and assigns for ever.

Item I Will that the aforesaid William my son should have my bond tenement called Hellis in Hertest, with all its apputenances, to have and to hold the aforesaid tenement, with all its appurtenances, to the aforesaid William my son, his heirs and assigns for ever, at the will of the lord.

Item I Will that the aforesaid William my son should have so much of my grain, that is to say, of Wheat, Barley, Peas, and Oats, as is sufficient to sow upon the said tenement in the next year after my death.

Item, I Will, and on behalf of God I require, of my feoffees of and in the aforesaid free lands and tenements, with all theit apputenances, that they should deliver title, estate and possession thereof to the aforesaid Marjory my wife at such time as it should be duly requested by the aforenamed Marjory.

Item I Will that the aforesaid William my son should have my best cart with irom-bound wheels, with trappings for four horses.

Item I leave to my same wife four of my best horses.

Item I leave to the same William my son two ambling horses.

Item I Will and leave to the Church of Hawkedon, for the souls of my friends John Smyth, late of the same, and Agnes his wife, two bushels of Wheat.

Item I Will that the aforesaid Marjory my wife should have all my other cattle and stock, live and dead, not before bequeathed, and also all my utensils and hustlements ( odds and ends ) whether lines, woollen, pots, pans, cups or spoons, with all other necessary utensils appertaining thereto, except one painted chest with lock and key, which I Will that the aforesaid Agnes my daughter should have.

Item I Will that the aforesaid William my son should have one iron plate, standing in the hall, after the death of the aforesaid Marjory my wife, mother of the same William.

In witness whereof to this my present Will I have affixed my Seal

Given on the day, place and year aforesaid.

The above testament, with last Will annexed to the same, was proved before us, William Wood, Licentiate of Canon Law, Commissary General, lawfully constituted for the Archdeaconries of Suffol and Sudbury, of the Reverend Father and Lord in Christ, by the Grace of God, the Lord Bishop of Norwich, exercising ( authority during ) the Visitation of Norwich.

On the 8th day of the month of March in the Year of Our Lord 1473.

And administration of all the goods of the said deceased, and of all matters concerning the above testament, was committed to John Smyth, the executor named in the said testament, he having been first sworn in due form of law.

Power being reserved to us to grant the same to the aforesaid Marjory Halle, the other executor, if she should come and seek the same.

In witness whereof we have affixed to these presents the Seal of Office which we use in this regard.

Given at Fornham St Martin on the day and year aforesaid.

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