Transcript Will of Thomas COLLYER of HEATON NORRIS. Proved 1594.

In the name of God amen the xvijth daye of september in the xxxvjth yeare of the reigne of oure SoveraigneLady Elizabeth by the Grace of God Quene of Englande France and Irelande Defender of the faith etc, I Thomas COLLYER of HEATON NORRES in the countie of Lancaster, husbandman, being trobled with infyrmities in my bodye, butt of perfect remembrance thanks be to God, doe make and declare this present teastament herein conteynynge my last will in manor and forme folloinge,
That is to wytte first I comende my soule into the handes of God, and my bodye to christyan buryall in the lower ende of the churche of Stockeport or ells wheresoever it shall please God to dyspose the same, and also it is my wyll that JOHN COLLYER my sonne by the lycens of my wourshipfull maister shall have and enjoye the messuage ferme and tenyment with thappurtenances wherein I nowe dwell, from and after my deceasse, and for the order and distribucion of all my worldlie goodes, cattalls, chattells and debts I wyll they shalbe dysposed as hereafter followethe.
Fyrst I wyll that all suche debtes as I owe of ryght or conscyence to anye person or persons, my legacyes hereafter bequethed, and my funeralls expence shalbe taken and payed of my whole goodes before any devission be made thereof.
Also I geve and bequethe to the chylde of ELIZABETHE VENABLES my daughter if God blesse her butt with one, the somme of fouretie markes and if God blesse her with moe children then one I wyll that then the same money be equallie devided amongest them, uppon condycion that HENRIE VENABLES her husbande and others suffycyent suerties with hym enter bounde in an obligacion of the somme of one hundrethe poundes to my trustie frendes maister ROBERT HOLME gentleman, OLLYVER HOLME and JOHN HOLME of the Shawe and theire assignes to repay the same and the increases thereof to the same childe or children when hit or they be of yeares of dyscression and in the meanetyme to be employed by the same Henrye unto the use of the saide childe or children, and if my daughter Elizabethe have no childe or children or that the same Henrye and suerties with him refuse to enter bounde as afforesaid then I geve and bequethe the same some of fouretie markes unto John Collyer my sonne, the said Elizabethe and Ellen my daughters to be equally devided amongest them and this to be conteyned within the same bonnde.
Item I geve and bequethe to eny godchilde that I have xijd a pece.
Item I wyll that my brother OLLYVER COLLYER have the chamber wiche he now occupyes so long as he wyll steye, without anye rent peyeing for the same, also I wyll that ELLEN COLLYER my daughter have the parlor belowe in the howse next to the streete, and also rowme to the fyer at my howse so longe as shee keepethe her unmarryed, in suche manor as my sisters had att my handes.
Item I geve and bequethe unto my said daughter Ellen the one halfe of all my pewter, brasse and beddinge and the best mare after the harryote is taken awaye, and the other halfe of all my pewter, brasse and beddinge all my [???} eyther on grounde or in the howse and also all my cattalls and debtes, I geve and bequethe them unto OLLYVER HOLME, OTTEWELL ASPENALL and unto JOHN HOLME my good and trusty frendes for and to the use of John Collyer my said sonne, and also all suche goodes as I have in Stockeport I geve and beq uethe thereunto the forsaides Ollyver , Ottewell and John to and for the same use and also my husbandrere ware and other goodes and impleements whatsoever I geve and bequethe unto them the said Ollyver Holme, Ottewell Aspenhall and John Holme to and for the use of my said sone John, and I wyll that all and eny the said goodes before bequethed unto the foresaid Ollyver Holme, Ottewell Aspenhall and the said John Holme shalbe delyvdere unto them the saide persons my frendes for and to the use beforsaid by the handes of myn executors to keep and to delyvere unto my said sone John Collyer uppon his good behavior and uppon the condycion followine and not otherwyse, that is to saye that if my said sone doe leave of and leye away all his former manor of his badd and lewde lyfe and become a newe man, and fall to a newe lyfe and frame hymselfe to live honestlie in the holie estate of mattreemoneye and also forgoe and leye aside all badd company and also do not fall to or use caryenige or badgeinge, gammynge or anye uncomlye vice whatsoever, whereby to wast and consume, or to myspende the said goodes, that then those my saide frendes the saide Ollyver Holme, Ottewell Aspenhall and John Holme, shall by theire good dyscression imparte unto my said sonne suche parte and porcyon of the saide goodes from tyme to tyme and they or anye towe of them shall( by theire good dyscression)good and convenyent for him to have.
But if the said John my sonne do otherwyse mysorder and mysbehave hymselffe whereby he shalbe thought by all or by towe of those any saide frendes before named not to be worthie to have the saide goodes before unto them bequethed for and to the use beforesaid nor anye part or parcell thereof, I wyll that then they the saide Ollyver Holme, Otewell Aspenhall and John Holme shall by vertue of this my said last wyll and testament devyde and delyver all those the foresaide goods (bequethed and geven in use afforsaid) amongest the children of the saide John Collyer my sone and of the saide Elizabeth and Ellen my daughters by theire good dyscressions.
Also I geve and bequethe unto my said daughter Ellen my heffer that came lately from Byrthegate and also the lyttle coffer that standethe att my beddesffoote and for all suche other goodes whatsoever that I wolde for my said daughter Ellen to have, I have appoynted the same unto her already before Ollyver Holme and other [???] wittenesses.
And also I wyll that my said sonne John shall keepe my syster Margaret at my howse with honest meates, drinkes, lodgeinge and apparrell for and duringe her lyfe, also it is my wyll that my said sonne John shall paye unto myn executors hereafter named xxs to be bestowed uppon the poore in Stockeport by the dyscression of myn executors and to the intent that this my said last wyll and teastament maye be well and trulye accompleshed in all causes awardinge unto the tennor, forme, effect and true meanynge of the same I constytute, ordeyne, make and appoynte the said Ellen my daughter my true and lawfull executor to perform, Ollyver Collyer my brother to be overseere of the same, and in wyttenes hereof I the said Thomas Collyer have geven unto, putt my marke and sealed the same in the presente of these wyttenesses whose names be subscribed.
Also my wyll is further that if my sonne John doe depart this lyfe before he compounde with my maister or otherwayse doe not behave himselfe to the contentment of his said maister then I wyll that my daughter Ellen shall by the lycens of my said maister have and enjoy all my said tenement wythe thappurtennces afforesaid that I desere, if it maye soe please Godd, to have one of my owne children to enjoy the same and also that she maye be a contynuall ayder and maynteynor of my said sonne John, if he sholde happen to growe unto anye deykey or wante.

Thomas Collyer his mark.
Sealed and marked by me, the said Thomas Collyer in the presente of thies persons whose names be subscribed.

OLYVER COLLYER his marke
ROBERT HYDE
JOHN HOLME his marke
ROBERT BE[??] EKE?

Original copyright of Lancashire RO.