In the name of God Amen the twentieth day of August 1591 in the thirtieth and third year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the faith
I Henry Collett of Over Slaughter in the County of Gloucester yeoman being whole in body and also in mind thanks be given to Almighty God therefore do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following
That is to say, first I bequeath my soul to Almighty God my maker and redeemer and my body to be buried in the earth in the churchyard of Over Slaughter
In primo I give and bequeath to Anthony Collett my son one ironbound plough cart, a plough with share and coulter and other iron that belongeth to a plough, one pair of harrows with all the tines, a pot, a pan and caldron, the third best of all three, the second bed with appurtences furnished and three pair of sheets, four platters and three pounds of good and lawful money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto William Collett my son three pounds of good and lawful money of England
Item I give and bequeath unto John Collett my son three pounds of good and lawful money of England
Item I give and bequeath to my three daughters that is to say Alice Humphries, Elizabeth Haynes, Jane Venfield and to either of them three pounds a piece of good and lawful money of England
Item I give and bequeath to my children’s children and to every one of them one sheep a piece
Item I give and bequeath to Edith Collett my wife the best bed in the house furnished and the second and the best pot and the second best cauldron, four platters two pots two saucers and ten pounds of good and lawful money of England upon these conditions that hereafter followeth and ensureth, and to none other, that is, that of my wife Edith Collett, do permit and suffer my son Thomas Collett peaceably and quietly to hold, occupy and quietly enjoy the one live in and quietly enjoy the mortar or half of the house and three yard land which I now dwell on in Over Slaughter without any trouble by herself or by any other of her procurement and if she do refuse this to do contrary to my Will and true meaning thereof and that no agreement between my said son Thomas and her can be made that then my Will is that she shall have no penny of money
Item I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish of Stow on the Wold the sum of ten shillings according to the discretion of mine executor
Item my Will is that all these legacies afore specified shall be delivered by my executor within one whole year next after my decease
Item all the rest of my goods movable and unmovable not before mentioned together with one half of my house which I now dwell in at Over Slaughter as is aforesaid with the half of the three yard land thereunto belonging the appurtenances and all the profits to the one half belonging after my decease I give unto my said son Thomas Collett whom I make my whole executor paying my debts and discharging my legacies and that my said son Thomas Collett shall pay the one half of the almoner duties that is payable in and on the aforesaid house and three yard land according to the true meaning of this my last Will, and after my decease and of Edith my wife I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Collett the sole house and three yard land as is aforesaid to him to his heirs forever according to that custom and manor of Slaughter together with all and singular the profits and commodities thereunto belonging
Item I do ordain and appoint to be overseers of this my last Will and Testament my beloved and trusty sons John Collett and Anthony Collett
The
Will was witnessed by William Ford and Laurence Gulwell
Anthony Collett (Ref. 1F12), William Collett (Ref. 1F10),
John Collett (Ref. 1F9)
Alice Humphries (Ref. 1F6), Elizabeth Haynes (Ref.
1F7),
Jane Venfield (Ref. 1F11), Edith Collett (Ref. 1E3),
Thomas Collett (Ref. 1F8)