Posted by e.m.vine@exeter.ac.uk
19 March 2024This month’s featured will is longer and more detailed than previous examples, stretching to three and a half pages. It’s the will of Ralph Wrighte, a landowner and farmer who died in Sutton Saint James, Lincolnshire, in 1604, and had a lot of land, money, and farm animals to distribute. The dispersal of the estate of this country dweller also marks a departure from last month’s featured will [link], which was made by a London clergyman involved in many facets of urban professional life, and whose will was largely concerned with the disposal of books and papers.
Wrighte did not list books to be bequeathed: instead, he itemised his farm animals. Wrighte’s will contains dozens of bequests of identified animals: ewes, swine, calves, ‘the Mill mare And the Mill mares yearling’, ‘the bald mares foale’. To his wife Emma he bequeathed ‘eight cowes at her choice’, alongside several other more rigidly specified animals. And to each one of his godchildren he left ‘one lambe to be delived unto them or to their use soe soone as they can say perfectly the Cathechisme set forth in the booke of common praier’. This is a striking condition that reflected the ongoing caring responsibilities of godparenthood, comprising an intention to provide for a child’s future and some oversight over their spiritual education.
A lot more could be said about Wrighte’s itemised menagerie, and indeed the parcels of land and sums of money that he bequeathed to friends, family, and those who leased houses on his estate. But the focus of our project is objects, and the meaning of objects, and Wrighte’s will also provides an insight into his household furnishings and other possessions. In the section of his will concerning the dispersal of ‘household stuff’ he writes:
Item I will that my wife shall
have all the housholdstuff reserving unto Robte my sonne the best cubborde in the hall,
two tables two foormes two benches one chaire, The reckens the fire irons and hookes
in the parlour wher we lie, one posted bed one standing bed as they stande; one chest
with two lockes as it standeth one presse one cubbord two joyned chestes as they stand
and one other other chest one hutch and a frame in the buttrie and all the shelves
Item in the loft two spruce chestes and a trundle bed and one other chest with the
lynnen in it; in the ghest parlor two beddes as they stande, Item in the kitchen one
Table one cowle one presse one chaire, Item all the shelves in the milk house, the lead
in the furnace and the shelves in the bolting house Item half the pewter and halfe
The brasse.[1]
There’s a lot that we can infer from this paragraph. Wrighte’s estate included several outbuildings associated with the processing of foodstuffs: a ‘milk house’, a ‘buttrie’, and a ‘bolting house’ likely used for the bolting or sifting of flour. The main house itself appears to have been fairly substantial, with a separate guest parlour and a loft, and a variety of different types of furniture. The will mentions five different beds, including a ‘posted bed’, and five different chests. Wrighte distinguished between and attributed value to certain items, identifying the cupboard in the hall as being ‘the best’, and setting this aside not for his wife but for his son. From these descriptions we can gain an insight into where in the house certain items were kept, and what certain rooms were used for – this is evident in the description of ‘the fire irons and hookes in the parlour wher we lie’, and ‘all the shelves in the milk house’. There are also references to the materiality and use of individual objects, with descriptions of ‘one chest with two lockes’, ‘two spruce chestes’ (constructed out of spruce pine) and ‘one other chest with the lynnen in it’.
Unlike the previous will discussed in this blog, the will of Josias Alsop, a clergyman who was mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys, we don’t know much more about Lincolnshire farmer Ralph Wrighte, his family, or his estate. Wrighte’s will provides the only source of information about his life and living situation. His will is one that divides up a life spent working off the land: a farmhouse with outbuildings, some substantial items of furniture and apparatus for making dairy products and milling flour, and a protracted list of sheep, cows, horses and pigs to be distributed far and wide. It’s a methodical list that details which family member, tenant, or godchild should receive which sum of money or which type of animal. It hints at the level of thought that had gone into each bequest, and stands in contrast to some shorter wills which tend to cluster together objects or animals e.g. ‘all my household stuff, all my livestock’ rather than itemising them. ‘Meaning’ can be discerned from Wrighte’s decisions to divide up his ‘housholdstuff’ unequally between his wife and son, his setting aside of identified animals for named individuals, and his bequests which sought to provide for the future living of his son and godchildren. There was probably a reason for Wrighte’s decision to leave some of his young beneficiaries a sum of money ‘to be paied at his age of one and twentie yeres’, while others received ‘tenne ewes’ upon reaching adulthood – but Wrighte leaves us with no further explanation.
The level of detail within these methodical decisions was perhaps also determined by the length of time that elapsed between Wrighte making his will, in February 1603, and it being proved in March 1604. In contrast to many other examples, Wrighte was perhaps not gravely ill when he made his will, and perhaps felt able to take the time to make considered decisions. Wrighte saw his will as an opportunity not only to provide for the living of his family and kin, to ensure that his young beneficiaries could establish a household or a flock of sheep, but also to safeguard the longevity of his lands, which were not to be subdivided in any manner other than what he had specified. Unlike in other contemporary wills, Wrighte’s will doesn’t always specify his relationship to the dozens of beneficiaries of his money and livestock, many of whom may have been his neighbours in the small village of Sutton Saint James. The sheer number of beneficiaries, some of whom received relatively small bequests of three shillings or a single ewe, was perhaps also a means of Wrighte solidifying his place as a local landowner, and of securing his memory within the community and for the subsequent generation. Wills were concerned with distributing money, property, and lands, but the decisions underpinning these bequests could also shape how a deceased individual would be remembered.
[1] PROB 11/103/311, The Will of Ralph Wrighte of Sutton Saint James, Lincolnshire, 16 March 1604
In the name of God Amen
The third day of ffebruary in the yeare of our Lorde god 1603 I Rafe Wrighte
of Sutton saint James whole of minde and perfect remembraunce, thankes be to
god, doe ordaine and make my testament and last will in manner and forme follo=
winge ffirst I commend my soule into the hands of almightie god trusting and
faithfullie beleiving in the merrites and pretious blous sheeding of our saviour
Jesus christ to have full remission of all my sinnes, And my body to be buried
in the churchyarde of saint James aforesaide Item I give to Emma my wife for
the terme of her naturall life one acre of free lande with the building thereon
where William Thornton now dwellethe four acres of free lande lieing in
Barlinge drove, seaven acres of free lande which I bought of Richard Hodgson and
two acres viz of lease grounde lienge nexte unto the same, Item fower acres of free lande
lienge in Batemansgate Item twentie foure acres thre roddes of free lande seavallie
lienge in Childerhouse gate and wautersgate, Provided alwaies that my saide wife
shall nott plough up nor suffer to be ploughed up aine of the foresaid grounde, but
shall use the same as it now is and hath bin heretofore, And that she shall keepe
my foresaide house in sufficient repaire. Item I give to my saide wife eight cowes
at her choice, the Mill mare And the Mill mares yearling Item fower steer burlinge
and two cow burlinge Item seaven calves Item twentie pastured sheepe with their
proffit Item fower swine one of them to be a brawne, And all the pullein, Item I
will that my wife shall have the foureth parte of the dole the terme of the lease,
bearing parte of the rent and charge proportionably Item I will that my wife shall
have all the housholdstuff reserving unto Robte my sonne the best cubborde in the hall
two tables two foormes two benches one chaire, The reckens the fire irons and hookes
in the parlour where we lie, one posted bed one standing bed as they stande; one chest
with two lockes as it standeth one presse one cubbord two joyned chestes as they stand
and one other other chest one hutch and a frame in the buttrie and all the shelves
Item in the loft two Spruce chestes and a trundle bed and one other chest with the
lynnen in it, in the ghest parlor two beddes as they stande, Item in the kitchin one
Table one cowle one presse one chaire, Item all the shelves in the milk house, the lead
in the furnace and the shelves in the bolting house Item half the pewter and halfe the
[page 2]
The brasse, Item the horsemill a paire of milstones and the malt quearnes as they
standem provided always and it is my verie will that my wife shall be bounde to
Robte my sonne before the proving of this my will that shee shall nott claime
any Thirdes in any of my groundes other than those that are given her in this my
will, and that she shall use and occupie those groundes as I have before recited Item
I will that my wife shall have her grinding at the Mill and at the quearnes at
all times during her naturall life Item I give unto the repaire of the chappell of
saint James fortie shillinges Item I give unto twentie of the poorest housholders
in the parish of saint James twentie shillinges Item I give unto John Reade and
margaret his wife in performance of the truste that they have in me the howse
where they nowe dwell and two acres of free lande that it standeth uppon to the
use of the saide John Read and margaret his wife and to the heired of the saide John
for ever Item I give unto William Carnaby three acres of free lande lienge at
Ives crosse withall the buildinges and appurtenences thereunto belonginge to the use
of the said William and his heires for ever, uppon this condicon that the saide
William Carnaby shall surrender thre acres of coppihold lande lienge in wisbich
To the use of Robert Wright my sonne and his heires for ever before the ffeaste of
sainte John Baptist commonly called Midsomer daie next ensuing Item I give unto
the saide William Carnaby two acres viz of customarie lande lieng in Sutton saint
James betwixt the lande of Richard Baldwer on the east, and the lande of George
Austry of the west, and abbuttes uppon Broadgate towardes the north to the use
of the saide William and his heires forever condicionally that he shall seale a gen=
erall acquitaunce unto my executors Item I give unto the saide William Carnaby
the bald mares foale and five ewes to be delivered at Michaelmas next comminge
Item I give unto Agnes Carnaby tenn poundes of lawfull money of England to be
paied at one and twentie yeres of age or daie of her marriage, condiconally that
she shall seale a generall acquitaunce unto my executors Item I give unto Mawde
yarbour tenn poundes of lawfull money of England to be paied at Michaelmas
nexte; Item to Marie yarbour tenn poundes of lawfull money of England to be
paied at our Ladie daie come twelve moneth, or daie of marriage, And to John
yarbour tenn poundes of Lawfull money of England to be paied to him at the age
of twentie and one yeres, condiconally that they and everye of them shall seav=
erally seale acquitaunces unto my executors for all legacies given unto them in the
last wills of John yarbour their father and John Tweltrick their father in lawe,
Item I give unto John Cutt three poundes eight shillinges to be paied at his age
of twentie yeres, condiconally that he shall seale unto my executors and to
Isabell Cutt his Awnte seaverall acquintances for all legacies given unto him by
the last wills of Agnes Doomesdaye his grand mother and of John Cutt his Father
Item I give unto Robte Cutt five poundes of lawfull money of England to be paied
at his age of one and twentie yeres, condiconally that he shall seale unto my Ex=
ecutors and to Isabell Cutt his Awnte seaverall acquintaunces for all legacies given
unto him by the last wills of Agnes Doomesday his grand mother and John Cut
his father Item I give unto Roger Cutt five poundes of lawfull money of England
to be paied at his age of one and twentie yeres, condiconally that he shall
seale a generall acquitaunce unto my Executors for all legacies given unto him
by John Cut his father Item I will that my wife and Nathaniell Brocelsby
Item I give unto Thomas Tharlton fives ewes to be delived at Michaelmas nexte
And to all his bretheren and sisters thre shillinges foure pence a peece, And to
Elizabeth Reade five ewes to be delived at Michaelmas next Item I give unto
Henry Richardson one ewe to be delivered at Michaelmas next And to Agnes Reade
one
[page 3]
one ewe to be delivered at Michaelmas next Item I give unto Rafe white of saint Ed:
two ewes to be delivered at Michaelmas next Item I give unto William Colpn tenne
ewes to be delivered to him at the age of twentie and one yeres, Item I ordaine and
make Emma my wife Nathaniel Brockelsby and Robte Wright my sonne my faith=
full Executors to see my bodie decently brought to the grounde and to execute and
performe this my will, And I will that they shall call in debtes to performe these le=
gacies soe far as they will extend, and for that which is wanting to performance
of the legacies and payment of my debtes for my funeral charge for the charge
of proving of my will, and for the charge for the finding of the office for my
free lands before the Exchetor, I will that they shall sell soe much of my stocke
as shall suffice for the performance of these thinges Item I give unto the saide
Nathaniell Brockelsby for this paines three poundes six shillinges eight pence,
the younge black mare foale and all his ridinge charges whensoever he shall tra=
vell in the executing of this my will or aine thinge therein conteined Item I give
unto Tho: Parkinson twentie shillinges of lawfull money of England over and
beside his wage to be paied unto him at Midsomer next, to Agnes his wife five shill=
inges to be paied at Midsomer next, And to Joane his daughter tenn ewes to be delived
unto her at the age of one and twentie yeres or daie of marriage; Item I give unto
every one of my godchildren one lambe to be delived unto them or to their use soe
soone as they can say perfectly in the Cathechisme set forth in the booke of common
praier Item I give unto Tho: Cob and Emma his wife twentie shillinges to be paied
at Midsomer next, To Anthoine Boothe and Isabell his wife one cowe burlinge to
be kepte by my executors until it hathe a calfe by the feete and then to be de=
livered unto them Item I give unto Lawrence Wright one ewe to be delivered at
Michaelmas nexte to Jacob Saule thre shillinges foure pence, To Alice Bollande
twelve pence, Item I give unto William Bishop my godsonne tenn shillinges And to
his two sisters Elizabethe and Joane five shillinges a peece Item to Alice Reade the
wife of John Reade five shillinges To Nicholas Seaman one ewe and one lambe Item
I doe ordaine and make mr Harry Skynner of Bullingbrooke in the parte of holland
and the Countie of Lincolne gentleman Overseer in this my will. I have surrendred
certaine coppihold landes given in this my will into the hands of Robert Blanke
thelder to the use and performance of this my last will. The rest of all my goodes
and chattells nott given and bequeathed in this my will, my debtes paied my lega
sies in this my will fulfilled and my bodie decently brought to the grounde I give
unto Roberte wright my sonne and his heires for ever In witness whereof to
these pointes I have subscribed my name and set to my hande and seale the fourtenth
day of ffebruary in the yeare abovesaid. By me Robert Ralph Wright sealed and de=
livered in the presence of Robert Blanke John Reade thelder Henry Wrighte Thomas
Parkinson Debtes owing unto Rafe wright the third of ffebruary 1603.
Imprimis Roberte Adam gentleman due at the Annunciation of the virgin Marie
next as by his bonde doth appeare thirtie thre poundes Item John Bishop due at
the twentieth of Aprill nexte fiftene poundes Item Henrie Reade and William Hardy
of March due at Michaelmas next seaven poundes Item William Percy Junior
of sainte Edmondes due at Midsomer next last foure poundes six shillinges eighte
pence Item the heires of William Marchante of saint Edmundes due three pounds
John Read of saine Edmundes for six ewes fortie shillinges Nicholas Seaman for
a ffilley fortie shillinges Thomas warde gent due at all saintes last past fortie shill=
inges James Spencer fortie shillinges Richard Lambe due at May daie last twenty
six shillinges Item due by him at May day nexte thirtie eight shillinges foure pence
Willm Elme senior ijs vid
[page 4]
William Elme senior two shillinges six pence, George Shawe thre shillinges two pence
ffrauncis Williamson for eleaven ewes thre poundes six shillinges eight pence, for six
yeres rent fortie shillinges John Putterell senior tenn shillinges James Harriman for rent
due at Candlemas last twentie six shillinges eight pence John Reade senior six shill=
inges eight pence, And by him of old debt two shillinges and one hundred of reed, Rich=
ard Martin one hundred pailes six shillinges Katherine Daunce five shillinges henrie
wright for the rent of thre acres of pasture due at thannuciacon of the virgin Mary
next eleaven shillinges eight pence Debtes owinge by Raph wright the thirde
of ffebruary 1603 Imprimis to Mawde yarbour for legacies which is due unto her six
poundes thirtene shillinges foure pence, to Marie yarbour for her parte due unto her six
poundes thirtene shillinges foure pence, To John yarbour for his parte due unto him sixe
poundes thirtene shillinges foure pence, To John Cutt for the legacies of Agnes Doomesday
and John Cutt his ffather due unto him at the age of one and twentie yeres fortie eight
shillinges to Robte Cutt by Agnes Domesday and John Cutt his father thre poundes xxs
foure pence, To Roger Cutt by his father thre poundes fouretene shillinges tenne pence
To Agnes Carnaby six poundes to Nicholas Beech at oue Ladie daie nexte tenn poundes
To Robte Adam gent for the rente of twentie acres due at our Ladie daie next to Isabell
Cutt due at May day nexte for the rent of eight acres thirtie shillinges to Rich Cut=
berde of whaploade for the ioyse of five steers thirtie shillinges To Henrie Wrighte for
the rente of foure acres of errable due at thannuciacon nexte thirtene shillinges fower
pence.