The Will of Thomas Stonor

54. THE WILL OF THOMAS STONOR

1431

   Ch. Misc., 37, ix, 8-9, contains an abstract — in Latin — of Thomas
Stonor's will, with a valuation, on four pages, the last being blank. Though
reproducing no doubt the whole substance and often the exact words it does
not appear to be a complete copy. It will be sufficient to give its purport.

   "Voluntas T. de S. scilicet quod"—Alice his wife to have in dower the
Manor of Ermington, the Manor of Harnhull with the advowson, the
Manor of Beerton juxta Ailesbury, and the Manor of la Mote in West-
minster, their value being ?402. 13. 4. His wife is to have for life
all lands and tenements acquired in Clyve, Westbere, Chestelet,
Hopelond, Stureye, and Horton in Kent, and the Manor of Penyton
Meysy with the advowson, for the sustinence and finding in food,
clothes and education (in victu, vestitu et doctrina) of his daughters.
Thomas Chaucer, whilst alive, is to have the governance and supervi-
sion of his son and heir Thomas, with the issues and profits of the
Manor of Hembury for his sustinence till the age of twenty-one. The
marriage of his said son is to be sold by Chaucer, his wife Alice, his
brother John Hampden, and John Warfeld. The proceeds are to be
applied for the marriages of his daughters, Elizabeth, Maud, Philippa,
Joan, and Anne, together with the issues and profits of the Manors of
Dodecote, Sottewell, and Bensheves, Berks, and Stonor, Watlyngton and
Cleyore in Oxfordshire. His daughters are during their minority to
be in the governance of his widow, Chaucer, Hampden and Warfeld.
Each daughter is to have 200 marks at least for her marriage. They
are to be married in order of age. If one or more should die unmarried
(quod absit), her portion is to be divided equally amongst the survivors.
If through the death of his said sons¹ under age without legitimate
issue, his daughters inherit his lands, the payments of the said 200 marks
are to lapse. His wife, Chaucer, Hampden and Warfeld are then to
dispose of the profits of the marriages of his male heirs and of the said
Manors during the minority of his heirs in discharge of his conscience,
according to the will and ordinance of his parents and ancestors as in
their last wills more fully appears. In the event of his wife's death his
son John is to have the reversion of the Manor of Burewardescote on
condition that he release to his brother Thomas his right in gavelkind
to all lands in Kent, as well those which Thomas Stonor held in right
of his wife as those newly acquired.

   On the second page is a valuation:—

   Debita que debentur Thome de Stonore per estimacionem Johannis
Warfeld.

De Horton, xij. marc. De Will. Clyfforde, xxxv. marc. Summa??.

                 ¹ "Predicti filii mei;" but only Thomas has so far been named.

                 ¹ The last three have been struck out and viij. li. xiij. s. iiij. d. substituted.

                 ² These have been struck out.                        ³ I.e. in Kent.

54. THE WILL OF THOMAS STONOR

1431

     Ch. Misc., 37, ix, 8-9, contains an abstract — in Latin — of Thomas
Stonor’s will, with a valuation, on four pages, the last being blank. Though
reproducing no doubt the whole substance and often the exact words it does
not appear to be a complete copy. It will be sufficient to give its purport.

     “Voluntas T. de S. scilicet quod”—Alice his wife to have in dower the
Manor of Ermington, the Manor of Harnhull with the advowson, the
Manor of Beerton juxta Ailesbury, and the Manor of la Mote in West-
minster, their value being £402. 13. 4. His wife is to have for life
all lands and tenements acquired in Clyve, Westbere, Chestelet,
Hopelond, Stureye, and Horton in Kent, and the Manor of Penyton
Meysy with the advowson, for the sustinence and finding in food,
clothes and education (in victu, vestitu et doctrina) of his daughters.
Thomas Chaucer, whilst alive, is to have the governance and supervi-
sion of his son and heir Thomas, with the issues and profits of the
Manor of Hembury for his sustinence till the age of twenty-one. The
marriage of his said son is to be sold by Chaucer, his wife Alice, his
brother John Hampden, and John Warfeld. The proceeds are to be
applied for the marriages of his daughters, Elizabeth, Maud, Philippa,
Joan, and Anne, together with the issues and profits of the Manors of
Dodecote, Sottewell, and Bensheves, Berks, and Stonor, Watlyngton and
Cleyore in Oxfordshire. His daughters are during their minority to
be in the governance of his widow, Chaucer, Hampden and Warfeld.
Each daughter is to have 200 marks at least for her marriage. They
are to be married in order of age. If one or more should die unmarried
(quod absit), her portion is to be divided equally amongst the survivors.
If through the death of his said sons¹ under age without legitimate
issue, his daughters inherit his lands, the payments of the said 200 marks
are to lapse. His wife, Chaucer, Hampden and Warfeld are then to
dispose of the profits of the marriages of his male heirs and of the said
Manors during the minority of his heirs in discharge of his conscience,
according to the will and ordinance of his parents and ancestors as in
their last wills more fully appears. In the event of his wife’s death his
son John is to have the reversion of the Manor of Burewardescote on
condition that he release to his brother Thomas his right in gavelkind
to all lands in Kent, as well those which Thomas Stonor held in right
of his wife as those newly acquired.

     On the second page is a valuation:—

     Debita que debentur Thome de Stonore per estimacionem Johannis
Warfeld.

     De finibus de Hembury, xxx. li. De reddit. de Hembury, xxx. s.
ultra terminum. De reddit. de Harnhull, x. li. De reddit. de Bourton,
x. marc. De reddit. de Condycote, v. marc. De finibus ibidem xl. s.
De finibus de Dodecote, xvj. li. De reddit. ibidem, xxj. li. De reddit.
de Sottewell, ix. s. De finibus ibidem, xxx. s. De Watlyngton cum
finibus, viij. li. De finibus de Thame, xx. marc. De finibus de Stonore,
x. marc. De redd. de Stonore, C. s. De Rypyngale, iiij. li. De Er-
myngton, xx. marc. De Aillesbury cum Stoke, C. s. De Penyton, C. s.
De Horton, xij. marc. De Will. Clyfforde, xxxv. marc. Summa ——.

     Further particulars of the estate are given on the third page:—

     Glouc.: Harnhull cum Doughton, Hembury in Saltmarsshe, xxix. li.
Berks.: Dodecote, Sottewelle, Bensheves cum membris, C. marc. Nove
perquisite: reversio manerii de Burewardescote in com. Berks. Suth:
Penyton Meysy, Shipton, xxij. li. Devon: Ermyngton cum membris,
iiij^xx marc. Oxon.: Stonore cum membris, Watlyngton cum membris,
Cleyore ; nove perquisite, Harlyngrugge, Adameslond, Ivj. marc. Bucks:
Beerton, Ailesbury, Walton, Stoke, xx. li.¹ Lincoln: Rypyngale cum
membris, xiij. li.² Midd: La Moot in Westm. x. marc. London:
hospicium in Peter Lane, viij. marc.² Nove perquisite:³ Clyve,
Molendinum de Darentt, nove perquisite in Horton voc. Kyrkebyes-
place, Westbere, Chestelet, Sturye, et Hopelond, xxvij. marc. Summa
CC. xlij. li. xiij. s. iiij. d.

¹ “Predicti filii mei;” but only Thomas has so far been named.

¹ The last three have been struck out and viij. li. xiij. s. iiij. d. substituted.

     ² These have been struck out.                       ³ I.e. in Kent.