The Last Will & Testament of Agnes Ferris; 1621

LW&T of Agnes (Agnis) Ferris, 1620-1621

Agnes Ferris (abt 1545-1620)

Notes:

1. There is a major problem with the dates for Agnes Ferris.
   a. The last Will and Testament (LW&T) of Agnes (Agnis) Ferris is dated 17 November 1620. See Figure 1. Probate is dated 26 March 1621.
   b. However, Agnis Ferris, widow, was buried in Sutton Benger on 6 November 1620. There is a possibility that the LW&T date was 7 November, not 17; even so, it does not make sense.
   c. It is stretching the likelihood of coincidence that there were two widows dying in Sutton Benger at this time, both called Agnes Ferris.
   d. If one assumes that her death date was 4 November 1620, then the only thing that makes sense is that she mis-dated the LW&T, and it was possibly written on 17 October.
   e. No birth / baptism / marriage records have been found.

2. Agnes (Agnis) was the wife / widow of Henry Ferris (abt 1 May 1540-1616).

3. The transcriptions have not been cross-checked or reviewed.

a. Square brackets and a question mark – eg [ ? ] – are used where a word is too difficult to decipher or where there is some doubt.
b. Normal brackets are only used where they appear in the original document.
c. Square brackets and italics – eg [ 12 pence ] – are used to provide a ‘modern translation’ of the previous text, especially where numerals and currency are shown in Latin script
d. Carets (^) are used where text has been inserted above the line or in the margins of the original.
4. Spelling has been updated to modern usage where appropriate; similarly, punctuation and paragraph breaks have been added for ease of understanding.
5. Footnotes have been added to provide context or emphasis. (There are no footnotes in the original document.)

LW&T of Agnes (Agnis) Ferris; 17 November 1620

In the Name of God Amen, the 17th daie of the November 1620.

I, Agnis Ferris of Sutton benger in the Countie of Wilts, widowe, being sick in body butt thankes be given unto god of good and [excellent ?] memorye, doe make and ordaine this my present last will and testament in manor and forme following. That is [to] saie:

First, I commend my soule into the hands of god my heavenly ^ father ^ with full assurance of a joyfull resurrection and my body to the earth from where it came, to be buried within the church or churchyard of Sutton Benger aforesaid; and as for my worldly goods, I despose it as followeth.

Item. I give unto my daughter Joane Hadnam two petecotes & one bushell of wheate.

Item. I give to my daughter Ellen all my wearing linen & £20 of money and if shee dy before shee be married then it shall [ remane ?] to her brothers and sisters.

Item. I give to my daughter Alice my best gowne and hatt and one Petecote.

Item. I give to Agnis Ferris my [ blewish ? ] medly gowne which I weare working daies. I give to my cousin [ John Leonard’s sonne ? ] one sheepe.

I give unto my sonne Leonard a [ feltsowe ? ] and one chaire.

All the rest of my goods ^ moveable and unmoveable I give and Bequeath unto my Sonne John Ferris, whome I doe make and ordaine to be my whole & full executrixe of this my present last will and testament. And I doe appoint my wellbeloved friends my sonne Leonard Ferris and Christopher Heming to be my overseers.

Witnesses

[signed by]

Leonard Ferris
Alice Yong

[Four lines of Probate in Latin ] 26 March 1621/22

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