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Will of Timothy Wright of Snow Hall, gentleman

In the Name of God Amen. This is the Last Will and Testament of me Timothy Wright of Snowhall in the County of Durham Gentleman. First I give and Devise unto the use of my Faithful Servant Sarah Wake of Snowhall in the County of Durham for and during the Term of her Natural Life All my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in the Township of Gainford or Elsewhere in the County of Durham, and from and after her Decease I give and Devise to the use of my Friend Richard Sherwood of Staindrop in the County of Durham Apothecary His Heirs and Assigns for Ever all my said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in the Township of Gainford or Elsewhere in the County of Durham. I give and Bequeath to my reputed Daughter Mary Stephenson now or late of London spinster the Daughter of Ann Stephenson now or late of Raby in the County of Durham The sum of two Hundred pounds of Lawful money of Great Brittain to be paid within one year next after my Decease by my Executrix herein after named. Allso I give to my Reputed Son Timothy Bainbridg of Barnard Castle in the County of Durham weaver the sum of Two Hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Brittain to be paid within one year next after my Decease by my Executrix herein after named. I allso give to my God Daughter Mary Airey of Gainford my Largest Silver Salver. I allso give to the Reverend Philip Airey of Gainford My Largest Silver Tanchard. I likewise give to William Nevill Brockett of Barnstaple my Spanish Gun & powder Horn. I likewise give to my servant George Soulby if he lives with me at the time of my Death all my wearing apparell and one years wages above what may be due to him at my Decease. My will further is to be Carried in a Hearse to the Church Gates in Gainford, to be Buried in the Church, to be Carried from the Gates to the Church by Eight of the Poorest men in Gainford that are able to Bear me, without any pall over the Coffin, to whome I give half a Guinea to Each for their troble and I order that four stone of Beef and Eight gallons of Ale be ready at some publick House in Gainford for the said men. All the residue of my parsonall Estates of what nature or kind whatsoever and wheresoever I give to my servant Sarah Wake of Snowhall and I Hereby Charge both my Real and personall Estates with the payment of my Just Debts and Legacies. Lastly I nominate and appoint my Faithfull Servant Sarah Wake of Snowhall in the County of Durham Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament revoking all other wills made by me. In Wittness whereof I the said Timothy Wright to this my Last Will and Testament have set my Hand and Seal this thirteenth Day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Eight.

Timothy Wright

Signed sealed published and Declared
By Timothy Wright the Testator
as and for his Last Will and Testament
who at his request and in his presence
and in the presence of each orther
Have subscribed our Names as Wittnesses thereunto
John Miller
Robert Elwan
Thomas Burn

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1778/W12/1-2]

Glossary

guinea

an English gold coin, not coined since 1813, first struck in 1663 with the nominal value of 20 shillings, but from 1717 until its disappearance circulating as legal tender at the rate of 21 shillings.

Inventory of Jane Shaftoe of Newcastle upon Tyne, widow

	A true & perfect Inventory of all and Singuler the Goods and Chattells Rights and Creditts of Jane Shaftoe late of Newcastle upon Tyne Widdow deceased taken and apprized by us whose names are hereunto Subscribed, the Fourteenth day of March 1678.	l	s	d
Inprimis	One three footed Tankard and Caddle Pott, one large Salt-Cellarr, one large Cupp, one Collett Tankard, three Porringers Fourteene Spoones, one Tumbler, three Small Cupps, one little Salt Cellarr, all of Silver	33	11	10
Item	Nine Feather Bedds, Seaven Boulsters, Fourteene Pillows, Eleaven Blanketts, Nine Ruggs & happins, Seaven pair of Curtaines & Vallance, Two Counterpains, one pair of Stript Hangers for a Bedd, one Coverlidd and Double Blankett, one White Quilt	19	00	00
Item	One Turkie worke Carpitt, one Coverlidd, one Rugg, Eight green Carpitts, Two Stript Carpitts, one Redd Carpitt, Two Tapstree Carpitts, Two Dresser Cloths with Flower borders, seaven & thirty Cushions	08	00	06
Item	Six Turkie worke Chaires, Eight great Chaires, Five & Thirty less Chaires, Nine & Twenty Stoolls covered, one pair of Virginalls & frame, one foulding Screane, Seaven Joynt stoolls, Four Wood Chaires & one Wanded Chaire, three Tables, Two Cupboards, Eleaven Pictures, Seaven Trays, Four dozen & three Trenchers, three little Tables, one Standerd, one Wood Seate	13	08	00
Item	Four Tables, one great Chist, Seaven Spitts, eight Curtaine Rodds, Four pair of Hand Irons, Two pair of Tongs, Two Fire Shovells	04	06	00
		78	06	04

[End of page 1 of 2. Ref: DPRI/1/1679/S7/2]

	In the Cellarr
Item	One hundred & twenty eight Gallons of Canary, Two hundred Ninety & two Gallons of decayed Claritt, one hundred eighty & three Gallons of reasonable good Clarett, Forty three Gallons of white Wine, Four Gallons of Wormewood, Forty Six Gallons of Tent, Eight Gallons Shery, Fifty Four Gallons of Rennish	65	00	00
	The Lining
Item	Two Damask Table Cloths, one Damask Dresser Cloth, two Damask Towells, two Dozen and eight Damask Napkins	04	08	00
Item	Six Diaper Table Cloths, Four Dozen and Four Napkins, Two Towells	02	15	06
Item	Sixteene Linne Table Cloths, Three Dresser Cloths, Three little Dresser Cloths, Five dozen & eight laid worke Napkins, Twenty pair of Sheets, one Single Sheet, Eight Dozen & Eleaven plaine Napkins, Eight & Twenty Pillowbers and Twenty Towells	08	16	04

[End of page 2 of 2. Ref: DPRI/1/1679/S7/4]

Glossary

bolster	a long stuffed pillow or cushion used to support the sleeper's head in a bed
caddle [caudle]	a warm drink consisting of thin gruel, mixed with wine or ale, sweetened and spiced, given chiefly to sick people, especially women in childbed; also to their visitors
Canary	a light sweet wine from the Canary Islands
collett	collared
coverlidd [coverlet]	uppermost covering of a bed; a counterpane, quilt
damask	a twilled linen fabric richly figured in the weaving with designs which show up by opposite reflexions of light from the surface; used chiefly for table-linen
diaper	a fabric woven with a small and simple pattern, formed by the different directions of the thread, with the different reflexions of light from its surface, and consisting of lines crossing diamond-wise, with the spaces variously filled up by parallel lines, a central leaf or dot, etc.
hand irons	andirons, also called fire-dogs: a pair of horizontal bars supported on three short feet, with an upright pillar in front, usually ornamental, placed on each side of the hearth to support burning wood
happin [happing]	a coarse covering , a rough rug for a bed
joynt stooll	a stool made of parts joined or fitted together; a stool made by a joiner, as distinguished from one of more clumsy workmanship
pillowber	pillowcase
porringer	a small bowl or basin, typically with a handle, used for soup, stews, or similar dishes
Rennish [Rhenish]	wine produced in the Rhine region
standerd	(1) a tall candlestick; (2) a chest with a domed or gabled lid, used for travelling
trencher	a plate or platter made of wood, metal or earthenware
tumbler	a drinking cup, originally having a rounded or pointed bottom, so that it could not be set down until emptied
Turkey work	Turkish tapestry work, or an imitation of this
pair of virginalls	a keyed musical instrument (common in England in the 16^th and 17^th centuries), resembling a spinet, but set in a box or case without legs
wanded	made of wicker-work
wormwood[-ale]	ale or beer in which wormwood is infused

Will of Henry Bainbridge of Witton Gilbert, gentleman

In the Name of God Amen I Henry Bainbridge of Witton Gilbert in the County Palatine of Durham Gentleman, being of a sound disposeing mind & memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same; do make & Ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following …

[End of page 1 of 2. Ref: DPRI/1/1778/B1/1]

… But if in case my Dear Wife & all our Three Children should Dye Leaving no Issues (which God forbid) that then & in such case my Will & mind is that I give Devise & bequeath my said Estate at Scoutshouse & all the remains of my Personal Estate to my said Nephew Mr Anthony Fothergill his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns for Ever; But if case my said Nephew Mr Anthony Fothergill should Dye leaving no Issue, that then & in such case I give and bequeath my said Estate at Scoutshouse & & the remains of <my> Personal Estate to my Dear Brother Mr Marmaduke Bainbridge at Halbank in Dent Yorkshire; to be Equally Divided amongst his several Grandchildren of his only sons Mr John Bainbridges of Halbank aforesaid & their heirs Executors Admninistrators & Assigns for Ever, And I desire that my Dear Wife will give at any time or times whatsoever to her Dear Father & Sister Mrs Mary Clarke out of our Effects what shee may think fit & proper so to do - N.B. if my son & heir Henry should Die & leave no Issue, that then my Son John shall be heir of Scootshouse & his heirs Executors &c for Ever, but if he should Dye & leave no Issue that then & in such case I make my Dear Daughter Frances Bainbridge & her Heirs Executors Administrators & Assigns Sole Heiress of Scoutshouse Estate for Ever; But I allow my Heir Henry to dispose of & sell the said Estates for raising money in order to pay his Brother & Sisters fortunes or portions (if he chooses <so to do>) - And lastly I do declare my Dear Wife to be my Sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament, Given under my hand and Seal the Tenth day of July 1772.

Signed sealed published & declared
by the said Testator as his last Will and
Testament, in the presence of us, who
Subscribe our Names as Witnesses
Anthony Bunton
Anthony Snowball
Robert Bunton

Henry Bainbridge

And likewise it is my Will & Mind that none of my three Children shall Marry into any mean low families, but into such Creditable substantiall families whose <circumstances> are such as to be able to give their Children Equal or better fortunes than their own, otherwise if any of my said Children disobeying this my order that then & in such case his or her share or Portion shall be Divided amongst those my Children that does perform my said Will.

also when my Heir arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years my will & mind is that my Dear Wife may have the Parlour Chamber to Dwell in dureing her Natural life if she chuses so to do,

[End of page 2 of 2. Ref: DPRI/1/1778/B1/1v]

Image of the Will of Thomas Nixon of Eshgillside in Alston. Ref: DPRI/1/1625/N1/1-2

Will of Thomas Nixon of Leehouse in Alston

In the name of god amen. The vi^th [6^th] day of Februarye in the yeare of our lord god 1612. I Thomas Nixon of Leehouse in Aldston Moore and Countye of Cumberland yeoman, beinge sicke in bodye, but of whole mynd, and in perfect remembrance, (laud and prayse be unto almightye god for the same) make and ordayne this my present Testament, Conteyninge hearin my last will in manner and forme followinge. First I doe recommend my soule into the handes of almightie god my maker and redeamer. And my bodye to be buried in the Church or Church yard of Garrigill, with my mortuarye and funerall expences dischardged. Item I will that all such debtes as I of right doe owe unto any person or persons be well and thankfullye paid by myne executors. Item I give unto myne eldest sonne Thomas Nixon my Tenement or farmhold called Esgillside. And I give give unto Henry Nixon my second sonne my Tenement or farmhold at Leehouse. Item I give my goodes and Chattelles unto my Children upon such Conditions as shall hearafter followe. Item I give unto my said sonne Thomas Nixon xl ^li. Item unto my daughter Agnes Nixon xxx ^li. Item unto my sonne Reignald Nixon xxi ^li. Item to my sonne Cuthbart Nixon ten poundes. Item I give towardes a free schole at Aldston fyve poundes if it can be procured ay any tyme within seaven yeares. Item I give unto the poore folkes of Aldston twentye shillinges. And to the poore in garrigill xx ^s. Item I give towardes the repairinge of one bridge over Esgill burne xx ^s. Item I give unto Henry Walton of Welgill ten shillinges. Item I give unto every one of my breathren and sisters Children, both of myne owne side, and my wives ii ^s vi ^d. Item I give unto everye god barne that I have within Aldston Moore one lambe. The rest of all my goodes and Chattelles moveable and unmoveable I give and bequeath unto my fyve Children videlicet Thomas, Henry, Reignald, Cuthbart and Agnes equallye to be devyded amongst them except that which is of right due unto my wife Jaine) And I make my two eldest sonnes Thomas and Henrye myne whole executors of this my last will. And I make supervisors hearof for my Children Mr Rauph Whitfeild, Thomas Stephenson, Thomas Archer And John Walton, And my will and intent is that these fower men afore named shall have the upbringinge and government of my said Children duringe their minoritie And also that the said fower men shall have the tuition of my said Children granted unto them, And the settinge forward of their porcions, for I repose great trust in them. And if there be any of my said Children that will not be Counselled And governed by them, then I will that that Child soe refusinge their Counsell shall have such parte and porcion of my said goodes and Chattelles, as the said fower men shall sett downe and appoint, And the rest of that Childes porcion to goe forward unto the Commoditye of the Residue of my said Children. Wittnesses hearof Cuthbart Walton <juratus> [sworn] John Walton <juratus> and Thomas Archer <juratus>.

Memorandum that after the making of the said will the said testator beinge of perfect mind and memorie did by word of mouth at severall tymes before severall persons <here under named> give & bequeath divers legacies as followeth videlicet
To his mother tenne shillinges in the presence of Thomas Archer <juratus>
To his sister Janett Walton x ^s in the presence of John Walton <juratus> husband to the said Janett

To Margrett Lee of the Cragge wedowe v ^s	in the presence of Thoams Archer <juratus>
To Wedow Lee ii ^s vi ^d

To the Children of Lawrence Lee xxx ^s in the presence of Mr Raphe Whittfield <juratus> & John Walton & others
Item he willed that if the free schole at Alston mencioned in his will should not com forward within seaven yeares that then the v ^li which he had given to that schoole should be given to Reignold Walton his sisters sonne to helpt to mainteine him at schole: In the presence of Mr Raphe Whitfield <juratus> & John Walton <juratus> & others. To Cuthberte Whitfield his Godson xl ^s in the presence of Mr Raph Whittfield <juratus> & John Walton <juratus>.
To his seaven servantes seaven shillinges in the presence of Cuthberte Walton <juratus> & Reignold Nixon.

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1612/N3/1]

…

Item paied by this accomptant to Janet <Nickson> the deceaseds sister for a legacy		x ^s
Item paied by this accomptant to Margaret Lee of the Craggs for a legacy		v ^s
Item paied by this accomptant to Margaret Lee widdow for a legacy		ii ^s	vi ^d
Item paied by this accomptant to Lawrence Lee for a legacy		xxx ^s
paied by this accomptant to Cuthbert Whitfeild the deceasedes godson for a legacy		xi ^s
Item paied by this accomptant to the deceasedes seaven servantes videlicet to every of them twelve <pence> for legacies		vii ^s
Item paied by this accomptant to the deceasedes brethren and sisters children in all twenty six being twoe shillinges six pence to every one for Legacies	iii ^li	v ^s
Item paied by this accomptant for servantes wages due by the deceased in his life tyme the sume of		l ^s

[End of page 1 of 1. Ref: DPRI/1/1625/N1/1-2]

Glossary

barne [bairn]	child
divers	several
mortuarye	a customary gift formerly claimed by the incumbent of a parish from the estate of a deceased parishioner; sometimes called soul-scot, or corse-present
videlicet	namely