In the name of God Amen the xxxth daie of June in the yeare of o’r Lord God 1624 I William Keene of Carlion wthin the pishe of Christ Church in the County of Monmoth wthin the Dioces of Landaphe sicke and feeble in bodie yet in good and pfect memory laud and praise be unto Allmightie God doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in maner and forme followinge First and principally I comend my soule to Allmighty God my maker and redeemer and my bodie to be buried in Christian buriall. Itm I doe give towards the reparacon of the Cathedrall Church of Landaphe twelve pence. Itm I doe give towards the repacon of Christchurch six shillings eight pence. Itm I doe give towards the repcon of the cawsey leading from Carlion towards Christ Church three shillings foure pence. Itm I doe give to the Curat of the pishe church of Christchurch aforesaid for my forgoten tythes three shillings foure pence. Itm I doe give and bequeath to Ann Keene my eldest daughter the sume of fortie poundes in money to be paid unto her by my executrix herein after named at the daie of her marriage or at such tyme as she shalbe of the lawfull age of one and twentie yeares and th-? these monyes at the end of one yeare after my decease be put out and imploied to the best increase and advantage of the said Ann my foresaid daughter. Itm I doe give unto the said Ann one feather bed one feather boulster boulster [sic] one feather pillowe and pillow case, one paire of sheets one coverled one pan wch cost thirtie shillings & one paire of blanketts & two milch kyen. Itm I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Absie the sume of fortie poundes to be paide unto her in maner aforesaid and likewise to be sett out and imployed to her best and most profit wthin one yeare next after my decease as aforesaide. Itm I doe give unto the said Absie my daughter one feather bed one feather boulster one feather pillowe, and pillowe case one paire of sheets one paire of blanketts one coverled one pan wch cost eighteen shillings and two milch kyne. Itm I doe give and bequeath to Grace my daughter the some of fortie poundes to be paide unto her at the day of her marriage or at the tyme of her lawfull age of one and twentie yeares one feather bed, one feather boulster one feather pillowe, and pillowe case, one paire of sheets one paire of blanketts one coverled, one pan wch cost twentie fower shillings and two milch kyne, all wch goods my will is that the same be sett out to her most profitt at the end of one yeare after my decease as aforesaid and yf it happen that any of my said daughters shall dye or miscarrie before they or any of shall receave her portion herein unto & or their her or them given or bequeathed my will is that her or their portion be and remaine unto her or them survivinge. Itm I doe give and bequeath unto William Keene my eldest sonne one messuage or mansion house barns buildings curtlage garden orchard and twentie acres of lands arrable meadowe and pasture --? belonginge and wth the same now used and occupied sett lyeinge and beinge wthin the pish of Nashe in the said County of Monmoth now in the occupation of John Jones to have and to hold the foresaid messuage or mansion house barns buildings curtladge garden orchard and XXII acres of land wth all and singular the app’tenances unto the said William Keene my said eldest sonne and to his heires and assigs for ever in as large and ample manner as I have p’chased the same of Jenkine David deceased and Susanne his wife to be houlden from the cheefe Lord of the fee thereof by --ent rents duties and services thereupon to be done and paid. Itm I doe give and bequeath unto him the said William my eldest sonne sixe milch kyne five graye mares wth their coults at their sides. Itm I doe give and bequeath to Elizabeth my wife ten acres of free lands sett lyeinge and beinge wthin the pishe of Witson --? had and purchased of Harry Arney and Sara his wife to have and to hould the foresaid tenn acres of lands wth all and singular thapp’tences unto the said Elizabeth for and duringe the terme of her naturall life and after her decease I doe give the said tenn acres of lands wth the app’tenanceas unto the said William Keene my eldest sonne and to his heires for ever to be houlden from the cheife Lord of the fee thereof under such rents and services there uppon -? anntient tyve used paid done and accustomed and yf my said wife Elizabeth be now wth child my will is that my said sonne William Keene the eldest shall pay unto such a child be it male or female the sume of three score poundes of good and lawfull money of England wthin twelve monethes next after the decease of the said Elizabeth my wife. Itm I doe give and bequeath unto the said Elizabeth my wife all those my messuages or mansion houses gardens orchards and lands sett lyeinge and being wth the towne of Carlion wthin the pish of Christ Church late hadd and p’chased Thomas Powell taylor and William George and Ivan his wife to have and to hold the foresaid messuages or mansion houses and all other the said p’misses wth the app’tenances unto the said Elizabeth for and during the terme of her naturall life and after her decease my will is that the said Elizabeth my wife doe and shall give dispose and bequeath all the foresaid messuages or ma’sion houses gardens orchards and lands scituate in Carlion foresaid wthin the said pish of Christ Church wth all and singular the app’tenances unto the heires of the bodie of me the said William Keene lawfullie begotten or to be begotten upon the bodie of the said Elizabeth & upon her bodie for ever to be given and disposed by her to any of my children soe begotten as aforesaid. Itm I doe give and bequeath to William Keene my youngest sonne ten milch kyen and one bay mare?. Itm I doe give and bequeath to my maide servant Jane Morgan one milch cowe. Itm I doe give to my god sonne Lewis William one of the sonnes of William Rees twoe shillings. Itm I doe give to my god sonne William the sonne of William Lewis tanner two shillings. Itm I doe give to Richard Harries my god sonne two shillings. Itm I doe give and bequeath to Grace Robert wedow late wife John Jenkine one poyse of wooll. Itm I doe appointe mominate and ordayne the said Elizabeth my wedded wife to be sole executrix of this my will and testament to execute the same truly and faithfully as I doe trust her and to see my legacies paide and my fun’alls discharged to the discharge of my conscience. In wittnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale in the presence of those p’sons whose names are subscribed the daie and yeare herein before men’coed. Wm Thomas; John Rosse; John Vaene; Nathaniell Williams and William Jones script.

Debts due to the testator

Imprimis upon James Hurd of Lannwarne? tenn pound sixteene shillings eight pence

Itm upon John Rosser of the same six pound. Itm upon Edward Perkins two pound thirteene shillings foure pence. Itm more upon the said James Hurd three pound tenn shillings. Itm upon Griffith Morgan three pound tenn shillings. Itm upon Mr William Morgan of Lantrisen tenn pound. Itm upon William George five pound. Itm uppon Danill Moris due since May last 1624 tenn pound. Itm upon John Jones of Nashe sythen-? May last 1624 nyne pound. Itm upon John Arney how thirty three shillings foure pence. Itm upon Thomas Arney of Gouldclift two pound eight shillings. Itm upon Thomas Halser? of Wiston sixteene pound. Itm upon Alce Boole? of Gouldclift widow twentie one shilling. Itm upon Watkine Sander twelve pound. Itm upon Charles Prichard of Redwike wth out specialtie? sixe pound. Itm upon Richard Mascall of Bristoll eight pound tenn shillings. Itm upon John Vayne of Goodridge in Hereford sheere taylor wth out specaltie? thirtie pound. Itm upon Alexander Sayes upon p’omise for his sonne Andrew Seys thirteene pound sixe shillings eight pence.

Debts due upon the testator

Imprimis unto Ralfe Dimfoord six pound twelve shillings. Itm unto the said Ralffe Dimfoord six pounde thirteene shillings foure pence.

(Latin – summary) Proved at London before William Byrd, Doctor of Laws &c 10 August 1624 by Elizabeth Keene, relict of the said deceased & executrix named in the said will &c

Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 16/17 March 2001