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A Small Section of the Will of Daniel Vines of Dauntsey 1689
Illustrating the Penmanship of Robert Gould


 
 
This will is clearly and neatly written with a fine quill and easy to read.

The will of Daniel Vines of Dauntsey 18th April 1689

In the name of God Amen. The eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord God 1689
I Daniel Vines of Dauntsey in the County of Wiltshire, Yeoman, being very weak and sick in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that 'tis appointed for all men once to dy, doe make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and for my body I commend it to the earth to be bury'd in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleas'd God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the manner and form following:

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my two sons John Vines and Daniel Vines what money is now lying by me, that is to say nine pounds thirteen shillings in silver two broad pieces of gold Jacobusses and one guinea as also what money is due to me upon bond or otherwise and likewise what money shall be rais'd by selling some things I shall presently mention and this money to be put out safe and to the best advantage till they come each of em to the full age of one and twenty years and then to be divided between ‘em by even and equall parts and portions.

Item I give to my said sons John and Daniel my two best tableboards, the best of the two to John and the other to Daniel.

I give to my said two sons my four best pots, the two best of the four to John and the other two to Daniel.

Item I give to my said two boys two dozen of my pewter dishes or platters to be equally divided between them.

Item I give to my eldest son John my two best chests and to my youngest son Daniel my best coffer and the chest that is at Blackland.

I give to my said son John my safe or cupboard that stands in my parlour and the safe or cupboard at Blackland to my youngest son Daniel.

Item I give to my eldest son John the feather bed in the parlour the boulster bedsted rug and blankets, curtains vallens and all belonging to it, and to my youngest son Daniel my best flockbed and boulster bedsted rugg and blankets belonging to it.

Item I give to my  two said sons John and Daniel two pair of  andirons, the biggest pair to John and the other pair to Daniel.

Item I give to my said two sons my two best and largest brasse kettles, one kettle to one boy and one for the other.

Item I give to my two said sons my two broaches,  one to John and the other to Daniel.

Item I give to my two said boys two dripping pans, one to John and the other to Daniel.

Item I give to my two said sons my two brass pans,  one to John and the other to Daniel.

Item I give to my eldest boy John my gun, and to Daniel my pistoll.

Item I give to my son John the iron barr.

Item I give to my well beloved wife Jane all the rest of my goods within doors, as also the use of the goods above mention'd till Lady Day next ensuing the date hereof, as also the use and profit of what my arise by the managements of my stock and kyne till Lady Day aforesaid and no longer. But if shee mary or dy the goods and moveables I now give to her to descend to my two boys John and Daniel and equally divided between ‘em.

Item ‘tis my pleasure that at Lady Day next ensuing the date hereof my nine kyne as also the horse and colt at Marriage Park and my black mare with a star on its forehead be apprais'd and sold to their worth and the money to be equally divided between my two sons John and Daniel when at age and in the meanwhile with the rest of  the money be placed to the best advantage. 

Item tis my further desire that forthwith upon my decease that my wheat reeks polts and what corn I have, as also the whole flitches of bacon be apprais'd in order to their being sold as soon as conveniently they can and the money with the rest put out to best advantage and when my sons John and Daniel come to age to be equaly divided between  them.

Item tis my pleasure if John my son dy before he be full one and twenty years of age that his share or half part of all before mention'd to descend to Daniel , and if Daniel dy before he come to age his share or half part to descend to John, and if it so happen that both dy before they come to be full one and twenty years of age each that then all the particulars and money above mention'd descend to my brother Thomas Vines children of Marriage Park, to be equally divided among them onely in such a case reserving ten pounds back for my beloved wife Jane if she shall then be living, if not, that then that ten pounds too be equaly divided among my aforesaid brothers children. 

Item I give and bequeath to my trusty and well beloved friends Simon Allen and Aliffe Wayle of this Parish and William Knowls of Broad Summerford forty shillings apiece to be paid to them within 12 months after my decease and withall nominate ordain and appoint they my aforesaid truly friends overseers of this my last will and testament requiring they wou'd see all things perform'd according to the true intent and plain honest meaning of what is above specyfy'd.

And lastly I hereby constitute, make and ordain my dear brother Thomas Vines of Marriage Park aforesaid my onely and sole executor of this my last will and testament and I also hereby utterly disalow revoke and dissanull all and every other former  testaments wills legacies requests and executors by me in any ways before this time. Named willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament  In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and  Seal the Day and Year above written. 
 

Sign'd seal'd publisht pronounc't and declar'd                  (Signed in a very shakey hand)
by the said Daniel Vines as his last will and testament 
in the presence of us the subscribers viz.t:                                            Daniel Vines

Robert Gould 
The mark of    x  Joan Vines
The mark of    x   Henry Westbury 

Beneath is a statement in Latin apparently showing that the will was probated at Malmesbury on 7 May 1690. 

 

An Inventory
Taken Aprill the 30th 1689 of the Goods of DANIEL VINES of DAUNTSEY
Lately deceased valu'd and apprais'd by us whose names are hereunder subscribed

ITEM
 L S D
15 Milch kine 1 Heifer and 1 Bull                                      valu'd at 47 10 0
1  Mair and 2 colts                                                            valu'd at 6 10 0
6 Ewes 6 lambs 1 dry sheep 2 ramms and 19 hogsheep valu'd at  9  0 0
4 Piggs                                                                              valu'd at 4  8 0
All the hay                                                                         valu'd at 4 10 0
A Wheat Reek (rick?)                                                        valu'd at 16  0 0
A Polt or Bran reek                                                            valu'd at 4  0 0
3 pair of Stavil (?) stones and frames belonging to 'em     valu'd at 2  0 0
IN THE PARLOUR
1 Feather bed, feather boulster,1 pillow
   bedsted, curtains, valens red colour'd, 2 blanketts
1 rugg , 1 sheet                                                                   valu'd at 5  0 0
1 Table board and frame 1 side cupboard,
1 side board, 3 chairs, 1 joyn'd chair,
1 joyn'd stool, 1 safe? stool, case 3 painted callico
carpetts and all other lumber in that room                           valu'd at 1  4 0
IN THE HALL
1 Tableboard and frame, 1 cupboard, 5 joyn'd stools.  
1 other small table board, 1 callico cupboard cloath (clothes?),
 1 joyn'd chair, 3 other chairs, 1 bacon rack,
1 glass cupboard, 1 pair of bellows                               valu'd at 1 10 0
5 Flitches of Bacon                                                             valu'd at 3  0 0
1 gun and 1 pystoll                                                               valu'd at 10 0
1 Jack,1 iron grate, 1 iron back, 3 spitts, 1 iron dripping pan,
1 tinn dripping pan, 1 cleaver, 3 pair of pott hooks, 1 pair tongs, 1 fire pann, 
2 pair of andirons, 1 beef fork, 1 grid iron,
2 pair of iron hangers, 1 chaffin dysh, 1 iron sconce (?)
1 iron beam with scales and leaden weights 
3 smoothing irons                                                                valu'd at 2  0 0
33 pewter platters or dishes, 1 pewter bason, 1 pewter chamber pot,
2 pewter flaggons, 3 pewter sawcers, 2 pewter salt cellers,
3 pewter porringers, 1 pewter candle cup, 1 pewter candle stick,
1 pewter tankard                                                                 valu'd at  3 10 0
5 brass potts, 4 brass kettles, 3 brass skilletts, 1 brass warming pan,
2 brass pans, 2 brass skimmers, 2 brass ladles,
with all other lumber in that room                                        valu'd at 4  5 0
____________________________________________________________ ___ __ __
114 17 0
____________________________________________________________ ___ __ __
IN THE BUTTERY
6 Barrells, 1 Dough Kiver (mixer?) 3 wooden bottles, 2 Wooden Horses, 
2 hanging shelves with all other lumber in that room            valu'd at 1 5 0
IN THE DARY HOUSE OR BACK KITCHEN      
1 Furnace with a grate, 1 iron barr                                          valu'd at 1 8 0
1 Cheese press, 5 pails, 4 cowls (bowls?), 5 kivers,
1 churn, 1 trencher rack, 2 duzen and a half of trenchers,
1 salting trough, 8 cheese Fatts (?), 3 shelves, 1 frying pan
2 pair of pot hooks with all other lumber in that room             valu'd at 4 0 0
IN THE ROOM OVER THE PARLOUR
1 Flock bed, 1 table board and frame, 1 wyche, 
1 kiver and all other lumber in that room                                valu'd at 2 0 0
 
IN THE ROOM OVER THE HALL
1 featherbed and boulster, 2 pillows, 2 coverlids (?),
2 blanketts, 1 sheet and tester bedsted, 
Curtains and valens  sad (?) colour'd                                        valu'd at 4 0 0
1 truckle bedsted, 1 flock bedsted, 1 feather boulster,
1 coverlid, 2 blanketts, 1 sheet                                                valu'd at  2 0 0
2 large chests, 3 coffers, 3 boxes,
1 joyn'd chair, 1 other chair                                                      valu'd at  2 0 0
1 Holland sheet, 1 pair of holland sheets
2 canvas sheets, 3 pillow cases, 1 duzen of ordinary napkins,
1 table cloath, with all other lumber in that room                       valu'd at 1 10 0
IN THE ROOM OVER THE DARY OR BACK KITCHEN
1 Bedsted, 1 flock bed and boulster,
2 Coverlids, 1 blankett                                                               valu'd at 2 0 0
1 kiver, 2 old coffers, 5 sack, 1 grist bagg, 
2 leather baggs,1 tumbling churn
with some working tools and all other lumber in that room        valu'd at 1 0 0
IN THE CHEESELOFT
The cheese in the loft                                                                valu'd at  3 10 0
19 stacks and hampers belonging to 'em
with what lumber beside                                                             valu'd at 16 0
IN THE STABLES
The malt mill, 3 saddles, 2 bridles, 1 pillion,
1 forme, 2 boards with other lumber                                           valu'd at 1 8 0
WITHOUT DOORS
A half cart harness, chains and all other cart geare belonging  valu'd at 1 7 6
Boards in the wood house                                                         valu'd at  10 0
Timber about the house                                                            valu'd at  1 10 0
Firewood with the ladder and other out lumber                         valu'd at 2 0 0
________________________________________________ ___ _ _
 32  4 6
___ __ _
 
MONEY BONDS DEBTS ETC.
L S D
In Silver in the house 9 13 0
In Silver more receiv'd of Alex. Cox  2 10 0
2 broad Jacobusses 2 10 0
1 Guinea 1 1 6
Due upon Bond and use from Mr William Trimmel 20 12 0
Due upon Bond from John Stanmore 30 0 0
Due upon Bond and use from John Nicholls 6 7 0
Due upon Bond and use from Adam Twine 4 7 0
Due upon Susan Harford upon bill 1 10 0
Due from Stephen Hodson 3 0 0
Due from Richard Shuse 1 0 0
Owing from Tho. Morse for a heifer sold at Clack Faire 1 10 0
The executors Year                                                             valu'd at  7 0 0
All his Wearing apparell valu'd and apprais'd at 7 0 0
All movable goods, inner doors, glass, shelves, pitching,
poles, posts and rails and window leads etc, and all other things
not yet apprais'd or valu'd,                                        valu'd and apprais'd at 2 0 0
_______________________________________________ ____ __ __
100 0 6
The first side transported 114 17 0
The second side transported    32  4 6
_______________________________________________ ____ __ __
SUM TOTALL 247  2 00
____ __ __
Signed   Richard Yayt     John Morse
Extim apad Malmesbury 7Dio May 1690 Extorem  Initialled

 
 
 
Family Tree of Daniel Vines of Dauntsey

     Daniel Vines (d. 1689) and Jane Vines
         John 1 (b.1 Nov 1687)
         Daniel (b.18 Mar 1689)
     Thomas Vines of Marriage Park

Note: Jane was bequeathed use of the house contents (provided she didn't remarry) until the next Lady Day, when they were to be sold and the proceeds invested for the two boys.
No provision was made for her; apparently the living costs for herself and the two babies would come from the boys benefits under the will, while she cared for them. However if both boys died before reaching 21 years their inheritances were to go to the children of their uncle Thomas Vines of Marriage Park, except for ten pounds for Jane; a golden handshake for bearing and raising the boys? Janes welfare was in the hands of the will executor, Thomas of Marriage Park. 

In Clive Henly's index of baptisms and burials at Dauntsey we see the following subsequent events:

Baptisms
Vines Elizabeth 1695 24 May d Robert Lewis & Jane
Vines Robert [Robart] 1698 01 Jan s Robert Lewis (Lewsh) & Jane Vines
Vines Thomas 1699 s Robert Lewis & Jane
baptised in another parish
Vines Stephen 1701 25 Aug s Robert Lewis [Lewes] & Jane, widow
Lewis [Lewes] George 1703 9 Apr s Robert & Jane
It should be noted that any male descendants of Robert (b.1698) and Thomas (b.1699) who still retain the Vines surname, if any, would have Y DNA inherited from Robert Lewis. Stephen and George died as babies (see below).

Burials

Lewes alias Vines Stephen 1702 10 May s Robert & Jane, widow
Lewis George 1703 01 Aug s Robert & Jane
Vines Jane widow 1735 28 Nov w

It is unknown whether Jane eventually married Robert Lewis, but probably not; George was baptised and buried as a Lewis in 1703, but Jane was buried as a Vines widow in 1735. 
Perhaps Thomas, who was executor of the will, was pragmatic and saw that two babies of his brother would be a nuisance to him if she insisted on moving on, and perhaps blessed any alliance she might make so long as she kept and raised them, even if she remained unmarried to derive the costs under their bequests. I wonder if Robert Lewis was also a local farmer. 

Lady Day was the first day of the year, not 1st January as now but, from the twelfth century to 1752, 25th March. It is close to the spring equinox. This holiday celebrated the Annunciation, when the archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she was pregnant.