The Will of Peter Abraham of Salthouse 1639The heading of the will: "In the name of God Amen . . ." |
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Peter Abraham and his wife Elizabeth were buried within three days of each other at Salthouse. He was a Churchwarden at Salthouse and as such his signature appears in the registers.
It is not known where Peter and Elizabeth were married but his name first appears in the register in 1593 when his daughter Dorithee is baptised. She is the first of ten children baptised at Salthouse although it is not known if Elizabeth is the mother of them all as at first they are only described as the children of Peter with no mention of the mother’s name.
By the time Peter dies only three of these children are still living. Peter wrote his will on the 20th April in 1639 and he was buried on the 3rd May 1639. In his will he describes himself as a chandler of Salthouse in the County of Norfolk and diocess of Norwich.The main points of his will are as follows:
Item: I give and bequeath the sum of twenty shillings to the Parish Church of Salthouse for the purchase of some such ornament as the Minister shall think meet.
Item: I give to the poor people of Salthouse twenty shillings to be distributed by the churchwardens or overseers at the day of my burial
Item: I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Abraham during her natural life a yearly annuity of ten pounds of lawful English money.
Item: I will that my executors provide and bring home for my said wife two chalders of seacoales to serve for firings for my said wife.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said wife all my household stuff, plate and utensils except such things as be hereafter mentioned: one long frame table, one round frame table, three buffett stooles, a frame forme and two frame cubbords all now standing in my hall which I will that my said wife will only use and enjoy during her natural life and then to remain to my son Robert Abraham.
Item: I do reserve and except out of my said household stuff standing and being in the buttery chamber that is to say one posted bedstead with a featherbed and feather boulster a pillow a pair of bed blankets a green rugge1 with bed curtaines belonging to the same bed six pairs of sheets one pair of pillow beers a frame table a frame forme a livery table a joined chair and a chest all which parcels of stuff thus reserved and excepted from my said wife I will that my son Robert Abraham shall possesse and enjoy immediately after my decease
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Tucke the wife of Martin Tucke the sum of ten pounds: five pounds to be paid within one year after the decease of my wife Elizabeth Abraham and within one year then next ensueing other five pounds.
Item: I give unto my grandchildren Robert Tucke, Martin Tucke, Margery Tucke and Elizabeth Tucke children of my daughter Elizabeth Tucke forty shillings apiece to be paid when they reach the age of one and twenty years.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margery Dey the wife of John Dey of Little Walsingham the sum of ten pounds: five pounds to be paid within one year after the decease of my wife Elizabeth Abraham and within one year then next ensueing other five pounds.
Item: I give unto my grandchildren Robert Dey, John Dey and Elizabeth Dey the children of my said daughter Margerye Dey forty shillings apiece to be paid when they reach the age of one and twenty years.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Ellin Clarke2 the sum of five pounds to be paid unto her within three years next after the decease of my wife Elizabeth Abraham
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Elizabeth Abraham the wife of my son Robert Abraham forty shillings to buy her a ring.
Item: I give and bequeath to my grandchildren Peter Abraham, John Abraham, Tamasyn Abraham and Elizabeth Abraham children of my said son Robert Abraham forty shillings apiece to be paid when they reach the age of one and twenty years.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Robert Abraham all those my houses, lands, tenaments and edifices whatsoever as well freehold as copyhold situate lying and being in Salthouse and Kelling which I lately purchased to be and mine heirs and assigns of one John Housegoe of Wells next the Sea in the County of Norfolk to have hold possess and enjoy the same to him my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns for ever provided always that my loving wife Elizabeth shall use and have her dwelling in that part called the hall of my now dwelling house in Salthouse with the hall and chamber there during her natural life provided also that my said son Robert Abraham hereafter made and appointed sole executor of this my last will and testamentshall refuse or neglect to pay the annual annuity of ten pounds to my said wife Elizabeth then it shall be lawful for her to enter all the aforesaid lands bought from John Housegoe and to hold possess and enjoy the same during her natural life and immediately after her decease the same lands to revert and remain to my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said son Robert Abraham all that my tenant with the grounds thereunto belonging late Habberds Standinge being in Eastgate in Salthouse which I lately took up by copy of court rowle to me and my heirs and assigns by grant of the Lord of the Manor of Salthouse to have hold possess and enjoy the same immediately after my decease to him my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns forever
Item: I give and bequeath unto him my said son Robert Abraham one piece of ground inclosed conteyninge by estimation four acres lying and being in the fields of Thirning in the County of Norfolk to have hold possess and enjoy immediately after my decease to him my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto him my said son Robert Abraham all those my shopps and buildings standing in Holt Market in the County of Norfolk which I lately purchased to me and mine heirs of one Thomas Cooke of cley and of one Thomas Moore of Waborne to have hold possess and enjoy immediately after my decease to him my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto him my said son Robert Abraham all that my stable and other buildings if any be with the ground thereunto belonging standing and being in Holt Market aforesaid which I lately purchased to me and my heirs of one John Moore of Briston to have hold possess and enjoy immediately after my decease to him my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto him my said son Robert Abraham his heirs and assigns all that my tenaments with their pertents late Thomas Flardes? Situate in West ** in Salthouse and all other my lands, tenaments houses and edifices wheresoever to hold and possess the same to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I appoint my son Robert Abraham my sole executor of this my last will and testament and bequeath unto him my said son Robert Abraham all my wares and goods of what kind and quality forever in all my shops working houses and warehouses and Salthouse Cley Welborne and Holt and also I do give unto him all my other goods debts farms leases and chattells which are not before otherwise given.
This will was written in the presence of Thomas Dawney and John Dawney1 This is not a rug to go on the floor but would have been a thick tough woollen cloth probably used as a bedcover
2 Ellin Clarke was born about 1623. She was the daughter of Thomesine Abraham, daughter of Peter Abraham, who married Richard Clarke. Thomesine died in August 1825.
SEE ALSO Elizabeth Abraham's Will