In 1598 John Parsons was nominated as one of the overseers of the Will of his 'father-in-law' John Bathe of Wootton Bassett, husbandman. Within the context, father-in-law is best interpreted as second husband of John Parsons' mother Alice. John Bathe's Will was proved in 1609 at which time John Parsons received from the will a chair which had belonged to his father.
It is possible that John Parsons first married to Edith Reeve in Wootton Bassett, marriage licence issued 26 Jan 1611. There are no recorded children.
In 1611 John Parsons was nominated as an overseer of the will and testament of his neighbour Robert Harbert of Wootton Bassett, tailor.
In 1616 John Parsons of Wootton Bassett was overseer of the Will of William Brinsden of Wootton Bassett, Gent.
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The Will of John Parsons of Wootton Bassett, Gentleman, written 20 Oct 1622, proved 22 May 1623. 3
[Paragraphed for easier reading]
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN The twentith daie of October in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred twentie and two I John Parsons of Wotten Bassett in the countie of Wiltes gentleman doe make this my last will and testament in writtinge revoaking thereby both in deede and in lawe all other former wills & testaments
First I commend my Soule into the handes of Almightie God my maker and Redeemer and my bodie to be buryed in the parish Churche of Wotton Bassett aforesaid.
And for my landes and temporall goodes which god hath blessed withall I give and bequeath in manner and forme following (That is to saie)
I give and bequeath unto Bartholomew Horsall Ann Horsall Elizabeth Horsall and Christian Horsall the inst? somme of eight poundes of currant englishe money equallie to be devided amonge them beinge the sonne and daughters of Henry Horsall of Wootton Bassett aforesaide; which said somme of eight poundes shalbe within halfe an yeare after my decease be delivered unto the Overseers of this my testament and put out for the best use and benefit of them, and delivered unto each of them at theire accomplishing the age of twentie an one yeares.
Item. I give Christian Bath my sister my howse at the Lawne gate duringe the terme of her naturall life and after her decease the residue of the yeares then to come I give and bequeath unto Ann my daughter
Item. I give and bequeath unto Edith now wife of Henry Horsall the somme of fortie shillinges to be payed delivered unto her within one halfe yeare next after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath unto the said Henry Horsall my second best cloake to be delivered unto him the next daye after my funerall.
Item. I give and bequeath unto Bartholomew Horsall aforesaid my best Dublett and Breeches.
Item. I give to the parish Churche of Wootten Bassett the inst? somme twelve pence.
Item. I give and bequeath unto the poore of the towne of Wootton aforesaid the inst somme of twentie shillinges to be payed forth by them by the Maior and Burgesses or overseers of the towne aforesaid for ever, and the benefit that doe come and growe forth thereof by the said Maior and Burgesses for the tyme beinge on the feast of St. Thomas th'apostle to the said poore to be yearly distributed.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann the somme of fortie poundes of currant englishe money, my table bord and cubberd in the Hall, my great Caldron, one fether bed with appurtenances, my mault which and my great Coffer to be delivered unto her at her daye of marriage, if she shall and doe marrye with the consent and good likeinge of her mother and my overseers, but if she marry against theire wills then my will is she shall not receyve it before shee accomplish the age of one and twentie.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Joane the like somme of fortie poundes, my silver bowle, my brasse pann, my best coffer, one flockbed with appurtenances and my second best Caldron to be delivered unto her in such manner and sorte as her sister Ann is to receyve her said money and goodes.
Item. I give to the child wherewith my wife is now with Childe withall the like sommes of fortie poundes to be payd in such sorte as my twoe daughters Ann and Joane are to be paid.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my said unborne childe all my landes and tenements that I am seyzed of in fee simple if it be a manchilde or ---?--- not and all the interest right and title that Robert Heath is to assure me of and in one pasture growne newlye inclosed in the commons of Straton in the countie aforesaid together with all my right and interest that I have or of right ought to have in one obligacon wherein the said Heath and wicks? standeth bownde to me in the somme of one hundred and twentie poundes for the setling of the said lande unto me and my heires but if it be a woman childe then my will is shee shall have onely the said ground conveyed unto her by the said Heathe. And my daughter Ann and her heires to have the howse wherein I now dwell called the crosse Keyes, and the howse wherein Henry Horsall nowe dwelleth. And then my daughter Joane to have the howse wherein William Frye now dwelleth which said howses are situate in Wootton Bassett aforesaide. To have and to holde the said howses with thappurtenances unto them belonging, unto them their heires and assignes, and if it happen either of my children to decease before they accomplish the age of twentie and one yeares and unmarryed then my will and meaninge is that the survivors shall have that childes porcon as shall so happen to decease, and if twoe do happen to decease the last Survivor to enjoy all thothers porcons, and if it happen all my said children to decease without issue of theire bodyes lawfully begotten then my will is that those persons hereafter mencioned and theire heires forever shall enjoy my landes vizt John Parsons my brother William Parsons sonne to have and to holde my howse with appurtenances wherein I nowe dwell called the crosse Keyes. Thomas Parsons brother of the said John all my land in Stratton & Margetts, Richard Parsons theire brother my howse with appurtenances wherein William Frye nowe dwelleth, And to Bartholomew Horsall aforesaid the howse with appurtenances wherein his father nowe dwelleth
Item. My will is that the three severall sommes of fortie poundes a peece given to my said children as aforesaid shall within sixe monthes after my deceast be delivered to my Overseers to be put forth for my said Children and the use thereof yearely payed unto Ann my said wife for longe as she shall educate bringe up and mainetaine my said Children in lerninge? and otherwise in such sufficient manner as children of theire bearth and estate ought to be educated and mainteyned, and if it fortune that my said wife shall marrye after my decease or my children or one of them not used as ought to bee then my will is my Overseers shall take them into theire Custodies and plan? them as they shall thinke meete and convenient and shall maynteyne them with the encrease of theire said stocks and yearely rents untill they marrye or accomplishe the age of one and twentie yeares.
Item. My will is that Ann my wife during the tyme that she keepeth my said Children shall have the profitt and yearely rents of my land hereby bequeathed and given. And that duringe the tyme she shall keepe her selfe widdow she shall have my three kines leaze in the Lawne. But whensoever shee shall marrye then my will is that Ann my daughter shall have them.
Item. All the rest of my goodes and Chattells my debtes being paid and my funerall expenses beinge discharged I give unto Ann my wife whome I make my sole Executrix of this my last will & testament.
Item. I desire and appointe my brother Robert Bath my brother in lawes Thomas Masklyn and Robert Maslyn and my cosens John Saye the younger to be overseers of this my last will and testament and doe hereby give full power unto my saide Overseers to end all doubtes s---tes and controversies that shall hereafter arise or growe betweene my said Executrixe and my said children [a couple of words illegible due to smudging] person whome I have given and bequeathed anye thinge unto by this my will and testament touchinge anie clause or bequeth herein made or given and doe hereby give unto either and every of my Overseers for theire paynes therein to be had tenn shillings.
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my marke and seale the daye and yeare abovesaid. JOHN PARSONS. I give my witnesses twelve pence a peece to be paid at my funerall.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of Fr: Archer, Arthur Greene, John Brinsden
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