Research Notes:

son and heir ¹

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Edmund was in possession of leases of land in Purton held by his father from 1577 and 1582. At the time of the "Depositions," they were said to be:

1 acre lying in Woodward Crofte
one ½ acre in the Hourne
one ½ acre lyeth in Hilly Meade
one ½ acre lieth in Barfield
one ½ acre lieth at the Downe end
one acre and half at Clardon
half an acre lieth at Shilfinche
and one parcel or parocke lyeth in Restrop
and also one parcel of land called the Buthies. ⁴

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"By indenture dated 31 October 44 Eliz [1602] between William WEBB* and John ESCOURTE of Tetbury and Edmund MASKELYNE of Pyrton in consideration of a marriage to be had between Ambrose WEBB naturall son of the said William and Emma ESCOURTE one of the daughters of George ESCOURTE of Tetbury and of 100 marks, William WEBB granted to John and Edmund in trust meadow and pasture ground in Lyddiard Millicent called the Hydes, of 20 acres and meadows or pasture ground called the Great or Further Lye..." ⁶

* Edmund's maternal uncle.

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Named in the Will of his cousin Johane Masklin of Purton (1627)

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The Will of Edmund Maskelyne, Gentleman of Purton, Wiltshire, written 19 Feb 1629/30, proved 4 Feb 1631/2.

[paragraphed for easier reading]

In the Name of God Amen: The Nyneteenth day of Febrarie in the fifth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles by the grace of god of England, Scotland, France and Ireland Kinge defender of the faith & c. I Edmund Maskelyne of Pirton in the Countie of Wiltes gent being att this presente tyme sicke and weake in bodye butt thankes be given to Almighty god in good and perfect memorie Doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge (That is to say)

First and cheifly I give and render my soule into the hands of Almightie god my maker and Saviour by whose meritts death and passion I hope to inheritt Eternall life and my body to be buried in the parish Church of Pirton afforesaid when it shall please god to call me according to the discretion of my Executor

Also my Will is that Katherine my wife shall peacablie and quietlie hold and inioye all such lands tenements and hereditaments which I have assigned and apoynted unto her for a Dower and mayntenance either before her intermarriage or sitherne? and also in further augmentacion of her livelihood my Will is that shee shall quietlie hold and enioye all the tythe Corne and haye in Uffcoate in the parish of Broadhinton and also the tythe Corne and haye belonginge unto one Tenement and five --?-- lands of one William Turke of Uffcote with all such terme of yeares as I have therein to come paying for the same the yearlie rent of sixteene pounds so long as shee shall continue sole and unmarried and also shall take the benefitt and profitts of my acre of land and barne and houses now standing in the feild of Uffcote for the like terme

My Will is that if my said wife shall neglect to paye the rent or shall marry that then the said benefitt and tythes Corne? and acre shall remayne unto my sonne Nevill Maskelyne And also my Will is that such persons as I shall herein nominate to be Overseers of this my last will and testament they shall devise and lett my tenement and lands lying in the parish of Wotton Basset which I did take by lease of Sir Francis Englefeild Barronett for the terme of fowerscore and Nyneteen yeares if I the said Edmund Maskelyne the elder and Edmund the younger my sonne or either of us shall so long live at the yearly rent of Fower pounds eight shillings and five pence and that I would entreat my Overseers to lett the same premisses to the best benefitt and profitt for the raysing of a portion of Fower hundred pounds for Elizabeth my daughter that is to saye Threescore and tenn pounds yearly to be payd forth of the Rents of the said tenements towards the raysing of the said portion of fower hundred pounds one thirty pounds yearly to be payd forth of my lands in Pirton called the Downe provided alwaies that if my said sonne Edmund shall depart this life before the said some of fower hundred pounds be fully satisfied and paid that then my Will is that the residue of the said monies which shalbe unsatisfied shalbe fully and truly paid by my said sonne Nevill Maskeline forth of my lands in Pirton called the Downe

Also my Will is that if my daughter shall happen to dye before the said portion be payd that then somuch thereof as shall be then unsatisfied shall remayne unto my said sonne Nevill towards the payment of other of my debts And further my Will is that after the said some of Threescore and tenn pounds by the yeare and the fower hundred pounds be fully satisfied as aforesaid that then the said some of threescore and tenn pounds by the yeare shall remaine forth of the said tenements and premisses unto my said sonne Nevill Maskelyne towards the payment of my debts untill my said sonne Edmund Maskelyne shall accomplish the age of twentie and fower yeares

And also my Will is that from thenceforth my said sonne Edmund from the tyme of the twentie and fower yeares shall have hold and inioye all the said Tenements lands and premisses lyinge in the said parish of Wootton Bassett aforesaid for and duringe the remainder of the said terme of yeares of the said Lease

Also my Will is that Nevill my said sonne shall have my whole estate of and in one and twentie acres and a half of meadow ground lyinge in Kings Marsh called by the name of Southmeade Which I did heretofore take by Lease of Robert George Esqr deceased at the yearly rent of twelve pounds I do also give and bequeath unto my said sonne Nevill one small Lease more which I did take of Sir Wm Whitmore Kt. in Nether Slaughter Also I do give unto my said sonne Nevill Maskelyne all my Mannors lands tenements togeather with the Burrough and hundred of Crickladd and all other my lands and tenements and hereditaments lying in the severall Counties of Wilteshire Gloster and Oxon

I do give and bequeath unto John Ryman, Anne King, and Eliz. Twittie my servants the some of twentie shillings a peece over and above their wages which I oweth them

Also I give unto Joane Tompson my kinswoman and servant the some of fortie shillings over and above her wages

Item I give unto John Richards my servant the some of three pounds of Currant English monie

Also I give and bequeath unto my kinsman James Welsh and his wife and her children twentie shillings a peece

All theis legacies herein before mentioned to be payd unto them within one whole yeare nexte after my decease.

And whereas there was left in my hands the some of fower pounds toward the releefe of the poore of the parish of Pirton which I have Binne oftentymes desirous to have payd itt in I doe nowe give in full recompense thereof for and toward the releefe of the said poore of the parish of Pirton the said some of fower pounds And also six pounds over and above likewise to be payd by my Executors within one whole yeare next after my decease to remayne in a stocke to sett the poore people a worke for ever

Also I give unto the parish Church of Pirton tenn shillings

Also I give unto my poore sister in lawe dwelling in Dearehurst Twentie shillings to be payd halfe yearly forth of my Rents of Cowfeild duringe her naturall life, and as touching all the residue of my goods and Chattels not herein formerly bequeathed I give and bequeath unto Katherine my Wife and Nevill Maskelyne my sonne whom I doe make my whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament hopeing they wilbe carefull to see my debts and legacies discharged according to my desire itt should be

And I do hereby nominate and appoynt my very loving freinds Thomas Marlowe Clarke Mr Gyles Davis of Exeter house, Mr Richard Davis my wives brother and William Skilling to be the Overseers of this my last will and testament and that if there shalbe any difference arise concerning this my last will that then the same shalbe referred to two of my said Overseers whereof Mr Thomas Marlowe shalbe one and for their paines therein to be taken I give unto them the some of twentie shillings a peece

In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day an yeare first above written per me Ed: Maskelyne.

Published, sealed, and delivered as my last will and testament in the presence of those names hereunder written and all former wills heretofore made Now utterlie renounce and revoake

Henry Maskelyne, Tho: Marlowe, Tho: Sadler, William Skellinge ⁵

[Probate follows in Latin]

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Inquisition Post Mortem for Edmund Maskleyne, gentleman, taken 5 October, 6 Charles I [1630].