Named as a beneficiary in the Will of his father-in-law William Lovelace of Culham, Gent. (1562)
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The Will of William Mercer of of Ewelme, Oxfordshire, written 14 Jan 1589/90, proved 27 Jan 1591. 1
Abstract:
- his body to be buried in the church or churchyard of Ewelme.
- devises and gives to Joane his wife all his messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments with appurtenances in the county of Oxford to have and to hold during her natural life
- bequeaths and devises to his wife Joan the occupation, profit and commodity of the water ferry passage and fishing and meadows thereunto belonging with the appurtenances which he holds of Sir Francis Knowles, knight, lying in Shillingford in the counties of Oxon. and Berks. with a yearly rent of three pounds thirteen shillings eight pence for a term of thirteen years from the current date.
- bequeaths and devises to his wife Joan the use, occupation, profit and commodity of the capital messuage or tenement in Ewelme with the appurtenances called West Court with a yearly rent of twelve pounds six shillings eight pence for a term of twenty years from the current date
- bequeaths and devises to Joan his wife the use, occupation, profit and commodity of the meadow grounds in Shebenden in co. Berks. called Longe Sydnully and Colsey meadow which he holds of Thomas Tipping with a yearly rent of ten pounds for a term of eight years from the current date
- bequeaths and devises to Joan his wife the use, occupation, profit and commodity of all other his lands and tenements which he holds by any lease or lease by indenture whatsoever by whatever terms of years to come.
- gives and bequeaths to Lovelace and Maximilian his sons and to their survivors the residue and his whole interest and terms of both his lease of the said Capital messuage, and of his lands and tenements in Ewelme, with the appurtenances called West Court and also the residue and his whole interest of and in two leases in Shillingford and Shelbenden with all commodities and profits belonging to said leases save those already bequeathed to his wife
- gives to his daughter Katherine Palmer forty pounds
- gives to his son-in-law Thomas Palmer and to the said Katherine his wife and their heirs his messuage or tenement with appurtenances in Henley upon Thames where William Crase now dwells. In default of such issue of Thomas and Katherine, the remainder to his son Maximilian and his heirs.
- gives to his daughter Anne a hundred pounds. Also gives to Anne and her heirs forever, after the death of his wife, his messuage or tenement with the appurtenances in Henley upon Thames where Helyn Sabyn als. Turner, widow, now dwells.
- gives to his daughter Lettice a hundred pounds. He also gives to Lettice and her heirs forever, after the death of his wife, his messuage or tenement with the appurtenances in Henley upon Thames where Henry Rolfe currently lives.
- gives to his daughter Margaret a hundred pounds. Also gives to Margaret after the death of his wife his indenture of lease and his term of years therein to come with all commodities belonging thereto of three closes of land meadow and pasture called Sheephouse closes in Temple Cawley in the county of Oxford which he holds of Sir Francis Knolles, knight, with a yearly rent of three pounds.
- gives to Martha his daughter a hundred pounds. Also gives to Martha after the death of his wife his indenture of lease and his term of years therein to come with all commodities and profits pertaining to the Rectory or parsonage of Harkborne with its lands in the county of Berks., which he holds of Sir Francis Knolles, with a yearly rent of six pounds thirteen shillings four pence.
- gives to the unmarried children of Tamesyne Barrett, widow, his sister, twenty pounds to be equally divided among them.
- gives to Thomas Morgan son of Thomas Morgan and his sister Edith (now deceased) six pounds thirteen shillings four pence.
- gives to the unmarried children of Ralph Mercer his brother four-score pounds equally to be divided among them, with the exception of Ralph's son Harry Mercer, to whom he gives twenty pounds.
- gives to his servant Richard Stevens five pounds.
- gives to his servant William Warner five pounds.
- wills and devises to his wife Joan the use and occupation of all his household stuff, implements, furniture, goods and chattels in his mansion house of West Court in Ewelme with the appurtenances.
- wills, gives and bequeaths to his sons Lovelace and Maximilian and their survivors the same.
- wills and devises to his wife Joan the use and occupation of all his household stuff, implements, furniture, goods and chattels in his mansion house in Henley upon Thames
- wills and devises to his wife Joan the use and occupation of all his goods and chattels in or upon any of his copyhold or free land within the manor of Rutterfield Grey in the county of Oxford for and during her natural life.
- gives and bequeaths to his son Walter after the death of his wife all his household stuff, implements, furniture, goods and chattels in his mansion house in Henley upon Thames. He also gives and bequeaths to Walter after the death of his wife all his goods and chattels in or upon any of his copyhold or free land within the manor of Rutterfield Grey
- gives to Raphe Mercer the son of Francis* his son after the death of his wife (Joan) his messuage or tenement with the appurtenances in Henley upon Thames which he lately purchased for himself and his heirs from his brother-in-law John Frost. In default of Raphe having issue the remainder to his son Maximilian and his heirs forever.
* William's son Francis Mercer of Newnham Murren, Gent. died in 1589 (Will written 6 Jun, proved 21 Jul 1589).
- gives to his son Walter and his heirs after the death of his wife his mansion or dwelling house with the appurtenances in Henley upon Thames, being two messuages or tenements and also a garner and a woodhouse in Henly upon Thames lately purchased from his brother-in-law Henry Maslyn and Mary his wife, together with all those grounds arable pasture and woods within the manor of Rutterfield Grey called Great Ardens and Little Ardens. And in default of Walter having no issue the remainder to his son Lovelace and to his heirs forever.
- gives to his son Maximilian and his heirs his messuage or tenement with the appurtenances called Ferry House at Shillingford in co. Oxford where Jacob Bisshop currently lives (after the said estate given to his wife Joan is determined).
- gives to his son Lovelace and his heirs male (after the said estate given to his wife Joan is determined) two acres arable land in the common fields of Ewelme which he had of the gift and grant of his uncle Thomas Spyer of Huntercombe. And in default of Lovelace having issue, then the remainder to Maximilian and his heirs forever.
- gives to the Right Honorable Sir Francis Knolles, knight, his best piece of plate in token of his good will etc.
- gives to Sir William Knolles, knight, his second-best piece of plate
- gives to Sir Francis Knolles, knight, the younger, his third-best piece of plate.
- gives to Raphe Mercer (son of his son Francis) a hundred pounds to be paid to him at his full age of 21 years.
- gives to his daughter-in-law Lettice Mercer, mother of Raphe Mercer, a ring of gold worth forty shillings
- gives to Prudence Whitton the wife of Edward Whitton five pounds.
- gives to Mary Maslyn his wife's sister ten pounds.
- gives to John Barrett his sister's son five pounds.
- gives to John Aekins? John Mochett, Robert Payne and Lettice Blackall each a ring of gold of the value of twenty shillings.
- gives to each of his wife's sisters and to his own sister a ring of gold worth forty shillings.
- gives to his neighbours the poor people of the parishes of Ewelme, Bensnigton and Wallingford ten pounds to be bestowed and distributed among them at the discretion of his overseers of his last will and testament.
- makes and ordains his wife Joan as his full and sole executrix.
- devises that his friends Mr William Palmer, Mr Henry Stonor, his brother Raphe Mercer, and Henry Paslewe to be the overseers of his will, giving to each a gold ring worth forty shillings.
- Witnesses: Raphe Mercer, Thomas Palmer, Henry Paslewe, Edward Hargrave, Richard Stevens
Research Notes: