Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury:

• 1553 Sir Anthony Wingfield of Letheringham (PROB11/36/188)
• 1596 Sir Robert Wingfield of Letheringham (PROB11/87/510)
• 1606 Sir Anthony Wingfield of Letheringham (PROB11/107/130)
• 1610 Sir Thomas Wingfield of Letheringham (PROB11/115/95)
• 1638 Sir Anthony Wingfield of Letheringham (PROB11/177/528)
• 1642 Dame Anne Wingfield of Easton, widow (PROB11/189/174)

Proved in the Norwich Consistory Court:

• 1396 Margaret Russell, late wife of John Russell, knight, and late wife of John Wingfield, knight (243 to 44 Harsyk)
• 1530 Edmund Wingfield of Stowlangtoft, Esq. (30 to 40 Haywarde)
• 1500 Dame Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Wingfield, Kt. of Letheringham, wid., ( 135 to 138 Cage)
• 1500 Sir Henry Wyngfield, dns, Baconsthorpe, at Letheringham, clerk (134, 135 Cage)
• 1523 Robert Wingfield of Bungay (181, 182 Alblaster)
• 1378 Thomas Wingfield apud manori de Letheringham (154 Heydon)
• 1398 William Wingfield of Dennington, miles (249, 255 Harsyk)
• 1510 William Wingfield, made at the priory of Letheringham, Esq. (257, 258 Spyltymber)

Notes on wills

Norwich Consistory Court, 154 Heydon

This is in Latin and quite difficult to read. This is what I have been able to decipher so far.

The last testament of Thomas de Wyngfeld, dated 17 July 1378 ‘at the manor of Letheringham’

Testator mentions:

My body to be buried in the choir [chancel] of the priory of Letheringham near to the high altar.

All my debts to be paid.

I leave £46 13s 4d for my ?funeral to be distributed to the poor on the day of my burial. Any money left over to be used to repair the priory of Letheringham.

For the repair of the parish church of Letheringham, £20.

Mentions John my son.

To my household in my house, £10 to be distributed among them.

To the people on my manor [?], £10.

To my poor tenants in the vills of Stradbroke, Wingfield, Fressingfield, Westhall, Laxfield, Badingham, Easton, Letheringham and Thorpe, £10.

To the parish churches of those vills, 20s each.

To John my son, 12 silver ?dishes, 12 silver saucers, 12 silver ..., and 6 pieces of silver.

Also other bequests to son John.

the lord William Wyngfeld, the lord William Hoo, John Wyngfeld, Margaret Wygfeld and Elianor de Hoo.

Robert Garneys and his children.

To Robert Brysingham, 100s.

To Thomas Brysingham, 50s.

To William Brysingham, 50s.

To the children of John Brysingham, £10.

To Alice Bacon, or to her children if she is dead, 100s.

To the nuns at Campsea ...

To brother John Kynyngham my confessor, £10.

To the college of Wingfield, 40s.

To the carmelite friary in Ipswich, 10 ?marks.

To all the mendicant friars in Norfolk and Suffolk, ?10 marks.

To each of my executors, 10 ?marks.

The residue of my goods to be divided into 4 equal parts, of which one is to go to John Wingfield and his wife, another to the poor of Letheringham, another to go to brother John Kyngyngham, and the other to my poor tenants.

Executors: the lord Wyngfeld; Peter Broun, rector of Stradbroke; Margaret Hardel my daughter; the lord Wylliam Gylbert; Robert Garneys; Robert Rendlysham and Robert Quyntyn.

Proved 27 September 1378.

 Norwich Consistory Court, 243–44 Harsyk

 This will is damaged, so partly illegible. It is partly in Latin and partly in French. This is from notes made by an earlier researcher.

The last testament of Margaret Russell, dated Wednesday ... August 1397

Testatrix directs as follows:

My body to be buried in the choir of Letheringham priory, next to the grave of my lord, Sir John Wyngfeld, lately deceased.

To my husband, Sir John Russell, the custody of my ... which I held of Anne the queen of England, lately deceased, with all my [other] lands and all my other goods and chattels, wherever they may be.

It was the will [of] my lord Sir John Wyngfeld, on whom God have mercy, that I should have all the lands, tenements, goods and chattels ... and the manors of Letheringham, Thorpe, Iken, Gelston, Caldewell, Laxfield and ... for my lifetime and the minority of our two children, to perform his will and devise ... within the minority of our children, that I should make my executors administer ... profits of all the lands with all the goods and chattels aforesaid, to perform his will and mine, which I will that my most honoured lord, Sir John Russell, my ... and my executor, that he should have and occupy all manner of profits from the lands and tenements, goods ... aforesaid, and also of all the lands and tenements, goods and chattels in Laxfield, Westhall and Shelton in the ... jointure in future marriage, to perform the will of my lord, Sir John Wyngfeld ...

To Margaret my daughter, my chare [sic], newly made, as soon ... I should have 500 masses, and 5 poor men to be clothed with new clothes ... –son of Bruisyard to have 5 marks.

The priory of Letheringham to have 5 marks.

To ... the church of Iken, £10.

To the abbey of Sibton, 40s.

To the priory of ...

[To the] abbey of Leiston, 40s.

To the priory of Flixton, 10 marks.

To the priory of ...

... the will of my lord Sir John Wyngfeld what is above-written.

To the ... of the holy cross as assigned by my most honoured lord Sir John ...

... the said Robert to have a complete bed of red ... with 2 blankets and 2 pairs of sheets and a ...

... of silver and 6 saucers with the arms of Wyngfeld ... the 7 ounce [?] of gold if it please any gentleman ...

... to have a bed suitable for a gentleman with blankets and sheets, and with a silver cup to my daughter Anne a silver cup and 20s in remembrance of me and 11 ... of linen [?] cloth which is in the keeping of ... and anything else my lord likes to give her.

Also the tenement of Falys in Laxfield ... the said Anne to have the profit for her lifetime.

I pray my lord Sir John Russell, as to the vaunten [sic] tenement, or others which were bought by my lord Sir John Wyngfeld ... is at the pleasure of my lord Sir John Russell, that it should not go out of the Wyngfeld lineage, but namely to my son William Wyngfeld.

To my daughter Elizabeth Russell, a mantle of scarlet or a gown of scarlet, whichever she pleases.

William Russell my son to have a pair of paternosters with ore longetur [sic)]with a ... of pearls.

Jane Darston my sister to have a scarlet gown furred with great miniver [white fur].

Katherine Hay to have a gown of brown sanguine furred with great miniver.

To Richard Wellam a vermilion rotonne de ore [sic] and to his wife a gown of ermine furred with miniver.

To Cecily Francleyn, a gown of blue furred with grey.

To the wife of Gylder, a gown of violet furred with Bys [sic].

To Agnes Bardevyle, a gown of russet lined with ermine.

To my sister, a vermilion ... in remembrance of me.

To Jelyan, a gown of sanguine.

To Jekyn Howe Esq., 13s 4d to her maintenance.

To Simon Baker, 6s 8d.

To Koc Coak, 10s or something of that value.

To Paulyn Potesforth, 6s 8d or goods to that value.

The parson of Pepilton to have a gown furred with croppes in remembrance of me.

I beg my lord that Sok Warde and Hebe Noyse and Agnes Gramond should be ... love of me.

Robin Thatcher of Colston to have maintenance of ½ mark.

To William ..., 3½ ells of green in Katherine’s keeping.

To the servants to whom I have not left anything, 20s to be divided among them.

To the prior of Letheringham ... 6s 8d.

To Sir Robert ... 40d.

To Symon Blaunchard, 3 ells of blue in Katherine’s keeping.

Commendation of will and my lord John Wyngfeld’s will to the care of ‘my most honoured lord’ for his performance.

To Darston my sister a mantle of sanguine furred with miniver.

All the goods and chattels of Thomas Wyngfeld which were devised by testament ... in parcel to my lord Sir John Wyngfeld aforesaid, to whom I was executrix, to remain to [John] Russell my husband and executors.

To my husband and executors, all the goods, chattels, obligations and ... things which were my lord Sir John Wyngfeld’s in the same way as he left them to me as executrix.

ref. SROI HA30:50/22/1.8(16) 

This one is in poor condition, so parts of it are illegible. It is also in Latin. I’ve done my best with it, but we may be able to improve on it. It’s a testament, which means that it refers to moveable property, not land.

The last testament of John Wingfield, knight, of Letheringham in the diocese of Norwich, dated 10 May 1481 

Testator directs:

My body to be buried in a certain burial place called a tomb, which I wish the executors of this testament should have made for me and my wife in the northern part of the chancel of the priory of Letheringham opposite to the burial place of my father.

My executors are to pay my debts and all my wrong-doings and transgressions should be restored.

To the high altar of the said chancel for tithes and oblations unpaid, 40s.

To the repair of the said church, 20s.

To the prioress and convent of Campsea, 5 marks to be distributed amongst them.

To the abbess and convent of Bruisyard, 40s.

Mentions:

To Dominus Robert Wyngfeld, knight, my ?brother/son, my best horse.

To Domina Elizabeth Wyngfeld my wife, two of my horses.

To Henry Wyngfeld, knight, ?a horse.

To Domina Anne Wyngfeld my sister, a ... of silver.

To John my son ...

To Elizabeth my wife, a silver ?plate.

To my ..., viz. John Bisshop, 40s.

To Thomas ..., 40s.

To Edmunde Robisonne, 40s.

To Richard ..., 40s.

To John Cruse, 20s.

Other bequests of money not noted.

Executors to be Elizabeth my wife, Robert Wingfield, knight, my brother, Lady Anne his wife, John Cheke, Thomas ...

To John Cheke, 5 marks; to Thomas ..., five marks; to ?Walter Fulborn, five marks ...

Residue of estate to my executors.

To John Dowe my servant, 6s 8d.

Proved ?October 1481.

ref. Norwich Consistory Court, 135 to 138 Cage

The last will and testament of Dame Elizabeth Wyngfeld, widow, late the wife of John Wyngfeld, knight, dated 14 July 1497

Testatrix directs as follows:

My soul to God and to the Our Lady St Mary, most blessed virgin.

My body to be buried in the north part of the chancel of the priory of Letheringham beside the tomb where my said husband lies.

All my debts to be paid.

My executors are to take and receive the issues and profits of manors, lands and tenements, rents and services in Framlingham and Parham, and of the tenements called Saxhams, Malkyns, and ?Bournes in Badingham and Cransford of the manor of Dallinghoo, except 5 ?acres assigned by my said husband to the said priory of Letheringham. And of the lands and tenements late purchased by my said husband in Easton, Charsfield and Dallinghoo, except 5 ?acres assigned to the aforesaid priory; of the tenement ?Bourtes in Laxfield and Badingham, except 5 ?acres also assigned to the said priory; of the manor of Sutton except 10 ?acres assigned to the pension of William Wyngfeld the elder, Esq.; of the tenement called Wodehall, late Robert Martyn Esq., in Sutton; of the manor called ?Talbot in ?Shottisham and elsewhere; of the tenement and closes called Brokes in Sutton and ?Shottisham aforesaid; of the manor called Stokyrland in Sutton; of the manor and all the lands and tenements, rents and services late my said husband’s in Ramsholt; of the manor and all the lands and tenements, rents and services late my said husband’s in Waldringfield and ?Benhall; of the tenement called Syg... late Lawrence Stokwodes in Grundisburgh; of the manor of Thorpe in Hasketon and other towns; of the tenement late my said husband’s in Pettaugh; and of all the lands and tenements, rents and services he my said husband purchased in Laxfield to the intent that my executors shall use the said issues and profits to pay the debts of my said husband according to my said husband’s last will.

Whereas my husband in his last will directed that [some words illegible here] mill of Bealings should be sold by his executors, and that the proceeds should be used to pay his debts and perform his last will. Now, since I the said Dame Elizabeth have used my own goods to perform part of his will, and paid parts of his debts amounting to the value of the said mill, I will that my feoffees of the said mill shall take and receive the issues and yearly profits of the said mill and shall use them to pay 6s 8d a year to the prior of Letheringham, and 13s 4d to 2 canons of the said place, singing for the soul of my said husband and for my soul, in augmentation of such salary of the said prior and canons for certain years as assigned by my husband’s last will. To be distributed for as long as any canons shall sing there, and shall pray for the souls of my said husband and me, and for the souls of our heirs.

Whereas an estate is made of the manor of Shelton with the appurtenances in the county of Suffolk, both by agreement of me Dame Elizabeth, and by the agreement of my son Sir John, to divers persons of the fee simple, to the intent that they shall stand and be feoffees of the same to the use of me the said Dame Elizabeth until the sum of £200 shall be received immediately after my death. My executors are to take the issues and profits of the said manor until the sum of £200 has been paid. They are to pay my debts and perform this my last will.

Whereas the manor of Easton was, by authority of Parliament, given to Davy Orell and Edmond Clerk as in the right of their wives upon a complaint made in the said Parliament against me the said Dame Elizabeth and my heirs, wherefore for having the said manor again to me and my heirs, I was ?denied by the award of divers lords independently chosen to pay to the said Davy and Edmond £40, which I truly paid. And beside many other great sums of money which I also paid for my costs and charges in riding to London at divers times. After my death it is to go to my son Sir John, as is directed in the last will of my said husband.

Thomas Gray [?or Bray] is to have my tenement in Parham called Ramesholdes with appurtenances in Easton and Asheton [?Hacheston] on condition he pays to Edmond Roberdson and Richard Cottell such money as William Ramyshold owes them, on the days appointed by my executors.

My said son Sir John is to have all such lands, rents and services as my husband purchased of John Kyr [?] in Bramford on condition my said son pays £10 to my executors within a year after my death. If he will not pay, the land is to be sold by my executors, my said son is to have ?54s of the money and the rest to go to the performance of my will.

To every one of my sons, viz. to Water, Lewes, Richard, Edmond and Humfrey, 14s.

My son John the younger to have £5.

My feoffees of my tenement called Gilberds with the appurtenances in Letheringham which I purchased of Robert ?Eve shall hold the same to the use of the prior of Letheringham and his successors for 4 score years, at the end of which time I will that my said feoffees make a lease of the said tenement to the said prior and his successors.

All my debts are to be paid.

All injuries done by me are to be satisfied.

I will that a priest sing for my soul for a year, also for my said husband’s soul, and for the soul of Sir Bartholemew Martyn, sometime parson of Kettleburgh.

After my debts have been paid my executors are to pay my legacies and bequests.

The residue of my goods to be disposed for the good of my soul, my husband’s soul and the soul of Sir Bartholemew Martyn, and for the souls of all our friends, at the discretion of my executors.

Executors to be my son Sir Edward, knight; my son Sir Harry, priest; my son Robert Brows; my son Robert; my son John the younger; and my son Lewes, Esquire.

I humbly require my Lord Bishop of Durham to be supervisor of this my last will and testament to aid and assist my executors in the performance of the same.

Proved 22 December 1500 by John Wingfield junior, executor, with power reserved for the other executors.

ref. PROB11/36/188

The last will and testament of Sir Anthony Wyngfeld, knight, dated 13 August 1552

Testator directs as follows:

I bequeath ... my body to the earth.

My wife and Robert Wyngfeld my son are to be my executors.

‘And I do hartely desire my Lorde Wentworthe to be supervisor of the same to se this my last will and testament to be performyd.

‘I do give to my sone Anthony, Philpott and his pentyon yf he be by kinges Maiestie graunted to me and yf he have not Philpott I do give hym Twenty marks [£13 6s 8d] by yere’.

To my son Henry, twenty marks a year.

To my son Richard Wyngfeld, £10 a year.

To my daughter Margaret, 400 marks [£266 13s 4d] for her marriage.

To my daughter Naunton, 5 marks [£3 6s 8d] a year.

I will that my brother Henry Wyngfeld shall have the kepinge of the parke at Letheringham as I apoynted him yf he refuse the controllershippe of Calice whiche I nowayes wold have hym to doo’.

To John Audeley my servant, £5.

To Woodhouse, 5 ?croftes; and to Wheler and ?Crykdort, 5 marks each.

If I have left any of my servants unrewarded, I desire my executors to reward them at their discretion.

If there be any doubt in this my last will and testament, I will that my Lord Wentworthe see it performed as shall please him, and cause it to be written and ordered according to the law.

Witnesses: Hugh Willoughby, Erasmus Henyngham, and John Audeley.

Proved 26 April 1553, by Robert Wingfeld, Esq., son of the testator

17 November 1552 Elizabeth Wyngfeld, widow, late wife of Sir Anthony Wyngfeld of the honourable order of the garter, knight declares that she refuses the office and burden of the executorship of the last will and testament of her late husband.

ref. PROB11/87/510

The last will and testament of Sir Roberte Wingfeilde of Letheringham, Suffolk, knight, dated 5 June 1584

Testator directs as follows:

My body to be buried in the chancel of Letheringham church at the discretion of my executor ‘And I will that the coste of my funerall shalbe suche as maie seeme good unto my Executour’.

To the poor people of Letheringham, 40s.

To the poor of Easton, 40s.

To the poor of Wickham, 40s.

To the poor of Pettistree, 40s.

To the poor of Dallinghoo, 40s.

To the poor of Charsfield, 40s.

To the poor of Iken, 40s.

The above sums of money to be distributed at the discretion of my executor.

All my implements of household, plate and all my goods, chattels and credits I give to my executor towards the payment of my debts and discharging of the costs of my funeral and legacies to the poor as above.

I make Anthonye Winckfeild my eldest son my sole executor.

Witnesses: William Attwoode, Thomas Stofer.

Proved at London, 28 June 1595 by John Burroughe, notary public, on behalf of Anthony Winckfeild, the son and the executor named in the will.

ref. PROB11/107/130

The last will and testament of Sir Anthony Wingfeilde of Godwyns in the parish of Hoo, Suffolk, knight, dated 18 October 3 and 39 James [1605]

Testator directs as follows:

‘I the saide Sir Anthonye Wingfeilde for the better advauncement of Dame Anne Wingfeilde my wief and for and towardes the perfourmaunce of this my last will and Testament, and payment of my debtes and legacies’ give and bequeath all that my manor or farm of Scaleshoo [?or Staleshoo] and also my moiety or half part of the manor of ffyttons, and also all the aforesaid lands, tenement and hereditaments, together with my rent and reversion in them, to the above-named Dame Anne my wife, whom I make my sole executor. The property to her and her executors and assigns for 5 years after my death. My wife and her assigns are to have £50 a year out of the rents and profits of the said property for 5 years for their own use. The residue of the rents and profits of the said property shall be used by her to discharge my debts and legacies. After 5 years the said property is to go to my heir at law, who is to pay £60 a year to my said wife Dame Anne Wingfeilde. To be paid to her at Godwyns, on two feast days in the year, viz Michaelmas and the feast of the Annunciation. If any of the money is unpaid 40 days after it is due, my said wife is to have a marsh called Bridge Marshe, which is part of my moiety of the manor of ffytons.

To my well-beloved brother Thomas Wingfeilde Esq. and his heirs, in satisfaction of £300 which I owe to him, the annual rent of £35 due to me out of so much of the manor of Dullingham, Cambridgeshire, as was allotted to Sir Robert Wingfeild, knight, my late father. If my brother does not accept this, I give the £35 a year to my wife towards the payment of the said £300 to my brother and his assigns. 

To Anthony Wingfielde, son of Henrie Wingfeilde, late of Hanworth, Lincolnshire, gent., the sum of £200 to be paid to him when he is 21.

To Robert Soone, son of John Soone late of Lynn, Norfolk, gent., £100 to be paid to him within one year after he has served the years of his apprenticehood.

To Margery Denny, daughter of Thomas Denny late of Bawdsey, Suffolk, gent., £100 when she reaches 21 or on the day of her marriage, whichever comes first.

If any of the said Anthony Wingfeild, Robert Soone or Margery Denny dies before their legacies are paid, then I give the money that would have been payable to my wife.

My wife is to keep the said Anthony Wingfeilde and Margerye Dennye at her own proper cost during the 5 years that I have given her my manor or farm of Scaleshoo/Staleshoo and my moiety of the manor of ffytons.

To Frauncis Saunders, late of Blaxhall, gent., and his assigns, £20, to be paid to him within one month after my wife interrupts his possession of a meadow called Sturmans meadow which I have lately sold to him.

To my well-beloved brother Thomas Wingfeilde Esq. ‘all my Armour and my Tent with all other my ymplementes of warre whatsoever’.

My body to be buried at Letheringham church ‘if it may be thither convenientlie brought’. To be buried ‘without any solempnitie or pompe’.

I give all the residue of my goods, chattels and moveable estate to my wife, who is to be sole executrix.

Witnesses: Thomas Ryvett and Leonard Spencer. 

Proved at London, 14 February 1605/6 by Dame Anne Wingfeild, the relict of the deceased and the executrix named in the will.

ref. PROB11/115/95

The last will and testament of Sir Thomas Wingfield of Letheringham, Suffolk, knight, dated 16 January 1609/10

Testator directs as follows:

My body to be buried at the discretion of my executors.

‘I will and bequeathe all my Mannors, Landes, Tenementes and Hereditamentes with theire appurtenances whatsoever I have now in possession, Remaynder, or Revertion in the Counties of Norffolk, Suffolk, Cambridge or els where within the Realme of England’ to my executors until my son Anthony Wingefield reaches the age of 21. If he dies before that age, my executors are to hold the property until he would have reached 21, and to use the income to pay my debts and perform this my last will and testament.

‘I will that my Wife shall take the profittes of my parke and Lodge in Letheringham and Wickham untill my sonne Anthony come to the age of one and twentie yeres’.

To my daughter Anne Wingfield, £1500 to be paid to her by my executors out of the rents, issues and profits of my aforesaid lands and tenements when she is 21.

To my daughter Elizabeth, the like sum of £1500 to be paid to her when she is 21.

To Cicely my daughter, the like sum of £1500 to be paid to her when she is 21.

To Katherine my daughter, the like sum of £100 to be paid to her when she is 21.

All my said children are to be brought up by my executors with the profits of my manors, lands and tenements until they are 21.

To my wife, all my goods and chattels, plate and household stuff.

If the profits of my said lands and tenements are not sufficient for raising my children’s portions before my son Anthony reaches the age of 21, then my son is to pay the residue when he is 21. If he refuses to do so, those of my children who have not been paid shall enter into his lands and tenements and take the profits until their portions are paid. 

My loving wife and my loving kinsmen and friends Edmond Poley of Badley and Humfrey Wingefeild of Brantham, Esquires, and Thomas Wingfield of Easton, gent., are to be executors of this my last will and testament.

If any of my children die before the age of 21, their portion is to be equally divided among the survivors.

Witnesses: Cornelius Hubrecht, Francis Pulham, Francis Sandcrofte.

Proved at London, 3 February 1609/10 by Thomas Wingfield, one of the executors named in the will, with power reserved for the other executors named in the will.

ref. PROB11/177/528

The last will and testament of Anthony Wingfield of Letheringham, Suffolk, baronet, undated

Testator says that he is ‘sick in body but thankes be to God of sound and perfect memory’, and directs as follows:

 ‘I give and bequeath All the rentes, issues and proffittes of all my Mannors, Landes and Tenementes’ until my son Richard reaches the age of 21 and in case he dies before he is 21, until my son Anthony is 21, and in case he dies before he is 21, then until my son John is 21, and if he dies before he is 21, then until he would have reached the age of 21, to my executors in trust and confidence that they will use the said rents, issues and profits to pay my debts and perform this my last will and testament.

To my said sons Anthony and John Wingfield, £2000 each, to be paid to them at the age of 21.

To my two daughters, Anne and Elizabeth, £2000 each, to be paid to them at the age of 17.

In case the profits of my manors, lands and tenements are not enough for the payment of my debts and the performance of my last will and testament, then my executors shall retain the said manors, lands and tenements, and the profits therefrom after the son that shall inherit reaches the age of 21, until my debts are paid and my will is fully performed.

Witnesses: John Deane, Ro: Wingfield, Thomas Russell.

Administration granted 13 August 1638 to Anne Wingfield, the relict of the deceased, no executors having been named in the will.

19 November 1642 Administration was granted to Robert Wingfield Esq., next relative of the deceased, after Richard Wingfield, Bart., John and Anne and Elizabeth Wingfield, the children of the deceased, and Anne the relict had failed to administer the testator’s estate.

24 February 1650 [?= 1650 or 1651]

Administration granted to Sir Richard Wingfield, Bart., son of the deceased.

ref. PROB11/189/174

The last will and testament of Dame Anne Wingfield of Easton, Suffolk, widow, dated 4 April 1642

Testatrix recites that she has borrowed ‘certaine sommes of money’ of her sister Elizabeth Deane ‘disbursed about the Wardshipp of my Sonne Sir Richard Wingfield Barronett’ and directs that ‘presently’ [immediately] after her funeral expenses have been discharged, her sister should be repaid the debt with interest.

‘I give one golde Ringe with a Turkey stone [turquoise], And a golde Seale with the Wingfield Armes on it’ to my said son Sir Richard.

‘All my ordinary Wearing apparrell and and lynnen which I have worne since the death of my deare husband and noe other’ I give to Katherine Beversham my servant.

‘I give all my best cloathes and the residue of my Jewells’ to be equally divided between my two daughters, Anne and Elizabeth Wingfield.

I give £1600 which I have disbursed towards the payment of my said son Sir Richard’s fine for his wardship into the receipt of the Court of Wards to be equally divided among all my children, viz. Sir Richard, John, Anne and Elizabeth. If any of them die ‘before they bee marryed or [of] yeares of discrecion’, their share is to be equally divided among the rest of my surviving children.

To every one of my sisters, Elizabeth, Dorcas, Frances and Mildred Deane ‘a diamond Ringe of five poundes price’.

To my cousin Robert Wingfield of Grays Inn, a silver tankard of £6 price.

To Mr Turnball, parson of Easton, £5.

To Mr Peirce, Minister of Hacheston, 40s.

To my servant Anne Blighe, 40s.

To my servant Katherine Hargrave, the silver cup which my aunt Tindall gave me.

To the poor of Easton, £5.

To the poor of Letheringham, 40s.

To my servant Thomas Russell, £3.

To my servant Robert Russell, £3.

To my servant Robert Richmond, £3.

I make my uncle Deane Tindall of Maplestead Magna, Essex, Esq., and William Bloyes of Grundisburgh, Suffolk, Esq. executors of this my last will and testament. ‘And for theire care and paines to bee taken herein’ I give to each of them a silver tankard of £8 price.

Witnesses: George Turnbull, Robert Bolton, Jo: Tindall.

Proved at London, 12 May 1642 by Deane Tyndall, one of the executors named in the will, with power reserved for William Bloyes, the other executor.

Thanks to Joanna and Edward Martin for all the hard work in compiling this page.