Testamentum Rich[ard]i Dobbes de Rushden  1575

In the name of God Amen in the yeare of our Lord god 1575 the iiij^th  daie of October I Richard Dobbes of Rushden in the countie of North[amptonshire] husbandman doe make and ordaine this my testament wherein is contained my last will first I comytt my soule into thands of our Lorde Jesus Christ my maker and redeemer in whome and by whome I trust to be saved and have forgiveness of all my synns & c. Item I geve and bequethe to ev[er]ye poore Cottier that kepeth howse in Rusheden savinge no cowe but lyve only of his haude labo^r  ij^d   Item I geve and beq^th to Margret my daughter xx ^li in Cattell and householde stuffe to be paide to her at the daie of her marriage yf yt chance that she die before she be married I will then that my sonne Richard shall have the one halffe of her stocke and my wyffe the other. Item I geve and beq^th  to John Dobbes my eldest son xx m[ar]ks in corn and cattell & ij shepe to be paid to him at thaige of xxxj yeares yf yt chance that he die before he have received his stocke I will then that my wyffe shall have the one halfe of his stocke and my sonne Richard the other. Item I geve and beqth to Agnes my youngest daughter x^li and a greate p(ann)e to be paide to her at thaige of xxj  years and yf yt chance that shee die before she come to that age I will then that her stocke shall remayne wholly to my sonne Richard. Item geve and bequethe to Blase Dobbes my sonne iij ^li vj ^s viij ^d to be paid him at thaige of xxiiij yeares yf he come againe, yf not the saide some of iij ^li vj ^s viij ^d shall retourne to Agnes my youngest daughter. Item I geve and bequethe to Em[m]e my wyffe iij mylche kye and a breeder and xxx ^ti shepe with three p[ar]ts of my householde stuff with ij quarters of malte and ij of barlie. Item I will that so longe as my wyffe after my decease kepe her a wyddowe my sonne Richard shall kepe her and all her cattell above named of his owne prop(oe) costs and charges yf they __ well agree together,  yf not then I will that she shall kepe her selffe and her cattell all save one cowe and have towards the kepinge of them the howse that Randell hath wth iij acres of lande in a field re__die dressed to her (hande) and the first year I will that my son Richard shall fynde seede towards ye sowynge of yt for her, and shall geve her ev[er]ye yeare a reasonable lode of haie as most men carrie, this she shall have so longe as she kepe her wyddowe and no longur. Item I geve and beqth to Richard Brannson my sonne in lawe one shepe and a hyve of bees, and his wyffe one shepe and his iij children iij shepe. Item I geve and bequethe to Ellen my daughter at Sawtree iij shepe and a bee hyve. Item I geve to all my god children xij ^d a pece. The rest of all my goods bothe moveable & unmoveable I geve and beq^th to Richard my sonne whome I make my whole executor to see my bodie buried my legacies fulfilled and my debts paide. Also I ordaine and make John Paige of Knosson my brother in law sup[er]visor of this my testament wherein ys contained my last will fulfilled and he to have for his paines takinge iij ^s iiij ^d. And all other will or wills before made I utowely renounce and forsake and this to stand in full power strenghe and virtue. In wytnes whereof I the said Richard Dobbes to this p[re]sent will have sett my hande and seale the daie & yeare first above written Also I will that my sonne Richard shall kepe my two daughters Margret and Agnes of his owne cost and charge until suche tyme that they have received their stocks or are married. Item I geve and bequethe to Richard my sonne after my decease all my howses and lands as well free lande coppie holde land and bonde holde lande lyenge within the boundes of Rusheden to him and to his maile heire yf god doe sende him any, yf not yf god doe spare his wyffe longer lyffe then he I will that she shall have yt after his decease so longe as she kepe her widowe yf he have normal heire then I will that yt shall retorne to the next of the next of the bloude (?). Item I geve my woollen clothe wch is nowe at the weavers the one halffe to my wyffe the other halffe to my sonne Richard witnesses to the same Thomas Gobbie Robt (Menard) George Achurche and Olyver Latimer. Probate 12 Jan 1575/6.