Transcript in original spelling
In the name off god Amen in the yere off our lorde god ml vc lj [1551] and the xvijt day of februarye Iwyll[ia]m tappye off rusheden seke seke in bodye but off good remembrance make this mye last wyll and testament in maner & forme yt folowyth and All other wylls sett apart Fyrst I bequeth mye soule to
Almyghtye god mye creator and Redemer and mye bodye to be buryd wit[hi]n the churche yerde off
Rushden It[em] I beqeth to michaell tappye mye eldyst sone ij horses and a carte the eldyst &
a bodye off a carte and a quarter off malte to bye hym a pare off weels and Also x yewys wi[th]
ther lambes It[em] I geve to heugh mye seconde sone A horse and a colte xte yewys w[ith] ther lambes
It[em] I geve to Edmunde mye youngyst sone A horse And a colte xte Ewes wi[th] lambes ye table
yt standyth in the hawle a Doblytt wolstytt and mye lethern cott It[em] I geve to elezabeth
mye eldyst daughter xxte nobles off good & lawfull monye off ingland A cowe a bullocke and
A candyll stycke It[em] I geve mergerye my seconde daughter xxte nobles A cowe A bullocke
A candyll stycke and A coffer It[e]m I geve to Jane mye youngyst daughter xxte nobles A cowe A
bullocke A candyll stycke and the cobberde yt standyth in the haule and yff ytt shall happen
thatt anye off mye iij sons to dye before yt thaye be maryd the goods yt he hade off
my bequeste off me his father to be equalye devydyd be twene his ij brethere[n] and in lyke
wyse yf anye off mye iij daughters shall happen to dep[ar]te be fore thay be maryd hyr
part shall remane to hir ij systyrs Also yff mye iij sones be gentyll and lovying to ye
mother and Rulyd after hyr I wyll yt thay shalbe honest occupyers w[ith] ther mother beryng
halff ye charges off ye ferme and after ye deceasse off Jane mye wyff I wyll yt she shall
geve ij brasse potts to wyche off hyr chyldren yt she wyll It[e]m I geve to Agnes mye syster
A bushyll of malte The Resydue off mye goods boyth movable & on movable unbequethed
I geve and bequethe to Jane mye wyff whome I make one off mye executors and Edmunde
mye sone the other executor and he to have for his payns takyn vjs viijd to see mye
bodye buryd mye legaces fulfyllyd and mye Detts payd I make wyll[ia]m lynforde
mye wyffues brothe supervisor to ye same wyll & he to have for his payns takeing iijs iiijd
thes[e] beryng wytnes John carter prest wyll[ia]m lynforde Ryc[hard] [g]olde & thomas ba[kma]st

(Probate granted on 24th July 1551)

Translation
In the name of God Amen in the year of our Lord God 1551 and the 17th day of February I William
Tapp of Rushden sick in body but of good remembrance make this my last will and testament
in manner & form that follows and all other wills set apart First I bequeath my soul to
Almighty God my creator and Redeemer and my body to be buried within the churchyard of
Rushden Item I bequeath to Michael Tapp my eldest son 2 horses and a cart the oldest &
a body of a cart and a quarter of malt to buy him a pair of wheels and Also 10 ewes with
their lambs Item I give to Hugh my second son a horse and a colt 10 ewes with their lambs
Item I give to Edmund my youngest son a horse and a colt 10 ewes with lambs the table
that stands in the hall a doublet [worsted] and my leather coat Item I give to Elizabeth
my eldest daughter 20 nobles of good & lawful money of England a cow a bullock and
a candlestick Item I give Margery my second daughter 20 nobles a cow a bullock
a candlestick and a coffer Item I give to Jane my youngest daughter 20 nobles a cow a
bullock a candlestick and the cupboard that stands in the hall and if it shall happen
that any of my 3 sons die before they are married the goods that he had of
my bequest from me his father to be equally divided between his 2 brethren and in like
wise if any of my 3 daughters shall happen to depart before the are married her
part shall remain to her 2 sisters Also if my 3 sons be gentle and loving to their
mother and ruled by her I will that they shall be honest occupiers with their mother bearing
half the charges of the farm and after the decease of Jane my wife I will that she shall
give 2 brass pots to which of her children that she will Item I give to Agnes my sister
a bushel of malt The Residue of my goods both movable & unmovable unbequeathed
I give and bequeath to Jane my wife whom I make one of my Executors and Edmund
my son the other Executor and he to have for his pains taking 6s.8d. to see my
body buried my legacies fulfilled and my Debts paid I make William Lynford
my wife’s brother supervisor to the same will & he to have for his pains taking 3s.8d.
These bearing witness John Carter priest William Lynford Richard [G]old & Thomas Ba[kma]st