JOHN DOBYLL'S WILL 1451 - excerpts

Note: this will, written in Latin, was translated and published by the Suffolk Records Society, having been extracted from the register "Baldwyne" from the wills of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, housed at Bury St Edmunds. You can see details of the Suffolk Records Society here.

To be buried in the churchyard of St Andrew the apostle in Layham; to the high altar of the same church for my tithes forgotten and underpaid 6s 8d; to the fabric of the church 6s 8d; to the fabric of the chapel founded in Layham Churchyard 6s 8d; for two trentals of St Gregory to be celebrated for my soul and the souls of my deceased benefactors 20s

To the fraternity of the gild of the Holy Trinity in Hadleigh 3s 4d; for the mending of the common way leading from Layham to 'Bally' 6s 8d

To Margery my wife my principal messuage in which I live at the date of this writing, and a cottage called 'Costemes' with 3 ac of land and pasture and a barn adjacent, in the town and fields of Layham, for the term of her life [she making] no waste or damage; to the same Margery all the utensils of my house with 3 cows and 20 sheep out of my goods and chattels.

To John Strangman my best gown.

Residue of all my goods to John Watter the elder of Layham and Richard Boston of Hadleigh, executors.

Witnesses: Thomas Holbrook, John Grenehyl, Henry Skynner and others: seal appended.

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