Nat Gould

Will of Elizabeth Gould 1678

Will of Elizabeth Gould of Harebach, Staffordshire, widow of John Gould dated 19 December 1678.

"In the name of God, Amen, I Elizabeth Gould of Harebach in the County of Stafford widow being of perfect mind memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, First I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God … And concerning my Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me withall I give dispose and bequeath of the same in manner and form following, First I give and bequeath to my son John Gould five cowe five pairs of bedstocks standing in the chamber over the house and five great chairs. Item I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Thomas Finney five shillings to be paid him in ready moneys by my executors after my decease, Item I give and bequeath to my cousin Ralph Mountfort five shillings to be paid him in ready moneys after my decease and five shillings to my cousin Thomasin his wife to be paid her in like manner, And I do hereby ordain and make my son John Gould and my son William Gould my executors, And I do give unto my son William Gould all the rest of my goods cattle [chattels] and plate after my debts are paid and funeral expenses discharged, he the said William Gould paying and discharging unto my daughter Mary Finney forth of my said goods and chattels the full and … sum of forty pounds in ready moneys according to the discretion of my said executors and according as they shall see that she has occasion for it, And in case she die then my will and mind is that if she leaves any issue behind her either son or daughter that then the said forty pounds so left to be paid to my said daughter Mary shall be paid to such child as shall be left behind her if it shall accomplish the full age of five and twenty years But my will and mind is that my son-in-law Thomas Finney shall not have anything to do with the said forty pounds above mentioned given by me as aforesaid And lastly I do hereby desire my uncle John Gould and my cousin Ralph Mountfort to be overseers of this my last will and testament to see that my executors perform the same

Read signed published and declared to be my last will and testament the nineteenth day of December 1678 in the presence of Elizabeth Gould her mark E [seal]

William Brough
Mary Brough her mark
John Billinge his mark
Ralph Mountfort"

Probate at Lichfield 20 June 1683 to her sons John Gould and William Gould. The executors had sworn an affidavit on 8 June 1683.

Transcription made by Ann and Michael Hanson. Modern spelling except for names.