In the Name of God Amen the last day of May in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred and fifty nine I Joan Collett gentlewoman of Grundisburgh in the County of Suffolk widow being whole of mind and in perfect remembrance for the which God be praised do ordain and make this my present Testament containing my Last Will in manner and form following
First I commit my
soul to the mercy of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be buried in the
First, I will that William Collett my brother-in-law shall have all the profits commodities and revenues of all the manor called Clewes and also all that my capital messuage or mansion house with all the houses, buildings, lands and pastures and service in any wise appertaining and belonging to the said manor or mansion house lying and being within the fields and parishes of Burgh Cronisburgh (now known simply as Burgh) and Hasketon during the nonage of William Collett my son or other the right heirs and no longer upon condition that I will that the said William my brother shall bring up all my children till they be of lawful age. And to pay my debts and to keep the said houses in good and sufficient reparation making no strip nor waste
Item I give and bequeath to Katherine Collett my daughter a cow 3 platters, 3 dishes, 3 saucers and a charger, and my best bed with the covering, a greatest chest and my bearing sheet, and one pair of hokes of silver and gilt set with pearl
Item I give and
bequeath to Thomasin Collet
my daughter one cow, 3 platters, 3 dishes, 3 saucers, a charger, the next bed
with the quilt, a bearing sheet, a gold ring with a red stone
Item I will that if shall fortune the said Katherine and Thomasin my daughters to depart this present life that then I will that Alice and Dorothy Collett my brother’s children to have the said too nett. And I give more to the said Alice and Dorothy to each of them one weaning calf
Item I give to William Wydley my greatest mare colt, I give to William Collett my son four houses such time as he shall accomplish the age of twenty-one years at the prices as they be worth now. And also I will that the bedsteads with the hangings in the two chambers to remain there to the use of the said William my son and two great chests remaining in the chapel chamber to the use of the said William or to the right heirs
The residue of all my goods and chattels unbequeathed I give to the said William Collett my brother whom I ordain and make my sole executor he to perform and fulfill this my said testament and last will in manner and form above said
And I ordain the said William Wydley to be overseer of this my said Will there being witness Thomas Hayward the middealer, Robert Etherich and John Earman with others
And further I will
that William Wydley shall pay for every acre of land
holding of the manor of Clewys 12d the acre and not
above, any legacy gift or bequest to the contrary hereof notwithstanding
The Will was proved before
Master William Moyse Doctor of Law, Vicar General of
the Dean and Chapter of
brother-in-law William Collett (Ref. 18F3), son William Collett (Ref. 18G6)
daughters Katherine Collett (Ref. 18G7) and Thomasin Collett (Ref. 18G8)
nieces Dorothy
Collett (Ref. 18G11) and Alice Collett (Ref. 18G12)