In the name of God Amen the twentieth day of August 1591 in the thirtieth and third year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen defender of the faith
I Henry Collett of Over Slaughter in the County of Gloucester yeoman being whole in body and also in mind thanks be to Almighty God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following
That is to say first I bequeath my soul to Almighty God my maker and redeemer and my body to be buried in the earth in the churchyard of Over Slaughter
In primo
I give and bequeath to Anthony Collett my son a plough with shire collar and
other parts that belongeth to the plough one pair of
harrows with all the tines, a pot, a pan and other wares, three pairs of sheets
four platters and three pounds of good and lawful money of
I give
and bequeath unto William Collett my son three pounds of good and lawful money
of
I give
and bequeath unto John Collett my son three pounds of good and lawful money of
I give and bequeath to my three daughters that is Alice Humphries, Elizabeth Haynes, Jane Venfield to either of them three pounds a piece of good and lawful money of England
I give and bequeath to my godsons children to every one of them one pound a piece
I give and bequeath to Edith Collett my wife the best bed in the house furnished and the surround and the best pot and the second best four platters two pots and ten pounds of good and lawful money of England when these done it is in that hereafter following that if my wife Edith Collett do permit and infer my son Thomas Collett peaceably and quietly to live in and quietly enjoy the end or half of the house and three yard land which I now dwell on in Over Slaughter without any trouble by herself or by any other of her portment and if she do refuse that to do contrary to my Will and true meaning thereof and that no agreement between my said son Thomas and her can be made that then my Will is that she shall have no penny of money
I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish the sum of ten shillings according to the discretion of any one executor within one whole year after my decease
I do give all the rest of my goods movable and unmovable not before mentioned together with one half of my house which I now dwell in at Over Slaughter as is aforesaid with them half of the three yard land thereunto belonging the appurtenances and all the profits to there belonging after my decease I give unto my said son Thomas Collett whom I make my whole executor paying my debts and discharging my legacies Thomas Collett shall pay them half of the duties that is payable in and on the aforesaid house and three yard land according to the true meaning of this my last Will and after my decease and of Edith my wife I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Collett the whole house and three yard land as is aforesaid for him to hold and own forever according to that custom and manor of Slaughter together with all and singular the profits and commodities thereunto belonging
I do ordain and appoint to be overseers of this my last Will and Testament my beloved and trusty sons John Collett and Anthony Collett
The Will was witnessed by William Ford and one other
Anthony Collett (Ref. 1F12), William Collett (Ref. 1F10),
John Collett (Ref. 1F9)
Alice Humphries (Ref. 1F6), Elizabeth Haynes (Ref.
1F7),
Jane Venfield (Ref. 1F11),
Edith Collett (Ref. 1E3), Thomas Collett (Ref. 1F8)