The will was taken verblly by the rector and written post mortem
Description: Will of Elizabeth Beard widow of Rowner, buried April 22nd 1639.
Reference: Winchester County Record Office 1639A 18/1
R.Towner 4th October 1995.
Memorandum that upon the thyrd day of Aprill Ano Domini 1639 Elizabeth Beard of Rowner widdow being sick of body but of good and perfect mind and memorie ( thanks be given unto God) did make and declare her last will and testament nuncupative in manner and forme following. First she commended her soule unto God and her body unto the earth.
Her goods she gave and devised them unto her fower daughters Agnes, Margaret, Elizabeth and Sarah using these words or the like in effect viz. I will and doe give all my goods whereith God has endowed me to be sold and the money to be equally divided among them by my sonne George (whome I make my sole executor of this my last will and testament) when they shall come to the age of one and twenty years. Saving the goods which I doe give unto my Executor before my decease which are these, my best bed and bedsteaddle a bolster and two pillows a payre of pillowlies(?) a payre of blankets and a coverlett , a cubboard a table a frame and forme a table cloth and five napkins, my fayrest kiner(?) my wedding ring and five pounds of money, my will being that the eight pounds of money bequeathed unto my foresaid daughters by theyre fathers will shall be taken out of my goods to pay them theyre legacies and if any of the forenamed legatees shall happen to die before they shall come to the age of one and twenty years then the remainder of money shall go to the survivor or survivors of them successively to be equally divided among them. This she declared in the prescence of James Searle clerk, George Beard and Thomas Boneby(?) intreating her beloved friend George Beard and Thomas Boneby(?) and William Knight to be her overseers of this her last will and testament to see it performed and fulfilled according to the tone intent and meaning hereof.
Ita laster (???)
[Signed] Jacobus Searle Clerkius
[Widow Elizabeth Beard was buried on 22nd April 1639. (CHU 46/1A/1. Portsmouth R.O.)
The inventory of her house was carried out on 14th April (1639 A 18/2. Winchester R.O.)]