Reference: Hampshire County Record Office, Winchester. 1648A/43
R.Towner 22nd. Feb. 1995
In the name of God amen. The fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand and six hundred and forty-seven. I William Knight of Rowner in the county of Southampton, yeoman, being sick of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory (god be praised therefor) doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manor and forme following. First I recommend my soule into the hands of Almighty God my creator hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer to inherit his heavenly kingdom. And I will my body to be buryed in Christian buryall.
Item I give unto the parish church of Rowner six shillings and eight pence.
Item I give and bequest unto my sonne Edward Knight two hundred pounds to be paid to him when he shall come of his age of one and twenty years.
Item I give to the poor people of the parish of Alverstoke ten shillings to b distributed to them at the discretion of my executors within three months next after my decease as likewise the legacy to Rowner church.
Item all the rest and residue of my goods and chattels and credits (my debts and legacyes being paid and my funeral discharged) I give and bequest unto Anne my wife and Edward Knight my sonne whom I make and ordayne joynt[ly] my sole executor[s] of this my last will and testament. And I also make and ordayne and withall desire my loving friends William Parford of Lee in the parish of Titchfield, yeoman, and William Dash my sonne in law to be overseers of this my last will and testament to see the same performed according to the true intent and meaning hereof. And I give to them my sayd overseers twenty shillings apiece (over and above their necessary charges) for their paynes to be taken therein. And in witness that this is my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seale.
William Knight his mark