Will of Henry DAVIDGE [d.1658]
Yeoman of Buckhorn Weston

In the Name of God Amen:

September the fourteenth in the year of Our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty and eight, I Henry DAVIDGE the elder of Buckhorn Weston in the County of Dorset Yeoman ⁽³⁾ being sick in body but of good and perfect memory God be praised I do make & ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following vizt

First: of all I commend & bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker hoping assuredly through the only merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer to be made (and) partake of life everlasting And my body to the earth from whence it came to be buried in Christian like manner in the churchyard of Buckhorn Weston aforesaid between my two wives

Item: I do give unto John DAVIDGE my son an annuity of twenty shillings a year, to be paid unto him out of Cow Leaz^e (and by him who is the owner thereof) so long as he shall live.

Item: I do give unto Thomas DAVIDGE my son twenty pounds, to be paid unto him within half a year after my death.

Item: I do give unto Richard DAVIDGE my son forty pounds to be paid unto him within half a year after my death.

Item: I do give unto Henry DAVIDGE my son twenty pounds to be paid unto him within half a year after my death.

Item: I do give unto William DAVIDGE my son twenty pounds to be paid unto him within half a year after my death

Item: I do give unto George DAVIDGE my son my lease together with the inheritance of Cowleaze ⁽¹⁾ to him and his male heirs, of his body lawfully begotten, forever yielding and paying the annuity of twenty shillings yearly unto my son John so long as he shall live.

Also my will is my son George shall pay out of the sum fourscore pounds unto Thomas, Richard, Henry and William my sons vizt ten pounds a piece to each of them within three years after my death And ten pounds a piece more within one year after that

And in case of no male issue from my son George Then I do give the lease and the inheritance of the said Cowleaze unto Richard DAVIDGE my son and his male heirs lawfully begotten he and his heirs yielding and paying unto the said John yearly Annuity as is above expressed

And in case he fails to have male issue Then I give the lease and inheritance of the said Cowleaze unto William DAVIDGE my son and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten he and his heirs yielding and paying the yearly Annuity unto the said John as is before expressed

And in case he fails to have male issue I do give the lease & inheritance unto Osmond DAVIDGE my sonne and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten he and his heirs yielding and paying the said Annuity unto the said John as is above expressed

And in case he fails to have male issue I do give the lease & inheritance unto Henry DAVIDGE my son and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten he and his heirs yielding and paying the said yearly Annuity unto the said John as is above expressed

And in case he fails to have male issue I do give the lease & inheritance unto Thomas DAVIDGE my son and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten he and his heirs yielding and paying unto the said John the yearly Annuity as is above expressed.

And in case he fails to have male issue I do give the lease and inheritance unto John DAVIDGE my son and to the heirs male of him lawfully begotten:

And in case he fails to have male issue I do give the lease and inheritance unto my daughter Grace ⁽²⁾ to her and her heirs forever.

Also my will is if George my son shall happen to die within either or both the terms before expressed and the legacies either in whole on in part unto Thomas, Richard, Henry, and William my sons be unsatisfied That then the next possessor shall satisfy and pay those legacies which are charged on my son George [DAVIDGE]

Also my will is that if one or two or more succeeding in the possession shall happen to die before either or both the terms before expressed and the legacies either in whole or in part be left unsatisfied that the possessor whoever it be shall discharge the legacies as is above expressed.

Item: I do give to Osmond DAVIDGE my son and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten the the inheritance of Gillots yielding and paying unto Thomas, Richard, Henry, and William my sons twenty pounds in two even payments vizt Ten pounds within three years after my death and Ten pounds within one year after that, both which sums are to be equally divided between them vizt. To each of them fifty shillings as a payment

And in case male issue fail in my son Osmond Then I do give the inheritance of Gillets unto my son Henry [DAVIDGE] and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten

And in case male issue fail in him I do give the said inheritance of Gillots unto my son Thomas [DAVIDGE] and to the heirs male of him lawfully begotten

And in in case male issue fail in him I do give the said inheritance unto my son John [DAVIDGE] and to the male heirs of him Lawfully begotten

And in case male issue fail in him I do give the inheritance of the said Gillots unto my son Richard [DAVIDGE] and to the male heirs of him lawfully begotten

And if male issue fail in him I do give the said inheritance unto my son William [DAVIDGE] to him and the male heirs of him lawfully begotten

And if male issue fail in him I do give the said inheritance unto my son George [DAVIDGE] and the male heirs of him lawfully begotten

And if male issue fail in him I do give the said inheritance said Gillots unto my daughter Jane [DAVIDGE] and her heirs forever

Also my will is that if my son Osmond [DAVIDGE] shall happen to die within either or both the terms before expressed and the Legacies either in whole or in part be left unsatisfied unto Thomas Richard Henry and William my sons That then the next possessor shall satisfy and pay those legacies which are charged on my son Osmond [DAVIDGE]

Also my will is that if one or two or more succeeding in the possession shall happen to die before either or both the terms before expressed and the Legacies either in the whole or part unto Thomas Richard Henry and William my sons be unsatisfied That then the possessor, whoever it be, shall discharge the legacies as is above expressed

Item I do give unto my daughter Grace Ten pounds to be paid unto her within half a year after my death And Ten pounds a piece unto three of her children William John and Grace to be paid unto them and to each of them when they shall accomplish the age of twenty one years

And in the meantime their parents or parent to have yearly towards their upbringing the Interest such as the law doth or shall allow

And in case either of them shall happen to die before they come to be of age then the portion shall be equally shared between the other two or if two of them shall happen to die before they come to be of age then the portion shall remain to the third Also if all three shall happen to die before they be of age then their parents or parent shall have the whole Thirty pounds.

Item I give unto my daughter Jane [DAVIDGE] Ten pounds to be paid unto her within half a year after my death And Ten pounds a piece unto her three children now living when either and each of them shall come to the Age of twenty one years.

And in the meantime their parents or parent to have yearly towards their upbringing the Interest so such as the law doth or shall allow

And in case one of the children die before he or she come to be of Age Then the other two to have his or her part equally divided between them:

And in case two of them die then the third to have all

And in case all three happen to die before they come to be of age then the parents or parent to have the whole Thirty pounds.

Item I give unto my son Richard [DAVIDGE] All my wearing apparel both woollen & linen.

Item I do give unto my two son George and Osmond [DAVIDGE] my gelding colt and my four sheep.

Item I do give to the poor of Buckhorn Weston that (are paid) out of the poormans box, ten shillings to be divided amongst them at the discretion of my executors and one, or both, of my overseers within one month after my death.

Item I do give to my sixteen grandchildren ten shillings each to be paid unto them within half a year after my death

Item I give to my son John [DAVIDGE] the furnace as it stands with the Iron bar together with the two hang?olls in the kitchen chiminey.

Item I give unto my son George [DAVIDGE] my best brass pot, and pot hooks ⁽³⁾

Item I give unto my son Osmond [DAVIDGE] my second best brass pot, and pot hooks

Item I give to my three sons William, George, and Osmond [DAVIDGE] All my old bacon with the live hog with the red spot upon the rump,

Also one hundred of my best cheese

And all my malt

And one barrel of salted butter

And twelve bushels of my best wheat to be threshed out for them as they require it.

Also one standing bedstead with a tester ⁽³⁾ in the Chamber over the kitchen with the two beds that now lie in it

And the bolster

And the two pillows

And a pair of canvas sheets

And a pair of blankets and a coverlett ⁽³⁾

And a rug

And the hangings all belonging to the bedstead to remain to their use as long as they shall keep themselves single and unmarried

And if either of them shall happen to die or marry the bedstead beds and bedding with all the appurtenances to remain to the other two

And in case two of them shall die or marry then the whole shall remaine unto the third

Item I do give unto Thomas, Richard, Henry, William, Grace, and Jane my sons and my daughters All the rest of my brass All my pewter The rest of my bedsteads beds and bedding unto them belonging All my timber vessels, three harnesses (one in the shop, another outside the shop door, and the third in the stable), my two tableboards ⁽³⁾ and the other boards, the forms ⁽³⁾, the joined stools ⁽³⁾ and the other stools, my cupboard brass chest, my two coffers ⁽³⁾, All my chairs and All my tack to be equally divided between them.

Item I do give unto my son John [DAVIDGE] the Herbage of Cowlease until the eldaventh (eleventh?) day of November next ensuing He paying all dues and duties payable for the same unto that time.

Item I do give unto my son George [DAVIDGE] my biggest Hay Rick standing in Cowlease meadowItem I doe give to my sonne Osmond my Rick of Hay standing in the Reek Barton at Gillots.

Item I do give unto my son Richard [DAVIDGE] that term which I have to come of M^r Fitzherbert's meadow which lies in Penmoore.

Item I do give unto my maid servant Mary FRY two shillings.

Item I do appoint eight pounds to be spent on my funeral dinner.

Item the rest of my goods my legacies performed and my debts paid I do give unto my son John [DAVIDGE] whom I do make the sole executor of this my last will and testament:

And I doe make and appoint Edmond CLARK of Buckhorne Weston aforesaid Clerk and John LAMBERT of East Cooker in the County of Somererset Clerk my well beloved friends Overseers of this my last will and testament

And I do give unto them five shillings each for their pains

In the Name of God Amen:

September the fowreeteenth Anno D^(omi)ni one thowsand
six hundred fiftie and Eight I Henrie DAVIDGE the
elder of Buckhorn Weston in the Countie of Dorset Yeoman
being sicke in bodie but of good and perfect memorie God
be praysed I doe make & ordeine this my Last will and testement
in mannor and forme followinge vizt ffirst of all I commend
& bequeath my soule into the hands of Almightie God my maker
hopeing assuredlie through the onlie merits of Jesus Christ my
alone Saviour and Redeemer to be made partake? of life everlasting
And my bodie to the earth from whence it came to be buried in Christian
Like manner in the churchyard of Buckhorne Weston aforesaide
betweene my two wives ITEM I doe give unto John DAVIDGE
my Sonne an Annuitie of Twentie Shillings a yere to be yeield paid
unto him out of Cow Leaze (and by him who is the owner thereof)
soe long as he shall live. Itm I doe give unto Thomas DA=
VIDGE my sonne twentie pounds To be paid unto him within half
a yere after my death. Itm I doe give unto Richard DAVIDGE
my sonne fortie pounds to be paid unto him within half a yere after
my death. Itm I doe give unto Henry DAVIDGE my sonne twen=
=tie pounds to be paid unto him within half a yere after my death.
ITEM I doe give unto William DAVIDGE my sonne Twentie
pounds to be paid unto him within half a yere after my death Item
I doe give unto George DAVIDGE my sonne my lease together w^th
the inheritance of Cowleaze to him and the heirs made of his bodie
Lawfully begotten forever YEELDING and paying the An=
=nuitie of Twentie shillings yerelie Unto my sonne John soe long as he
shall Live. Also my will is my sonne George shall paie out of the
sume ffowrescore pounds Unto Thomas Richard Henry and Willm
my sonnes vizt tenne pounds a peece to each of them within three yeres
after my death and tenne pounds a peece more within one yere after that
And in case yssue male faile in my sonne George Then I doe give
the lease and the inheritance of the said Cow Lease unto Richard
DAVIDGE my sonne and his heires males Lawfullie begotton He
and his heires yeilding and paying unto the said John the yerelie
Annuitie as is above expressed And in case the yssue male faile
in him Then I doe give the lease and inheritance of the said
Cowlease unto William DAVIDGE my sonne and to he heires males f
him Lawfullie begotten He and his heires yeilding and paying
the yerelie Annuitie unto the said John as is before expressed
And in case the yssue male faile in him I doe give the Lease & inheri=
=tann^s unto Osmond DAVIDGE my sonne and to the heires male of
him Lawfullie begotten He and his heires yeilding and pay=
=ing the said Annuitie unto the said John as is above expressed
And in case yssue male faile in him I doe give the Lease and
inheritance unto Henry DAVIDGE my sonne and to the heires male
of him Lawfullie begotten He and his heires yeilding and paying
the said yerelie Annuitie unto the said John as is above expressed
And in case yssue male fail in him I doe give the lease and
inheritance unto Thomas DAVIDGE my sonne and to the heires
male of him Lawfullie begotten He and his heires yeeilding
and paying unto the said John the yerelie Annuitie as is above
expressed. And in case yssue male faile in him I doe give the
lease----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------end of page 1
lease and inheritance unto John DAVIDGE my sonne and to the heires male
of him lawfullie begotten: And in case yssue male faile in him I doe
give the said lease and inheritance unto my daughter Grace to her and
her heires forever. Also my will is if George my sonne shall happen
to die within either or both the termes before expressed and the legacies
either in the whole on in part unto Thomas Richard Henry and Will^iam
my sonnes be unsatisfied That then the next possessor shall satisfie and
paie those legacies which are charged on my sonne George Also
my will is that if one or two or more succeeding in the possession
shall happen to die before either or both the termes before expressed
and the Legacies either in whole or in part be Left unsatisfied that
the possessor whoever it be shall discharge the Legacies as is above-
expressed. Item I doe give to Osmond DAVIDGE my sonne and
to the heires male of him Lawfullie begotten the inheritance
of Gillots yeilding and paying unto Thomas Richard Henry
and Will^m my sonnes twentie pounds at two even payments viz
Tenne pounds within three years after my death and tenne pounds
within one year after that both which summes are to be equallie
Divided between them vizt. To each of them fiftie shillings apeece
at a payment And in case yssue male faile in my sonne Osmond
Then I doe give the inheritance of Gillets unto my sonne Henry
and to the heires male of him Lawfully begotton And in in case yssue
male faile in him I doe give the said inheritance of Gillots unto
my sonne Thomas and to the heires male of him Lawfully begotton
And in in case yssue male faile in him I doe give the said inheritance
unto my sonne John and to the heires male of him Lawfully begotton
And in in case yssue male faile in him I doe give the inheritance
of the said Gillets unto my sonne Richard and to the heires male
of him Lawfully begotton And if yssue male faile in him I doe
give the said inheritance unto my sonne William to him and the
heires male of him Lawfully begotton And if yssue male faile
in him I doe give the said inheritance unto my sonne George and the
heires male of him Lawfully begotton And if yssue male faile in
him I doe give the said inheritance of the said Gillets unto my
daughter Jane and her heires forever Also my will is that if
my sonne Osmond shall happen to die within either or both the
termes before expressed and the Legacies either in whole or in
part be left unsatisfied unto Thomas Richard Henry and
William my sonnes That then the next possessor shall satisfie
and paie those legacies w'h are charged on my sonne Osmond
Also my will is that if one or two or more succeding in the∼
possession shall happen to die before either or both the termes∼
before expressed and the Legacies either in the whole or pt
unto Thomas Richard Henry and William my sonnes be un=
=satisfied That then the possessor who ever it be shall discharge
the legacies as is above expressed ITEM I doe give un=
=to my daughter Grace tenne pounds to be paid unto her w'thin
halfe a yere after my death And tenne pounds a peece unto
three of her children William John and Grace to be paid
unto them and to each of them when they shall accomplish
the Age of one and twentie years And in the meane time their
parents or parent to have yerelie towards their breeding the
Interest such as the law doth or shall allow And in case eith.
of them shall happen to die before they come to be of Age then
ye----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------end of page 2
the portion shalbe equallie shared betweene the other two or if two
of them shall happen to die before they come to be of Age then the
portion shall remain^e to the third Co? if All three shall happen to
die before they be of Age then their parents or parent shall have
the whole Thirtie pounds.Itm I give unto my daughter Jane
Tenne pounds to be paid unto her within half a year after my death
And tenne pounds a peece unto her three children now living∼
when either and everie of them shall come to the Age of one & twentie
yeares. And in the meane while their parents or parent to have∼
yearlie towards their breeding the Interest so such as the law doth or
shall allow And in case one of the children die before he or she come to
be of Age Then the other two to have his or her part equally divided
betweene them: And in case two of them die then the third to have all
And in case All three happen to die before they come to be of Age then
the parents or parent to have the whole Thirty pounds.: Itm I give∼
unto my sonne Richard All my wearing Apparrell both woollen
& Lynnen. Itm I doe give unto my two sonnes George and∼
Osmond my gelding colt and ^my fowre sheep. Itm I doe give
to the poore of Buckhorne Weston aforesaid that have out of the
pooremans box tenne shillings to be divided amongst them by the∼
Discretion of my executors and one or both of my overseers within one
month after my death. Itm I doe give to my sixteen grand=
=children tenne shillings apeece munun to be paid unto them
within half ayere after my death Itm I give to my sonne John
the ffurnace as it there standeth the Iron Barr together with ^the two
hangrolls in the kitchen chiminey. Itm I give unto my sonne
George my best brasse pott, and pott hookes Itm I give unto
my sonne Osmond my second best brasse pott, and potthookes∼
Item I give to my three sonnes Will^m George, and Osmond∼
All my old bacon w^th the live hogg with the red spott upon the
Rump, Alsoe one hundred of my best cheese and All my Malt
and one barrell of salted butter and twelve bushells of my best wheate
to be threshed out for them as they require it. Alsoe one stan=
ding bed stead with a tester in the Chamber over the kitchen w^th
the two beds that now lye in it and the bolster and the two pillows
and a pair of canvas sheets and a paire of blankets and a coverlett
& a Rugge and the hangings all belonging to the same to remaine
to their use soe long as they shall keep them selves sole and unmarried
And if either of them shall happen to die or marrie the bedstead beds
and bedding with All the appurtnances to remaine to the other two
And in case two of them shall die or marry then the whole
shall remaine unto the third Itm I doe give unto Thomas
Richard Henry Will^m Grace and Jane my sonnes and my ∼
daughters All the rest of my brasse All my pewter the rest of my
bedsteads bedds and bedding unto them belonging all my timber
vessells three harnesses one in the shopp another without the shop
doore and the third in the stable my two Table boards and the other
boards the formes the joyne stooles and the other stools my cupbord
Brasse: Chest my two Cofers all my chaires and all my Tack
to be equallie divided betweene them. Itm I doe give unto my ∼
sonne John the Herbage of Cowlease until the eldaventh Daie of
November next ensueing He paying all dues and duties payable
for the same unto that time. Item I doe give unto my sonne
George my biggest Hey Rick standing in Cowlease meadow
Itm---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------end of page 3
Item I doe give to my sonne Osmond my Rick of Hay stand
ing in the Reek Barton at Gillots. Itm I doe give unto my sonne
Richard that term which I have to come of M^r ffitzherberts meadowe
which lyeth in Penmoore. Itm I doe give unto my maid servant Mary
FFRY two shillings. Itm I doe appoint eight pounds to be spent on my funerall
Dinner. Itm the rest of my goods my legacies performed and my debts
paid I doe give unto my sonne John whom I doe make the sole executor
of this my last will and testament: And I doe make and appoint Edmond
CLARK of Buckhorne Weston aforesaid Clerk and John LAMBERT of
East Cooker in the Countie of Somer^erset Clerk my wellbeloved friends∼
Overseers of this my last will and testament And I doe give unto them
five shillings apeece for their paines In Witness whereof
I the said Henry DAVIDGE the elder have hereunto set my hand
and seale the daie and yere first before written. Henry DAVIDGE
the elder his mk. Witnesses hereunto Edmond Clark John Davidge Henry Davidge his mk.

This Will was proved at London the Twentie sixth daie of November one thousand six hundred∼
ffifie and eight Before the Judges for probat of wills and graunt=
=ing Administrations Lawfullie authorized By the oath of John
DAVIDGE the sonne and solo Executor named therein to whome
was committed Administration of all and singular the goods∼
chattles and debts of the said deceased. He being by common
first sworn to uelie administor.

Genealogical Notes:-
(1). The lease of Cowleaze was previously left in the Will of Thomas DAVIDGE (d1605) of Buckhorne Weston, initially to his executors to administer for 4 years, and then to his son John DAVIDGE and in the event of John's death to his (Thomas's) daughter Grace.

(2). His two daughters (Grace and Jane) each had at least three children and are therefore likely to have been married, but in neither case does the Will enlighten us as to a surname. Jane's children are not even given christian names.

(3). An explanation of the meaning of these words is given in the Glossary under the wills section on the Dorchester Parish Page.

(4). At the Assizes held at Blandford between 12th & 15th January 1636 a John DAVIDGE of Buckhorne Weston was given permission to erect a cottage on the waste of the manor, once he has obtained the written permission of the Lord of the Manor and brought it to Court. Source Dorset Quarter session Records 1625-1638 published by the Dorset record Society Volume 14 page 320.