The transcription of this 1607 will Richard Johnson of Claxbye,  Lincolnshire, England is as true to the original as the ability of the transcriber to read British colonial penmanship.  Paragraphs and highlighting were added to aid researchers; underlining represents the words the transcriber wasn't sure about. Lea Dowd is given full credit for locating this will in the Public Record Office of the British National Archives. The image carries a Crown Copyright.
Catalogue Reference --  Prob: 11/111  
Image Reference: 538. 
Linda Sparks Starr.   June 2007.

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the ffifteenth daye  of September in the yere of our Lord god one thousand sixe hundred and seaven and in the ffiveth yere of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Kynge James of England ffrance and Ireland the fyveth and of Scotland the one and fortith
 
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I Richard Johnson of Claxbye in the countie of Lincololn Esquir do make and declare this my last will and testament inw_ysing  revoking all former willes and testaments by me made and declared whatsoever

Imprimis I commend my soule into the handes of Almghtie god Jesus Christe my savyoure by the merittes of whose most blessed deathe and passion I truste and faithfully beleve to be saved. My bodye I commend to the earthe hoping of the Resurrection of the same at the last daye with the saintes elected of Almghtie god and to emaye the frmtion of his heavenlye kngdome prepared for all his elect.

And as concerning my worldlye goodes mannors Landes and tenements I will and dispose of them as followethe --

ffirst I give and bequeathe onto Judithe my loving wife my pasture groundes in  hoggethorpe in the tenure of Joeams  warrye at the yerelie Rent of nyne poundes and fifteen shillinges.  My Landes and tenementes in Slowthbie which ar in Lease to John Goodyer at the yerelie Rente of Sixteene poundes sixe Shillinges and eighte pence. And my landes and Tenements in Slowthbye which ar in Lease to John Deereborne at the yerelie Rent of Sixe poundes To have and to hould to her and her assignes for terme of her naturall life she releasing her Dower in all my Landes. And I further will and Devise onto her one Annuitye on yerely Rent chardge of tenne poundes by yere to be yssuing [issuing] ont of my Mannor of Percyhall To  have and to hould to her and her assignes from three yeres after my deathe during her naturall life.

 And I will that my sonne Isaacke Johnson  shall within some convenyent tyme after my deathe build up in Claxebye at the house where william Balderston now  dwelleth  a kitchen and  twoe other convenyent roomes for a dwelling house for my sayed wife which house and yarde wherein  yt [it]  standeth and the close called Oxeclose  I devise onto her during her wydowhood. And further my will ys [is] that she shall have and dwell in the house where I now dwell myselfe  except the Lathes Dayrie [dairies?] and Brewhouse untill she shalbe provided, the fore sayed dwelling at the saied house where the sayed  Balderston now dwelleth. 

Item I further will and devise to my sayed wife one chayne of gould of the valeue of Twentie poundes to be delyvered onto her by my executor within three yeres after my deathe And allso I will and devise onto my sayed wife my best graye anmbling mare

Item I will and devise onto Alice Smarte my Daughter one chayne of gould of the valeue of Twentie markes to be delyvered onto her by my executor within fower yeres after my deathe and a brace of Anngells to her husband to make hym a Rynge. 

Also I will and devise onto Richard Johnson my sonne besides the tenne poundes landes by yere in T [? symbol for interest]  I have  assured onto hym one Anunitye or yerelie Rent chardge of Tenne poundes to be yssuyng [issuing] out of my Mannor of Percyhall To  have and to hould from three yeres after my death unto hym and the heires of his bodye lawfully begotten.  

The Revercon of the premisses and my sayed Mannor of Percyhall and all other my landes and tenements whatsoever I leave to Descend onto Isaacke Johnson my oldest sonne 

Item I give unto my trustie and faythfull Servante Richard Powell one ffillye Colte of fwoe yeres old over and above his Wages that ar behinde and due onto hym.

Item my will and mynde ys that Robert Wheelwrighte nor Judith his nowe wife shall not be put out of the tenement they nowe dwell in so longe as Judith liveth and will contynue there.

 Item I devise onto Sir John Read Knight one gould Ringe of Twentie shillinges

Item I will and devise onto my Cozen Robert Boswell and unto my cozon Alice Billesbye onto either of them one gould rynge of tenne shillings pence

Item I will and devise onto my cosens Samuell Thorpe and Katherine Thorpe unto either of them one gould Ringe of tenne Shillinges  pence

I payd unto one C__ for my cosen Robert Crysall fwoe and twentie poundes I do not remember that I had any more of yt than three poundes and tenne shillingse. I owe onto John Crysall his sonne some smale somme what yt is I remember not but if my sayed

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 Cozen Robert Crysall shall dischardge and paye his sayed Sonne John Crysall  my sayed Debte Then I release hym of all the sayed money I payed for hym and otherwise not 

 And I give unto Elizabeth Crisall wife of the sayed Robert Crysall one Ringe of gould of the value of tenne shillinges

Item I give onto my cosen Robert Creswell the younger one gould Rynge of tenne Shillings pence 

Item I give onto Mr. Storye preacher of Billesbye  one Ringe of gould of tenne shillings pence.

Item I give onto Mr. Pearson one gould Ringe of tenne shillinges

 Item I give onto Mother Thompson fwoe shillinges six pence

And I constitute ordayne and make Isaacke Johnson my sonne my sole and only Executor of this my last will and testament. And I do charge him uppon my blessing to paye and satisfie my debtes and Legacies. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hands and seale the daye yere and month first above written.  witnesses Thomas Graye  John Pearson  Thomas Garner Sigmun William  Balderston  & [?]  me Richardnm Johnson