(1) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk:

Description: Will of Thomas Franch or French, Gentleman of Ilmington, Warwickshire

Date [proved]: 17 October 1660

Catalogue reference: PROB 11/300

Dept: Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

Series: Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers

Piece: Name of Register: Nabbs Quire Numbers: 161 - 210

Image contains 1 will of many for the catalogue reference

[Note by compiler: The compiler encountered difficulties in transcribing this will because of the poor quality of the copy of the will obtained from the British National Archives, and because of the archaic handwriting and spelling of words used in the will.]

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas ffrench of Ilmington in the Countie of Warwicke Gent beinge sicke and weake in body but of good and perfect mynde and Memory Thankes bee Given to Almightie God Therefore doe make and Ordaine this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme ffolowinge, ffirst I bequeath my soule into the handes of Almightie God my maker and Creatour Trustinge and _____ beleivinge through the Death and passion of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my Sinnes are freely Remitted and forgiven mee, And as for my body my Will is that itt shall be buryed in the Church of Ilmington aforesaid in the _____ buryinge place belonginge to the house wherein I doe now live, And as for such worldlie Goods wherewith the Lord in Mercy hath blessed mee I give and bequeath in manner and fforme ffolowinge ffirst Whereas I tooke a Lease of the Messuage wherein I now live, and _____ Tenements and Two closses with the Appurtenances thereunto belonginge, And by the same Lease the Title for the Terme of Nynety Nyne yeares to Comence from the date hereof, did remayne in my selfe and my brother in Law John Bury our Executors Administrators and Assignes, And I haveinge an Estate thereon to _____ for _____, And willinge the Remainder in fee should bee Setled on mee, and _____ for Ever I did convey Assigne and sett over All my Estate in the said Lease _____ Remainder of the said Terme unto the said John Bury his Executors, Administrators and Assignes, in trust for the use of mee my Executors Administrators and Assignes And my Will is that the said Lease During the remainder of the said Terme may bee _____ unto Nathaniel Eden of Ilmington Yeoman And my Loveinge wife Mary ffrench for the use benefitt and behoofe of my said wife, And Elizabeth and Sarah ffrench my Daughters and Edward and Thomas ffrench my Sonnes, and the childe which my wife now beares in her wombe to bee Equally divided amongst them share and share alike And further whereas I have a howse and close in Admington in the Countie of Gloucester from one Thomas Reade of Lovington in the said Countie of Gloucester yeoman forfeited unto mee I Will, devise, give and bequeath the same unto the said Nathaniell Eden, and the said Mary ffrench my wife, and all my Estate right Title interest in the same for the use benefitt and behoofe of the aforesaid Mary ffrench my wife, Elizabeth, Sarah, Edward and Thomas ffrench my children, and the child which my wife bears in her wombe, to bee Equally divided amongst them share and share alike, And if itt shall happen that eyther or any of them shall departe this life before they shall _____ to the Age of One and Twentye years, Then my Will is that his, her or theire portions soe dyeinge to be Equally divided amongst the survivors of them Also I give and bequeath to my Loveing Mother Elizabeth Ballard _____ shillinges a yeare to bee paid to her quarterly for the space of _____ yeares (if shee shall soe long live) The ffirst next usuall quarter day next after my decease And Lastlie I Make, Ordaine Constitute and appointe Nathaniell Eden and the said Mary ffrench my said _____ Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament, Revoakeing (all former Wills by mee made) requestinge my said Executors to performe this my Will, and the Trust in them reposed, And for his payment therein I give to the said Nathaniell Eden Twentie shillinges In Witness whereof to both _____ of this my Will I have putt my hand and my Seale to the Copy thereof, The ffirst day of March in the yeare of our Lord One Thousand sixe hundred ffiftie and Seaven /Tho: ffrench / Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Thomas ffrench as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, Will Bishoppe The marke of Thomas Redhill, The marke of William Cleaver, Edm: Porter.

And ffurther By way of Coddicil To my Will I make the Addition hereof And my Owne mynde and Will further is That if Elizabeth, Sarah, Edward, Thomas, or Margarett ffrench my said Children, in my Will aforesaid Menconed, or any of them, shall Marry or consent to Marry without the full dispose, consent and well likeing of my said Executors before named, That then in such case my Will and Meaneinge is That the porcones and Legacyes to them in this my Will bequeathed shall cease, determine and become utterlie Voyd any thing in this Will to the Contrary Notwithstandinge Witness my hand and seale the Nyne and Twentieth day of June in the yeare of our Lord one Thousand Sixe hundred ffifty Eight / Tho: ffrench / Witness hereunto Rich: Eden John Eden /

[Note by compiler: The testator's daughter, Margarett, was apparently born between 1 March 1657 (when the original will was executed) and 29 June 1658 (when the codicil was executed). Also, the testator, who resided in Ilmington, Warwickshire, made several references to Gloucestershire in his will. Ilmington is a parish in both Warwickshire and Gloucester. In this regard, see http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/WAR/Ilmington/:

"ILMINGTON, Warwickshire

"ILMINGTON, a parish in the hundreds of Kington and Kiftsgate, counties Warwick and Gloucester, 4 miles W. of Shipston-on-Stour. It contains the hamlets of Lark Stoke, Compton, Scorpion, and Foxcote. It is a meet for the Warwickshire hounds. The village is considerable, and part of the inhabitants are employed in winding silk, manufactured at the mills of Blockley and Camden. The railway from Stratford-on-Avon to Morton-in-the-Marsh passes through the parish."]