Posted by: Blog Administrator
on Jun 29, 2011
Tagged in:
writing ,
Woodford ,
witnesses ,
Wiltshire Wills Project ,
will ,
Vicessimus ,
servant ,
Malmesbury ,
Little Somerford ,
John West ,
Joan Kyte ,
Hester Minchin ,
Elizabeth Kyte ,
court papers ,
Cleverton ,
calligrapher
Newly discovered papers reveal the background to the making of a will and the family conflict involved in its probate in late 17th century Wiltshire.
Hester's will
Ref: P/3/M/200
In early June 1692 worn out by her travails Hester Minchin of the village Cleverton, near Malmesbury, took to her bed and decided that the time had come to make her will. She sent her son Thomas, known as Vicessimus because he was her twentieth child, to the nearby village of Little Somerford to summon John West, a writing master. In the presence of her servant Joan Kyte and Elizabeth Kyte she declared her will. John left the chamber and wrote the will which was read out and signed be Hester and the witnesses. For some reason Elizabeth signed as that of her former married name of Woodford, but this was subsequently scratched out and her current name written over it. The elaborate and flourishing letters of the opening line are evidence of John’s skill as a calligrapher.
The will was disputed by one of Hester’s sons, Giles, whose debt to his mother was bequeathed to his brothers Samuel and Thomas. However the case was overturned and the will was proved in 1694. Found among a bundle of miscellaneous church court papers these documents have been re-united with the will and associated papers which all bear the tell-tale holes proving that originally they had been pinned together. The whole group will be filmed under the Wiltshire Wills Project. (P/3/M/300)
Posted by: Blog Administrator
on Feb 15, 2011
Tagged in:
Wiltshire Council ,
West Wiltshire District Council ,
Walk-in safe ,
urban design ,
unitary ,
underground ,
town houses ,
Tidworth ,
strong rooms ,
Station Road ,
stairs ,
Sewer ,
search room ,
Salisbury District Council ,
role ,
railway ,
public ,
Planning applications ,
pipes ,
Pewsey ,
Pelham Puppets ,
Parish of Chippenham ,
paper ,
owner ,
Old Sarum Flying Club ,
nuclear bunker ,
North Wiltshire District Council ,
Minute books ,
Marlborough ,
maps ,
Malmesbury ,
locating ,
Little Somerford ,
legal ,
Kennet District Council ,
History Centre ,
History ,
historical value ,
historic building ,
generations ,
Future ,
files ,
ditches ,
District Councils ,
Devizes ,
deeds ,
data protection ,
county ,
contract ,
conservation statements ,
collecting ,
Chippenham Borough Lands Charity ,
Chippenham ,
catalogue ,
campaigns ,
Bowling Alley ,
Ashton Keynes ,
Archives
A year into my one and a half year contract I am responsible for locating and collecting the files and papers produced by the District Councils. Spanning a period from 1974 to 2009 this means some of the files are 35 years old. Unsure what to expect, it has and continues to be a very rewarding role meeting lots of people in a great many roles and locations, who are all passionate about preserving the history of the county.
North Wiltshire District Council Minute Books
Why start collecting now?
