By Varla Jane Owens Wright

John Philpott was the uncle of Alice Millard and the son of Richard Philpott. He was a member of the drapers guild in Wooten-under-Edge – in other words, he was a weaver and cloth merchant. He was also referred to as John Milwarde

Will of Johannes Philpott otherwise Mylwarde, draper, Wotton-under-Edge, dated 30 Mar 1521 and probated May 1521-Prerogative Court of Canterbury registered wills, folio 10 Maynwaryng, FHL # 91910

In the name of god Amen,

The yere of our Lorde M D XXI (1521) the XXXth day of the month of Marche I John Philpott otherwise called John Mylwarde of Wotton under Egge draper of goode mynde and perfytt memorye make my testament in maner and forme followyng.

Ffirst I bequithe my Soule to almyghty god to our Lady and to all the hooly company of heven. And my body to be buried in theabove named Wotton before the ymage of the trenite. Also Ibequeth to our Lady of Morsetter as to our moder Church viii s /Also to the highe Aulter of the Church of Wotten xii d Also to the highe Crosee bequetyh viii d /To our Lady bequeth vi d/ To Saint Nicholas bequeth iiii d/

Also I gyve and bequeth to George Philpot my sonne x L (pounds) and to Richard my son x L. And I will that is eyther of them departe from that present lif before thage (the age) of xiiii yers that he that lyveth shall have over and above his owne portion of the L bequithid to his brother without any Interuption. And if godwill that they bothe departe forth of that present lif before thage of xiii yeres that then my fader Richard Philpott and John Seborne the sonne of Robert Seborne which I ordange (ordaine) and will the supervisors of this my Last Will and testament shall despose and distribute ther xx L. bequethed and given to my abovenamed Sonnes George and Richard after there descretion and pleasure for the helth of my soule and theres and of all those soules that I am bounde to praye fore/ Yf they bothe be anlyve (alive) and els the longer liver of them/

Also I will that if my wif doo marye and will not take upon her to kepe my above named children and see them ordrd afte such order and maner as shal be thought convenient by the above named Richard Phelpott and John Seborn that then my said wif Agnes Philpott shall deliver my said children to the custodye and Kepyng of the said Richard Phelpott and John Seborne/ And unto them vi to xiii d towarde theire fyndyng over exbense the fornamed some of xx L. before bequethed to my said children to thentent (the intent) that they shall see my said children kepte and ordered honestely according to ther ebequest. Unto such time as they shal be abel to gett their lyvynge or goo to other menys (means)/

Also I will that my brother Roger Phelpott have my bestgowne, my best coote and my best doblett. And over and above that an hoole clothe of my best makyng/

Also I bequethe and gyve to Margarete my daughter xl s.

Also I will that xl s be bestowed at my burial/ Also I will that my dirge and masse solemnly be note shalbe kepte and celebrate every monthe duryng the Space of a hoole yere in the above named Church of Wotton/

The residue of my goodes not bequethed and my dette paid I gyve to Agnes my wife whom I make and ordayne my sole executure and Richard Phelpott my Ffather and John Seborne the younger as is above writen to be Supervisors of this my will and testament to see that it be fulfilled according to the tenour thereof/ And to have for there Laboures every of them one Sheling and eyght pens.

Witnes Willem Ffrithe, vicar of the said Church of Wotton
Mr. John Bolter
John Sepborne the elder
Richard Ffaye
with other yoben (upon?) the daye and yere above wryten.

Original spelling and punctuation retained. Text was arranged in paragraphs, not seen in original, to increase readability. English monetary designations: L = pounds sterling, s = shillings, d = pence.

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