CTH 3/96

In the name of God, Amen, on the feast of the Holy Innocents [28 December] 1442 I, Thomas Chell, of sound mind make my testament in this manner: Inprimis, I leave my soul to God omnipotent, the blessed Mary and all the saints, and my body to be buried within the churchyard of the church of Astbury and my best beast to the parson. Item, I leave 4lb of wax to burn around my body on the day of burial. Item, I leave to the service of the chapel of St. Mary of Astbury 12d. Item, I leave to the altar of St. Katherine of Astbury 12d. Item, I leave to the altar of St. Mary of Merton 12d. Item, I leave to the Higher Chapel of Congulton 12d. Item, I leave to the fabric and building of the parish church of Astbury 10s. Item, I give and leave to William Johnson and Alice his wife the half of one burgage with buildings thereon and its appurtenances situated between a tenement of Philip Grene’s of the one part and a tenement of Henry Brokyshed’s of the other part, to have and to hold the said half of one burgage with appurtenances to the same William and Alice for the term of their lives; and after the decease of the same William and Alice, I will that the said half burgage with appurtenances shall remain to the mayor of the town of Congulton and his successors forever, to have and to hold to the same mayor and his successors, to the sustenance and reparation of the Higher Chapel of the town of Congulton forever, of the chief lords of the fee by the service thence due and of right accustomed. Item, I leave to the same William Johnson and Alice his wife one acre of land lying near Lamberts loone between the kings way on the one part and Welescroft on the other part, and likewise the half of another acre lying in le Overwestfeld between the land of Sir Laurence Fyton, knight, of the one part and the land of Alexander Lathum’s of the other part; to have and to hold to the same William and Alice for the term of their lives and after their decease the said acre of land and the half of one acre with their appurtenancs shall remain to the mayor of the town of Congulton; to have and to hold to the same mayor and his successors, for the sustenance and reparation of the Lower Chapel and bridge of the town of Congulton, forever of the chief lords of the fee by the service thence due and of right accustomed. Item, I leave to Alice my daughter one croft lying near Holwey broke and three butts lying near Lamberts loone, and a certain parcel of land lying near Meerstall between the land of Philip Grene’s of the one part and the land of Matilda Moreton’s of the other part; to have and to hold the said croft, three butts, and parcel of land with appurtenances to the said Alice, her heirs, and assigns forever of the chief lords of the fee by the service thence due and of right accustomed. The residue of my goods not bequeathed as above I give and leave to William Johnson and Alice his wife, my daughter, and I appoint them my executors that they ordain and dispose as it shall seem most expedient to them for the health of my soul. Dated the day & year above said.