Will of Robert Barnard 1615
By David Miller
Yet another Barnard will! This series of wills enable us to follow the fortunes of this family in some detail, and is of great value in listing the names of Robert's sons.
Robert provides for the legacies to be paid year by year, which suggests that he does not expect to die leaving much in the way of cash. This in turn may mean that he has some land which will generate this money for the legacies, but the extent of his landholding is not known. If, as seems possible, this Robert was the one who built the house now called 'Barnards,' he must have had considerable resources at some time in his life. His father's will certainly sounds prosperous. He describes himself as 'labourer,' which does not suggest that he was all that well off.
Robert died on the 24th February 1615. Do not be puzzled by reason of the fact that he died in February 1615, but he made his will in December 1615. In those days, the year ended in March, not December. We still have a few hangovers from that system - the Income Tax Year runs from the 5th April in each year, for example.
There is an extensive Barnard family tree at http://www.geni.com/list/index?focus_id=6000000007386189740
Transcription of the will of Robert Barnard 1615.
In the name of god amen the two and twentyfyfth day of December in ye yere of our Lord god one thousand six hundred and fifteen I Robert Barnard of Orwell in ye County of Cambridge and Diocese of Elye labourer being sicke in body but of good remembrance praysed be almightye god Do ordayne and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) First I commit my soule into the hands of god almightye my salvator and redeemer, and my body to the earth (whenever it shall please the lord to take me to his mercye) to be buried in ye churchyard of Orwell aforesayd. Item I give unto Jonah my sone, and his heyres for ever, my house wherein I now dwell, and grounds thereunto belonging, together with all the out houses and croft adjoining, and also my arrable lands lying in ye feildes of Orwell aforesayd, containing by estimation three acres upon condition to permit and suffer Margaret my wife to have her dwelling ?ther? for terme of her life without molestation or disturbance and that he the said Jonah shall pay unto the rest of my children forty shillings a peece of currant Englysh money for ther portionas legacys by me bequeathed and yearly one portion as followeth first to Richard my eldest sonne forty shillings within one yeare after my decease the second year to Thomas, the third to John, and the like summe and in ye same manner to Michael, Andrew, Edward and Francis til all be payed All my moveable goods I give and bequeath unto Margaret my wife whom I make Executor of this my last will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my mark and seale
Robert Barnard:
his mark
Willm Barnard)
Mathew Jeepe) ?????
his marke