1474 Richard Bygge of Benenden wrote his will on May 12. French abstracted the will as follows: [1]
The Will of Richard Bygge of the parish of Benynden, 12 May 1474. To be buried in the parish church of St. George of Benynden. To the fabric of said church, namely to the nave of it, 6s. 8d. To the high altar there 12d. I make my wife Agnes and Thomas Henley my executors to dispose of my goods for the health of my soul. Witnesses: John Bygge Senior, Richard Day, John Willarde Senior, and many others. Translated from the Latin.]
This is my last will regarding my lands. My feofees to make an estate to Robert my son his heirs and assigns in my tenement called Bowmannys containing seven acres, my lands and woods called Strodes containing five acres, lying betwext Euvyndens Crosse and Hellynden on the north side of the street, a piece of land called Pettefeld containing five acres, two pieces of land called Southlands containing eight acres, and one acre lying in Maythammys marsh, he paying to my wife every year during her life four loads of wood and 26s. 8d., and to Thomas Bygge my son 20 marks. My feofees to make an estate to my son John in all my lands and tenements not before assigned, he to pay to my wife Agnes one hog, certain "pulleyn," and 26s. 8d. yearly during her life, and to my son Thomas £20. My wife to have the west end of the hall of my principal tenement and her easement in hall, kitchen, bakehouse, garden and lands, half the fruit in the garden during her life, pasturage for a cow and "fire and fleet" by the custom of the country, to be found by the said John. My feofees to sell a piece of land lying next to Thomas Frennche, and of the money to pay to Agnes, daughter of Robert Bygge, 26s. 8d., to Johane his daughter 6s. 8d,, and the residue to amending the church way from the church to Walkhurst gate. Proved 14 June 1474 by the executrix named in the will, the other executor, Thomas Henley, renouncing. (Archdeaconry of Canterbury, vol. 2, fo. 13.)
[1] Elizabeth French, transcriber, "Genealogical Research in England, Bigge," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 66 (1912), 54-61 at 54, [InternetArchive], [AmericanAncestors].