1601 The will of Robert Fowler of North Wingfield, Derbyshire, England, named grand-daughter Judith Curtis, daughter of John Curtis. [1] [2]:
In the name of god Amen the xiiijth daye of Aprill in the yeare of our lord one thousand six hundred and one, and in the three and ffortith yeare of her Ma? raigne that nowe is, I Robert ffowler of the Clayland in the parish of Northwingfield in the Countie of Darbie yeoman beinge diseased in body, but of good and perfecte memory thankes be geven to god, doe constitute and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge. Ffirst I gyve and bequeath my soule to allmightie god my maker, beseeching him for his sonnes sake to be mercifull vnto me, and receive my soule into his proteccon. Concerninge my body I bequeathe it to the earthe whereof it was made, and to be buryed in the parish church of Northwingfield according to the discretion of myne executors. Item I gyve and bequeath to my son John ffowler thirtie pownds besydes that wch he hath allready tenn pownds of the wch thirtie pownd he hath allready in his hands, and the other twenty pounds to be payed to him by myne executor. Item, I gybe to my daughter Jane Fowler the summe of ffoure score and ten pounds fforty and foure pounds of the which money remayneth in the hands of Hugh Eleigh and Raphe Whildon as by their bonde for the same more lardgely appeareth and seaven pownds in goulde which was ye mothers, the rest which is thertie and nine pounds to be payed to her by myne executor. Item I gyve to my daughter Curtisse an Angell of goulde. Item I gyve to my sonne Curtisse his children Thomas & Judith ether of them an ewe and a lambe, to be taken as my gyft. Item I gybe to Henry Amery his daughter Elizabeth an ewe lambe of a yeare olde. Item I gyve to every godchild I have foure pens. Item I gybe to euery servant in my house twelve pens The rest of all my goode and chatttells movable and unmoovable not before gyven and bequeathed I gyve and bequeath to my eldest sonne George ffowler whome I make my soul executor of this my last will and testament, and last of all I make my sonne in lawe John Curtisse and my loving friends and neighbors ffrancis Braylesforth and Kellame Deane subscribers of this my last will; desyringe them to see if accompomplished and performed accordinge to the true tenor thereof. In witnesse wherof I have hearevnto set my hande and seale the daye and yeare abovewritten. Sealed and published in the presence of John Symson Clarke John Curtisse Ffrancis Braylesforth Kellame Deane.
1625 Jdeth Curtis and Richard Bower were married on August 8, 1625 at North Wingfield, Derbyshire, England. [3] [4]
1634 The will of Ellen Curtis of Ford, dated 4 August 1634, mentioned Ellen Bower, daughter of Richard Bower of Shirland, tailor, in the county of Derby. [5]
1634 The will of John Curtis, dated 4 August 1634, named sister Edith [sic] Bower. [6] [7] Shown with mostly original spelling:
In the name of God Amen, the fourth day of August Anno Domine one thousand six hundred and thirtie four and in the tenth year of the reigne of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith etc I John Curtis of Ford in the countie of Derby clerk being in health of body and in perfect minde and memory Thanks be given unto Almighty God doe make and ordain this my present testament containing herein my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say First and principally I bequeath and command my soul unto almighty God my creator hoping and steadfastly believing to be saved and have everlasting lyfe by the merit death and passion of Jesus Christ my savior and redeemer and my body to be buried in decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named in such place as they shall think neat or in case I shall happen to dye in a remote country Then in such place of Christian buryall as that place shall afford. And as concerning such my goods chattels and debts which it hath pleased God far above my desert to bestow as upon me. I doe order giveand dispose thereof as followeth First I give and bequeath to the children of my loving brother Thomas Curtis of Fford aforesaid gentleman the sum of tenn pounds of current money of England to be equally divided between them Item to the children of Edith my sister begotten upon her body by Richard Bower of Sherland in the countie of Derbie Taylor the like sum of ten pounds to be likewise equally divided between them Item to my godsonne John Curtis the sonne of Robert Curtis of Derbie mercer my brother the sum of ten pounds which is owing to me by my said brother. Item to my brother Richard Curtis of Chesterfield in the countie of Derbie mercer the like some of ten pounds which he oweth me and a blacke nagg which he hath of myne. Item to my brother Edward Curtis of Chesterfield aforesaid gentleman the like some of ten pounds - All which legacies above bequeathed - Item to my sister Ellen Curtis in like some of ten pounds My will is shall be payed and disbursed unto the legatees within six months next after my decease Item As a token of my gratitude in respect of the many favors received from my worthy patron Sir John [Zouch] knight I give and bequeath to his four daughters hereafter named as followeth with unto Mstrs Katherine ten pounds to be payed within six months next after my decease Item to Mrsts Isabella ten pounds to be payed after my decease when she attaineth the age of fifteen years. Item to Mistress Elizabeth ten pounds mone to be paid after my decease when she attaineth the like age of fyfteen years Item to Mistress Mary being my goddaughter the like sum of ten pounds to be put forth immediately after my decease after the rate of six pounds percent forbearance at the discretion of myne executors and to be paid unto her when she shall attain the like age of fifteen years. And my will and meaning is that if it shall happen any of these four gentlewomen shall die and depart this life before the receipt of her legacy then the legacy of such and so many of them shall die shall equally divided amongst the surviving legatees part and parson like. Item I do hereby make ordain and constitute Gilbert ward of Ticknall in the countie of Derbie gent and Hugh of Lacye of Ogston in the same countie Gentleman executors of this my last will and testament to whom I give and bequeath the sum of five pounds apiece. Item the rest and remainder of all my estate money goods and chattels and apparel and other thing whatsoever unbequeathed and which shall remain undisposed of at my decease my will and meaning is the same shall after my debts and funeral expenses paid and discharged be equally distributed and divided amongst my brothers and sisters above named by my said executors within convenient time after my decease. And I will that this shall be my very last will and testament and I hereby utterly revoke disanull and make void all former wills legacies and bequests and executors before by me at any time made given nominated and bequeathed. In Wittnes whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal dated the date and year first above. Written John Curtis. Signed sealed and published in the presence of Thomas Curtis Edward White, William Morae, John Caton Sr.
[1] Findmypast, Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate 1521-1860, [URL].
[2] W.P.W. Phillimore, ed., Calendars of Wills and Administrations in the Consistory Court of the bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, 1516 to 1652 (British Record Society, 1892), 212, left column, [GoogleBooks], [FHLBook], [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Wiki_Learn].
[4] England Marriages, 1538–1973, [FamilySearchRecord].
[5] Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate 1521-1860, [FindMyPastImage], [FindMyPastRecord].
[6] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Sadler Quire Numbers: 93 - 132, Will of John Curtis, Clerk of Foord, Derbyshire, [UKNationalArchives].
[7] England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].