1601 Jhon Curtisse, son of Johanes Curtisse de fford was baptized the xxvij day September, testes (witnesses) Johannes Claye de Criche and Antonius ffoxe de London and Anna Simpson de Stretton filia jo. [1]
John Curtis, second son of John Curtis and Ellen Fowler, was baptized at North Wingfield, Derbyshire, 27 September 1601, was admitted pensioner at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, 29 March, 1617, matriculated 1617, and was awarded a B.A. degree 1620/2. On 9 July 1624, a Master of Arts, he was ordained a deacon at Peterborough, and on 10 July 1624 ordained a priest. The will of John Curtis, Clerk, of Ford, Derbyshire, was dated 1635. [2]
1634 The will of Ellen Curtis of Ford was dated August 4, 1634 and named brother John Curtis clerk of Ford. [3]
1634 The will of John Curtis, dated 4 August 1634, named his siblings. Probate date was 19 November 1635. [4] [5] 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.
Probate London [?] Henry Marten [?] the month of November nineteen anno domino 1635? Testimony of Gilbert Ward and Hugh[onis] Lacy executors.
1636 An account of the "monies for the use of Sir John Zouch" includes "That where Mr. John Curtis, deceased, gave by his will the sume of ffourty pounds to the sisters of him the sayd John Zouch & soe there is due out of his estate left in Virginia £26.13.4 to Elizabeth and Mary two of the sayd sisters, hee the said John Zouch in good will & care for their being is content to take the sayd legacies as hee can receive the same in Virginia aforesayd & in lewe thereof and towards their mayntenance doeth hereby give unto the sayd Elizabeth & Marye £250.0.0 of the sayd sume of £297.00.01 remayning in the hands of the sayd Sr Thomas Hutchinson due to him as aforesayd desiring hee will see the same £250 may be imployed to their best benifitt & I desire that Mr. Gilbert Ward will assist him therein." [6]
[1] FamilySearch.org, [FamilySearchRecord].
[2] Lewis D. Cook, "John Curtis (1635-1696) of Derbyshire, England, and Burlington County, New Jersey," National Genealogical Society Quarterly 61 (1973), 83-99, at 84.
[3] Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate 1521-1860, [FindMyPastImage], [FindMyPastRecord].
[4] 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].
[5] England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[6] J. F. Lucas. "The Zouch Family. Account of Monies for the use of Sir John Zouch," The Reliquary 9 (1869), 50-51, at 51, [HathiTrust].