1634 The will of Ellen Curtis, spinster, of Ford, date August 4, 1634, named her siblings and mentioned John Clay of Ford. [1]:
In the name of God amen the ffourth day of Auguste Anno Dm 1634 ande in the tenthe yere of the raigne of our sovereigne Lord Charles by the grace of gode of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland Kinge defender of the faith. I Ellen Curtis of ffoorde in the County of Derby spinster being in good health and of perfect minde and memory (thank be to Almighty god) doe make and ordeine this my will and testament in forme followinge vizt ffirst and principallie I comend my soule to Almighty god my creator stedfastly believinge it shall be saved and everlasting life, by the merritts death and passion of Jesus Christ mine only saviour and redeemer, and my body to be buried with decent and Christian burriall, in convenient place an what parts it shall please god to call me, and as the country shall affoorde; ande as concerninge my estate and wordly meanes wherewith it hath pleased god to blesse me, I give order and dispose as followeth; vizt Imprimis I give and bequeath to my brother John Curtis Curtis of fforde in the County of Derbye clerk the some of twenty pounds of currant English mony Item to my brother Richard Curtis of ? Chesterfield in the county of Derby weaver the some of thirtie pounds. Item to my brother Edward Curtis of the Chesterfield aforesaid gentleman the some of tenne pounds, which legacies I will shall be paid unto them by mine xecut'es hereafter named within six months nexte after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Curtis, daughter of my brother Thomas Curtis of ffoorde aforesaid gentleman, the some of ffive pounds. Item to Ellen Bower daughter of Richard Bower of Shirland in the countie of Derby tailor the like some of ffive pounds out of a bond remayninge in the hands of my brother Robert Curtis of Derbie weaver wherein one John Clay of ffoorde aforesaid standeth bounds. And I will that these two legacies shallbe paid unto the children and parents or guardians for their use within three months after the bonds shall growe due. Item I give to John Curtis sonne to my first brother? Robert Curtis the some of three pounds Item as my brother Thomas Curtis [his three]? youngest daughters the some of six pounds, to be equallie devided amongst them. Item I give to John Bower, Robert Bower, and Thomas Bower sonnes of the said Richard Bower, the like some of six pounds to be likewise equallie devided amongste them. Item I give to my Goddaughter Ellen Wright the daughter of Edward Wright of ffoorde aforesaid husbandman the some of twenty shillings. All which childrens legacies I will shall be accordingly paid to their severall parents and guardians within six months nexte followinge after my decease. Item I doe hereby make and ordeine my said brother Richard Curtis and Robert ffowler sonne to my vnckle [uncle] John ffowler of Chesterfield aforesaid tanner, my sole executors to whome I give and bequeath the some of five poinds vizt to each of them fiftie shillings. Item my will and meaninge is, ande I doe hereby order bequeath the reste and ressidue of mine estate mony goods and chattles hereby unbequeathed of what kinde or nature ? they shall be, at the tyme of my decease (my debts funerall expenses first deducted and discharged) to be equallie devided and distributed by mine said executors within convenient tyme after my decease amongst the children of my brother and sisters to each of them parte and porcon like. And I doe hereby revoke and utterly disanull and make void all former wills legacies bequests and ? by me at any tyme before this tyme made named given or bequeathed. And I will that this shall be my very last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hande & seale the day & yere first above written. Signed sealed and published in the presence of Thomas Curtis, William Moore, Edward ?, John ?. [Latin note, undated].
[1] Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry wills and probate 1521-1860, [FindMyPastImage], [FindMyPastRecord].