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Ashbourne, Clifton, Compton, Offcote and Underwood, co. Derby

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Draft of the will of Elizabeth Ferrers of Knowle whereby her body was to buried according to the wishes of her husband George Ferrers. Her estate in Derbyshire, inherited under the will of her aunt, Mrs. Mary Fitzherbert, which the said Elizabeth by process of fine and recovery, and her said husband George by a deed dated September 1684 had conveyed to Robert Loyde of Lichfield, Dr. of Physic, to hold to the use of the said Elizabeth to dispose at her discretion. Of this estate the rent from two closes called Greate Jorne pits and Littell Jorne pits in the tenure of John Osburne of Ashburne and Anne Osburne, leased to them for 80 years at an annual rent of £7 10s., was to pass to Mrs. Mary Dodd, cousin of the testator, to be distributed for the soul of Mr. Robert Fitzherbert, grandfather of the testator, and his family, and for the souls of the father and mother of the testator, and for the soul of the testator, the anniversary days to be annexed to the said will, until Edward Ferrers, son of the testator, attained the age of 24 years, the survivor of the said Mrs. Mary Dodd and Edward was to appoint two further trustees and `so goe on to the worlds end'. The rents from the residue of this estate lying in several parcels and under different tenants, but all in the townships of Ashburne, Clifton, Compton, Offcote and Underwood, all in the parish of Ashburne, were to pass for 7 years after the death of the testator to the said Mrs. Mary Dodd to be distributed by her in legacies year by year as determined by the testator. From the first year's rent her mother Ferrers and her brothers John and Henry Ferrers were to receive mourning rings worth 20s. each, 20s. was to be given to her cousin Garret, 20s. to his wife, 20s. to her cousin George Crouckshanke, 20s. to his wife, 20s. to her cousin Dodd, 20s. to his wife, `£3 to her maid Jane Brwer, 10s. to Jane Reading, 10s. to Ann Weeghtman, 10s. to Jane Williams, 10s. to John Freeman and 40s. to poor Catholics to pray for the soul of the testator. The second year's rent was to be given to several priests to pray for the soul of the testator and for the souls of all the members of the families of Fitzherbert and Kempson. From the third year's rent £5 was to be given to her god-daughter Mary Crouckshanke, £5 to her god-son Robert Dodd, £3 to her god-son Francis Garret, 20s. to her god-son William Aston and 20s. to her god-daughter Elizabeth Reay. From the fourth and fifth year's rent £10 was to be given to her cousin George Crouckshanke and £20 to her cousin Mrs. Mary Dodd. The rent from the last two years was to be spent first on having a picture drawn of Our Blessed Lady, towards which the said Mrs. Mary Fitzherbert had left the testator £10, desiring that it might be set up in the Lady Chapel at Hince [?Hints, co. Stafford], and to this sum the testator now added £10. Secondly £10 was to be spent on a marble inscription to be set on the side wall of the chancel recording the parentage of the said testator and the day of her death, provision being made that if there was `no hope of tims being soe good' for the said picture to be made immediately, the said £20 was to pass to her said son Edward to perform this during his lifetime when opportunity occurred. The said Mrs. Mary Dodd was to see that the said inscription was made as soon as possible after the death of the said testator. After the said seven years the reversion of this estate, if the child of the testator about to be born was a boy, was to pass to him and his heirs for ever, the rents from the same to be devoted to his use until he attained the age of 15 years, and then to be used either for an apprenticeship to a trade of his choice, or else to educate him abroad as a scholar. If however the said child to be born was a girl, the said lands were to pass to her said son Edward who was to devote 20 guineas a year to the said girl as a legacy until she attained the age of 16 years. If the said child died, the said lands were to be divided equally between the children of the said George Crouckshanke and the children of the said Mrs. Mary Dodd. The said Edward Ferrers was to have all the church stuff belonging to the said Elizabeth her rings, seven silver spoons, one silver salt cellar, a pair of small silver cruets, silver candlesticks, two large pieces of gold, several pieces of silver and `strange' coin and two broad pieces of gold which were part of the gold blessed at the wedding of the testator. The rest of the gold and silver blessed at the wedding of the testator was to be given for the good of her soul in the following sums; two guineas to her cousin Robbinson and two guineas and 50s. in new money likewise blessed at her wedding and one guinea each to Mr. Dalisson, Mr. Sutten, Mr. Randolf, Mr. Rotten, Mr. Rider, Mr. Bussbe, Mr. Penny and Mr. Lawes. The said Mrs. Mary Dodd was to receive her flowered `manto' and lemon coloured tabby [striped] petticoat, her cousin Garret was to receive her new morning gown and new red satin petticoat and stays, and the remainder of her clothes were to be given to her maid the said Jane Brwer. The said Mrs. Mary Dodd was appointed executrix of the said will, and her `deare husband George' was requested not to interfere with the execution of the said will. 5 June 1689. Endorsed: [In a contemporary hand] Will of Eliz. Ferrers 5 June 1689 [388]