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Compton Verney: early deeds, land in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, a deed of partition

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Deed of partition between Sir Humphrey Stafford, Kirby, Northants and Dame Margaret his wife, Thomas Verney of Compton Verney, Warwickshire, esquire and Alice his wife, Lewes ap Watykn, serjeant at arms and Isabella his wife, the three wives being sisters and heirs of Sir Edmund Tame, younger son and heir of Sir Edmund Tame the elder, late of Rendcombe, Gloucestershire.

Reciting that Dame Elizabeth Tame, late of Fairford, Gloucestershire, deceased, widow of Sir Edmund Tame the elder, held as dower for her life the manors of Fairford, Eastleach, Wynscon, Ablington, Upton, Doughton and Harnhill in Gloucestershire, together with lands and other premises in Fairford, Eastleach, Williamstripp ('Wyllamscropp'), Arlington, Calcote, Winson ('Wynscon'), Ablington, Upton, Doughton, Tetbury, Charlton and Harnhill, all which were to pass to her daughters after her death.

Also that the said Sir Edmund Tame the younger died seized of lands in Ampney Crucis and St Mary Ampney in Gloucestershire.

Present deed made to secure fair division of property between the three sisters, viz:
[a] Humphrey Stafford and Margaret to have the manors of Winson and Harnhill together with all such lands in Wynscon, Harnhill, Ampney Crucis and St Mary Ampney which the said Sir Edmund Tame held at his death.

[b] Thomas Verney and Alice to have Eastleach, Williamstripp ('Wylliamscropp'),Upton and Doughton together with all such lands there as well as in Tetbury and Charlton, held by Elizabeth Tame as dower, with the exception of lands in Tetbury in the occupations of Ambrose Brownyng and Richard Somerbye, which Thomas and Alice are to enjoy only during the life of the lady Katherine Tame, last wife of Sir Edmund the younger, after which they pass to Sir Humphrey Stafford and Margaret.

[c] Lewes ap Watkyns and Isabella to have the manors of Fairford, Ablington and Arlington, together with lands there and in Calcote held as dower by Elizabeth Tame.

Recites also that Sir Edmund Tame the younger had enfeoffed John Standysshe of Huntley, Glos., esquire and Thomas Lane of Gloucester, gent., of the manors and lands of Rendcombe, North Cerney, Woodlands, Chedworth, Calmesden and Eycote, all Gloucestershire, as trustees to the use of himself and his wife Katherine and the heirs of their bodies, with default to Margaret Stafford;

recites also that Edmund Tame the younger had executed devises of estates in the manors of Nympsfield and Dowdswell in Gloucestershire, and of the manors of Swindon and North Wydell in Wiltshire, together with lands there to the use of the said Edmund, Katherine and the heirs of their bodies, with reversion to right heirs of Edmund, which Margaret Stafford and Humphrey might have a claim to after the death of Lady Katherine Tame.

However, out of sisterly love and to avoid future dispute they divide the reversion between them in thirds, namely to:

[i] Margaret and Humphrey , Rendcombe, North Cerney, Woodlands, Chedworth, Calmesden and Eycote;

[ii] to Alice and Thomas, Nympsfield in Gloucestershire, and North Wydell in Wiltshire;

[iii] to Isabella and Lewes, Dowdeswell and Swindon. Rent charge of twenty shillings per annum granted to Isabella and Lewes from North Wydell because land appointed to Thomas and Alice is better than that allotted to Isabella and Lewes. Humphrey and Margaret agree to make up sum if Thomas and Alice default.

Mutual guarantees for observance of terms. sealed as below and signed at Northampton by Humphrey Stafford, by mark; Margaret Stafford, Lewes ap Watkyns by mark, Isabella Watkyns by mark.

Dated: 26 February 1 Edward VI Witness: William Shelley