1557 probate of Ralphe Bancroft

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L B Hansen

1557 probate of Ralphe Bancroft

Legg inn av L B Hansen » 19 jun 2006 21:14:02

I am working on a transcription of the 1557 will of Ralphe Bancroft of Chellaston, Derbyshire England. I am seeing some things in this will that I have not encountered before and thought maybe someone on the list could give me some insight. The basics are

Ralph Bancroft
current wife Alice
first wife mentioned but not named
five children by first wife
children named: William, Rauffe, Christopher, Agnes and Mary and/or Margret (in one instance the name looks like Mary and another like Margret so I am not sure whether they are one and the same.)
sister Jane
brother John of Chellaston
father in law - Christopher Wright
numerous named godchildren to get lambs and/or ewes also children of Jane can have lambs if they wish.
Children and others given gold and silver items including an "olde gold crown"
Christopher given land though it is mentioned that he may not be able to have it because of custom or traditions.
Money given to 4 area churches
Several leases (6) in surrounding area that are given to his children or for "maintenance of the house."
William named executor along with Alice - and William to bring up his siblings

The questions I have are these:
1. I am presuming William is the eldest. Does he need to be over 21 to be executor? It mentions at one point in the will that none of the children have reached the age of 24.

2. Since tradition may keep Christopher from inheriting the land mentioned - I assume that all of the land would normally go to William as eldest son?.

3. No occupation is mentioned for Ralphe Bancroft. To what social class do they appear to belong?

Thanks- Linda Hansen


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Re: 1557 probate of Ralphe Bancroft

Legg inn av RJM » 19 jun 2006 21:22:39

L B Hansen wrote:
I am working on a transcription of the 1557 will of Ralphe Bancroft of Chellaston, Derbyshire England. I am seeing some things in this will that I have not encountered before and thought maybe someone on the list could give me some insight. The basics are

Ralph Bancroft
current wife Alice
first wife mentioned but not named
five children by first wife
children named: William, Rauffe, Christopher, Agnes and Mary and/or Margret (in one instance the name looks like Mary and another like Margret so I am not sure whether they are one and the same.)
sister Jane
brother John of Chellaston
father in law - Christopher Wright
numerous named godchildren to get lambs and/or ewes also children of Jane can have lambs if they wish.
Children and others given gold and silver items including an "olde gold crown"
Christopher given land though it is mentioned that he may not be able to have it because of custom or traditions.
Money given to 4 area churches
Several leases (6) in surrounding area that are given to his children or for "maintenance of the house."
William named executor along with Alice - and William to bring up his siblings

The questions I have are these:
1. I am presuming William is the eldest. Does he need to be over 21 to be executor? It mentions at one point in the will that none of the children have reached the age of 24.

2. Since tradition may keep Christopher from inheriting the land mentioned - I assume that all of the land would normally go to William as eldest son?.

3. No occupation is mentioned for Ralphe Bancroft. To what social class do they appear to belong?

Thanks- Linda Hansen



1. William may well be the eldest son, particularly in view of the
reference to him bringing up his brothers and sisters. However, I have
seen wills in which the eldest son is barely mentioned because most of
the estate went to him automatically. It is by no means certain that he
is older than both his sisters. I believe he would need to be of full
age to act as executor; probably an administrator would be appointed
until he reached that age.

2. I believe that by 1557, freehold land could be disposed of by will
(although 1/3 would be reserved for the widow). Copyhold land would
follow the custom of the manor which usually (but not always) was for
the eldest son to inherit. Leases were often for three lives. If two of
the named lives were still alive the lease would remain in place,
although it would often be surrendered for a new one..

3. The will suggests to me that Ralph was a member of the gentry -
various leases, gold and silver items, etc. However, it is possible
that he was a rich yeoman. If he was gentry, the court act book would
probably describe him as Mr Ralph Bancroft or Ralph Bancroft, gent.
It's worth looking at what the burial register says (if it survives).

John Matthews

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