Nicholas was the son of James Barber (1486 - 1558) and Alice (1490 - 1579)

The will is dated 20 June, 1598, in which Nicholas left 6 acres of land in Lynstead, leased from Thomas Rowe, deceased, and another 4 acres in Lynstead leased from (forename omitted) Edward, deceased, to his son, Simon.

He left the property known as 'Butchers,' where he lived, to his wife Agnes, to be passed after her death to Simon. He left 'Dad's Meadow' to Robert Gyrling, his nephew, son of his sister Elizabeth, who had married Richard Gyrling.

'Butchers' (previously spelled Bouchers') and 'Dad's Meadow' had come to Nicholas from his father, James Barber (d. 1558).

Nicholas left a number of other legacies to relatives and others, but he apparently had a change of mind after first writing his Will, because some were deleted with the words, "Put out by my hand" or similar words. These deletions include gifts to four Spalding grandsons (though that to his granddaughter Sible Spalding remained), to Thomas Jeuk and to the poor people of Stradbroke - though those to the poor people of Fressingfield, Metfield and Mendham were left in. There was also a gift to 'Dorothy, a poor wench.'

The Will is written in secretary hand script, continuously on three pages, each 31" X 12" and one age 17 X 12". As well as signing the last page, Nicholas Barber signed at the foot of each of the first three pages. Certain parts of the Will were deleted by Nicholas after it was first written. Probate was granted in July, 1599.

Persons Referred to in the Will

Relatives:

1. Agnes Barber - wife of Nicholas

2. Simon Barber - son of Nicholas, sole executor

3. Francis Barber - son of Nicholas, presumably deceased pre 1599

4. Sara Barber - granddaughter of Nicholas and daughter of Francis, under 21 in 1599

5. Rebecca Barber - granddaughter of Nicholas and daughter of Francis, under 21 in 1599

6. Daniel Spalding - son-in-law of Nicholas; presumably the husband of a deceased daughter, Agnes (unnamed in Will)

7. Daniel Spalding - grandson of Nicholas son of Daniel Spalding (named deleted)

8. James Spalding - grandson of Nicholas son of Daniel Spalding (named deleted)

9. William Spalding - grandson of Nicholas son of Daniel Spalding (named deleted)

10. Samuel Spalding - grandson of Nicholas son of Daniel Spalding (named deleted)

11. Sible Spalding - granddaughter of Nicholas and daughter of Daniel Spalding

12. Robert Gyrling - nephew of Nicholas, presumably son of Richard Gyrling who m. Elizabeth Barber, the sister of Nicholas.

Reference to Other Persons:

1. Thomas Rouse, Esq., deceased - who leased land in Lynstead Magna to Nicholas

2. --- Edward, Esq., deceased - tho leased land in Lynstead to Nicholas

3. Elizabeth Adams

4. Elizabeh Fillipps

5. Thomas Jeuk - name deleted from Will

6. Francis Lebold

7. Lewes Sandcroft

8. Dorothy, a poor wench

9. The Poor of Fressingfield, Metfield, Mendham

10. The Poor of Stradbroke - deleted from the Will

Witnesses: James Alldous, William Sancroft, Thomas Gyrling (his mark), Thomas Burkenham, Francis Lebold (his mark)

Property Referred to in the Will:

1. Six acres of land in Lynstead Magna, leased from Thomas Rowse, Esq., deceased - to son Simon Barber

2. Four acres of land in Lynstead, leased from --- Edward, Esq., deceased - to son Simon Barber

3. Property known as Butchers, where Nicholas lived - left to Agnes his wife, and after her death, to Simon Barber

4. Dads meadow - left to Robert Gyrling