The Will of Robert Barber of Fressingfield (born ca 1516 - buried: 24 April, 1558)
Robert Barber was the son of James Barber (1486 - 1568) and Alice (1490 - 1579)
The will is written on three sheets, each 12" X 18". Though it ends with the words 'I, the said Robert Barber have hereunder subscribed,' it is not clear whether Robert himself wrote the Will. There is no separate signature of Robert.
Persons referred to in the Will
Relatives:
1. James Barber - father of Robert, supervisor of the Will
2. Agnes Barber - wife of Robert
3. Nicholas Barber - brother of Robert, executor of the Will
4. Robert Barber - eldest son of Robert, executor of the Will
5. James Barber - son of Robert, executor of the Will
6. Thomas Barber - son of Robert
7. Nicholas Barber - son of Robert
8. Elizabeth Barber - daughter of Robert
9. Agnes Barber - daughter of Robert
10. Johanne Barber - daughter of Robert
11. John Aldous - brother-in-law of Robert, brother of Agnes
Other Persons to Whom the Will Refers:
1. Thomas & Catherine Rous - who granted Robert leases of land in Wakelings, Beysenall, Besenall Park and of Little Lawnd
2. Nicholas Cooke - who sold land in Lynstead (Linstead - Magna and/or Parva) and Cratfield to Robert
3. Rafe Cantwell - who sold land and tenements in Dickleburgh to Robert
4. Godchildren - unamed
5. Poor people
6. Alice Palmer - a widow of Harleston
Witnesses to the Will:
John Gason Esquire, James Woolnaugh, Thomas Tobbold, William Fox, Thomas Aldous Sr., Thomas Aldous Jr., John Aldous
Property Referred to in the Will:
1. Messuage called Shepys and lands in Wyttingham (Whittingham) in Fressingfield (parish) - left to Agnes Barber, his wife, and - after her death - to his eldest son, Robert.
2. Lands in the Manor of Wakelings, leased under identure from Thomas and Catherine Rous - left to Agnes Barber, his wife, and - after her death - to his eldest son, Robert.
3. Land called Beyesnall Great Lawnd, on lease from Thomas and Catherine Rouse - left to his wife Agnes and, after her death, to his son Thomas.
4. Pasture in Besenall Park, on lease from Thomas and Catherine Rouse - left to his wife Agnes, to the next feast of St. Michael, and then to his three sons: Robert, James and Thomas.
5. Pasture called the Little Lawnd, under lease from Thomas and Catherine Rouse - left to this three sons: Robert, James and Thomas.
6. Lands in Lystead and Cratfield (purchased from Nicholas Cooke) - left to his son Nicholas at the age of 21, but if he died without heirs before that age - to the three sons: Robert, James and Thomas.
7. Land and tenements in Dickleburgh, bought from Rafe Cantwell - left to Rafe Cantwell, provided he made payments for it to Robert's daughters: Elizabeth, Agnes and Johanne; but if he did not pay, the land to go to these three daughters.
8. Lands called Wakelyns, under licence from the Lord of the Manor of Nottingham - left to his brother-in-law, John Aldous for 7 years, provided he paid an annual sum to Alice Palmer; thereafer the lands passed to his son, Robert, or if Robert died before the end of the 7 years, to his son Nicholas.
With appreciation for information from Donald Caddick