Rowland was born circa 1535 and married in 1560. There were five daughters of this marriage: Anne (b. 1561), Sybil (b. 1564), Elinor (b. 1568), Elizabeth (b. 1570) and Isabella (birth date unknown). Another Elizabeth, born 1566, died in infancy.

Rowland’s first wife, Anne, died in about 1600. In about 1602 Rowland married again, to Joanne Rea. There were three sons from this marriage: William (b. 1603), Rowland (b. 1605), and Nicholas (b. 1611). William died at some time between 1612 and 1621.

Rowland must have been taken seriously ill shortly after Nicholas’s birth, as his will was originally drafted in 1612. However, he survived for more than ten years, the will being redrafted in 1621. At some time in between these two dates William died, for on the first page his name is struck through and replaced by Nicholas’s.

It is very apparent that Rowland’s remarriage at an advanced age to a woman who may have been barely 21 (the IGI has two Joannes Rea baptised in Worcestershire during the right period, both in 1581, both in parishes close to Severn Stoke), not to mention the arrival of three half-brothers, caused considerable umbrage to his daughters.

Many thanks to all on the Old English list who have helped out with this so far, especially Audrey, Judith, Rock and Eusebeia. This is the will complete. The inventory is on a separate page, as is an enlarged version of the second section.

At the risk of confusing the issue I’ve added to the end two short passages from Rowland’s daughter Anne’s will, published the following year. Although this was plain sailing compared to her father’s, these lines elude me.

In the name of god amen the xvth day of (September) January in the reign of our sovereign
lord James by the grace of god king of England, Scotland, France & Ireland Defender of the Faith
&c., that is to say of England, France and Ireland the (eleventh) nineteenth, and of Scotland the (xlviith)
lvth, Anno Domini (1613) 1621, I, Rowland Stonall of Severn Stoke in the county of Worcester,
yeoman, being weak in body and of great years, and yet of perfect memory
thanks be given to god, and being willing to settle a course concerning my land, tenements, goods
and chattels to be had and pursued after my decease do make and ordain this my
last will and testament in writing in manner and form following. Viz.:—first I
do give and bequeath my soul to almighty god, trusting that the same shall receive
comfort in that celestial place of joy and bliss which he hath prepared for his chosen
Saints and servants and that through the merits and passion of his dear son my saviour Jesus Christ,
and I will that my body be buried in that decent manner as to my executors
and overseers shall seem meet and requisite. (Item I give and bequeath to William (Nicholas) Stonall)
(? ? ? ? ?)

The page is cut off here, and the line just visible at the bottom doesn’t seem to match that at the top of the following page.

I give and bequeath to Nicholas Stonall my son one acre of arable land lying in Stoke fields in vichmore furlongs
adjoining to the land of one William (Best?), and all that close of meadow or pasture land lying in or near Stoke fields aforesaid
in a place there called the Deanes, and all that parcel of meadows lying in Stoke aforesaid containing by
estimation one half acre be it more or less adjoining to the glebe land on the east side, and to a parcel of my leas(e)
land on the west side, to have and hold the said premises & every part thereof to my said son Nicholas and to
the heirs males of his body lawfully begotten forever, and for default of such heirs males I will and devise that the same
premises & every part thereof shall remain to my son Rowland Stonnall & to the heirs males of his body lawfully begotten
forever, and for want of such issue then to the right heirs of my said son Rowland forever. Item I give and bequeath to my said
son Nicholas Stonall & to his assignes one acre of arable land lying in Stoke fields in a close now in the occupation of one
Hugh Cowell and as parcel of the land which I hold by lease of the lord of the manor of Severn Stoke and lies next to the close of one William…
Item I give him one acre of arable land now in the occupation of the said Hugh Cowell lying in vichmore furlong in Stoke fields aforesaid.
Wyltshire. Item I further give and bequeath to my said son Nicholas Stonall three other rudges or lands parcell of my lease…
lands in Stoke field aforesaid, that is to say that & the (mill?mid?) (waye?) goeth through on the two rudges side to hold (for?)…
and my will is that my son Nicholas & his shall pay yearly for the same iiijs to my son Rowland as parcel of the land’s rent of xlviijs(£?)…
my said son Nicholas and his assignes during all the term of years to come in the same (?) thereof. My will and mind is
that presently after my decease my executrix shall enter into all and singular the before devised premises as well f…
land as lease land and shall have & receive the rent issues and profit thereof (TORN)
lettings and other… (TORN)
and bringing up as also to raise him a stock in the best means she can or may. Item I give and beq(ueath) …
singular my said messuages, lands, tenements, meadows, feedings, pastures & hereditaments which I hold of the
lord of the manor of Severn Stoke aforesaid (except so much thereof as is before hereby given to Nicholas…
I say I give and bequeath the same and all my writings, assignments and conveyances of the same to…
son Rowland Stonall and his assignes for and during the time and term of years as shall be to …
my said leases after that my said son Rowland shall accomplish his lawful (HOLE) age of one & twenty years…
my will and mind is that Joanne my wife presently after my decease shall enter into all and singular the…
messuages, lands, rents & hereditaments which I hold by leases as is aforesaid (except that which is devised…

my son and shall and may lawfully have, take and receive the rents, issues & profit thereof whereby…
until such time as my said son Rowland shall accomplish his said full age of xxj years to sh…
propose, and upon the condition that she the said Joanne shall forth of the rents, issues & profits of…
premises and by other means as she shall have well and virtuously breed up my said two sons Rowland (& Nicholas)
until their ages of xxj years apiece if they (HOLE) (live?) and upon this my further intent and purpose…
upon condition also that my said wife shall forth of the rents, issues and profits of the same premises…
pay satisfy & discharge all such debts I owe to any person or persons and shall discharge and bear my…
funeral expenses, and so my houses kett (kept) in repair. And my further will, intent and meaning is that if my said wife…
shall happen to marry before that my said son Rowland shall accomplish his full age of xxi years, that then be(fore?)…
such marriage the said Joanne my wife shall canvas and procure such monies as she intendest to take to her hus(band)…
& so marry withal, she shall enter into a bond with a sufficient surety in the sum of three hundred pounds to the ordinary of the dioce(se)…
of Worcester in trust to the benefit of my said two sons with condition that she the said Joanne & her then husb(and)…
after marriage shall well & virtuously breed & bring up my my said two sons according to (he--?) their abilities deg(rees)…
& calling in learning or otherwise until their said several ages and shall further perform the contents of…
this my last will & testament according to the purport & clear meaning thereof and in case my said wife…
marry before such bond entered into then her estate hereby limited to her in the premises shall be void, cease & (defer--?)…
and that then my said son Rowland shall enter into & upon all such things as before hereby appointed for my said wife to enter upon & into, and shall do…
and perform in every point as my said wife by this my will ought to have done…
Item I give and bequeath to my said son Rowland all the tack of my team, viz. wains, tumbrils, wheels, ploughs, yokes, (bo/e---?)…
tows, clevises and suchlike implements thereof belonging all which is now very good and sufficient, and my will…
is that my wife using the same shall deliver the same as sufficient for & to my said son Rowland a(t his lawful)
age of xxjty years. Item I give and bequeath to Ann my daughter the sum of x£ of lawful money of England…
to her within six years after my decease. Item I give & bequeath to my daughter Isabell’s children the …
x£ to be paid to them by equal portions within seven years after my decease. Item I give and beq(ueath)…
said son Rowland two pair of sheets and the bedstead & other bedding thereupon usually applied where…

and one new press standing in the same chamber. Item I give and bequeath to my said son Nicholas the bedstead, featherbed &…
bolster, with a pillow and all the bedclothes and pillows thereupon usually applied, and two good pair of…
sheets for the same. Item I give and bequeath to Rowland my son to enter at his full age of xxjty years one half acre of mea(dow land?)…
lying in Stoke hams which I lately purchased of one William (Niayle/Neast?), and in the meantime my wife to take the profit…
thereof toward the payment of my debts. Item I give and bequeath to my said son Nicholas my windmill and the…
land whereon the same standeth and all other the lands, tenements & hereditaments in Severn Stoke aforesaid as here…
land whereon I have estated Joanne my said wife pursuant of her life/lief (in bond?) or recompense of her (myn--?) to…
have and to hold the same and every part thereof to my said son Nicholas and the heirs males of his body lawfully to be…
begotten forever, and in default of such heirs then I will that the same shall remain to my said son…
Rowland and to the heirs males of his body lawfully to be begotten and in default of such heirs then I will that th(e)…
same shall remain to the right heirs of the said Rowland forever. Item, my will and mind is that Joanne my wife…
notwithstanding anything before in this my will devised or expressed shall have, hold and enjoy during all such time as she shall…
keep herself a widow & sole & unmarried the kitchen of the house wherein I dwell and the two room next…
above & over the same kitchen, and also free liberty of ingress, egress and regress from the king’s highway…
through the gate, door & entry of my said house into and from the same kitchen. Item my will is that Isabell my daugh(ter)…
shall enjoy the house wherein she dwelleth during xxxty years next ensuing if she shall so long live and…
I do hereby constitute, make, will and appoint the said Joanne my wife to be my executrix of this my last will (and)…
testament, hoping that she will see my …
And I do appoint my brother in law Gregory Rea overseer of this my last will and testament and I do desire him to be my aiding an…
said wife and children and for his pains betaken I give & bequeath unto him xxs of lawful money of England…
I utterly renounce all former wills and testaments.
And my will and my mind is that Joanne my wife shall hold and enjoy my lease land devised to Rowland until Nicho(las) (?)…
ensuing the full age of xxjty years or my said son Rowland for & towards the better payment of my debts…
And my will is that my executrix do after harvest next next distribute to such of the poor of this parish as she shall think have …
need one curneck of rye or in corn and that Isabella my daughter after my decease shall enjoy and hold the (land?)…
whereon her house standeth during the residue of the said xxxty years or for as long as she shall live.

                                                                                     (D-bts owing by specially?)

Rowland Stonnall the testator his mark

Witnesses to his testament

James Monfort
William (Hope?)
Gregory Rea
Rowland Stonnall


(List of bequests on right)

to Thomas Mason xxs
to (Richard?) Heath by hand
to Thomas Clifford husband
to Thomas Woodford
to William Hope
to (Alice?) Boult of the (?)
to John (Wynter?) for (work?)
(struck through) to (Richard? ? ?)
to Margaret Smyth
to Isabell Beard
Rowland Heath by hand xs

Postscript
Item: I give and bequeathe to my son Rowland the table board in the parlour at the age of xxi years, and the best brass pot and the best lanthorne.
Item: I give and bequeathe to my son Nicholas the table board in the hall at the age of xxi years, and the second best brass pot and the second best lanthorne, and to each of them one pewter plate.
Provided always whereas I have given & bequeathed unto my daughter Anne Stonnall a legacy of x£, and in like manner whereas I have given & bequeathed unto my daughter Beard her children another x£, and also one acre of land given & bequeathed unto my said daughter Beard her children in such sort as is in my will expressed, my mind, intent & will that if my daughter Elyanor Lythorne or any other for or by her procurement shall at any time hereafter commence …
any suit against my executrix or molest or trouble her by any means or colour whatsoever of, for and concerning the sum or part and parcel thereof, then my meaning, intentand will is that the said legacy of x£ I bequeathed to my daughter Anne shall be utterly void, and in like manner the legacy of x£ given & bequeathed to my daughter Beard her children…
acre of land abovementioned shall be utterly void, and my executrix to have and receive the profit thereof.