Tanscription Notes

Transcribed by Pat Crewe, 8 June 1997. This is a transcription of the will of Joan Pewteras of Dymock dated 2nd Novemeber 1582. She was buried there on the 20th September 1583. The spelling is old English and I have kept as near as possible to the original. Where I am not certain I have used “?”. I was interested to see that she had a link with the Pewteras/Poytheres family of Fownhope, Herefordshire.

I do not know whether these wills from Dymock are connected to the Poythress family. I suspect Pewtres is another variant on the surname, but, even if the wills have no link to your research, I hope you’ll enjoy reading them for the light they throw on 16th C life in England.

On the question of whether the Pewtris/Pewteras surname from Dymock is a variation of Poythress, I think I may have confirmed this. In the will of Johane Pewteras of Dymock dated 1582, she mentions the 8 sheep that Richard Pewteras of Fownhope has from her. Looking in the Herefordshire IGIs I see there is a Richard Poytheres who married an Anna Skynner in 1572 in Fownhope with Fawleye and I would think he is most likely the one mentioned in her will. The spelling being now much closer to Poythress.

 WILL OF JOHANE PEWTRESSE

In the name of God amen, the second daye of November in the yere of our Lorde God one thousand five hundred eightie two, and in the twentieth and fowerth yere of the Raigne of our sovraigne Lady Queen Elizabeth. I Johane Pewteras of the parish of Dymocke in the county of Glouc., widow, being sick in bodie but praysed be God of good and perfect memorie do ordeyne and make my last will and testament in manner and forme following; that is to saye, first I bequeath my soule to almightie God my maker and saviour Jesus Christe, and my bodie to be buried in the weston grave in the parish churchyarde of Dymocke.

Item I give and bequeath unto John Pewteras my sone one blacke cowe one redd bullocke my gelding, sixe busshells of barlie four busshells of wheate two busshells of peas, two busshells of rye four busshells of wheat that shalbe growinge or increasinge of the lande which I holde of Thomas Alcocke to be delivered at the next harvest that it shalbe with white corne, and two busshells of wheat at harvest next of the increase of the lande which I or Thomas my sone doe holde of Richarde Sindrie?

Item I give and bequeath unto John Pewteras Johane Pewteras Margery Pewteras Elizabeth Pewteras Jane Pewteras Anne Pewteras Alis Pewteras & Katherine Pewteras, son and daughters of the said John Pewteras my sone, eight wether sheepe the which Richard Pewteras of Fownhope hath of me to halfes to be equally divided amongst them.

Item I give and beqeath to Anne Morrell my goddaughter one blacke cowe two sheepe one canvas my greatest coofer (coffer?), one pewter charger one flaxen towell wrought with blewe (blue).

Item I give and bequeath to Margarett Morrell one yearlinge cowe calfe, two

sheepe my lesser coofer (coffer?) one payer (pair) of hurden? sheets one pewter charger.

Item I give to Margery Morrell two sheepe

Item I give to Syble Pewteras my best coate

Item I give to Syble Morrell my daughter my first gowne and my peticoate

Item I give unto Johane Mayow my little brass pan

Item I give unto Anne Dunbridge my servant mayde (maid) one sheepe

Item I give and bequeath unto Margery Spilman my daughter one callow heifer one stale? of bees, and all the sheepe which she hath of me already in her custodie

Item I give unto John Pewteras my said sone Johns sone one sheepe

Item I give unto Richarde Pewteras my sone one callow bullocke the which he hath in his custody?

Item I give to Anne Spilman one pewter charger

Item I give and bequeath unto Margarett Morrell Margery Morrell Anne Morrell the fortie shillings which Thomas Mayow oweth unto me to be equally divided amongst them

All the rest of my goods debts and chattells unbequeathed my debts payed and my funeral discharged, I give and bequeath unto Thomas Pewteras my sone whom I do ordeyne make & appoint my full and whole executor of this my last will and testament And of the execution of the same I make and ordeyne Richard Clarke my kinnsman overseer to see this my will truly & formely done

These beinge witness Richarde Clarke, John Pewteras, Syble Pewteras,

Syble Morrell, John Drewe with others