In the Name of God Amen. I Richard BISHOP of Ffordington in the County of Doreset Husbandman being sicke of body but sound of memory, thanks be unto God, doe make this my last will & testament following
Impremis I commend my soule into the hands of God the maker & redeemer of the same
My body to Xpian [Christian] Burial
Ffor my goods I dispose of them as followeth Vitzt
Item: I give unto my daughter Anna Twenty Nobles to be paid unto her at the twentieth year of her age; if she so long shall live.
Item: I give unto my eldest sonne Thomas BISHOPP Forty shillings to be paid unto him at the six & twentieth yeare of his age, if he soe long shall live.
Item: I give unto my second somne Joseph BISHOPP Eight pounds to be paid unto him at the six & twentieth yeare of his age, if he soe long live.
Item: I give unto Benjamin BISHOP my youngest sonne Twenty Nobles to be paid unto him at the six & twentieth yeare of his age, if he soe long live.
Item: I give unto Hester BISHOPP my youngest daughter Ten Pounds to be paid unto her at the six & twentieth yeare of his age, if he soe long live.
All which legacies I appoynt my beloved wife Anna BISHOP to pay, whome I make my sole executrix of this my last Will and I do alsoe appoynt Mr. Robert TUTCHIN Curate of this parish, as alsoe John WINSORE, William BISHOP my brother and William COLLINS iun [Junior] to be overseers of this my will, And I doe acknowledge this to be my last & only will
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to wch [which] I have subscribed my hand & also my seal the vjth [6th] day of December Ano Dm [Abbreviation for 'Ano Domini' - In the year of our Lord] 1633 -----Signed Richard BISHOPP
These being wit [witnesses]
Rob: [Robert] TUTCHIN
James SEAGER
The mke [mark] of Joane BAKER
valor Invenry [Value of Inventory £70 - 5s - 8d
Written in Latin but means approx:-
Probate of the written testament of Richard Bishop of Fordington in the County of Dorset -----within the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean of Sarum --- ------ was granted to his natural brother William --- on 16th day of July 1634
late deceased of the parish of Fordington and within the
Peculiar of the Dean of Sarum, taken and priced by William
COLLINS Senior and Anthony EAMES. December the 17th Ano Domi 1633
Genealogical Notes:
(1) Richard BISHOP (bur 1633) probably married Ann UNKNOWN (1594- ) about 1614. He was Churchwarden of St Georges Church in Fordington during te years 1624 & 1625. His widow Ann Bishop was living in 1650 and held their farthinghold plot in Fordington Fields which held "1 rood of Meadow and 18 acres of arable land for the lives of her the sd Ann aged 56 yeares & of Thomas Bishopp aged 27 yeares & of Joseph Bishopp aged 25 yeares (both her sonnes) successively according to the Custome of the sd Mannr".
(2) CHILDREN: His 4 surviving children are left bequests in his will in 1633 and we know of one more child that died. Known children were:-
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(2.1. Thomas Bishop (1615-aft. 1650) referred to as his eldest son, was baptised at FStG Church on 5th Apr 1615 and living with his mother and brother Joseph in 1650.
(2.2 ) Joseph Bishop (1617- aft.1650) referred to as his 2nd son is living in 1650 when he and his brother Thomas's ages are given. He is 2 years younger than Thomas so would have been baptised at FStG in 1617 when baptisms are missing.
(2.3) Benjamin Bishop (1619- aft.1633) referred to as his youngest son Bapt FStG 26th Feb 1619
(2.4) Philip Bishop (1619-1630) He died aged 8 being buried at FStG on 18th aug 1630
(2.5) Hester Bishop (1622-aft.1633) referred to as his youngest daughter suggesting there may have been another elder unknown daughter.