Biography of Richard Knightley 1593-1638

On 9th September 1637 Richard Knightley (age 44) made his will:

£100 to the poor of the parish to be controlled by the Overseers of the Poor and Minister of the Church to purchase corn

that his trustee John CREW raise £2,500 from the rents and profits of his estates at Fawsley, Snorscombe, Charwelton, Byfield and Blakesley and purchase a £200 annuity for his kinsman Seymour KNIGHTLEY and a £100 annuity for Seymour's son Richard KNIGHTLEY for the rest of their lives

if his trustee cannot purchase the above annuities with the £2,500 then it should be divided; £1,666 13s 4d to Seymour KNIGHTLEY and £833 6s 8d to Seymour's son Richard KNIGHTLEY

all the furniture in her bedroom to his wife

£20 to his (step)sister Huett

£20 to his (step)sister DRYDEN

£20 to his (step)sister ELMES

£20 to his step-brother [his half-brother] William BEVILL

£20 to his cousin Richard TRIST the elder

£100 to his uncle [his uncle] Edward KNIGHTLEY (age 44). [Note. A half-uncle on this mother's side.]

£100 to his uncle [his uncle] Robert KNIGHTLEY (age 48).

£100 to his servant Robert HAMBLEDON

£50 to Valentine ACTON

£50 each to his servants Edward PETER and William LANCASTER

£40 to his cook Alban SMITH

£40 to all his other servants if they have been with him for at least 7 years

£10 minimum to all his other servants

a Bible and Crookes Guide to Blessedness to all his godchildren

his estate at Great Preston to his (step)sister Grace ELMES

£20 each to John CREW and Richard HAMPDEN of Hampden, Bucks as overseers of his will

the residue to Richard KNIGHTLEY, son of Thomas KNIGHTLEY, whom he also named as sole executor of his estate

Executor

Overseer of the will of John SMITH on 31 Aug 1636

Overseer of the will of George WEBB on 20 May 1637, receiving 2s 6d