William Bangs

M, b. 1474
     William was born in 1474 in North Tuddenham, County Norfolk, England. He was the son of John who moved from North Tuddenham to Smallburgh in 1492. The grandson of John [1392] the son of Robert of Strumpshaw.1 About 1492, he moved with his parents from North Tuddenham to Smallburgh because of financial difficulties. On 17 September 1502, William was a witness to a breach of promise case in which he declared his age at about 28 years and that he had lived in Smallburgh for just 10 years. William married Alice (?) in Norwich, County Norfolk, England. In 1524, William is taxed for 3 shilling 2 pence, showing he is a property holder of some value. In 1538, he addresses himself as William Bangs, Senior, indicating he has a son as a name sake. In 1543, there is another tax record showing William paying 23 shilings 4 pence. Thus William has obtained a substantial amount of property and has prospered greatly in the intervening years. William made his will on 20 July 1549.

In the name of God Amen. The 20th day of July in the year of our Lord Goed 1549 and in the third years of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Edward the Sixth by the grace of God King of England, France an Ireland, Defender of the Faith and in earth supreme Head of the Church of England and Ireland.
I William Bangs senior, of Smallburgh, being in good remembrance and of a perfect mind, thanks be to Almighty God, make and declare this, my last will and testament, in manner and form following.
First, I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Smallburgh. Item, I bequeath to the high alter there for my tithes negligently forgotten, 3s 4d. Item I bequeath to the reparation of the church at Smallburgh 3s 4d. Item, I bequeath to the poor men’s box 12d.
Item, I bequeath to everyone of my godchildren 6d. Item, I bequeath to each of the five sick houses in Norwich 12d. I bequeath to William Bangs junior forty shillings and a cow or 15s for the cow. I bequeath to Agnes Deckerson my servant 4s. Item, I bequeath to Elysabeth Eilman , my servant 2s. I bequeath to Alice my daughter forty shillings. Item, I bequeath to Thomas Bangs of Salle my nephew, twenty shillings. Item, I bequeath John Donynge one cow. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son, six pewter platters and six pewter dishes, and two pewter saucers and one pewter salt. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son a feather bed, the best . . . one with a bolster, pillows, blankets, sheets and coverlet.
Item, I bequeath to William Bangs the shoemaker a cow. Item, I bequeath to the poor people of Smallburgh 4s a year by the space of two years. Item, I bequeath to the poor people of Dilham by the space of two years two shillings a year. I bequeath to the poor people of Barton by the space of two years two shillings a year. I bequeath to the poor people of Beeston by the space of two years 16d a year. Item, I bequeath to William Bangs the younger two pewter platters, two pewter dishes, a latten candlestick and a pewter salt. Item, I bequeath to Alice three score pounds of lawful English money as it does appear by twelve several obligations. Item, I will that Thomas my son shall have all my houses, lands and teneaments, both free and bond, situated , lying and being in Smallburgh, Beeston and Barton or elsewhere, yielding and paying to me and my wife, our executors and assignee, five scored pounds of lawful English money, in manner and form following: that is to say, to be bound to pay to my said wife and her assignees in twelve several obligations.
I will the said Thomas my son be bound to pay my said wife and her assignees in eight several obligations for the payment of forty pounds, that is to say at the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord which shall be in the year of our Lord God 1550, five pounds until the sum of forty pounds be fully contented and paid. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son my shoddy cart and two compass carts and two ploughs fully clad and cart harnesses and eight horses of the best with a thiller and eight horse collars of the best. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son my best mare. Item, I bequeath to my son Thomas two milk white and four of my best heifers. Item, I will that Alice my wife shall have my parlour with the chamber over and that during her natural life, with the freyngate and outgate. Item, I give to Alice my wife two feather beds and all things to them belonging, and a counter with a chair ot this time being in the parlour. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son mu best brass pot and a lesser brass pot of a gallon.
I bequeath to Thomas my son my brewing vessels in the back house except two copper kettles and two of the best pans which I give to Alice my wife in the back house. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son two combs of seed wheat and nine combs of seed barley. Item, I bequeath to Thomas my son six acres of peas in the field. Also, I will that Alice my wife shall have all my stuff of household unbequeathed to give and to sell, except the sacks, funnies, windylls, muck forks and . . . scythes, sickles, pikes, pitchforks the which I give to Thomas my son. Also I will that shall have all the corn that I have in the field or elsewhere unbequeathed to give and sell. Also I will that Alice my wife shall lend unto Thomas my son twenty combes of barley seed and one combe of wheat seed to be paid again to the said Alice the next year following.
Item, I will that Alice my wife shall have all my cattle unbequeathed after my decease. Item, I bequeath to Margaret my daughter ten marks of lawful English money, to be paid to the said Margaret after the decease of her husband 13s 4d and so forth year and yearly after 13s 4p till the sum of ten marks be fully contented and paid. Also I will have at my burial day, a penny dole for as many as come. Also I will have at my 30 day halfpenny bread. Also I will have my twelve month day penny dole and so two years after penny dole at my minding days. Also I bequeath to Richard Barton my godchild forty shillings. I bequeath to Ann Barton my god daughter forty shillings. The residue of all my goods, moveables and unmoveables not bequeathed I put to the disposition of my executors whom I ordain and make Robert Barton of St. Faiths and Clement Cubyt of Dilham that they may dispose them to the pleasure and salvation of my soul and all Christian souls, to receive my debts and pay my debts, they to have 20s apiece for their labour.
This witness Sir Thomas Tanke, William Bery, Robert Trace, John Meke, Robert Liss with others.2

His will was probated on 8 January 1550.

Family

Alice (?) d. 10 Oct 1549
Children

Citations

  1. [S2132] Peter and Paul Bangs, The Bangs Family of Eat Anglia - the first 800 years Volume One, Page 88.
  2. [S2132] Peter and Paul Bangs, The Bangs Family of Eat Anglia - the first 800 years Volume One, Page 114-115.