Elizabeth Stratton

     Elizabeth was born circa 1427. She was the daughter of John Stratton. Elizabeth made her will on 18 October 1474 at the manor Bailham, County Middlesex, England.

In the name of God Amen. So be it I dame Elizabeth Andrews, widow, on the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, McccLxxiiii [15 Edw. IV.] being in whole mynd, and to God only disposed, make my testament, and also my last will, in manner and form following: First, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God, our Lady St. Mary, and all the holy company of Heaven, and my body to be buried in the chancel of the church at St. Denys Bakchurch, in London, by the lycense of the parson of said church. Item, I will all my debts be paid. Item, I bequrath to the parson of Bailham, for my tyths forgotten, xxs. Item, I bequeath to the use of the same church, an howseling towell of diaper, and an alter cloath of diaper, there to remain. Item, I will that my two rings with diamonds, the one to be sent to our Lady of Walsingham, and the other to our Lady of Wolpit. Item, I bequeath to the use of the church at Stoke, beside Episwiche, a towel and an alter cloth of diaper and a dosen sheepe, to the use of the same church. Item, I bequeath to the high alter of the said church of St. Dennys, in necessary things to be bought for the same, xxs. And also, to the parson of said church, xxs. I will that Bailham church shall have a furplice and rochet. And, also, that Stoke church shall have a furplice made o a piece of linen cloath, containing twenty-six yards. Also I bequeath to the church Weston, in Norfolk, a Chalice, and tweny yards of linen cloath to make a furplice, and a towel of diaper, and a towel of cotton. Item, I bequeath to Dremesdon church a towel and an alter cloath. Item, I bequeath to the church of Blakenham a towel and an alter cloth. Item, I will that as soon as God sendeth fo me to his blist out of this world, costs be done of my burying by the advice and discretion of my surveyor, and mine executors; and, that great part of the host be done to poor bedrede people, most need having, to the honour and pleasure of God. Item, I will that my household and servants be kept eight weeks after my departing, with wages, and other necessarys. Item, I bequeath to my Lady Wyche, my sister, for the remembrance to think of me, a goblet of silver, and gilt cover. I give to my daughter, Elizabeth, a blew gown furred with white. Item, I give to my daughter, Anne, a cremesine gown single, and a furre of grey, and a single gown of violet, and a furre of white. Item, I bequeath to Andrew Suliard, a pair of beeds of gold. Item, I bequeath to Anne Suliard, my daughter’s daughter, a girdle of green, harnessed with silver. I give Bridget Wyndeore, my daughter Elizabeth’s daughter, my white bed, with all the hangings of the same. I bequeath to William Wyndesore, a red bed of worsted, with all the hangings Item, I bequeath to Elizabeth Wyndesore and Allice Wyndsore, my daughter’s daughters two pieces of silver with coverings , and fifteen spoons of silver. Item, I bequeath ot my daughter Elizabeth a powder box of slver. Item, I will that ten pair of sheets of the best be divided between my two daughters.
After which she leaves legacies to her servants and orders John Milles, one of them, to deliver a doublet of defence, that was her husband’s, to remain in the manor of Bailham; and the residue of her goods, etc after her debts paid and bequeath performed, she bequeaths to her two daughters, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Wyndesore, and Anne, the wife of John Suliarde.
Item, I make and ordeyn mine executors, John Suliarde, Thomas Wyndesore, Elizabeth and Anne, their wives; and my Lady Wyche, my sister, mine overseer. In witness whereof I have put my seal, given at the feast and year aforesaid.
And by codicil, she bequeaths her two coverlids, one of cotton, the other of silk, to the church of Bailham, the other to the church of Stoke, and to remain in the manor of Bailham. I will, that the new great brass pot remain in the said manor of Bailham, to the intent that, when the brethren of the guld of the church of Darmesdon make their dinner, they to occupy the same pot for the time, and to deliver it again in the said manor of Bailham. Item, I will, that all the women servants of my Lady Wyche’s house be rewarded by the discretion of my overseer, and executors.¹

Her will was probated on 11 December 1474.