Richard Willett

     Richard was born circa 1560 probably at the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. Richard married Katherine Hawk on 5 May 1591 in Barley, Herefordshire, England, at St. Margaret of Antioch Church.¹ Richard made his will on 11 April 1597.

In the name of God, Amen in the nyne and thirty years of our sovereigne Ladye Queen Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France & Ireland and the eleventh day of Aplril, I Richard Willett of Barlit in the county of Herford, gentleman, beign sick of body but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First, I bequeath my soul in the hands of Almighty God, my maker and redeemer by whose mercy I trust to be saved. And my body to be buried in the parish of Barlit at the direction of myne executor. Item - I give and bequeath to Katherine, my wife, my dwelling home in Hereford and also the apertenances there uponto belonging and twenty acres of aeritable lands being in ___ford and Montford in the Isle of Elye together nothall there app___ during her life, and after unto Anto, my son, and for his heirs forever in the form and ___ of Thomas Adams, my brother-in-law, Item, I give and bequeath to Katherine, my wife, my ___e of Merthforde, ____ in the Isle of Ely for the ___ of years ___, upon ___ , that she shall pay to Anto, my son, when he is one and twenty years of age the sum of twenty pounds of good and warrant money of England. and for Elizabeth, my daughter, the sum of forty pounds of good and warrent money of England at the age of eighteen years. And to __ borra, my daughter, the sum of forty pounds of good and warrente money of England at the age of eighteen years. I give & bequeath to the child that my wife now gotth. If it be a man child, three score pounds of good & lawful money of England at the age of one and twenty years. If it be a woman child, the amount of forty pounds of money at the age of eighteen years. Item, I give unto the poor of Barlit, to be distributed amongst them at the day of my funeral twenty shillings. The rest of my goods unbequeathed my ____ performed and my debts being paid and funerals defrayed, I give and bequeath to Katherine, my wife so named, whom I make my sole executor. In ___ thereof, I set my hand the year and day above written performed per me.
Richard willett.
Witnessed byWilliam My___, Matthew ____, & John Hall.²

Richard departed this life on Friday, 18 April 1597 in Barley, Herefordshire, England. Bef 28 apr 1597. His will was probated on 28 April 1597.