Fordington

The Will of Edith BUNN Widow of Fordington

Will dated 6th October 1654: Inventory 11 Nov 1654: Proved 1600
Wiltshire Archives Ref SPC WILLS: Proved 1660 : Will P15/1/ii
©Transcribed by Michael Russell OPC for Fordington 2009 - Last updated Nov 2023

NOTE: The will is also mentioned in the Calendar of Dorset Wills and Administrations in the Salisbury Probate Court but for the year 1660 Ref 1.1 P15/1. For the Will I have used modern spelling to make it easier to read, but quoted full text for the inventory followed with a translation in modern English.
The Last Will and Testament: of Edith BUN Widow living in Fordington in the County of Dorset made the 6th day of October 1654.

Imprimis: [In the first place] I give to Philip BUNN (1.3) 4 pounds of lawful money of England to be paid in half a year after my decease.

Item I give to Elizabeth BASKUM (1.4) [BASCOMBE?] the wife of William BASKUM 20 shillings to be paid in half a year after my decease.And to the poor of the same Parish the sum of six shillings and eight pence to be paid within convenient time

Item To Mary SAMWAYS (1.5) the wife of John SAMWAYS 10 shillings to be paid in half a year after my decease

Item To my son William BUN (1.7) 40 shillings to be paid in half a year after my decease.

Item To Elizabeth BASKUM (1.4) the daughter of William BASKUM five pounds of lawful money to be paid in half a year after my decease.

Item To Alice WEECH (1.9) the daughter of John WEECH ten pounds of like lawful money to be paid at her day of marriage

Item To Ruth WEECH (1.9) the daughter of John WEECH ten pounds to be paid at her day of marriage.

Item To Mary WEECH (1.9) the daughter of John WEECH ten pounds to be paid at her day of marriage.

Item My mind and Will concerning the last mentioned thirty pound is that it shall be thus disposed vizt if either of them die before the time of payment that part or portion shall be equally distributed to such as shall survive.

Item I give to William BASKUM’s son, & to Robert BASKUM, John BUN, Deborah BUN, Edith BUN, Margaret BUN & to William BUN son of William BUN, to Samuel BUN and Jane BUN, and to William SAMWAYS son of John SAMWAYS, to each of them one lamb apiece .

All the rest of my goods ungiven I give and bequeath to my son John BUN whom I make my whole and sole executor. Robert BUN son of Robert BUN I make overseer of this my last Will and Testament



The mark of Robert BUN Overseer [R]
The mark of Mary MATES Widow [?]
Jo [John] LODER

Signed  Fordington Edith BUNN 1654 Vol
Portius 1660


An Inventorie: of ye goods chattels & household stuff of Edeth BUN late of ffordington deaseassed [deceased] taken and praised ye second of November 1654 by William COLLENS and Henry HOLMAN as followeth:-


Imprimis: Six pewter platers, two potingers, two candelsticks, one bole, and one salt praised at } x s
    [ In the first place: 6 pewter platters, 2 potingers, 2 candlesticks, 1 bowl, & 1 salt appraised at 10 shillings]
Itm: one warming pan, three bras pots, one skillett, one skimmer, one mortar, and one brass butte & praised at } £1. xii s
    [ Item: 1 warming pan, 3 brass pots, 1 skillet, 1 skimmer, 1 mortar and 1 brass butt appraised at £1.12s 0d.]
Itm: one spitt, one Andier, one paire of tonges , one firedogg, woth sum other old things praised at }v s

    [ Item: 1 spit, 1 andier, 1 pair of tongs, 1 firedog, with some other old things appraised at } 5 shillings]
Itm: ffoure joyne stooles , one little sqore stoole, one side table bord, two sithes, one hogsed, one renge one surey one butter pumpe & one fatehors praised at:- xij s x d
    [ Item: 4 joined stools, 1 little square stool, 1 side table board, 2 scythes, 1 hogshead, 1 range, 1 surey?, 1 butter pump & 1 fatehorse appraised at} 12 shillings & 10 pence ]
Itm: one Standing Bedsteed, one feather bed, two Balsters, two feather pooles, one paire of Blankets, & two coverleds praised at:- iij s x d
    [ Item: 1 standing bedstead, 1 feather bed, 2 bolsters, 2 feather pillows , 1 pair of blankets, & 2 coverleds appraised at} Three shillings and ten pence].
Itm: three paire of sheetes two table cloaths one halfe dozen of nepkens one carpitt & two paire of pillowties praised at:- ij l vi s viij d
    [Item: 3 pair of sheets, 2 table cloths, 1 half dozen napkins, 1 carpet, & 2 pair of pillowties appraised at} 2 pounds six shillings and eight pence].
Itm: her wearing apparrell praised as:- iij l
    [ Item: her wearing apparel appraised at} Three Pounds]
Itm: two trendols one fate one bouell two pailes one cheesswane one friing pan two old fatehorsses & sum malt praised at:- xvj s viij d
    [ Item: 2 trendols, 1 fate, one bowl, 2 pails, 1 cheeswane?, 1 frying pan, 2 old fatehorsses & some malt appraised at} Sixteen shillings and eight pence
Itm: the Wheate: Barly sethed & hay praised at:- xxxj l vj s viij d
    [ Item: The wheat: barley scythed & hay appraised at} Thirty One Pounds six shillings and eight pence.
Itm: two horsses two sine three heypher bease & one hogg praised as:- xviij l
    [ Item: 2 horses, 2 swine, 3 heifer beasts and 1 hog appraised at} Eighteen Pounds]
Itm: one & fiftie sheepe praised at} xvij l
    [Item: One and 50 sheep appraised at seventeen pounds]
Itm: six acres & halfe of wheat newlie sowne and one hundred of reade praised at} ij l xv s viijd
    [ Item: 6 acres and a half of Wheat newly sown and 100 of reed appraised at two pounds fifteen shillings and eight pence]
Itm: sum timber & other old wood praised at} iiij s vj d
    [ Item: some timber and other old wood appraised at four shillings and six pence]

Sum Total Lxxxijli

Signatures for Wm COLLINS and Henry HOLMAN

Note of ye deyts of ye Itie? deceased

Impremise owing to Robert BUN 13li

Itm: to Samuel BELLMAN 01li

The sum paid out of ye goods aforesaid is 14li


Genealogical Notes:- [Note:- Missing Parish Registers - Prior 1577; (1579-1584 inc); 1589, 1590; Most of 1591, 1592, (1595-1602 inc); (1609-1613 inc) ; 1617; 1629; 1632; 1634; 1636; (1640-1663 inc) ]

(1). The Survey of Fordington Manor taken in 1650 states that "Edith the Relict of Robert BUN deceased holds a copyhold deed dated 5th Aug 1607 for a Tenement with the appertenances called a half place containing 2 acres and 3 roods of meadow and 25 acres of arable land in Fordington Fields for the lives of Edith herself and Robert her son aged 50 years and Philip her son aged aged 40 years according to custom of the Manor all lives are in being". This must therefore be the same copyhold grant in force during the Survey of Fordington taken in 1615 and relates to the same tenement and plot (then recorded as a total of 27 acres and 2 roods) held by her husband Robert BUNN. Ages given in these surveys are not precise but the ages given in the Survey of 1615 are likely to be more accurate especially in relation to their children Our best estimates therefore are that Robert BUNN her husband was born circa 1558 and was buried at FStG on 30th Sep 1639 making him aged 81 at death. Edith BUNN (1575-1654) must be the 4th life aged 40 making her 17 years younger that her husband and born c1575. She died just before 2nd Nov 1654 when an inventory of her goods was taken after her decease which would make her aged 79. Her son Robert BUNN is aged 22 in 1615 making him born circa 1593 when baptism records are missing. Her son Philip BUNN is aged 16 in 1615 making him born circa 1599 when we also do not have surviving parish registers. John BUNN and Edith probably married the year before their 1st child Richard was born in 1591. Unfortunately the Parish Register for 1590 has not survived. Edith's husband Robert BUNN Senior (1588-1639) was buried at FStG in 1639 and left a Will dated 25th Sep 1639 making her the main beneficiary after bequests to 8 of their surviving children and Edith also refers to many of these children in her above will:-
    (1.1) Richard BUNN (1591-1592) Baptised FStG 18th Mar 1591 and thought to have died an infant and be the Richard buried FStG 2? Apr 1591 - note:- not in father's will 1639.

    (1.2) Robert BUNN Junior (c1593-aft 1654) Born Circa 1593 see The Survey of Fordington Manor taken in 1615 aged 22. One of the Overseers of his father's will in 1639 and main beneficiary as left his best Cart, best pair of wheels, my dungpot & dung traces my best Bull & Bull gear with Cart Harness & Plough harness, my tableboard & cupboards and my furnace pann. Living in 1654 as signs mothers will as Overseer and witness and also owed £13 in his mother's inventory of goods.

    (1.3) Phillip BUNN (c1599-1662) Born Circa 1599 see The Survey of Fordington Manor taken in 1615 aged 16. Husbandman of Fordington. Philip married Johanes [Joan] BRAG at Steeple on 18th June 1629. He was a beneficiary under his father's will in 1639 - left 40s & my best horse - and by which time he had 2 children who are left 6s. 4d each. He is left £4 in his mother's will in 1654. Phillip BUNN husbandman of Fordington died and left a will 29th Sep 1662 in which he names 2 daughters who have married - Mary FROOME who is left 10s and Ann MOORES who is left 10s and his dwelling house. All the rest of his goods etc are left to his widow Jone [Joane] for the term of her life and the remainder then to his daughter Mary. Follow link to his will for more information.

    (1.4) Elizabeth BUNN ( - aft 1654) married William BASCOMBE before 1639 Beneficiary under her father's will in 1639 left 40s in money. Beneficiary under her mother's will in 1654 referred to as the wife of William Bascombe - left 20s and also a bequest to their daughter Elizabeth Bascombe left £5.

    (1.5) Mary BUNN ( - aft 1654) Married John SAMWAYS at FStG on 10th May 1631. Beneficiary referred to in her father's will as my daughter Mary Samwayes in 1639 - left 20s in money  - and by which time they had 2 children who are left 6s. 4d each. One was their 1st child John Samways bap FStG 4th March 1631/2. The 2nd child referred to in 1639 would have been born in one of the years registers are missing eg 1632;1634;1636;1640-1663 inc - Mary was also a beneficiary under her mother's will in 1654 referred to as the wife of John SAMWAYS when left 10s.

    (1.6) John BUNN ( - aft 1662) Beneficiary under his father's will in 1639 left £5? in money; Main beneficiary and executor under his mother's Will in 1654. He is appointed along with his brother William as Overseer of his brother Phillips will in 1662.

    (1.7) William BUNN ( -1688) Witness to his father's Will and beneficiary in 1639 left £6 13s.4d in money; Beneficiary under his mother's will in 1654 left 40s. He is appointed along with his brother John as Overseer of his brother Phillips will in 1662. He married a Martha INGRAM (bur.1666) at FStG on 8th Jun 1665. Martha appears to have died following childbirth being buried at FStG described as "Martha ye wife of William BUNNE on November ye 5th 1666". A child they named Clement BUNN was baptised FStG 28th Dec 1666. Probably the William BUNN buried at FStG on 17th Oct 1688. As a young man Clement BUNN (1666-1728) moved to live in Owermoigne where he worked as a shoemaker. He married Edith WILLIAMS of Upwey at Owermoigne on 29th June 1692 and raised a family of 5 children in Upwey.

    (1.8) Margery BUNN (1605? - aft 1639- bef 1654) [Note:- There is a baptism at FStG for a Mareria [Margery] the daughter of Robert BUNE on 6th May 1605 but this seems to be rather early for her birth] Beneficiary under her father's will in 1639 left £23. There is no mention of Margery in her mothers will suggesting she died during the civil war when records are missing.

    (1.9) Edith BUNN ( -aft 1654) Beneficiary under her father's will in 1639 left £23; married John WEECH at FStG on 26th Nov 1639. Their children Alice, Ruth and Mary WEECH each left £10 in the Will of Edith's in 1654. Their daughter Ruth BUNN married Nicholas TAPP at FStG Church on 17th Oct 1678

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