Will of Elizabeth Wells, 1618

Elizabeth, nee Pleydell, a widow, made her will 13 March 1613/14, 'being now aged'. She made her will with the intent that her bequests should be 'quietly enjoyed' by the beneficiaries.

Shortly before her death she had purchased lands and tenements in Cliverton, Lea from Richard and Henry Moodie, these she left to her grandson John when he reached the age of 21, until then the money from the estate was to provide for his maintenance and schooling.

An indication of how young girls could be at marriage, Elizabeth left to her grand-daughters Elizabeth Wells, Elizabeth Hills and Elizabeth Seymour £20 to be paid at the age of 17 or when they married, whichever happened first.

From her will we can see that Elizabeth had a large family, and a wider extended family leaving money to her god-children, un-named.

Her kinsmen Edward and Robert Pledall (Pleydell) were named as executors. Despite her relatively good position in society, she was unable write, signing her will with her mark.