To be buried in Laxfild churchyard or where I shall die. To my wife Margaret, for life, my tenement called Stowes, with all lands and tenements in Laxfild or elsewhere, co. Suffolk, except my lands called Glemes Fales and Fales and Hersefeld Connisfeld [sic], with remainder to my son John Fyske and the heirs male of his body, provided he pay to my son Rauf £20, as appointed below. Should John die s.p.m., the lands are to be sold and the money proceeding thence [shall be paid] to my daughters. To my wife the lands called Glemes Fales and the rest (as above), for six years, provided she pay £40, viz., £10 each at marriage to my daughters Alice, Marion, Jane, and Margarett, then to my son John and the heirs male of his body, or, if he die s.p.m., the lands are to be sold (as above). William Fyske, son of my brother Henry Fyske, deceased, is to have preference in the purchase of said lands, if sold, and to have them within £20 of the price given by any other. To my son Rauff Fyske my tenement in Walberswyke [Walberswick, Suffolk]. lately bought of [blank] Gybbon, and also £20 to be paid by my son John, at St. Michael after my wife's decease 40s., and thenceforward yearly 40s., provided Rauff do not vex my son. To my daughters Feithe and Katheryn £20, i.e., £10 each at marriage, and my wife is to bring them up and keep them at her own costs and charges till they be eighteen, [they] "doing for their said mother as yt becometh naturall children." To my son John twelve milch kine immediately after my wife's death, three horses or mares, my cart and plough, eight of my best milk "boilles," two of my best cheese "fatts" [vats], with the "bredes" [breds], and my cheese press and salting boards, immediately after my wife's death. Residuary legatee: my wife, [who is to be] executrix with my brother-in-law Robert Ball and Roger Wade of Bermondysh. Witnesses: William Dowsyng, William Fyske, Thomas Cower. [Signature of the testator not given.]
Proved 4 May 1559 by Thomas Tower, procurator for the widow, Margaret, power being reserved to the other executors.
Sentence 30 October 1560, in a cause between Ralph Fiske (impugning the above will) and Margaret Fiske, the widow and executrix, upholding the above will as made while the testator was of sound mind (with costs).
Published in the October 1932 issue of the Journal of the New England Historical Genealogical Society