WILL of William Preston of Mearbeck 1631 yeoman
Borthwick vol. 41 fol. 661
To be buried in the churchyard of Giggleswick. Debts and funeral expenses of my whole goods. To Isabell my now wife for a further augmentation of her winter four pounds yearly out of my lands in Settle during her pure widowhood, and if the said lands do not amount to four pounds then the shortfall out of my personal estate. If my lands in Settle yield more than four pounds per year then the surplus to my nephew Richard Preston. The said four pounds is over and above such estate as I have made for my wife since our intermarriage of a parcel of ground called Coate Garth in Settle.
To my niece Margaret Preston my brother John Preston's daughter £10. To my niece Elizabeth Preston £10. To my nephew Roger Preston two kine. To the said Margaret and Elizabeth my nieces either of them one brass pot. One half of all the rest of my goods and half of all my credits to my wife Isabell in full satisfaction of all her third part. The other half of my said goods and the other half of my credits to Richard Preston my nephew and to him and his heirs all my lands and inheritances, houses, barns and buildings situated at Mearbeck Settle or elsewhere. To the said Margaret Preston one chest which I bought in the west. To the said Elizabeth my niece one chest which did belong to Margaret Preston my late deceased wife. Immediately after my decease my said nephew Richard Preston shall give unto Isabell my now wife meat, drink, lodging, washings and bedding in my now dwelling house at Mearbeck if they can agree and no longer in lieu of the said four pounds. My nephew Richard and my wife Isabell to be joint executors. To my niece Margaret Cookson one cow which is at Long Preston. To the children of Richard Hynes two lambs at Midsummer. To the children of John Midleton one lamb at Midsummer. If Richard Preston default in paying four pounds per annum to my wife Isabell then the legacies to him are utterly void because I have already estated my lands at Settle to the said Richard. I desire Anthony Knowles my brother in law Thomas Brown supervisors. All my cattle immediately after my decease shall be kept at Mearbeck until the first of May next with such further hay, straw and grass as is now provided without any charges of my said wife.
Witnesses Anthonie Knowles William Preston Thomas Browne