This article was originally published in the December 2004 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society

The value of Wills in helping to construct family trees is well illustrated by that of Christopher Soale in 1675. Unfortunately we have not yet been able to connect Christopher with any of our main family charts. However the bequests he made and the conditions relating to them make for interesting reading and some speculation as to the underlying reasons.

“In the name of God Amen. I Christopher Soale of Warminghurst in the County of Sussex yeoman being of good health and in sound and perfect understanding and memory thanks be unto God, considering the frailty and mortality of human nature I do make constitute and appoint this to be my last will and Testament the twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Five, in the manner and form following, that is to say I will that my body be buried in the Churchyard of Thakeham by my daughter Sarah according as my Executor hereafter named shall think fit.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my servants that are with me at the time of my death the sum of twelve pounds apiece to be paid within three months after my death.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest son John Soale all my lands and tenements in the County of Sussex aforesaid and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten for ever, and for want of such issue I give and bequeath the lands aforesaid after the decease of my said son John Soale to my son Thomas Soale and his heirs for ever.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Soale aforesaid the bed and bolster with mat and chest and all that belongeth to him as he now standeth in the loft over the Low Chamber which I use to lie in and one great Chest that standeth by my bedside and my chest and four pieces of the largest pewter and one chamber pot and three pairs of the best type sheets and two pairs of the best linen sheets and two pairs of the best pillowcases and two of the best table cloths and half a dozen napkins.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Soale aforesaid one wagon with one pair of shod wheels and the best spring cart with the best wheels and ---- to him and one of the best horse harrow with ---- to him and two of the best chains and long linked and one short linked and three of the best yokes two draught yokes and one ---- yoke and three ---- prong and my best great coat and my best waistcoat and my sheets and my best sheet and the best pairs of stockings.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Sarah Soale the sum of five shillings to be paid within three months after my decease.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my son in law Nicholas Skinner the sum of five pounds to be paid within nine months after my decease ---- that he will take it and be therewith content or if not I give him but twelve pence.

“Item I give unto my wife’s son Anthony Bondfield the sum of five shillings to be paid within nine after my decease.

“Item I give unto my sister Tafner the sum of two shillings to be paid within nine months after my decease.

“Item I give unto my sister Tafner’s son John Tafner one coat and one waistcoat and one pair of breeches.

“Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Soale the bed and blankets with sheets and curtains and all the linen except the new coverlet if she lives with my son Thomas Soale but if she go away from him then she is not to have the bed.

“Item my will is that if my wife continue with my son Thomas Soale that he shall give her her bed but if she go away from him then my will is that my son Thomas Soale shall pay her forty shillings by the years out of my stocks I give unto my loving wife the sum of Twenty shillings to be paid within two months after my decease.

“Item I make and appoint my loving son Thomas Soale aforesaid to be my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament and I give and bequeath unto him all the rest of my Goods and Chattels not formerly bequeathed by this my will paying my debts and funeral expenses discharged And I intreat my loving friends Thomas Potter and John Lee of Thakeham to be overseers of this my will And I give unto them five shillings apiece.

“Item I revoke all former wills and testaments and publish and appoint this to be my last will and Testament and have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year first above written Christopher Soale his mark X published sealed and signed in the presence of Sarah Grace her mark X John Lee his mark X.

Acknowledgements: Geoff Knott for his transcription of the original Will.