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History of:

George Downing 1520 - 25 Jun 1564

From the following website:  http://www.shel.net/shel/genealogy/notes/not0004.html#NI0486

He signed a will on 15 Dec 1561 in Suffolk, England. (263) He gave his wife his two houses in Beccles for life, and then entailed them to his son Barnabe and his male heirs, next to his son John, then to his sons George and William in that order; and failing such issue of his sons, then to his next heir male. To daughter Margaret Downing, £20; to son John £20; John and George to be educated at the Grammar School and at the University of Cambridge; to son Barnaby, £80. He mentions his cousin, Robert Downing of All Saints in South Elmham. He signed a will on 20 Dec 1561 in Beccles, Suffolk, England. (264) The will reads as follows:
In the name of God Amen. The 20th day of December in the year of our Lord God 1561 and in the 4th year of the reign of our most gracious sovereign Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God of England ff----- and Ireland ---- defender of the faithe ? I George Downing of Beccles in the countie of Suffolk being of whole minde and perfect remembrance doe make this my testament and last will in manner and forme following. Ffirst I bequeathe my soule to Almighty God my maker and redeemer (something inserted above is unreadable) by whose deathe and passion I trust most assuredlie to be saved(?) And my body to be buried in the church yearde of Beccles aforesaid. Item I bequeathe unto the personn (parsonn) there for my tythes negligently forgotten (2s 6d?) And to the reparation of the church of B? (17s 8d?). Item I give to the ----- of the poor of the hospitall in Beccles (12d?). And to the relief of the poor people of the town of Beccles every wefe? 2d? during the time? of one whole year. Item toward the reparation of Gyllingham Cansey? I give 2s ?d. Item I will that Cicely my wief -------- all those my two houses that I dwell in with all the appurtenances thereto belonging lying and being in Beccles which I late purchased of John Thorne departed, to have and to hold to her and her assignees the term of her naturall lief she keeping herself sole and unmarried and paying the p-------- verily and every yere as --- shall be due for the same during the said term, And also keeping the said houses and other the premisses in sufficient reparation by all the said term of her naturall lief, And after the death of the said Ciceley my wief I give and bequeath the said two houses with the appurtenances and other the premisses beforesaid to Barnabe Downing my sonne To have and to hold to him and to the heirs males of his body lawfully begotten so that the said Barnabe be of the age of 2? years at the day of the departing of the said Cicely my wief --- I will that the supervisors of this my testament and last will shall have the setting and letting of the foresaid two houses &? other the premisses from the day of the departing of the said Cecily my wief until the said Barnabe shall accomplish the said age of 2? years they paying the ------- yearly as ? shall be due and keeping the houses in reparation And yf his fortune the said Barnabe to depart this world without heir male of his body lawfully begotten. Then I give and bequeath the foresaid two houses withe their appurtenances to John Downing my sonne to have and to holde to him and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten ymmediately after the decease of of Cicely my said wief so that the said John be then of the age of 2? years or old I will that my supervisors shall have them to the age aforesaid until he shall accomplish the said age and hif his fortune the ssaid John my sonne to depart this world without heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, Then I give and bequeath the foresaid two houses with the appurtenances to George Downing my sonne to have and to hold to him and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten ymmediatelie after the decease of the said Cecily my wief so that the said George be then of the age of 2? years or old I will that my supervisors shall have them to the use aforesaid untill he shall accomplish the said age And if his fortune the said George my sonne to departe this world without heirs male of his body lawfully begotten Then I give and bequeath the foresaid two houses and their appurtenances to William Downing my sonne to have and to hold to him and to heirs male of his body lawfully begotten ymmediatelie after the decease of the said Cicely my wief, And yf his shall fortune the said William my sonne to departe this world without heir male of his body lawfully begotten Then I give and bequeathe the foresaid two houses with their appurtenances but only untill such time as the said Barnabe shall accomplish and --- to the full age of 2? years and no longer. And then I will also that the said Barnabe shall enter and have the said two houses and their appurtenances at his said age of 2? years. Item I give and bequeath to John Downing my sonne twenty poundes of lawfull english money to be paid unto him when he shall come to the age of 2? years. Item I give and bequeath to George Downing my sonne 20 pounds of lawfull english money when he shall come to the age of 2? years and I will that my wief shall ---- the --- of the said John and George unto the Grammar Schole tyll they have lerned? their Grammar? yf their ----- will serve? them And that done if his shall be the ---- good by my said wief and the --------- of this my testament. I will that their legacies beofre before bequeathed unto them by this my testament shall be bestowed upon them in keeping of them at the Universitie of Cambridge and no otherwise to be paid until them. Item I give and bequeath unto Margaret Downing my daughter twenty pounds of lawfull english money to be paid unto her at the age of 21 years. Item I give and bequeath unto Barnabe Downing my sonne (45?) pounds of lawfull english money and so much of my household stuff as shall amount unto the sum of twenty pounds awarding as hit? shall be praised in the inventory of my said goodes And he shall be delivered unto him immediatelie after the departing of the said Cicely my wief if she kept herselfe sole and unmarried. And I will that within the ?part of one month after my deathe and before the probation of this my testament and last will that she only shall be bounde to my ----------- a sufficent some of money for the true and faithfull performing of this my testament and last will. Provided ------ that if hit shall ------- my said wief to marry againe, then I will that my said sonne Barnabe shall have the said somme of ?4 pounds of lawfull english money, and also the said twenty pounds worth of household stuff when and as sone as he shall come to the age of 2? years. And then I will that the saide Cicelie my wief shall be bounde -- sufficient ----- with her before the day of her marriage unto my supervisors for the ------- and faithfull performance of this my said will according to the true intent and meaning thereof. And the said bonds to be ----ed at the end of ---- five years. Item I give and bequeath unto William Downing my sonne fyve ----- of lawfull English money to be paid unto him at the age of 21 years. All the residue of my -----able goodes plate ready money and debts to me owing household stuff cows and cattell not before given and bequeathed I doe hereby give and bequeath unto Cicely my well beloved wief whome I ordeme and make the executrix of this my testament and last will. She -------- to paie my debts bring upp my children and performe my testament and last will according to the true intent and meaning thereof. And the supervisors of this testament and last will I ordeme and make my welbeloved cosen Robert Downing of the parish of All Saints of ------------, Richard Crampton of ----------- Those being ---------- John Ffranke Thomas ----- Richard Crampton and John Morlonde.