1 September 1608
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1. T: Roberti Mathew. In the name of God Amen; the
2. first day of September and in the year of our Lord god one thousand six hundred
3. and eight. I Robert Mathew of Cardiff in the countie of Glamorgan --
4. Gentleman beinge weake in bodie but stronge in minde and of good and perfect
5. Rememberance doe freelie and willinglie render and give againe into the houses
6. Of my Lord god and Creator my Soule and Spirit with he of his fatherlie
7. Goodness gave unto me when he first fashioned me in my mother’s wombe nothing
8. Doubting that in his infant Merry sett fourth in the protisus bloude of his dearly
9. Beloved sone Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer he will revive my soule into
10. His glorie And as [resurrecting?] my bodie even with a good will and free heart [?]
11. It unto the counte and to be buried with the parish churche of Llantwit Vardre.
12. Withing doubting but that at the great daie of general resurrection. I shall [?]
13. The same againe not a corruptible bodie as more it is but an incorruptible and immortall
14. ITEM forwards the reparation of the same church. I give and bequethe to the
15. Church partrens of the same parish for the time beinge Twentie shillings. ITEM I
16. give unto the Church of Landaffe three shillings foure poore. Item to the church of
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17. Saint Maries in Cardiffe three shillings foure poore. ITEM to the church of Sant
18. Jones in Cardiffe three shillings foure poore, the said servall bequeaths of three shillings
19. foure poor to be paid to corhe of severall church pardens of the said severall [?] [?]
20. [?]. ITEM I give unto the poore people of the parishe of L[?] aforesaid
21. Fortie shillings to be distributed at the direction of my wife. ITEM I gives unto the
22. Poore people of Cardiff twentie shillings to be distributed as aforesaid. ITEM I give
23. Unto the poore prisoners lying in the common gash of Cardiff five shillings. ITEM
24. I give forwards the reparon of the Bridge of [?] [?] fortie shillings. ITEM I
25. Give unto Joane [Young] my wife twentie [?] and one bull with [?] in [?]
26. Moore. ITEM I give unto my saide wife all my house wares and caltes. ITEMS I give unto
27. My saide wife eight oxen and if any of the said [?] or oxen before bequeath be taken
28. For any [?] or [?] then my will is that my wife shall have and may take soe
29. Many [?] and soe many oxen as so shall be saised for [?] of the rest of my [?]
30. And oxen to make upp her full number to her bequeathed. ITEM I give and bequeath
31. Unto my said wife all my household stuffe [?] [?] implemente as are hereafter in
32. This my will bequeathed unto my sonne Lamerocke Mathew. ITEM my will is that
33. My wife shall have the occupation of all my plate during her widowhood of late
34. [?] one silver beabor and tell gilteous ….
35. Gilt barrel, one gilt goblet, one fourkard xrell gilte and twelve silver spoones
36. Whereof five have the picture of five of the bostles and after the marriage of
37. My saide on of her deathe with first shall happen. I give all my said plate unto
38. Thomas Mathew my eldest sonne. ITEM I give unto Harry Mathew my second
39. Sonne all and singular [?] lands [?]….
40. In Peterston by Cly with I [?] of Henry Prichard of Lenstod gentleman
41. To have and to hold the said messuage lands [….]
42. Unot the said Harry Mathews and the heires of his bodie has fullie begotten and
43. In deflate of such issue the said messuages lands ……
44. To [?] and be unto Lamrocke Mathew my fourthe sonne and to the
45. Heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue I give
46. The saide messuages lands [?] unto and [?] [?] Thomas Mathew
47. My sonne and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in defalte
48. Of such issue I give and bequeath the same until William Mathews my third
49. Sonne and the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And indefault of
50. Such issue I give the said messuages lands [?] unto and [?] of
51. Unto Robert Mathews my fifth and youngest sonne and to the heires males of
52. His bodie lawfullie begotten and in deflate of such issue the same to [?]
53. And to me unto my right heires for ever. ITEM I give and bequeathe unto my
54. Sonne William Mathew all and singular my free lands [?] [?] and
55. [?] lyinge in the parish of Pondoyton to have and to hold all [?]
56. The saide free lands [?] rentes and [?] unto the said William
57. Mathewe and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten and in deflate of
58. Such issue the same to remaine toward be unto my sone Thomas Mathew
59. And to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten And in deflate of
60. Such issue, I give and bequeethe the same unto my sone Harry Mathew and
61. The heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such
62. Issue the same to remaine toward unto my sone lamrocke Mathewe
63. And to the heires males hof his bodie lawfullie begotten . And in deflate of
64. Such issue, I give and bequeathe the same unto my sonne Robert
65. Mathewe and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten And
66. In deflate of such issue the same to remaine and be unto my right heires
67. Forever. ITEM I give and bequeath unto my sonne Harry Mathew all my
68. Messuages lands [?] and [?] in Lantrissant for and during the
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69. Terme of twentie years ? after my deathe and after the end of the said terme
70. I give the same unto my sonne William Mathew and to the heires of his bodie lawfullie
71. Begotten. And in deflate of such issue I give the same unto my sone Thomas Mathews
72. And to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such hissue I
73. Give the same unto my sone Harry Mathew and the heires males of his bodie
74. Lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issues, I give the same unto my sone Lamrocke
75. Mathewe and to the heires males males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such
76. Issu, I gives the same unto my sonne Robert Mathew and to the heires males of his
77. Bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue the same to remaine unto
78. [?] my right heires forever. ITEM I give unto Joane my wife all the single
79. Such messuages garden and stable lyinge in Cardiffe whereof I have any ostace of
80. [?] if the will odwell thereappon to have and to hold the said messuages
81. Garden and stable to the said Joane for and duringe her widowhood estate [?]
82. And paying therefore yearlie duringe the said terme to my sonne Lamrocke
83. Mathew the [?] of five pounds of gold nand laneful money of England And
84. After the determination of my wife said windowhood estate, I give the said
85. messuages garden and stable to the saide Lamrocke Mathewe and to the heires of
86. his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue I give the same unto my
87. sonne Thomas Mathewe and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten
88. And in deflate of such issue I give the same unto my sonne Harry Mathewe
89. And to the heires males of his bodie lawfulllie begotten And in deflate of such
90. Issue I give the same unto William Mathew my sonne and to the heires males of
91. His bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue. I give the same unto
92. My sonne Robert and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten and in
93. Deflate of such issue the saime to remaine and to unto my right heires forever
94. provided always and my [?] if that is my said wife doth not paie the said
95. yearlie some of five poundes yearlie duringe the said terme of her widowhood
96. Esate unto my said sonnes to my said sonne Lamorick according to the true
97. Intent of this my last will then my will is that my said sonne Lamrocke
98. and the heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten shal and may as often the said five
99. Pounds or any parth thereof happen to be kinde duringe the said terme enter
100. Into the saide messuages garden and stable and to th dist[?] and the distres
101. Diffresses there forme to take drive and marry [?] and the same to in poundes
102. And in pounde to detiyne until the said yearlie some of five poundes and the
103. arrerages thereto for be fullie satisified and paide. ITEM I doe give unto my said
104. sonne Lamrocke Mathew eight acres of lande in the parish of Romney in the
105. Com of [Morith?] to have and to hold to him the said Lamorocke and to the
106. Heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue I give the
107. Same unto my sonne Thomas Mathewe and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie
108. Begotten And in deflate of such issue I doe ? the same unto my sonne Harry Mathew
109. And to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue I
110. Doe give the same eight acres unto my sone William Mathew and to the heires males
111. Of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And in deflate of such issue I do give the same unto
112. My sonne Robert Mathewe and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten
113. And in deflate of such the same shall remaine and be to my right heires forever.
114. ITEM I give and bequeath unto the said lamrocke Mathew twelve hed of
115. Beastes of three years old and alsoe all the implemente that are in the said [?]
116. Messuages and stable lying in Cardiffe aforesaid. ITEM I give and bequeath
117. Unto my said sonne Lamrocke all my leafes and leas lands that I holde from
118. Mary counted dowager of pembrooke lying in Lamtwit aforesaid. And also all
119. Estate right title and [?] therein. And also all my leases messuages will
120. Lands and tenaments that I hold from William Mathew of Saint Nylle, gent
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121. And Mylles Mathew and either of them. And all my right title [?] and estate therein ITEM
122. My will is that my Executor shall yearlie paid unto my Daughter Jane tenne poundes of
123. Good and lawfull money for and forward of her maintenantes soe that her husbande doth
124. Permit an d suffer her to share and enjoy it to her so and proper [?] and for than her
125. Husbande doth not inter uddle ?. And if the saide Jane happen to survive
126. And overlive her saide husband or if her husband father do (bona fide) give such
127. Sufficient maintenance and [?] of blessing to her said husbande as my
128. Overseers of this my last will hereafter mentioned shall th make fit and reasonable.
129. And the same will [?] in writing under all their hands and soles unto my
130. Executor and administrator or the Executor of my Executor then I give unto the
131. Said Jane the soumme of one hundred poundes of good and lawfull money of
132. England to be to her paid by my Executor Administrator or executor of my e?
133. And after payment of the said one hundred poundes thou and from thereforthe
134. My will is that the payment of the said yearlie soumme of tenne poundes aforesaid
135. To the saide Jane shall rease and be voide. ITEM I give unto Christopher St. John[1] –
136. Sonne of the saide Jane twentie poundes.ITEM I give unto my wife two fatt
137. Oxen one cowe, one steere and a heifer. ITEM I give unto Marie Mathew my
138. Daughter six srove poundes of good and lawfull money of England and twenty
139. [?] and six oxen. Item I give unto Anne Mathew my daughter six store
140. Poundes of lke lawful money and twelve kyme. Item I give and bequethe unto
141. Wenillian Mathewe my daughter one hundred pounds of good and alwfull money
142. Item I give unto Margarett Mathew my daughter fourtyfour pounds of
143. Like lawfull money and twelve younge cattle of [?] and three year above all
144. With saide severall soumes of money unto my said daughters ?
145. To Marie, Anne, Wenllian and Margaret shall paide unto them at the daie of
146. Their marriage if they marry with the consent of their mother and such of them
147. Us shall marry without the consent of her mother shall not have her portion and
148. Somme of money to her by this my last will bequeathed until the expiration of
149. Tenne years ? ? the said marriage but my will is that they shall
150. Yearlie ? ? of thieir portions severallie And whereas I have
151. Taken ? bondes and bills in the name of certaine of y said daughters my
152. Will is that they shall have the benefit of the saide bills and bondes ? ? ?
153. Of their ? and bequethe aforesaide for as were as the saide bills and bondes
154. Shall ? unto. And if any of my daughters happen to die before her daie
155. Of marriage then then my will is that the portion legarie and bequeath aforesaide of
156. ? of my daughters that shall happen to die before her marriage shall be and
157. Shall come and be equallie devided between all the rest of my daughters that shall
158. Survive. ITEM if Edmond Mathewes of Radar Esquire doth (bona fide) ?
159. The ? of Landaffe and all the messuages lands tentamente and [?]
160. In Landaffe and Radar ? with he he mortgaged and solde unto Sir Henry
161. Billingsly of Sistone Knight and if the saide Edmonde Mathewe shall and
162. Will by good twenty poundes [?] the same in tayle unto George Mathewes sone of
163. The saide Edmonde then I give and bequesateh unto the saide Edmond Mathewe
164. Fiftie poundes. ITEM I give and bequeathe unto Robert Mathewe my sonne
165. Twentie yearlings beinge twelve months old with the advantage. ITEM I give unto
166. Maude Owan my nurse one cowe. ITEM to William Mathew my god sonne some
167. Of Morrice Mathew two yearlings. ITEM to Sistill Owan two Ryne besides
168. One cowe with his [?] [?] of Romney at [?]. ITEM I give to Mary Owan
169. The wife of William Howell of Peterston one cowe. ITEM I give to Owan
170. Thomas Dye of Llantwit Vardre the house where he dwells duringe the life
171. Of him and his wife and the lougelf liver of them. ITEM I give unto the saide
172. Owan Thomas Dye three pounds ITEM to Richard Owan my servant one heyfer
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173. Of tenne yere also, to Sara my servant twentie shillings to Denys my servant six shillinges
174. Eight poure to Griffith Llen of Lantrissant shoemaker three poundes to Katherine LLen
175. Twentie shillings to Margaret Griffith tenne shillings ITEM I give to John Ross
176. Twentie shillings that his sonne oweth me. ITEM I give towards the repatron of a
177. Bridge of Romney twentie shillings to be paide to the church wardens that shallbe for
178. The parish of Romney when it shall next happen to be in decaye. ITEM I give to Joane
179. Ffleminge my niece six heyfers that I have in Aberdare beinge foure years olde
180. ITEM I ? make and appoint my sonne Thomas Mathew to be my sole Executor
181. Of this my last will and testament And I doe ? and appoint William Mathew
182. Of Landaff Esquire, Lamrocke Stradlinge of Roathe, Thomas Mathew of G____
183. Menighe and henry Williams of Cardiff Esquires to be the overseers of this
184. My will And I doe ? them to helpe and aide my wife and ? in all they
185. May and to for this my last will and testament performed. The debtes that I owe
186. No [thautspetialie ?] six poundes to my Cosen Elizabeth Prichard and I give her
187. Fortie shillings togeather with five shillings. I lent her the last syses. ITEM I
188. Have spast my worde to me Edward Kemys of ? Mably for Edward John
189. To paie twentie pounds. These debtes following are due unto? ? ?
190. Viz from Xpofer St. John[2] five pounds twelve shillings from Anne Stradling
191. Twenie shillings from William Lewis of clye twentie fortie shillings Ffrancies
192. Morgan of roth twentie shillings from Thomas John [?] of Pendorton fortie
193. Shillings from Sir Harry Jones Clarke twentie shillings ffrom Robert
194. Thomas sonne of Richard Thomas of the garthe twentie shillings ffrom Mathew
195. Morgan of Landaff tenne shillings from William Thomas of Roath twentie shillinges
196. From William Howell of Cardiffe five shillings from John the Execter five
197. Shillings from sir Rowland Morgan, Knight [?] from Thomas
198. Owan Morgan of Aberdare twentie shilling ffrom Griffith Owan Thomas a
199. Lannsome foure markes from John Dutchman of Lanwarring twentie shillinge
200. Ffrom James Thomas of Pendoylore twentie shillings from Jane Stradline
201. Twentie four shillings from Jenkin Owan Morgan of Lantrissant [?]
202. Shillings from Cadoogan Howell of Lantrissant [?] shillings from Thomas
203. William of of Lantrissant fifteen shillings from Rive William Durnnor of
204. Ogloysylan five shillings from Madocke John of Canton eight shilllinges from
205. Evan Lewis of Lantrissant eleven shillings from pewes from Lewis Mynocke of
206. Landaffe fourtie shillings from Edward Jorden of Cardiffe foure poundes
207. Ffrom Griffith ab Owan of Lantriffe tenne shillings ITEM I doe by this
208. Will revoke all former wills. In wittnes whereof I have hereto sett my hande
209. And Seale the daie and yeare first above written. 1608. Robert Mathewe
210. Wittnesse at the sealing and public shurge of theis ? by the above nay?
211. Robert Mathewe to be his last will and testatment the daie and year first
212. Above written. Galf: payse Mo. William Moris Mathewe, John Watkins
213. Lamrocake Stradlinge Jen. Wm. / Memorandum that Robert Mathewe
214. Late of Cardiff deceased beinge of perfect minde and memorie did in his last
215. Sickness by worde of mouth give and bequeatehe to his daughter Jane Mathewe
216. The somme of fortie poundes more than he had given unto her in and by his
217. Last will and testament made in writing in the presence of soundie ?
218. Witnesses. /
Probate Section:
219. (On) the Fourth day of the month of December (in) the Year
220. of (our) Lord the one thousandth six hundredth (&) eleventh, has issued a Commission (to) Thomas St John, gentleman,
221. Husband of Jane Mathewe, the natural and legitimate daughter of Robert Mathewe, late of Cardiff, of Llandaff
222. Diocese, deceased, having, etc., For administering the goods, rights, and credits of the said deceased, according to the tenor
223. and effect of the testament and Codicil of the same deceased, During the minority of Thomas Mathewe,
224. (on) the Thirteenth day of the month of February (in) the Year of (our) Lord, according to the course and computation of the Anglican church, the one thousandth six hundredth
225. (&) eleventh, has issued a commission (to) Joan Mathewe[3], Relict of Robert Mathewe, late while he lived of Cardiff (in) the county of Glamorgan,
226. deceased, having, etc., for administering the goods, rights, and credits of the same, according to the tenor and effect of the testament of the same deceased, during the minority of Thomas
227. Mathewe, son of the said deceased, and the executor, etc., with regard to well, etc., sworn, (by) Letters of administration of the goods of the said deceased, with the testament annexed, otherwise (on) the 4th day of the month
228. of December (in) the Year of (our) Lord 1611[/12][4], (to) the which Thomas St John, during the minority of the afore-mentioned executor, (by) the authority of this Court
229. committed and granted today, in the Register of this Court introduced and voided.
Probate Latin Text for lines 219-229:
[1] This Christopher is Christopher St. John 2
[2] This Christopher may be Christopher St. John 1 or Christopher St. John 2. It seems likely it’s Christopher 1 since in a previous paragraph he leaves Christopher 2 twenty shillings and now he is stating he is owed 5 pounds. This is probably related to some arrangement regarding the marriage between Thomas St. John and his daughter Jane Mathew or another matter between the two landlords.
[3] Robert Mathew was married to Joane Young, daughter of William Young
[4] Thomas Mathew likely turned age of majority , or21, on December 4, 1611/12 making his birthdate most likely December 4, 1590/1 and at this time, Thomas St. John relinquished his admistration of Robert Mathew’s affairs over to Thomas Mathew and the court agreed he was to be paid for such service.