The Last Will and Testament of Richard Austin
(Source: Xerox of Actual Will at the Hampshire Records Office in Winchester, England)
Trascription and scan of will courtesy of Jim Carlin of the Austin Family Association of America

[155k JPEG of actual will]

Published on the WWW by the Littlefield Family Research Page.

"In the name of God, Amen.  I Richard Asten of Titchfield being possessed
of good and ? memory do commit both to God that gave it, my body to the
ground, my goods to my wife and children in trust payment (?) as have all 
mentions (?).  I make my wife Anes my sole executor.  I give to the 
Cathedral Church of Winchester, 3 shillings, 4 pence.  I give to my son 
Daniel one bullock of one year old to be paid at the end of my lease.  I 
give to my son Peter one bullock of one year old to be paid at the end of 
my lease.  I give to my son Richard twenty pounds to be paid at the end of 
my lease.  I give to my daughter Joan five pounds to be paid at the end of 
my lease.  I give to my daughter Emlen five pounds to be paid at the end 
of my lease.  I give to my daughter Elizabeth twelve pounds to be paid six 
months after my decease, to the years of her she not having the use of it 
her ? (phrasing ?), my executor shall have the disposing of it to her 
use.  I give to my daughter Anes a cow and a bullock to be paid at the end 
of my lease.  I give to my son Daniel's son Richard two sheep.  I give to 
his son Francis two sheep.  I give to my son Peter's two children a sheep 
each.  I give to my daughter Joan's child a sheep, all of these sheep to 
be paid within six months after my decease.  I give to my daughter Anes' 
three children three bullocks two years old to be paid at the end of my 
lease.  I give to my son in law Edmond Littlefield a colt of three years 
old.  I give to my man John Shackleford five shillings in money.  I give 
my man William Hocraft 3 shillings in money.  I give my boy John Lodgyer a 
sheep.  I give my maid Catorn a sheep.  To all my god children six pence 
apiece, all these small legacies ? to be paid six months after my 
decease.  I make my son Richard one of my overseers and my neighbor Peter 
Faithfull also, and I give them for their pains 3s 4d apiece and for ? 
this my last will and testament.
	Richard Astin his mark
	(A jiggly vertical cross)
Signatures (?) of the  Witnesses
Richard Asten
Peter Faithfull
Edmond Littlefield"
Transcriber's notes:
That scratching along the bottom must be when they proved the will (per Gary Roberts) by Agnes Astin, widow. I can't read anything except the date (4 July 1623 on the will, 1622/3 per Roberts) and Edmond Littlefield's signature.
I read the top of the inventory as:
"An inventory taken of the goods of Richard Attnoke alias Austin lately deceased by Peter Faithfull and Stephin Pearcy, Daniel Austin, Edmond Littlefield, Richard Austin dated the 20 day of February Anno 1622."
Then it gets difficult to decipher. I see 40 shillings for his wearing apparel, £20 3s for his pewter, etc. Total of £123 12s 6d, must have been a fortune. After all he had two "men", a boy and a maid, 7 children and 7 grandchildren.
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