Here's my final one today.
William Dameron my 11 x g.grandfather was buried in Westerfield, Suffolk in 1558. Unfortunately, I have no idea who is wife, my 11 x g.grandmother was. Even in his will, he only calls her “my wife” and doesn’t even mention her until he’s mentioned the bequests to his daughters, his sons, his grandchildren and godchildren, apart from a small mention under the bequest to one of his sons where he states he bequests, after the death of his wife, the bedstead with the posts and tester to the son.
He obviously didn’t think much of her (or it seems women in general), he even says that if she marries again, she won’t get anything (that is usual in wills at the time) but also makes the point that she mustn’t meddle with the house. Also if she declines what he condescends to give her in the will, which is basically that she can live in about 3 rooms in the house until her death, he will halve the amount of money he was leaving to his daughters. He bequeathed £100 each to his 3 daughters, £40 on their marriage and £20 annually until £100 paid, but if they marry all within one year that then they shall have but £20 a piece paid them at their marriage, and so forth £20 a year till the £100 be paid.
Apart from saying his wife can remain in the house, he doesn’t actually leave her anything, but states that she should have £20 a year, but £10/year has to come from one of his sons lands, £8/year from another son’s land and £4/year to come out of the land he willed should be sold. He did however transfer the Manor at Westerfield to his eldest son John, my 10 x g.grandfather, which he acquired from an Anthony Bedingfield and others. There is a document regarding this in the National Archives. As William Dameron was church warden and a yeoman, it seems incredible that he somehow accumulated enough money to buy a Manor House and leave fairly substantial donations to his children.
He also gave to whichever poor his executors thought most fitted the description £20 at his burial and within one year after.
Only after all that, did he mention his wife’s demeaning bequest!
It's said that Shakespeare's widow would automatically be entitled to one third of her husband's estate but to be given a 2nd best bed was a demeaning bequest, but even allowing for that it is highly unusual for a spouse to be included so tersely as an afterthought. My 11 x g.grandfather obviously set a precedent.