Some help with reading a will

[M_ONeill]

Hello all,

So I'm looking at the text of a probate will from 1651 in the hope of getting a better idea of the wider family relations of the Smallmans of Monkhopton, Shropshire, and I could use some help.

First I wanted to check about exactly what I'm okay to post here - it's a fairly long will and I know that posting entire documents here isn't allowed. How much of the text am I allowed to post? Is posting sections okay provided that it isn't the entire document?

Thanks in advance.

[PaulineJ]

Section by section is best for the simple reason that you are limited on size of Image.
Easier to keep track of which line is being translated too.

[M_ONeill]

Okay, thanks for the clarification Pauline. 

So this is the probate of one John Smallman yeoman of Monkhampton. I've skipped the preamble as I think I understand most of that and can understand it up until the reference of Burial in the first line of the first attached snippet.

In this one I know that it's referencing some land in Monkhopton - I can make out that it seems to be mentioning John's wife. I think it's mentioning splitting up some land and giving half to his brother [Francis?] Smallman and half to his son in law William whose name I can't make out.

Edit: As this is a fairly long section, I'll hold off posting the next until people have had a shot at transcription. 

[philipsearching]

............................................................................Whereas y hold
two Messuages or Tenements and divers lande thereunto belonginge in Mincke
Hopton aforesaid by a joint Estate heretofore made to me and my wife for
terme of our [time?] here and for the life of the longer liver of us My Will
therefore is that the one halfe or moiety of the said two Messuages or
Tenements Landes and [?] shall after my decease be and remaine
unto Ffrancis Smallinge my brother and William [Lage?] my sonne
in lawe........

[M_ONeill]

Thanks for that Phillip! So the brother is indeed Francis Smallman.

Question: what is a Messuage, is that a set amount of land?

This is the next section, proceeding from the last. I believe it refers to John's 'five youngest children':

[philipsearching]

Question: what is a Messuage, is that a set amount of land?

a messuage is usually defined as a dwelling house together with outbuildings and land assigned for the use of the occupiers.

Philip

[M_ONeill]

Ah, that makes sense, thanks! So essentially two farmsteads, at the risk of oversimplifying.

[horselydown86]

A couple of additions to Philip's work on Extract 1:

...terme of our two lives...

There appears to be an interlined addition between two and lives.  Is it written in the margin?

In the third last line I believe the missing word is p(re)misses, although the p is unrecognisable.

I will go onto Extract 2, unless someone else has already started on it.

[M_ONeill]

There appears to be an interlined addition between two and lives.  Is it written in the margin?

Ah, a good spot - I was wondering where the inserts came into play. In this case, the inserted word is 'naturall'. Which strikes me as a spectacularly thorough piece of legalese! No property for the undead, I suppose...