Details in the 1617 Will of Rihard Cowper als Stenning of Rudgwick

[MattD30]

Hi all

I am hoping someone can help me decipher some of the names or bequests in this will from 1617. I can read most of it fairly well and the names are pretty much all decipherable apart from one or two.

I am stuck, however, with a few bits and odd words here and there so I hope people can help here.

In the first image here Richard leaves to his wife Elizabeth XXb now I know that's not pence as it would be XXd so what value would that be? 20 shillings?

He leaves to the poor of the parish iiib iiiid which seems to be 3 shillings 4 pence so on this basis I presume his bequest to Elizabeth is in shillings. Correct me if wrong.

In the second image here at the top line he mentions his goddaughter Susan. Can anyone work out her surname? I think it begins with "A" but I am struggling with it.

Lastly in the final image he appoints two friends as overseers. The second name is William Stenning [you can only see "Stenn" but I suspect that's the full name] but can anyone work out the first one? It looks like Lorraine something but I don't think that is right.

Thank you in advance for any help here

Matt

[Bookbox]

What looks like a b is, as you thought, a ‘sigma-type’ s, for shillings. So the amounts are 3s. 4d and 20s.

Susane Alchine (I think)

Larrannce Searll (presumably = Laurence)

[arthurk]

I thought Alchine too, before reading Bookbox's reply.

[MattD30]

What looks like a b is, as you thought, a ‘sigma-type’ s, for shillings. So the amounts are 3s. 4d and 20s.

Susane Alchine (I think)

Larrannce Searll (presumably = Laurence)

Brilliant. I did think that it probably was shillings but I haven't seen it written that way much before. Luckily in my notes I have transcribed that bit as 20 shillings but with a [?] at the end.

Thank you for the names as well. Alchine is close to what I had - "Achin" so I wasn't far off lol!

Many thanks again for the help.

Matt

[MattD30]

I thought Alchine too, before reading Bookbox's reply.

I have looked at the will again and agree with you and Bookbox.

Many thanks for the help.

Matt