In the name of God Amen. The eleventh day of November in the xxxvith
year of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth the Queen’s grace? She that now is ? and
in the year of our Saviour Jesus Christ 1594.
I Thomas Hemingway of Mirfield within the Diocese of York sick in body
but yet of good and perfect remembrance praised by God for the same, do ordain constitute
and make this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth. First I bequeath my soul into the hands of
Almighty God hoping by the death and merits of Jesus Christ to have free
remission of all my sins and to merit eternal life. And my body to be buried in the church or churchyard of Mirfield
aforesaide, or again the churchyard of that parish where it shall please god to
call me forth of this miserable and transitory world. And for the disposing of such worldly goods as god hath endowed
me my will is that the same shall first stand and be to the paying and
discharging of all my debts and bringing forth and funeral expenses. Item, my will is that of all the residue
Elizabeth now my wife shall have the full third part thereof according to the
laws and customs of our country in consideration and satisfaction of her
dowry. All the residue of my said goods
I give and bequeath wholly unto my six children; John Hemmingway, James
Hemmingway, Jonas Hemmingway, Isaac Hemmingway, Margaret Hemmingway and Sarah
Hemmingway to be equally divided amongst them
And the said Elizabeth my wife shall have the tuition of all my said six
children, for and during their minority.
Also I do ordain and make the said Elizabeth my wife; John Hemmingway,
James Hemmingway, Jonas Hemmingway, Isaac Hemmingway, Margaret Hemmingway and
Sarah Hemmingway executors of this my last will and testament. I do appoint John Midgeley my father in law
and my ????wife’s?? brother Richard Mitchell, the supervisors of this my last
will trusting they will see the same truly executed according to the true
effects and simple meaning hereof.
Witnesses
John Crossfield
John Midgeley
Michael Mawde
Gilbert Holdsworth