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RICHARD WORRALL RECTOR OF HIGH HOYLAND
Reading the wills of a number of clergy, especially those who died in the seventeenth century, one
often finds that their family life was far from peaceful and that children were a source of worry to their parents.
Richard Worrall was no exception for on 11 October 1614 when he was very ill he drew up his last will and
testament. 'I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator who hath sanctified me and made me co-heir with Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour of eternal life.' Briefly setting out the
basis of his faith he requests that his body 'be buried in the chancel of the church of High Holland' of which there is now no indication.
Traditionally, according to the custom of York diocese, he divided his estate into three parts, one third to
his wife Marie for her natural life, one third to the children and one third to pay his debts and funeral expenses.
There were nine children ,of whom the eldest was Nathaniel followed by Samuel, John, Joshua, Marie,
Elizabeth; Sara, Suzan and Martha of whom the last three were under the age of twenty-one and had by law to be put into the care of guardians.
He stated in his will that 'Marie my wife be tutor to the three youngest children and have the disposing
of their child portion (their share',of the one third of the estate), until they attain the age of twenty-one years.'
Provision was also made in case his widow, Marie should die before the children reached adult age 'I
will that if my wife shall die during the minority of my three youngest children that Marie and Elizabeth my daughters shall have tuition of the three youngest.'
All his debts paid, the residue of the estate was to be given to his wife whom I make my sole
executrix.' Nathaniel the eldest son must have been a problem to his parents. The clue comes in the bequest of ten shillings (50p) 'in lieu of all rights he may have to my goods, to be paid to
him one year after my death.'
Further in the will it becomes clear that, this eldest son had been a trouble to his parents. His
father specifically charges 'him that 'Nathaniel shall not molest or trouble my said wife, his mother for any of those lands which I and my wife purchased from him for one hundred pounds (about £7,000 to-day),
to pay his debts. I do owe him eleven pounds of the said hundred for which he is to be paid five pounds at Martinmas (November 11) next and six pounds at Martinmas but one following.' The lands to
which the will refers were all in Kexborough and Darton and lease I concerning the property are to be found in the Bretton Hall papers.
Richard Worrall did not forget the poor. He left ten shillings to be shared out amongst the poor folk
in the parish.
The persons he chose as executors are all of interest. One was Matthew Wentworth Esquire of Bretton
Hall, a family at this time without a title. Another was John Clayton whose family still lived at Clayton Hall but was to disappear before 1660. The third was Bartin Allott of Bilham Grange, a family that
was already established in the village and survived until last century when the last of the Allots of Bilham drank himself into bankruptcy and the farm was sold. The last was Nicholas Hawksworth of Wheatly Hall
a family that had played a part in the defence of England against Spain and was to survive the Civil War. This family bought Nortonthorpe Mill then a corn mill in partnership with Peter Green of Skelmanthorpe
and built up a prosperous business. In 1635 he quarrelled with the the rector, William Appleyard, over tithe payment of wool.
Richard Worrall's co-rector, John Galley, died about the same time. With the exception of five
pounds left to his brother, Thomas Galley, being repayment of a debt, he left to his wife, Elizabeth Galley, for life. Both wills were proved by the Dean of Doncaster at Doncaster on 31 January 1615/16
Dr John Addy
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