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fols 1-6 Copy of will 24 Jun 1715 of Nicholas [1] Chamberlaine (of Bedworth, Warwickshire, clerk): the testator allots to Hon William Bromley (of Baginton, Warwickshire, esquire), Henry Neal of Allesley and Basil St Nicholas of Knowle (both Warwickshire, esquires), James Sherman (of Higham [on-the Hill], Leicestershire, clerk), Charles Yardley (of Corley [Warwickshire]), Edward Palmer (of Withybrook, Warwickshire) and Roger Hughes (of Aston Cantlow, Warwickshire)(all clerks) all Bedworth property which he has purchased from Charles Goodwin, esquire (excepting the hall)(viz 'Rye Piece', 'Croxalls Close' and 'Browns Meadow' (all farmed by Humphrey Hanbury), a close tenanted by Richard Howlett, a farm (worth £25 per annum) tenanted by Thomas Adnitt, 'Barley Piece' (held severally by Richard Pearcy and John Howlett, both at £12 per annum), a parcel of land in four pieces (held by William Birch at £8 per annum rent), and several pieces of ground tenanted once by the late Thomas Fryer but now by John Friswell (at £10 per annum)) in order that they might build two schools over the cellar adjoining the hall for a schoolmaster and schoolmistress, appointing the master and mistress for the respective education of c.40 Bedworth boys (in reading, writing and arithmetic) and a discretionary number of Bedworth girls (in reading, writing and women's handicrafts), all to be taught the catechism and prayers said; £10 per annum salary is reserved for the master, 10/- for a boy assistant, £5 for the mistress, and £5 for repairs and books; a majority of trustees may replace any teacher or pupil; within twelve months of the testator's death, the trustees will place twelve poor women in six lower rooms and six poor men or women in six upper rooms of the almshouses which the testator has already covenanted to have buildt in the hallyard; the trustees are empowered to instal new beneficiaries on the death of any first chosen, each poor person receiving 1/6 per week; the trustees may make rules, the poor almspeople will have 4/- per annum fuel allowance each and an 8/- coat every other Christmas, they will attend church services and set prayers on pain of forfeiting one week's allowance; any surplus money will go towards placing out poor boys as apprentices according to the national example of charity schools: a majority of the trustees should meet every Christmas and Whitsun at Bedworth Hall to inspect the school and almshouses, but all should assemble on Whit Wednesday when a minister (preferably one of themselves) should preach a sermon (for which he will be paid 10/-); the trustees will draw up an account book, the accountant receiving 40/-; within twelve months of a trustee's death or neglect, a majority of the rest will elect his replacement. The testator bequeaths:- to his niece Mary (wife of Thomas Allatt of London, coachmaker) £100; to the Allats' two younger sons, 310 each; to his niece Sarah [1] (wife of Thomas [1] Bury of Kenilworth), £12 per annum for life; to the Burys' daughter Mary, 35 per annum until marriage and then £100; to the Bury's daughters Sarah [II] and Elizabeth, £50 each at 21; to the Burys' son Chamberlaine, £20 within twelve months of finishing his apprenticeship; to the Burys' sons Humphrey and Thomas [II], £20 in order that they may be apprenticed; to the testator's nephew John Chamberlaine senior (of Braughing, Hertfordshire)'s six daughters, £10 each; to the testator's sister-in-law Catherine [I] Chamberlaine, widow a £5 annuity; to the four daughters of Catherine [I] and the testator's late brother Henry (Elizabeth, Catherine [II], Mary and Sarah), £100 each; to Henry the son of the testator's niece Catherine [Man nee] Chamberlaine, £10 per annum for five years if he remain so long at university; to Catherine Man's sons Robert, John and Thomas, £20 each; to Robert, son of Job Chamberlaine of Whitnash [Warwickshire], £20 within twelve months of finishing his apprenticeship; to Job Chamberlaine's son Nicholas [II], £10 per annum for five years from the next after the testator's decease; to Henry son of Job Chamberlaine, £20 to set him apprentice; to Job Chamberlaine's daughters Elizabeth and Anne, £20 each; to the testator's nephew Henry, a £5 annuity; to Robert son of Richard Chamberlaine of Kenilworth, £10 when out of his apprenticeship; to Richard Chamberlaine's two daughters, £20 each at 21; the testator's servant Robert Randell should remain bailiff of all estates devised to the trustees, being allowed £10 per annum, with instead a £4 annuity whenever he might become incapacitated; the testator's servant Stephen Sidway should receive 40/- per annum for life; as executors, Reverends James Sherman, Charles Yardley and Roger Hughes will accept £5 each for five years after the testator's death; any legal disputes between the executors and beneficiaries should be laid before Hon. William Bromley, Henry Neal and Basil St Nicholas, whose majority arbitration will be final: if any oppose William Bromley's presenting Roger Hughes to Bedworth rectory as the testator's successor, the other executors should assist in defraying charges: the executors are given any other Bedworth estate together with that at Alveston and at Gun Hill (Fillongley and Arley parishes), both Warwickshire, and of Jennings Close, Coventry county for five years from the testator's decease - thereafter, Alveston land will go to Chamberlaine Allatt with remainder to his mother Mary, paying every [21 Dec] 40/- for education of poor Whitnash children (the churchwardens will continue the charity there when the family becomes extinct); Jennings Close goes to the testator's niece Sarah [I] Bury with remainder to her son Chamberlaine; Gun Hill will pass to John Chamberlaine junior (of Braughing, Hertfordshire, gent), he paying £10 each to Elizabeth Jackson and Mary Chamberlaine during their residence at Bedworth [in their present marital state] and to Sarah Man during her potential widowhood; other Bedworth land is destined for the testator's niece Catherine Hughes with remainder to her eldest son Henry but allowing to the testator's servant Robert Randell a house (occupied by Richard 'Barcy') with two closes and two cottages at 20/- per annum rent; to Nicholas [II] son of Job Chamberlaine fall Bedworth Hall and manor, he paying all annuities discharged by the executors during the quinquennium, the trustees will take £1,000 for investment to service the charities, household goods will be removed to Bedworth Hall, and the executors should discharge all receipts over the five years, delivering up to the trustees thereafter for charitable cases any goods remaining.
fols 7-8 blank
fols 9-14 Second copy of will 1739
fols 15-17 Rental 1730

Former reference: A126