Inventory of Elizabeth Smith, widow, 1665

This inventory was appraised in January 1639 but not proved until 1665. Why this happened is not known. Elizabeth was the widow of Nicholas Smith, tenant of the second largest Corpus Christi College copyhold (no.11), the Farm. His will was proved in 1632 but in 1639, the portion which Elizabeth still possessed was assessed after her death. She died just before civil war broke out but many wills were proved in the 1640s in Winchester. Perhaps there was a dispute over her legacy but nothing survives to confirm that.