Will and court paper of Henry Leach 1604

Leach leased land in Basing but did not live there. A court paper explains that the will was written by Florentine Iles, a scrivener in Basingstoke. This may have been necessary because the will was not signed. Probate was granted to his widow and executrix. It seems she was his second wife (he left a bequest to her son) and his estate was divided between her and his daughter Cicely probably from his previous marriage. He left money to his cousins and also one of them was given guardianship of Cicely. He farmed on a large scale, leasing Poors land in Basing from the Marquis of Winchester and in Basingstoke, ran 80 sheep on the common, through his lease of Brinklows as well as his farm in Nately Scures.