Will and inventory of John Nash, husbandman, 1583

Nash was the tenant of Corpus Christi College copyhold number 16 which today is Rye Cottage and dated from 1486. He farmed 8 acres of this copyhold but clearly held other land which he may have sublet from another copyholder. He died childless but had stepchildren. His mother was Joan Ivold and members of her family were subsequently named on this copyhold. His debt list at the end of the inventory is particularly interesting showing an obligation to his wife’s daughters and debts to a number of local people. As coinage was scarce some debts were only settled at death but survival of such detailed lists of debts owed and owing is rare in this area.