There are four surviving wills and five inventories for this period. Two wills of widows illustrate their varied roles in the economy.
Queniborough is a linear village, half way between Leicester and Melton Mowbray.
Ibstock is one of Leicestershire's largest villages.
Sileby lies astride the main railway line between Leicester and Nottingham.
Castle Donington is a small market town in north-west Leicestershire.
Few wills are proved in this period of civil war and interregnum. Bishops were abolished in 1646 together with their probate courts.
Up Nately was a small v
