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John was one of the first (one of tweleve) appointed Burgesses mentioned in the Charter granted/appointed by King James to Evesham and Bengeworth in the third year of his reign [1605] constituting them a Borough, granting the town two representatives in Parliament. John was esteemed a man of weight and worth in Bengeworth.

Towards the end of his life John was blind. His will was dated Aug 4, 1624 and the inventory was dated Dec 11, 1624. He was then an old man, and as stated in the will, was unable to sign his name on account of blindness, authorizing his "Brither John Tymbrall" to sign for him.

Will of John Washbourne " In the name of God amen, the iiid day of august and dni 1624 and in thexxiith year of the reign of Souagne Lord James by the grace of god, King of England , Fraunce, and Ireland defender of the faith of Scotland the Lviith. I John Washbourne of Bengeworth in the Borough of Evesham in the xountie ofworcester being veryweak and sicke in bodie but of good and p'fect memory thanks to be to God doe ordain this my last will and testament in manner in formeffollowing. first I bequeath my soul into the hands of the Almighty God nothing doubting but that through his infinite mercy in Jesus Christ he will receive it.

Item unto my son-in-law Isaacke Averell Thirty pounds of good and lawful money of England to be paid unto him in a mann. & form following vidit, that is to say Fifteene poundswithin one year next after my decease and the other fifteen three years after my decease.

Item I give to my daughter Joane Washbourne fifteen pounds of good and lawful money of England to be paid unto her one Halfe at her day of marriage & the other within the space of fouer years next ensueing after her day of marriage. Provided that she marry with the consent assent & good lyking of her mother and my brother-in-law John Trimbrel.

Item I give unto my sonne William Washbourne forty pounds the one half to be paid within six months after my decease.

Item I give unto my loving Wife household stuffeto be at her disposing.

The residue of my Lands Carrells Cattells ,pveab;e & unmoveable I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Washbourne who I make Executor of this my last will and testament & whom I ordain & appoint to pay all the afforesaid bequeathsin the mann. & forme aforesaid. Memorandum that before the signing hereof the above said John Washbourne did give and bequeathunto Jane the daughter of Isaacke Averall one Heyfer of a year old to be delivered her when she comes to the age of yeares.

In witness of all which the said John Washborne being blinde & not able to sett to his hand hath authorised his Brother John Tymbrell for him & in his stead to subscribe to these present with his name or marke the Day & yeare first above written. Read published & signed with this word (lands) interlined in the seventeenth line before the ensealing & signing hereof before John Washborne

John Balaw
John Tymbrell
Joseph Phelpes

Probate wigorn 26 February
1624 p John Washborne
filius et executorem jurat"

The will indicates that John possessed a very productive holding of land,for he had stored in his house at the time of his death 82 pounds worth of wheat, barley and pulse; 32 pounds worth of cattle, sheep and swine; 39 pounds worth of horses; gears. carts. [;pws. amd harrows - his father kept5 horses; 8-10-0 pounds worth of hay. The house was of one story with an attic, the latter used for the lodging rooms, granary, and general store room. the ground floor contained a "hall" orcommon living room, Kitchen and a "Chamber" pr bedroom. The hall was furnished with "one little table board and its "frame", one little table, forms, benches, and a "Join Chair", one cupboard, shelves for cheeses, pewter, & brass vessels and other furnishings and implements. These latter according to his wife's inventory, included eighteen pewter platers, twelve pairs of small pewters, three basins, one awer and six cushions. The "chamber" or bedroom adjoining the hall was furnished with a bedstead,one feather bed with boulster and pillows, a clothespress, a chest [of drawers] and three coffers. There were three other flock bedsin the house, store of sheets of holland, flax and hemp, napkins and two towels. In the kitchen was one table, three brass pots, and pans, kettles, ironware, posnet-porringer, one cabinet, pails, etc. The attic loft above the kitchen, hall and chamber contained four beds and furnishings, and besides serving as a granary and cheesery, served as storage for articles in occasional use.

For the inventory of the father, John Washbourne's property in 1593, which is much more minute than that of the son, we learn that the house had a rear yard with barns, ricks, and a place for the storing of timber and fuel; that the windows of the house, at least of the hall and chamber were glazed, for the glass is entered as a separate item, and that the household possessed numerous conveniences passed over or lumped in the later inventory. The wills and inventories together show that the family was bettering itself with every succeeding generation, and was decidedly prosperous. No mention is made of the land and buildings; they passed by custom of the day to the eldest son John. It must have been a strong purpose indeed in the state of things in Worchestershire which made John Washbourne forsake "fat esteem" and become a pilgrim of the bleak and savage shore of New England of the Plymouth Colony.

The 1624 Will and Inventory of John Washborne, of Bengeworth,

Worcestershire, England, transcribed from LDS Microfilm #0098025,

"Wills of the Consistory Court of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester, 1624," and compared with the transcription of the same in Rev. James Davenport's "The Washbourne Family of Little Washbourne and Wichenford," London, 1907, pp. 42-44.

This microfilm was dark and hard to read, and in addition the right hand side of Washborne's will and bottom of his inventory appear to have been water-damaged. I photographed both the will and inventory. The transcription by Rev. James Davenport is excellent and thorough, word for word, with the will. I am posting it to the Washburn mailing list for the sake of those who do not have access to Davenport's difficult-to-find book.

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INVENTORY

"An Inventorie of all the goods & chattells
of John Washborne of Bengworth late
deceased made the xith day of Decembr
anno Domi 1624

Impris his wearing appell ---------------------------- 3
Item in the lower iner chambr one cubbord one pesse
& one bed wth his furniture Barrells bed healings
linnin & other implements ---------------------------- 22
Item in the Hall one table board wth his frame,
formes & benches with one cubbord & one little table
with one joyne chayer with pewter & bras shelves
cheeses & other implements --------------------------- 4 10s
Item in the Kitchin & in the loft above one
table board bras potts kettles pailes one
cheesering towe beds & other implements -------------- 2 3s
Item in the loft above the Hall fowr bedds
wheat barley & poulse coffers boards &
cheeses & other implements --------------------------- 15 10s
Item the horses geares carts plowes &
harrowes ------------------------------------------- 9&30
Item the Hay & talletts and Hay ---------------------- 8 10s
Item Timbr & wood & ladders & rackes ----------------- 6
Item the wheate Barly & poulse ----------------------- 82
Item the kine ---------------------------------------- 20
Item the sheep --------------------------------------- 10
Item the swine --------------------------------------- 2
Item the Heams Cartropes pig-troughes &
Horsetroughe ----------------------------------------- 10s
             Suma totalis is         ccxv iiis

Prisors
Joseph Phelps
John Tymbrell                       (additional writing
Tho. ordway                           in this area that is
                                            dark and unreadable.)

26 February 1624"

Remember that the calendar in use in England at this time changed years on March 25th, so February 1624 came after December 1624.