The Will of Thomas Austell

Testament (latin) dat.24 Aug. 1509. To be buried in Exeter Cathedral by the sepulture of Master Thomas Kyrckby sometime Treasurer there. To the Common chest 40/-. To pish. church of Tayngton Regis to pray for my soul 6/-. To pish church of Cheryton Fitzpaine 110 if they will pray according to rate, if not 40/-. To pish church of Bishop Nympton similarly L6.13.4. To pish church of St. Probus in Cornwall L20. To fraternity of King's Teignton 40/-. To chapel of Hyweke L3.6.8. To Exeter College Osford 40/-. To convent of 3/4. To convent of Polleslowe 13/4. To pish church of Yealmpton L20. To house of St. John Bapt. Exon 20/-. To house of Friars Preachers in Exeter 10/-., of Friars Minors 6/8. To fraternity of pish church of Ede 40/-., they to keep my obit for 20 years with two priests & they to have 8d & the clerk 2d... To house of sick of St. Mary Magd. of Exeter 3/4. To fraternity of Dunchidcock 6/8. To church of Combton Martyn Co. Somers. my manual & 6/8. To Wells Cathedral to keep my obit for 20 years L20. To Exeter Cathedral all that belongs to me from a year from my death for my obit annually to be distributed 13/4 & the executor of the office if he be a canon to have double. To pish church of Dalyshewake for my obit as at Ede 40/- & a pair of vestments. To the vicars of Wells L20.

To convent of vicars of Exeter Cathedral 40/-. To Mr. Russewell for three years to be paid at Oxford 5/-. To the venerable man Mr. John Veyse, precenter of Exeter by book 24 conicorum, at his death he to dispose of it to another worthy man & canon, to pray for soul of Mr. Patrick Holyborton.

To my sister Emmote my best cloak & best ring & 6 spoons with 'liberdys hedes' etc. cup with my arms. After her death, Thomas her son to have all said plate, but if he die without issue, same equally among the daughters of my sister. If all die, plate to right heirs of Michael Kelly. To Elianor the daughter of my sister L6.13.4. To Joan the daughter of my sister L10. To Edmund Sentlaw cloak etc. & on his death same to Thomas my godson. To daughter of said Edmund to her marriage L6.13.4 if she marry with my counsel otherwise nothing. To Joan Bamfyld the daughter of my sister L10. To William Kellegh black cloak & 40/-. To Nicholas Kellegh the same.

To the four guardians (custodes) each a black cloak. To the shoemaker, taylor, barber, laundress & John Merdon a black gown each & 12d. To the wife of William Panter gown etc. three goblets of "morshyll". To Mr. John Beckham canon of Wells silver cup. To John Kelly being in Oxford clerk for 5 years 5/-. To Michael Kelly a cup etc. & to his wife a pair of white amber (precar) and to his son & heir a black cloak etc.

To every Rector and parish priest in Exeter 12d. To house & convent of St. Nicholas Exeter 13/4 To repair of bridge of Tong by Nuton Busshell 20/- (English). To Sr. Rs Pomar vicar of Wells a pair of beads. To Sr. Veysey 6/8 etc.

To Sir Thomas West 6/8. To Mrs. Myll my book of prayers etc. To Jenett West 20/- The great cupboard is Mr. Patricks to whom I was exor my book sheweth what remaineth. To Water Kelly a gown etc. To his daughter's marriage 13/4. To Oliver of Stabyll a gold ring. To my launder at Wells 20d. To Cornych wife 2/-. To my Lord of Glaston-bury a pair of beads that was Bishop Lacys. To Sir John (blank) featherbed. Rest to Mr. John Veyzey, Mr. Rs. Norton, Mr. John Beckam & Thomas Chauntrell & they be exors for good of my soul & especially for exhibition of poor scholars at Oxford. To each exor l00s. & a jewel of 40/-. To Mr. Speke knight cup & he to be overseer & have 40/-.

Will proceding proved June, Will following proved July 1515.

As he requested in his will, Thomas Austell was buried in Exeter Cathedral.

In October of 1987, Robert Joseph Austill, of Santa Clara, California, visited the Cathedral and was able to find the burial place of Thomas Austell. THe inscription on the stone slab, set in the floor of the Cathedral, is worn very smooth and is all but illegible; but a book kept in the cathedral gives the location of the burial.