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- "The rector of Gateshead, Lawrence Dodsworth, in his will of this date, sets forth his adhesion to the Protestant form of religion in a long preamble, wherein, among other declarations, he utterly re-nounces " all the Pope's false and usurped primacy, and all his detestable enormities, beseeching God to deliver His church from all his errors and false doctrine, for he is the very Antichrist, enemy and adversary to the glorious gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ." Gives to the poor-man's box, ios. and a bowl of rye, adding, " I would have given more, but my debts being great, I must seek first to see them discharged." Leaves to his wife Catherine, for life, his farmhold at Hannibie Grange, " upon condition that she therewith bring up my small children most chiefly in the fear of God, and put them forth to prentice or service as she can or may; and if any of them be disobedient or stubborn to their mother, they to have no benefit by this my devise and will." After his wife's death the farmhold is to come wholly to his son Christopher Dodsworth, with remainders to Edward and "his next brethren, one after another," during the lease. Gives his son Edward, after his wife's decease, two beasts, ten sheep, and a horse, to be pastured and fed with the best during Christopher's tenancy of the grange; " and also to have a bedroom there, to come and go at his pleasure." Testator's mother, after the expiration of his father's lease, is to have four kye and ten sheep upon the farmhold during her life and widowhood, paying his wife, or Christopher, or other testator's assigns, being tenants there, 20s. a-year; also the new chamber which she lately built there. Residue to his wife, who is to be sole executrix. Testator prays God to give her comfort and grace to bring up their children in His fear, and commits his flock to the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ, whom he desires to " stir up unto them a lawful and godly pasture;" adding, " Farewell, once again, my dear and loving flock in the Lord, to whose only providence I commit you, myself, and all mine." Supervisors— John Dodsworth, brother-in-law ; Francis Bainbridge, esquire; Robert Place of Dinsdale, gentleman ; William Blythman, son-in-law: and Thomas Potts. Witnesses—Thomas Thompson, John Salsburie, John Hutcheson, clerk."
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