This is the will of John Buckner, yeoman of Chawley, Cumnor Parish, Berkshire, England, 1686 - (Archdeaconry Court of Berks, BRO D/A1/47/112)

John Buckner of Chawley was the son of Anthony Buckner of Chawley, who died there in 1642, intestate, the same year as his wife Christiane Buckner. Anthony was apparently the youngest son of William Buckner of Chawley, who died in 1617 leaving a fairly detailed will. I believe, though cannot entirely prove, that William of Chawley was a younger son of John Buckner of Botley (d. 1609). John was christened in Cumnor parish in 1616 and his only known brother William in 1618. This brother William was presumably then the father of John's nephews Edward and Thomas Buckner mentioned in the present will. There are burials of William Buckners recorded in North Hinksey in 1670 and 1678, one of which is probably his. Edward seems to have continued on at North Hinksey, probably being the Edward buried there in 1693. The testator's only known wife was Mary Stacie (m. 1639), and they had recorded christenings for sons John (1640), Anthony (1642), William (1647), Henry (1648), and Richard (1650) in the Cumnor parish register. The will shows that the first three all survived to adulthood, though nothing is known of the last two or of any other siblings.

The will is quite useful in listing many, though not all, of John's grandchildren by name, and it should be a real Rosetta stone for anyone researching this family at this time. It is also important in that it shows that John's son Anthony (b. 1642) was probably well settled in England in 1686, which makes it almost certain that he is not the same Anthony Buckner who lived in Virginia in the 1680s.

As John's farm was a copyhold, it would have reverted to his eldest son John (as it had to him from his father Anthony), but the executor had a year to manage the estate before disposing of the legacies, and that year's profits were willed to go to Anthony, presumably before the reversion of the copyhold to John Jr. The inventory of the estate tallied to £135, a respectably wealthy estate for a copyholder.

John Jr.'s widow Elizabeth left a will probated in Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire in 1714 that names son John, daughter Martha Clanfield, and daughter Elizabeth. John only got "one shilling more than I have formerly given him" and Elizabeth was the executrix and residuary legatee, though the estate only comprised the profits of the Cumnor estate from the "executrix's year" and personal effects.

Cumnor parish burial records show that John Buckner was buried at St Michael church on 8 Oct 1686, 5 days after the writing of the will and 7 days before the probate.

Date of will 3 Oct 1686

Date of probate 13 Oct 1686

People listed: 

In the name of God Amen; I John Buckner Chawley in the p[ar]ishe of Comner in the County of Berks
yeoman beinge sicke and weake of body but of a p[er]fecte and sound mind and memory (thanks bee
given to God for the same) But considering the frailty of my body and knowinge that it is apointed
for all men once to dye Doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in maner and forme
followinge (That is to say) First I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of God who gave it me
hopeinge through the meritts of my blassed Saviour and Redeemer to have free pardon and forgivenesse
of all my sins And for my body I remmitt it to the earth from whence it was Originally take to be buried
in a good and Decent and Christian like man~er [as?] in Discretion of my Executor hereafter named shall seem
most meet and convenient And as touchinge such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me
with all in this life I give bequeath and Dispose of in maner and forme followinge (that is to say) First I give
and bequeath to my son John Buckner the sum of one shillinge together with my largest Brasse Colt [coulter?] and
alsoe my Three Hutches that I were wont usually to put Corne in Item I give and bequeath to ^my Granddaughter
Elizabeth Buckner Daughter of my said son John Buckner the sum of Five pounds to be paid her with
in a Twelve month next after my Decease Item I give and bequeath to me said Granddaughter Elizabeth
Buckner my best Coverlaid together with one of my best paire of sheets and alsoe the least ^but one Coffer that standeth
in the Room where I usually lye And alsoe my Two best Pewter Dishes together with one Candle sticke of pewter 
Item I give and bequeath to Granddaughter Mary Buckner the sum of Fower pounds to be paid herein
Tweleve Months next after my Decease And alsoe the least Coffer that stands in the Room where I Usually
lye together with mt Two Second best Pewter Dishes and alsoe my best ~~~~ Brasse Candlesticke Item I give and
bequeath to my Grand Children John and Martha Children of my said son John Buckner the sum of Three pounds
apeice to be paid them within Two years next after my Decease Togther alsoe with each of them a Pewter
Dishe Item I give and bequeath to all fower of the children of my son William Buckner the sum of Five pounds
apeice But now in Case either of the Children of my said son John Buckner to happen to dye before their
Legacies become due and payable Then My Will is that^ the legacy of he or her soe dyinge shall be devided amongst them
rest of the said Children equally Or in Case either of the Children of my said son William doe happen to dye before
either he or her shall receive their said Legacies That then the Legacy of ^he or her soe dyinge shallbe equally devided 
amongst the rest of mythe said Children Item I give to my Grandson John Buckner son of my son Anthony Buckner 
the sum of Five pounds to be paid him when he shall come out of Apprentizeshipp Item I give and bequeath
to my son Anthony Buckner the whole Profitt of yeExecutors Year of the house and the Estate thereunto belonginge 
wherein he now Dwells and inhabitts and alsoe the sum of Twenty shillings to be paid him within one weeke
next after my Decease But my will is the Charge of the Heriott that ^shall grow due on the Estate wherein my son
Anthony lives shall be wholly borne & made by my Executor herein after menc~oned Item I give and bequeath
to my Two Nephews Edward Bucknere and Thomas Buckner the sum of Twenty shillings a peice to be paid
them within one Fortnight next after my Decease, Item I give to my Nephew Edward Buckners Children that
he shall have at the time of my Decease the sum of two shillings to be paid them within one year
Quarter of a Year next after Decease Item I give and bequeath to Thomas Smith of Comner the sum of

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Halfe a Crowne Item I Give and bequeath to Thomas Bell of Comner halfe a Crowne Item I give and bequeath
to John Hinton of Comner halfe a Crowne Item I give to Arthur Castle of Filchumsteed [Filchampstead] halfe a Crowne Item I
Give to Richard Blackman of Comnor halfe a Crowne Item I give to Thomas Godfrey of Botley Pound 
the sum of halfe a Crowne All which said sum of halfe a Crowne My Will is that they be paid within a Fortnight
next after ^my Decease if they be Lawfully Demanded Item all the rest of my Goods Chattles ready Money and Utensills of
house hold Stuffe I Give and bequeath to my son William Buckner who I make my full and whole Executor
In witnessse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal This Third Day of October in the Second year
of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and
Ireland Kinge and Defender of the Faith &c Anno[?] Dni 1686

Signed sealed Published and                                                The Marke of
Declared in the presence of
	The Marke of
	John Z Bolton
	John S Bradley                                                 John___  Buckner Sen









									Exhibitus fuit huiu~
									Jun? Ex? manl? Oxon 13o die
									Octobr Anno Dni 1686o p[er] Exec~tor?
									Test huis p[er] dict defunct pro vero et
									...