The Minor Family of Somerset

Michale Waterhouse, became the new owner of Broadgates after th
e death of hisfather.
Michael Waterhouse made his will March 23rd, 1597 (40 Eliz) an
d isdescribed therein as "Master of Arts remaining at the Brode
gates.
He leaveshis soul to God and body to be buried in the Parish Ch
urch of Halifax, or elsewhere as God sHall appoint. All his deb
ts, funeral expenses and Church duties he ordered to be paid ou
t of his goods and rent of his lands and the leaseof a Corn Mil
l until the said debts are discharged.
"I next give and bequeath to William Lister, Vicar of Kirkbye o
r Wakefield and Mr Broadley preacherat Sowerby 20 pounds from t
he rents of all my lands next after payments of mydebts, etc.
, to be bestowed upon the poor, the most of it or all on those w
ithin the parish of Halifax."
To Michael Brooke, his sister's son, testator bequeathed ten pou
nds to be taken out of the lands and the lease of the Mill,nex
t after the legacy to the poor.
To John Waterhouse, of Hull, "my father'sbase son" ten pounds t
o be retained next from the rents and lease, desiringhim and te
stator's cousin Isaac Waterhouse, of Woodhouse, to dispose of on
ehundred pounds out of the rents also to "the discharge of my d
uty and promise elsewhere specified, at the end of sixteen year
s if the party live so long,and in the meantime to discharge a
t least the duty I owe him for loss by mydefault." What this o
bligation was is not stated in the will, nor have I been able t
o find out,l but it was taken up and paid out of the rents of th
e lands at Broadgates and the lease of the Mereclough Bottom Mil
l He made CalebWaterhouse, his cousin, his wife and children
, tenants for the term of twelve years, paying during that perio
d 18 pounds, and upholding the housing and buildings upon the pr
emises and also one half of the Mill and dam, with leaveto hav
e timber found at the discretion of the executors. The rent o
f 18 pounds was presumably for Broadgates, and it was an annua
l rent which was to gotowards the payment of the various legaci
es before mentioned and the residueof it testator gave to his b
rother John Waterhouse's (then deceased) heir.Isaac Waterhouse
, of Woodhouse, and John Waterhouse, of Hull, were appointeda
s executors. "Moreover, I give my Chest unto my sister Annie" Wi
tnesses, Edward Sunderland, Isaac Waterhouse, George Thorpe, Pro
bate Granted 22 jul 1601, to Isaac Waterhouse, sole excutor.
death date found in "Vicar Favour and his Times page 17
Martii 7: Michael Waterhouse arti' mri. Michael Waterhouse xx l
b pijs usibus testamento legavit. His will was dated 23 March 1
597-8 and proved 22nd July 1601.
"Michael Watterhouse Mr. of Arts, remayninge at the makinge here
of, at the Bridegates (Broadgates)" his body he desired to be bu
ried in the parish Church of Halifax and added:-
"I give and bequeath into thehands of Wm. Lyster, vicar of Kirk
bye or Wakefield and Mr. Broadley, preacher at Sourby the some o
f xx li to be taken up of the rentes of my whole landesnexte af
ter my said debtes paid, and at the discretion of the said Mr. B
roadley and Mr. Lyster, to be bestowed upon the poore, the mos
t of it or all onthose within the parishe of Hallifaxe."
He bequeathed to his sister's son, Michael Brooke 10 pounds an
d to his
'brother John Watterhouse of Hull my father's base sonne 10 poun
ds desiring him and my cozen Isaac Watterhouse of Woodhouse, t
o dispose of 100 pounds to the discharge of my duetie and promis
se ells where specified, as my truste is in them unto my dischar
dge in the lord,at the end of sixtene yeares, if the partie liv
e so longe; and in the meane tyme, to dischardge at least that d
utie I owe unto him for losse that shalbe my defalte, this som
e also to be taken upp out of the rents of my lands at Broadeyea
tes, and the lease of the milne (com); my cozen Caleb Watterhous
e with his wife and children to be tenants for twelve