The Minor Family of Somerset

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On May 7 1531a marriage settlement was arranged between Richar
d Hayley, of Ovenden, and Christopher Wood, of Ovenden, for th
e marriage of Richard's son, Edward Hayleyto Isabell Wood, th
e daughter of Christopher.
Heny Bawmforth, Richard Stancliffe, Richard Wood, and Richard Ha
yley, were appointed trustees of the settlement. Richard Hayle
y covenanted to settle One messuage and one croft belonging to s
ame in Ovenden, now in the tenure of Elizabeth Byrche, widow, an
d also three acres of land lying their in Medyllfield, called Bl
ake-buttes, and also freehold and copyhold property in Northowra
m, and convey the same to thetrustees. Also the Said Ricahrd H
ayley and Christopher Wood covenant and agree to and with, eithe
r to other, by these secryptes, that if it happen the said Edwar
d Hayley to disagree and bot be contented with the marriage of t
hesaid Isabell as is specified, then the said Isabell and her a
ssigns from thetime of disagreement sHall occupy and hold the f
eoffment during her natural life without trouble or impediemen
t of the said Edward Hayley, and if the disagreement come and ri
se of the said Isabell, then she to lose and forfeit allthe sai
d feoffment, and then a divorce to be sued betwixt the parties a
t all the costs and charges of that party that sHall happen to d
isagree. And that either party sHall array their own children a
gains the Day of wedding, andfrom that said Day of wedding th
e said Chrisopher sHall keep with metes, drynkes, and clothes, b
oth the said children, until they go to house together, and fo
r that keeping the said Christopher sHall hold and occupy to hi
s most profit, all the said feoffment from such time as ithappen
enth to fall unto thesaid going to house. Christopher Wood wa
s to pay for the marriage of his daughter 25 marks. On the sam
e Day as this settlement, Richard Hayley enteredinto a bond wit
h Christopher Wood to perform the contract set out in the settle
ment, and on May 11 he executed a Grant to the trustees in fulfi
lment ofthe conditions of the settlement.
With his daughter so happily disposed of, Christopher's next leg
al venture was the making of his will in 1537. His widowand th
is three sons, Richard, John and William, equally divided the pr
operty, which consisted principally of the farmstead, and a deb
t of 12 6s 8d owing by William Wood.