Ellen Woodcock

     Ellen was born in Topcroft, County Norfolk, England. Ellen married John Randolfe the elder, son of John Randolfe and Margaret Goodwin, on 14 January 1565 in Bedingham, County Norfolk, England, at St. Andrew's Church.^1,2 Ellen made her will on 10 February 1607/8 at Topcroft, County Norfolk, England.

In her will she gave to Anne Randall the wife of John Randall of Topcroft yeoman my best appurne - - - Item I give to John Randall, Thomas Randall and Jemes Randall the sonnes of the forsaid John Randall x s. apiece. - - - Item I give to Elizabeth Randall daughter of the forsaid John x s. of lawful money of England, one donne pillowe, one payre of my best sheets to be payd and delivered within one month after my decease. - - - Item I give and bequeath to William Randall my sonne the some of x li of lawful money of England, to be payd him within twoe yeers after my decease if the forsaid William my sonne doe mot come within the forsaid twoe yeers or before his sonne John Randall doe accomplish the age of xxi yeers, then my mynd is that his sone John Randall shall have the one v li and his mother the other v li, and if the forsaid John and his mother, doe not com att or before her sone John com to the full age of xxi yers then my mynd is that the forsaid x li of lawfull money of England to be equally devyded betwene my bellchildren that are nowe borne at my decease within the Counties of Suffolk and norffolk - - - Item I give and bequeath to Ann Tofte the wife of Robert Tofte twoe silver spoones my bestre gowne, my best hatt, my best cloke, to be delivered he within one month after my decease - - - Item I give an bequeath to Mary Tofte the daughter of Robert Tofte one payre of newe sheets one peece of clothe to be delivered within one month after my decease. - - - Item I give and bequeath to Jane Ellis my daughter twoe silver spoones my borde clothe, pettiicote and a kettle and a payre of sheets to be delivered her within one month after my decease - - - Item I give to Mary Ellis a pewter platter one pewter dishe - - - Item I give to Ellen Ellys one payre of sheets to bee delivered them within one month after my decease - - - Item I give to Margarett Hunting my daughter two buffett stooles, one the biggest and one of the lessest one spett, one green cusshinge a little kettle a fryinge pane, and a trevett to be delivered her within one month after my decease - - - Item I give to William Huntinge the sone of Willaim Huntinge of Fransen [Thrandeston], one featherbed one pillowe, and one pillowbere - - - Item I give to John Huntinge my cheast and red covering - - - Item to Mary Huntinge one of my bet payre of sheets - - - Item I give to Samywell Huntinge one posnett one candlestick one green cussninge - - - Item I give to Nicolas Huntinge a pewter platter, and a pewter dishe, and a skillet & a fryer pane, to be delivered them within one month after my decease - - - Item I give to Richard Randall my sone one flockebedd my best Curinge my transm, one payre of blankets, twoe payre of sheets, a lyncy wolsy pillwe twoe pillowbeers, one kersey petticoate, one wascote, three yards of newe cloth one cusshinge made of lyts to be delivered him within one month after my decease - - - Item I give to the goodwife Greene of Franson [Thranndeston] one halland Kercher one whyte appurne - - - Item to Danyell Stebbens one pewter platter, one pewter disshe - - - Item to William Huntine my sonne in law a chayre - - - Item to William Randall my sone one shirte one shorte bridecloth - - - Item I givean bequeath to Richard my sone my best covringe one flockebedde, one feather transim, one payre of blaketts, one lynsy wolsy pillow, twoe payre of sheet my greene kereyepetticote my greene wascote twoe framd stooles one bigger then the other, one peece o newe clothe of iii yards ii course pillow beers one cusshinge of beasts. The rest of her goods were given to her son John Randall of Topcroft who was named as executor. - - - Witnesses: Robert Tofte, Anne Randall and Anne Barbor [Note - the abbrevation "li" stood for libra - another way of saying pound - KLM].³

Ellen departed this life in Topcroft. She was buried there in the churchyard of St. Margaret's.⁴ Her will was probated on 5 March 1608.