English wills, 1498-1526; Diana Astry’s recipe book c. 1700
The wills are those in English in the first surviving register of wills proved in the Court of the Archdeacon of Bedford, now held by Bedfordshire and Luton Records and Archives Service at ABP/R/ 1. They are mainly presented here as abstracts: a few of the earlier wills and some of the more interesting ones are fully transcribed. There are some intimate glimpses of sixteenth century life, such as bequests of clothes (‘his black gaberdine with a fox fur’) and provision for the testator’s widow. The Latin wills from ABP/R/ 1 are published in volume 45. The second part of this volume contains Diana Orlebar (nee Astry)’s recipe book and a notebook. The 375 recipes – culinary, medicinal, for wines, cordials, preserves and pickles, etc – were collected by Diana Astry. The notebook contains menus of dinners she attended between 1701 and 1708.
About the author
Alan Cirket was a member of staff in Bedfordshire County Record Office from 1936 to 1983, except for war service. He was also honorary curator of the Bunyan Museum, Bedford.
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