"2 January 1623 (sic) I, (9496) John Fysh of Bowdon Magna, co. Leic., yeoman, being sick of body, do ordain and make, etc:-- To (9497iii) William Fish, my second son and his heirs one old cottage with two cow pastures and ten shepes commons adjoining unto his dwelling house, which I purchased of Sir Thomas Gryfin. To Francis Fish my fifth son one cottage house with a close and orchard now in the occupation of Richard Wimant laborer. To (9497xi[1]) Robert Fish of Harborow, my son-in-law, one piece of meadow in little Bowdon field, called Stony Holme. To (9497xi[1]a) Thomas Fysh, eldest son of Robert Fysh, five arable lands in Lubnam brook, now in his occupation. To Elizabeth Ashton my niece one cottage with two cow pastures and ten sheep commons, she paying yearly for the same, unto (9497xiii) John Fysh, my youngest son, 6s. 8d. during her natural life, provided that John shall have power to cut and lop and carry away wood. To John Fysh my youngest son and his heirs three closes which I purchased of my kinsman William Cradock of Farndon, one lying in west end of town betwixt the land of John Fish and Richard Kirbie, another in the middle of the town, next the land of Jeffrey Parsons and John Marson, and one in yeast and next the lands of (9497x) Francis Fish and Thomas Wells the younger; also the old cottage after the death of Elizabeth Ashton my niece; and all my timber except one taylltre and a squared piece for my myll, which I give unto my eldest son (9497i) Austin Fysh. I further except the myllne post, and give it unto Austin Fysh my eldest son, he paying his mother 40s. Residue to (9497) Margaret my wife, whom executrix.

Signed: John Fysh. Seal, I. F. divided by a spray of roses.
Witnesses:-- Augustine Fish, William Halick.
Proved 9 March 1622-3 (sic) by the relict and executrix.
(File 1622, No. 102)."

-- http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kgeveringham&id=I950 c/o Kimball G. Everingham kgeyeringham@bigfoot.com

"The present parish church [of Great Bowden, Leicester,] standing on the north side of the public green in the little village of Great Bowden, is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. It is a long, low and picturesque building of stone, with a square tower at the west end surmounted by a short octagonal spire. Its chief entrance is through a south porch which is reached over a path fenced in on either side by a row of old and elaborately carved tomb-stones, their inscriptions being now almost undecipherable. Inside, on the north wall of the chancel, is the Fish tablet, erected to the memory of Henrietta, wife of Augustine Fish, hent., and daughter of Sir edward Farmer of Middlesex, kinght, who died in 1703. Upon this monument are the arms of husband and wife impaled: -- Farmer, "Sable, on a chevron between three lamps argent buring with flame proper, three mulets sable": Fish, "A chevron engrailed, between three owls." This Augustine Fish was a cousin twice removed of the Cape Cod immigrants, and a great-grand nephew of William Fish of Windsor, Conn."

[I have put the above Augustine and Henrietta in their proper place in this lineage, because so many websites have them, wrongly, as ancestors of the American lines]

"WILLS, PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY

7, April 1646. I, (9497i) Augustine Fish of Bowden Magna, co. Leicester, yeoman, being in reasonable good health, make this my last will and testament: written by myne own hand: I give unto Thomas Fish, my second son and to my wife during her life, and after her life ended, unto the said Thomas and his heirs males, one farm wherein my eldest son liveth, called Royses farm, with all that (9497i_a) John Fish ha thereto during my life: also seven pastures in Archarads, which sometime did belong to Palmer's house: with this proviso, that Thomas Fish shall pay unto his youngest sister Elizabeth Fish 100 marks at her age of 23, or marriage: and if Thomas Fish die without heirs males; the land shall return unto Bartholomew Fish: in like manner if Bartholomew die without issue male, it shall return to (9497i_b) William Fish, which is in New England, if he be then living.

"I give to Christiam my daughter the cottage house wherein John Warde and his sister liveth with that spot of ground adjoining, bought of Richard Watts, to eneter at the death of John Warde. To John Halliake, eldest son of William Halliak, after his father and mother decease, the three acres which did belong unto Palmer farm: and to all the rest of his children which shall be ruled by parents and grandmother, I give 5 pounds, apiece at marriage or twenty years old.

"To Bartholomew Fish my youngest son 5 pounds. item, I give unto < b>William Fish in New England, if he return, 5 pounds. To my son Thomas Fish, after the lease is expired which now my son John Fish holdeth, (my land) called Waters his close. To my grandchildren at Brigstock, to help to buy every one a sepp (word omitted) nobles apiece. To my grandchildren at Thorpe in Rutland three ewes.

"I make my wife executor of this my will, praying Thomas Fish my second son to assist her. I also wish, if it be thought good to my executor, to give unto my eldest son's children two nobles.