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I have been working the Eastman lines from Downton and I have found a couple of very interesting points that I thought worth a mention in detail.

Firstly, I've purchased a copy of the will of Thomas Eastman, dated 1759 and a copy of the will of Maurice Eastman, dated 1664 and I noticed something very interesting written on the will of Thomas Eastman.

Although an antique document, the will of Thomas Eastman is not too difficult to read. In the will, Thomas bequeaths his working tools etc to his son John Eastman and refers to having nine children and none other than John are referred to by name. It's quite possible that the remaining eight children were still quite young as the sums of money that are bequeathed to them they are to receive when they turn 21. He also bequeaths his house and other items to his wife Sarah Eastman, as long as she remains in his name. But if Sarah Eastman was to remarry, she was was to get one hundred pounds from Thomas, paid by his executors and all that remained would be shared amongst Thomas' children when they were of age.

Reading further down the will, I found reference to Thomas' "beloved brother" Nathaniel Eastman. I've searched the net and can find no reference to a Nathaniel Eastman anywhere, although I do have paperwork here from the Wiltshire Family History Society that has more than one Nathaniel Eastman on it. I had a look at the Latter Day Saints family research site and found many Samuel Eastmans from Downton in Wiltshire, particularly a Samuel Eastman that married a Jane. I cross referenced this with my paperwork and not only could I find no Samuel Eastman mentioned even once over 400 years, I knew that a Nathaniel Eastman had married a Jane... Jane Sheperd.

Please note that all spelling of names I have written as per the spelling on the wills.

Is it possible that somehow, somewhere, somebody had misconstrued Nathaniel Eastman as Samuel Eastman? Anything is possible! I am currently looking into this.

Also, reading yet further down Thomas Eastman's will, I found reference to a surname that I had to look at at least three times before I was able to see it for what it really was. On first impression, it reads as a terribly spelled "Major". Knowing what we know about various spellings and interpretations of surnames, I thought it possible that it may have been the surname Major. Yet comparing letters of the words written on the will to other letters, it was obvious that the surname was not Major but Guyer. Validated at the end of the written testimony by a Christophor Guyer who acted as one of Thomas' witnesses and writes his name extremely clearly.

The reference to the surname Guyer in Thomas' will says...

"I appoint for my executors to this my last will and testament my beloved brother Nathaniel Eastman and my beloved brother in law Mr. John Guyer of Wincanton in Somersetshire and I do hereby disannul all former wills and testaments by me heretofore made and do declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof thast hereunto set my hand and seal this 27 day of May in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine. Tho: Eastman in the presence of us, witness, Isaac Taunton, Christophor Guyer."

The will of Maurice Eastman, dated 1664 is in fairly small script and the photocopy I have of the actual document is dreadful. Fortunately the names mentioned in this will are very clear.

In this will, Maurice bequeaths his brother William Eastman what looks like ten pounds and then to William's "sonn" the sum of ffour pounds. He then bequeaths to his sister Mary Moody ffifty pounds and a further twenty pounds to each of Mary's children... Edith Moody, Mary Moody and Maurice Moody. Whom he refers to as niece or nephew where applicable.

Further down Maurice's will, he bequeaths to his "kinswoman" Barbara Rooke one hundred pounds and refers to her as the daughter of William Rooke. Then "all the rest" of his "goods and chattels" Maurice bequeaths to his "kinsman" William Rooke and Barbara Rooke his wife whom he makes executors of his will. Further along he nominates his brother Thomas Eastman as overseer of this his last will and gives him ffive shillings.

If Barbara Rooke was "kinswoman" to Maurice Eastman I am not sure if she was a niece and I doubt she was a sister. Since Maurice referred to Mary Moody clearly as "sister" and and referred to Mary Moody's children as either "niece" or "nephew". It was quite possible that she was a cousin.

I am guessing that it's possible that the "kinswoman" Barbara Rooke was the daughter of the "kinsman" William Rooke and his wife Barbara Rooke. My records don't show a Barbara Eastman, so it may have been possible that this relationship was on the side of the wife of Maurice Eastman. Particularly when history often referred to families who married into families as "kinfolk". At this point, my thoughts are all speculation and warrant further investigation.

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