Back to results

Archive

Baddesley Clinton, Tanworth, Bentley Heath, Solihull, Kingsford, Knowle, Temple Balsall, Warwick, Claverdon, Honiley, ELmdon, co. Warwick, ?`Corvers' near Wisbech co. Cambridge, Watford co. Hertford. `Pekham' and Pepynstrawe in Hadlow, Tudeley, Tunbridge Wells, Brenchley, Peckham, Nettlestead, Aylesford, Yalding, Ditton, 'Syfflyngton', 'Brampton', Badlesmere, Fromondes, Copgrave, Hadlow, in Kent, London, Hambleton, co. Rutland. Tamworth co. Stafford

Description

Probate copy of the will of Sir Edward Ferrers knt. whereby he willed that his body should be buried in whichever church his executors thought fit, and that 5s. should be given to the priest who buried him to say or sing five masses for the five principal wounds suffered by our Lord; 100s. was to be paid in alms to the poor on his burial day or within four days afterwards for the soul of the said Sir Edward, the souls of his mother and father and all faithful souls, and 140s. was to be given to the church of Estpekham [East Peckham], Kent for masses, dirges and other deeds of charity to be performed for the soul of the said Sir Edward and the souls of his mother and father. To his daughter Jane Ferrers 200 marks was to be given as her marriage portion if she married with the consent of his wife and executors, but if she died unmarried this sum was to be divided between the surviving sons of the said Sir Edward equally, or given to the most needy of the said sons at the discretion of the executors and overseers. To his son-in-law John Hampton and Elizabeth his wife £20 was to be given when the said John had settled lands upon the said Elizabeth for her life of the clear annual value of £20. To Nicholas Knight and Agnes his wife 40s. was to be given annually for life and to Alice Ward of Knowll widow 20s. was to be given annually for life according to their agreements made with the said Sir Edward. To Constance his wife was to be given his remaining term of years in a pasture called Morebarnefyldes [in Baddesley Clinton] with the stock of sheep and cattle, to have the profits from the same after the rent was paid for the preferment of Sir Edward's sons Edward, George and Nicholas, his executors to maintain these uses if the said Constance died or married again before the said lease expired. The said Constance to have all other leases of the said Sir Edward and also an annuity which the said Sir Edward received of £7 from Elizabeth Beaufoo widow during the life of the said Elizabeth while the said Constance remained unmarried. The said Constance was also to hold for life the manor of ?Corvers near Wysbyche [Wisbech] co. Cambridge, all the lands in Tonworthe which Sir Edward purchased from Daniel Benford and a tenement in Elmedon purchased from Margaret Atteyate to maintain his daughter Alice, the said Alice to hold the same for life if she outlived the said Constance, and then to pass to Edward, son of Henry, son of the said Sir Edward and his lawful male issue, with default in turn to Edward George and Nicholas, sons of the said Sir Edward and their lawful male issue, with default in turn to the said Edward, George and Nicholas and their lawful issue, with remainder to the rightful heirs of the said Nicholas for ever. The said Constance was also to hold while unmarried the manor of Pekham in Hadloo [Hadlow] Kent, all other lands in the parishes of Hadloo, Tudeley and Tumbrige [Tunbridge Wells] Kent, lands in Brenchesley [Brenchley] Kent in the tenure of John Turte, two pieces of land in Brenchesley in the tenure of John Cheksell, 26s.8d. annual rent from a tenement in London called the Bell and the Cheker, 20s. annual rent from a tenement in Ball Alley in London beside London Wall, lands at Bentleyhethe near Solyhull, lands in Solyhull purchased by the said Sir Edward from Richard Holbache, the reversion of a tenement in Solyhull purchased from Robert Butler, a water-mill in Solyhull called Shawes mill with a meadow and other lands adjoining the same, together with a cottage, Garden and adjacent croft called Blackcroft, and a croft in Kyngesford called Whytley purchased lately from Richard Shawe, three tenements and burgages in Tamworth, co. Stafford given to the said Sir Edward by Robert Morley priest, and lands in Watford, co. Hertford which the said Sir Edward held in execution of a bond of Statute Staple, for the preferment of the said Edward, George and Nicholas, sons of the said Sir Edward, and also to perform the residue of his will, with the condition that if the said Constance died before the marriage of the said Jane Ferrers, the said Jane was to hold the lands in Brenchesley in the tenure of John Turte and John Cheksell and also the lands in Watford, and that upon her marriage or death, Edward, son of the said Sir Edward should hold the lands in Watford until the bond under Statute Staple was redeemed, and that the said lands in Brenchesley should be held by the said George to make jointure upon his wife for life. Also upon the death of the said Constance one half of the manor of Estpekham in Hadloo and lands in the parishes of Hadloo, Tudeley and Tumbrigge should be held by the said Edward to make a jointure upon his wife for life, the other moiety to be held by the said George as a jointure for his wife for life, and the said lands in Bentleyhethe and lands in Solyhull purchased from Richard Holbache, the reversion of a tenement in Solyhull purchased from Robert Butler and the cottage, garden and croft called Blakecroft in Solyhull and a croft in Kingesford called Whytley to be held by the said Nicholas as a jointure for his wife for life, with provision that if any of the said Edward, George and Nicholas died without lawful male issue, the said lands were to be divided among the remaining two, or if any two died without male issue the said lands were to pass to the third, or if all three died without lawful male issue the said lands were to pass to Edward, son of Henry, son of the said Sir Edward and his lawful male issue, or in default to the heirs of the said Edward, George and Nicholas in turn, with remainder to the rightful heirs of the said Sir Edward. Upon the death of the said Constance the said mill in Solyhull called Shawes together with tenements in Tamworth to be held by the said Edward and his heirs for ever. Also on the death of the said Constance the said Nicholas was to hold lands in Knoll and Balsall to him and his lawful issue, or in default to pass to the right heirs of the said Sir Edward, After the death of the said Sir Edward all persons then seised of the manor of Grete Hamolden and Lytle Hamolden [Hambleton], co. Rutland, the manor of Baddesley Clinton and lands in Baddesley Clinton, Warwick, Claverdon and Honyley, lands in Solyhull purchased from Richard Butler, lands in Elmedon purchased from Richard Mylles, and all other lands in Estpekham, Westpekham, Netylsted [Nettlestead], Aylesford, Brenchesley, Yaldynge [Yalding] and Hadloo in Kent and three tenements in Crokyd Lane in London were to stand seised to the use of the said Constance for life, and then to the use of the said Edward, grandson of the said Sir Edward, and his lawful heirs according to the agreement made between Sir John Hampden knight and the said Sir Edward. This said agreement also assured the fifth part of the manors Dytton [Ditton], `Syfflyngton', `Brampton', Baddellesmere [Badlesmere], `Fromondes', Mascalls, Copgrave, `Pepynstrawe' and `Pekhams' in Hadloo [Hadlow] in Kent to Henry, son of the said Sir Edward, and Katherine his wife and to the lawful heirs of Henry after the death of the said Sir Edward and Constance his wife, which said fifth part was of the yearly value of £7 16s., but since which time the whole of the manors of Mascalls and Copgrave and certain lands in Brenchesley in Kent had been allocated to the said Sir Edward in severalty in recompense for the said fifth part, as also for the share of the said Sir Edward of other lands in Kent due to him upon the death of Dame Isabel Leigh, by the sale of the same to the said Sir Edward by William Constantyne and Margaret his wife, one of the daughters and five co-heirs of Richard Culpeper esq. sometime husband of the said Dame Isabel, therefore the said trustees of the said Sir Edward after his death were to stand seised of the said manors of Mascalls and Copgrave and lands in Brenchesley held by lease from the said Sir Edward by John Brome, other lands in Brenchesley held by lease by George Roberts, two closes in Brenchesley called Culpepers land lying at Cattes croft, two acres of land in Brenchesley in Cattes ground in Bysshopes field now in the tenure of Richard Dan, and other lands in Brenchesley called Cheksellmede in the tenure of William Keyley to the use of the said Constance for life, then to Edward, grandson of the said Sir Edward, and his lawful heirs according to the said agreement made between the said Sir John Hampden and the said Sir Edward. This said agreement had also included a tenement and lands called Broxtons in the parish of Estpekham which the said Sir Edward had sold to his cousin Thomas Roydon because it was charged with heavy reparations, which was to pass to Henry, son of the said Sir Edward, and his lawful heirs on the death of the said Sir Edward and Constance, but in lieu of these lands the said Constance was to have for the term of her life lands called Stereslond, Byrchettes and Bygges in the parish of Brenchesley in Kent in the tenure of John Cowper, and other lands in Brenchesley called Roberies in the tenure of William Keyley, and on the death of the said Constance these lands were to pass to Edward, grandson of the said Sir Edward in recompense for the said Broxtons and being of greater value, with provision that if the said Constance refused to part with the lands called Broxtons then the said Thomas Roydon was to have the other lands. If the said Edward, grandson of the said Sir Edward, died without lawful issue then the said manors of Great and Little Hamoldon, the manor of Baddesley Clinton and lands in Baddesley Clinton, Warwick, Claverdon and Honyley, lands in Solyhull purchased from Richard Butler, lands in Elmedon purchased from Richard Mylles and all other lands in Estpekham, Westpekham, Netylsted, Aylesford, Brenchesley, Yaldynge and Hadloo in Kent, lands in Brenchesely in lieu of Broxtons and in lieu of the said fifth part of the aforementioned manors, and three tenements in Crokyd Lane, London, to pass to the said Edward, George and Nicholas, sons of the said Sir Edward, successively and to their lawful male issue, or in default successively to their lawful heirs, or in default to the rightful heirs of the said Sir Edward. After the death of the said Constance the annual rent of 26s. 8d. from the Bell and Chequer in London was to pass to the parson of the parish church of Baddesley Clynton and to his successors in recompense for lands in Baddesley called the Foure fields held by the said Sir Edward, and the said annual rent of 20s. from tenements in Ball Alley in London after the death of the said Constance was also to pass to the said parson and his successors to be used to say an obit on the feast of St. Thomas at Christmas [21 December], a dirge the same evening, and for a mass the following day to be sung by eight priests, two clerks and two children for the souls of the said Sir Edward and Constance, Sir Edward Belknapp knt., Thomas Marrow late serjeant-at-law and Isabel his wife and for the souls of their fathers, mothers, friends, benefactors and all faithful souls. For this ceremony a herse was to be set up with two tapers of burning wax and the bells of the said church were to be rung during the said dirge and mass, the eight priests were to receive 8d. each, the two clerks 4d. each, the two children 2d. each, 4d. was to be given for light, 4d. for bells, 4d. to the churchwardens and the residue of the said 20s. rent was to pass to the said parson to pray for souls departed. The executors of the said will being charged to see that the said rents were paid, and all persons seised of these lands mentioned by the said Sir Edward were to stand seised of these lands to the uses of his will. The said executors were also to have the moiety of a tenement in London in Canwykstrete beside London ?Ston to sell the same upon the death of the said Sir Edward and to give £20 towards the building of a hospital for the diseased with `the grett pokkes' according to the will of the said Thomas Marrow serjeant-at-law, and if the said executors could not trace a hospital being built in London for this purpose within seven years then the said £20 was to be bestowed in alms to the poor and in other deeds of charity for the souls of the said Thomas and Isabel, the said Sir Edward and all christian souls. The remainder of the said moiety was to be spent in the performance of his will. If the said executors and the said Constance had control of the marriage of the said Edward, grandson of the said Sir Edward, then the said Edward was to receive eight oxen, twelve cows, one bull, two hundred sheep, a basin and a ewer of silver, two great salt cellars of silver gilt with a cover, two great chased bowls of silver gilt with one cover and a standing cup of silver gilt with a cover, also hangings of great `verders' for the parlour and for the great chamber and the new chamber of Sir Edward's house at Baddesley Clynton, and also a hanging for any of these rooms of red and yellow to be delivered to him towards the setting up of his household after the death or marriage of the said Constance, if the said Edward was then twenty-four years old, or else to be kept for him by the said executors until he reached that age. If the said Edward died before the age of twenty-four and the said executors and Constance did not have the said marriage, then all the said goods were to be distributed equally to the said Edward, George and Nicholas, sons of the said Sir Edward, when they reached the age of twenty-four years. The residue of the movable goods and chattles of the said Sir Edward, all funeral expenses, debts and legacies having been paid, were to pass to the said Constance for life towards the upbringing of the said Edward, George and Nicholas, but if the said Constance remarried she was to have a third of this residue and the rest, except for this third and except for the goods given to Edward, grandson of the said Sir Edward, was to be divided equally among the said Edward, George and Nicholas when they reached the age of twenty-four years. The said Sir Edward bequeathed 20 marks to make a tomb to his memory in the chancel of the parish church of Baddesley Clynton and to enlarge and set out the east end of the said chancel twelve feet in length. The said Constance, Sir Thomas Wylloughby knt. serjeant-at-law, Thomas Marrow and Thomas atte Holt esqs. were to be executors of the said will, and Constance was to be sole executrix while she remained unmarried, and if she died or married before the said will was performed the remaining executors were to perform the said will. The said Sir Thomas Wylloughby was to have 4 marks and the rest of the executors 40s. each. Master Doctor Sampson, Dean of the King's most Honourable Chapel and Roger Wygston esq. were to be overseers of the said will and were to receive 60s. and 4 marks respectively, and if they undertook any further work in the performance of the said will they were to be paid accordingly by the said Constance and the said executors. The said Constance was to be sole executrix while she remained a widow, but if she re-married the executors were to keep a strict account of their executorship in a separate book and to present their accounts yearly to the body of executors and overseers, each of whom attending such yearly meeting was to receive 10s. 10 July 27 Henry VIII [1535]. Witnesses: Roger Wygston esq., Thomas atte Holt esq., Robert Egeworthe, Florens' Semar prest. Codicil dated 24 August 27 Henry VIII [1535] made in the presence of the said Constance and Robert Egeworthe stated that after Ralph Brome had made a general release to the said Constance as approved by her learned counsel, she was to give the said Ralph such plate and household stuff as she thought fit. The said Constance was also to give one hundred sheep to Thomas Marrow cousin of the said Sir Edward, 40s. to Elizabeth wife of Thomas Hawe the younger, 40s. to George Clarke nephew of the said Sir Edward, 20s. to Thomas Clark servant of the said Sir Edward and 7s. 6d. to John Mountford. Probate attached dated 18 November 1535. Endorsed: [In the hand of Henry Norris c.1890] 10 July 1535 Will of Sir Edwd. Ferrers [328]

Related material

See H. Norris, Baddesley Clinton pp. 133-136.