Wills: 15 Edward III (1341-2)

Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 1, 1258-1358. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1889.

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'Wills: 15 Edward III (1341-2)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 1, 1258-1358, (London, 1889) pp. 443-452. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol1/pp443-452 [accessed 26 April 2024]

ANNO 15 EDWARD III.

Monday next after the Feast of Purification of V. Mary [2 Feb.].

Mereworth (Simon de).—All his lands, tenements, &c., in the City of London and in the suburb to be sold by his executors within one year of his decease for paying his legacies and fulfilling this his present testament. The residue, &c. Dated London, Thursday next after the Feast of S. Leonard, Abbot, viz. 9 November, A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (3).

Evere (Robert de), ironmonger.—His tenement in the parish of S. Martin Orgar in Thamesestrete to be sold, and the proceeds divided into three parts, whereof one part is to be devoted to pious and charitable uses, another to go to Margery his wife, and the third to be divided equally among Robert, Matilda, and Alice his children. Also to his said wife for life a certain tenement opposite Oystergate in the parish of S. Magnus; remainder to his son Robert in tail; remainder to his aforesaid daughters and the heirs of their bodies, and in default of such heirs, or of heirs of the body of either of them, the same to be sold for the maintenance of two chantries in the church of S. Michael in "Crokelane," (fn. 1) one in the church of S. Magnus, and one in the said church of S. Martin Orgar. Dated Friday the Feast of the Conception of V. Mary [8 Dec.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (9).

Vincent (John).—To John his brother all his robes; and to Agnes his servant twenty shillings, &c. The residue of his goods and chattels he leaves to John, Tristram, and Stephen his sons in equal portions. Also to his aforesaid brother a tenement in the parish of S. Griles without Crepelgate. His tenements in Beechelane in the said parish, and in the parish of S. Margaret Patyns, to be sold by his executors, and the proceeds to be devoted to the fulfilment of this his testament, and the residue to be divided among his aforesaid sons in equal portions. Simon Turgis, woolmonger, appointed guardian of the aforesaid John and Stephen during minority, the said Simon giving sufficient security at the Guildhall. If all his sons should die under age, the aforesaid goods and chattels so left to them to be sold for masses and alms for the good of the souls of himself, Alice his late wife, his father and mother, and others. Dated London, Thursday the Feast of Innocents [28 Dec.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (12).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Dunstan [19 May].

Atte Gate (Robert).—To Felicia his wife a tenement in the parish of S. Dionisius for life; remainder to pious uses. Also to his said wife her entire chamber, &c. Dated London, Tuesday the Feast of Conception of V. Mary [8 Dec.], A.D. 1338.
Roll 68 (27)

Canefeld (William, son of Roger de), formerly of the parish of S. Nicholas Hacon.—His tenement in the said parish in the lane called "Abcherchelane" to be sold, and two thirds of the proceeds to go to Cristina his wife, and the residue to pay debts and legacies, &c. Dated Thursday next after the Feast of S. Valentine, Martyr [14 Feb.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (29).

Rothing (Robert de), fripperer.—To Isabella, daughter of Geoffrey Fayrher, his niece, for advancement of marriage, ten shillings annual quitrent of a tenement in the parish of S. Leonard de Estchepe. To Hugh de Rothyngge, fripperer, also rents in the same parish. To Leticia de Rokmg (sic), his sister, a tenement in the parish of S. Christopher, London, for life, and after her decease the same to be devoted to the maintenance of a chantry in the said parish church for the space of one year. Dated Friday the vigil of the Epiphany [6 Jan.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (35).

Botoner (John), girdler.—To Johanna his wife his brewery in the parish of S. Michael in Bassingeshawe for life; remainder to John his son and to Agnes his daughter in successive tail; remainder to pious uses. Dated London, Thursday next after the Feast of Annunciation of V. Mary [25 March], A.D. 1341.


Whereupon came Richard, son of Laurence le Botoner, and put his claim upon the said testament.

Roll 68 (36)

Bettoigne (fn. 2) (Richard de).—To Johanna his daughter the whole of the tavern where "le Bere toumbeth "in Westchepe, parish of S. Pancras, for life; remainder to his right heirs. Also to the said Johanna and to Margaret his wife his remaining term in a house demised to him by the Prioress and Nuns of Halywell. To Henry de Rokyngham a shop in Basyngelane, parish of S. Mildred de Bredstrete, for life, subject to a charge for a chantry in the said parish church. Also to his aforesaid wife all his tenements and rents not otherwise disposed of for life, so long as she remain chaste and unmarried; remainder to Thomas his son and Isabella, wife of the said Thomas, in special tail male, and in default of such heirs to the male issue of Thomas and John, brothers of the testator. Dated London, Sunday next after the Feast of Purification of V. Mary [2 Feb.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (37)

Monday the Feast of S. Barnabas [11 June].

Kemesyngg (John de), goldsmith.—To Robert his son and Alice his daughter forty shillings each, to put them out as apprentices to a trade. His tenement in the parish of S. Bartholomew the Less to be sold to fulfil his testament and to pay his debts. Dated London, Friday, 18 May, A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (43)

Oxon (John de), Rector of the church of S. Peter upon Corn-hull.—To Robert de Clare, "chaundeler," a tenement in the said parish of S. Peter. To the Prioresses and Nuns of Chesthunte, Clerkenewell, and Stratford atte Bowe divers tenements and rents in the parishes of S. Stephen Colmanstrete and S. Martin de Oteswyche, for keeping in mind his name and the name of Juliana [his wife ?]. Dated London, Friday next after the Feast of S. Mark, Evangelist [25 April], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (52).

Monday need before the Feast of S. Margaret, Virgin [20 July].

Usscher (John le), tanner.—To Sir John, the chaplain who celebrates for the soul of Richard le Ussher, his father, he leaves his brewhouse called "ye Ledenpentitz" in Holebourne Street, and one mark annual rent, for celebrating for the good of his soul and the souls of his said father, his mother, and others, for life; remainder to the testator's heirs. To Imanna his wife a brewhouse adjacent to the above, and tenements in Secollane, parish of S. Sepulchre without Neugate, for life. Also to his said wife his table in a certain house called "le Tannereselde" in the parish of S. Mary le Bow, on condition that she marry some freeman of his craft, otherwise the same to remain to Richard his son if he practise the same trade; and if not, the same to remain to Ralph de Mordon, his nephew. His houses, shops, &c., in Wenagaynlane (fn. 3) upon Hollebourn stream, (fn. 4) in the parish of S. Sepulchre, to be sold to pay his debts, and the residue to go to his aforesaid wife and children. Dated London, Saturday the Feast of S. Mathias, Apostle [24 Feb.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (53)

Dagenhale (Simon de), cordwainer.—To Alice his wife tenements in the parish of S. Benedict de Grescherche for life; remainder to Henry his son and Agnes his daughter in successive tail. Dated London, Tuesday the Feast of S. Mark, Evangelist [25 April], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (60).

Beauflour (William), of the ward of Billyngesgate.—His body to be buried in the churchyard of S. George de Estchepe, and forty shillings to be expended on his funeral. To John and William his sons bequests of money and of one pot respectively. His house in the aforesaid parish to be sold to pay his debts. To Dionisia his wife all his lands and divers chattels. To Master Henry de Edesworth a sum of money in discharge of a debt-Dated Thursday before the Feast of S. Mathias, Apostle [24 Feb.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (61).

Usk (John de).—To Juliana his wife his tenement in Fletestrete for life, and rents in the parish of S. Andrew de Holebourne, so that she maintain his three children until they come of age to learn a craft. Dated London, Sunday next after the Feast of S. Martin, Bishop [11 Nov.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (63).

Monday the Morrow of the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen [22 July].

Gaunt (Richaed de).—To Nicholas Pyk a tenement in Ismongereslane, so that the said Nicholas pay his executors forty-two marks to discharge his debts and fulfil his last will; otherwise the same to be sold, and Beatrix his wife to have a moiety of the proceeds. Of the aforesaid forty-two marks the aforesaid Nicholas to have eight and a half marks, and Johanna, the daughter of the said Nicholas, to have twenty shillings. The residue of all his goods, &c. Dated London, Friday, 3 March, in the first week of Lent, A.D. 1340.


Whereupon came the said Nicholas Pyk and renounced the legacy of the tenement so devised, and permitted the executors named in the testament to take administration according to the will of the testator.

Roll 68 (70)

Newcastle (Peter de), skinner.—To Custance his wife for life rents in the parish of S. Stephen upon Walbrook; remainder to William his son in tail; remainder to Johanna his daughter. Also to his said wife, in full discharge of her dower of his tenement in the parish of S. Olave in Bredstrete and of all his other chattels, forty marks sterling. To the aforesaid William ten pounds of silver, a silver cup with cover, six silver spoons, one mazer with stand, one complete bed, one brass pot, and one brass pan. To Isolda his daughter five marks of silver; and to the aforesaid Johanna twenty marks sterling, one piece of silver with cover, one mazer, six silver spoons, one complete bed, one brass pot, and one brass pan. Dated Stratford, 16 May, A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (75)

Monday next after the Feast of S. James, Apostle [25 July].

Bodelee (Geoffrey de), vintner.—His body to be buried in the church of S. Mary Somersete. To Johanna his wife his tenement in the parish of S. Mary Somersete for life; remainder to Hamo, John, Dionisia, Thomas, John junior, and Johanna his children. Also to his said wife one third part of all his goods and debts, and to his aforesaid children the remaining two thirds. His wife appointed guardian of his children. Dated London, Thursday next before the Feast of S. George, Martyr [23 April], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (86).

Monday next after F. of Translation of S. Edward, K. [13 Oct.].

Knopwed (John de).—Roesia his wife to have her dower of all his goods, movable and immovable; also her entire chamber with all vessels and utensils belonging to his hall, larder, chamber, and kitchen; also a shop in the parish of S. Pancras in Sopereslane for life, charged with the maintenance of a chantry in the said parish church; after her decease the same to be sold for pious and charitable uses; also his whole tenement in Gropecountelane, (fn. 5) in the parishes of S. Pancras and S. Mary de Colcherche, for life, with similar remainder, and the remaining term of service of his apprentices Walter, William, and Edmund. To each of the three children of Alexander his late brother five marks. Dated Saturday after the Feast of S. Luke, Evangelist [18 Oct.], A.D. 1340.


At a subsequent court came Giles Spenser, mercer, and brought the aforesaid testament, saying that he was therein appointed an executor of the same together with others, which was seen from the testament to be the case. (fn. 6) The said Giles had before the ordinaries (sic) undertaken administration of the goods of the deceased in form of law, &c., and declared his co-executors to he dead, and therefore the sale of the tenements aforesaid according to the will of the deceased devolved upon him alone. Accordingly administration was granted to him, &c.

Roll 68 (98)

Atte Gate (Richaed).—His body to be buried in the churchyard of S. Sepulchre without Neugate. To Agnes his younger daughter for her marriage ten pounds of silver. To Matilda his wife for life a brewery with shops, &c., in the parish of S. Sepulchre without Neugate, at the corner of Secollane; remainder to John his son in tail, subject to an annual rent charge to James his son, brother of the said John; remainder to pious and charitable uses. Dated London, Friday next after the Feast of Translation of S. Thomas, Martyr [7 July], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (99).

Blithe (Ralph de).—To Johanna his wife rents in the parish of S. Nicholas Shambles for life; remainder to Robert and Henry his children. Also to Henry his son the reversion of a tenement in the parish of S. Mary atte Naxe near Cornhull, after the decease of his said wife, in tail; remainder to the said Robert. Dated London, Saturday next before the Feast of S. Mary Magdalen [22 July], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (100).

Monday next after the Feast of All Saints [1 Nov.].

Parys (Roger de), goldsmith.—To Leticia his wife a brewery in the parish of S. Alban de Wodestrete, and a tenement in Groldynglane, parish of S. Griles without Crepelgate, for life, so long as she remain chaste and unmarried; remainders to Katherine and John his children in tail. To Margaret his daughter a tenement in the parish of S. Olave the King in Silverstrete. Also to his said wife a tenement in Redecrouchestrete in the aforesaid parish of S. Giles for life; remainder to the Prior and Convent of Latton, (fn. 7) near Waltham Holy Cross, in co. Essex, for pious uses. Another tenement in the same street and parish to be sold for pious uses. Dated Thursday the morrow of S. Ambrose, Bishop [4 April], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (105).

Canefeld (Laurence de).—His body to be buried in the parish church of S. Nicholas Acon before the font. Certain rents in the same parish to be devoted to the maintenance of a lamp before the rood in the said church. To Matilda his wife for life all his tenements in the parishes of S. Nicholas Acon and S. Mary de Abbechirche, so that she maintain their unmarried children and provide a chantry in the said church of S. Nicholas; remainder to Roger his son, Johanna and Margaret his daughters, in successive tail. Also to the said Johanna in tail his capital tenement in Lombardstrete in the said parish of S. Nicholas, with two shops and a moiety of a fountain situate within; remainders to the aforesaid Roger and Margaret. Similarly to the said Johanna a shop situate near the tenement of the hermit of Crepelgate (fn. 8) in tail; remainders to Roger and Johanna. Ultimate remainder, in default of heirs of the several bodies of the said Roger, Johanna, and Margaret, to the church of S. Elena, London, charged with the maintenance of a chantry in the said church of S. Nicholas. The residue, &c. Dated Friday, 5 October, A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (109).

Canterbury (Simon de), carpenter.—To Alice his daughter a house called "la Newewodehous" situate below his brewery, with all the area (cum toto aere (fn. 9) ), a solar and garret, and with free egress and ingress through the said brewery late and early, whensoever and as often as she may wish to go in or out of the same like a good and faithful woman. To Isabella his wife the said brewery for life; remainder to his aforesaid daughter in tail; remainder in trust for sale for pious and charitable uses. Also to the said Alice a tenement in the said (sic) parish in tail; remainder to pious and charitable uses. Another tenement in the same parish to be sold either during the lifetime of the said Isabella or at her decease, and the proceeds, wholly or in part, to be devoted to similar uses. Dated London, 11 April, A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (110)

Monday the Morrow of the Feast of S. Katherine, V. [25 Nov.].

Peckeville (Robert), of the parish of S. Sepulchre without Neugate.—To Johanna his wife a tenement with five shops in the said parish in Westsmethefeld near "Ie Horsepol" (fn. 10) for life; remainders to John his son, Alice his daughter, and Thomas his son in successive tail; remainder in trust for sale for pious uses. Also to his said wife another tenement in the same parish for life; remainder to his child en ventre sa mère, whether male or female. To Alice his daughter two shops in the same parish and forty shillings; and to John and Thomas his sons one hundred shillings each. Dated within the said parish of S. Sepulchre, Sunday-next after Feast of S. Bartholomew, Apostle [24 Aug.], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (121)

Merlawe (Margaret, late wife of John de).—The last will of her said husband to be faithfully carried out by her executors as far as is in their power. Bequest of two marks annual quitrent towards the maintenance of a chantry for the good of her husband's soul in the church of S. Brigid the Virgin. To each of her executors for their trouble five shillings, &c. Dated London, Thursday the morrow of S. James, Apostle [25 July], A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (122)

Monday next after the Feast of S. Andrew, Apostle [30 Nov.].

Frothewyk (Laurence) de St. Osith.—To Cecilia, Johanna, and Alice his daughters, and also to the infant en ventre sa mère, pecuniary legacies. Certain rents in Paternoster Lane to be devoted to the benefit of his soul. To Alianora his wife an annuity, subject to the payment to John his son of twenty marks of silver when he shall come of age. Dated the day before the Ides of March [14 March], A.D. 1335.


Be it known that the said Laurence died on the day of the commemoration of All Souls [2 Nov.] last past, and that the foregoing testament was his last will, and that he ratified everything therein contained, &c.

Roll 68 (128)

Bredstrete (John de).—A tenement in Bredstrete to be sold to pay his debts. To Emma his wife for life his capital brewery, with shops, &c., in the parish of All Hallows de Bredstrete on the south side of Wattlyngestrete. After her death the same to be sold, and Richard de Berkyngge to be preferred as purchaser, and the proceeds devoted to masses for the good of the souls of Walter de Bredstrete, Margery, wife of the same, William and Alice, the father and mother of the testator, and others. Bequests for the maintenance of lamps, &c., in the same church. To the Prior and Convent of the church of S. Bartholomew de Smethefeld the reversion of eight shops for the maintenance of a chantry. To his said wife the reversion of certain houses in the parish of S. Giles de Crepulgate near "le Juesgardyn" (fn. 11) for life; remainder to pious and charitable uses. Dated London, Monday next after the Feast of S. Giles, Abbot, viz. 3 September, A.D. 1341.
Roll 68 (129)

Hardyngham (Adam de).—To Emma his wife for life his brewery and bakehouse in the parish of S. Botolph without Bisshopesgate; remainder to William his son and Margaret his daughter. The residue of his goods, &c. Dated London, Thursday next before the Feast of S. Michael, Archangel [29 Sept.], A.D. 1340.
Roll 68 (136).

Footnotes

  • 1. Crooked Lane.
  • 2. Generally supposed to have been a member of the Goldsmiths' fraternity, but really belonged to that of the Pepperers (Letter-Book E, fol. 53 b); Alderman of London (ward uncertain); elected Mayor in 1326; an adherent of Queen Isabella and her party; attended the Parliament held at York in 1328 as member for the City, for which he was allowed a coverlet valued at eight marks, in part payment of his expenses (Riley's 'Memorials,' pp. 169-170).
  • 3. Windagain or Turnagain Lane.
  • 4. Super aquam de Hollebourn. This stream rose, we are told, near Holborn Bars, and ran down into what was once known as the River of Wells or Turnemill Brook, and later on as Fleet Ditch (Stow's 'Survey,' Thoms's ed., 1876, P-7).
  • 5. See note supra, p. 42,
  • 6. It does not so appear as enrolled.
  • 7. Or Lacton.
  • 8. A hermitage was founded by Mary de St. Paul (or Pol), Countess of Pembroke, in Monkwell Street, near Cripplegate, for the soul of her husband, Sir Aylmer de Valence, who was killed in a tournament on the day of his marriage in 1323 (Riley's 'Memorials,' p. 553).
  • 9. It seems probable that acre is a scribe's error for acra = area (Du Cange, Supplement, s.v.); otherwise it must be taken to mean an easement of air or light.
  • 10. "Then is Smithfield pond, which of old time in records was called Horsepool, for that men watered horses there, and was a great water" (Stow's 'Survey,' Thoms's ed., 1876, p. 142).
  • 11. A plot of ground formerly appointed for a burial-ground for Jews, and continued to be so used until their expulsion, when it was "turned into fair garden plots and summer houses for pleasure" (Stow's 'Survey, Thoms's ed., 1876, p. 113).