Wills: 31-40 Elizabeth I (1588-98)

ANNO 31 ELIZABETH.

Monday next before the Feast of S. Lucia, Virgin [13 Dec.]

Atwill (Laurence), skinner.—To be buried in the church of S. Andrew Undershaft. To Katherine his wife his household stuff, linen, and plate, and two thousand pounds in money for her portion of his goods. Numerous bequests to friends of money, gowns, rings, &c. To Thomas Spicer and Elizabeth his wife, the testator's daughter, and their children the sum of five hundred pounds, the amount of a bond. To the Master and Wardens of the Guild or Fraternity of Corpus Christi of the Skinners of London and their successors lands and tenements in Fanchurch Street, and his house in the parish of S. Thomas the Apostle; also lands and tenements in Godalminge, co. Surrey, and leasehold property at Christchurch, alias Crychurche, in London, (fn. 1) charged with an annuity to his daughter "Bonde," wife of Philip Bonde. The residue to be made a stock to be employed in some good sort whereby poor people, and especially such as be free of the company, may be set on work, and yet the stock to be kept and remain whole and increased yearly with the revenues, &c.; saving that twenty pounds be yearly allowed towards a dinner at the com pany's hall on the day of election of wardens. (fn. 2) To the Master and Governors of S. Bartholomew's Hospital lands and tenements in Old Fish Street, charged with the yearly payment of five pounds to the Hospital of S. Thomas and Christ's Hospital respectively. To the Mayor, Aldermen, Citizens, and Commonalty of the City of Exeter certain lands and tenements in the parishes of Whitestone (fn. 3) and Ustolompe, (fn. 4) co. Devon, for making a stock similar to that just mentioned, for the poor of the said city. Dated 6 November, A.D. 1588.
Roll 269 (49).

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

Offley (Robert), the elder, haberdasher.—To the Mayor and Commonalty and citizens of London and their successors his share of certain tenements, carpenter's yard, &c., in the parish of S. Mary Aldermanbury, to hold the same to their own proper use and behoof for ever. Dated 14 July, A.D. 1589.
Roll 269 (88).

Oflfley (Robert), the elder, haberdasher.—To the Mayor and Commonalty and citizens of London and their successors certain lands, tenements, &c., in the parishes of S. Sepulchre without Newgate and S. Martin next Ludgate, formerly limited to superstitious uses, and acquired by the testator from the grantee of the Crown, to hold the same to their own proper use and behoof for ever. Dated 15 July, A.D. 1589.
Roll 269 (89).

ANNO 32 ELIZABETH.

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

Easte (fn. 5) (Robert), "iremonger."—To the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Mistery or Art of Iremongers of London and their successors a capital messuage called "the horse head," an alley called "Horsehead allye," with gardens, &c., in the parish of S. Sepulchre without Newgate, to hold to their own proper use and behoof for ever. Dated 14 May, 32 Elizabeth [A.D. 1590].
Roll 270 (32).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Martin, Bishop [11 Nov.].

Ramsey (Sir Thomas), Knt., Alderman. (fn. 6) —To Dame Mary his wife his mansion house in Lumbertstreate in the parish of S. Mary Wolnothe, and certain tenements in Cornhill in the parish of S. Michael, for life, in satisfaction of her dower and third part of his lands and tenements; remainder to Thomas Taylor, his sister's son. To his "cossen" Elizabeth Holmedon, his sister's daughter, he leaves his great house in the Poultry in the parish of S. Mary Woolchurchhawe, and a garden in Coleman Street in Swanne Alley, for life; remainder to William and Giles Taylor her brothers. To Thomas Tyrrell his godson lands and tenements in the parish of Nudgate, (fn. 7) co. Surrey. The residue of his lands, tenements, &c., to descend to his heirs at law. Dated 9 July, A.D. 1586.
Roll 270 (44).

ANNO 33 ELIZABETH.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Barnabas, Apostle [11 June].

Rochester (Alice, widow of John).—To Nicholas her son the residue of her goods and chattels after discharge of debts and funeral expenses. To the parson and churchwardens of the church of S. Michael next Crooked Lane and their successors a certain tenement in S. Michael's Lane within the parish, charged with the yearly payment of forty shillings for the relief of poor children in Christ's Hospital; the residue of the issues and profits to be applied to the repair of their church and the relief of the poor of their parish. Dated 31 December, A.D. 1585.
Roll 271 (42).

Monday next after F. of Trans. of S. Edward, K. and C. [13 Oct.].

Offley (Robert), the elder, haberdasher.—To the Mayor and Commonalty and citizens of the City of London his interest in a parcel of ground and certain messuages in the parish of S. Mary in Aldermanburye, to their own proper use and behoof for ever. Dated 16 October, A.D. 1591.
Roll 271 (45).

[Roll 272 contains no enrolment of wills.].

ANNO 35 ELIZABETH.

Monday next after F. of S. Edward, King and Mar. [18 March].

Ware (Thomas), fishmonger.—To the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mistery of the Fishmongers of the City of London and their successors a messuage called "the Pepper Querne," with shops, &c., in Thames Street in the parish of S. Michael near Crooked Lane, to their own proper use and behoof for ever. Dated 28 December, A.D. 1573.
Roll 273 (17).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Mark, Evangelist [25 April].

Clonne or Clunne (Owin), draper.—Recites at length his faith, concluding with the words:—"This is my verie faith nam senex teneo fidem in qua natus sum puer parvulus, amen." Bequests of gowns to poor house holders of his company for their prayers, to his two mothers-in-law, viz., Joane Lowen and Margaret Ashlen, and his servants. To the Fellowship of Drapers five pounds for a dinner. To Agnes his wife, and to Beatrice his daughter and heiress, one third of his movables respectively. Also to his said wife land and houses in South Wokingdon, co. Essex, in fee, and the issues and profits of lands and tenements, both free and copy, within the City of London or elsewhere, for life, charged with the payment of an annuity to Margaret Ashlen her mother; remainder to Beatrice his daughter in tail. To the master and wardens of his company the reversion of lands and tenements in the parishes of S. Andrew Hubert, S. Margaret "Pattent," and S. Mary at Hill, in trust for sale; the proceeds to form a stock for loans to ten young men of the company from time to time, for terms of five years, and the interest thereon to be given to poor householders of the company, (fn. 8) the master and wardens deducting forty shillings yearly for their travail therein. In default of issue of the body of his aforesaid daughter a house and garden in the parish of S. Mary Magdalen in Barmondsye Street, co. Surrey, are to be let by the churchwardens and house holders of the parish for providing bread on Sundays and coals for the poor. In case of similar default his lands and tenements in the parish of Orsett, co. Essex, are to go to the Drapers' Company; the issues and profits to be divided into three parts, whereof one part is to be devoted to the exhibition of two scholars at Oxford (at the assignment of the Bishop of London), being Catholic; another part to the redemption of poor prisoners in London; and a third for providing bread for the poor of Orsett. Dated 22 August, A.D. 1563.
Roll 273 (23).

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

Russell (Thomas), draper.—Bequests to the poor inmates of divers hospitals, prisons (including the Whyte Lyon (fn. 9) in Southwark), compters, &c., as well as to numerous individuals. To Lewes his brother a tenement in the parish of Finchley, co. Middlesex, and some customary land in the parish of Fryern Barnett, co. Middlesex, for life; remainder over. Bequest of fifty pounds for the erection of a school at Barton under Needwood, (fn. 10) co. Staff., similar to that lately erected at Height gate or Heigh Barnett, co. Middlesex. To the Master and Wardens, Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity in honour of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the men of the Mistery of Drapers within the City of London thirteen pounds six shillings and eightpence, to be spent on a dinner on the day of his funeral; also a standing cup with a cover gilt, the body of the cup being crystal, for a memento; also the sum of two hundred pounds, to be lent in sums of fifty pounds for terms of three years to four young men of the mistery without their making any payment for the use of the same, except to the clerk for the assurance. Also to the said master, wardens, &c., he leaves a messuage known as "the White horse," his great warehouse in Birchen Lane, a plot of ground used for the churchyard of the parish church of S. Edmund the King, and a messuage known by the sign of "the brush" in Tower Street in the parish of All Hallows Barking, charged with the yearly payment of nineteen pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence to thirteen poor members of their mistery, to wit, to each person two shillings and sixpence per month; (fn. 11) remainder over in case of default to the governors of the hospitals of Christ, Brydewell, and S. Thomas on like condition. To Richard, son of Thomas Bayly, certain tenements charged with the yearly payment of fifty-two shillings to the churchwardens of the several parishes of Colton or Cotton (fn. 12) and Bliffield, (fn. 13) co. Staff., for bread for the poor. To John Holland the younger of Barton under Needwood, co. Staff., certain lands and tenements in Barton, on condition the said John discharges a debt due to the testator. Also to the master, wardens, &c., aforesaid his leasehold tenements in Thames Street in the parish of S. Mary Somerset, charged with distributing out of the rents two loads of charcoal among the poor of the parish of S. Edmund the King in Lumberd Street, and devoting the surplus, if any, to the poor inmates of the almshouses belonging to the mistery aforesaid in Beech Lane. To Anne Howsman a messuage called "the Crowne" in the parish of S. Leonard in Shorditch; and to Robert Russell, draper, tenements known as "the Crowne Rents" in the same parish. To Leonard Piddock and Isabell, wife of the same, a garden and house in the parish of S. Botolph without Bishopsgate. To Robert Stokes, draper, the reversion of a messuage in Whetstonestreet in the parish of Finchley after the decease of Lewes Russell his aforesaid brother, and also his leasehold messuage in Lumberdstreet. His cottages, close, and meadow called "Bruckhouse field" or "Bruckhouse closes" in Dunstall, co. Staff., to be sold, and the proceeds divided among his brothers and sisters and their surviving children. Dated 7 July, A.D. 1593.
Roll 273 (35).

ANNO 36 ELIZABETH.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Ambrose, Bishop [4 April]

Whitmore (William), haberdasher.—To George, William, and Thomas his sons he leaves the manor or lordship of Stockton, co. Salop, and his lands, tenements, &c., at Stockton, Apley, Hickford, Astley, and Norton, co. Salop, by equal thirds, in several tail, with cross remainders; remainder to Elizabeth, Anne, Margaret, Mary, "Francis," and Jane his daughters. Provision made against cutting off the entail. To Anne his wife the farm called "Balmes," (fn. 14) situate in the parishes of Hackney, Shorditch, and Tottenham, for life; remainder to all his children equally. Dated 6 August, 35 Elizabeth [A.D. 1593].
Roll 274 (15).

Monday next before F. of Trans, of S. Edward, K. and M. [20 June].

Ware (Thomas), fishmonger.—To be buried near the body of "Bersabe" his last wife. To Joane his wife one third of his goods and chattels, due to her by the custom of the City. Bequest of money for coals to be given to the poor of the parish of S. Michael next Crooked Lane; also to the poor of the parishes of All Hallows the Less, S. Martin Orgar, and others, to hospitals, &c. To the Master and Livery of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers of London six pounds towards a dinner on the day of his burial, to be held in "the parlor," and a like sum to the Master of the Bachelors and the residue of the yeomanry of the same company for a dinner to be held in the Common Hall of the company. To Thomas his son his printed books, his signet of gold engraven with his mark, and the ring bequeathed to him by the late Bishop of Canterbury. (fn. 15) Bequest for thirty sermons to be preached in the church of S. Michael aforesaid within a year after his burial. To the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mistery of Fishmongers a messuage called "the Pepper Querne" in Thames Street in the said parish of S. Michael; also two tenements in Churchyardallye (fn. 16) in the parish of S. Magnus the Martyr, charged with the yearly payment of five pounds eight shillings to the churchwardens of S. Michael's Church, (fn. 17) whereof twelve pence per week is to be expended on bread to be distributed every Sunday to the poor of the parish, and a further sum of twelve pence per week is to be given to the poor of Christ's Hospital, the churchwardens aforesaid taking four shillings for their pains. The residue of the issues and profits to go to their common box for repair of the said tenements. Dated 27 September, A.D. 1591.
Roll 274 (23).

ANNO 37 ELIZABETH.

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

Buckle (Cuthbert), Knt., Lord Mayor (fn. 18) of London.—To be buried in his parish church of S. Mary at Hill, where his son John lies buried. His goods to be divided into three parts, according to the laudable custom of the City, whereof one part he leaves to Dame Elizabeth his wife and another to his son Christopher, reserving the remaining third to himself. To sixty poor men attending his burial he leaves gowns of "newcolour." To thirteen poor almsfolk of the Company of Vintners six shillings and eightpence respectively. Bequests to inmates of divers hospitals and prisons (including the White Lyon); also to poor maidens of his native parish of Bourge under Staynmore, co. Westmorland; for mending highways between Mayden Castle and Baylie Bridge, co. Westmorland; to Agnes, wife of Henry Ubancke, his brother-in-law Peter Bromskill, Elizabeth, wife of William Askell, George Utley and John Utley his wife's sons, and many others. To the Master, Wardens, Freemen, and Commonalty of the Mistery of Vintners a standing cup with a cover all gilt and chased with his mark, and a sum of ten pounds for a dinner. Bequests to the poor of the parishes of "S^t Poulchers," (fn. 19) S. Mary at Hill, and S. Leonard in Eastcheape. Also to Christopher his son all his lands, tenements, &c., in tail, saving to Elizabeth his wife her jointure and certain messuages in Mycham, co. Surrey, and a messuage called "the Spittle on Staynmore," charged with an annual payment of eight pounds for the maintenance of a schoolmaster to teach children to read, &c., in the parish of Bourge aforesaid. To the Master, Wardens, &c., of the Mistery of Vintners the reversion of lands and tenements in the parishes of S. Mary at Hill and S. Dunstan in the East, subject to a rent-charge of forty pounds, and further charged with the yearly payment of four pounds to the poor of the parish of "S^t Poulchers," fifty shillings to the poor of the parish of S. Leonard in Eastcheape, and four pounds to the poor of the parish of S. Mary at Hill. (fn. 20) To Robert Brunskell the younger, his godson, the reversion of his mansion house in Marke Lane; and to his nephews and nieces the reversion of his manor of the Ile, co. Durham, and other tenements above mentioned. Dated 28 June, A.D. 1594.
Roll 275 (1).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Valentine [14 Feb.].

Sole (Robert), salter.—All his children, except his son Myles or Miles, having been fully advanced of their shares of his goods in manner as set out, they are desired to be therewith content. To his son Myles he leaves certain messuages in Breadstreete and Knyhtryderstreete, commonly called "Trinitie lane," in the parish of S. Mildred in Breadstreete. To George his son ten pounds. To Walter his son a portion of his household stuff. Bequests also to Jane Critofte and Mary Ayre his daughters, and others. Solemnly charges William his son to be content with the liberal portion and gift of the parsonage of Great Missingham, co. Norfolk, with which the said William had been advanced, and to suffer Myles his son to enjoy the lands and tenements devised. Guardians appointed for Thomas his son. His aforesaid sons George and Walter, and his daughters Jane and Mary and their respective husbands, to forfeit all benefits under his will if they attempt to bring any suit directly or indirectly affecting the interest of the aforesaid Myles. To the Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Art or Mistery of Salters certain tenements, &c., in the parish of S. Giles without Creplegate, and certain others formerly known by the name of "the bolte and the Tonne," situate in Fridaiestreete in the parish of S. John, Evangelist, in Watlingstreete, as well as other tenements, rents, &c., formerly bequeathed or assigned to superstitious uses, to have and to hold the same to them and their successors to their own proper use and behoof for ever. Dated 18 July, A.D. 1593.
Roll 275 (7).

Monday next before the Feast of S. Boniface, Bishop [5 June].

Foxall (John), mercer.—To Sibill his wife, her heirs and assigns, his dwelling called "the grene Dragon" in Budgerowe in the parish of S. Antolyn. Dated 15 November, 33 Elizabeth [A.D. 1591].
Roll 275 (19).

ANNO 38 ELIZABETH.

[No enrolment of wills under this year.]

ANNO 39 ELIZABETH.

Monday next after the Feast of S. George, Martyr [23 April].

Egerton (Thomas), mercer.—To the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mistery of the Mercers of the City of London and their successors a tenement at one time known as "the greate seild," situate in Soperlane in the parish of S. Pancrace, near a tenement in "Cheapeside" (fn. 21) called "the Key," to have and to hold to their own use and behoof for ever. No general words in any other will to extend to a revocation of the present will. Dated 10 May, 32 Elizabeth [A.D. 1590].
Roll 276 (45).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Margaret, Virgin [20 July].

Gore (Thomas), grocer.—To the Company or Fellowship of the Grocers of the City of London and their successors two messuages in Gracechurchestreete and Lumberdestreete towards the maintenance and sustentation of the poor of the same fellowship, and the bearing and supporting of other charges and business of the same company for ever. (fn. 22) This devise not to be set aside by general words in any subsequent will. Dated 11 July, A.D. 1586.
Roll 276 (53).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Michael, Archangel [29 Sept.].

Morgan (Andrew), vintner, of the parish of S. Ollyves in Sylverstreete, and formerly of the parish of "S^t Ann Agnes" near Aldersgate.—To his son Gredion he leaves all his lands and tenements in his aforesaid parish of "S (fn. 23) Ann Agnes" in tail; remainders to his other sons, Bartholomew and Harman, in successive tail; remainder to his daughters and the heirs of their respective bodies. Also to Bartholomew his son a shop and two rooms situate in S. Martyn's the Great near Aldersgate. To Collet his daughter, wife of Edward Milwarde, the sum of eight pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence. Bequests to his grandchild Ann, daughter of his eldest son Edmonde, deceased, who is also to have his house in Smythfeild as soon as she comes of age, and to others. Dated 21 July, A.D. 1597.

An addition to his will touching the disposal of a sum of thirty pounds due to him from Gredyon his son. Dated 22 July, A.D. 1597.
Roll 276 (54).

ANNO 40 ELIZABETH.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Barnabas, Apostle [11 June].

Bennet (John), gentleman, of Stone beside Feversham, co. Kent.—To Elianar his wife all his lands and tenements in the parish of All Saints, Barkinge, except only a sawyer's yard which he leaves to John Worlye, gentleman, of the parish of Thonge, co. Kent; also to his said wife tenements in Feversham commonly called "the Sequestrye," charged with certain payments to the sons of Margerie his sister, wife of Tutcher Charles of Stonie Stratforde. Pecuniary legacies to Thomas, son of William Downe of Linsteede, co. Kent, and others. Dated 12 March, A.D. 1596. arch, A.D. 1596.
Roll 277 (31).