Wills: 16 Henry VI (1437-8)

Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1890.

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'Wills: 16 Henry VI (1437-8)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688, ed. R R Sharpe( London, 1890), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp481-485 [accessed 22 November 2024].

'Wills: 16 Henry VI (1437-8)', in Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688. Edited by R R Sharpe( London, 1890), British History Online, accessed November 22, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp481-485.

"Wills: 16 Henry VI (1437-8)". Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 2, 1358-1688. Ed. R R Sharpe(London, 1890), , British History Online. Web. 22 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/court-husting-wills/vol2/pp481-485.

ANNO 16 HENRY VI.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Faith, Virgin [6 Oct.].

Bacon (John), woolmonger.—To be buried in the church of S. Mary de Estneston, co. Northampton, viz., in the aisle or chapel (in insula seu capella) of H. Trinity, where lie the remains of Richard his father and Katherine his mother, if so be he die at Estneston; (fn. 1) therwise he is to be buried in the church of All Hallows de Berkyngchirch. And whereas he purposes to rebuild the church of Estneston and the chapel aforesaid during his lifetime, his executors are to carry out his project in the event of his dying before the work is finished. Bequest to the vicar and parishioners of the said church of an annual rent issuing from his lands, tenements, &c., in the parishes of All Hallows de Berkyngchirch, S. Clement towards Candelwikstrete, S. Leonard de Estchep, and elsewhere in the City for a term of ten years, for a trental of S. Gregory to be said each year in the aforesaid chapel for the good of his soul, the souls of his father and mother, Laurence his brother, and others. To John Poutrelle and Margery his wife, the testator's daughter, he leaves all his lands and tenements just mentioned in tail, saving the above rent. Dated London, 8 March, A.D. 1436.—Also he wills that his feoffees in trust of lands and tenements in Estneston, Toucestre, and Holcote (fn. 2) convey the same to John Bacoun, son of Laurence his brother, saving free easement of his chambers, horses, &c., at Estneston to John Poutrell and Margery aforesaid whenever they like to sojourn there. His feoffees in trust of lands and tenements in the parish of S. Mary Magdalen de Bermondseye, co. Surrey, to convey the same to the aforesaid John and Margery.
Roll 166 (9).

Monday next before the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude [28 Oct.]

Jepe (Richard), Rector of the church of All Hallows de Honylane.—To be buried in his church. To Katherine his sister a tenement in the parish of S. Martin in the Vintry for life; remainder to the Prioress and Convent of Chesthunte, co. Herts......[The rest of the will is apparently lost.]
Roll 166 (12).

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

Rus (William), Alderman (fn. 3) and goldsmith.—To be buried in the church of S. Michael upon Cornhill, to the rector and churchwardens of which church he leaves the reversion of certain lands, tenements, and rents within the parish after the decease of Isabella his wife; the issues and profits of the same to be disposed of in maintaining a chantry, observing his obit, providing lamps, and bread called "syngyngbrede," (fn. 4) in the churches of S. Michael aforesaid and of S. Katherine near Cristchirch, and in divers gifts to the poor of the parish of S. Michael in manner prescribed. (fn. 5) The Alderman of the Ward of Cornhill for the time being to have ten shillings annually for attending his obit and seeing that the provisions of his will are carried out. In default the property is to go over to the Wardens or Masters of the Art of Groldsmithery in London and commonalty of the same for similar uses. Dated London, 5 June, A.D. 1433.
Roll 166 (21).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Chad, Bishop [2 March].

Aleyn (Margery).—To be buried in the church of S. Giles without Crepulgate. Bequests to the said church and the Fraternities of S. Giles and S. Loy; (fn. 6) also to John Balle, William Toucetre, and Thomas Martyn. Dated London, 4 October, A.D. 1424.
Roll 166 (39).

Monday next after the Feast of Invention of H. Cross [3 May].

Burton (William), grocer.—Testament touching certain lands and tenements in the parish of All Hallows de Berkyngchirch formerly belonging to Dame Margery Welton, widow, and afterwards to William Sevenok, grocer, and one of the Aldermen (fn. 7) of the City, which he leaves to the rector, vicar, churchwardens, and parishioners of the church of S. Nicholas de Sevenok, co. Kent, charged with the payment of five marks annually to some honest man, not in holy orders, to teach poor children of the parish in the messuage formerly belonging to William Sevenok, according to the terms of the will of the said William; and also with the payment of ten shillings yearly to each of thirteen poor men and women, at the discretion of the said rector, vicar, and wardens, living in cottages formerly belonging to the said William. The surplus of the issues and profits of the property to be kept in a box within the said church for any emergency that may arise touching the tenements. In default the property to go over to the next heir male of the said William Sevenok. Dated London, 4 January, A.D. 1437.
Roll 166 (46).

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

Osborn (Richard), Clerk of the Chamber of the City of London.—To be buried in the church of S. Michael de Bassyngeshawe, where Johanna his wife lies buried. To Agnes his wife shops, &c., in the lane called "Seintsitheslane" (fn. 8) in the parish of S. Benedict Shorhogge, and in Walbroke in the parish of S. John, for life by way of dower. To William his son he leaves the reversion of the above property, and also a tenement in the parish of S. Andrew upon Cornhull, in tail; remainder, as to the tenement in Walbroke, to the rector and churchwardens of the church of S. Michael de Bassyngeshawe for the maintenance of a light upon the common beam before the crucifix within the said church, and of a light to burn before the image of the Blessed Mary when Salve Regina is sung. His other tenements to be sold for pious and charitable uses. Also to his aforesaid son and to Elizabeth, wife of the same, he leaves divers rents in the parish of S. Martin Pomers in Irmongerlane and elsewhere. To the Prior and Convent of the House of the Salutation of the Mother of God of the Carthusian Order near London certain rents in the parish of S. Mary de Abbechirch, on condition they observe the obit of Johanna Blounde on the day of the Exaltation of H. Cross [14 Sept.], with Placebo and Dirige by note overnight and Requiem mass on the morrow. The reversion of certain shops in the parish of S. Laurence in the Jewry to be sold for pious uses after the decease of Thomas Osborn, mercer, Alice, wife of the same, and Richard their son, without any heir of the body of the said Richard being left surviving. Dated London, 16 January, A.D. 1437.
Roll 166 (66).

Footnotes

  • 1. 1 Easton Neston, near Towcester.
  • 2. 2 Near Brixworth, co. Northampton.
  • 3. 3 Of Cornhill Ward?
  • 4. 1 A name given to cakes or wafers marked with a cross and used in the celebration of mass, whence known also as houseling bread. Derivation uncertain, but probably so called either because its manufacture was accompanied by a singing noise, or because the priest sang during its consecration. A curious proclamation is recorded anno 1 Mary, by which the Mayor offers a reward of twenty marks for the discovery of the person who blasphemously, and in contempt of Christ's true religion, the Catholic faith, and the sacrament of the altar, hanged up a dead cat upon the gallows in the parish of S. Matthew in Cheapside, the crown thereof being shorn; a cloth like a vestment, with one cross on the fore part thereof, and another in the hinder part of the same, put upon it; and a piece of white paper like unto a syngyng cake bestowed between the forefeet of the same cat, being bound together, and a bottle hanged by the same cat upon the said gallows (City Records, Jor. 16, fol. 285 b).
  • 5. 2 From a report made to the Parochial Charities Commission in 1860, it appears that this and other estates given to the parish of S. Michael, Cornhill, were taken by the Crown as given to superstitious uses, and that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests paid the church annually 10l. 3s. 8d. which formerly went in aid of the poor rate, but after 1855 was received by the senior churchwarden, and carried to the general church account, and not to the aid of the poor rate. The Report further states that it was proposed in future to direct that the money should be applied in gifts to the poor, to be made annually by the guardians (Report Royal City Parochial Charities Com., 1880, iii. 269).
  • 6. 3 See note supra, p. 268,
  • 7. 1 Of Tower Ward.
  • 8. 2 The school was founded in accordance with the terms of his will (not enrolled in the Husting), dated 4 July, 1432, and incorporated by letters patent of Queen Elizabeth, 1560. It has since been reconstructed under the Endowed Schools Act. The almshouses exist at the present day.
  • 9. 3 Now Sise Lane. See note, p. 311.