Wills: 24 Henry VI (1445-6)

ANNO 24 HENRY VI.

Monday next after the Feast of S. Maur, Abbot [15 Jan.].

Fitz Robert (Robert, son of Robert, late grocer).—To be buried in the church of S. Mary de Aldermarichirche under the stone where lies the body of Margaret his late wife, daughter of Robert Comberton, esquire. To Margaret his wife all his lands, tenements, &c., in the parish of S. Mildred in Bredstret for life; remainder or reversion in trust for sale for charitable uses. To the Master and Brethren of the House of S. Thomas de Acon he leaves a silver cup with covercle and gilt rim (in borduris deauratum), in English called "the grete grubbe," as a memento. The residue of his goods, jewels, and other chattels, whether alive or dead, he leaves also to his wife for payment of debts, legacies, &c. Dated 27 October, A.D. 1434.

A codicil whereby he desires his feoffees in trust of lands, tenements, &c., in the parish of All Hallows at the Hay in the Ropery to convey an annuity of twenty-six shillings and eightpence, charged on the same, to Alice Fornyvale; also an annual rent of five marks for the maintenance of a chantry in the church of S. Olave in Suthwerk for the soul of John Mokkyng for the space of twenty-four years; and to make a good life estate in the said lands and tenements to his aforesaid wife, without impeachment of waste, on condition that she cause to be kept for one year a weekly obit of his father and mother in S. John's Chapel within the church of S. Mary de Aldermarichirche, where they lie buried, and maintain a chantry in S. Mary's Chapel within the same church, where the testator and his father used to sit; remainder or reversion to be sold for payment of debts and charitable uses. Desires also his feoffees in trust of lands, tenements, &c., in the parishes of S. Mary de Colchirche, S. Martin Pomers, S. Laurence, and S. Pancras, except the tenement called "le Maydenhede" and a messuage in Puppekirtlane in the parish of S. Pancras aforesaid, to make a life estate in the same to his wife, with remainder to Thomas Melton, otherwise called "Beteigne," in tail; remainder as to certain tenements to the Master and Brethren of the House of S. Thomas de Acon, charged with the observance of his obit within the church of S. Thomas, with distribution to the poor of the crafts of Goldsmiths, Grocers, and Tailors, and other observances in connexion with the tomb of Johanna, Countess of Ormond, (fn. 1) within the Chapel of the Holy Cross, in English called "the Roode of lukes," (fn. 2) in the church of S. Thomas aforesaid, in manner prescribed. His feoffees in trust of lands and tenements in the parishes of S. Mary de Aldermarichirche and S. Antonin are desired to convey a life estate in the same to his aforesaid wife, so long as she remain unmarried and chaste; remainder to pious and charitable uses. His uncle John Grace, "peautrer," is also to have a life estate in all his lands and tenements in the parishes of S. Botolph without Alderichegate and S. Mary Wolnore (sic) and the reversion of lands and tenements at Bernes, (fn. 3) Potenhithe, (fn. 4) and Rokehampton, (fn. 5) after the decease of his wife. His manor of Blakehamme to be sold....[The remainder of the will is missing.] Dated 27 October, A.D. 1436.
Roll 174 (7).

Monday next after the Feast of S. Agatha, Virgin [6 Feb.].

Melreth (William), mercer, and Alderman (fn. 6) of the City of London.—To be buried in the church of S. Laurence in the Old Jewry in the place mentioned in his other testament touching his movables. To Sir Robert Rook, vicar of the said church, he leaves eleven marks annual quitrent issuing from lands and tenements in Milkstrete and Ladlane in the parish of S. Laurence aforesaid, in aid of a chantry. To Thomas Tykhill, mercer, and Emma his wife, daughter of the testator, the reversion of the lands and tenements just mentioned, after the decease of Beatrix his wife, in tail, with remainder to Bartholomew Stratton, mercer, and Margaret his wife, another daughter of the testator, in tail; remainder in trust for sale for pious uses, saving the above eleven marks annual rent. Also to the said Bartholomew and Margaret he leaves lands and tenements in the parish of S. Mary de Aldermarichirche, a shop in Westchepe near the entrance of le Brodeseld and rent of a shop within the said seld. Dated London, 14 January, A.D. 1445.
Roll 174 (8).

Monday the Feast of S. Valentine, Martyr [14 Feb.].

Westwod (John), tailor.—To be buried in his parish church of S. Dunstan in le West in Fletestrete, for which he leaves twenty shillings for the fabric of the said church. Dated London, 15 July, A.D. 1445.

A codicil by which he leaves to the Master and Wardens of the Fraternity or Guild of the Blessed Mary and of S. Dunstan in Fletestrete a certain messuage and shops in Fletestrete assigned to him in trust by John, son of John Burell de Askham, in aid of a newly founded perpetual chantry within the said parish church. Dated London, 14 March, A.D. 1443.
Roll 174 (16).

Monday next after F. of S. John ante portam Latinam [6 May].

Hunte (Andrew), girdler.—To Master William Fallan, the rector, and churchwardens of the church of S. Magnus near London Bridge, an annual rent of ten marks, issuing from a tenement called "le Kynggeshede" and a tenement adjoining, situate in Briggestrete in the parish of S. Magnus aforesaid, towards the maintenance of a chantry in the aforesaid church, in accordance with the terms of the will of Roger de Oxon, proved and enrolled in the Husting of London for Pleas of Land held on Monday next before the Feast of S. Gregory, Pope [12 March], 35 Edward I. [A.D. 1306-7], (fn. 7) for the good of his soul, the souls of the aforesaid Roger and others. Also to the said rector and churchwardens he leaves a tenement formerly belonging to John Betherenden, otherwise called "Sandhurst," situate in (super) the new churchyard of the church of S. Magnus, and formerly called "le Fisshwharf" at le Hole in the said parish, to hold to them and their successors by customary services. Dated London, 20 July, A.D. 1440.
Roll 174 (27).