BEQUESTS RELATING TO ESSEX
EXTRACTED FROM Calendar of
Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London.
WITH ADDITIONAL NOTES BY A.
BENNETT BAMFORD, V.D.
{A transcription of an article
taken from the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (now the Essex
Society for Archaeology and History), ‘new series’ Volume 13 part 4, published
in 1914. Items in curly brackets { } have been added for the convenience of the
modern reader on the Internet. Your
feedback on this article would be appreciated, especially if you have referred
to it in the course of research. The
full transcription will be published in Spring 2014 on www.esah160.blogspot.com }
ALL now, who are interested in
genealogical research, and in the manners, customs and dress of the Middle
ages, realise the important light that is thrown upon the subject by the wills
of the time. In going through the wills proved and enrolled at the Court of
Husting, London, published in two volumes by order of the Corporation of the
City, and edited, with an introduction, by Dr. Reginald R. Sharpe, it is very
noticeable how many of the citizens, whose wills were enrolled during the
latter half of the thirteenth century and the first half of the fourteenth,
bore Essex names, i.e., names of towns and villages whence they or their
fathers had come. Surnames, as we know them, were then uncommon, and when men
were not known by the name of the birthplace or former residence, it was
usually by their trade or occupation, such as Draper, Taylor, Baker, Smith,
etc. A list of names of places in Essex, used as surnames, will probably not be
uninteresting, and will shew how many of the citizens of London were of Essex
descent. These wills also contain much matter of interest to the Essex
antiquary, such as gifts of plate, ornaments, and books, money for founding
chantries in the churches, or for their repair or rebuilding; and bequests to
the different religious houses, especially Stratford and Barking, where many of
the citizens had daughters or relatives. These bequests help to fix the date of
many of the additions to our parish churches, i.e., Bartholomew Denmars, in
1352, leaves money towards the work of the church of South Benfleet; Alice
Hongreforth, in 1491, leaves directions to her executors to see that the roof
of Blackmore church is "properly seled with Estryche boord "; and
John Draper, in 1496, desires his lands and tenements in the parish of Colne
(Colne Engaine?) to be sold, and the proceeds to be devoted to the purchase of
forty thousand bricks, towards the work of the belfry of the said parish
church.
The wills included in this
present paper are from the commencement of the calendar in 1258 to 1361-2,
dividing those of local interest more equally into two parts, than if the
extracts had ended in 1358, with Dr. Sharpe’s first volume. Some of the notes are by Dr. Sharpe, and
others have been added. The Guildhall Library Committee kindly say that they
are only too pleased to see the work make some use of, and members living in,
and well acquainted with the places mentioned in the wills, may be able to give
further information concerning the bequests and testators.
ABSTRACT FROM WILLS
1287. GODFREY ROSAMUND.—To the
Prior and Convent of la Blakemore {Blackmore}, five shillings annual rent in
the parish of All Hallows de Fancherche, on condition that his name be put in
their obituary (martilogio), and his obit kept. (No date.)
1291. WILLIAM HERVI. - To the
Prior and Convent of BIakemore {Blackmore}, his shop, so that his servant John
hold the same for a term of three years after his decease, rendering to the
said prior half a mark for pittance. (No date.) (Afterwards let on lease to Sir
Richer de Refham.)
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