Bequests Relating to Essex (1): Transactions n.s. Volume 13 Part 4

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.}

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 "; {…}

[vol.. XIII. NEW SERIES.]

254 BEQUESTS RELATING TO ESSEX.

{…} 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.

Then the origin of the names of some of our old farm houses is brought to light, such as “Foxtons” in Little Waltham, “Molands” in South Ockendon, “Malmaynes” in Barking, etc.; and some further names of Essex rectors and vicars may be ascertained.

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.

LIST OF SURNAMES TAKEN FROM ESSEX TOWNS AND VILLAGES

Abytone, Reginald de … 1317 {Abberton}

Aldham, Sir John de … 1349

Asschindone, Ibbota de … 1279 {Ashingdon}

Balesham, Robert de … 1281 {Basildon?}

Berkynge, Thomas de … 1331 {Barking}

Benetlegh, John de … 1279 {Bentley?}

Berden, John de … 1349

Bovyndon, John de … 1352 {?}

Bradewelle, William de …. 1306 {Bradwell}

Canefeld, Reginald de … 1322 {Canfield}

Chelmersford, Walter de … 1343 {Chelmsford}

Chygewelle, Edmund de … 1280 {Chigwell}

Chyshelle, William de … 1281 {Chishall}

Chyngeford, William de … 1293 {Chingford}

Claveryng, Godfrey de … 1346 {Clavering}

Clactone, John de … 1332 {Clacton}

Coggeshale, John de … 1385 {Coggeshall}

Colecestre, Gilbert de … 1306 {Colchester}

Coryngham, Robert de … 1286 {Corringham}

Dagenham, William de … 1258

Donemowe, Robert de … 1333 {Dunmow}

Eppyng, William de … 1338 {Epping}

Elsyngham, John de … 1311 {Elsenham}

Essex, Walter de … 1271

Felstede, Godfrey de … 1329 {Felsted}

Feryng, Stephen de … 1316 {Feering}

Finchingfeld, Walter de … 1307 {Finchingfield}

Halsted, John de … 1353 {Halstead}

Hallinggebert, Nicholas de … 1278 {Hallingbury?}

Haveringe, Richard de … 1271 {Havering}

Henham, Geoffrey de … 1278

Herlawe, Walter de … 1328 {Harlow}

Hokkele, William de … 1322 {Hockley}

Horsete (Orset), William de … 1275 {Orsett}

Ileford, John de … 1324 {Ilford}

Kellevedene, Matilda de … 1314 {Kelvedon}

Langeford, Ralph de … 1295 {Langford}

Lambourne, Robert de … 1329

Latton, John de … 1349

Leyton, Alice de … 1282

Machinge, Adam de … 1287 {Matching}

Messyng, Richard de … 1312 {Messing}

Mockyng, Robert de … 1321 {Mucking}

Mondene, John de … 1332 {Maldon?}

Nasing, Roger de … 1282 {Nazeing}

Navestok, John de … 1346 {Navestock}

Nottlee, John de … 1322 {Notley}

Perundon (Parndon), Nicholas de … 1329

BEQUESTS RELATING TO ESSEX. 255

Raylegh, Walter de … 1305 {Rayleigh}

Rocheford, Guy de. knt. … 1293 {Rochford}

Rodinges, Geoffrey de. knt. … 1281 {Roding}

St Osith, Henry de … 1334 {St Osyth}

Salyng, Walter de … 1319 {Saling}

Shenefeld, John de … 1349 {Shenfield}

Sherringge, Thomas de … 1349 {Sheering}

Stanndon, William de … 1273 {Stondon?}

Stapelford, Simon de … 1356 {Stapleford}

Stanford, Nicholas de … 1279

Storteford, Edmund de … 1289 {Stortford}

Stratford, Richard de … 1281

Thaksted, Lucas de … 1348 {Thaxted}

Thunderle, Margery de … 1317 {Thundersley}

Tillebiri, William de … 1323 {Tilbury}

Tolshunt, William de … 1330 {Tolleshunt}

Toppesfeld, John de … 1332 {Toppesfield}

Upton, Ralph de … 1341

Wokyndon (Ockendon), Nicholas de … 1321

Waledene, Humphrey … 1331 {Walden}

Writele, Alexander de … 1280 {Writtle}