Chelsfield Wills - Part 1
Abstracts of will from Chelsfield proved in
the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
John Beverich
of Chelsfield dated 9 September 1513
Abstract of the will of John Beverich of Chelsfield dated
9 September 1513 – taken from a literal transcript by Leland L. Duncan.
I John Beverich of Chelsfield yeoman leave my soul to
Almighty God and to our blessed lady Saint Mary and to all the holy
company of heaven, and my body to be buried in the [….] of Chelsfield.
To the high altar of Chelsfield for my tithes negligently
forgotten 13s.4d.
To the Cathedral church of Rochester 12d.
An honest priest is to sing for my soul, my wife’s soul and
all christian soul in Chelsfield church for one whole year, and for his
salary or wages to have £6.13s.4d.
To find a taper of wax burning before the Trinity in the said
church 9s. or a colt of the price of 10s. I also leave a
cow price 6s. to the said church to find a taper of wax burning before our
Lady of Pity there. I bequeath a cow price 13s.4d. to find a taper of 2
lb. of wax to burn before the sepulchre in Chelsfield church for evermore.
I will that there be at my burial and at my month’s mind 10 priests and
as many of them as be at my dirge are to have 6d. apiece. I will that my
Executors and Overseers shall ordain a torch price 7s. against my month’s
mind to burn all the high mass time. To Chelsfield church "a maser
cuppe the whiche I bought of Mastresse Alys for this entent that every
childwife also every bryde shall drynck in it and to contynue as long as
it lastith."
To John the son of Andrew Beverych 5 mother sheep. To Agnes
his daughter five mother sheep. To Sybell Beveryche, that was the wife of
Thomas Beveryche to her marriage £6. To the child that she goeth
with if it be a man child or woman child £6 when 18 years old, and if it
die before then my Executors are to distribute the money in meritorious
deeds, that is to say to poor priests, to churches and to highways where
most need is to be done.
My Executors are to cause a trentall of masses to be said in
the chapel of Farnborough and two other trentalls in the chapel of Downe
in the Deanery of Shoreham, and one other trentall to be done at Mottenden
in Kent to pray for my soul and all Christian souls.
To Laurence Dethe my servant 26s.8d. To Hugh Woodward 3s.4d.
To Robert Fryth 20s. To Alice Frythe my servant to her marriage 5 marks.
To Agnes Walker widow 40s. To Thomas Fletcher my servant 40s. To John
Goodhewe my brother in law 40s.
I bequeath to amend the highways in Bromley Common where most
need is 13s.4d. I bequeath to amend the highways in the parish of
Farnborough in London way where most need is 13s.4d.
To William Clement my Executor to bear my offering and my
wife’s offering to our Lady of Walsingham 13s.4d.
To John Lavybonde 20s. in money or money worth. To Richard
Goodhewe 10s. To Richard Fletcher 6s.8d.
To the Church of Chelsfield 5 marks to be bestowed in the
most needful reparation that is to be done there. To the said church 20s.
to buy latten bowls to stand underneath the tapers that are before the
roodloft.
I bequeath 10s. to have a trentall of masses done for my
soul, my wife’s soul and all Christian souls at Seala Celi in
Westminster.
This is my last will as to my lands etc. –
I will that Andrew Beveriche my brother have my tenement in
Farnborough called Hokehams tenement with two acres of land, one acre of
which I bought of Richard Peettey [ ?Petley] the younger and the other
from Symond Cowper.
I will that Margery Beveryche that was the wife of Jeffrey
Beveryche have 20s. yearly for 8 years out of my tenement in Chelsfield
which I bought of John Jeeter the elder, the remainder after 8 years to be
expended in meritorious deeds, that is to say to poor churches, to
highways etc. and if the child to be born to Margaret Beveryche be a man
child then to him and remainder in default to William Beveryche the son of
Henry Beveryche when he come of age, with remainder to John son of Thomas
Beveryche when of age, and in default to John Beveryche when of age, and
in default to be sold and the money to be expended in meritorious deeds.
I will that Robert Marchall of Orpington, my Feoffee in
trust, may sell a house of mine in Farnborough called the sign of the
Crown, and the land thereto belonging, and the proceeds to be used in
performance of this will and testament.
My Feoffees Robert Marchall, William Cowper and Robert Frythe
with other shall deliver a state of all my lands etc. in Chelsfield and
Farnborough.
I leave the residue to William Clement my Executor, Master
John Williams parson of Chelsfield to be Overseer and to have 26s8d.
Witnesses Master John Williams, parson of Chelsfield: Richard
Goodhewe: John Mylner with other.
Proved 5 December 1513 by William Clement,
Executor. [ PCC will PROB11/17]]
Transcribed by Geoffrey
Copus