Faversham Household Inventory, 1609

( 230 ) EAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. BY ARTHUR HUSSEY. THE following inventory of the household goods of Elisabeth Aiscoughe* of Faversham, widow, in the year 1609, when she became the third wife of Esaie Spracklinge of the same town, is in Vol. 50 of the Acta Curia of the Archdeacon of Canterbury (now in the Cathedral Library) with reference to the proof of her Will. By Deed Poll, dated 10th June 1609, the said Elizabeth sold her goods and chattels to Edward Master of Ospringe, gentleman, and Thomas Mendfield, one of the Jurats of Faversham, as friends in trust for the said Esaie Spracklinge and herself, who intended marrying. The Trustees, by indenture of same date, agreed to make them over after the death of either Esaie or Elisabeth to the survivor. This they did on the 4th April 1610 to Esaie Spracklinge, his wife having died in the previous February. There is no information at present as to the first husband of Elisabeth Aiscoughe, but in 1609 at the Visitation of the Archdeacon of Canterbury a presentment was made at Paversham : " Thomas Askew, for that he practiseth surgery without license." The Canterbury Marriage Liceneesf record that in 1601 Wm. Keeler of Luddenham married Elisabeth Askue of Paversham. In 1604 Thos. Askew of Paversham, sailor, married Agnes Peerce of Whitstable; he was a widower in 1620, when he married Ann Annott. Esaie (or Esay or Esau) Spracklinge appears to have been one of the Spracklinge familyj of St. Lawrence in Thanet, in which * This is one of the forms of the name Askew. t Eirst Series, 13, 31, 242. J Arms: Sable, a saltire ermine between four leopard faces or. Eor the Spracklinge Eamily see Hist, of St. Lawrence in Thanet (1895), by Dr. C. Cotton. EAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. 231 Church he was married 22nd December 1576* to his first wife Millicent Crayfordf of the Great Mongeham family. Esaie Spracklinge appears to have settled at Paversham, being possibly a merchant adventurer, and there his first wife died 9th April 1597, being buried in the Church, and the gravestone is now near the chancel-gates:— "Here lieth buried the Body of | Millesent, the late wife of Esay | Spraclinge, gent.,and the yongest [sic] | daughter of Edwarde Crayforde | of Mongeham Magna within the County | of Kent, Esquire, the which Edward died | in Pebruary 1558 and the said Milli | sent died the 9th day of April j 1597, being of the age of 39 | years 11 weeks and 2 days | and had by the said Esay 7 sons and | three daughters." The Paversham Parish Registers do not help us as to the names of the children, as they do not antedate 1620. But in 1606 a Richard Cooper of Strathfieldsaye in Hants, yeoman, had hcence to marry Millicent Spracklinge of Sandwich. In 1611 Thos. Ramsay of Paversham, gent., had licence to marry Mary Spracklinge of the same parish.J The Canterbury Marriage Licences, printed by Mr. J. M. Cowper (1st Series, 389), shew three licences were granted to Esaie Spracklinge :— 27 April 1598. Esau Spraclinge of Faversham, gent., and Jane Besbiche of the same parish, widow. At Paversham. 9 June 1609. Esau Sprackling of Paversham and Elisabeth Aiscoughe of same, widow. At Faversham. John Humble of Canterbury, gent., bonds. 26 January 1613-14. Esaia Spracklinge of Faversham, jurat, and Margaret Partridge of Chartham, widow. At Preston next Paversham. John Humble of Canterbury, gent., bonds. Esaie was a Jurat of the town 1599 to 1618, mayor in 1600 and part of 1613 (in succession to Thomas Mendfield), also in 1614. Although at one part of his life a wealthy man, he died very poor, and because of his poverty was allowed by the Corporation of Paversham in July 1619 the yearly payment of £_, which in the following March was increased to £12 a year.§ * The St. Lawrence Register, 1560—1653, printed by Rev. C. H. Wilkie in 1902. The name is written Millicene Crayford. t Crayford Arms: Or, a chevron sable, three falcons' heads erased argent. j Canterbury Marriage Licences, Eirst Series, 106, 342. § This information has been kindly supplied to me by Mr. E. E. Giraud of Eaversham. 232 EAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. AN INVENTOBY OF ALL SUCH GOODS AND CHATTELS AS ABE MEANT TO BE CONVEYED BY THIS PBESENT WRITING [DATED 10 JUNE 1609], WHEBEUNTO THIS SCHEDULE IS ANNEXED :— One great silver salt with a cover. One little silver salt with a cover. Two silver bowls. One silver taster* with a cover. One gilt pepper box. One casting bottle of stone,f covered with silver. Two gilt spoons. Six silver spoons with gilt heads. Six silver spoons without heads. One beaker| of silver. Two chardgers [large plates or flat dishes]. One poider [?]. Pewter: Two basons with ewers. Three other basons. Thirty platters. Forty pewter dishes and fruit dishes. One dozen and half of saucers. One dozen of porrengers. Pour dozen of plate trenchers. Eight pye plates. Eight candlesticks. One collender. Five chamber pots. Ten pewter pots. One yewer [sic] for wine. One saltcellar. Fifteen bisket [sic] moulds of tin. Six baking plates of tin. Brass: Six brass pans. Four brass pots. * A small cup to taste liquor; a dram cup. t Eor sprinkling perfumed waters; a vinaigrette. (Eist. Bng. Diet.) % A drinking vessel with a wide mouth; open oup j goblet. FAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. 233 Four stupnetts.* Two brass kettles. One chafingdish.f Two brass mortars and pestles. Two brasen skonces.J Three latten skonces. Four brasen ladles. Three brasen pot lids. One perfuming pan of brass. Linen: Forty pair of sheets. Three long table cloths of diaper. Three square table cloths of diaper. Twenty other table cloths. Six side-board cloths. Twelve cupboard cloths. Pour drinking cloths. Two long towels of diaper. Forty other towels. Twenty dozen of napkins. Six napkins of damask. Six diaper napkins. Thirty pillow beeres.§ One tapestry coverlet. Two green rugs. Six pair of blankets. Fifteen curtains of green saye. Five curtains of red say with valence and testers. One long carpet of green broad-cloth. Four green carpetsj| of broad cloth. Ten needlework cushions. One coverlet of Dornax.1T * A stewpan or skillet. (.Diet. Kent Dialect.) t To hold burning oharcoal or other fuel for heating anything placed thereon; a portable grate. (Hist. JSng. Diet.) t A candlestick, also a lantern. (Hist. Eng. Diet.) § Pillow cases. (Did. Kent Dialect.) || Carpets were then used for covering tables, benohes, or beds, not the floor. IT Cloth made at Doornik in Flanders; or, in Erench, Tournai. (Hist. Eng. Diet.) 234 FAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. Four curtains of Dornax. A field bedstedle* with curtains and cover of red saye, edged with white and red fringe ; one green embroidered chair; one chair done with Dornax; two cushion stooles. Two feather beds. Three rugs and one bolster. Twelve pillows. Hangings of Dornax. Twenty joined stools. Two court cupboards.f A canopy bed with a feather bed and two bolsters.- One coverlet of Dornax and a canopy. Five trunks. One press. Three window cushions. A desk. One trundle-bed! and a blanket', rug, and bolster. A wainscot chest. Eleven pillows. One chair. Two tables, a press. A wainscot chair. § A bunting hutch.|| A kneeding trough. Two milk tankards. Old armour. In the Hall: A drawing table and carpet of Dornax. One little table and a carpet of Dornax. Five crickitts.1T Two forms and a bench. A court-cupboard and carpet of Dornax. A still and a skonce. * The wooden framework of a bed, whioh supports the bed itself. (Diet. Kent Dialect.) + A sideboard or cabinet used formerly to display the family plate, silver flagons, cups, beakers, etc. (Ibid.) X A truckle-bed, which in the daytime was stowed away under the ohief bed in the room. (Ibid.) § A chair with a panelled box-like seat. (Funk and Wagnell's Diet.) . .. || The bin in which meal was sifted or bolted. (Diet. Kent Dialect.) If Low wooden stools. (Hist. English Diet.) EAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. 235 Four blue curtains. Painted hangings. In the Parlour i One chair trimmed with Dornax. One wainscot chair. One wicker chair. One court 'board. Four boxes. Five pictures. One pair of great cobirons.* One pair of creepers.f One pair of tongs. A fire shovel. Hangings of Dornax. A carpet and a cupboard cloth. Curtains and curtain rods for two windows. The Chamber over the Hall : One wyned [sic] bedstedle with one feather bed. A green rug and curtains. One trundle-bed with a feather bed and coverlet. A press. A chest of drawers. Two trunks. A great painted chest. A wainscot chest. A foulding table. A corslett.J Two wicker chairs, four boxes. Hangings of Dornax and curtains to the windows. Cobirons. Creepers. Tongs and fire shovel. One court-cupboard and cloth of Dornax. * The irons standing on the hearth, for keeping the brands and burning ooals in their plaoe; also the irons by which the spit is supported. (Diet. Kent Dialect.) t A small iron dog placed on the hearth between the and-irons. (Hist. English Diet.) X A portion of armour for the body. (Ibid.) 236 EAVERSHAM HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY, 1609. Her Will was verbally given on her death-bed :— " Elisabeth, wife of Esaye Spracklinge, on the 10 February 1609-10, being the Saturday next before she died, she, the said Elisabeth, being of good and perfect memory, in the words following or the like in effect, namely, of her own accord, then being sick, said : All the goods that I have when I die, I will and mean my husband shall have. I can well afford them to him if they were more than they are ; he is a good gentleman and useth me well and kindly. And as for my nieces and other kinsfolk they have all well to live of themselves, and have no need of anything I have. The witnesses present at the uttering and declariug of this Will nuncupative are Rebecca Philpott, Mary Brook, Joan Peerce." [They all three witness by their mark.] Probate 27 Feb. 1609-10. (Consistory Court, Vol. 57, fol. 134.)