Will of James Pekham esquire, 1532
A translation into English from Latin / French transcriptions made by Leland L. Duncan. Typed up by Zena Bamping in March 2001.
JAMES PEKHAM PCC : 23 Thower 2 August 1532 (24 Hen VIII)
James Pekham Esquier sike in body &c. To be buried in the parishe church of Wroteham as nygh unto the buriells there where as my frends lyeth buried. To the high awter 6s.8d. to high altar of parish church of Ighteham 3s.4d. To reparacions of the body of the said parish church of Wrotham 20s. To reparacions of the bodies of the parish churches of Chevening and Ighteham to either of them 6s.8d. On the daies of my buriall and monethis mynd in werks of mercy and charitie my executrix shall geve where she shall thinke best soo that it be doon without pompe or vegn glorye of this worde the whiche by noo meanys I will to be doon.
All my moveable goods excepted all my juells the wering gere of my wife and my cheques of golde the which I geve hooly to my wife shall be equally and indifferently devided bitwene my said wife and Reynolde my sonne and he to have his parte when he comyth to the age of 24 yeres and if he deceas to Henry my sonne and if he fortune to deceas then Anne my wife shall have that said parte. To my nevewe Edward Asshe £6.13.4d. Unto Sir Henry Isley, Knyght, my wifs brother, my velwett gowne furred with martrons my russet velwet jaket and my doblet of Crymsyn saltyn. Unto Maister Thomas Wyatt my colt colour Iron graye going in Knoll parke. Unto Antony Isley, my wyfs brother, my gowne of black damaske furred with blak bogye. Residue unto Anne my wife the which I make myn executrice. Witnesse Sir Henry Isley, knyght, Thomas Bartlett, Thomas Row and Thomas Wyatt.
This is concernyng all my manors, londes and tenements with the avowsonage of the churche of Warhorne being sett and lying within the parisshes of Wroteham, Ightham, Sele, Kemsing, Shipborne, Kyngesdowne, Stansted, Asshe next Dartford, Chevenyng, Otteford, Shoreham and ells where within the Countie of Kent. First I wille my feoffees doo suffre Anne my wife untill Reynold my sonne doth come unto the age of 24 yeres to occupye take perceyve and levye all the forsaid Manors &c with the gyfte of the said avowsonage to paye my detts and pay unto my daughter Dorathe at the day of her first maruage or at her full age of 22 yeres the sum of oon hundred pounds and soo to every other of my daughters and also doo kepe them untill they be maried or doo otherwise provide for them as putting them to service that soo will be content to goo to service untill they come to the age of 22 yeres and to make leesses for terme of yeres until that my sonne Reynolde doth come to the age of 24. If any of my daughters happen to be professed in any Religion then my legacy to her be voide except £26.13.4d. therof wherof £6. 13. 4d. be delivered to the souveraigne of the house where she doth soo entre into the abbit of Religion and the other £20 the residue of the said £26.13.4d. to the soueraigne at the day of her profession.
When Reynold my sonne comyth unto the age of 24 all my manours, londes &c within the forsaid parishes forthewith the avowsonye aforsaid unto my said sonne and after his moders decease all the residue of my manors, londes &c in Kent.
If he dye without heires males then my manors of Estyaldham and Westyaldham otherise called Litillyaldham forthwith the advowson aforsaid unto Anne my wife during her lyfe and all the residue of my manors and tenements in the parishes of Wrotham, Ightham, Sele, Kemsing, Shipbourne, Kingesdowne, Stansted, and Asshe I will unto Henry my sonne and the heires males of his body and after his moders deceas all the residue of my manours &c and yf he dye without yssue male then to my said wife Anne during her lyfe naturall. If my wife be pryvement insential with a man childe the said childe after my wifs deceas shall have all my manors londes &c in the forsaid parishes and for lacke of issue shall remayne unto my cosyn Reynolde Pekham sonne and heire of Thomas Pekham, esquier, decessed so that her or his heires males doo paye oon thousand pounds to be evynly divided amongs all my daughters then lyving and if noo daughters then lyving then amongs my daughters children and if the Mli be not paid then my manors &c shall remayne unto the heirs of Reynolde my sonne and for lack to the heires of Henry my sonne and for lack to remayn to the heirs of the said man childe and for lack to the heires of my body and for lacke to the heires of James Pekham my fader and for lacke to the heires of my cosyn Reynolde aforsaid and for lacke to the heires of Reynolde Pekham my graundfather and for lack to remayn unto Richard Hille my wifes brother in lawe Sergeaunt of the Seller with our soueraigne Lorde King Henry the VIII and to Antony Isley my wifs brother by egall [equal] porcions. My yongest sonne Henry during the lyfe of my wife Anne when he comyth to the age of 21 to have to him and his heirs an annuytie of £6.13.4d. going owt of all my manors londes &c above rehersed except the manors &c in Chevenyng, Otford and Shorham and after the decease of my said wife a further annytie of £3.6.8d. owt of all my tenements aforesaid above the forsaid £6.13.4d. (same to the man child if born). My sonne Reynolde shall have for his fynding till he come to the age of 24 yeres £13.6.8d. by the yere soo that he be kept and founden to his lernyng and in speciall to the studye and knowlige of the comen lawe of this realme.
Witnesses: Henry Isley, Knyght, Thomas Bartlett, Edward Asshe, Edward Martyn, Thomas Rowe and Thomas Wyatt.
Probate (sede Vacante) 7 Februarii 1532 by Anne, relict and executor.