Medieval and Tudor Kent wills of the Shoreham Deanery, part 1

The following list of mediaeval wills for the Shoreham Deanery, which was a peculiar of the Archbishop of Canterbury, was compiled by Leland L. Duncan and recorded in six quarto volumes around 1895.

The wills at the time of his writing were all that remained prior to 1600 in the Registers of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and in the Lambeth Palace Registers.

The 34 parishes which made up the Shoreham Deanery were as follows:- Bexley, Brasted, Chevening, Chiddingstone, Crayford or Eard, St. Mary Cray, Darenth, Downe, Eynsford, East Farleigh, Farningham, Gillingham, The Isle of Grain, Halstead, Hayes, Hever, Hunton, Ifield, Ightham, Keston, Knockholt, Lydsing, East Malling, Meopham, Northfleet, Orpington, Otford, East Peckham, Penshurst, Sevenoaks, Shoreham, Stansted, Sundridge, and Wrotham.

Transcriptions in quarto exercise books held at the Kent Archaeological Society's Library in Maidstone. Examined by me, Zena Bamping, in March 2001, who made the following list of wills extracted by Mr Duncan. The originals are written in pencil and seem to be almost complete transcriptions with a few abbreviations, e.g. P for Parish.

Index of Notebooks

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Book 4

Book 5

Book 6

Jump to Transcriptions

Index of Wills

Book 1

Register	Testator	Date of Will	Date of Probate	Lands in Kent or connection with Kent	Page No.
3 Rous	William LYE	1391 Jan 9	[no probate]	bur. Northfleet church	01
3 Rous	Nicholas STONE Rector of Northfleet	1393  Sep 24	1393 28 Oct	Northfleet church	03
17 Rous	Richard BAMME of Gillingham Esquire	13 H 6 May 17 [1452]	[no probate given]	Bredhurst, Crayford, Darenth, Dartford, Farningham, Horton Kirby, Stone, Sutton at Hone, Wilmington	05
1 Marche	John SYBILLE citizen of London	1401 Aug 19	1401 Sep 12	Bromley church, Priory of Hegham next Rochester	08
12 Marche	William BRAMPTON citizen & Stokfysshmonger of London	1406 Nov 6	1406 Nov 13	lands in Kent Knockholt church	10
14 Marche	John HARDY	1407 Sep	1407 Oct 9	buried Penshurst church	12
14 Marche	John LUFFWYK, Esquire	1406 Dec 9	1407 Jul 12	Crayford	13
18 Marche	John MULLYNG citizen & Brasyer of London	1408 Jan 4	1408 Jan 15	Eynesford, Lullingstone, Lullingstane	15
19 Marche	John COLMAN Esquire, citizen of London	1409 Oct 24	1409 Nov 9	Northfleet	18
19 Marche	John PERCHE clerk  [he was the official of the Court]	1409 Nov 22	--	Crayford church	20
24 Marche	Richard PULL citizen & Calcellar of London	1411 Oct 14	1411 Nov 5	Rochester Wrotham church	21
33 Marche	John PROPHETE citizen & pistenerarius of London	1415 Jan 3	1415 Mar 10	Hever Ifield/Shinglewell church Northfleet church	23
40 Marche	John WRETILL citizen & Scissor of London	1417 Jan 4	1417 Jan 23	Pekham [but no county stated]	26
41 Marche	Walter ASSHLEY of Eynesford	1418 Apr 19	[no probate]	churches of Eynsford, Farnborough	27
50 Marche	John WESTON citizen & Cissor of London	1420 Oct 28	1420 Nov 4	Ightham, Wrotham	28
54 Marche	Thomas COULE de Hobery in Com Kanc	1420 Aug 15	1420 Oct 7	Crayford, Mottingham	30
26 Marche	Nich. de RYSSHETON Rector of Cliffe	---	1413 Jun 15	Cliffe church; Nuns of Hegham; church of Cobham College	32
16 Stokton	William WANGEFORD of Northfleet	1458 Jan 20	1459 Apr 30	Gravesend Northfleet church	39
21 Stokton	John MILLE gentleman	1459 Mar 13	1460 May 7	Sevenoaks	40
23 Stokton	Hugh CHIDDINSTONE of Meopham	1460 Jun 9	1460 Feb 20	Meopham, Sundridge	42
5 Luffenham	Nicholas BARON clerk, son of Wm BARON dyer	1424 Jul 26	1425 Jun 1	buried Northfleet church	45
5 Luffenham	John SUNDRESSCH Rector of Wrotham	1425 Feb 21	1426 Jun 29	Wrotham; chapel of Stansted; churches of Sundridge, Sevenoaks	46
6 Luffenham	Richard ECCLESLEY Rector of East Peckham	1426 May 19	1426 Jul 4	East Peckham church; Friars of Ayelsford; Boxley Abbey & Conv.	49
16 Luffenham	William SEVENOK citizen & Grocer of London	1432 Jul 4	1432 Jul 10	Sevenoaks	50
17 Luffenham	Thomas TUNBRYGG esquire	1433 Jan 14	1433 Feb 23	Eynsford & Tonbridge churches Priories Tonbridge & Rochester	53
32 Luffenham	John PRENTYS dean of the Royal Free Chapel of St Stephen in Palace of Westminster	1445 May 28	1445 Jun 28	Cliffe	54
25 Luffenham	Agnes wife of Roger APPELTON of Howbury	1437 May 1	1439 May 4	Chislehurst, Crayford, Mottingham	56
5 Godyn	John ROULAND of Brasted tanner	1464 Aug 5	1464 Aug	buried Brasted church	60
7 Godyn	William FLOYER	1464 Jan 28	1464 Feb 15	This is Devonshire - LLD	61
7 Godyn	Thomas COOKE of Otford	---	1464 Feb 8	Eynsford, Otford, Shoreham	61
9 Godyn	Nicholas SIBILE	1464 Mar 9	1465 Sep 9	---	65a
9 Godyn	John DONETT of Eynsford	1465 Mar 27	1465 Jul 26	churches of Ash, Eynsford, Farningham, Fawkham, Hartley, Horton, Kingsdown, Shoreham, Sutton; Friars at Aylesford, Canterbury; Monasteries of Faversham, Horton near Hythe, and Lesnes	65b
10 Godyn	Robert CAWODE of London	1464 Mar 21	1465 Aug 8	Bexley, East Wickham, Welling	70
11 Godyn	Henry BURTON clerk	1464 May 8	1464	churches of Lyminge, Orpington	75
26 Godyn	John THREPLAND citizen of London	1468 Nov 23	1468 Dec 19	Bexley, East Greenwich Friars of Aylesford	77
27 Godyn	Richard ELYS of Cliffe	1468	1469 Apr 19	Cliffe	81
24 Godyn	Richard FRECOK citizen & fletcher of London	1468 Sep 14	1468 Oct 12	Penshurst church wherin I was cristened	83
31 Godyn	Thomas GAUGE clerk	1470 Oct 22	1470 Oct 30	Wrotham	85
5 Wattys	Thomas WODEMAN of Southwark brewer	1472 Apr 14	1472 May 2	Northfleet	86
8 Wattys	John BEELE of Sevenoaks	1471 Dec 4	1473 Apr 29	Ash, Fawkham, Hartley, Kemsing, Otford, Seal church, Sevenoaks, Shoreham	87
11 Wattys	Thomas STRAWTON citizen & Fruter of London & Southwark	1473 Sep 11	1473 Nov 12	Eston, Greenhithe, Meopham, church of Swanscombe	92
15 Wattys	Daniel (?David) VAPHOPKYN	1473 Jan 14	1474 May 22	bequest to vicar of Sevenoaks	95
23 Wattys	William ROGER of Otford	1475 Aug 6	1476 Apr 22	Brasted, Darnitt, Kemsing, Northfleet, Otford, St Margaret Hilles, Stone	97
21 Wattys	John GURNEY of Northfleet	1475 Jan 8	1475 Jan 19	Northfleet, Sandwich, church of Wyndesborowe	102
18 Wattys	Joan LAUGTON widow of London silkwoman	1474 Feb 1	1474 Feb 13	Bixle otherwise called Bexle or Bexhill, East Wickham, Welling; gift to church of Boxle	104
2 Logge	John CLERKE senior of St Clements Dacorum gentleman	1480 Mar 21	1480 Mar 10 [sic]	Addington, Cliffe, Iwade, Milton, Ryarsh, Stansted, Trottiscliffe, Wrotham, Yalding	110

Transcriptions

William LYE Will - 1391

A translation into English by Duncan Harrington from a Latin abstract made by Leland L. Duncan

With the licence of my lord the Archbishop of Canterbury. I William Lye dated 9 Jan 1391. My soul to God and the blessed Mary and All the Saints and Saint Botolph my patron. And my body to be buried in the chancel of Northflete [Northfleet] before the stall of the Rector of the same.
   I bequeath for a perpetual memory of the matter to the use of the celebration of divine service one wooden chest bound with iron with one pair of new vestments of red cloth of gold with the whole equipment of one silver frankincense burner with an incense boat of the same set with an ornamented border of gold.
   I bequeath to the same church one chalice by name of silver and principally of good gold. I bequeath one good silk cloth to cover the body of the said William and remain in the possession of the church. I bequeath to the said church two surplices. I bequeath to the church one principal mass book.
   For having all the bequeathed goods it is this intention that every year the churchwardens shall make my anniversary solemnly with ringing the bells.
   On the day of my burial each priest being present to have 6d All the clerks ministering the clerk so much. I wish that my executors arrange one suitable wax taper at my head and another at my feet.I bequeath to be bestowed in expenses one hundred shillings and more according to the discretion of my executors.
   I bequeath to Master Adam Mattromy Archdeacon of Canterbury my best horse. I bequeath a great cup of maple-wood with a cover of silver and gold well and competently garnished to be used for the refectory of the Priory of Canterbury as long as it shall be suitable. I bequeath to Master John Prophete one silver cup with a cover.
   Executors Geoffrey Maston rector of the church of Wynchlesham [Winchelsea] and Walter Rector of the church of Stapulherst [Staplehurst] to each of them one cup of silver with a cover, and John Spren[ger] and John Lacoc one cup of silver. Residue in the disposition of my executors
No Probate   3 Rous PROB 11/1 folio 19v Prerogative Court of Canterbury will register at National Archives

Nicholas STONE will - 1393

A translation into English by Duncan Harrington from a Latin abstract made by Leland L. Duncan

24 September 1393 Nicholas Stone Rector of the church of Northflete [Northfleet]. To be buried where it shall please God. I bequeath to the shrine of St Thomas Canterbury 3s 4d. To the shrine of Sir Richard Cicester [Shrine in Chichester Cathedral. See Cross, Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (1993) p. 1185] 3s 4d. I wish that on the day of my burial not to let it be a 3s 4d.
   I wish that on the day of my burial not to let it be a congregation of powerful persons but of priests and paupers and to distribute between the paupers 30s , that is to say, to each of them 1d. And that about my body five wax-tapers each weighing two pounds of wax. I wish that with festival after my death, as my executors shall cause to be celebrated one thousand masses for my soul and my kin
   To Nicholas Stone my father and Lucy his wife all my moveable goods and cattle being within the county of Dorset.
I bequeath to John Stone senior one bay horse. To my lord Dom Richard Bishop of Chichester my best horse and three silver cups with one cover in recompense of any offence or wrong doing which to him ever made and for his revenue which was received unjustly and to my use had or kept back.
   I bequeath to the church of Hanefeld [Henfield] one vestment of the value of two marks. To the church of Northflete twenty shillings and one book called Pars oc[u]li sac[er]dotes
   Likewise to John Stone junior all my weapons, bastard sword and sword. To lord John Cary knight one sword with the harness of gold. To Dom John Benet and Robert Busshe two long gowns of red fur with a hood and ?
   I wish that my executors distribute all my vestment clothes to poor priests and others just as to them would seem most expedient. I bequeath to Roger my servant my whole bed in which I now lye. I bequeath to the enclosed monks of Westminster 2s 6d. I bequeath to William Charnell all the debts that he owes me by virtue of the same obligation being in my custody. The residue I bequeath to the aforesaid Nicholas Stone and Lucy and my forebears.
   Executors Dom Robert Bussche chaplain and William Charnell of London saddler and the reverend lord Dom. Richard Bishop of Chichester supervisor. Given at London the day and year above said.
   On 28 October 1393 in our manor house of Maghfeld probate was granted of the testament of Dom Nicholas Stone late rector of the parish church of Northflete within our immediate jurisdiction, to our beloved Dom. Robert Busshe chaplain and William

3 Rous PROB 11/1 folio 19v Prerogative Court of Canterbury will register at National Archives

John SUNDRESSCH will - 1425

21 Feb 1425. Johnes Sundressch Rector licet indignus cli poticus officio ecclie paroch de Wrotham Anim' Deo b V M. & omz scis et precipue glorioso martiri Sancto Georgio meo prono. Sep ubicumqz in cancelli medo ecclie S^ci Georgii de Wrotham. Expens. die Sep: et in die tricinal. ad dist int' pauperes £10. Pro 8 torches eod die arden' quos teneant 8 pauperes de parochim meis induti blanket vel Russelte £4. de ..bz torches ij dent' eccl de Sundressh ij eccl de Sevenoks ij capelle de Standede & ij remanebunt in eccl de Wrotham. Lego dividend int' famulos meos viij li. Lego ault clico parochiale ac ecia' sacristi ault eorum 3/4. Lego ad reparand rectoriam de Wrotham et Standede si executores mei non vescent' pro reparacione £8.13.4. Lego Dne Elizabet Salmon mo' de Mallyng 15^s. Lego fribz carmel de Aylesford 4 qr frumenti et bras. Volo qd indumenta mea divident' uit' familos et alios pauperes. Resed. in 4 partes quares 2 partes expend in sac'dotibz celeb in eccl paroch de Wrotham paraia mea. 3^d pars in elemos pauperium. Quarte vero part. due partes erunt ad opus ecclie de Wrotham et tria ad opus ecclie de Standede. Exec Dni Rcum Dyker vicari Johnem Petico Johnem Kyng, Johem Sextam et Johem Chepested supervis. Rog'u' Pecham et eid' lego j ceph. cu' coopercio de arg. et deaurat'.

Hec. est Vet. Vol. dni Johnis Sundressch rector eccl paroch de Wrotham. 11 May 1426. 4 H VI. qd Johnes Chepested habeat omni perficia t'rarum et tent. nuper p'dci Dni Johnis apud Crowlond t'm vite Johne mris dict Johis Chepsted muemendo eidem Johne oia' sibi nec'ia a' vitam dict Johne et post mort' dce Johe' feoffati t'rarum quod p'dict Dni Johnis faciant feoffamentu dict terr et ten dco Johim Chepested sibi hered're ita idm Johnes Chepested muemat unu' capu celebrantem in ecclia paroch de Wrotham pro aia p'fati Dni Johis per iiij annos integros Et qd Willmus Esmound habeat mesuagum in quo idem Wills manet ad t'm vite suo et post mortem dict Will vendant mess. et denar unde receptur muematur unus cap^us celebrans proa'ia dict Dni Johis. Et qd feoffati Grang' apd Roghye vendant Grang' cum fundo eiusdem sucessori p'fati Dni Johis pro xx marc et vnu cap^m celeb. in eccl de Wrotham pro aia &c

Prob penult Junii a^o Dni supradict. PCC : 5 Luffenan

John DONETT will - 1465

27 Marcii 1465. Johnes Donett de Aynesforde Cant dioc. Sep in sepultura cancelle ecclie de Aynesford iuxta sepultum Alicie ux'is mee. Lego lumi lampadis ardentes in cancella 6/8. Lego rep dict eccl 6/8. Sum alt eccl de Fawkeham 6/8. To each priest celebrating mass on day of my sepulture 6^d & to each clerk 2^d & to each priest in die trigintali 8^d & each clerk 2^d & 6/8 to poor.

Lego confratibz de Aylesford 3/4. Lego Johanni Hodsolle uniu' federbed & j fulminar & una' olla' enea' cum longes pedibus. Itm Roberto Banstede de Asche 6^d. Johi Doraw 8^d. Johi Cossey fratri mea optima' toga'.. iij diocos iij sausaria electri vet'is ac ecia' ipm integru' electu' in quo dict Johnes Cossey iacet. Lego Katerine Croche 6 cocl. arg. Johi Tilley lectu' meu' rubeu' penden in superiori camera'. Johi Croche sen dimidiu' duodene, vasoreum electri countersett. Johanne s'unti mee 20^s. Margarete Chaunterell s'unti mee duo paria linthmani j materas ij lodices j rubin' cooptorum lecti cu' textura de flour delyce j calefactoru' eneu' tres parapsides duo candelabra de bremori factura & j Russet colobru'. John Grainge mea scdan optima' toga' &c et unu' fornace in coquina sta'te' de plumbo cum tabulis tapetelz shewys et alucis ad dict coquina pertine'.. et quoddam velus aulare cu' quada' tabula replicata stante in aula .. Resid lego Joha'ni Draper de Ereheth Arthuro Holbroke Willo Croche et John Grainge de Aynesford meor^m exec^res disponant pro aia mea aia Alicie ux'is mee aiabz patris et matris mei. Testz Willo Benet cap^ns Johane Cossey fratre Roberto Dopsone Thoma Parker Thoma Stafforde W^o Nele W^o Maykyn. Itm Johi Draper quodda' nomi' aulare.

This is .. of me John Donett of Aynesford made 27 Marche 1465 of all such dieuties & money as is growyng & comyng unto me In the whch obligacons Willa' Lovelas of London mercer Willm Hodsole of Asshe in the shire of Kent squyer John Goldwell citezen & mercer of Lⁿ & Rich^d Lovelas of Sedingborne the yonger gentilman been bounde to me. First of the said money I bequeth unto the Reparacons of the monast'y of Lesnes v marc to pray for my soule. To the werks of the monast'y of Faversham v marc. To the Rep[ar]acon of the hous of Frers at Eylesford 40^s. of Grey Freres at Cant'bury 40^s. Frere Augustyns at C. 40^s. frere prechours in suche places as myn extours will 40^s. To the rep[ar]acon of the pissh churche of Fawkeham by thadvyce of myn extours & of the wardens & p[ar]isshons v marke. Also to the Rep[ar]acons of ev'ry of the pisshe chirches of Asshe Horton Sutton Shorham 6/8. To rep[ar]acons of ev'ry of the pishe chirches of Herteley Kyngesdowne & Frenyngham 13/4. To Margarett Chaunterell 20^s. To William Sybyle when he hath taken the order of Subdeken to fynd hym with to scole 8 mark. To the Rep[ar]acon of the pissh chirch of Eynesford v mark. I will Sir John Cossey frere sing for me in the pissh church of Eynesford an hoole yere & myn extours to pay hym x mark. I will my extours bie a marbyll stone with ij scochons ther yn one of my hoole armys & a nother of my wifs hoole armys to lye upon our beriell & that to be bought with the said money & in the same stone a scriptur of the day of o^r decesing.

To the werks & rep[ar]acon of the monast'y of Horton besite Hith 13/4. I will that if it be that Willia' Sybile my godson be nat kept to Skole nor be nat disposed ne willing to be a preest nor take not the ordur of Subdekyn but dispose hym self to other wordeley occupacon & that then I will that iiij marc of the viii marc bequethed to be delyvered to John Draper my godson son of John Draper of Hereheth & the other iiij marc in charitable werks to the most helthe of my soule & the sowlys that I am bounde to pray for.

Prob 26 Julii A^o predict.

PCC : 9 Godyn

John CLERKE will - Sep 1480

JOHN CLERKE senior - 1480 PCC : 2 Logge  21 Marcii 1480. Johannes Clerke senior de p. S^ci Clementes Dacorum extra barr noni templi London Gentilman. Sep si contigerit me decedere in p S^ci C. ad sep in ecclia ordinis Frm minorum. Do et lego p'dict ordini in civte London ad orand pro salute anime mee £4. Lego sum alt. eccl paroch de Wroteham pro dec. meis obl 13/4. Lego ad distrib apud Wroteham inter pauperes die obitus mei 10^s in die mens mee vid. per 4 septimanas post meum decessum 13/4. Lego Henrico Skynner 3/4. Johanni Underwod 12^d. Thome Chapman 20^s. Beatrice sorori mee 6/8. Johanni Dean 6/8. Johanni Wreight filio eius [sic] 3/4. Thome Abraham 6/8. Galfrido Palley 12^d. Roberto Kenworth 12^d. Agneti Kenworth 6/8. Sum alt de Adyngton pro dec: oblitis 3/4. Fabrice dicte ecclie 3/4. Lego eccl de Trottiscleve 6/8. Fratrbz de Ailesford ad orand 10^s. Lego pro uno capellano idoneo ad celebr in ecclia de Wroteham uno anno. tantium quod sufficit ad celebrand. Lego fabriacon' ecclie b^e Marie de Tourehill 20^s. Fabricacoi eccl Cath Roffen 20^s. Volo q^d Alicia uxor mea habeat occupacoin om Jocalium meorum et utensilum domus meo. Et post dec. q^d Johannes filius meus habeat occup Jocal. & utel. p'dict. Resid Alicie et Johanni filio meo. Exe'ores. [Latin]

[English] This is .. 10 Dec 20 Edw III. I wolle Alice my wife shalhave all my tenement of the Forde as long as she is unmaried & my feoffees enfeoff the said Alice in all the lands &c I p'chaced of John Clifford squier in Middelton & Iwade & after her decesse to remayn to John Clerk my sonne & I the same John Clerk thelder woll that my feoffees make astate to the said John my sonne of all my landes &c in the parishes of Wroteham, Stansted, Trottisclif, Adyngton, Reyersshe & Ealdyng, and enfeoff Alice my wif in a mershe in Clyve called the Swhere & in my manoir & tenement called Fawnes for her life & to remayn to John C. my sonne.  Prob. 10 Marcii 1480