Will of Sir Edward Barkham

Knight & Alderman of London - died 1634

Created 14th Jan 1632

Probate Granted to Dame Jane Barkham, relic of the deceased, and the son of the deceased Sir Edward Barkham 17 January 1634

In the name of God Amen

I Sir Edward Barkham of London knight and Alderman being of good and perfect rememberance thanks be given to Allmightie God therefore as well for my private peace and quiett as for the letting of … estate, which God hath given mee doe constitute ordayne and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following That is to say ffirst and above all things I commend my soule unto the hands of Allmightie God my creator and maker most asuredly trusting that by and through the meritts and passion of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my redeemer I shall have full remission of all my sinnes and offences whatsoever committed in this fraile and transitory life and to bee made and partaken of that most blessed and happy life that never shall have end My will and mynd is that my bodie shall bee buried within the chappell of the Church of Southacre in the Countie of Norfolk within the vault of the North side of the chancell there which I lately made for that purpose without any name pomp or great solemnitie onely with decency and upon buriall lying as shall seeme best to my Executors

Item I give and bequeath ^unto^ Anne [Jane?]Barkham my welbeloved wife whose great love and provident care I have ever found unfavorable to my hearts desire  …….. hath administed much joy and comfort unto me in the nurture and good education of our children …………unto her I say I give all her wearing iewells mayed of gold and ornaments whatsoever which ever she hath used and worne since shee was my wife and all my household stuffe at my house at Tottenham High Crosse in the Countie of Middx(?)

Item I give and bequeath unto Sir Edward Barkham knight and baronett, my first sonne my best bason and ewre being double gilt and my two gilt ……….. potts(?) and two of my best gilt standing(?) Cups(?)……………… my three best gilt tankards and my best and fairest(?) …………………  ………Suite(?) of my best and fairest tapestrie hanging, but my will and meaning that the said Dame Jane Barkham my wife shall have tho’ sole use of the same plate and hangings during the natural life of the said Jane nothing doubting but that shee will use them fariely(?) and well And after her decease then to the said Sir Edward Barkham my sonne as aforesaid And my desire is that if it may soe please God they may still goe & remayne to the heires male of my house for the better remembrance of mee hereafter

Item I give unto everie one of my Grandchildren for a rememberance of mee the summe of Twentie pounds currant money to be paid unto them as they shall severally attaine and come to the age of one and twentie years giveing to my Executor or Executors a sufficient discharge receipt or other acquittance for the same upon this condition Notwithstanding that the ffathers of my ^said^ Grandchildren or the Exectors or assignes of the ffathers of my said Grandchildren shall severally within three months next after my decease give seale and deliver unto my said executor or executors a generall release good and sufficient in law of all customarie parts and portions charges and demands whatsoever out of my personall estate which if the ffathers of my said grandchildren shall refuse and not performe within the said space of three moneths next after my decease Then my will and mind is that my gift to such of my said grandchildren whose ffather shall soe refuse and not performe the said generall release in manner and forme aforesaid bee utterlie voyd and of noe force

Item I further give unto my welbeloved wife Dame Jane Barkham all my copiehold lands in Tottenham aforesaid And as to all my lands tenements leases and hereditaments in Wainefleete St Maries Wainfleete All Saints(?) and ffriskney in the Countie of Lincolne to have and to hold the said lands tenements leases and hereditaments for and dureing the term of her naturall life And after the decease of the said Dame Jane Barkham my welbeloved wife then I give and bequeath the same unto my sonne Robert Barkham and unto the heirs male of his bodie begotten and to bee begotten And for want of such issue then to the heirs males of of my said sonne Sir Edward Barkham And for want of such issue then to the right heirs of mee the said Sir Edward Barkham the devisor upon this condition notwithstanding that the said Robert Barkham his heirs and executors shall within two moneths next after my decease give seale and deliver unto my executor or executors a generall release good and sufficient in law of all actions suites customarie parts and portions claymes demands whatsoever out of any my lands or personall estate Except the Annuitie out of my lands ensured upon him payeable yearelie by his mother which if he shall refuse and not performe within the said space of two moneths next after my decease then my will and minde is that not onlie this my last guift but also all other guifts and legacies hereby to him or his children formerlie in this my will given and bequeathed be utterlie voyde and of noe force And then I will and bequeath the same copyhold lands in Tottenham aforesaid and all my lands tenements and hereditaments and leases in Wainfleet st Maries Wainfleet All Saints & ffriskney aforesaid after the decease of my said welbeloved wife unto the said Sir Edward Barkham my eldest sonne and to his heirs forever

Item I give unto my loving nephew Mr Josuah Gallard one bason and ewre of silver of the waight of one hundred and twentie ounces to be engraven with my Coate of Armes in token of my love and affection I beare towards him

Item I give unto my nephew Mr Edward Barkham of East Walton a peece of plate of five pounds price and my Coate of Armes to be engraven upon it for a rememberance of mee

Item I give to the Maior(?) and comstie(?) and citizens of the citie of London and Governors of the lands tenements and possessions of the hospital of Christ St Thomas and Bridewell & to their Successors for ever one Annuity one yearelie some of six pounds thirteene shillings and foure pence of currant money yearlie to bee issueing out of my messuage or tenement in Cheapside called the Flower De Lure neare the Crosse there for the benefit and use of the poore children in Christs Hospital

The same somme of six pounds thirteen shillings and foure pence to be paid to the Treasurer of Christs Hospital for the tyme being for the use aforesaid within one month after our Ladie Daie next after the expiration of the lease thereof now in being which will determine two yeares after Midsomer one thousand six hundred and thirtie two And also after the decease of Elizabeth Mallery(?) widow who hath an estate therein onlie for the terme of her life And soe from thenceforth yearelie and even yeares for ever And I will and appoint that it shall be lawfull for the Maior and C……stie and citizens of the said citie Governo’s or and their Successors to enter upon the said messuage or tenement and there to distraine for the said  yearlie rent and arrerages(?) thereof soe often as the same shall bee behinde and unpaid

Item I give unto the Master Wardens Brethren and sisters of the guilde or fraternitie of the blessed Virgine Marie(?) of the Misterie(?) of Drapers of the Citie of London of which companie I am free one annuitie or yearelie rent of five pounds thirteen shillings and foure pence of like currant money to see yearelie issueing and goeing out of the fore said messuages or tenements called the Flower De Lure The first payment thereof to be made unto the said Master and Wardens of the said Company for the time being within one month next after our Ladie Daie next after the xpiration of the lease aforesaid and the estate for life of the aforesaid Elizabeth Mallery(?) and so from thenceforth yearelie and everie yeare for ever at the time aforesaid the some of five pounds thirteene shillings foure pence to bee by them distributed in manner and forme following That is to say to each person free of the said companie namelie to five of the oldest and poorest men tewntie shillings apeese And to the Clarke and Beadle of the said Companie for the tyme being for their labour and paines in calling these poore people together the some of  six shillings and eight pence apeese And I will and appoint that it shall and may bee lawfull for the said Master and Wardens or their Successors for the tyme being to enter upon the said messuage or Tenement and there to distreyne(?) for the said yearelie rent and the…….. arrerages thereof soe often as the same shall bee behinde and unpaid

Item I further give unto the said Companie of Drapers two farie(?) silver………yders such or better then ((such as) – this has been written then crossed out) Sir John Garrard of London Knight and Alderman gave(?) to the Cittie upon which Londondery(?) Coate of Armes to be farelie engraved for the better rememberance of mee

Item I give unto the Companie of Leather Sellers a bason and ewre of silver parcell quilt of the price of ffive and thirtie pounds to bee likewise engraved with my Coate of Armes upon it for a rememberance of me

Item I give unto the Parson for the tyme being of the new church on the Dukes Place called St James Church the yearlie some of ffortie shillings to be paid to the said Parson for the tyme being yearelie and every yeare upon the Friday before Easter called Good Friday The first payment thereof to begin the next good friday after the expiration of the lease of the Flower De Luce aforesaid and estate for life of the aforesaid Elizabeth Mallerie upon condition that the said parson shall preach a sermon in the said church upon the Maundie Thursday yearelie and every yeare which if hee shall neglect and not perform then my will and meaneing is that this my legacie and guifte shall for that tyme and soe often as the same shall bee soe neglected and not performed surcease(?) And I further give to tenne of the poorest people of the said parish of St James who shall have beene at the sermon that daie the some of two shillings apeece which shall be distributed at the discretion of the Church Wardens of the same parish for the tyme being which said yearelie gifts or legacies of ffortie shillings to the Minister and twentie shillings to the tenne poore people of the parish aforesaid shall be yearelie issueing and goeing out of the aforesaid Messuage and Tenement called Flower De Luce with the like power or clause of distrese(?) for non payment thereof as is formerly expressed in the former gifts issueing out of the said messuage or tenement

Item I give unto the poore of the parish of St Lawrence in the old Jewrie for ever one Annuitie or yearelie some of ffiftie two shillings of currant money to bee yearlie issueing and goeing out of the foresaid Messuage or Tenement called the Flower De Luce which said Annuitie or yearlie some of ffiftie ^twoe^ shillings I will to bee bestowed in bread weekely and given to the poore of the said parish after devine service in the forenoone every Sonday according to the discretion of the church wardens The first payment thereof to bee made unto the church wardens of the same parish for the tyme being within one moneth next after our Ladie Daie next after the expiration of the lease of the Flower De Luce aforesaid and estate for life of the aforesaid Elizabeth Mallery And soe from thenceforth yearelie the some of ffiftie two shillings within one moneth next after our Ladie Daie in everie yeare with the like power or clause of distresse for non payment thereof as is formerlie expressed in the former guifts issueing out of the said Messuage or Tenement

Item I give unto the poore of the Parish of Tottenham High Crosse in the Countie of Middlesex the like legacie or yearelie some of ffiftie two shillings to bee bestowed in bread weekely and given to the poore of the same parish after devine service in the forenoon at the discretion of the Church Wardens of the same parish The first payment thereof to begyn at the tyme specified in the like legacie which I have herein formerlie given to the parish of St Lawrence in the olde Jewrie London the same to bee issueing and goeing out of the said Tenem’t called the Flower De Luce with the like clause of  distresse as is mentioned in the former legacie of ffiftie two shillings given to the said parish of St Lawrence in the old Jewrey And I further give unto the poore of Tottenham High Crosse aforesaid the some of three pounds six shillings and eight pence And I further give unto the poore people of the parish of St Mary Bothawe in London where I doe now dwell the some of three pounds six shillings and eight pence to bee distributed amongst them at the discretion of my executors within one month next after my decease

Item I give unto the poore of the parish of St Lawrence on the ould Jewrie London the some of ffyve pounds to bee distributed amongst them by the church wardens and Overseere of the same parish within one month next after my decease

Item I give unto the foure townes in Norfolk hereafter named but unto the townes of Eastwalton Coutham(?) Southacre(?) Westacre(?) and Aileswithorp(?) and unto every of them the some of ffive pounds apeece of currant money Those moity to be paid to every of the said townes within one month next after my funeral and thother(?) moiety(?) within one yeare then next following The same to be given and distributed amongst the poorest inhabitants within the same severall townes at the discretion of the church wardens and overseers of the poore of the said severall parishes Item I give unto the poore people of the towne of Walton markett in the countie of Norfolk the some of ffive pounds to be distributed amongst them in such manner as to the other foure townes

Item I give unto my sonne in Law Sir John Garrard to buy him and his children & familie mourneings the some of thirtie pounds

And to my sonne in law Sir Charles Cesar and my daughter his wife to buy them and their followers mourneing the some of thirtie pounds

And to my sonne in law Sir Anthony Irby and my daughter his wife to buy them and their followers mourneings the some of thirtie pounds

And to my sonne in law Robert Walpole Esquire to buy him and his children mourneings the some of twentie pounds

And to my sonne Robert Barkham to buy them their children and servants mourneings the some of ffive and twentie pounds

And also I give to my nephew Mr Josua Gallard and his wife to buy them mourneings the some of ffifteene pounds

Item I give unto my man William Dayn to buy him a ring in remembrance of mee the some of ffive pounds

And I give to all my men servants and mayd servants dwelling with mee at London and which have dwelt with mee two years before my death fortie shillings apeece And to those my servants at Tottenham which have beene with mee two years and which shall bee dwelling with mee at the tyme of my death twentie shillings apiece

And lastly I doe constitute ordaine and make my welbeloved wife Dame Jane Barkham and the said Sir Edward Barkham knight and Baronett my sonne and heire apparent Executors of this my present testament and last will confidently hopeing that they will see the same duely and truely performed according to the true meaneing of the same And for revoking & renounceing all other wills and testaments heretofore by mee made I have caused this my will to bee written in eight sheets of paper And whatever is therein conteyned I declare pronounce and publish to bee my last will and testament humbly submitting my selfe to the great mercie of Allmightie God And in testimonie hereof I have seaven of these sheets of paper subscribed my name and to the eight and last sett my hand and seale this ffoureteenth daie of Januarie in the eight yeare of the raigne of  our most gracious courageous Lord ^King^ Charles over England Anno D’m one thousand six hundred thirtie two [Signed] Edward Barkham This will was declared published and pronounced to bee the last will and testament of the said testator the daie and yeare last abovewritten in the presence William Davy(?) , ….. Windham Nathaniell ffordham(?)

View scanned originals:  From the National Archives