Will of John Baker:

     12 January 1557 (4 & 5 Philip and Mary). I John Bakere of Cessyngherst in Kent Knyght oue of the Kinge and Quenes Majestyes previe Counsell. To be buryed in the parishe churche of Cranebroke in Kent in the place uere where my good wif Dame Elizabeth lieth buryed. To the whiche place I requyre my children and myne executours my deade bodie maye be caryed if I dye wt. in the thre score myles therof or if yt be further by the discretion of myne executors. I will my funeralls be done and made in honest maner wt. out pompe or pryde according nevertheless as vnto my deggree apperteyneth.
      In almes to poore people £10 and at my monthes daye and in the place of my buriall I will shalbe a Tombe made by myne executors if yt be not made in my lif, the same Tombe to be made in suche sort and maner as vnto my degree apperteyneth. Within 12 dayes after my buryall there be done for my sowle masses and diriges wt. such service as in suche cases is accustomable vsed to be done within the parishe churches hereafter ensuenge. That is to saie: Bedynden, Esthyngesnoth, Stapleherst, Frethingden, Hawkeherste, Teston, Westfarlegh, Hunton, Benynden, Rolvyngeden, Tynterden and Goutherst in Kent, Dalyngton, Bexhill, and Boroughasshe in Sussex, at whiche time 40s. for preists, clerks and poore inhabitants to praye for my soule and all cristen sowles.
      My executours to pay my detts and if it can be proved before them I have done to any persone or persones any ingurye or wronge I will myne executours shall make thereof due satisfaction wt out delaye.
      To the Vicar of Cranebroke 20s. and to the parsone of Frethingden 10s. for tithes forgotten.
      An honest preist to synge or saie masse and praye for my soule at the aulter of Seynt Nicholas in the parish church of Cranebroke nere vnto the whiche I have willid my bodie to be buried.
      And where ever synce the deathe of Richard Bakere my good father, whose soule God pardon, I have kepte an obyte in the said parish church of Cranebroke on Seynt Laurence even at which tyme he died, I requyre my sonne Richarde Bakere to do the like for me yerely.
      To ammending of the noyous wayes directly leadyng betwene Camdens Hill and Stapleherst churche £10.
      My executours to cause seyven standinge cuppes wt covers to be made wt myne Armes vpon theym euery of them to be siluer and gilte and of the value of £10 to be delivered the one to Edwarde Barrett of Alvetheley in Essex, Esq., my sonne in lawe the other to my doughter in lawe Katheryn Whyte the thirde to my doughter Mary Tufton, the fourth to my doughter Cecyle Sakevile, the fyveth to my doughter Elizabeth Scott, the sixt to John Bakere sonne and heyre apparaunt of Richarde Bakere my sonne and the seventh to Thomas Bakere secounde sonne to my said sonne Richarde.
      To my doughter Mary Tufton £100. To Anne Bakere doughter of my said sonne Richarde £100 for her mariage and if she die then between her two bretherne John and Thomas. To John Tufton the younger sonne of John Tufton thelder esquyre and Mary my doughter his wife £10 to make a cuppe and to his suster if she likewise be alive £6. 13. 4. To my sonne in lawe Thomas Scott one of my gownes and to my sonne in lawe Thomas Sakevile one other and vnto my sonne in lawe Robert White.
      And where I have maryed my youngest doughter Elizabeth vnto the above named Thomas Scott for the which I couenanted wt Sr. Regnolde Scott Knight his father now deceased and promised hym 500 marks, the said 500 marks to be paide. That is to saie after carnall knowledge and 300 marks and wt in one yere after 100 marks and wt in one other yere 100 marks.
      I will vnto my good suster Jone Reames widowe a rynge of gold of 40s., and my nephewe Stephen Reames her sonne one of 26s. 8d. and my cosyne his wif a like rynge.
      To the right honorable Sr. William Petre Knyght Sr. Martyne Bowes Knyght and to the ladyes theire wifs to Mr. Thos. Stanley and my good ladye and suster his wif, Thomas Argall gent and Margaret his wif to euery one one ryng of gold of 40s. to have my sowle in remembraunce in theire devoute prayers.
      To euery of the children of Thos. Argall 20s. Vnto mystris Marye Mustyamps if she be in service wt me £3. 6. 8. and to my seruant Benett Hale in consideration she was longe my mothers seruant, whose sowle God pardon, and hath also served me and my good wif, whose sowle God pardon, £10 and one annuity of 40s. yerely. To Mother Water an anuytie of 26s. 8d.
     To myne oldest sonne Richard Bakere goddes blessinge and myne and all suche my plate of siluer and gilt &e. and all other stuffe and utensiles of houshold in my manor mesuage and house of Cessyngherst. And I charge the my sonne Richarde that above all things thowe serve God and thy soueraigne lorde and ladye the Kinge and quene, applye thy lernynge, be curtesse and gentill to euery bodie, be aydinge and lovinge to thy naturall Brother John Bakere and to thy susters Mary Cecile and Elizabeth, love well they neighbours, counsell, cherishe and help theyun in therie necessities as righte and good conscience will requyre, avoyde Brybery, extortion, corruption and dissimulacon, eschewe Idlenes, applie the to vertuose exercise, be faythfull and true in worde and deede and holly putt thy truste in Almightie God wt humble callinge to hym for grace wt landes and thanks for all they benefits and he wilbe they keper and defender from all daunger, perill and evill.
     I give vnto my second sonne John Bakere Goddes belssinge and myne and £200 and such stuff I have in the Citie of London.
To you my doughters Marye, Cecyle and Elizabeth I gyve Goddes blessyng and myne requyringe you aboue all things to serve God and to be faithfull, assured, true, humble, lovinge and obedyent wifes vnto yor husbands and in so doyng God will proper and preserve you.
To my sonne Richard my right &e. for termes of yeres in the parsonages of Yealdynge, Rolvygden and of house and demeanes of Estfarleighe he to suffer my nephewe Stephen Reames to have the occupacion therof durying the terme of Estfarlegh.
      To euery of my servants Symon Smyth, John Chalcrofte, John Morse, Thos. Taylor, Henrye Kyngewood, Jervase Sharpe, Anthonye Banks, Wm. Fayremans, Wm. Penyfather, ----------- Lyngfelde, one ringe of gold of 26s. 8d. To my servant Richarde Lake £3. 6. 8. My servant Thos. Lynley £3. 6. 8. my servant Richarde Lawles 40s., my servant Thos. Benett 20s., my servant John Nycolson 13s. 4d., my servant Thos. Byle 20s., my servant Peter Sompnes 20s. To James the brewer 13s. 4d. Robert Cooke my servant 10s.
To Anthonye of the Kytchyn 6s. 8d. To Richarde Whitewoode all my terme of yers in the landes at Halden. Vnto Thomas Godfrey and to my gossippe Jane Decrowe a rynge of golde to eyther of theym of 40s. To Thos. Shurte and Thos. Watkys my servants 20s.
Residue to Richarde Bakere my sonne and heyre apparaunte and he and John Bakere his brother my second sonne, my brother Wm. Culpeper of Wigsell in Sussex, squyer, John Tufton thelder squyer, my sonne in lawe and Thos. Argall, gentilman to be myne executours.
      Wrytten with myne owne hande by me John Bakere thelder Knyght. Martyn Colyn clerke. John Clement phisition. John Caws phisition. Richarde Bakere. John Bakere. Thos. Argall. Thos. Godfrey. Thos. Stanley. Richarde Lake. Richard Bull.
      Thys ys the last will of me John Bakere of Cessyngherst 16 October 2 & 3 Philip and Mary &e. as to the disposition of all my manours, mesuages, cotages, landes &e. in Kent and Sussex.
      Firste where in consideration of mariage hadde and consummate bitwene Richarde Bakere my sonne and heyre and Katherine his wife doughter and heyre of John Tyrrell Esq., late of Heron in Essex deceased, I have made a feoffment in dyvers mesuages and tenements, I have in this my present will caused the same wrytinge to be rehersed:
      Omnibus Christi fidelibus &e., John Baker of Cessyngherst in Kent, Knight, greeting. Whereas Richard Baker my son and heir apparent 12th day of June last past at Ingeratstone in Essex married Katherine Tyrrell only daughter and heir of John Tyrrell of Heron in Essex Esq., deceased son and heir of Thomas Tyrrell Knight late of Heron deceased. Know ye that I the aforesaid John Bakere as well in consideration of the foresaid marriages &e. as fulfilment of certain indentures between the right honourable William Petre Knight one of the principal secretaries of our Lord and Lady the King and Queen, Anne his wife of the one part and me the foresaid John Bakere Knight and Elizabeth my wife and the foresaid Richard Bakere outhe other part, I have given &e. and confirmed to Thomas Argall and John Keeme gentlemen all my messuages, orchards, lands, tenements, meadows &e. in the parishes of Headcorn and Frethingden in the tenure of John Kippinge and Henry Wells, my messuage called Pellys and all lands and tenements in the parish of Bedenden late in the tenure or occupation of Richard Hovynden deceased and now of Geoffrey Bresyndon, also my messuage and houses in the Borough of Southwark in which John Whitewoode now dwells, also all my messuage called Tossyndon late Thomas Bakere my grandfather (avi) and all my messuage and landes in the parish of Frethyngden now in occupation of Stephen Herenden and my messuage &e. in the parish of Cranebroke in occupation of Wm. Bourine, Thos. Webbe, Edmund Peende and Thos. Bense or their assigns; also my messuages, orchards, lands, tenements &e. in the parish of Cranebroke called Myddiltons, Hogebroke, Stilefelde and Myllonds now in the several tenures of Thos. Munde, Thos. Taylor, Wm. Hycks, and Thos. Portriffe, To have and hold to the same Thomas Argall and John Keeme to the use of Richard Bakere my son and Katherine his wife and their heirs males and in default to the heirs of me Sir John Bakere dated 22 July 6 Edward VI. (Latin).
      And as coucerning the manor of Myddell Aston in the Countie of Oxforde, the manor of Southam in Co. Gloucester, the manor of Bretts in Co. Sussex with other lands in Alvetheley, Wenyngton and Willinghale Spayne in Essex the estates &e. appere of Recorde by a certeyne fyne levied by me and Dame Elizabeth my late wif and Edwarde Barrett squyere in terme of Seynt Hillarye 37 Henry VIII by which I stand seised for my life, remaynder vnto John Bakere my sonne, the manor of Bretts after decease of Mistres Coke widow to me and then to Edwarde Barrett of Alvetheley in Essex squyer my sonne in lawe with remaynder to heyres of Dame Elizabeth my late wife.
      And as concernynge the manours of Watryngburye, Charte, and Fowlks in Kent, I stand seased for my life with Remaynder to the said John Bakere my sonne by a ryne in terme of St. Michael 6 Edward VI.
      And where also I have knowledgid a fyne in reversion of all the messuages, lands &e. whiche Katheryne Barr the widowe of Richarde Barr late of Cranebroke deceased hath and holdeth for her lif, my mynde is that the same shall remain as in the recorde dedes &e.
      And as I stand seased in my manor of Hasilden in Sussex late belonging vnto the late newe Pryorye wt in the said Countie of Sussex and my messuage, howse and place now or late called the Newe Pryorye and all those mesuages cotages &e. parcell of the same and my lands woods &e. in the paryshes and feildes of Bexhill otherwise called Bexley, Boroughashe, Moughfeilde or Mayfelde, Hesstmonceux, Martlyng, Watlynge Dalyngton, Tyseherst and in Sussex as in following writings apperith: Sciant presentes et futuri, I John Bakere Knight, vice Treasurer of England have given &e. to Edward Frencham and Wm. Spicer all that house and scite called Newpriorye and lands &e. &e. in Sussex for the use of John Bakere Knight and his heirs male. Dated 17 June 38 Henry VIII (Latin).
And where also I stande and am seased in all and singler the mesuage cotages &e. apperteyning and belonging to the late chapell of Mylkehouse in the parish of Cranebroke and in all those messuages tenements &e. in the separate tenure of Robert Herenden, Wm. Fayrman, William Farne, Richard White the yonger, Elizabeth Butler wedowe, Wm. Graye, Thos. Horsley, Robert Rekhest ats Preston, Elizth Lachenden widow, Stephen Reames, ----------- Karre, William Saunder the yonger, concerninge suche
landes as be parcell of Compden, Thomas Lynkfelde, Wm. Fowle, Wm. Barnys, John Pett, Wm. Gardyner and Henrye Vaughan sett and lying in the parishes of Cranbroke, Brethynden, Frethynden and Stapleherst, the tenor of whiche hereafter ensueth: Sciant presentes et futuri &e. I John Bakere of Cessingherst Knight, have given conceded and by this my present charter tripartite indented conveyed to Stephen Reames of Bedynden, Gent, and Henry Kyngewoode of Cranebroke, yoman, all my messuages, houses, gardens &e. pertaining to the late chapel of Mylkhous and all the lands tenements &e. I late bought of our lord the King as by letters patent dated 22 June anno regni sui secundo, to have and hold to the use of me and my heirs and I make Thos. Best and Thos. Lynley my ‘attornatos’. Dated 14 March ------- Edward VI [year omitted]. My mynde is that the said manors and lands as in the said deds specified wherof I stand seased shulde be taken for the thirde parte or for as moche of the thirde parte as they will amounte vnto to and for the Kinge and Quenes maiesties thirde part if yt shall please theyre maniesties so to accepte theym according to the statuts therof ordeyned and provided.
      And as touching all other my manours, mesuages, lands, tenements, meadows, woodes &e. in the Realme of England not mencyoned in the severall fynes and dedes before rehersed that is to saie my manours of Cessingherst alias Saxyngherst, Delmynden, Seynden, Est Kingesnoth wt the advowson of the church of Est Kingsnoth, West Kyngsnoth, Wachynden, Morhouse, Hunton ats Huntingdon, Benstedds, Teston, Westfarleigh,Loose otherwise callid Pympescourte, Est Barmynge ats Est Barmalynge, West Barmynge ats West Barmalinge, Redecourt, two messuages and two water mylls and all those lands and tenements in several fermes and occupations of John Palmer, gentilman, John Wylsam ats Cutler, Wm. Edent, gent and -------- Harrys, yoman and of all the manours, lands &e. I late purchased of the Quenes maistye by letters patent and all those manours, lands &e. called Lambynnes-courte, Pytlesden, Litle Halden and the other messuages, lands &e. I late boughte of John Talcarne and Thos. Argall, gents and the mesuage and lands known by name of Frythe, Vklay, Herendon, Estmershe, Abbotts Marshe, Denthouse, Tylt, Wadmans, certeyn lands by me purchased of Symon Dawson being wt in my Comyngrye and of and in my messuages in tenures and occupation of John Barrowe, gentilman, Martyn Halsenothe, Richd. Taylor the yonger, John Yonge, John Harte, ---------- Spyngell, William Salmon, Richd. Herenden, wever, Wm. Erle, bocher, Elsabeth Butler, widow, Walter Carewe, Wm. Leede, Wm. Saunder thelder, concerning landes late apperteyning to the late Abbey of Feversham, Thomasyn Hollande, wydow, John Garland, Richard Creley, fullor, the severall mesuages and lands late in the farme and occupation of Myles Ferronde, and Robt. Dokett and all those messuages which I severally purchasid of Thomas Hawarde, gent, --------- Cotton gent, ---------- Benden yoman, Richd. Courthopp, Perceval Austen and Thos. Austen his sonne, Margarett Gregbye widow and Alexaunder Gregbye gent. her sonne, ----------- Hewett, John More gent, and Nicholas More gent, Richard Syme and his wife, Thos. Lynkfelde, the advowson of the 3rd parte of the church of Seynt Olaffe wt in the Citie of London, the advowson of the parish church of Frethynden in Kent, the advowson of the parish church of Hanborough in Co. Oxforde and all other my manors, messuages &e., I will, ordeyne and declare this my last will as follows.
      First I will that my good and lowing suster Johanne Reames widow have one anuytie yerely out of my said manours of £10 and two chambers in my manor of Cessingherst. I will to my nephew Stephen Reames £4 yerely. My executours to take profits and rents &e. of all my said manors [all again rehearsed as above] to have and hold to the said Richarde Bakere and his heyres males and in default to John Baker and his heirs males.
      Thys ys the Codicell of me Sr. John Baker 27 September 1558, where I have in my will dated 16 October 2 & 3 Philip & Mary purchased to me the manor of Blythcourte otherwise called the manor of Stapleherst and thadvowson of the church of Stapleherst and divers lands and tenements in the parishes of Westwell, Estwell &e. in Kent of Sr. Thomas Cawarden Knt, in occupacon of Thomas Wells or his assignes, the same to Richard Baker my eldest sonne and in defaulte to John Baker my yonger sonne and to the said Richard Baker my sonne my whole interest and terme of yeares in the Parke of Westwell in Kent.
      All other leases to my suster Wilforde for her paynes taken wt me in the tyme of my sicknes, and £10, and to my cosyn Duckynton and Mystres Godfraye, wif of Thomas Godfraye for the like consideracon eche of theym £4. To Mr. Argals thre maydes viz. Wenefride, Anne and Elizabeth 40s., to Goodwife Hall 13s. 4d., Wm. Tybson 6s. 8d. To Mr. doctor Caius for his travaile and paynes taken aboute me in the tyme of my sickenes £20.
      My manor of Wolverton in Co. Southampton for terme of 21 yers – my sonne in lawe Edwarde Barrett shal release all such claymes of my excutors and confirme and ratifie all suche leases and grants as I and my late, dere wif Elizabeth, mother vnto the said Edward Barrett have made to any person and confirme the estate and interest I have made to ------- Smyth of Kyngesdowne in Hampshire and then the said Edward Barrett shall hold and enjoye my interest in the said manor.
      By me John Bakere manu mea profria Martyn Colyn, clerke, John Clements, phisition, John Caius phisition, Richarde Bakere, John Bakere, Thos. Argall, Thos. Stanley, Thomas Godffreye, Rycharde Lake, Richarde Bull.
      This ys one other codicill of me John Bakere Knight 5 December 1558. Fyrst where as Richard Whitewoode of Rolvynden in Kente, yoman, hath bought of Steven Gyrdeler and Thos. Everden certayne lands &e. in the parishes of Benynden and Sandherst sometyme parcell of the possession of one John Jakes ats Jekes, which lands were bought by the said Richard Whitewood to the use of me John Bakere vpon trust and concerning which there is a sute dependinge between Richard Whitewoode outhe one parte and John Marden and others on thother parte in the Court of Chauncerye my mynde and will is that if the title is adjudged my executours shall with the lands make fowre severall obyts yerely in the parish church of Cranebroke one for the sowles of my good father and mother, one for the sowles of my late two deare wifes ---------------- and Elizabeth, the thirde for the sowle of me John Bakere and the fourth for all Cristyane sowles yf the lawes and statuts of the Realme shal yt permytt and suffer and yf not then to John Bakere my sonne.
To my seruants Richard Lake and peter Sonmer £4 over any summes left them and £10 more to my sister the lady Wilforde and Dr. Caius. To goodwife Williams wif of Nicholas Williams of the parish of Bassynghall in London for her paynes taken about me in the yme of my sicknes £4, and to my servants Thomas Watkys and Thomas Baylie 20s. iche of theym. Vnto Ladye Sakevile my suster in lawe late Pryores of Clerkenwell £10. Vnto Mystres Argall wif of Thomas Argall, gentilman, for paynes taken in tyme of my sicknes £20.
Proved 30 January 1558 by executors. (P.C.C. 24 Welles)