James Pekham - Will May/Sept 1400
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JAMES PEKHAM of Wrotham. Wednesday
in the Feast of Saints Nerei, Achillei and Pancras, martyrs, 1400. To be buried
in the churchyard of St. George the martyr of the parish church of Wrotham. To
the high altar 13s. 4d. To the fabric (fabrice) of the said church 26s. 8d. To
the light of Blessed Mary 2 cows. To the Sacrist 3s. 4d. To two clerks of the
said church each 3s. 4d. To the high altar of Igtham 6s. 8d, and to the fabric
10s. To the light of Blessed Mary there a cow. To the high altar of Kemsynge 6s.
8d, to the fabric 10s a cow (sic ?last for St. Mary’s light as previously).
To a chaplain to celebrate in the church of Wrotham 5 years for my
soul and the souls of Margery and Lora my wives and for the souls of John and
Elen my father and mother, of William and Alice de Pekham, Agnes and Joan my
sisters, John my brother, Martin and Margery de Pekham, Thomas Chanus, Simon
Jekyn, Thomas Eouene (?), Jam Bokeland and Joan his wife and for the souls of
all my kinsfolk and benefactors and all faithfully departed 45 marcs. On the day
of my burial to be distributed between poor folk to each coming to pray 1d, and
on my year’s day 1d.
To Elizabeth my daughter a bed of ‘Northfoke’ with tester,
celur, with tapestry of green and powdered with ‘popyngaies’ and with ‘curteyns
de blewairde’.
To Robert Fraunceys 20s, Thomas Conk chambirleyn 100s, John Honte
20s, Katherine Fraunceys wife of Thomas Tourns 6s. 8d, Lawrence Eyton 40s. To
all foreign (forencis) servants at Aldham and Goldsymthes each 3s. 4d. To John
Bechet 13s. 4d. To the Prior and Convent of Rochester to pray for me my parents
etc., 40s. To each house of Friars in Kent 13s. 4d. and in London 13s. 4d. To
John Carter 20s.
To Thomas my son a bed of ‘Northfolk’ red and black with three
curtains of the same suit with a celure and two tapestries of ‘tapestwerke’
of the same suit and with costers of of the same suit. To the said Thomas a bed
of ‘Tapestrie-werk’ with a tester in which is made a Castle and in the
Castle sitting a Lady. Also a coverlet and a tester of ‘Northfolk’ powdered
with leaves and flowers, three curtains of with tester and celur complete, a
piece of silver with cover, 6 silver spoons, six "doseyngum de vessell de
peuter garnysshid" with four ‘chargeours’ a basin and ewer, three brass
pots of the best, two best dishes, a ‘gredhirne’ of iron, 4 iron spits (brocha)
a "hall" with costers and bankers and guysshons of black and red
worsted. If the said Thomas departs From this life, quod absit, then they shall
remain to Reginald his brother, and if he die then to James brother of the said
Reginald.
I leave to Reginald my son a coverlet with the tester of green with
‘chapelett’ and roses three curtains and a celdure complete of "bleweared",
four silver spoons, a hauberk and basinet with ‘le venraill’ a pair of
gloves (cerotecarum) of ‘platys’ and my best sword, a materas and a blanket.
I leave to James my son a bed of ‘Blewet’ with ‘chavelett and
roses de plonkett’ with the tester of the same suit a materas and blanket two
silver spoons and a sword.
I leave to Thomas my son a long fur of ‘calabri’ and a fur of
‘foyns’. I leave to Reginald my son a long fur of ‘foynes’, a long fur
of ‘calabr’ and a short fur of ‘calabr’. [probably furred gowns or
coats]. To James my son a long fur of foyns and a long fur of calabr. I will
that the garments of my body be distributed amongst my attendants (famulos). I
leave to Stephen Nortone a silver girdle which he has and was Rogers Dygg’s.
To Alice wife of Stephen Norton a pair of silver and gilt ‘bedes’ and a
maser cup. To the Prior and Convent of Tunbregge 40s to pray for my suol. To Sir
William Tanner, master of the College of Cobham 40s. To 4 perpetual priests of
the same college each 13s. 4d. To each other priest there 6s. 8d.
To John my bastard son called Wrotham 40s. To
Jenicus ‘famulo meo’ 20s, John Kyng 20s and Stephen Norton 10 marcs if he
will be supervisor of my will. To the Prioress and Convent of Nuns of Hegham
40s.
To Alice my daughter nun there 20s. To Sir John Thorston chaplain
10 marcs if he will be executor of my will. To John Kirkely Lord of Hortone
outhe same condition.
To Elizabeth my daughter a piece of silver with cover. To Richard
Sewer husband of the same Elizabeth a "doseyn de vessel peuter engarnysshed".
I will my executors ordain four rings of gold of the finest work in each ring to
be written "Pense de moy" each ring worth 40s to be given to John de
Frenyngham, John Culpepir of Oxonode, William Makenade and Thomas Brokehill if
they are alive after my death that they may help to fulfil my will. I leave to
find another chaplain to celebrate in the parish church of Wrotham six years for
the soul of Edmund Stepilgate and for the souls of all those to whom I am in any
way bound, £6 per annum. To Hugh Frentor 40s, Sir John Thorston chaplain a gown
of black worsted furred with "Bewer" (beaver).
Executors: Sir John Norton chaplain of the Collegiate Church of
Cobham, John Kirkeby Lord of Horton and supervisor Laurence Eyton.
Codicell. I James de Pekham seeing the day of my death approaching I do
not revoke my testament but rather it should be fulfilled. The last day of
September 1400. I leave to William Atte Hothe 20s, Sir John Thorston chaplain 5
marcs, to Reginald my son of my goods at Chyuenyngg 10 oxen 200 sheep a plough
with all the belongings. I leave to Elizabeth my daughter a white gown furred
with ‘menyuer’. To Johan wife of Robert Chamberleyn a qr. of wheat and a
cheese (caseum).
I leave for two stones to be bought of which one to be placed upon
the bodies of my sons buried in the cemetery of the church of Cobham and the
other over my body 20 mrcs. To each clerk in the church of Cobham 12d. To each
boy serving in the same 4d. I will that my executors distribute all my French
books to those knowing them with the intention they shall pray for me.
It is the intention and will of James de Pekham that it should be
performed by those who hare his executors and those enfeoffed of his lands and
tenements at Aldham. Monday next after the Feast of the Assumpcion of Our Lady
in the first year of the reign of our Lord the King Henry the Fourth since the
Conquest.
First the said James wishes that his feoffees hold in their hands
all lands and tenements with their appurtenances of which they are enfoeffed by
him for six years next after his death to fulfil his will. And the said James
wishes his executours to take the profits of all his said lands and tenements
for the term of six years to perform his will and testament.
After the six years his feoffees to enfeoff Reyginald his son in
the manor of Aldham and all the lands and tenements of Blakesole and Goldsmythes
and all the lands in Everhamme, Stonpette and Fotes and all the lands and
tenements and rents in Igtham and all the lands and tenements and rents of
Wynnefeld and Hegherouche and all the lands etc. called ‘le Sole’ and all
the lands etc. which the said James has in Wrotham and wish la pree en Pekham to
have and to hold to him and his heirs males on condition that the said Reginald
make a state to James his brother of all his part of all the lands and tenements
etc. which fall to him after the death of Lora his mother in the manor of
Chyuynyg and in the manor of Werehorne.
And if the said Regnold die without heires males the remainder of
all the said lands etc. to the said James his brother his feoffees to enfeoff
James his son and his heirs males in all the lands etc. called Newenham and al
the lands called Romschede and all le pree called Gretenerssh in Otteforde and
all the tenements called Pelesholte in Wrotham. If James dies without heirs male
then Newenham Romschedde Gretenerssh in Otteford and Polesholte in Wrotham to
remain to Reginald, brother of the said James and if Reginald die then to the
right heirs of James Pekham father of the said Reginald.
His feoffees to make an annual rent of 13s. 4d to Goberd Fraunceys
for the term of his life of the tenement ‘de la Sole’ and the annual rents
to Alys his daughter and to Goterd Fraunceys are to be annexed to the feoffments
made to Reginald and James.
And the aforesaid James wishes his executors to sell the wood
called Le Hoke to perform his will. If James and Reginald die without heirs then
Elizabeth his daughter to be enfeoffed in all lands to her and her heirs called
Wynefield and the mill called Sole in Wrotham and all other lands etc. to be
sold and the profits distributed in alms for him his father mother and friends.
Proved (fol 176b) 11 October 1400 by William Tannere Master of the
College of Cobham and Master John Appelton vicar of Watryngbury and Commission
issued to John Thorston chaplain perpetual of the College of Cobham, John
Kirleby Lord of Horton executors and Stephen Norton supervisor. Dated Cobham 20
November 1400. [170b Arundel I]