|
(this page)
|
THIRD GENERATION
A11. Robert COLCHESTER was born in about 1501 and buried in 1579 at Barking.12 In 1547 he was a church warden and signed a certificate concerning the accounts for Barking church.15 One of the transactions was as follows: "We th[e] saide Robt Salmon, Edward Vttinge & Robert Colchestr haue solde sex candle-sticks and a egle all of latten w[ith] the candelstiks whiche ware on the Candyll beme to Andrewe Inkyrbie of Yppyswiche for seventeen shyllings the hundrethswayte. how manye hundreth we knowe not."
In the 1568 subsidy for Barking, he paid 2s6d of tax on £3.14
Most of what we know about Robert is from his will.16 From this we know that he owned at least 12 acres - a close of arable and pasture called Stouholds in addition to some houses. The total cash legacies in his will came to £50 but this would have been paid out of the income from the various properties. He witnessed the wills of his first cousin Isabel Ingham in 1574/5 and William Field in 157817. His sister Emma Smythe appointed him executor in 156017 and his brother William appointed him "supervisor of this my testament unto whom I give for his paynes xxs [£1]".13
His will was as follows:18
In the name of God Amen the VI th day of October in the yeare of the incarnacon of our lorde Jhesus Christe one thousand fyve hundred seaventie and eighte I Robert Colchester the elder of the parishe of Barkinge in the countie of Suff[olk] doe make and ordeine this my present testament conteyninge my laste will in manner and forme followinge
First I bequeathe my sowli to almightie god faythfullie belevinge and hopinge to be saved by the precious and glorious resurrection and ascention of our lorde and saviour Jhesus Christe And my body to be buried wheare it shall please god when I depart this worlde
Item I gyve an bequeathe all my landes and tenements in Barkinge aforesaide to Thomas Colchester and Robt Colchester my sonnes and to there heires for ever uppon this condicon that they or their heires shall paie all and everie suche some and somes of money as shalbe hereunder expressed by me in this my present testament to such persons and at such dayes as shalbe hereafter named and appointed
First I give and bequeath to Roger Colchester my sonne six poundes thirtene shillinges and four pence to be paid to hym within one yeare next and immediateli after the daye of my ?decease this world by my sonne Thomas and Robert or their heyres and is aforesaide.
Item I gyve to John Colchester my son thirteen poundes six shillings and eight pence to be paied to him by my sonnes Thomas and Robt or their heyris in manner and fore ffollowinge (that is to saye) fourtie shillings [£2] that daye two yeares in which god shall call me .. of this worlde, ... For fyve yeares yearlie fortie shillings then next followinge and then that daye twelfth month next followinge fower nobles in full payment of the twentie marks.
Item I gyve and bequeathe to Thomasin my daughter ten pounds of lawfull money to be pared to her by my sonnes Thomas and Robert and their heires as following fourtie shillings that day & two yeares after my death as is above .... to John my sonne, and then yearlie.........till ......... be fullie paide.
Item I give likewise to Agnes Colchester my daughter tenne poundes of lawful money to be paid unto her by my said sonnes Thomas and Robt and their heyres upon in like manner and at ten pounds in 2 years then .... yearly until paid in full
Item Emma my daughter wife of Thomas Colman £5 in 2 years
Item Robert my son to have my plough horses and mares with my ploughs my cart with all that belongs there to in recompense for any debts between us
If Thomas or Robert refuse to pay any of the bequests or defaults on payment days, then their share will go to the other & they will receive only £20 to be paid within 3 years
Item John Colchester my son 40/- more within one year
Item Thomasin my daughter my best cowe and my best kettle
Item Thomasin and Agnes Colchester my daughters my best feather bed with the transome a pair of sheets a blanket and the best covering
Item Agnes - a cow and a basin with a pewter platter. The household stuffs to be delivered immediately after my burial but the neat [a cow or ox] to be over wintered without charge
Item Every one of the children of William my son now born 3/4 at 20 years
Item the same for the children of Emma wife of Thomas Colman
Item Roger Colchester my son, 2 bushels of wheat before next Easter
Item the same to son John
Item Unto John 26/8 more after the last portion of his money is due
Item all recipients of legacies to be free to dispose of these legacies in their own wills
Items All the reste of the implementes of house and in the house commonlie called howsholde stuffes ungiven and not bequethed I will shalbe equallie devided and parted amongste my sonnes and daughters nowe unmarried
Item Poor mans box xiid
Will finished and sealed 7th January
Witnesses William Bugge, Richard Jenkin and Raff Venteris
Probate 21st May 1579
Social histories point out that in those days in England, people had far fewer possessions than today and even in relatively wealthy households there was very little furniture. A team of two plough horses would plough 50 acres in a season, so he was probably ploughing 100 acres. As the arable land was probably only a third of the acreage, he must have been farming in quite a substantial way for the period.4
He was married to Agnes who died on 6 Sep 1564 in Barking, Suffolk.12
Children of Robert COLCHESTER and Agnes were: