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following page has been produced and provided by David Hunt to whom I am very grateful.
2 (1.1) Gregory Henham Second Generation 8 x Great Grandfather———————————————————————————————————————— Birth Date: About 1606 Birth Place: Great Chart Kent Death Date: 1653 Death Place: Great Chart Kent The first page of Gregory Henham’s Will dated 3rd November 1652 See below for transcript
As his sister, Rebecca was christened in 1608, his wife in 1610 and his marriage to Deborah Spurges was in 1633, it seems probable that Gregory was born sometime between 1605 and 1610. From the legacies made in both Gregory’s and Deborah's respective wills I am convinced that daughter, Rebecca was Gregory’s illegitimate child. If she had been born before his marriage with Deborah, then this gives a strong pointer that he was older than his sister. This is, of course, just speculation, but nevertheless worthy of a mention; however to keep this record in a chronological order, I have made the assumption, unless other evidence to the contrary comes to light, that he was the older sibling. The Will he made shows he was a 'man of property' and had far more wealth than one would expect to accumulate from an occupation as a Cordwainer. Was some of his wealth inherited from his Engham ancestors? Until fairly recently I was under the impression that a cordwainer was a ropemaker, for the obvious reason that rope can be defined as cord. A cordwainer is in fact an ‘upmarket’ cobbler or shoemaker, who uses high quality Cordovan leather from Cordoba in southern Spain. A Post
Card of Modern Day Cordoba with a photograph of a Leather Worker
It would seem that Gregory was still in his forties when he died during the early months of 1653. From my transcript of his Will that follows, it can be seen that he left to his wife and children several houses and land in Great Chart. This shows that he must have been a man of some importance in the community. The last Will and Testament of Gregory Henham of Great Chart Kent -03 Nov 1652 In the name of God Amen , this third day of November in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred fifty two. I Gregory Henham of Great Chart in the County of Kent, Cordwainer, being weak of body but of perfect remembrance, praised be to God therefore, do make and appoint, ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth. First, I commend my Soul into the hands of God who gavest me hope in Jesus Christ above for Salvation, and my body I commit to the Earth from where it came.And for that worldly goods which God hath given me. First I give unto Gregory Henham, all that my house and lands now in the occupation of Giles Mace in Great Chart aforesaid, to him and to his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give also unto my said son Gregory and to his heirs and assigns forever, my land that is in the occupation of Thomas Hassell in Chart now called by the name of Fludding. Also I give to my said son Gregory, all my shop tools and one bed furnished and my Chest. All which fore mentioned houses, land and premises, I give to my said son Gregory when he shall accomplish, and be of, his full age of one and twenty years, and to his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Henham, all those my two houses with the backsides and appurtenances in the occupation of William Thomsett and of Andrew Loader in Chart aforesaid, when she shall accomplish and be of her age of eighteen years, and to her heirs and assigns forever. Item I give unto my daughter Deborah Henham, all those two houses backsides and appurtenances now in the occupation of Richard Smith and widow Daniell in Chart aforesaid, when she shall accomplish and be of her age of eighteen years, and to her heirs and assigns forever. Item I give unto my son Richard Henham, all those my two houses backsides and appurtenances in Chart aforesaid, and now in the occupation of the widow proger and wherein I now dwell, after his mother's decease and to his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give unto my aforesaid son Gregory Henham, all that my house and land with the appurtenances, which I lately purchased of Master John Harris situate and being in New Street in Chart aforesaid, after his Mother's decease, to him his heirs and assigns forever. And if it shall happen any of my forenamed children to depart this life before they shall accomplish their ages aforesaid, and leave no issue of their body lawfully begotten, then my will is that all the rest of my surviving children before named, shall equally divide and hand to them and to their heirs the portion of the deceased, be it Son or Daughter. And also if any of my forenamed children shall go about to mortgage or to sell any of the houses or land hereby to them given, before he or she accomplish and be of her or his full age of thirty years, then all the other of my children here before named, shall enter and possess equally all that part so mortgaged or sold, to them and their heirs. Item I give unto my Daughter Rebecca, six shillings eight pence to be paid to her by my Executrix hereafter named, for six years after my decease. And lastly I do hereby make and ordain my loving wife Deborah Henham, my Sole and full Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, whom I appoint to pay and discharge all my debts and legacies and funeral expenses, whom I give all the rest of my goods, money and debts unbequeathed. And all the rents of my houses and lands before bequeathed, for and towards the educating and bringing up of my children till they shall accomplish and be of their several ages aforesaid. She my said wife all the said time and times, maintaining and keeping all my said houses before bequeathed, well repaired. And to take from my land only the tops and lops of Pollards used to be topped And to take down the Elm trees. This I declare publish and Seal as my last Will and Testament renouncing all former and other Wills. Signed Gregory Henham In the presence of Richard Smith, Stephen Miller + two others The ninth day of June one thousand six hundred fifty three admission issued forth to Gregory Henham the natural and lawful son of the said deceased, to administer for the goods, chattels and debts of the said deceased, according to the ...and effect of the last will and testament of the said deceased, for that Deborah Henham the Relict and executrix named in the Will died before she took upon her the Execution of the said will, he being firstly legally sworn truly to administer the same Spouse: Deborah Spurges Birth Date: 1610 Christen Date: 6 May 1610 Christen Place: Great Chart Kent Death Date: 1653 Burial Date: 1653 Burial Place: Great Chart Kent Spouse Father: Peter Spurges Spouse Mother: Elizabeth Tragically, Deborah died within a few months of her husband, thus leaving, with the exception of son Gregory who was about 18, a young family still in their childhood years. She also made a Will, leaving mainly personal and household items, and clothing. The Will makes very interesting reading and gives an insight into the living conditions of the 'better off' in the time of Cromwell's England. My transcript of Deborah Henham’s Will follows .The last Will and Testament of Deborah Henham of Great Chart -18 May 1653 In the name of God Amen I Deborah Henham of Great Chart in the County of Kent, widow, being sick and weak in body but of sound perfect memory, praise be to God, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. But first and primarily I commit my soul into the hands of my saviour and my body to be buried in the church or churchyard of Great Chart aforesaid, wherever my executor hereafter named shall think convenient.Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my daughter, the half of my brass pots and the biggest of my brass kettles, the pot brass stupnet, the three legged kettle, and feather bed bedstead, a pillow two bolsters, coverlet blankets and one cotton sheet, six pairs of hempen sheets, one dozen of fine napkins and half a dozen of course, two long towels, the great chest with two locks, the box, one pair of fine calico pillow boards, my green petticoat, my best flannel petticoat and my working day petticoat, my black gown, one pair of course pillow coats, one long table cloth, six great trenchers, my enamel ring.Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Deborah, the next bigger pot and kettle, a pint stupnet, six pairs of sheets, two pair of them end of the shelf under the window, half a dozen of fine napkins and half a dozen of course, a short towel and a pair of plain pillow boards with (blank space) on them and one other pair with two ‘D’s’ upon them, two pewter platters, two porringers, a basin, the bed and bedstead, (blank space) big bolster and blanket, bedstead in the further chamber, my serge petticoat, my green waistcoat, my face cloth, my childbed sheets, the chest which is at her uncle Richard’s house, and the chest in the chamber which hath no lock. A little box there, six great trenchers, my little ring with a button on it.Item I give and bequeath unto my son Richard the biggest of my brass pots, the biggest of my kettles, the table cupboards and shelves in the hall, the parlour table and benches belonging to it, three pairs of fine sheets and three pairs of course, six fine napkins and six course, a pair of course pillow coats, a pair of cotton pillow coats with lace. A chest which the linen lies in it, the pewter platter standing on the cupboard in the parlour, one porringer, a little form in the parlour and three round stools, a quart stupnet, a little half pint stupnet, two flock beds with three blankets, (two words) a yellow blanket, the chest in the furthest chamber, six great trenchers, my wedding ring(s) and a pewter platter marked with ‘H’Item I give unto Rebecca my daughter in law, twenty shillings to be paid unto her by mine executor at Christmas next if she shall demand it.Item I give and bequeath unto my son Gregory Henham, all the rest and residue of my goods and chattels not hereby bequeathed, he paying my debts and discharging the cost of my funeral expenses.And I do hereby make and ordain my said son Gregory to be Executor of this my last will and testament and desire my loving friends Master William Sharpe and Thomas Stephens to be my oversees, to see this (one word) performed. Witness my hand and seal, this eighteenth day of May in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty three, the mark of the said Deborah Henham.Read and published to be the last will and testament of the said Deborah Henham and by her sealed and subscribed in the presence of Thomas Snode, Richard Smith, William Smale. This will was proved affirmed the one and twentieth day of June one thousand six hundred and fifty three, before the judges for probate wills and granting administrations, appointed by Act of Parliament. Instituted in Act for probate of wills and granting administration, by the oath of Gregory Henham the son of the deceased and the executor named in the said will, to whom administration was committed, he being first sworn by commission well and truly to administer the same.Note: A stupnet is a saucepan Trenchers are wooden boards used for serving and eating food Marriage Date: 23 Sep 1633 Marriage Place: Great Chart Kent Children: 4 i Gregory 5 ii Thomas 6 iii Elizabeth 7 iv Deborah 8 v Richard 9 vi Rebecca (Illegitimate)
An Elizabethan and Jacobean period room 1580-1640 (Geffrye Museum London-2005) The above photograph, from a postcard, may possibly illustrate the type of room Gregory and Deborah had in their house in Great Chart. See Deborah’s Will where she leaves to her children, items of furniture and pewter platters, which may have been similar to those in this museum display. ____________________________ 3 (1.2) Rebecca Henham 9 x Great Aunt———————————————————————————————————————— Birth Date: 1608 Christen Date: 12 Mar 1608 Christen Place: Great Chart Kent The baptism record in St Mary’s Parish Church, Great Chart confirms the existence of Grygory Henham and his wife Margery:- 12 Mar 1608 Rebecca Hennam daughter of Grygory and Margery No further research has been undertaken into the life of Rebecca. |
