- Will of HENRY SHERMAN of Colchester, Co. Essex, ENGLAND
In the name of God, Amen, the twentithe day of January a thousand fyve hundred eightie nine and in the two and thirtithe yeare of the reigne of oure soveraigne Ladie Quene Elizabethe, I Henry Shearman, the elder, of Colchester in the county of Essex being whole of memorye and in perfect mynde thankes be to God do make constitute and ordeyne this my laste will and testamente revokinge all other willes and testamentes made by me. Firste I bequeathe my soule into the handes of Almighty God my maker acknowledging Jesus the sonne of the Lyvinge God my only Savyoure and Redeemer by whose pretious bloodshedding all my synnes ar washed awaye which hath satisfied the wrathe of God the father and I by his meritts and noe other means shall enherite the Kingdome prepared for the faithefull. I acknowledge the holy ghoste the god of comforte which hathe sealed me up to the everlasting covenaunte of eternall ioyes, my bodie I committ to the earth from whence yt came to be buried in the parishe churche of Dedham. Item. I will and bequeathe to Doctor Chapman the preacher of Dedham sixe poundes to be paid within sixe monthes after my decease. Item. I will to Mr. Parker fortie shillings to be paide at the same time. Item. I will to the poore of Dedham twenty poundes to be a contynewall stocke for the poore to the worldes ende and the use and benifit of it to goe to the poore. Further my will and mynde is that it shalbe ordered at the discretion of the governours of the free schoole of Dedham or the greatest parte of them and th_ to take securitie for the princypall.
Item. I will and bequeathe unto Henry Shearman, my son my Shearman's crafte to hym and his heires for ever.
Item. I give to Henry Shearman, my sonne, all the householde (sic) which is in his house which he hathe already.
Item. I give to my sonne, Henry Shearmans children that is to saye to Henry Shearman, Samuel Shearman, Daniel, John, Ezechiell, Phebe, Nathaniell and Anne Shearman to each of them five pounds a peece to be paied to the sonnes at the age of two anf twentie. And yf any of them dye before they shall accomplishe the foresaid age then I will yt to be equallie divided betwixt the reste alive and to the daughter at one and twentie. And yf they die before this age then I will there porcon to be equallie divided betwixt my sonne Henryes children then alive.
Item. I will and bequeathe to Edmonde Shearman, my sonne ten poundes.
Item. I give to Edmonde Shearman, the sonne of my son Edmonde Shearman, thirteene pounde thirteene shillings and fouer pence to be paied unto hym at the full age of twoe and twentie yerers. And yf he die before he come to the age of twoe and twentie, then I will it be divided between Richard Shearman, Bezaliell Shearman, Anne Shearman, the children of my sonne Edmonde Shearman.
Item. I will and bequeathe to Richarde Shearman, Bezaliell Shearman, Anne and Sarah Shearman, the children of my sonne Edmonde Shearman, to eache of them fourtie shillings a peece to be paied to the sonnes at the full age of twoe and twentie and to the daughters at one and twentie. And yf any of them dye before they shall accomplish theire full ages then I will their parte to be divided amongeste the reste that lyve of Edmonde Shearman's children.
Item. I give to Edmonde Shearman, my sonne my beste cloake.
Item. I will and bequeathe to William Petfeilde, my sonne in lawe, twentiee pounds to be paied within one whole yere after my decease.
Item. I give to the three children of my sonne in lawe Petfeilde, that is to say Richard Petfielde, to Susan Petfeilde and Elizabeth Petfielde, to each of them six pounde thirteen shillings fouer pence to be paied to the sonne at twoe and twentie yeres of age and to the daughters at one and twentie. And yf any of them dye before the age beforesaid then I will their portion to be equallie devyded betwene the children of William Petfeilde then alive. And my will and mynde is that my saide sonne, Petfeilde, shall have the occupyinge of that money untill the children shall come to their full age puttinge in sufficient and suertie to my executors to paye the money as ys abovesaid.
Item I give to Margerye, my wife, two and twentie pounds to be paied within three monethes after my decease.
Item I will that she shall have all her householde stuffe which she brought me and that householde (sic) which we renewed and boughte since we marryed.
Item I will that Margerye, my wife, shall have all my broome, wood, and logges, which I have at my departure.
Item I will and give to Margerye, my wife, twentie shillings of money.
Item I give to Margerye, my wife, that twelve pounds which is due unto me from Fendring Yf my exuctors can recover yt of hym.
Item I will that Margerye, my wife, shall have her dwellings for twoe yeres in that parte of the house wherein we do nowe dwell that is in the lower parloure and the twoe chambers next Mr. Ruddes and parte of the backehouse yf my sonne Robert do enjoy the house. But yf it be redeemed and he do not enjoy it then I will that my sonne Robert shall paye unto Margerye, my wife, fouer pounde for twoe yeres dwellings.
Item I give to Margerye, my wife, my tipped pott tearme of her life, and after her decease I give it to Judith, my daughter.
Item My will is that yf Margerye, my wife, doe make any clayme or title to the thirdes or any parte of that house wherein I nowe do dwell, that then she shall be frustrate of the twoe and twentie pounde given her and I will the fore said two twentie pounde to be divided betweene my three sonnes Henrye, Edmonde and Robert Shearman. Allso my will and mynde ys that she shall put in bonde to mynee Executors before shall receyve any parte of her legacy that she do not trouble or moleste myne Executors or my sonne Robert in anythings that is given them.
Item I will and bequeathe to Robert Shearman, my sonne three skore pounds which three skore pounds I give for the state of the house wherein I nowe dwell which was latelie Richarde Kinges, Berebruer of Colchester. And yf it shall happen that the saied three skore pounde be not paied according to bargayne and sale at the tyme appointed then I give the aforesaid house wherein I now dwell latelie Richarde Kinges with yards and appurtenances to Robert Shearman, my sonne, and his heires for ever.
Item I give to Robert Shearman, my sonne, all the coppiehoulde called the Heckells, or knowne by any other name conteyinge by estimacon fifteene acres more or lesse with the barne and cottage to it and two acres called Byrdes, now in the occupation of William Petfeilde, to hym and his heires, forever.
Item I give to my saied sonne, Robert Shearman, fouerty pounde of good lawfull money to be paied unto hym within sixe monthes after my decease. I will it be divided between the children of Robert Shearman then alive.
Item My mynde is that Robert, my sonne, shall have the occupyinge of the money untill the children come of age, puttinge in sufficient securitye to my executors for the principall.
Item I give unto Robert, my sonne, all my householde stuffs which I had before I marryed Margerye, my wife, that is to saye, Beddes, featherbeddes, cubbardes, bedsteades, pillowes, brasse, pewter, hangings, togeather with the great cupboarde in the parlour and the sealinge with the three tapestrie cushions.
Also I give unto him three payer of sheetes and all other ymplements of householde, Allso I give unto Robert, my sonne, my silver and gilte goblett. Allso I give unto Robert Shearman, my sonne, my best gowne.
Item I gove unto Robert my sonne one sword and a Byll_.
Item I give unto Judith Petfeilde, my daughter, the cheste and lynnen upon the Soller (three payer of sheetes excepted before given to Robert my sonne).
Item I give unto Henrye Shearman, my sonne, twelve silver spoones.
Item I give unto my son in law, Nicholas Fynce, forty shillings.
Item I give unto the poore of Allhallows parishe six shillings, eight pence.
Item I give to Robert, my sonne, the typped pot which he hathe.
Item I give to Henrye Shrearman, my sonne, all my Arms except that which I gave to my sonne Robert.
Item I will that yf the fortie poundes which is due unto me by the heires of administrators of Richard Kinge beerebruer be recovered then I will the saied fortie pounde be equallie divided betweene Henrye Shearman, Edmonde Shearman, Robert Shearman, Judith Petdeilde, my children.
Item I give unto Judith Petfeilde, my daughter, my sydesaddell and cloath to yt.
Item I give to Robert Shearman, my sonne, my saddle.
Item I give to William Petfeilde my best gowne save _.
Item I give Henry, my sonne, my best cassocke hatte and nightcappe.
Item I give to Christopher Stone a Cloathe doublet.
Item I give to Caser and olde payer of hosen. To Richard Fycher my olde gowne.
Item I give to Edmonde Shearman, Henrye Shearman, Robert Shearman, my sonnes, to eache of them twentie shillings in goulde, and to each of theire wyves twentie shillings in goulde.
Item I give to Judithe Petfeild, my daughter twentye shillings in goulde.
Item I will that the halfe yeares rente due at my decease of all my landes and tenemeents shall goe to the performance of my will.
Item I give all my goodes unbequeathed to be equallie divided betwixt my three sonnes Henry, Edmonde and Robert Shearman.
Item I make and ordeyne Henry Shearman and Edmonde Shearman, my sonnes, Executors of this my laste will and testament, -- Witnesses unto this my will theise whose names be underwritten p me Ricam Symnell, By me Oliver Pyggethelder, By me Nathaniell Bassack, p me Henrye Osborne.
Henry Shearmans Mark.
A Codicell annexed to my will for some respit of payinge legaceys by my Executors, the XVI day of Febuary.
I will that the twentie poundes for the poore shalbe paied at oure Ladie day nest twelve monthes. I will that Dr. Chapmans sixe pounde be paied at the same tyme. I will that Mr. Parker's fourtie shillings be paied at the same tyme. I will that Nicholas Fynces fourtie shillings be then paied. I will that my sonne Robert have fyve pounde paiede hym this next Ladie day and tenne pounde at the next mydsommer and thirtie fyve pounde at Ladie Daye next come twelve monthe I will that the legaceys for my sonne Edmondes children be payed at oure Ladie day come twelve monthe. I will that Petfeilde have fortie pounde paiede hym this nexte mydsommer. Items whereas the twentie pounde which I gave to the poore was appoynted to be ordered by the governours of the free schoole at Dedham. Nowe my mynde ys that my sonne Henry Shearman shall have the occupying of it tearme of his life puttinge in sewertie for to pay the principall and fortie shillings a yere to theire use to be bestowed in woollen and lynnen cloathe. Item my will is that my Executors shall pay my sonne Robert use for fyve and thirtie pounde for the latter halfe yeare.
By me Oliver Pyggethelder, By me Nathaniell Bassack. Dated, Jan 20, 1589/90 Codicil dated Feb. 16, 1589/90.
Proved July 25, 1590
P.C.C. Drury, 51 F.D.S. 21-26
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| Notes |
- As of June 2007, the relationship between this Henry, of Dedham, and Thomas (1490-1551), of Yaxley, is tenuous. Early Sherman researchers (pre-1930's] considered that Henry was born ca: 1520, placing a strong possibility that he was Thomas' son. Many descendants of this Henry, today include this Yaxley connection, and the three additional known generations, in their ancestry.
A later investigation by Bertha Stratton, concerning a deposition that Henry gave in a court case which places his age more about 1510-1512 (placing him too old to have been Thomas' son), plus the fact that Henry and his heirs never claimed the right to use the Yaxley Coat of Arms, disputes this possibility.
There remains NO PROOF for either case. Additional research is needed. [Art's note]
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Oct 13, 2006 letter from Michael Woods - noted genealogist - to open forum on rootsweb..
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Several hundred databases on worldconnect.rootsweb.com say that Henry Sherman of Dedham, Essex, clothier, who died in 1590, was son of Thomas Sherman of Yaxley, Suffolk, d. 1551. I am sending this message in batches, as time permits, to the creators of the 181 databases (as at 1 Oct 2006) on which Henry has been allocated the year of birth 1524, for no reason I can see.
This date does not fit the fourth son of Thomas of Yaxley, who in his will dated 20 Jan 1550/1 said his son Henry was then still an apprentice, that is, under 21. More particularly, that Henry probably lived at Diss, Norfolk, where his only known son Thomas, named in the will of that Henry's brother Richard of Diss dated 1587, was living in the early 1600s. [B L Stratton, Transatlantic Shermans (1969), esp. pages 37, 47, 49.]
Nor does it fit the Dedham clothier, several of whose great-grandchildren settled in New England, either as young adults or with their parents. More than 50 years ago B L Stratton in New Light on Henry Sherman (1954), pages 1-10, pointed out that the clothier deposed on 11 October 1574 that he was then aged 62 and had lived in Dedham for 40 years, so was born 1511/12 and settled there in 1534. His daughters Alice Fince and Judith Petfield were both married before 1561 (when Henry son of Thomas of Yaxley was no more than 30), and his son Thomas was buried at Dedham 16 March 1563/4, probably aged 8, which is why he is not named in Henry's will dated 25 July 1590.
So as not to mislead viewers of your database(s) [some addressees have more than one], please amend the year of birth of Henry Sherman to 1511 or 1512 and disconnect him from his pretended "Yaxley" ancestry; and while doing so, please delete also the conjectural surname of his wife Agnes. I have examined all surviving pertinent records, and can affirm she was NOT daughter of Henry's friend Thomas Butter of Dedham, whose surname was once misprinted "Butler", which has led to ludicrous, and wholly fictitious, speculations as to her ancestry on some databases.
If you want to retain on your database the disconnected pedigree of the Shermans of Yaxley, I commend to you B L Stratton's Transatlantic Shermans (1969), pages 31-54 and the pull-out pedigree at the end, which identifies all the sons of Thomas & Jane (Waller) Sherman and their families. "Sherman" being an occupational surname, it is quite possible the Yaxley and Dedham families were not even distantly related agnately.
Yours sincerely, Michael J Wood
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=artcohan&id=I00492
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Mention in Will, Inv. or Prob.; 20 Aug 1555; Dedham, Essex, Eng 2. In the will of Thomas Butter, clothier: "Executors: my eldest son, William Butter, and Henry Sherman, and they are to have £3 and a gown for their pains."
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Abt 1510 - Bef 1590 (~ 80 years)
