CHURCH FAMILY HISTORY BY W. G. DAVIS
CHURCH FAMILY HISTORY BY W. G. DAVIS
Contributed By
Much time and money have been spent in trying to identify the wife of William Reade, but it was the chance examination of a will at Somerset House, however, has produced a John Church with a son Edmund and also definite proof of his daughter's marriage to William Reade.
John Church, born about 1520, leased the manor of Runwell Hall, in the parish of Runwell, County Essex, from George White, Esq., sometime in the middle years of the sixteenth century. He had a nephew Francis Church who also lived at Runwell. The parish registers of Runwell begin with the year 1558 but there are no Church entries until the year 1573 when a child of Francis Church was baptized. From this fact and the reference in his will to his lands in the parish of Takeley, in the northern part of the country, it seems probable that the Churches were not natives of Runwell but came there from Takeley or its neighborhood.
John Church married twice, but the name of his first wife and mother of his children is unknown. His second wife was Margaret (wiseman) Everard, daughter of Sir John Wiseman, Dt. and Lady Wiseman (Agnes Josselyn) and widow of Everard. Sir John Wiseman owned a great estate in the parish Much Canfield, County Essex, a neighboring parish to Takeley.
Mr. John Church was buried at Runwell April 20, 1577. Mrs. Church, widow, was buried July 16, 1585.
The will of John Church of Runwell, gent. was made February 26, 1577, and proved June 10, 1578. He directed that he be buried in the parish church, to which he bequeathed 13s. 4d. for repairs. To the poor of the parish, 10s. To my wife Margaret L40, ten good kine, thirty good ewes, -—— and all those houses and lands, both copy and free, which I purchased of William Rogers, lying at Runwell street, for life. My wife-shall continue here in my house of Runwell Hall and have one chamber, commonly called Thomas Church's chamber,and meat and drink provided for her at the cost of my executor, so long as she is unmarried and a widow.
My wife shall have her kine and sheep well pastured and stored upon my farm at Runwell Hall, upon condition that she pay unto my son Thomas Church L3 6.8. yearly. To my son Charles Church, Ll0., a silver bowl, sixteen good kine and four score good ewes, a gray trotting gelding, the standing bedstead in Thomas Church's Chamber, all the houses and lands purchased from William Rogers, after the death of my wife, and that portion of my far farm of Run- well Hall called Southland, yielding to my son Thomas Church's B8 yearly. Also to my son Charles, two pr of sheets, two pillow- bears, one table cloth, one dozen of napkins, one towel, a basin and ewer, a Wainscot table standing in the hall, a spit and a pair of cob—irons with three feet.
To my son Edmund Church, all my lands in the parish of Takeley called the Great Park, sometime belonging to Colchester Hall, now in the tenure of John Seale, also that tenement of copy hold in Runwell called Princhettes, which I purchased of one Onge and his wife, also one parcel of my farm of Runwell Hall called Eastfield, yielding therefor L4 to my son Thomas yearly. Also to my son Edmund, twelve good kine, seventy good ewes, a standing bedstead" I lie in myself, two pair of sheets, two pillowbears, one table- cloth, one dozen napkins, one towel, one basin and ewer, a wainscot table standing in the hall, a silver bowl, a bay colt three years old, a spit and L10.
To my son Reade, L10. To Edmund Reade, John Reade and Margaret Reade, my daughter Martha's children, b3.6.8 apiece at the age of fifteen years, with right of survivorship.
To Francis Greene, two heifer calves. To every of my men, 5s. To every of my maid-servants 2s.6d. apiece.
To my cousin Francis Church, 20s. and twenty good ewe lambs.
To Charles Fuller, 5s. Executor and residuary legatee: my son Thomas Church. Overseer: Mr. George Whitt of Hutton, to who, L3.6.8. and a bay colt.
Witnesses:
Thomas Jolie, parson of Thundersley
Howell Griffith, with others.
The will of Margaret Church of Runwell, widow, made April 4, and proved October 29, 1585, directs that she be buried "in the place whereat it shall please God to call me." To my mother, a forepart of damask, and, if my mother should die I bequeath it to my sister Wiseman of Handyfeld.
To my sister Reade, my blue gown.
To my sister Young, my whole kirtle of grosgrain chamlet.
To my sister Everard, my forepart of sacke grosgrain.
To Edmund Church, a pair of flaxen sheets and two pillowbears.
To Bartoll, Eng. and King, 3s. 4d. and my "hetchell" to Bartoll's wife.
To goodwife Garrold and widow Barrones, 2s., To all servants-——to my maid Margaret Walletin,—--To Mr. Lucas and his wife -—To my grandson Everard, L10. at twenty—one, and to Parnell Everard, L6, and if——-——Executor and residuary legatee: Everard, Overseer: my brother Reade, to whom 20s.
Witness Edward Palmer.
Additions to the will, made 4 Apr. 1585 ———— --
