William Becher MP (1574 - 1640)

Born 1574 in London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (St John) Becher — married 25 Feb 1594 in Southill, Bedfordshire, England

Descendants

Died Dec 1640 at about age 66 in Renhold, Bedfordshire, England

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Not to be confused with his cousin Sir William Beecher MP

Biography

William Becher was baptised at St Christopher-le-Stocks in London on the 12th September 1574, son of Henry Becher and his wife Judith Riche. ^[1][2]Attended Cambridge University., Matriculated Pens 1592, son of Henry Becher, Alderman of London. ^[3]

On the 25th February 1594 at Southill, Bedfordshire [from the register] he married Elizabeth St John,^[2] daughter of Oliver Baron St John of Bletso ^[1] and his wife, Dorothy Reade. They were parents of 8 sons and 5 daughters. ^[1]

Admitted to the Inner Temple 1597 [from their register].

In 1601 he was returned to parliament with Thomas Chicheley as Member for Huntingdon ^[4] but did not seek re-election, spending the rest of his life as a country gentleman. He was Sheriff of Bedfordshire 1612-13 ^[1]In 1603 he leased Howbury Hall in the village of Renhold from the Gostwick family. ^[5]

When his mother Judith Becher died in 1615 he was executor of her will written 31 April 1613. She left him one of her basins, a ewer of silver, 2 gilt salts one with a cover, 2 trencher salts, 10 gilt spoons with knobs, 12 silver plates with gold rims.....and the residue of her estate. The will was proved 7 December 1615 at Northamptonshire and Rutland. ^[6]

On 29 July 1619, at Kirby in Northamptonshire, the seat of Sir Christopher Hatton, William was knighted in the company of Richard Charnock. ^[7] In 1624 he acquired the Howbury estate at Renhold in Bedfordshire, conveyed to him by Edward Gostwick ^[8] and in 1629 sold Fotheringhay to John Browne.^[5] He is said to have had at Howbury Hall court cupboards, gold embroidered crimson velvet cushions, 33 yards of painted cloth depicting the story of the Prodigal Son, chairs of silk, velvet, satin & embroidery and a picture of Queen Elizabeth. Most rooms had fireplaces and the seventeen chimneys were cleaned twice a year at a cost of 17 shillings. ^[5] William spent a great deal on clothes; one year was 37 pounds for clothing such as doublets, cloaks [one with silver lace] and a hat with a pearled band. ^[5]

His will dated 1 November 1640 PCC 4 Evelyn appointed his ‘very loving wife’ Elizabeth executrix and expressed his belief in the redeeming value of the passion of Jesus Christ.

He died in December and was buried at Renhold, Bedfordshire on the 22nd 1640. ^[1]

Will of William Becher

"William Becher will dated 1 Nov 1640 proved 2 April 1641 By Elizabeth Becher, executrix named, PCC 4 Evelyn Wanted to be buried at Renhold. To my brothers Edward & George Becher, sisters Anscell, Robinson & Kempton, each a ring of 40s with a death’s head. To his butler 40s; his coachman 20s; and a like sum to his cook, bayly and chambermaid; and to his other servants, 13s 4d apiece. To Kate Alleyne, 10s; To the poor of Renhold 3 pounds, and to the Vicar of Renhall 40s. To son Henry his wearing apparel &etc. To son Oliver his great seal ring, engraven in colours and all his books &etc. which concerns him or his estate, except the papers describing his wife’s jointure; also 4 acres of arable land, bought of John Ardys, being the 4 acres stand me in 29li. 10s; Salphoberie land, now in the occupation of John Smyth and William Richards.also his 3 ½ acres of arable land and leyes in Renhall East Field, which I bought of Mr. Thomas Farclough of Weston, upon condition he pay my son Harry 40li. (These 3 ½ acres stand him in 21li 10s) but if he refuse to pay the 40li then his gift of 7 ½ acres be void. To son Harry, 50li on condition he provide a house for his wife and three of his children within three months of testator’s decease. For his other two children, he will entreat his wife to take care of them. To son William 40s, to son St John 50li, To son Francis 100li within one year after the expiration of his apprenticeship, and meantime he desires him to serve journeyman. To his three youngest sons Francis, Howard and John 300li each as soon as it can be raised out of his brother Edward’s estate and meantime they shall be maintained out of his personal estate until their ages of 24. To his three youngest daughters Elizabeth, Judith & Catherine 300li apiece, to be paid them as soon as his brother Edward Becher’s land, now settled upon testator, shall be sold or that they should marry.To daughters Conyers & Hardinge 5li apiece in gold. To daughter Becher, his son Oliver’s wife, a gold ring of 40s. To wife Elizabeth, a fifth part of all his beadsteads & also the use of the lease of all vicarial tithes which shall hereafter issue out of her jointure, she paying yearly 10li to Nathaniel Hill, clerk, now vicar of Renhall. After her decease, he gives the remainder of said lease to his son Oliver, and after him, to his eldest son.Recites that whereas his brother Edward had settled on him and his heirs his whole estate of land in England, and his annuity of 24 pounds out of the land of Sir John Rayney in Writham, which he values at 2000 pounds or thereabouts and conceives that the same be sold, and the money arising therefrom to be divided amongst his three youngest sons and three youngest daughters, he does willingly condescend thereunto, and is thankful for it, and wills that the same be sold, after his said brother’s death, by Sir Rowland St John of Woodford, Northants, Knight, Sir Beauchamp St John of Bletsoe, Beds, (Godfather of Howard), Thomas Rolt of Milton-Ernys, Beds, Esq, Thomas Anscell, fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, his nephews, and Matthew Robinson of Longthorpe the younger of Longthorpe, and the proceeeds divided as above. To sons Henry, St John and Francis a debt of 200 pounds due from Sir Thomas Cheny of Sundon, Beds, knight. All his household goods to be appraised by Mr Dr. Fisher of Wilden, his brothe Edward of Longthorpe and Mr. Kidd of Elstowe, and sold towards the payment of his debts. Having settled on his eldest son Oliver all his estate of land in Co. Beds, excepting two parcels lately bought of Mr. Ardys and Mr. Thomas Fareclough, he expects him to be duitiful and comfortable towards his mother. Commends his son Howard to the breeding (?) of his undoubted friend Sir Beaucham St. John, his godfather; and if he should take to the study of divinity, he doubts not but that the Countess of Peterborough, his godmother, would bestow upon him a good living. Appoints his wife Elizabeth sole executrix, and Sir Rowland St John & Sir Beauchamp St John, Richard Tayler Sergeant at Law, Jasper Fisher D. D. , William Conyers [son in law] & his said brother Edward. Signed W. Becher. Witnesses O. Becher, Nathaniel Hill, Richard Robinson, Richard Fletcher."

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} History of Parliament online 1558-1603: BEECHER, William (d.1640), of Fotheringay, Northants.; later of Howbury, Renhold, Beds
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Blaydes, alias Page-Turner, FA, ed: Visitations of Bedfordshire (1884), Harleian Soc. 21 (for 1885), [Note, many errors in this book!]page 81, Beecher (1634). (Note - the book is bound together with two other books - index here)
3. ↑ Cambridge Alumni database, BCR592W Confused: grandson not son of Henry, Alderman (d 1571). Not the 1614-29 MP
4. ↑ History of Parliament online 1558-1603: Huntingdon
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} "The Forgotten Families of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire" Evelyn Wright, 2003
6. ↑ Probate Index PRO#1/004623 & 4
7. ↑ The Knights of England. A complete record from the earliest time to the present day of the knights of all the orders of chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of knights bachelors, incorporating a complete list of knights bachelors dubbed in Ireland by Shaw, William Arthur, 1865-1943; Burtchaell, George Dames, 1853-1921 Page 173: William Beecher
8. ↑ British History online, A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 3. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1912. Parishes: Renhold