Firmin, Firmyn, Furman wills of Suffolk in the 1600s
Location: Suffolk, England
Surnames/tags: Firmin Firmyn
Summary
Wills of Firmins (spelling varies) around the area of Nayland, Stoke by Nayland, Ipswich and Sudbury used in researching the origins of early New England immigrant John Firmyn of Watertown, Massachusetts. The concrete things found tying the Nayland Firmins to those listed below are:
- The 1624 will of Robert of Ballingdon where he bequeaths to his "loving friend Josiah Firmin of Nayland, tanner" (other than Roger Warrick by marriage). This is very likely to be the Josiah Firmin (c. 1580-1638) of Nayland, brother of John Firmin the immigrant. Josiah's own will listed himself as a tanner.
- The 1614 will of Richard of Sudbury wherein he bequeaths to Josias Firmyn, tanner of Nayland (presumably the same one as listed by Robert of Ballingdon in 1624; Allen's book says this is Joseph but the name Josias is clearly readable in the original will and Allen also listed this will as 1616 when it is clearly readable as 1614 in the will and probate).
The following wills were ordered from the Suffolk Archives and are transcribed and/or noted here:
- Original will of Roger Warrick of Sudbury 1616 RefNo: IC/500/1/73/171 Say maker. This was the first husband of Susan Bush; they married in 1609 at Sudbury and had 3 children, 1 of whom died in infancy. Susan then married John Firmyn at Nayland in 1618.
- Original will of John Furman of Ipswich 1693 RefNo: IC/AA1/123/96 Gentleman, how he connects to any of these others is unclear.
- Original will of Henry Furman of Ipswich 1637 RefNo: IC/AA1/74/66 wife Prudence & several children listed but no siblings or cousins, how he fits in is uncertain.
- Original will of Robert Firmin of Ballingdon 1624 RefNo: IC/500/1/80/83 Tanner bequeaths to his family plus his "loving friend" Josiah Firmyn, tanner of Nayland.
- Original will of Giles Firmin of Cavendish 1616 RefNo: IC/500/1/73/160 Clothier who had a brother Thomas and was probably the son of a Thomas as described in Orrin Allen's "Fairman" book book cited below. He was the nephew of Richard Firmin of Sudbury (below) who wrote his own will in 1614.
- Original will of Richard Firmyn/Firmin of Sudbury 1614 RefNo: IC/500/1/71/92 Gentleman. He had brothers John & Thomas (deceased; Thomas had sons Thomas & Giles) and brother Nicholas (living) and a sister who married a Cook (possibly Mary who married Thomas Cook and had son Henry, see his research notes). Had four kinsmen named John Firmyn, one Josias (the tanner of Nayland) and one Christopher.
- Original will of Margaret Firmin of Sudbury 1616 RefNo: IC/500/1/73/96 Widow of Richard. Her will listed no other Firmins, only "kinsmen" of the name Lowe, Fryott, Gotsmith (maybe) and Maynard. One of the Maynards was listed at Long Melford, the location of the marriage of Giles Firmyn (c. 1552-1597) and Katherine Ive (c. 1554-1634) the parents the John Firmyn of Nayland listed above (2nd husband of Susan Bush).
Giles of Nayland: still unknown origin
Note that The "Descendants of John Fairman" on pages 4 and 5 describes some Firmyn wills of Suffolk[1] which is the apparent source of the commonly found but unsupported assertion that the parents of Giles Firmyn of Stoke by Nayland (himself the apparent father of John the immigrant) were John & Agnes of Hartest, Suffolk. However Allen in his book makes no such claim and this couple were apparently married about 1520, a full 30 years before the estimated birth date of Giles. Further, the 1549 will of John lists no son named Giles (it named wife Agnes, sons Thomas, Edmund, Robert & Mylherei and daughters Barbara, Joan & Anna).
An intially hopeful origin for Giles of Nayland comes from the 2 November 1614 (Allen had this as 1616 but the will clearly says 1614) will of Richard "Fyrmyn" of Sudbury cited in Allen's book. That will names wife Margaret, un-named sons of his brother William (deceased), four un-named sons & daughters of his brother Thomas (deceased), un-named daughter of his brother Nicholas, un-named daughter of brother John; to Josias (not Joseph, Allen had this wrong) Firmyn, tanner of Nayland; to John Firmyn, clerk and son of John Firmyn of Foxearth (a village a few miles NW of Sudbury; Allen gave this as "Forerth" but Foxearth seems much more likely); to Gyles and Thomas sons of Thomas Firman (deceased and apparently not specified if this is the same deceased brother referenced earlier); to his brother Roger, to kinsman John Firmyn of Hadley, England, shoemaker; to brother Nicholas (previously mentioned), to kinsmen Christopher & Josias Furmyn (relationship not specified). And in fact, the 1616 will of Giles of Cavendish transcribed here lists a brother Thomas, a deceased uncle Richard and an un-named aunt who was still living in May 1616 but who had apparently willed land and money to Giles upon her death. Unfortunately the will of Giles of Cavendish listed a different set of children (Henry, Nathaniel, Thomas, Giles & Ann) than Giles of Nayland (born c. 1552, children Franny, Josias, Giles and others).
So, was Giles of Cavendish who wrote his will in 1616 the son of Giles of Nayland? Almost certainly not since Giles of Cavendish specifically listed a brother Thomas and Giles of Nayland did not have a son Thomas based on baptismal records and on Giles' will. Both Giles had a son Henry and daughter Anne but those names are so common as to be meaningless.
What about the reverse? Was Giles of Cavendish possibly the father of Giles of Nayland? Extremely unlikely. While Giles of Cavendish listed a son Giles in his will, he also specified that his sons Nathaniel & Thomas were to pay their brother Giles (son of the testator) a sum of 25 pounds. By this time Giles of Nayland would have been about 64 years old, so his father would have bequeathed to him directly and more likely to the testator's grand-children.
Roger Warrick of Balindgon Sudbury 1616
Roger Warrick of Balingdon 1616 (spelling generally modernized). The date of the will on the second page "might" be 10 November but it is hard to read. The probate on the third page seems to be "Xember", an older spelling or abbreviation of "December" since it was the 10th month of the year at the time. His burial was 20 Jan 1617 although the double year is not certain so it would seem strange for the probate to be 11 months after his burial but it was certainly not 5 weeks before his burial.
In the name of God...etc...in the reign of our sovereign lord King James...etc...I Roger Warrick of the hamlet of Balingdon next Sudbury in the county of Suffolk, saymaker being sick in body but whole in mind and of perfect rememberance...etc...my soul to allmighty God my redeemer...etc...
Item I give and bequeath unto Susann Bushe my loving wife (NB: extremely unusual to include a wife's maiden name in a will of this era) all my lands lying in (here he names two locations in Cambridgeshire, one loooks like Peyton T-something or D-something, does not look like "Peyton Close"...possibly in the Peyton Baronetcy in Cambridgeshire? and Saint Giles, likely the parish of that name in Cambridge) in the said county or in what ...something, maybe "in what plashe (place) soever" i.e. "no matter where my property is?" ... until my children shall attain to the age of one and twenty years.
Item it is my will and mind that Anne Warrick and Jane (looks like Joan but her 1615 baptismal record said Jane) my daughters shall have and enjoy my lands aforenamed lying in "Peyton Trobe" and in the Saint Giles to them and their heirs forever to be (something) equally between them at their age of one and twenty years. But when they each shall attain to that age I will that she shall give them presently (i.e. soon) the one half of the rent of the said lands. (NB: not exactly clear who is giving half the rent of the lands to whom, perhaps wife Susan was to have all the rents up to that point?).
Item if any of my children shall die before they do attain to the age of one and twenty years then I will and my mind be that (something) that lives and survives her sister shall give unto her sister (something) all the said lands aforenamed to her and her heirs forever. (NB: given this language it seems clear that Roger had only the two daughters and no other children).
Item I give & bequeath one hundred pounds which shall be due to me presently after the death of my father unto my two children Ann and Jane (here it look like Jane) which hundred pounds my brother Richard shall be bound to pay as by his bond appears. And if any of them die before they remit (possibly "receive"?) it the other to be her heir. If both my children (end of page 1) shall chance to die before they "remit" (or receive) it then I will and my mind is that Susanne my wife shall have and enjoy the said hundred pounds.
Item I give & bequeath unto Susanne my wife twenty pounds which to be paid unto me after the death of my father which twenty pounds is to be paid unto me or my assignees by my tenant Richard Galot (sp).
Item my house wherein I dwell in Balingdon with the appoinments (or appurtanances) I give and bequeath unto Susanne my wife and her heirs forever. Item to recieve of all my goods & chattels whatsoever moveable and immovable I give and bequeath unto Susanne my wife in (something) that she shall see my debts paid, my (something), my children brought up and my body (something) brought to the ground (i.e. Susanne is to pay his debts, raise his children, see him buried etc).
I give to the poor of the "pshe" (parish) of All Saints twenty pounds thirteen shillings and also in Balingdon and six shillings eight pence on the other side of the bridge(?).
Item I give to Mary Hayward my maid ten shillings, Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Broadhurst my apprentice twenty shillings, Item I appoint and make Susanne my wife and Nicholas Bushe my father in law executors of my last will and testament.
If provided always that if my wife to marry again that who so (i.e. whomever) that she shall be married unto shall enter into...difficult phrase...to let my children enjoy the rent of the lands bequeathed unto them ...something to maintain them withall. (NB: the gist is to ensure that the rents of the lands bequeathed in the will should go to Roger's daughters).
Research Notes
See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Warrick-260
Susanna Bush married Roger Warwick or Warrick on 27 July 1609 at All Saints Sudbury, Suffolk, England.[2]
Children with Roger Warrick:
- Anne bp. 5 January 1611 (double year not stated)[3]
- Alice bp. 26 April 1614[4] bur. 8 October 1614
- Jane bp. 26 December 1615[5]
After Roger died in January of either 1616/17 or 1617/18 (the burial record of 20 Jan 1617 does not state the double year and the image is not available)[6] Susan married John Firmin/Fyrmin/Firmyn on 30 June 1618 at Nayland, Suffolk
John Firmin of Ipswich 1693
This was certainly the John Furman buried 27 October 1693 at Ipswich St. Peter, Suffolk. (John Furman in 1693 National Burial Index For England & Wales Ipswich, Suffolk, England https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FNBI%2F13686193)
John Firmin (1693) left most of his estate to wife Sarah and daughter Martha (executor). Martha is listed as Martha Firmin (ffurman) so does not appear to have been married. He did not mention any land or property in Nayland or Stoke by Nayland so it is hard to link him to people or previous wills there. He owned and bequeathed the Golden Lion, probably a public house and shares in the ship "Nightingale" of Ipswich. He gave to his executor all lands, buildings etc. in or adjoining to Suffolk occupied by Nathaniel Browne that John lately bought of Mr. John "Moyse". He bequeathed the mortgage that he held on the Golden Lyon in St. Matthew parish in Ipswich along with the yearly "rents and profits" of it to Sarah. Sarah may not have been his first wife, he appears to bequeath lands to "my loving wife Sarah for and in lieu of her dowry" although this could be in relation to something like land that had been left to her by her own father (see below). He also bequeathed to son Richard and to daughter Rachel, wife of Samuel Green of Ipswich, a "Block maker"(?) and to daughter Sarah Fairfax.
He bequeathed to son in law John Greene of Ipswich, co-executor along with daughter Martha which raises the possibility that Sarah may have been the widow Greene when he married her and John is actually a step-son. Which might also mean that Samuel Greene, husband of Rachel was another step-son. This would all need corroboration.
Research Notes
Daughter Rachel was likely the one baptized 10 May 1663 at Ipswich daughter of John & Margaret (Margrett) Firman (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_946152371), reinforcing the idea from the will that Sarah was not John's first wife and was very possibly Sarah Greene. Rachel then married Samuel Greene in 1684 in Suffolk (record appears as "Archd M L" at findmypast in Boyd's marriage index so from the Archdeaconry records, location Melford Long?). Note that a Margaret Firmin married James Roe in 1685 at Melford Long (Long Melford) about 40 miles west of Ipswich and about 20 miles from Nayland so this may have been a different (possibly related) Firmin family since Margaret was referred to as Firmin, not Roe in John's will.
A Richard Firman son of John & Mary was baptized 14 April 1665 at Ipswich (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_946151087) so was John married to 3 women? Or was Mary or Margaret the same person? Or was this a different family? A Richard Furman took the freeman's oath at Ipswich in 1690 with father John listed, very likely the same man. https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FO%2F40001760%2F1
Henry Firmin of Ipswich 1637
Henry Firmin of St. Matthews in Ipswich, Suffolk written 16 November(?) 1637, probated 30 (? tricesimo) March 1638 wife Prudence executor. Standard beginnning (sick in body, soul to God my redeemer etc). Bequeaths to "Henry my son" a house and all appurtenances...hard to read text referencing a Henry "Muse" "in who's house and something dwelleth...more conditions "after the death of my wife". I give unto Henry my son the "summe" of twelve (maybe) pounds to be payed him at his age of 24 years if something shall be then living. I give unto Prudence my daughter the summe of one hundred pounds to be payed her when she shall (something, maybe attain?) her age of one and twenty years. I give to Elizabeth my daughter the like summe of one hundred pounds to be payed her when she shall (same word maybe attain) her age of twenty one years.
I give & bequeath unto my sonne John the sum of four score pounds to be payed him at his age of 24 years. I give to Thomas my sonne (with a capital S) the sum of 80 pounds to be payed at his age of 24 years. I give & bequeth unto Mary my daughter "the sum of the like sum of the sum of" (this phrase repeats from page 1 to page 2) four score pounds (these are all 80 pounds but Thomas' gift is written as a number, the others in words) to be payed her age her age of 21 years. I give unto Margaret my daughter the like sum of four score pounds to payed at her age of 21 years. All my goods & chattells and other household and "something" I give & bequeath to Prudence my loving wife whom I do "something" (name, appoint?) my sole executor...etc pay all my debts etc.
Research Notes
Henry was buried 19 November 1647 at Ipswich St. Matthew, Suffolk (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FNBI%2F13671898) Henry married Prudence Groom in 1618 at Stratford St. Mary, Suffolk (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FM%2F753711149%2F2) per Boyd's Daughter Prudence was baptized 24 July 1621 at Ipswich as daughter of Henry "Firmin or Firminge" (transcription) and Prudence (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_962840444) Son Henry baptized 29 March 1619 at St. Matthew, Ipswich as son of Henry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/63462274:9841) Daughter Mary baptized 20 June 1623 at Ipswich as daughter of Henry and Prudence (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_962840902) Son Thomas baptized 13 June 1632 at Ipswich as son of Henry and Prudence (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_962839093)
Robert Firmin of Ballingdon 1624
Will of Robert Firmin of Ballingdon, Suffolk and the diocese of Norwich written 29 August 1624 with modernized spelling. Probated September 1624, possibly the 13th (Tridesimus?) Opens with standard text (King James, wasted in body but yet of a good memory, soul to Almighty God etc). Body to be buried in the churchyard of All Saints, Sudbury.
Item I do give, devise & bequeath unto Margaret my loving and well beloved wife all my lands lying in Pebmarsh called the Mote (or by what names so ever) to have and enjoy the same for her and her assignees for and during the term of her natural life for and forwise (sic) the bringing up of my children. And after her death I do give & bequeath the said lands to my eldest son John Ffirmin and to heirs of his body lawfully begotten and in default of such issue, to my three daughters, Mary, Anna and Martha, and to their heirs forever. (NB: later another daughter appears...)
Also I do give & bequeath unto the here (sic) said Margaret my wife my great house in Balingdon, being the messuate or tenement wherein I now dwell., with the appurtanences viz the rooms which I my self do inhabit and those also which are now leased unto Edmond Wold (NB: does not look like "Wood")...follows additional terms about the tenements...
After the death of a widow "Brony" or something similar, Robert bequeaths property that she currently occupies to his "loving friend Josiah Ffirmin of Nayland, tanner" along with Jeffrey Ruggles and Daniel "Purminder" (sp) of Sudbury, clothiers. (NB: This is very likely to be the Josiah Firmin (c. 1580-1638) of Nayland, brother of John Firmin the immigrant. Josiah's own will listed himself as a tanner. How these Firmins were related is uncertain but it is interesting that he was not called "kinsman" but "loving friend").
Robert bequeaths to his "second son Richard Ffirmin" with some text about the purpose of the money being to pay for the yearly maintenance of Richard, it may be that son John is to care for Richard. Robert states that after the death of son Richard, the messuages etc are to go to John so it sounds as if Richard was not expected to live very long or to have heirs, very likely he was disabled in some way. Twenty pounds each was given to John's "four sisters, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna and Martha" to be paid within 4 years of the death of son Richard. (NB: why was Elizabeth not listed above? Was she a step-daughter of Robert's?) A few lines later he bequeaths to "my four daughters aforesaid" and includes Elizabeth, this bequest of lands & messuages if John does not outlive his brother Richard so again it seems that Richard is not capable of maintaining himself.
Robert bequeaths a house in Ballingdon that goodman John Waterbury now dwells in to wife Margaret and after her death to daughter Mary and her heirs lawfully begotten and for default of issue to sisters Anna and Martha. Another house in Ballingdon where Goodman Gardiner now dwells to wife Margaret and after her death to daughter Anna & heirs, for default of issue to sisters Mary and Martha; repeat the same for yet another house where Goodman Bull now dwells to Margaret, then to Martha & sisters Mary & Anna as above. To beloved daughter Elizabeth four score (abbreviated as four sc. i.e. 80) pounds (in a later sentence the "four score" is more clear) to be paid within five years after my decease.
To my grand-child Edward "Puffield" (this is hard to read) the younger the sum of ten pounds to be paid at the age of 24 years.
Further bequests to friends including witness John Wilson, to the poor of the parish of All Hallows in Sudbury 30 pounds, to the poor of Ballingdon and to the poor of "the other side of the bridge".
Wife Margaret to be executrix
Giles Firmin of Cavendish, clothier 1616
Giles Firmin of Cavendish 1616 (modernized spelling, wrote his surname as firmin or ffirmin) probated 18 March 1616/17. Written 9 May 1616 by Giles Firmin of Cavendish, Suffolk, clothier being sick in body yet in good (something, strong?) rememberance do make and ordain this my last will & testatment in name & form following. First of all I give & bequeath my soul into the hands of Jesus Christ my only Savior...etc...my body to be buried in the churchyard of Cavendish.
Item I give & bequeath unto "Winnifred" (NB: looks like "Winnithred" but the "W" is a bit different than "wife" maybe just because upper case) my wife all my (something) in my house (some phrase...) that is not (something) for term of her life. (NB: does not look like "appurtanences" or "all goods movable & immovable", chattell or the usual phrases here). & after her death I give & bequeath the aforesaid house (something) unto Ann Firmin my daughter.
Item I give unto Henry Firmin my son all the money that is in his hand (NB: probably meaning he had already gifted Henry some amount) and one (something, bedside?) that is in my house together with my (two more short phrases).
Item I give unto Nathaniel Firmin & unto Thomas Firmin my sons all my rights & interest that belonged to me to be equally divided between them of the acres of meadows & pastures which was given to (obscured, "me"?) also & to my brother Thomas Firmin to be divided betwixt us after the death of my "Annte" (sic) by the gift of Richard Firmin of Sudbury by the will & last testament of the aforesaid Richard Firmin plainly may appear. (NB: Sudbury adjacent to Cavendish, was this possibly the Richard of Sudbury who wrote his will 2 Nov 1614? Very likely, that will bequeathed to brothers Giles & Thomas who were sons of a Thomas Firman; this latter the deceased brother of testator Richard. See "Descendants of John Fairman" by Orrin Allen).
Item I will that Nathaniel & Thomas my sons shall pay unto Winnifred my wife thirty shillings a year(something after?) my Annte (sic) Firmin late wife of Richard Firmin aforesaid be dead, during the life of Winnifred my wife if she be then living.
Item I will also that within one year of the death of my aforesaid Annte Firmin my aforesaid sons Nathaniel & Thomas shall pay unto Giles Firmin my son 20 (maybe, it is xx with a trailing character so 25?) "something" (doesn't really look like pounds definitely not shillings) out of the aforenamed something something (from the same legacy he expected to receive after his aunt's death?)
Item I make & ordain Henry Firmin my son my sole executor "having" (maybe giving) that he will, this my last will & testament I formed. Witnesses Reade "Vale"?, John Griggs, William Wilson
Research Notes
No direct connection to Giles Firmin of Nayland found unless that was the son of the testator of this will. However, Giles of Nayland was born estimated about 1550 so seems more likely to have been about the same age as Giles of Cavendish, testator.
Was Thomas (son of the testator) the Thomas Firmyn baptized 28 Jan 1598/99 at Cavendish with no parent's names listed?[2] And was he the man of this name who married Alice Morton at neighboring Glemsford on 16 Jan 1620?[3] Possibly but no similar records for siblings Henry, Nathaniel and Ann or for mother Winnifred have been found.
Richard Firmin of Sudbury 1614
Richard Firmin of Sudbury will written 2 November 1614 (modernized spelling). This will is four pages long and much of it difficult to read so only highlights mentioning specific people with relationships or notable property will be transcribed. Orrin Allen's "Descendants of John Fairman of Enfield, Conn" mentions the key people in this will.
In the name of God Amen...I Richard Ffirmyn of Sudbury in the county of Suffolk being sick in body yet thanks be to god of good & stout memory...etc...do make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following...the usual text re my soul to Almighty God...to the aded, impotent & poor people of the town of Sudbury...he bequeaths land that he bougght of Thomas Ellen or Eden...references the parish of St. Peter of Sudbury and All Saints of Sudbury, quite a lot of text about the land or property he is bequeathing to assist the (again) aged, impotent & poor people of the parishes of St. Peter and All Saints and also St. Gergory.
Item I give & bequeath unto Margaret my wife during her natural life (something) that my meadow ground called "holgate" (?) meadow...more text about said meadow again referencing St. Gregory parish. And after the death of said Margaret my wife I give & devise her said meadow ground (more difficult text) unto my kinsman John "Cook" (?) of Woodhall (NB: village on NE side of Sudbury, now Woodhall road?) in Sudbury aforesaid & to his heirs forever. And in (something) herof I do give & bequeath unto Margaret my wife ten pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto her "if the"(?) said John Cook (something) a year next after my decease. (NB: based on Henry Cook below it seems that one of Richard's sisters may have married a Cook)
Item I give & bequeath unto the three (NB: maybe 3, not 4, Allen did not transcribe this word) sons of my brother William Firmyn deceased five pounds a piece...and to the four sons & daughters of Thomas Ffirmyn my brother deceased five pounds a piece...and to the three (same word as above) daughters of Nicholas Ffirmyn my brother seven pounds & five shillings apiece...and to the two daughters of John Ffirmyn my brother deceased five pounds a piece...and to the four children of Johanne Ch(something) (NB: Johanne = Joan, surname definitely starts with Ch, does not seem like Christopher) deceased five pounds apiece.
And unto Henry Cook my sisters (maybe, hard to read) son ten pounds and unto Josias Ffirmyn of Nayland, tanner five pounds and unto John Ffirmyn "clarke" (clerk), son of John Ffirmyn of Foxearth, clerk (village NW of Sudbury, Allen had this as "Forearth" but seems to have misread it, the "x" is clear) my kinsman twenty marks of lawful money of England (plus another bequest) to be paid unto him if/when? the said John Cook (something) one year next after my decease.
A watermark obsucres some text, there are a few sentences about "my said brothers & sisters children shall depart their life before" etc so this seems to be secondary beneficiary text. The son of John Ffirmyn my kinsman, clerk is specifically mentioned.
Item I do give & bequeath unto Gyles Ffirmyn & unto Thomas Ffirmyn the sons of the said Thomas Ffirmyn deceased & to the heirs of the said GGiles & Thomas after the death of Margaret my wife all that my Close of pasture next (something) to (something) Bridge (NB: some property description) my will & meaning is that the said Giles & Thomas & heirs of each of them shall after the decease of Margaret my wife receive & assign the said Close of pasture that my kinsman John Ffirmyn (something, owned?) of the pasutre called "Tallard"(Tallays ?) the land hereunto belonging to...(NB: text about payments for the land after Margaret's death, if kinsman John wants to buy the land etc, nothing genealogical to about halfway down the page)
Unto Margaret my wife five acres of arable land...I bought of Richard Eden deceased lying in Great Waldingfield in the aforesaid county of Suffolk...description of property... and after her decease I give & bequeath "the son unto Roger Cooke of "Brente(something)" my kinsman during his natural life the remainder thereof after his decease unto Roger Cooke my godson the son of the said Roger & to his heirs forever. More property bequeathed to Margaret which goes to "Henry Cook my sister's son".
Unto "Be(something, this is a name and hard to read, maybe the wife of brother Roger?) Ffirmyn and "of the"(?) sons of my brother Roger Ffirmyn their (something, maybe administrator meaning they were under-age?) euqally to be divided between them and then after (something) hereof to be...(NB: hard to read but possibly reverts back to) my kinsman John Ffirmyn of Hadley in the county aforesaid (NB: Suffolk) shoemaker his something administrator (same word as prior sentence re: sons of Roger Ffirmyn).
I give & bequeath after the death of Margaret my wife unto my kinsman Richard Cooke of Great Henny in the county of Essex land near Assington...more land to Margaret at St Peter's parish in Sudbury that he bought of Robert "Burant"(?), land reverts to Henry Cook upon Margaret's death...another water blotch, more land to Roger Cook (here ends page 2)
Page 3 opens with more land to Roger Cook, money to said brother Nicholas Firmin, twenty pounds to kinsman Christopher Ffirmyn of Foxearth (again the word administrator so Christopher maybe under 21)...more money to John Ffirmyn of Hadley, more land to Roger Cook, more money to kinsman Josias Cook, still more land to Roger Cook, more money to Christopher (written as xxofir) Ffirmyn, more money to John Ffirmyn clerk. Five pounds to William Ffirmyn the brother of the said John & his heirs and assigns (NB: the name is hard to read, the leading W is squashed a bit since it is written at the edge of the page)
Five pounds unto Josiah Maynard my servant (NB: Richard's widow Margaret's will listed Maynards as kinsmen) and twenty shillings to John Maynard his brother...land to John Cook, rents to be payable to John Ffirmyn of Haldey...more land to John Ffirmyn (here ends page 3)
More money to xxofer Ffirmyn, more to his brother William Ffirmyn of Cambridge...forty shillings to the church wardens of the parish of St. Peters, money to the parish of St. Gregory and All Saints in Sudbury...to the poor people here...forty shillings to the church wardens of Great Waldingfield & to the poor people there, money to poor people somewhere hard to read...
Twenty shillings to Thomasine (commonly Thomasyn also) Ffirmyn my foresaid (something, maybe "cousin" if the c is malformed) one month next after my decease (NB: a female name, first appearance in the will)...more messuage or tenement to John Firmin of Hadley situated in St. Peter's parish of Sudbury with reference to testator's brother Nicholas...money to what looks like St. James parish and St. Peter's parish. More money to Henry Cook, money to servants Robert Ruffles, Margery "Carter"(?) and Elizabeth Clarke. Money for a sermon at his burial and at his funeral, house & goods at Sudbury & Waldingfield to wife Margaret...writing gets cramped here and hard to read but looks like remainder bequests to Margaret, one more conditional bequest to kinsman John Cook. Here ends the initial will.
Page 5 is a codicil added 15 November 1614. ...I the beforesaid Richard Ffirmyn have for the (something) of (something) fifty years last have dwelt & inhabited in the town of Sudbury aforesaid and...the gist seems to be that John Cook shall within one year of the decease of testator's wife Margaret pay & give to the "Mare" (mayor?) of the town of Sudbury (some amount hard to read) pounds of lawful money of England for the "bettering & enlarging" of something...basically it seems like a gift to the town for some improvement
Research Notes
The Henry Cook, nephew of the testator "could" be the one baptized 1604 at Cavendish to Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook married Mary "Deerman" at Cavendish, it is possible this is a mis-transcription of "Ffirman" but only the transcript is available on the internet, not an original image so this is purely speculation.
Orrin Peer Allen in his "Fairman" book when reading this will several times read "Joseph" when the name was actually "Josias" the tanner of Nayland. The name "Joseph" does not actually seem to appear in the will.
Margaret Firmin widow of Sudbury 1616
Margaret Firmin widow of Sudbury written 10 July 1616, probate looks like December 1616, maybe the 21st (vicesimo primo) I Margaret Firmin, of the parish of St. Peter of Sudbury, widow, being of good and stout health...etc...my soul to God my maker etc...body to be buried at the direction of my executor...to the poor people of the parish of St. Peter before (something...a clue to her origin? different parish) etc...to the poor people of the parish of St. Gregory's and All Saints in Sudbury...
Item I give and bequeath to Roberty FFryott the elder my servant & kinsman all that mine house or tenement wherein I now dwell commonly called by the name of the (two words I can't make out, second is like "foyothe") and all the (something, not messuages), barns, stables, edifices & buildlings thereunto belonging with the yards and (something, maybe outer yard?) thereunto (something) and also all the (several somethings ending with "& glass"(?)) belonging to the same house and tenement as it now stands with all & singular their appurtenances....another sentence about Robert Fryott, servant...he also gets the best bed, furniture and Robert Fryott the younger (probably his son) gets twenty pounds when he reaches twenty one...To William, Richard and Annis and Parnell Fryott "the brothers and sisters of the forenamed Robert Fryott" (NB: did not specify the elder or younger but probably the younger) six pounds to "each and so many of them" that are already 21 within one year after my death and to "each and so many of them as is under, at their several ages of one and tweny years" provided always & my will & meaning is etc... (text specifiying what happens if some die)
Item I devise & bequeath unto "Cicely" Lowe my kinsman and to Gyles Lowe her husband, that my house or tenement (phrase scratched out) with yards thereunto (something, not "and appurtanances") scituated & being in the foresaid parish of St. Peter where one "Isacke Tomlynson"...etc text about this bequest including the children of Giles & Cicely viz Thomas, John & Margaret Lowe...bed & bedding to Cicely...six pounds to the three children with the same terms as to the Fryott children (NB: Cicely Lowe was Sisely Maynerde/Maynard (see Research Notes below).
Item I give, devise & bequeath unto Henry Maynard of Lamarsh St. Marys my kinsman...house,lands etc of my house withall & singular... in the parish of St. Peteres in Sudbury wherein Robert Ruffle now dwells (NB: the Ruffles name appears in Firmin wills of the area as witness etc) except one barn to the same belonging (i.e. Robert owned one of the barns)...then some qualifying text hard to translate including the phrase "I, Margaret Firmin" and ending with "into (or unto?) & from the same and other yards as I the said Margaret (something) finally & (something) from time to time had". To have & to hold the said lands or tenements, houses & buildings and yards aforesaid with all & singular their appointments & (something) before (something) unto the sd. Henry Maynard and his heirs forever.
Item I give & bequeath unto Joseph Maynard of Melford (NB: Melford Long?) the son of the same Henry Maynard...barns etc again referring to Robert Ruffles' tenement...six pounds to the children of Henry Maynard (not named)
To the children of Margaret Barell late of "Walter Belchampe"(NB: Belchamp Walther, a village about 5 miles west of Sudbury where a John Barrell had children from at least 1602 onwards) in the county of Essex six pounds each (plus the usual conditions of above/below 21 years). NB: at the end of the will she also bequeaths her best gown to "Margaret Barrell my god daughter".
To the (something, maybe five?) children of my kinsman Edmund Maynard late of Lamarsh St. Marys six pounds each (plus usual conditions of age)
To ("Clement" maybe, hard to read) Gotsmyth my kinsman six pounds (plus conditions if he dies, the money goes to Robert Fryott the younger).
To maid (something) Agnes Ffishesr and (some phrase) other of them twenty shillings of lawful English money...to be paid within three months after my death...ten shillings for a sermon at my funeral...I will that six pounds six shillings and eight pence be expended upon a diamond (dymon) for my (something and something, friends and something?) at my funeral...to Cicely Lowe my kinsman aforesaid my warming apparel (? something) woolen to be delivered unto her by my executors.
All the rest of my goods, chattells...etc...I give unto my executors whom I do nominate and appoint Robert Fryott the elder my (something, not cousin or kinsman) aforesaid and Gyles Maynard aforesaid
Research Notes
The Lowe couple would seem to be Giles Lowe and Sisely Maynerde (as transcribed) who married on 26 Nov 1592 at Lamarsh, Essex (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=R_860118918) about 5 miles south of Sudbury. The couple had a daughter Margaret born 17 Feb 1593, buried 17 Dec 1597 at Lamarsh so presumably the Margaret beneficiary of the 1616 will was another daughter. Thomas was baptized there 19 Nov 1598 and other children of this couple (look for father "Gyles" on findmypast.co.uk) also appear at this time at Lamarsh.
The Fryotts were likely the family of Twinstead; Parnell was born in 1599 to William, interestingly a Robert Fryott was born 15 Feb 1584 son of William and then Robert Fryott Junior was born 15 Feb 1589 son of William Fryott Junior. Possibly this was a transcription mistake or possibly he had two sons Robert and Robert Junior (or Robert the younger) and therefore likely two wives over this period.
Since the testator called the Maynards, Lowes & Fryotts "kinsman" but none of them sister, brother or cousin it cannot be asserted yet that one of these was her original surname.
Sources
- ↑ Descendants of John Fairman, of Enfield, Conn., 1683-1898 by Allen, Orrin Peer, 1833- Publication date 1898 Publisher Palmer, Mass. : C.B. Fiske and Company, printers p. 5
- ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NR87-282 : 19 March 2020), Thomas Firmyn, 1599.
- ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NLMF-X2X : 13 March 2020), Thomas Firmin, 1620.
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