(1553, Nov. 2).—This is the Final Concord made in the court of the lady Queen at Westminster on the morrow of All Souls in the first year of the reigns of Mary by the grace of God Queen of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and on earth of the Church of England and Ireland supreme head Before Richard Morgan Humfrey Broun & Edward Saunders justices and other lieges of the lady Queen then present there Between Nicholas Fletcher alias Cooke plaintiff and Thomas Coltt gent, and Magdalena his wife defendants Concerning two messuages 300 acres of land 30 acres of meadow 30 acres of pasture & 2 acres of wood with appurtenances in Ikwell Over Caldecote Nether Caldecote Beston & Northyell whereof plea of covenant was summoned between them in the same court Namely that the aforesaid Thomas & Magdalen recognised the aforesaid tenement with the appurtenances to be the right of him the said Nicholas as those which she and the same Nicholas hold of the gift of the same Thomas & Magdalen And they remitted and quitclaimed them from themselves Thomas & Magdalen & their heirs to the aforesaid Nicholas & his heirs for ever And further the said Thomas & Magdalen granted for themselves and the heirs of Thomas himself that they will warrant the said tenements to the aforesaid Nicholas and his heirs aforesaid against all men for ever And for this recognition remission quitclaim warranty fine & concord the said Nicholas gave to the said Thomas & Magdalen 40 marks.

(1566, Oct. 6).—This is the Final Concord made in the court of the lady Queen at Westminster in the octave of St. Michael in the year of the reign of Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &c. from the conquest the eighth Before James Dyer Antony Brown Richard Weston & John Walshe Justices and other lieges of the lady Queen then present there Between William Bridges gent.

[PREFATORY NOTE.—This collection of deeds, which is in the possession of Mr. Page-Turner, should be of great interest to the historian of Elstow. It is somewhat unusual in the number preserved for a single property, and in the period of more than a century which it covers.

To those unacquainted with the conveyances of the period, one or two points perhaps require a word of explanation. One of these is the method of defining the arable land which was to be conveyed by the deed. Since such land was held, as a rule, in strips of a rood, a half acre, or an acre, scattered over the Open Fields, and not in closes or hedged fields, each strip is defined by the ownership of the strips north and south (or east and west) of it, and by the name of the field, road, or other recognisable land on which it ‘ abutted ’ at one end of the furrows. Another point is the often recurring phrase, ‘to be holden of the chief lord of the fee by the services due and of right accustomed,’ or similar words. This is a reminiscence of a much older social system. In early times the lord of a manor held his land from such a tenant-in-chief of the Crown as Beauchamp of Bedford, on condition that he rendered ‘Knight Service.’ (See B.H.R.S. articles on this subject). But after that actual service in the field had been commuted for a money payment or scutage, when the lord of the manor parted with some of his land, the land was sold burdened with its proportional share of this payment or other service, due to the chief lord, and termed forinsic service; to such service the phrase refers.

Another interesting echo of earlier times, a relic of villanage, is seen in No. xvii; by this deed a work-rent is still exacted,—a day’s labour in harvest time to be done by an able-bodied man, finding his own food.

The Bunyans mentioned in Nos. xliii, xliv, l, li, liii, are Thomas Bunyan, described as ‘brazier,’ and as ‘ petty chapman,’ and Anne his second wife, widow of John Bidkin of Elstow, the grandfather and step-grandmother of the famous John Bunyan.

i. SIR ROGER DE BEAUCHAMP, 1379.

[Transcript]

Copia testamenti d’ni Rog’i de Beaucham Militis defuncti. En Nou’ de dieux et de sa douce Miere Moy Rog’ de Beauchamp Chyualer en bone et seyne memorye ay ordeignee et diuiseez ma testament et ma dirreigner volonte en manere qensewt. Prim’ment ieo deuyse malme a dieux mon Creatu et Sauyou et a nia dame sa douce Miere et az toutz lez seintz de P’adys et mon Corps destre seuelyz a lez Frerez Prechouz de Londres en coste Sybille ma fe’me q’ dieux assodi’, voillant auoir Placebo et Dirige p’ note et lendemeyn deux Messez, lun de n’re dame et lautr’ de requiem, et viegne au dite seruice ceux q’ lour plest, eiant ij Cerges de Cire, un a ma teste et lautr’ a mez Pieez santz pluz de lumer’ entou mon Corps mez q’ les ditz Serges soient de Couenable poys, et voille q’ xxiiij. poueres p’sonez soient vestuz en Noir et tiegnent chescun en sa meyn un torche de Couenable poys p’ tout la s’uice durant auantdit, donant p’ mes Executouz as ditz pouers resonable reward pou lour trauaille et Mang’ et boyr’ p” les ij iounez q’ ils s’ront ocupiez entou mon Corps suisdit’, et voille q’ lez ij. serges au’ntditz soient donez ap’s le s’uyse deuyn Fyneez al Sextayn dez ditz Freres pu ente fair’ petitz Chandell’ a s’uyr a lez Messez q’

i. SIR ROGER DE BEAUCHAMP, 1379.

[Translation]

Copy of the Will of Sire Roger de Beauchamp, knight, deceased.—In the name of God and of his sweet Mother I, Roger de Beauchamp, knight, in good and sound memory, have ordained and devised my testament and my last will in manner following.

I.—BEDFORD, ST. PETER DE MERTON:

1422.

[Rental, translated from the Latin.]

Imprimis,—a memorandum of sundry items belonging of ancient right to the church of St. Peter de Merton of Bedford, in the first year of the reign of Henry, the sixth after the Conquest.

Of the parson of the church of St. Peter for a certain portion of the cemetery, … … … vjd.

Of John Tanner, for his cottage lying between the tenement formerly of Clare Tavenour on the west, and adjoining the tenement of the same John on the east, … … … … … … xd

Of the same John, for his cottage in the said parish adjoining the tenement of John Sexteyn and John Tanner, which he took by indenture, … … xxid

Of Richard Barker, for a messuage between the tenement of the church of St. Peter on the west and the tenement of the Prioress of Harrold on the east, iiijd

Of William Welburne, for one garden lying in the same parish next the chantry on the west and the Kings highway, … … … … …viijd

Of the same William, for a croft between the garden aforesaid and Sparwecroft, … … viijd

Of John Barker, for one garden formerly belonging to Thomas Brodfoot, between the land of the Prior of Newenham and the Kings highway, …vijd

Of John Bedford, canon, for one garden next Cokyngtones fee and the Kings Highway, … … vijd

Of Henry Bedford, [almoner ?] of Newenham, for one shop lying in the “ bocherye “ and it abuts upon Duck lane, … … … … … xd

Of John Norman, for a tenement lying between the tenement of William Godisman on the one side, and the tenement of the said John on the other side, xijd

Of the same John, for a tenement lying between the tenement of William Atte Wode, junior, on the one side, and the tenement of the same John; and he took it by indenture, … … … ijs

Of John Thresher, for a cottage between the tenement of the Master of St. Leonard’s, on the one side, and of John Hopkyn on the other side,… ijs vjd

A.—MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN OTHER COUNTIES.

FAWLEY, CO. BERKS.

“Here resteth the Body of Mary Beverley, wife of William Beverley, of Chaneho, in the County of Bedford, Esquire, after whose decease she lived in her Widdowhood 57 yeares, and dyed the 14th of April 1658 aged 80 Yeares in pious memory of whom Dame Elizabeth Moore, of South Fally, in Berks, Widdow, and Daughter of the said Mary hath placed this.”

WHITE WALTHAM, CO. BERKS.

” Orate pro anima Johanne Decons, nuper Vxoris Ricardi Decons, Armigeri, et filie et heredis Thome Beauchamp, Armigeri; que obiit 30 Die Augusti, Ano D’ni M. quingentesimo sexto.” (Brass).

OLD WINDSOR, CO. BERKS.

“Here lyeth the Body of Mrs. Elizabeth Orlebar, the daughter of John Orlebar Esqr, and Elizabeth his wife, Daughter of John Whitfield Esqr of Maidenhead in this County, she died the 28th September 1703, In the Eightieth year of her Age.”

NEW WINDSOR, CO. BERKS.

“ Near ys place lies interr’d Mary, wife of John Dugdale, eldest Son of / Will’m Dugdale, of Bligh Hall, Warwickshire, Esq. she was daughter to / Alex’r Baker of N. Windsor, Gent, died in Child Bed Jan. 9th 1670. I Also Elizabeth her Mother daughter of Thos. Farrer of Harolt Esq. I in ye County of Bedford, & Eliz’th a Child of 3 years old and I John who died in his Infancy.”

BETCHWORTH, CO. SURREY.

On ye North Wall of Ye Chancell of Betchworth Church, on a Bl : marble Monumt wth wh : Marble borders : “Corpora hie subjacent intumulata/Steph : Harvey, Arm :/ (e Familia Harveiorum perantiqua / De Thurleigh in Agro Bedfordiens: oriundi) / Et Dorotheae Uxoris Ejus / (Filiae Gul: Conyers de Waltham Stow in Provincia I Essexiae Servientis ad Legem & Doroth: Ux: Ejus) / Quorum felicem sperant Resurrectionem / Charissime eorum Liberi I Stephanus, Doroth : & Eliz : / Lugentes / Heu nimium cito amissos / Parentum optimos / Ille obijt 6 Dec. 1688 aet. 66 I Haec obijt 27 Dec. 1694 aet. 63 / In eodem Tumulo etiam requiescit / Quod mortale fuit / Oliveri Conyers Armigeri Fratris unici ejusdem Doroth: / Qui obijt 6° Aprilis 1693 / Omnes eodem cogimur: omnium / Versatur urna, serius, oeyus / Sors exitura, & nos in aeternum / Exilium impositura cymbae.”

Supplementary to my articles on the above in “ Beds. N. and Q.,” Vol. III., pp. 1-7, 257-260, I am now able to add a few more notes which may be helpful in elucidating the difficulties in connection with Sir William Harper and his two wives. On making an exhaustive search a few years ago in the Parish Registers of St. Paul’s, Bedford, I came across the record of the burial of Dame Margaret Harper, which has hitherto escaped the notice of those who have worked at the Harper pedigree; it is thus recorded:—

The Registers of St. Alban’s Abbey contain—as stated on p. 29, Vol. I. of “ Beds. N. and Q.”—the record of her marriage with Edward Maxie in 1583, and the Registers of St. Peter’s in St. Albans record the burial of her father thus:—

Administration to the estate of the above William Lether was granted to Thomas Raper, Citizen and Clothworker, of London, on the 8th May, 159I. I have quoted the above extract in confirmation of my contention that the entry in the P.R. of St. Paul’s, Bedford, is a record of the burial of Dame Margaret Harper, for it will be noted that in both extracts she is accorded the name and rank of her former husband, though subsequently married, but to resolve any doubt there may be as to the place of her burial I now produce from the duplicate P.R. of St. Paul’s, Bedford, the record of her burial, which reads thus:—

This sets the place of her burial at rest, but it is rather curious that both the late Mr. G. D. Cary Elwes, who contributed an article on Sir William Harper (” Beds. N. & Q.,” I., pp. 9, 27), and also the writer of the Supplement to the “ Ousel “ Christmas Number, 1899), should have overlooked this entry, and have arrived at the conclusion that Dame Margaret Harper was not buried at St. Paul’s, Bedford.

“HENRY BECHAR of Bishops Morchard in com. Deuon gent. 1564 yongest of eleuen sons, and was heire to all their lands wch they had in gauel kind in Kent.” Thus commences the pedigree of this family as recorded in the Herald’s Visitation of the county of Beds, taken in the year 1634. He married, for his first wife, Alice, d. of Thomas Heron or Herne of Edgecombe House, Croydon, and by her had issue ten children as under:—

• (1.) Henry, of whom hereafter.

• (2.) Edward, Esquire of the body of Queen Elizabeth, born in the parish of All Hallows, Bread Street, London; admitted of Lincoln’s Inn 10 Feb. 1595-6. He married, at St. Lawrence Jewry [Bp. of London’s Lie. dated 5 Oct. 1580] Frances Brooke, only d. of William, Lord Cobham, born at Cobham Hall 12 Jan. 1561-2, twin with her sister Elizabeth, and widow of Thomas Coppinger of Davington, co. Kent.

• (3.) Fane, Phane or Vane married 12 May 1572, Susan, d. of George Dabridgecourt of Stratfield Say, co. Hants. By his Will, dated 26 Sep. 1592, wherein he is described as Phane Beecher late of the parish of St. Olave, Silver Street, London, he gives to his wife Susan all his worldly goods, his debts being first fully discharged. As to his lands in Ireland, he wills that they be sold by his brother William Becher and the money thereof made to augment unto his said wife, if his goods and chattells shall not amount thereunto, the sum of ￡ 500 or so much as may purchase an annuity of ￡ 50 during her life and the life of his son Phane Becher or the longer liver of the two, the residue to be divided among his other children at the discretion of his brother William whom he appoints executor. Proved 17 Jan. 1592-3 by the above named executor [P.C.C. Nevell 3 Probate Act Book]. Phane Becher, the s. of this Phane, appears to have followed a military career, for in his Will, made at Drogheda and dated 21 Sep. 1649, he is described as Quarter Master General of all the Forces raised under the command of His Excellency the Lord Lieut, of Ireland.

NICHOLAS BROWNE, S.T.B. described in his will as of Polebrooke, Northants, clerk, was the immediate ancestor of the Brownes of Arlesey. He was Vicar of Polebrook, Northants, and compounded for his first-fruits II May 1596; from 1586 to 1607 he held a Prebend, 5th stall, in Peterborough Cathedral, to which he was admitted 5 June 1586. He was succeeded by Henry Williamson, S.T.B. 15 January 1607 on his resignation. (Le Neve, Fasti Eccl: Angl: ii. 549). He married the 27th of April 1597, at Lilford, Northants, Frances St. John. According to Wotton (iv. 178), she was a daughter of Thomas St. John, third son of Oliver, Lord St. John of Bletsoe, but I have, so far, been unable to find any proof of this descent. There is no doubt that Oliver Lord St. John had a son Thomas, baptised at Clifton, Beds, the 12 of July 1557, but what became of him seems to be involved in obscurity. I am inclined to assume his identity with the Thomas St. John who married at Cople, Beds, the 10 December 1594, Anne Chicheley; if this be the case he obviously cannot be the father of Frances St. John by this wife. The question then arises—had he a former wife? I suggest that he is identical with a Thomas St. John who was buried at Toddington, Beds, by the name of “ Thomas St. John, gent.” on the 2 December 1614, and the same register records the burials of his two wives, viz:—“Winifred Senjohn wyfe of Thomas Sen John gentle’ was buryed the 28th daie of October.” (1594) and “ Margaret Senjohn wife to Thom’ Senjohn gent, was buried the 24 daie of August.” (1599). If my suggestion should prove to be correct then Frances might have been the daughter of this Thomas by his first wife Winifred.

I have not been able to discover anything further relating to these Toddington St. Johns, as the St. John pedigree, at this period, is very difficult to elucidate, owing to the loss of the earliest register of Keysoe which might have afforded a clue.

THOMAS HILLERSDEN appears to have been the first of this family who settled in this county. The earliest mention—in local records—that I have come across, is the marriage, recorded in the parish registers of Toddington, of Thomas Hillersden with Joane, da. of Ralph Pottes of Chalgrave, gent, on the 23rd July 1558. The marriage is thus recorded:—” An’o D’ni 1558, Thomas Hillersden and Joahne Potts were married the xxiijth of Julie.” This Thomas Hillersden who was admitted at Gray’s Inn 17 Aug. 1594 under the name of “ Thomas Hilsden of Chalgrave, Beds, gent.,” was in all probability a member of a family of that name seated at a place named Memland (now Membland) in the Hundred of Armington, co. Devon, who entered their pedigree in the Herald’s Visitation of that county in the year 1620, since the arms borne by the Hillersdens of Elstow are identical with those of the Devonshire Hillersdens, and the mural tablet in Elstow church to the memory of Thomas Hillersden, great grandson of the above named Thomas, states that they were “ descended from the ancient family of the Hillersdens in Deuonsh,” but this pedigree does not show any connections. There is, also, a very inadequate pedigree of this family in “Additional Pedigrees,” p. 174 of the Visitations of Bedfordshire (Harl. Soc., Vol. xix.), but it is unreliable. Why they did not enter their pedigree in the Beds. Visitations of 1582 and 1634 is a matter for conjecture, and the same remark applies to the family of Potts of Chaigrave who likewise failed to register their pedigree in either Visitation, although their position in the county would have entitled them to have done so. The earliest settlement of the Hillersden family in this county appears to have been at Little Park, Ampthill, but they eventually migrated to Elstow on acquiring by purchase the abbey property from Sir Edward Radclyffe. I have not been able to discover the date of the death of Thomas Hillersden or that he left any Will; but he appears to have left issue by Joan his wife:—

• (1.) Thomas, of whom hereafter.

Francis St. John, of Stanfordbury, in par. Southill, Esq., 4th s. of Oliver, 1st Lord St. John of Bletsoe, was born circa 1559. He m. Margaret, da. of John Selwyn, of Friston, co. Sussex, Esq., bapt. at Friston, 14 Aug., 1552, and wid. of John Almond, of Westham, co. Sussex, gent., to whom m. at Friston, 23 Sep., 1590, and by her had issue :—

• 1. JOHN ST. JOHN, eld. s. & h., of whom hereafter.

• 2. FRANCIS ST. JOHN, bur. at Cold Overton, 26 May, 1635.

• 3. OLIVER ST. JOHN, living 1634-5.

• 4. BENJAMIN ST. JOHN, bapt. at Southill, 13 Apr. 1606, living 1634-5.

• 5. MYLES ST. JOHN, bapt. at Southill, 15 Dec., 1602, bur. at Warden, 11 Jan., 1602-3.

• 1. JUDITH ST. JOHN, bapt. at Southill, 15 Apr., 1599, ? viv. 1635.

• 2. ANNE ST. JOHN, bapt. at Southill, 3 Mar. 1600-1, m….. Thorneton.

• 3. MARTHA ST. JOHN, bapt. at Southill, 4 Jul. 1604, bur. at Clifton, 1 Feb., 1604-5.

• Francis St. John made his will 1 Sep. 1628, desiring to be bur. in Southill church. To Judith, his eld. dau. he left ￡ 500, and the like sum to his youngest dau. Anne. To Oliver St. John his 3rd s. ￡ 10, besides ￡ 300 which his eld. s. John St. John stands bound to pay him within a year after testator’s decease. To youngest s. Benjamin St. John, ￡ 300, and to his 2nd s. Francis St. John ￡ 10, and to his eld. s. John St. John, a piece of plate of the value of ￡ 5. To the poor of Southill, Stanford and Broome ￡ 5. Appoints wife, Margaret St. John, sole executrix and residuary legatee. (P.C.C. 86 Ridley.) Proved 6 Oct. 1629 by Margaret, relict and executrix. Francis St. John was bur. at Southill, 8 Sep. 1628 aet. 69. Margaret St. John, of the par. of Clifton, wid., made her will 28 Jan. 1634-5 desiring to be bur. in the chancel of Southill, as near her husband as may be. To eld. s. John St. John, 20s. to buy him a ring, .10 and 12 silver spoons.