the will of thomas quenell in surrey archeolgical collections pub 1900 modern english edit

8/14/2019 The Will of Thomas Quenell in Surrey Archeolgical Collections Pub 1900 Modern English Edit

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The Will of Thomas Quenell

Born about 1500 - Died 1571Chiddingfold

SurreyEngland


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The Will of Thomas Quenell

The following is a transcript of the Will of Thomas Quenell which is in the possession of Mr. J. E.Sitwell, of Killinghurst (Haslemere, Surrey, England). And is a good specimen of the last will andtestament of a substantial Surrey yeoman of the sixteenth century. The original is written in a tolerablylegible hand, the writer being, as the document states, Richard Haredonne, a cousin of ThomasQuenell.

Amongst the long list of items contained in the will are some of considerable importance to localhistory; the acquisition by the Quenells of the manor of South Imbhams, for instance; also of several

small holdings, survivals of ancient divisions of land, which marked the gradual development of theEnglish farm into its present state. Other items throw a light on the plan of the house and on the farmstock with details such as descriptions of horses and cattle and even the name of the cow, "Lusty".There are also many words and expressions which are of interest. And though nothing is said aboutan iron furnace, it is significant that Thomas Quenell had purchased a plot from a Mr. Covert adjoiningland, with a water-course, called Rovis. From its position this is evidently what is now Imbhams pond,which formerly supplied the furnace of the forge which Viscount Montagu of Cowdray had started onleasehold land at the south corner of Imbhams Farm. Thomas Quenell farmed the tithes

1of the

parsonage of Hasilmore (present day Haslemere)," whos curate, Richard Crampe, is mentioned inthe Will.

Thomas Quenell, was the eldest of the five sons of Peter Quenell, of Lythe Hill, who died in 1558-9.The family settled in Chiddingfold in 1480, when the head of the family was another Peter Queynold or

Quenell. The name is not common and it is fair to conjecture that the family at Lythe Hill (not theresidence of the late Mr. J. Stewart Hodgson but the farm of that name), with its picturesque home-stead on the right of the road leading from Haslemere to Anstead Brook, originally came fromHertfordshire, and was perhaps directly descended from John Quyneld, who in 1373 held land in theManor of Ware, where his ancestors had been settled for several generations.

The burial place of the family at Chiddingfold was against the east end of the Chancell within theChurchyard though unfortunately nothing remains to mark the exact spot. Here Thomas Quenell, whohad married Alice Irelond (Ireland), member of another good yeoman family in the neighbourhood,was buried near his father.

Thomass brother, Robert, who succeeded him at Lythe Hill, did much to consolidate the property andalso added a wing to the east end of the house. He became an ironmaster, working the furnace at

Imbhams in succession to Lord Montagu. In 1612 he was buried at Chiddingfold. His wife wasElizabeth, daughter of George Hall of Compton. Their eldest son, Peter, and their grandson of thesame name, were perhaps the most noteworthy members of this family. The former by marriage withAlice, daughter of Emery Cranley (Crandley) of Wisborow, Sussex, and granddaughter and heir ofThomas Hall of Field Place, Compton, eventually inherited the estate. It was this Peter Quenell whoraised the family from its yeoman status in about 1624 with a grant of arms, namely, azure, a crossargent between two roses or in the chief and two fleurs-de-lis argent in the foot. His name occursamongst the chief landowners in Surrey, who subscribed to the loan levied by the King in 1625, hisown share being ten pounds. Later on he and his son shared in the troubles of the Civil War. TheQuenells appear to have been staunch Royalists, and as long as they were permitted to do so, madeGunns and shott for supply of his Majesties stores" at Imbhams furnace. After a married life of justover fifty years the elder Peter died in 1649-50, and was buried at Haslemere, where in the Churchthere is a stone to his memory with a Latin inscription

2.

His son received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and afterwards held a commission in theRoyalist Army, though in the same month as the King set up his standard at Nottingham "CaptaineQuenel with his band was compelled by the Round- heads, who appear to have been a strong partyin the neighbourhood, to lay down his arms. For his loyalty and that of his father, " Peter Quinnall, Esq.'' was at the Restoration one of the thirty-two persons in Surrey selected as Knights of the Royal Oak,an Order, how- ever, which for political reasons was never instituted. The value of his estate is givenat the time as six hundred pounds a year, a very good income in those days. On his marriage withElizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Edmund Grey, he went to live at Field Place where he died. He wasburied "in the north part of Compton Church

3under the uppermost arch in the wall there" on May 7th,

1666, in the vault probably of the Halls of Field Place, whose heir he was.

1 The right to receive tithes was granted to the English churches by King Ethelwulf in 855. Tithes weregiven legal force by the Statute of Westminster of 12852

Possibly St Bartholomew's Parish Church Haslemere which since 1180 has stood above the town onChurch Hill from an unconsecrated chapel on the Piperham Estate to its dedication in 1363 as achurch serving the hamlet of Haslemere, within the Parish of Chiddingfold.3

Possibly St. Nicholas Church, Compton


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Peter Quenell, elder son of the above, was the last of the family at Lythe Hill. When and to whom hesold the estate I have not been able to discover, nor do I know what became of him beyond this, thatin 1695 he is found spoken of as Captain Quynnell.

For many generations representatives of collateral branches of the family continued to reside in theparish of Chiddingfold; some were small holders of land, others were tradesmen, but by far the greaternumber filled very lowly positions. The last male representative was George Quennell, a stone-breaker, who having carried on his vocation till upwards of eighty years of age, was compelled to retirea few months ago to the workhouse infirmary. It will thus be seen that the family was represented in

Chiddingfold with varying fortunes for upwards of four centuries, a reason why this brief notice shouldappear by way of preface at the head of the Will of one of its members.

The Will

In the name of God Amen the third day of April AD 1571 and in the thirteenth year of the Reign of ourSovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of theFaith. I Thomas Quenell of Chiddingfold in the County of Surrey being sick in body but of good mindand perfect remembrance (God be praised) do make and ordain this my last will and testament inmanner and form following first I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my makerand his son Jesu Christe my redeemer through whose death & passion I trust to be saved and to havea glorious and Joyful resurrection among the number of his elect, & I will my body to be buried in thechurchyard of Chiddingfold near unto the place where my father Peter Quennell was buried

Item - I give to the Mother Church of Winchester two pennies

Item - I give to ward of the Deacons of the body of my said parish church of Chiddingfold six shillingseight pennies

Item - I give to the poor mens box of my parish church of Chiddingfold aforesaid three shillings andfour pennies

Item - I give towards the Deacons of the parish church of Haslemere twenty pennies

Item - I give to the poor people of Haslemere aforesaid, twenty shillings, to be distributed among themby John Brodefolde my brother-in-law, my cousin Richard Haredonne and my executer within one

month next after my death

Item - I will that there be given to the poor people of my said parish of Chiddingfold in bread, drink andmoney the sum of forty shillings to be distributed by my executor at the time of my burial

Item - I give & bequeath to Agnys my wife during the time of her natural life my parlour in the west sideof my house at Lyethehill which adjoins the hall there, the chamber over the same pier, the garretabove the same chamber, the loft over the hall and the kitchen loft with free ingress, egress andregress Room and foyer in the said hall at all times and also half the kitchen, and wood or fuel, todress meat and drink, bake and brew, and to do all other necessaries mete and convenient in thesame kitchen at all times and half the new coop now standing in the said kitchen with free ingress,egress and regress into the same kitchen at all times and also all my old stable which adjoins to thewest side of my house, the west end of my barn to have hay or straw in, and half the rest of my barn,

and also the upper gates for her cattle.

Item - I give to the said Agnys my wife all my garden which adjoins the east side of my said house andall my orchard which adjoins to the said garden on the south side of my said house from the new palethat adjoins the said garden on the eastside unto the home field on the west side and extends from thesaid house on the north side unto the little mead on the south side To have and to hold all the saidgarden and orchard unto the said Agnys and her assignees enduring the time of her natural life. Andafter the death of the said Agnys, my wife, I will that all the said pier

4, chambers, lofts, garret

5hall

kitchen, Coop, stable, barn, gates and garden and orchard aforesaid shall remain wholly unto RobertQuennell my brother and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever

Item - I give and bequeath unto the said Agnys my wife during the time of her natural life (withoutdestruction and waste) all my lands called Anstrood and Anstrood fields with all and singular rents,profits and commodities of the same with one barn thereon which some-time was the land of one Mr.Denham as by evidences thereof made unto me from one Mr. Covert may appear. Also I give and

4Abutment of masonry which projects from the fireplace with recesses either side of it

5A room on the top floor of a house, typically under a pitched roof; an attic.


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bequeath unto the said Agnys my wife all that my one piece of land called Rovis6

with all and singularthe appurtenances. And also one close of ground with the watercourse which I bought of the said Mr.Covert adjoining to the said land called Rovis enduring the time of her natural life without stype

7and

waste by yielding and paying therefore yearly enduring her said natural life unto the said RobertQuennell his heirs or assignees six shillings eight pennies of good and lawful money of England at twofeasts and terms in the year most visual by even portions. And if of fortune the said Annual Rent of sixshillings and eight pennies or any part thereof to be behind and not paid by the space of sixteen daysafter any of the feasts in which it ought to be paid The same being lawfully asked or demanded of thesaid Agnys or her assignees.

That then it shall be lawful to and for the said Robert his heirs & assignees into the said lands calledRovis and the said close thereunto adjoining (which I bought of Mr. Covert as aforesaid) to enter anddistrain

8; and the distress so taken lawfully to bear, lead, drive, and carry away, impeach and impound

And the same to withhold & detain until the said Annual Rent of six shillings and eight pennies & anypart thereof be unto the said Robert his heirs and assignees fully satisfied contented and paid, Andafter the death of the said Agnys my wife I will that all the said Land called Anstroode & Anstroodefields with all and singular Rents, profits and commodities of the same & barn The said lands calledRovis with all and singular the appurtenance and the said close of land with the watercourse which Ibought of the said Mr. Covert shall also Remain wholly unto the said Robert Quennell, my brother, andto the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever

Item - I give & bequeath unto the said Agnys my wife during her said natural life (without stype andwaste) all those my lands called Padbrooke with all and singular the appurtenance which I hold of the

said Mr. Covert of Hascombe. Also I will that the said Agnys my wife shall have hold occupy andenjoyed during the time of her natural life without destruction and waste all my moytie

9part and equal

portion of the manor of South Imbham with all the appurtenance and commodities thereunto belongingtogether with all Rents, service, issues, fines, amercyaments

10ward heryote prerequisite of courts and

court baron to the said moytie part and equally belonging or in any wise appertaining. And that in aslarge and ample man and form in every thing and condition as she the said Agnys is joined purchaserwith me in the same. And after the death of the said Agnys my wife I will that the said lands calledPadbrooke with all and singular the appurtenance

11and all my moytie part and purparty of South

Imbham with all the appurtenance and commodities to her unto belonging together with all rents,services, issues, ward, heryote, escheat

12, prerequisite of courts and court baron to the said moytie

part and purparty belonging or in anywise appertaining shall also remain wholly unto the said RobertQuennell, my brother and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten for ever And if it shall fortune thesaid Agnys my wife to marry at any time during her natural life then I will that my said wife shall let (the

said pier, chambers, lofts, orchard and garden aforesaid, The said lands called Anstroode, The Landscalled Rovis which the said close of land and watercourse that I brought of Mr. Coverte together withall the said Lands called Padbrooke and also the said moytie part and purparty of the manor of SouthImbham with all and singular the appurtenance, commodities, rents, services, issues, fines,amercyaments, wards, heryote escheat prerequisites of courts and court baron to the same belonging)to fermes

13unto the said Robert Quennell my brother & his heirs or assignees for so much Annual or

yearly rent unto the said Agnys or her assignees to be paid enduring the natural life of her the saidAgnys as shall be thought meet by my overseers and two other friends of my said wife whom she willchose

Item - I give & bequeath unto Peter Quennell my brother all those my lands in Chiddinfold calledHarwells the Leecrofte and Harwels meade

14To have and to hold all the said lands called Harwells,

the Leecrofte and Harwels meade unto the said Peter Quennell his heirs and assignees for ever more

except and always reserved unto my said brother Robert Quennell and to his heirs for ever tworeasonable loads of indifferent hay out of the said meade called Harwels Meade to be yearlyperceived

15, mowed, made and carried by the said Robert Quennell or his heirs within seven nights

after the feast of St. John the Baptist for evermore So that he bears and pays all men of Rents andservice issuing out of all the same premises for ever and thereof acquit, exonerate and say harmlessthe said Peter Quennell his heirs and assignees for evermore

6Not Rovis or Rovehurst near Ramsnest Common, but 40 acres of land on that portion of Imbhams

farm which is in the parish of Chiddingfold.7

Destruction8

to seize and hold (property) to compel payment or reparation, as of debts9

Half

10 Exceeds the value of11A right, privilege, or improvement belonging to and passing with a principal property

12A common law doctrine that operates to ensure that property is not left in limbo and ownerless

13Collected duties to owed to the Crown

14Meadow

15Received


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Item - I give and bequeath unto the said Robert Quennell my brother and to the heirs of his bodylawfully begotten for ever all that my meswage

16called Lyeth Hill in Chiddingfold aforesaid with all

and singular lands tenements services rents reversions and heredytaments17

with all and singular theappurtenances thereunto belonging And also all other my lands tenements meadows pasturesfeedings reversions & commons with all and singular the appurtenances together with all rents,services, issues, fines, amercyaments, prerequisites of courts and court baron whatsoever I havewithin the County of Surrey The Right Title and estate of the said Agnys my wife of and in thepremises unto her given & bequeathed in this my last will and testament for term of her natural lifealways forprised

18and excepted and also except and always reserved unto the said Peter Quennell

my brother the said lands called Harwels the Leecrofte and Harwels meade to him and to his heirs forevermore except the said two loads of hay before excepted unto my said brother Robert Quennell andhis heirs under the condition aforesaid onto of the said meadow called Harwels meade And if it fortunethe said Robert Quennell my brother to die without heirs of his body lawfully begotten Then I will thatall the said meswage called Lythe Hill with all and singular lands, tenements, services, rentsreversions and heredytaments with all and singular the appurtenants there unto belonging and allother my lands, tenements, meadows, pastures, feedings, reversions and commons with all andsingular the appurtenance together with all rents, services, issue, fines, amercyaments, prerequisitesof courts and court baron whatsoever I have within the said County of Surrey shall remain wholly untomy brother John Quennell (except before excepted) and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever And for default of such issue of his body lawfully begotten I will that all my said Lands,tenements, rents, reversions and heredytaments with all and singular the appurtenance beforespecified in my said last will and testament (except before excepted unto the said Agnys my wife) shall

remain wholly unto the Rights heirs of me the said Thomas Queunell and their heirs for evermore

Item - I give and bequeath unto my said brother John Quennell ten pounds (of the current money ofEngland) and one cow to be paid & delivered to him or his assignees within three years next after mydeath

Item - I will that Richard Hardonne, my cousin shall be guardian and have the custody of my saidbrother Peter Quenell and also have the tenure, occupation and Receive the Rent of all his landstenements & heredytaments whatsoever until the said Peter shall accomplish his full age of twentyand four years and then at that age of twenty four to render any accompte

19thereof unto him

Item - I give and bequeath unto Catharyn Quennell my sister six pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence to be paid and delivered to her within three years after my death

Item - I give and bequeath to Elynor Quennell, my cousin, two ewes to be delivered to her within oneyear next after my death And six pounds thirteen shillings and four pennies to be paid to her at the dayof her marriage And I will that she continue until the time of her marriage in service with Agnys my wife

Item - I give to Robert Page my servant one cow to be delivered to him within one month next after mydeath and six pounds thirteen shillings and four pennies to be paid to him within one year next aftermy death

Item - I give to William Wodier, my servant ,one heifer bullock of the age of three years such as one asmy supervisors will appoint to be delivered within one month next after my death

Item - I give to William Allyn, my servant, three ewe tegge20

to be delivered to him within two months

next after my death

Item - I give to Agnys Todman my servant one heifer bullock of two years old to be delivered withinseven years next after my death

Item - I give to John Ireland my wives brother one ewe of two years old to be delivered to him withinone month after my death

Item - I give to Thorns Brodefolde and John Brodefolde my Sister Brodefolds children seven ewesand wethers

21shipe

22which are in keeping with one Mr. Lussher of Hyndehed in the Parish of

16 Place or tenement17Any kind of property that can be inherited

18Excluded

19Refers to a deposit, down payment, or instalment

20A sheep in its second year or before its first shearing

21A castrated ram


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Thurseley for ten years And also I will that the said Thomas and John shall also have my obligationthereof made and the keeping of the said shipe all the term of years composed in the said obligation

Item - I give to every one of my godchildren twelve shillings that will require to have the same

Item - I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Brodefolde, my Sister (if she fortune to Survive and over liveJohn Brodefolde her husband) one Annual pension of twenty shillings by the year to begin and be paidfrom and after the death of her said husband during her natural life by my executor his executors orassignees at two feasts and terms in the year most visual by even portions

Item - I give and bequeath to the said Agnys my wife Six of my best keene 23 (except one cow namedLustye) four heifers whereof one black with a white star in the forehead, one Red with a white back,one other Red with a chynned

24face and one brown with a white face Also I give to the said Agnys,

my wife, six of my best oxen with yokes and chains meet for them my new wollen wheles25

my youngbay Amblynge

26mare, my black Amblynge mare with a white star in the forehead two stears now

going in Anstroode the one having a brended27

face and the other being a vellow stear with white face,one brown heifer going with the said two stars in persaid ground of Anstroode and one other heifer ofcooler Red with a star in the forehead

Item - I give to the said Agnys my wife twelve of my best ewes and twelve Lambs, my five hogs of onesort being about two years old at Michaelmas last, two Red hogs going among my wild hogs and halfmy wheat and Rye that I have now growing on the ground and also half my oats that I have nowgrowing on the ground (except all the oats now growing in the two Snow fields)

Item - I give to the said Agnys my wife one acre of grass in the Hearnelonde which I bought of oneWilliam Wakeforde for this one year To be mown made and carried away within a fortnight aftermidsummer next (if the said Wakeforde have no cattle going therein this spring time but if his cattle eatit this spring Then the said Agnys to cause the same to be made mown & carried at some seasonabletime after midsummer as the said Wakeforde and she can agree therefore), and my said wife to payhim in money twelve pennies at the carrying away of the said hay which I owe him Also I give to thesaid Agnys my wife all my poultry whatsoever, my three best beds with bolsters, pillows and pillowcases belonging to them, my best bedstead (except one) all my sheets (except three pairs of canvassheets) all my best blankets (except one pair), my three best coverlets & one Quilt, all my pewtervessels, (except five pewter platters, two pewter dishes and one basin which were my fathers), mybest and my least two candlesticks, my best brass pots, my best and my least two kettles, and mykettle which was bound with iron by Hewghe the Smithy, my posnet

28of brass bells, my least Skyllet

29

of brass, and the occupation of my Caldron as often as she shall have need, so long time as she shallbe dwelling at Lythe Hill aforesaid and also half of all my of my wooden vessels to be equally divided(except my best vate

30and my best kyfe

31)

Item - I give to the said Agnys my wife half my bacon at the beam (except the two greatest flytches32

and the two least flytches), half my Lard and grease, two of the best flytches of dried beef, two of mybest table clothes, two of my best towels, half of all my table napkins, one dozen of my best spoons,my three best stone cups, my best chest which I now have to my self, and all the residue of my coffers(except the best of them) which coffer is now in the tenure of my said wife and also Six pounds inmoney which remains in the hands of one William Bonyngefolde of Darkinge

Item - I give and bequeath unto the said Agnys my wife and my brother Brodefolde all that my moytieor half of all the tithes, commodities, profits, emoluments, offerings, and advantage of the personage

of Hasilmore which I have in form of one Richard Crampe33, person there, until Michaelmas next afterthe date hereof, to be equally divided between them And I will that they shall pay the said person hiswage according to the purpose of a bill made thereof by the said person unto me so that my saidbrother Brodefolde will at his own costs thresh all the Rye to them before given, and suffer my said

22A productive, non-combinative suffix forming abstract nouns from other nouns friendship(e). Inthis instance probably implies ward ship or care23

Noun for cows24

With a narrow strip of white on the face25

Wool wheels for spinning yarn26

Gentile, a superior, better-bred animal, an easy-gaited, gentle and pleasant-mannered horse27

Brindled or streaked

28 A little pot29A small pot with a long handle

30From the Middle Dutch for cases

31Or keeve : a large tub or vessel used in brewing

32Side of bacon

33Curate of Halsemere


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wife to have all the Rye straw to her own use, and also that my said brother Robert Quennell mayhave all the oat straw for the threshing of the oats

Item - I give and bequeath to my said brother Robert Quennell one hundred of the best oaks of whichone oak is already felled that are standing, growing & being in and upon the manor of South Imbhamwhich oaks I bought of one Robert Coop & of Henry Brodefolde, as may appear by Indentures thereofmade

Item - I give and bequeath to Anne Wodyer vidue34

my best barren cow (of five) except two to bedelivered to her within one month next after my death. The Residue of all my goods, chattels and

chattels moveables and immovables not given nor bequeathed in this my last will and testament mydebts and legacies being performed and paid and my funeral ended in such manner and form as isbefore specified I give and bequeath unto Robert Quennell my said brother whom I make my solewhole and full executor of this my last will and testament And I ordain, constitute and appoint RichardHaredonne, my cousin, and George Wakeforde of Gretham, my supervisors of this my last will andtestament to see this my last will performed and kept by my said executors according to the truemeaning thereof And I give unto the said Richard Haredonne for his pains in and absolute theexecution of the premises twenty eight shillings and eight pennies and to the said George for histravail and pains in and absolute the same twenty shillings. And thus I make an end of this my last willand testament In witnesses whereof I the said Thomas Quennell unto the same have subscribed mymark with mine own hand and also have put my Seale the day and year above written In the Presenceof John Brodefolde, Walter Gace, Robert Philippe, Robert Page and Richard Haredonne the writerhereof.

Part of a seal attached bearing the effigy of St. Andrew. Proved in the Court of the Archdeaconry ofSurrey, 22 August 1571.Original Middle English version transcribed by Rev. T S COOPER, M.A., F.S.A, Surrey ArchaeologicalCollections, 1900. Pub. Surrey Archaeological Society

Notes:

Though the general content of the text transcribed by Rev. Cooper remains the English syntaxin use in 1900 has also been updated in parts to provide a clearer understanding of the text

Additional footnotes to the text have been added where Rev. Cooper did not provideexplanations of some Middle English terms

The Quenell family:

John Quenell born and died Ware, Hertfordshire (unknown spouse) manorholdings in 1373 Ware, Bedfordshire, father of

Peter Quenell born Ware died Chiddingfold (unknown spouse) holder ofLythe Hill Farm in 1480, father of

John Quenell born and died Chiddingfold (unknown spouse) owner of LytheHill Farm, father of

Peter Quenell born Lythe Hill Farm died 1559 in Chiddingfold (unknownspouse) - owner of Lythe Hill Farm, father of

Thomas Quenell born about 1500 and died in 1571 in Chiddingfold andmarried to Agnes Ireland - owner of Lythe Hill Farm, and Robert Quenell died1612 in Chiddingfold, spouse Elizabeth Hall, and, father of

CaptainePeter Quenell, Royalist, who raised a Royalist Army in 1642 butwas compelled to lay down arms by a stronger, local, Roundhead faction.Records indicate he as born 1580 though this was much too late for him tohave been married to Alyce Crandley (1567-1592) in 1582, and subsequentlyElizabeth Crandley (?-1631) in 1599. Records being notoriously unreliableand earlier date of birth of 1565 fits almost perfectly within the expected timeframe, which would make Elizabeth the mother of their son

Peter Quenell, born 1605 and died 1666 in Chiddingfold, owner of Lythe HillFarm, in 1651 as the Parliamentarians were winning the English Civil Warthey destroyed the forge at Imbhams and ruined the family who had to sellLythe Hill Farm, now a hotel

Trevor Skingle

London20 October 2008

34Widow?


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the will of thomas quenell in surrey archeolgical collections pub 1900 modern english edit

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