1495 Thomas Henle wrote his will on September 28. An abstract states, [1]
The yere 1495 Thomas Henle of Cranebroke clothemake thelder. To be buried in the church of Saint Dunston in the south yle be fore Saint Thomas. To the parish prest 20s. to the clerk 6d. To euery religious house of the four ordres of Freers in Kente 6s. 8d., at Winchester 6s. 8d., to the House of Freres at Rie 6s. 8d. To reparacion of the church of Warbolton 40s. To reparacion of the church of Wingham 20s., of Chislet 10s., of Ledd 20s., of Tendirton 20s., of Bidenden 20s., of Hawkhurst 10s. To the Religious House of Combwelle 20s. To Sir John Halden, chanon of Combwelle 3s. 4d. To the churche of Cranebroke 7 torches and 4 tapirs and all of 24lb of wexe for my obite &e and they to a bide vnto the honour of the awter of Saint Thomas. To the church of Cranebroke a chesible with 2 teneculs for the prest decon and subdecon to the good and large of fyne clothe of veluet with honorabul offerays of imagery well wrought. Unto the awter of Saint Thomas and where my body restith two clothes oon of theme to be a bove for the face of fyne veluet wt a semely crucifix of golde werke in the medill and with two images of Mary and John oon to be at oon corner and that other image at that other corner and that other cloth to be at the fote of damaske. To the same awter two curteyns of sarcenett.
To Johanne Henley the doughter of my son John Henley 10 marcs to her mariage. To Kateryn Henley the doughter of my broder Robert Henley 5 marcs to her mariage. To my doughter Agnes Baker 10 marcs. To Agnes Tailour and Jone Tailour the doughters of Robert Tailour eche 6s. 8d. to their mariage. To Johanne Kitte and Agnes Kitte the doughters of John Kitte 3s. 4d. to ther mariage. To the parson of Bidenden, Horsmonden and Vicar of Benynden each 6d. 8d. to pray for me. To Thomas Henley the yongest son of John Henley my son £100 when 24. To Gerueis Henley and William Henley sonnes of John Henley my son eche 10 bales wode when 24 and if they decease to Thomas Henley their broder and son to the said John Henley my son, and if he decease then to Gerueis Henley my son and to the said Gerueis my son 2 saltes with a covering &e. Residue to Johane my wife and executrix wt. Edward Horden and Richard Baker the son of Thomas Baker.
This is &e the 28 September 11 Henry VII of my landes in Kent and Sussex. My feoffees to deliver vnto Johane my wif a tenement in Tendirton late Thomas Whithedes, two tenements som tyme Biggis a tenement som tyme William Newmans in Bedenden and all my other londes in said parish of Bedenden and Tendirden. Also my londs in Cranebroke behvene the Cornecrosse of Cranebroke and Hertecrosse and also a dihouse and all hustilments to the seid dihouse and three peces of lande, a woode and a berne called Luggynhale sometyme William Betenhames, three peces of lond lying in Tannerslane som tyme Bishoppes, a mesuage and five peces of land callid Telden some tyme Hancokces, three peces of land sonme tyme Philpottes, three peces of land some tyme Saddillers, four peces of land and a house sometyme Carders, four peces of lond and a woode called Halfepenyfeldes, Cobbe, le hok and Hokewoode lying togeder wt. in the parish of Cranebroke and also 6d. rent charged and to be paide of the mesuage and londe of John Sampson at Swatlynden, a mesuage and land called Somers thewhich on William King occupieth, a pece of lande lying in Wilnesley called Quicolynfeld and also a pece of londe and a woode some tyme Sharpies lying to the Mille of the said Sharpies.
Also my feoffeers to deliver to my wife a tenement called Roses in the parish of Hawkehurst and 3 peces of land at the Water that Robert Vescenden occupieth, 2 peces called Waits, 4 peces of londe lying at Hertlehill called Guardifeldes, Birchecosce and the Strake. All the same for her life provided my said wife shall honestly finde Gerves, William and Thomas sonnes and heres of John Henley my sonne during all the terme of her life. [then all to be divided for which arrangements follow].
Also my feoffees to delyuer to Gerves Henley my son a tenement called Cushorne and all my other lands thewhich the said Gerves nowe occupieth and also my cotage and a shope thereto lying upon Houndisduffishyll 3 peces of land called Samells and a pece called the Parke. Also a tenement called the Hacche in the parishes of Chistelett, Hode and Recoluer, a tenement in the parishes of Wingham, Preston and Asshe called Welmeston and all my londs &e in Lide, Bromehill, Midle and Olde Romney to him and his heirs for euermore. Also after death of Jone my wife to Gerves my son all my londes &e in the parishes of Bidenden and Tendirden.
To Robert Henley my broder an mesuage in Cranebroke somtyme Saddelers and 5 peces of lond lying at Brabours som tyme Wm. Salts and Coners conteyning 12 acres and after his decease to John Henley son of the said Robert Henley when 24.
To Alice my doughter wife of Edward Horden a parsell of londe in the parish of Goutherst the which the saide Edward Horden occupieth.
1495/96 The will of Thomas Henly was proved on February 11 by Edward Horden and Richard Baker executors. [2]
1504 Joan Hendle, widow, wrote her will on August 11. Launay's abstract states, [3]
Hendle, Joan, widow, fl. 80
11 Aug 1504; pr. 4 Nov 1504
To be buried in the parish church of Cranbrook within the chapel of Saint Thomas beside my husband.
To the High Altar of the sd. church for tithes forgotten, 6/8.
To my burial, my month's mind, & my year's mind, £13/6/8, whereof I will the vicar of Cranbrook have for his mass 12d, each priest of the parish 8d, & each stranger priest 6d.
To Gervase Hendle, son of my son John Hendle, my best feather-bed and its furnishings, the testor and curtains of the great bed in the guest chamber, the hangings of the same chamber, my best mattress, 3 of the best pillows, 3 pairs of flaxen sheets, a pair of canvas sheets, the hanging of the new parlor and of the old parler, all the tables, trestles, and forms belonging to the messuage called Pekynden's, the cupboard in the new parlor and the cupboard in the old parlor, my greatest brass pot, the best of my five new pans, 6 platters, 6 pewter dishes, 6 saucers, a chafing dish with a charger, 2 of the best candlesticks, and the worst of the two old pans(one of 6 gallons and one of 2 gallons), and the greatest stew pan, the water chafer, the great ship chest in the chapel chamber, a long plain chest in the same chamber, the latten basin with "bolions" (= bullions = knobs), the best ewer, a silver salt covered, 6 silver spoons, a standing cup of silver covered, standing upon two angels. If the sd. Gervase should die before age 24 without lawful issue, then all his legacy to his brother Wm. Hendle if he be then living. If Wm. is not living, then the legacy to Gervase Hendele shall remain equally to Gervace Henle my son, to Alice Horden, Agnes Baker, Thomasine Boice, my daughters.
To Wm. Hendele, son of John Hendle my son, the second feather-bed & bedding including a coverlet of imagery work, the folding table at Telden's and all the forms, trestles, and tables, a brass pot staled of 3 pottles (staled = provided with a long handle; a pottle = ½ gallon), the greatest brass pot unstaled, 2 of the 5 new pans, 6 platters, 6 pewter dishes, etc., one of the worst skillet pans with a stale, a latten basin with narrow brims, the second best ewer, a pounced piece of silver (pounced = embossed decoration), 6 silver spoons, etc. Should the sd. Wm. die before 24 without lawful issue, then his legacy shall remain to my son Gervase Hendle and my 3 daus. Alice Harden, Agnes Baker, & Thomasine Boyce.
To my son Gervase Hendle, £40, my horse, 6 silver spoons knobbed with maiden-heads.
To Edwd. Horden, 13s.
To Eliz., wife of my son Gervase, a pair of beads set with gaudies of silver.
To Alice Horden, my dau., 5 marks, a piece of silver, a plain black cloak, a russet gown.
To Gervase Hendle, my son, 5 marks.
To Cath. Hendle dau. of my son Gervase, my best covered maser and a little gold ring with a stone.
To John Hendle, son of Robt. Hendle, my second best mazer.
To my dau. Agnes Baker, 5 marks and a hood cloth.
To Cath., Margery, & Mercy Hendle, daus. of my son Gervase, 40s each to their marriages. Each of them is the other's heir.
To Alice, Eliz., Mgt., Mildred, Joan, and Cath. Horden, daus. of Edwd. Horden, 40s each to their marriages.
The nine daus. of Gervase and Edwd. shall be content with my ready money as far as it will stretch.
Residue of my goods to my sons and daus.
Exec: Edwd. Horden.
Wit: Thos. Hendle, Thos. Sheff, John Ham, et al.
Will:
My feoffees shall suffer my son Edwd. Horden to receive the profits of two messuages and 2 gardens once belonging to John Spicer, lying in Cranbrook Street, to the behoof of Gervase Hendle, the son of John Hendle my son, until he comes to the age of 24 years. When the sd. Gervase is 24, he shall have the property in fee simple. Should he die before 24 without lawful issue, then the property to his brother Wm. Hendle. If Gervase and Wm. both die before 24 without lawful issue, the the property to remain to my son Gervase forever.
To Rich. Hendle, son of my son Gervase Hendle, in fee simple, a messuage and garden lying in Cranbrook Street, once belonging to Rich. Woddeman, when the sd. Rich. Hendle is 24. Should he die before 24, etc., then the property to his brother Wm. Hendle. If Wm. is dead, then the property to Francis. If Francis be dead, then to Thos. and so on to the next younger brother. My son Gervase shall receive the profits of this property until his son who inherits the property is 24.
1504 The will of Joan Hendle was proved on November 4 in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury. [4]
[1] Leland L. Duncan, Tudor P.C.C. Will Transcription, Books 49 & 50, p. 12, P.C.C. 29 Vox, [KentArchaeologicalSociety].
[2] Leland L. Duncan, Tudor P.C.C. Will Transcription, Books 49 & 50, p. 12, P.C.C. 29 Vox, [KentArchaeologicalSociety].
[3] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 66-68, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Vol. 9, fl. 80.
[4] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 66, Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Vol. 9, fl. 80.