1619 On December 20 Smalehope Bigg of Cranbrook, clothier, enfeoffed Joseph Benbricke of Rye, jurat. [1]
Feoffment from Smalehope Bigg of Cranbrook, co. Kent, clothier, to Joseph Benbricke of Rye, jurat. Consideration £90.
2 pieces of marsh in St. Mary's Marsh (13a.) abutting north on the highway from Leasam manor to Deadman's Lane, east on lands called Monthes belonging to the heirs of William Frenche, the salt marsh of John Fagg, gent., his own and the mayor etc, divided by a water 'frett,' dike or creek from Brick well to the new Conduit, south on the town dike, west on the lands of Thomas Smyth and the newly inned lands of the mayor etc.; premises lately purchased of Richard and John Fowtrell.
Covenant by (a) and his wife Ellen to make further acknowledgment as required. Witnesses: Edward Meller, Thomas Babb, Thomas Harrison.
Endorsed with livery of seisin 21 May 1629 by virtue of annexed letter.
1629 On May 19 Smalehope Bigg gave power of attorney to John Nowell of Rye, jurat, to deliver seisin of property described in the feoffment dated 20 December 1619. Witnesses: Ninian Butcher, John Bigg. Seal on tag, 'S.B.' [2]
1638 Smallhope Bigg, of Cranbrooke, Kent, clothier, wrote his will on May 3. An abstract of the will by Waters states, [3]
Brother John Bigg of Maidstone, to be executor. To the poor of Cranbrook ten pounds. To my Aunt Mary Bridger of West Peckham and her two sons, Robert and Thomas Betts; to my kinswomen, the wife of William Hunt of Brenchley, Anne Bottinge of Brenchley, widow, and the wife of John Saxby of Leeds; to Judith, wife of Thomas Tadnall, late of Dover; to Godfrey Martin of Old Romney and his sisters; to the children of Robert Pell of New Romney, jurat, deceased.
To my kinsfolk Thomas Bate, of Lydd, James Bate, Clement Bate, the wife of William Batchelor, John Compton, Edward White and Marth his wife, all which are now resident in New England, twenty shillings each. I give ten pounds to be distributed to them or to others in New England by my mother and by brother John Stow. To Peter master of Cranbrook who married my sister. To my mother Rachell Bigg one hundred pounds. Lands &c. at Rye in County Sussex to my wife Ellin. To my sisters Patience Foster and Elizabeth Stow in New England. To Hopestill Foster, son of my sister three hundred pounds. To Thomas and John Stow, sons of my sister Stow two hundred pounds each. To Elizabeth Stow and the other three children (under age) of my said sister Stow. Lands in Horsmonden to my brother John Bigg. Lands at Wittersham, Lidd and Cranbrook to Samuel Bigg, my brother's son. at the age of twenty-three years. My friends John Nowell of Rye, gentleman, James Holden and Thomas Bigg, the elder of Cranbrook, clothiers, to be overseers. To my cousin Hunt's children and John Saxbey's children; to my cousin Pell's children, viz., Joan Pell, Elizabeth Pell, Richard pell and Thomas Baytope's wife. Consistory Court, Canterbury, Vol. 51. Leaf 115.
Another abstract states, [4]
Exec: my brother John Bigg of Maidstone.
To Mr. Robert. Abbott, minister of Cranbrook, £5, and I request that he preach at my funeral.
To the poor of Cranbrook, £10.
To my servants, 40s each.
To each of my broad-weavers, working for me at the tim of my death, 40s.
To my former servant Rich. Weller of Cranbrook, 40s.
To Stph. Carre, my millman, to Josias Michell, my warp comber, to Robt. King, my carrier, to Geo. Smith, my former carrier, 20s each.
I forgive Nathaniel Stow the 40s which I lent his father. If any part of the debt is paid to me, then Nathaniel shall have it again.
To the wife of Rich. Fennell of Tenderden, 20s.
To Mary Bridger of West Peckam, my aunt and to her sons Robt. And Thos. Beetts, to the widow of Rich. Milles late of Ryerst, to one of the children of John Pocoke of Sevenosks, to the wife of Wm. Hunt of Brenchley, to Anne Botting of Brenchley, widow, to the wife of John Saxby of Leeds my kinswoman, 20s each or a rig worth so much.
To Judith Cadnall, wife of Thos. Cadnall, late of Dover, 40s.
To Godfry Martin of Old Romney and to each of his sisters, and to each of the children of Robt. Pell late of New Romney, jurat, dec., 20s.
To Thos. Bate of Lydd, my kinsman, 20s and I forgive him the 20s I lent him.
I give to Jas. Bate, Clement Bate, to the wife of Wm. Gatchelor, my kinfolks, to John Compton, Edwd. White and Marth his wife, all of which are resident in New England, 20s each. More, I give £10 to be diststributed to them by my mother and my brother John Stow as they shall think best.
To Frances petter, dau. of John Petter of Hever, 20s to buy her a Bible.
To Robt. Cooshman's wife, the goods which were formerly his and sold to me but not delivered to me yet.
Also I forgive her all debts she owes me.
Get the £10 bond from John Pocock and give his children 10s eac.
To the children of John Saxbey, 10s each.
Get the debts Robt. Caskins owes me and give it to his children equally divided.
To Aunt Bett's 2 sons, 20s each.
To each of my cousin Bottenn's children, 20s.
My cousin Pell's children shall have what is owed me by Edwd. Martenn and Rich. Bate, i.e., Rich Bate £100 by annuity and £30 by bond; Edwd. Martin, £40.
Joan Pell shall have of this £82, Thos. Baytope's wife £5, & Rich. Pell the remainder.
1638 The will of Smallhope Bigg was proved on October 3 in the Consistory Court of Canterbury, vol. 51, fol. 115. [5] [6]
1638 Ellen Bigg, widow of Smallhope Bigg, late of Cranbrook, clothier, wrote her will on November 24. An abstract of the will by Waters states, [7]
To be buried in Cranbrooke Cemeterey, near my husband. To Samuel Bigge, son of my brother John Bigge, of Maidstone. Lands and tenements at Rye in the County of Sussex to my only sister Mary, wife of Edward Benbrigg, jurat, of Rye, for her life, remainder to her son John Benbridge; to Anne Benbridge, alias Burrish, and Elizabeth and Mary Benbrig, daughters of my aforesiad sister Mary. To Joh Benbrigg, clerk, Thomas Benbrigg and Samuel Benbrigg, sons of my deceasee sister Elizabeth Benbrigg (the last named under age). My said sister Mary BenBenbrigg and her son John Benbrigg to be executors. To Peter master, son of my brother Peter Master, of Cranbrooke; to my sister-in-law Katherine Master. To William Dallett (son of my dec'd sidter Bridgett) and his son (under age). To William Edwards, son of my sister Mercy. To Thomas Pilcher, Elizabeth Pilcher alias Burges, and Anne Pilcher, son and dughters of my uncle John Pilcher of Rye, decesed. To Mary wife of Robert Cushman and their son Thomas (under age). James Holden of Cranbrooke, clothier, and my brother-in-law Peter Master of Cranbrooke, mercer, to be overseers.
Another abstract states, [8]
To be buried in the Cranbrook churchyard near my husband, if I die in Cranbrook parish.
To the poor of Cranbrook, £6, within one month after my dec.
To the Reverend Pastor Mr. Abbott, vicar of Cranbrook, 20s, to preach a sermon to my neighbors who shall accompany my body to the grave.
To Wm. Boyse, John Frances, Henry Maplesden, Thos. Calvill, Thos. Botting, Stph. Carrat, Eliz Bottince, and Joan Hartnup: to each of these aforenamed servants, 10s.
To WIdow Calvill, 10s.
To Mr. John Elmstone Senior, 20s.
To mr. Thos. Warren of Sandwich, clerk, 40s.
TO Mr. Abiezer Harbert of Ryarsh in Kent, 20s.
TO Paul Greensmith of Loose in Kent, 20s.
To Rich. Weller Senior of Cranbrook, clothier, 40s.
To Samuel Bigg, son of my brother John Bigge of Maidstone, jurat, £5.
To Judith Abbott, du. of Mr. Abbott aforesaid, 20s.
To Peter Master, son of my brother Peter Master of Cranbrook, mercer 40s.
To Cath. Master, my sister-in-law, 40s.
To my sister Mary, wife of Edwd. Benbrigg of the Town of Rye, Sussex, jurat, (being my only sister), my part of a messuage (4/5 part) with a brew-house, with copper vats and tuns thereto, and also a malt house, a stable, a barn.
Also to my sister Mary, all my 4-of-5-parts-to-be-divided of one piece or parcel of upland called the The Months, and also a piece of salt marsh lying near and adjoining the sd. messuage. Also, w garden plots adjoining the piece of salt marsh aforesaid. All this is in the parish of Rye, outside the town walls, near a conduit called the New Conduit. My sister shall have my four-fifths part of this, for life. After her dec., her son John Benbridge sgakk gave the property forever.
Also to my sister Mary, my messuage lately purchased of the sd. Edw. Benbrigg, situate in the Town of Rye, in a cerain street called tThe Middle Street, for life. After the death of my sister Mar, the messuage shll remain to the use of Anne Bengrigge alias Burrish, Eliz. & Mary Benbrigg, the natural daus. of my sister Mary, forever.
To John Benbrigg, clerk, son of my sister Eliz. deceased. £5.
To Anne Benbrigg alias Puttland, dau. of my sister Eliz., £5.
To Thos. Benbrigg, son of my sd. sister Eliz., £5.
To Samuel Benbrigg, son of sd. sister Eliz., £5, when 21.
To Eliz. Benbrigg, dau. of my sd. sister Eliz. £40, when 21.
To Wm. Dallett, son of sister Bridget, deceased, £10, one year after my dec.
To (blank) Dallett, son of my nephew Wm. Dallet, £10, when 21.
To Mary, the wife of Robert. Cushman, £10 within 6 months after my dec.
To Thos. Cushman, the son of the sd. Mary and Robt. Cushman, £10, when 21.
To Wm. Edwards, son of my sister Mercy, £20, within 3 yrs. after my dec.
To Thos. Pilcher, son of my uncle John Pilcher, late of Rye, deceased, 20s within 6 months after my dec.
To Eliz. Pilcher alias Benison and to Judith Pilcher alias Burges, and to Anne Pilcher, daus. of the sd. John Pilcher, 20s each in English coin, 6 monts after my decease.
To John Waylet of Rye, £5, within one year after my dec.
To Mary and Anne Austen, daus of John Austen, late of Rye, deceased, £5 eac, when 21.
To Sara Waylet alias Sheather, £5.
Execs: my natural and loving sister Mary Benbrigg and her son John Benbrigg.
Overseers: My loving firends Jas. Holden of Cranbrook, clothier, and Peter Master of Cranbrook, mercer, my lovining brother-in-law.
Residue of my goods, to my execs. Wit: Thos, Bigg, Wm. Boys.
Codicil
Concerning the legacy of £100 and household stuff given b=to me by my husband Smallhope Bigg, by his last Will and Testament. (The testatriz has not yet received this legacy.)
To Mary, the wife of Robt. Cushman, £10.
Thos. Cushman, son of Mary and Robt., shall pay 8% interest on this £100 to his mother. Wit: Thos. Bigg, Wm. Boys.
1638 In probate, the will of Smallhope Bigg was contested. Party of the first part: John Bigg, exec. named in the Will. Party of the second part: Helen alias Ellen Bigg, relict of the testator; Rachel Bigg natural mother of the testator; Patience Bigg alias Foster, wife of Rich. Foster, Eliz. Bigg alias Stow, wife of Rich. Stow, nat. & legit. sisters of the testator. [9] Ecclesiastical cause papers in the Canterbury Cathedral Archives of Plaintiff John Bigge, brothere and executor, concerning the testament of Smallhope Bigge, are dated 20 Dec 1638. [10]
1638/39. The will of Ellen Bigg was proved February 12 in the Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, vol. 70, fol. 482. [11] [12]
1639 After a hearing of the case between John Bigg, brother and executor of the one part, and hellen alias Ellen Bigg (the relict), Patience Bigg alias Foster, wife of Richard Foster, and Elizabeth Bigg alias Stow, wife of Richard (sic) Stow, testator's sisters, of the other part, sentence was pronounced to confirm the will 4 April 1639 (the widow having previously died). [13] [14]
[1] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, East Sussex Record Office, RYE/122/57, [UKNationalArchives].
[2] The National Archives of the United Kingdom Catalog, East Sussex Record Office, RYE/122/58, Annexed to RYE/122/57, [UKNationalArchives].
[3] Henry F. Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 38 (1884), 60-74 at 60-61, [AmericanAncestors].
[4] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 385-386.
[5] Henry F. Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 38 (1884), 60-74 at 60-61, [AmericanAncestors].
[6] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 385-386.
[7] Henry F. Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 38 (1884), 60-74 at 61, [AmericanAncestors].
[8] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 318-319.
[9] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 385-386.
[10] Kent History and Library Centre, Ref. GB51_DCb_J_J_64_125, Ecclesiastical cause papers, [KentArchives].
[11] Henry F. Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 38 (1884), 60-74 at 61, [AmericanAncestors].
[12] Jules de Launay, ed., Abstracts of Cranbrook Wills Proved in the Diocesan Courts of Canterbury, 1396–1640 (Canterbury: Kent Record Collections, 1984), 318-319.
[13] Henry F. Waters, "Genealogical Gleanings in England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 38 (1884), 60-74 at 60-61, [AmericanAncestors].
[14] Kent History and Library Centre, Ref. GB51_DCb_J_J_65_106, Ecclesiastical cause papers, [KentArchives].