1542 "Thomas Ramsey grosser and Allce Ashley widdowe wear maryed the xxvij daye November" at St Olave, Old Jewry, London. [1]
1577/78 "The xxviijth daye of January 1577 was buried Dame Alice Ramsey the same yeare being Lady Mayris, and lyeth in the vaulte hard by my Lorde maior her husbands pewe" in St Mary Woolnoth, London. [2]
1578 Thomas Ramsey and Mary, daughter of Bristol merchant William Dale and widow of Thomas Avery, were married. [3]
1585 "Syr Thomas Ramsey Knighte and Alderman of ye Cittie of London" wrote his will concerning the disposition of his personal property on "the twenth' daye of September in the seaven and twentithe yere of the Raigne of oure Soueraigne Ladie Quene Elizabeth." [4]
In The Name Of God Amen. The twentith daye of September in the seaven and twentithe yere of the raigne of our soveraigne Ladie Quene Elizabeth I Syr Thomas Ramsey Knighte and Alderman of ye cittie of London beinge of good and perfect remembrance laude and prayse be unto Allmightie God do make and ordeyne this my present testamente and laste will concerninge the disposicion of all my goodes moveable and unmoveable whatsoever in manner and forme following …
And my will and my mynde ys that all my goodes moveable and unmoveable whatsoever after my decease shalbe by twoe or fower indifferent persons to be appoynted and sworne by the Alderman of that warde where I dwell trulye and indifferentlye apprayscd by theire juste values And the same goodes so appraysed (after my debtes and funeralls payed) I will accordinge to the laudable custome of the citie of London shalbe devided into twoe equall partes whereof the one equall parte shalbe and remayne to my welbeloved wife Dame Mary Ramsey for her reasonable parte and porcion of all my saied goodes to her belonginge according to the custome of the saied cittie And the other moitie or halfe I reserve to my selfe therwithe to performe my legaceys in this my present testamente and last will conteyned Of which moitie or one halfe First I give and bequeathe to the poore …
Item I give and bequeathe to William Ramsey my eldest brothers sonne in money fyve hundred poundes and a blacke gowne To Frauncys Tyrrell my sisters sonne twoe hundred poundes and a blacke gowne To Thomas Tyrrell grocer my sisters sonne twoe hundred poundes and a blacke gowne And I give to his daughters that shalbe lyvinge at my decease two hundred poundes equally amongest them to be devided Item I give to Thomas Taylor my sisters sonne one hundred poundes and to him and his wife to either of them a blacke gowne And I give to his daughters that shalbe living at my decease equally amongeste them one hundred poundes To William Taylor his brother my sisters sonne two hundred poundes To my cosen Alice Farrington one hundred poundes To Edithe Parseloe her sister twentie poundes To my sister Hebbarde tenne poundes To my sister Tirrel of Croydon twentie poundes and to her daughter Joane fyve poundes To John Tirrell my sister Tirrells sonne tenne poundes To my cosen Richard Dane servaunte with Thomas Marten grocer twentie poundes To George Dane his brother fyve poundes To Anne Joan and Emme Dane his sisters to every of them fyve poundes Item my will and mynde ys and I give and bequeath to Mary Wanton wife of John Wanton twoe hundred poundes To Richard Weyver my sisters sonne one hundred poundes and a black coate To my sister Weyver his mother fyve poundes To my cozen Emme Theare one hundred poundes and to her husbande and her to either of them a blacke gowne and to theire children that shalbe living at my decease equally amongest them one hundred pounds Item I give and bequeathe to Edward Holmeden and Elizabeth his wife to either of them a blacke gowne And to her son Thomas Holmeden my godson one hundred poundes Item I give and bequeathe to Anne Whiteheade my servaunte fyve poundes To John Reynoldes my servaunte fyve poundes and to all the restc of my servauntes that dwell with me at my decease to everie of them fiftie shillinges over and above theire wages and blacke at the discretion of my executors Item I give to my sister Elizabeth Glascockes twoe children to either of them tenne poundes. To Mistres Kelk my wyves sister tenne poundes and a blacke gowne. Item I give to ye warden and lyverye of the companye of the Grocers for a dynner to be made at theire haule the day of my buriall twentie poundes … Item I will that my executors shall cause twentie sermons to be made within twoe yeres after my decease in the parishe churche where I nowe dwell called Saincte Mary Wolnothes by some good and godlie preacher by them to be provided …
And of this my laste will and testamente I make and appoint my trustie and lovinge frendes Edward Holmeden grocer Thomas Tirrell grocer and Thomas Farrington vintner my full and sole executors chardginge them as they will answere before God to see my debtes and legacies paied justlye and trewlye And that my legacies be all (savinge the money by me bequeathed for the sermons) payed within one yere at the farthest after my decease And I desire my good freindes John Wanton William Ramsey Thomas Taylor and Frauncys Tirrell to be my overseers And I will and my minde is that after all my legaceys given by me in this my last will and testamente be paied and discharged and my funerall expences borne The residue of all my goodes (my debtes legaceys and funeralls discharged as aforesayed) I give and bequeathe to Edward Holmeden grocer Thomas Tirrell grocer Thomas Farrington vintner John Wanton grocer Thomas Taylor grocer William Taylor his brother Giles Taylor grocer William Ramsey Fraunces Tirrell grocer and Richard Weyver to be equallye devyded amongest them parte and parte like. In witnesse wherof to this my present testamente and last will I have setto my hande and seale the day and yere abovesaied By me Thomas Ramsey alderman. Sealed and delivered in the presence of us whose names hereafter followe per me Willm Dalbye Richard Forde servaunte to Syr Thomas Ramsey knighte
Item I give and bequeath to my servaunte Mary Forster twenty poundes Item I will to foure skore poore men gownes a peece every man and twelve pence in money every man at my buriall Item I give and bequeathe to Mary Holmeden my cozen's daughter one hundred poundes and I give and bequeath to Susan Holmeden her sister one hundred poundes To Edward Holmeden and George Holmeden to either of them one hundred poundes And I give to Henry Dale a blacke gowne And to Mr. Mathewe Dale a blacke gowne And to Robert Coxe grocer a blacke gowne And to Nicholas Barnesley a blacke gowne And to William Bagnall a blacke gowne Item I give unto Elizabeth Tirrell daughter of Thomas Tyrrell over and above her legacey aforesayed fiftie poundes To my welbeloved freind Elizabeth Holmden one hundred poundes And whereas the right honorable Robert Earle of Leicester is indebted unto me in the somme of fyve hundred fiftie poundes payable in Januarye one thousand fyve hundred fourscore and seaven In defaulte of which paymente I shalbe interessed in the twoe and thirtethe parte of the mannor or Baronye of Denbighe I do therefore devise will and bequeathe the same in manner and forme folowinge videlicet that yf the saied money be paied and redelyvered at the daye wherein the same is due or before then I will the one halfe therof to my saied lovinge wife and the other halfe thereof to be devyded amongest the saied Edward Holmeden Thomas Tirrell Thomas Farrington Thomas Taylor William Taylor Gyles Taylor William Ramseye Frauncis Tyrrell and Richard Weyver to be equallye devyded amongest them But yf the same be not payed accordinglye but that in defaulte therof there doth discende or come unto me and my heires and assignes a twoe and thirtithe parte of the saied Barronye or Mannor of Denbighe Then I will and devise the same twoe and thirtithe part therof to the saied Edwarde Holmeden Thomas Tirrell Thomas Farrington Thomas Taylor Gyles Taylor William Ramsey Fraunceys Tyrrell and Richard Weyver and theire severall heires videlicet to every of them and theire severall heyres an eighte parte therof By me Thomas Ramsey alderman Sealed and delivered in the presence of R. Wrighte notarye publique and of me Richard Forde Witness I William Horner grocer.
1586 "Syr Thomas Ramsey Knighte Citizen and Alderman of London" wrote his will concerning the disposition of his "Mannors Landes Tenements and Hereditaments" on "the Nynth daye Julye in the yere of oure Lorde god a thousande Fiue hundred Eightie Sixe and the Eighte and twentithe yere of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Ladie Elizabeth." [5]
In the name of God Amen the nynthe daye of July in the yere of oure Lorde God a thousand fyve hundred eightie sixe and in the eighte and twentithe yere of the rayne of our soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God Quene of Englande Fraunce and Ireland defender of the faith &c I Sir Thomas Ramsey Knighte Citizen and Alderman of London beyng of good and perfect remembrance thankes be to Almightie God therfor do make my laste will concernynge the disposicion of all my mannors landcs tenementes and hercditamentes whatsoever scituat lyinge and beynge within the citty of London the counties of Surrey and Kente and els where within the realme of England in manner and forme followinge …
I will and devise unto Dame Mary my welbeloved wife my saied mansion house with th' appurtenaunces with the garden therunto belonginge together with the twoe tenementes and sboppes therunto adjoyninge and allso my stable with the appurtenaunces All which ar scituate lyinge and beynge in Lumbertstreat London aforesaid in y° parishe of Saincte Mary Woolnothe in the warde of Langborne London and allso all those my three tenementes in Cornehill in the parishe of Saincte Michaells in Cornehill London aforesaied which saied three tenementes now ar or late were in the severall tenures or occupacions of John Okes upholster Lawrence Yeomans cooke and Robert Stephens grocer To have and to houlde all and singuler the premises with the appurtenaunces unto my saied wife duringe her naturall life for and in full recompence and satisfaction of her dower and third parte of all my mannors landcs tenementes and hereditamentes whatsoever And uppon condition that she shall and do acceptc of the same as a full recompence and satisfaction of her saied dower accordinglie And I chardge my saied wife that she sball kepe all the premises to her devised for tearme of her saied life in good necessarye and convenyente reparacions duringe the saied tyme And my will and meaninge ys that yf my saied wife shall accepte of the saied mansion house and other the premisses by this my saied will to her devised for her full thirdo parte that she shall have the use of all suche cesterns of leade and other the leades as shalbe remayninge in my saied dwellinge house in Lumbert streate London at the tyme of my decease Item I will and devise that all and singuler the said mansion house and all and singuler the premisses before by theise presentes devised to the saied Dame Marye my wife after the decease of the sayed Dame Marye shall remayne and be to Thomas Taylor my sisters sonne his heires and assignes for ever To have and to houlde the same after the decease of my saied wife to hym the saied Thomas Taylor his heires and assignes for ever together with all suche cesternes of Leade and other Leades as shalbe remayninge in my saied mansion house in Lumbert streate at the time of my decease Item I will and devise my greate house with the appurtenaunces in the poultrey in the parishe of Saincte Mary woolchurche Hawe London in the occupacion of Edward Holmcden grocer and also my garden in Cowleman strete in Swanne alley London with the appurtenaunces unto my cozen Elizabeth Holmeden my sister's daughter duringe her naturall life willinge and chardginge the saied Elizabethe to kepe the same to her devised duringe all the saied tyme in good necessarye and convenient reparacions And after the decease of the saied Elizabethe I will that the saied greate house in the poultrey with the appurtenaunces and the saied garden with the appurtenaunces shalbe and remayne to William Taylor and Giles Taylor brothers to the saied Elizabeth and theire heires and assignes for ever Item I will and devise unto Thomas Tirrell my godsonne sonne of Thomas Tyrrell citizen and grocer of London my tenementes and landes thereunto belonginge scituate lyinge and beinge in the parishe of Xudgate in the countie of Surrey in the tenure and occupation of one Nicholas Kickman whiche I late purchased of Kichard Culpepper gentleman and all other my landes and tenementes in the saied parishe of Xudgate to have and to houlde to the saied Thomas Tyrrell my godsonne his heires and assignes for ever And the residue of all my mannors landes tenementes and hereditamentes by me not devised amountinge to the full thirde parte of all the mannors landes tenementes and hereditamcates whereof I am seised of any estate of enheritaunce I leave undevysed to descende by the course of the lawes of this Realme to or uppon my heire or heires at the common lawe …
1590 Thomas Ramsey died in May. His burial record states the date of death as "the ixth day of May" but the transcription of his tomb inscription states the date of his death as May 19.
1590 The will of Thomas Ramsey concerning his personal property was proved on May 29 in London in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. [6]
1590 "The first day of June 1590 was buried Sr Thomas Ramsey Knight and ALderman of the citty of London who diceased the ixth day of May last past and lyeth buried in a vaulte in the upper end of the North Isle of the quier of the Church neare his pew dore" in St Mary Woolnoth, London. [7]
1590 The will of Thomas Ramsey concerning his real property was proved on June 27 in London in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. [8]
1596/97 "Dame Mary Ramsey widdowe late the wyfe of Sir Thomas Ramsey Knighte late Citizen and Alderman of London" wrote her will concerning real property the "Nynteenth day of Januarie in the yeare of our Lord god One thouwsand Five hundred Fowerscore and Sixteene and in the Nyne and Thirtith yeare of the reaine of our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth." [9]
1601 "Dame Marye Ramsey widdowe late the wyfe of Sir Thomas Ramsey Knighte Alderman of London" wrote her will concerning her personal property and additional instructions concerning her real property on "the Eighte day of July in the Three and Fortith yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabethe … Annoque Domini One Thowsand Six hundreth and One." [10] The will includes a bequest to "my goddaughter Marye Farrington the daughter of Thomas Farrington Tenne pounds," and among the names of the people "to whome I doe appoynte a ring already made" were "master Thomas Farrington and mistress Farrington." [11]
1601 The wills of Mary Ramsey were proved on October 29 in London in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. [12]
Research Notes:
The 1568 Visitation of London states that "John Ramsey of Eaton bridge in com. Cantij." had children "Will'mus 1 filius, Sr Thomas Ramsey Sheriff of London Ao 1568, after mayor s. p., Richard 3 sonne s. p., Jone mar. to ___ Newman, and Elizabeth Ramsey." It states the wives of Thomas Ramsey as "Mary da. to William Dale of Bristowe marchant" and "Alice da of Bevis Lee of Staffordshier s. p." [13]
Fairholt discusses the lives of Thomas Ramsey and his wives and provides a transcription of Thomas' wills and inventory. [14]
[1] London Metropolitan Archives, St Olave, Old Jewry, London, Composite register, 1538-1629, P69/OLA2/A/001/MS04399, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] London Metropolitan Archives, St Mary Woolnoth, London, Composite Register, 1538-1641, P69/MRY15/A/001/MS07635/001, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] Ian W. Archer, "Ramsey [née Dale; other married name Avery], Mary, Lady Ramsey" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2008, online edition), [Oxford_Dictionary_National_Biography], [OxfordDNB(UM)].
[4] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[5] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[6] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[7] London Metropolitan Archives, St Mary Woolnoth, London, Composite Register, 1538-1641, P69/MRY15/A/001/MS07635/001, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[9] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[10] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[11] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[12] Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, [AncestryImage].
[13] Joseph Jackson Howard and George John Armytage, eds., The Visitation of London in the Year 1568 Taken by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, and Since Augmented both with Descents and Arms (London: Publications of the Harleian Society, Vol. 1, 1869), 68, [HathiTrust].
[14] F. W. Fairholt, "On an Inventory of the Household Goods of Sir Thomas Ramsey, Lord Mayor of London 1577," Archaeologia: or Miscellaneous Tracts related to Antiquity Vol. XL (Society of Antiquaries of London, 1866), 311-342 at 317, [GoogleBooks].