Inquisitions: Various dates

William Billinge, citizen and waxchandler.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 27 October, 32 Eliz. [1590], before John Harte, knight, Mayor and escheator, by virtue of his Office, after the death of William Billing, citizen and waxchandler of London, by the oath of Robert Dickenson, Thomas Russell, John Harrison, Thomas Sewell, William Harvy, John Bonde, John Jackeson, William Feake, James Robinson, William Crowche, Edward Pillesworthe, John Thompson, George Robertes, Thomas Wigges, Arthur Wrighte, Hugh Ingram, Robert Saunders, Christopher Dickenson and Nicholas Hawkesford, who say that

William Billinge long before his death was seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 messuage in the parish of St. Lawrence in Old Jewry, London, and being so seised made his will on the last day of October, 1581, and thereby bequeathed the said messuage to Joan then his wife, to hold to her and her heirs for ever.

Afterwards, viz., on the last day of May, 1582, the said William Billinge died so seised, and the said Joan was seised of the said tenement in her demesne as of fee, and afterwards married Edward Winstanley of London, gent., which said Edward and Joan after their marriage were seised of the said tenement, viz., the said Edward in his demesne as of free tenement in right of the said Joan his wife, and the said Joan in her demesne as of fee in her own proper right.

So seised, they by deed dated 30 April, 32 Eliz. [1590] as well for a certain sum of money to them in hand paid by William Gerrard of Flamberdes in the parish of Harrowe-on-the-Hill in co. Middlesex, esq., and Hugh Henley, citizen and merchant tailor of London, as for other considerations. Them thereto moving, granted and sold the said premises to the said William and Hugh and their heirs for ever, as by the said deed acknowledged before William Fleetewood, recorder of London, and Anthony Radcliffe, alderman of the said City, and enrolled in the Hustings of pleas of land at the Guildhall it more fully appears.

The said premises are held of the Queen in chief by the 100th part of a knight's fee, and are worth per ann., clear, 33s. 4d.

But who is the next heir of the said William Billinge the jurors do do not know.

Chan. Inq.p. m., ser. 2, vol. 277, No. 183.

Nicholas Clarkson, Citizen and Merchant-tailor.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 5 July, 11 Eliz. [1569] before Thomas Roe, knight, Mayor and escheator, by virtue of his Office, after the death of Nicholas Clarkson, citizen and merchant-tailor of London, by the oath of John Haddon, Stephen Walden, John Wytton, Michael Smythe, Henry Callis, Robert Cripes, Thomas Hassillwood, Robert Langwith, Robert Dyconson, John Harrison, Adam Chatterton, Richard Adams, Thomas Keblewhite, Edward Bowen, and Thomas Pearson, who say that

Nicholas Clarkson on the day that he died was solely seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 messuage lying in the parish of St. Ellen in the street called Bisshoppsgate within the City of London, in the ward of Bishoppsgate now in the tenure of Edward Skegges which said messuage abutts upon the high way there on the east, the tenement now in the tenure of Justinian Cockes on the south, partly on the garden of Thomas Gresham, knight, and partly on the tenement called the Bull there on the west, and the tenement now in the occupation of William Agar on the north, and of the reversion of all the said premises, as by the charter made to the said Nicholas by Joan Tailor, dated 1 May, 4 Eliz. [1562], it more fully appears.

The said messuage is held of the Queen in chief, and is worth per ann., clear, 48s.

Nicholas Clarkson died 27 June, 9 Eliz. [1567], in the parish of St. Augustine in the ward of Bredstreate, London; Richard Clarkson is his son and next heir and was then aged 9 years and 11 weeks.

Mary wife of the said Nicholas took the rents and profits of the said messuage from the death of the said Nicholas up to the day of the taking of this inquisition.

Chan. Inq. p. m., ser. 2, vol 274, No. 170.

John Richardson, Citizen and Ironmonger.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 26 March, 21 Eliz. [1579], before Richard Pipe, knight, Mayor and escheator, by virtue of his Office, after the death of John Richardson, citizen and ironmonger of London, by the oath of John Haddon, John Harrison, John Keblewhite, George Gynne, Thomas Russell, William Povye, Anthony Barbor, Thomas Eliot, Griffin Jones, Henry Shawe, John Irelond, John Ricardes, William Curtes and Arthur Raynescrofte, who say that

John Richardson on the day of his death was seised in his demesne as of fee of 1 messuage called Le Stewe with the cellars, sollars, buildings, yards, &c, &c, thereto belonging; 1 furnace of lead called a "Stewe leade," 1 cistern, and 1 gutter of lead from the Thames to the said house and 1 "Buckett" and chain thereto belonging, situate in the parish of St. Michael at Quenehith, London, extending from the east to the west 50 feet of assize, and from the tenement called Le Signe of the Cappe on the north to the Thames on the south 76 feet of assize.

So seised, the said John Richardson made his will and thereby bequeathed as follows:—

I give my house with the wharf and yard thereto belonging wherein I now dwell set in the parish of St. "Mighells" near Quenehith to Johan my wife for her natural life; and after her decease, to John Richardson my son and to the heirs of his body for ever; for default, the remainder thereof to Margaret Richardson my daughter and to the heirs of her body; for default, to my child unborn, be it male or female, and to the heirs of the body of the said child; and for default, the remainder thereof to my right heirs for ever, as by the said will dated 23 October, 1578, it more plainly appears. By virtue of which said will the said Joan immediately after the death of the said John Richardson entered into the said premises and took the profits thereof: which said Joan still survives.

The said messuage is held of the Queen in chief by knight's service, but by what part of a knight's fee the jurors know not, and is worth per ann., clear, £4.

John Richardson died 25 October last past; John Richardson is his son and next heir, and was then aged 2 years, 1 month and 11 days.

Chan. Inq. p. m., ser. 2, vol. 275, No. 369.

Henry Robynson.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 27 September, 25 Eliz. [1583], before Thomas Blancke knight, Mayor and escheator, by virtue of his Office, after the death of Henry Robynson, late citizen and cook of London, by the oath of Robert Dickonson, Richard Smithe, Roger Hole, Thomas Russell, John Irelande, John Jackson, Edmund Owen, George Gynne, William Povye, Henry Webbe, George Robertes, John Oldam, William Feake, Robert Peacock, John Bonde, John Richardes and Nicholas Hawksforde, who say that

Long before the death of the said Henry Robynson, a certain John Berden citizen and "Pulter" of London, was seised in his demesne as of fee of those 2 tenements commonly called The Cardinall Hatt, with all the houses, gardens, &c, thereto belonging, lying in the street called Gracious streate in the parish of All Saints Gracechurch, London, one of which said tenements was late in the tenure of the said John Berden and Agnes his wife, and the other was in the occupation of Richard Bilbroke and is now in the tenure of Richard Tompson, cook.

So seised the said John and Agnes by their deed dated 29 May, 18 Eliz. [1576], and acknowledged before Rowland Haywarde, knight, alderman of the City of London, and William Fleetewoode, esq., recorder of the said City, for a competent sum of money paid to the said John Berden by the said Henry Robynson and Richard Tompson and Robert Grey, citizens and cooks of London, gave the said premises to the said Henry, Richard and Robert, and to the heirs of the said Henry for ever, by virtue whereof they entered into the same and were thereof seised, viz. the said Henry Robynson in his demesne as of fee, and the said Richard and Robert in their demesne as of free tenement.

So seised, the said Henry Robynson made his will on the 2nd day of January, 1577, and thereby bequeathed as follows:—

I give to Alice Tompson for her natural life my tenement in Gracechurch street in the parish of All Saints in Lombardstreet called The Cardinall Hatt and the tenement next adjoining, with all shops, cellars, sollars, &c., thereto belonging; and after her decease, I give the same to William Tompson, son of the said Richard Tompson, and to his heirs for ever.

All the said premises are held of the Queen in free burgage of the said City, and are worth per ann., clear, £4.

Henry Robynson died 21 February, 20 Eliz. [1578], but who is his next heir the jurors know not. The said Richard Tompson and Robert Grey still survive.

Chan. Inq.p. m., ser. 2, vol. 276, No. 517.

Roger Robynson.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 20 September, 25 Eliz. [1583], before Thomas Blancke, knight, Mayor and escheator, by virtue of his Office, after the death of Roger Robynson, citizen and goldsmith of London, by the oath of Robert Dickenson, Richard Smithe, Roger Hole, Thomas Russell, John Ireland, Edmund Owen, George Gynne, William Povye, George Robertes, John Stoddarde, William Feake, John Bonde and Nicholas Hawkesforde, who say that

Roger Robynson long before and on the day of his death was seised in his demesne as of fee of all that capital house or mansion or inn, called by the name of the White Hart now in the tenure of Matthew Park . . . lying in the parish of St. Botolph without Bisshoppes gate, London, with all the stables, yards, rooms, &c, to the said mansion house belonging, also 1 garden to the said mansion adjoining: which said premises lie between the cemetery of the said parish Church of St. Bototph on the south, the gate or entry of the late house of the Blessed Mary of Bethlehem on the north, and extend from the high street towards the east up to the garden of Bethlehem and the ditch of la More towards the west; all which said premises the said Roger Robynson lately purchased to him and his heirs of James Batte of Burton in Lonsdale in co. York, husbandman, and Jane his wife.

So seized, the said Roger Robynson made his will on the 30th day of March, 1582, and thereby bequeathed the said mansion house and other the premises as follows:—

I give the one half of all my lands, leases and goods to my wife Alice Robynson for her natural life, trusting she will be a good and natural mother to her children and the other half I give to her and to my nephew Mark Sutton of Islington, gent, whom I make my exor., to the use of my children as shall be thought most convenient to these my 4 overseers, viz., Robert Eccles of London, leather [?] seller, Nicholas Tompson, gentleman, my nephew William Robyson the elder of Munchaster in Cumberland, and my brother-in-law Thomas Eccles son of the said Robert Eccles.

The said mansion house and garden are held of the Queen in free burgage of the said City of London, and are worth per ann., clear, £4.

Roger Robynson died at London, 31 March, 24 Eliz. [1582]: immediately after his death the said Alice late his wife entered into the said premises and took the issues thereof.

Pole (Polus) Robynson is the son and next heir of the said Roger, and was aged 9 years and more at the time of his father's death.

Chan. Inq. p. m., ser. 2. vol. 276, No. 515.

Robert Windesor.

Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 25 October, 2 Eliz. [1560] before me William . . . Mayor and escheator of the City of London, by virtue of my Office, after the death of Robert Windsor, smith, of London, by the oath of Robert . . . (fn. 1) Robert Lee, Robert Davye, Henry Callis, Guy Awood, Michael Smith, William Swainson, Lawrence Jucson, Stephen Walden, Thomas Ebden, Thomas Litton, Robert Dunkins, John Benson [?] . . . who say that

Robert Windsor long before his death was seised jointly with Katherine his wife in his demesne as of fee of all that small messuage with the cellar and sollar thereto belonging lying in Bisshopsgate street in the parish of St. Ellen in London, which said messuage the said Robert and Katherine lately had to them and their heirs for ever of the gift and grant of Michael Stanhopp, knight, and John Beomount, esq., as by the charter thereof to them made dated 28 October, 2 Edw. VI. [1548], it more fully appears.

So seised, the said Robert Windsor died 21 May, 2 Eliz. [1560] and the said Katherine survived him, and entered into the said messuage and was and still is thereof seised in her demesne as of fee by right of accruing.

The said messuage is held of the Queen in chief, viz., by the service of the — part of 1 knight's fee, and is worth per ann., clear, 40s.

The jurors do not know who is the next heir of the said Robert Windsor, but they say that Isabella Burlington is the sole daughter and heir of Robert Burlington, deceased, brother and next heir of the said Katherine, and is aged 30 years and more.

Chan. Inq. p. m., ser. 2, vol. 274, No. 31.

This completes the general series of Inquisitions to end of the reign of Elizabeth.