Timed quasi-legal meetings in Elizabethan Essex

Testator-specified meetings ‘in the church porch’

These examples of fixing the exact place and time of future payments offer implicit evidence for the existence of hour-striking in a number of Essex parishes where there are otherwise no surviving records for Elizabethan clocks.

 

(Emmison, ed. 8: 157) Commissary Court (case 745)

John Wyghtland the elder of Ashdon, , 31st January 1560

“If my wife or John my son do not pay John Claydon of Sturmer in the parish church of Stambourne before 2 of the clock on Michaelmas Day next £43 for the 3 tenements which he hath in mortgage of John, then my wife and John shall pay [my son] Paul £60”

(Emmison, ed. 1982b: 252) Archdeaconry Court, 1565-71, case 880. Francis Hybell of Cavendish (Suffolk), singleman, __________________ appointed his sister Rose Hibell as his executrix “I will that she shall receive and take up on Michaelmas Day next between 10 and 11 of the clock in the forenoon, of one John Crishall of Pentlow, at his mansion house £15”

(Emmison, ed. 1994a:____: Commissary Court 1569-78, case 325) John Frenche of Ridgewell, , 19th January 1576 To Edward Clark the elder my free land in Ridgewell called Wrytes, containing 2 acres “ on condition that he pay John Scott my servant £10 on 1 April 1582 in Ridgewell church between 10 and 4 of the clock”

(Emmison, ed. 6: 116) (case 1670).

Richard Warde of Great Chishall, collarmaker.

14th April 27 Eliz. (1585)

“To my son Thomas my lands and tenements in Great and Little Chishall in respect of which I will that he pay my sons each £5: William at Michaelmas 1587 in the church porch betwixt 1 and 3 in the afternoon, Edward £5 at Michaelmas 1588, and Bartholomew £5 at Christmas 1590, both likewise”

(Emmison, ed. 7: 158) case 824.

(824) John Cockerton alias Coverton of Pebmarsh, husbandman,

15th March 1597

“To the poor 13s. 4d., half at Pentecost after my departure, [the] other half at some time as my executrix think fit before 11 of the clock the same day in the south porch of the church in the presence of the parish”

 

All dates recorded Old Style (year beginning March 25th) have been converted to new style (year beginning January 1st).

All these examples appear in volumes of the monumental series of volumes publishing abstracts of all surviving wills from Elizabethan Essex, edited by the late F.G. Emmision. The variety of sources of support and sponsorship means that volumes come from a number of publishers and in different formats. The early publications were of a selection of wills for testators of differing social standing that were particularly informative about certain facets of life, work, or possessions. Sunsequent sponsorship enabled publication to emcompass all Elzabethan wills from the county.

Volumes are here listed in order of publication.

  • FG Emmison, ed. (1978) Elizabethan Life, volume 4: Wills of Essex Gentry and Merchants, Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Chelmsford: Essex County Council, Essex Record Office Publications, 71.
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1980) Elizabethan Life, volume 5: Wills of Essex Gentry and Yeomen, Preserved in the Essex Record Office. Chelmsford: Essex County Council, Essex Record Office Publications, 75.
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1983) Elizabethan Wills of South-West Essex. Privately printed: P Kylie.
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1982a) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1558-1565 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 1)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1982b) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1565-1571 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 2)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1982c) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1571-1577 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 3)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1987) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1577-1584 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 4)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1989) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1583-1592 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 5)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1991) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1591-1597 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 6)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1990) Essex Wills: The Archdeaconry Courts, 1597-1603 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 7)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1993) Essex Wills: The Commissary Court, 1587-1599 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 8)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1994a) Essex Wills: The Commissary Court, 1569-1578 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 9)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1994b) Essex Wills: The Commissary Court, 1578-1588 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 10)
  • FG Emmison, ed. (1998) Essex Wills: The Commissary Court, 1587-1599 (Elizabethan Essex Wills. volume 11)

    • Please follow this link to access extracts relating to arranging meetings using parish church clocks.