This section focusses on the village of Dearham through the centuries. Beginning in 1564 with Helen Eaglesfield’s inventory. As I said in the preamble, this will look more at who were the residents, how were they connected? What areas outside of Dearham are mentioned? What did they own and leave in their wills and inventories? Who were they owing debts to or owed by?
I have put Helen’s inventory in full and will transcribe it as we go along. Her inventory minus a surviving will is the first document for Dearham in the wills and inventories held by CASCAT. The surname runs throughout the records, with 13 wills/inventories between 1550 and 1790, and I am still trying to find out more about her but she was a lady of means.
The nuncupative wills witnessed by Sir Thomas Watson, Vicar of St. Mungo’s church Dearham 1563-1574
Number of wills/inventories per decade: 7 1560’s 20 1570’s 17 1580’s 14 1590’s
Thomas Watson[1] or Sir Thomas Watson, as he seems to sign himself, was vicar of Dearham between 1563 and 1574. I haven’t been able to find out much more about him biographically speaking. I am currently researching the wills and inventories of Dearham from when they start in 1564. The purpose is to build up an idea of the number of residents in Dearham from the mid 1500’s to the mid 1600’s when the parish records begin, and who were they?
Why? You may ask. Well, I have a clear connection from the parish registers of 1662 and a copy of the will of John Winder my 8 x GG. What I do not have is a clear connection between this John and John Winder of Dearham died 1585. This article is about Sir Thomas Watson, our Vicar and his seven parishioners.
The wills of William Semple and Mathew Woodall 1565, John Dickinson and Margaret Semple 1566, John Collin 1570, Gilbert Esselenay and Margaret Ingram 1573 all have at least one thing in common. Thomas Watson heard and wrote down their last wishes. These nuncupative declarations were made in front of witnesses. Not only do the wills give useful names of family members in their wills and inventories but also names of people in the community as witnesses, supervisors and Debts owing to or by the testator.
I am no expert in the history of wills and do not claim to know everything. Having said that, it is unknown to me whether the testators were illiterate, unable to write due to illness, or due to the connection to the church and place of burial and legacies left, it was the responsibility of the Vicar. This article[2] gives a good explanation of the three types of wills. In the seven wills witnessed by Sir Thomas Watson the first three begin with the Latin “In dei nomine Amen”. By 1570 he uses the English; “In the name of god Amen”. I imagine things changed just as in the 60’s and 70’s in our time.
Going back to John Winder. Thomas Nicholson, William Dickson, Thomas Howatson and Peter Smyth witnessed William and Margaret Semple’s wills. John Winder was the fourth witness in the inventory. I have no information to go on but would like to think that they were all long-time residents in the village with Sir Thomas acting as the official voice.
Following William Semple (1565) is Mathew Woodall (1565). His will is standard and like Margaret Semple (1566) his will and inventory are on one page unlike all the other wills. What is extraordinary is his debts owing which takes up an entire second page. He has no less than 38 creditors. Sir Thomas Watson being one, owed 3 shillings. He owes John Woodall 2 s. Could he be his brother? In the will he only mentions his wife Margaret, and daughter Jannat.
There are several people mentioned in his inventory from outside Dearham. John of hawlle is one. Could Hawlle be Haile, somewhere south of Dearham in Cumberland.
In John Collin’s will (1570) the only woman to witness is Florence Walker (her will is dated 1604). I have yet to read her will and find out more about her.
Gilbert Esselenay (1573) and Margaret Ingram (1573) both have short wills. Gylbert leaves an item to John of the same name. The rest to his wife Esabell. Margaret to her two sons Antony and Thomas and her daughter elyng. Both left an inventory.
This is a work in progress and raises more questions than answers. Once I look at their siblings and children making connections between them and other names mentioned in the documents, then I can come to some conclusions.
[2] NEI Project: Wills and Testaments
The witnesses to Helen Eaglesfield’s inventory are: John jakson of Crosby Edward Brysto of crosscanenby John harryson of kirkby William Bell (1577) Antony Smetheley.
The witnesses to William Semple are: John Wynder (1585) inv Thomas Nycalson Inv (1577) Willm dicannson Inv Thomas Howatson inv/will Peter Smith will William Westray will.
The witnesses to Mathew Woodall are: Alayne Mourelande will (1589) Christopher Smyth will Thomans Nycalson inv Peter Smyth inv Robert Grame will (1599) Thomas Wilson inv.
The witnesses to John Cookson (1565) not witnessed by Sir Thomas Watson are: John Wynder (1585) Thomas Taylor inv Peter Smyth inv/will John Smyth (1580) inv John Smyth jun inv.
The witnesses of John Dickinson are: Thomas Talzy Inv Thomas pozesor Inv Gawane Robson Inv Robert Greme Inv (1599) Anthony Collyng John Gybson Robert Progame William Dicanson.
The witnesses to Margaret Semple are: John Smyth John Wynder Inv (1585) Thomas Nycalson Inv (1577) William Diccinson Inv Thomas Howatson Inv Peter Smyth Michell Clarke Harry Robyngson John Canbell Christopher Bebe Florence Walker (1604).
The witnesses to Agnes Brigg (1571) not witnessed by Sir Thomas Watson are: Thomas Nycalson (1577) Willm Semple (1565) indicating that her will was drwan up long before her death. Thomas Howatson Willm Dicanson.
The witnesses to Gilbert Esselenay (1573) are: Mychall Clarke inv/will Robert Semple John ? Inv/will John ? John?.
The witnesses to Margaret Ingram (1573) are: Thomas Whytesyde will/inv Gilbert Esenelay will (1573) Robert robynson inv.
The witnesses to John Wilson (1574) not witnessed by Sir Thomas Watson are: John Hawle (1576) John Jun. Thursby Mathew Whelewright (1578) John Boyes
Readers will notice that within keeping of the spelling and punctuation norms of the time I am not strictly adhering to either. The dates in brackets under witnesses are the year of the witnesses will in Dearham.
Winder Family History 