Suffolk wills

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Suffolk wills – C

Some wills have been transcribed in full, whereas others are a paraphrased transcription. If they are paraphrased, they contain the names of all those mentioned in the will, with the gist of what they were (or were not!) bequeathed, but to find the full details, such as the names of property, requests as to how they were to be buried etc., please contact the relevant archive. The wills are either from the Suffolk Record Office (ERO), the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), or the Norfolk Record Office (NRO).

Cardynall, Edward, of Stratford, 1638
Cardinall, Margaret, of Bramford, 1567
Cardynall, Richard, clothier of East Bergholt, 1574
Cardinall, Stephen, of East Bergholt, 1573
Cardynall, William, of Great Wenham, 1551
Chapman alias Barker, John of Sibton, 1583
Clarke, Edward the younger, clothier of East Bergholt, 1625
Clerke [Clarke], Edward, clothier of East Bergholt, 1654
Clerke/Clarke, John, clothmaker of Hadleigh, 1556
Clarke, Walter, gentleman of Hadleigh, 1554
Coale, Peter, grocer of Ipswich, 1641
Cole, William, tanner of Ipswich, 1626
Colman, Edward, clothier of Great Waldingfield, 1598
Cracherode, Matthew esqr the elder of Cavendish, 1615
Cutler, Alice, widow of Ipswich, 1632
Cutler, Anthony, of Ipswich, 1589
Cutler, Charles, of Eye, 1582
Cutler, Christian, of Stoke by Nayland, 1563
Cutler, John, merchant of Ipswich, 1646
Cutler, Robert, of Nayland, 1549
Cutler, Robert, merchant of Ipswich, 1619
Cutler, Robert, merchant of Ipswich, 1625
Cutler, Roger, merchant of Ipswich, 1633
Cutler, Samuel, merchant of Ipswich, 1626
Cutler, Samuel, merchant of Ipswich, 1631
Cutler, Thomas, merchant of Ipswich, 1538
Cutler, Thomas, gentleman of Stanstead, 1652
Cutler, William, merchant of Ipswich, 1579
Cutler, William, of Ipswich, 1621

Cardynall, Edward of Stratford, 1638

Wife Susan
Brother Henry Walker of Bury St Edmund’s, gentleman
Executors: wife Susan, and brother Henry Walker

Witnesses: Daniel Wall, William Cartwright

Written 24 August 1637, probate 31 May 1638

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: The testator is probably the son of William Cardinall (d 1606) and Jane Maynard, mentioned in the 1612 Suffolk Visitation for Cardinall. The Visitation mentions that William and Jane had a daughter called Tomasen, who married Henry Walker of Bury St Edmund’s – the “brother” in this will. Whether Henry was Susan’s actual brother isn’t clear.

Susan married Edward Clarke in Washbrook on 22 Oct 1638. For his will, see below.

Cardinall, Margaret of Bramford, 1567

On the day of my burial, £10 to be distributed amongst the poor of Bramford, at 12d per house. The rest to be spent on meat and drink for the rest of the poor who attend my burial. To the poor of Newton: 20s? £8 more to be distributed at Bramford, at 20s? a year
To Kateren Sorell, the daughter of my daughter Jhone [Joan] Bacon: £10 to be paid at Michaelmas next coming three years. To Marye Sorell her [meaning Jhone’s?] daughter: £10 to be paid when she is 18. To Elyzabethe Sorell her daughter: £6 8s 4d to be paid at the age as her sister should receive her part. To Agnes Sorell her daughter £6 13s 4d to be paid her at the same time. To Margaret her daughter, the wife of John Drane of Ipswich@ £6 13s 4d. To Thomas Bacon, her [Jhone’s?] son: £6 13s 4d at the age of 20, and my house called Instedes in Bramford Street. To Marye Sorell: my house that Deddam dwells in, when she is 18.
To Johne Bacon and Ellen Bacon, her daughters: £6 13s 4d each to be paid when each is at the age of 20. If any of my daughter’s children die before they become of age, half their legacy is to go to the poor of Bramford, and one 6s 8d to the poor of Nawton.
To Margaret Cannon, wife of Wylliam Cannon deceased: 6s 8d. To her three children, Edward, Susan and Margaret 3s 4d each. To Alice Cannon, her daughter: 2s.
To Sara Boll and Margaret Boll, the daughter of Henry Boll of Hadleye 3s 3d each. To William Boll his son: 2s. To Steven Modde, son of John Modde deceased: 2s.
To Margaret Branson of Barfold [East Bergholt], my goddaughter: 3s 4d.
To Kateren Cardnall, Agnes Cardnall and Rychard Cardnall, the children of Rychard Cardnall, 3s 3d each.
To Thomas Ellit, otherwise Collyn, butcher of Ipwich, 3s 4d.
To Steven Cowell 3s 4d. To Jhone Johnson, my ‘gurlle’ [servant girl?]: £10 10s? to be paid when 18. To Margaret Copsey, sometime Margaret Game: 2s
To Margaret Smithe, my goddaughter, 2s. To all the rest of my godchildren, 10s 10d each.
To Margaret Cuffe: 2s
To Henry Boll: 3s 4d.
To Margaret Dalle: 2s
To Margaret Wyles: 3s 4d
To Margaret Sycklemer: 3s 4d.
To my goddaughter, the daughter of Robt. Smithe: 3s 4d.
To John Carter, my tenant: 3s 4d.
To Kateren Sorell, aforesaid: various furniture and household goods. To her sisters: a cow each. To her brother Thomas: a cow. The rest of my household stuff to be divided between the other six daughters [of Jhone Bacon?]. To daughter Jhone: certain household goods
All servants living with me at the time of my death: 2s. All servants of my son-in-law Thomas Bacon at the same time: 12d each.
I forgive Druowlde, my tenant dwelling at Nawton, one half year’s rent. [Is this a Derehaugh?]
To Alice Jhonson and Margaret Jhonson, daughter of John Jhonson 3s 3d each.

Executors: Thomas Bacon my son-in-law and Henry Siclemer, and Robt. Snellinge of Whatfyld my supervisor – to be paid an angel each.

Witnesses: Roger Payne, Thomas Cobboulle, Robt. Snelling the younger

Written: 2nd January 1566/7, probate: 8th March 1567/8

SRO ref: ICAA1/20/93

Transcriber’s notes: The testator was buried at Bramford, Suffolk, on 20 Jan 1567/8, as the wife of Richard Cardinall. The only other burial for a Cardinall in the same parish is the burial on 17 April 1557 of Richard Cardinall. Perhaps by wife it should have said widow, or “late the wife of”.

Cardynall, Richard, clothier of East Bergholt, 1574

To my brother Adam Cardynall: my house at Gascons with barn, stable, orchard etc, and four pieces of land adjoining the house (one in occupation of Westow? Lawrence, and one in occupation of Robt. Dawson; a little tenement adjoining said house, in occupation of Symon Cooke, on the condition that Adam pays £20 as following:
To John Branston, Willm Branston, Thomas Branston, Katherine Branston, Mergett
Branston, Anne Branston, Alice Branston, Edith Branston, Richard Branston and
Edmunde Branston (the children of my sister Branston) 20s each
To Stevyn Cardynall, Mergett Cardynall, Adam Cardynall and Christopher Cardynall
(children of the aforesaid Adam Cardynall) 20s each.
To Thomas Dawson, Steven Dawson, Anne Dawson and Christopher Dawson (children of my sister Dawson) 20s each.
To Richard Mellys and Katherine Mellys (children of my sister Mellys) 20s each.
To be paid to each child on reaching 21.
To Anne Dawson, the said daughter of my sister Dawson: £5 on top of the 20s, when 21, to be paid out of the tenement occupied by Edwarde Harwicke. To be paid to her father, Robert Dawson, until she is of age.
To my sister Branston: £10, to be paid to my brother-in-law Thomas Branston.
To my brother-in-law Christopher Mellys: £10. To my sister Mellys: one parcel of land called Ferthings Fennes, in Foxolend?, in occupation of Robert Wylles.
To my brother-in-law Robert Dawson and Agnes his wife: one house and a tenement called Gentryes, in Gascon Ende; the pightles Weston Lawrence and John Stevyn now farm; one pightle called Wrights Croft occupied by the said Robert Dawson; the chapel field called the Pkefeylde? now in occupation of John Borowe; to Robert I also give his dwelling and occupation of the house and land for half a year rent free after my decease.
To Richard Brewer: 20s
To the poor of East Bergholt: £6 13s 4d
To Margett Leman, daughter of Robt. Leman, all such things as she has of mine, and my cloth in token of my goodwill.
To Edwarde Harwicke: a year’s dwelling in his house after my death rent free.
Rest and residue to my brother Adam Cardynall, my executor.

Witnesses: Thomas Cole, Westow Lawrence, John Cocke

Written: 30th April 1574, probate: 11th December 1574

SRO ref: IC/AAI/23/103

Transcriber’s notes: it’s difficult to identify who this man is. No Richard Cardinall is mentioned in the Essex or Suffolk Visitations. An Adam Cardinall is mentioned as a son of Stephen Cardinall – see his will just below – the visitation saying he “died young”, so perhaps had no children. Neither does Stephen’s will mention a son called Adam, although an Adam Cardinall witnesses his will.

The Essex Visitation, however, mentions two Adam Cardinalls – they may be the same man, or father and son. Edith, the daughter of John Coo of Gestingthorpe apparently married Adam Cardinall of “Bardfield, Suffolk”, perhaps East Bergholt. I haven’t found this marriage, but her nephew, Edward Coo, died in about 1624.

Then the Kirkeby family of Castle Hedingham visitation mentions Mary, daughter of Thomas Kirkby and Lettice West, who married an Adam Cardinall of “Barfolde, Suffolk, gentleman” (again, this seems to be East Bergholt). Adam and Mary married at Belchamp St Paul, Essex, in 1578. The register spells Adam and Mary’s surnames Gardnall and Kirby, but “Gardnall” could be a misspelling from when the 1500s register was written up in the early 1600s.

Lettice’s father, Edmund West, died in about 1531. His marriage and wardship had been bought by Margaret (née Felton), the widow of John Drury, and she married Edmund to her daughter, Dorothy. I don’t know when Thomas Kirkby died – the Kirkbys weren’t fond of leaving wills – but Lettice was widowed again by 1549, when her second husband, John Fastolfe of Pettaugh, Suffolk, died (wrote his will in 1548, probate 1549). She’d had three children by her second husband, so presumably married him in the early 1540s, which means Mary was probably born in the 1530s and was therefore in her forties when she married Adam.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the two Adams in the Essex Visitations are the same man – that he married Edith and had the children mentioned in Richard’s will, then Edith died and he married Mary. Of course, without the early East Bergholt register we will never really know, unless manorial records can shed some light. It seems possible that Richard’s niece Edith Branston was the goddaughter of Edith Coo/Cardinall, bearing in mind that at the time, children were often named after their godparents.

We know, for instance, that Judith, daughter of Stephen Cardinall and Ann Grith, married John Branston, so the “sister Branston” in Richard’s will isn’t Judith – his brother-in-law was Thomas Branston. But perhaps Judith and John Branston’s wife were cousins, and John and Thomas were brothers – certainly John Branston’s will (PCC, John Bramston of East Bergholt, 1582) does mention a brother Thomas, who had a son called John.

Cardinall, Stephen of East Bergholt, 1573

£20 to the poor of East Bergholt
Bound to George Fisher and others for £400 to leave to my wife Marie after my deceased, property with the yearly value of £20 in recompense of her dower, and to give to her son William Spencer 100 marks if he reaches 21. In performance of this bond and in recompense of the dower, I give Marie my property, free and copyhold, in the salt valley in East Bergholt, late in the occupation of John Fynner and Thomas Bragge, and one messuage, late in the occupation of Thomas Smith in East Bergholt, which I bought from Thomas Abbott, and a meadow called the town meadow, late of Phillip Brettons. For her natural life. And £60 sterling, and £40-worth of household stuff.
To son William: all my property in East Bergholt not bequeathed to my wife, and in Lawford, Essex, and the reversion of the property bequeathed to my wife.
To sons Stephen, Robert, Humphrey and Phillip: £100 each when they each reach 22
To daughter Anne, Elizabeth and Mary : £100 each when they each reach 20
To daughter Judith: £40 within one year of my decease
I lately had by right of my late wife, Ann, Dynes? Land, sometime of Thomas Grithes of East Bergholt, which I sold to Christopher Lust of East Bergholt, and other property in East Bergholt which I still hold. The inheritance by custom of the manor of East Bergholt and Taddingstone, out to belong to John, my youngest son, heir by this custom to the said Ann. So that William and his heirs can enjoy this property, John instead to inherit property in Blakenham?, Bramford in Suffolk. [this part has not reproduced well – it is quite hard to read and appears to be very involved in various manorial customs as to inheritance, and what happens if John dies in his minority].
Mentions land in Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, which he sold to Robert Smith.
Marie, my wife, to bring up my three youngest children: Humphrey, Phillip and Marie. She to receive £20 a year until they each reach 16.

Executor: son William Cardinall with Ralph Scrivenor of Ipswich, gent, supervisor

Witnesses: Robert Wilis the elder, Adam Cardinall, Robert Wylis the younger.

Written: 19th April 1568, proved: 26th October 1573

PCC will

Cardynall, William of Great Wenham, 1551

To be buried in the parish of St. Mary Elms, Ipswich
To son Edward: £40; a silver salt [cellar?] or 40 shillings
To daughter Faith: £40 on the day of her marriage, if she marries with the consent of
my son William Cardynall
To son William: rest and residue, he to be executor.

Witnesses: John Gardon & his wife Anne, Robert Dereaugh, Sir? Robert Body

Written: 8th October 1543, proved: 22nd November 1551

PCC will

Chapman alias Barker, John of Sibton, 1583

Wife Julian
Son Edmund
Son John, under 21
Son Anthony, under 21
Brother Thomas Barker alias Chapman
Mentions land in Bedfield, Sibton, Yoxford, Peasenhall, Farnham, Bloxhall, Aldeburgh, Hazlewood, Saxmundham, Stanfield, Benhall
Daughter Elizabeth
Daughter Dorothy, under 21, unmarried
The poor of Sibton, Yoxford, Peasenhall, Walpole, Aldeburgh
Anne Barker of Colchester

Executors: his sons Edmund, John and Anthony

Witnesses: John Lane the elder, Edmund Molton

Written 16 Feb 1582/3, probate 31 Oct 1583

PCC will

Transcriber’s notes: John’s wife was Julian, the daughter of Thomas Derehaugh of Badingham. According to the 1612 Suffolk Visitation for Chapman alias Barker, Anne Barker of Colchester was John’s daughter, the wife of Thomas Barker. There are brasses for the family in the church at Sibton.

Clarke, Edward the younger, clothier of East Bergholt, 1625

Son Edward Clarke, under 21
Daughter Elizabeth Clarke, under 21 and unmarried
Wife Mary, executrix
House called Woadhouse held by copy of court roll of the manor of Old Hall, East Bergholt
Brother Robert Clarke
Uncle Thomas Woodgate of London, merchant
Stephen Woodgate, clothier of East Bergholt

Witnesses: Francis Andrewe jnr, Stephen Branston

Written 8 Jun 1625, probate 30 Nov 1625

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: see below for the will of his father, Edward Clarke. His uncles Thomas and Stephen were the sons of Stephen Woodgate senior of East Bergholt and his second wife, Mary Derehaugh, apparently the daughter of Thomas Derehaugh of Badingham (the sister of Julian who’d married John Chapman alias Barker of Sibton – however, Mary doesn’t appear on the Derehaugh pedigree in Suffolk Visitations).

Clerke [Clarke], Edward, clothier of East Bergholt, 1654

The poor of East Bergholt
Wife Susan: lands and tenements in Stratford, Suffolk, that belonged to Edward Cardinall, deceased, and bought by me from his executors. For her natural life, in satisfaction of her “third and dower”. After her death to grandson Edward Clerke, son of my deceased son Edward Clerke
Wife Susan to have all the household goods etc, except cattle, “which she brought unto me and which she was possessed of as executrix of the last will and testament of the said Edward Cardinall.”
Said grandson Edward Clerke: property in East Bergholt bought from Thomas Gylmer, the house where testator now lives in East Bergholt and Stratford, property bought from Mr Stroughton
Son John Clerke: property in East Bergholt bought from daughter-in-law Mary Clerke; property in same bought from Jonathan Burrows; copyhold in same bought from John Thorpe and occupied by Peter Swift; meadow in same bought from John Thorpe; property in Harkstead, Suffolk, occupied by Houell [Hovell? Howell?]
Son Steven Clerke: property in East Bergholt bought from Thomas Norden, occupied by John Sorrell and his brother; farm in Blythburgh, Suffolk, occupied by Gregory Horecocke, previously occupied by Peter Baker and William Pullen; meadow in East Bergholt bought from William Markent and Abigaell his wife
Granddaughter Elizabeth Cooper, now wife of Robert Cooper the younger of Ipswich, merchant
Sister Anne, late the wife of Dr Jones [see Branston wills and the wills of Robert Alefounder, father and son, which mention of Dr Jones – perhaps William Jones, rector of East Bergholt, who died in 1636 aged 75. There is a memorial to him in the church.]
Cousin William Jones and cousin Anne Dowe
Sisters Parsons and Beaumont
Brother Joseph Clerke
The children of my sons Steven and John, under 21
Mrs Walker, widow of Henry Walker of Bury St Edmunds, deceased. Martha Walker, her daughter.
Daughter Martha Tillett, widow
Steven Thorp of Ipswich, painter? [writing faded], son of John Thorp deceased, and the rest of John Thorp’s children
Mr Thomas Boylstonne, clothmaker of London
Mary Knightes of East Bergholt, widow, 12 pence a week for life

Executors: sons Steven and John, grandson Edward

Witnesses: William Lister, William Withersbye, Edward Dixon notary public

Written 11 Feb 1646/7, probate 28 Sep 1654

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: father of Edward Clarke who died in 1625 (see above). The testator married Susan, widow of Edward Cardinall, in Washbrook 1638. It seems the Clarkes had connections with Washbrook as Martha Clarke married John Tillett there in 1618 – this could be the widowed daughter mentioned in the testator’s will.

Clerke/Clarke, John, clothmaker of Hadleigh, 1556

To be buried in the parish church of Hadleigh, beside previous wife.
Wife Alice (still living): various properties and household goods
Nephew Edward Clarke
Niece, wife of Roger Appleton
Humfrey, Christopher and Dorothy Harmonde, and Michael Hall: £10 each
Gregory Daniell £40
Robert Townes, Agnes Gardener, and Elizabeth Clarke: £6 8s 4d each
George Clarke £40
Alice Clarke £20
Rose Clarke, late wife of Thomas Clarke deceased, property
Emme Clarke, late wife of Robert Clarke deceased, 40 shillings
To Roger and Agnes Appleton: the debt owed by Reignolde of Canterbury
Legacies to Appletons: Henry, William, John, Edmund, Alice, Margaret and Mary
Niece Mary, wife of Edward Clarke £10
Servant Roger Inman
Nephew George Clarke, under 21.

Written 18 Feb 1555/6, probate 23 April 1556

PCC

Transcriber’s note: brother of Walter Clarke, below. His widow Alice also left a PCC will, 1576.

Clarke, Walter, gentleman of Hadleigh, 1554

Son Edward Clarke
Daughter Agnes Appleton, son[-in-law] Roger Appleton
Brother John Clarke
To be buried in the church at Hadleigh beside late wife
Mary Clarke, widow, late the wife of son Stephen Clarke, deceased
Edith wife of Edward Clarke [his daughter-in-law?]
Sister Hermond
Nephew George Clarke (under 21), son of my brother Simond Clarke
Niece Alice Clarke, daughter of my brother Simond Clarke
Agnes wife of Peter Syse
Walter Ambrose and his wife Elizabeth: house brought from John Cordy for life, then to their children. If they have no issue, the house to Edward Walter and his heirs.
£3 a year rent from my mansion house in occupation of Peter Syse, to Mary, widow of my son Stephen, and some other properties
Grandson Henry Appleton, son of Roger Appleton and my daughter Agnes £100
Granddaughter Alice Appleton 100 marks
Grandson William Appleton £20
Granddaughters Margaret, Anne and Mary Appleton: 20 marks each
Son-in-law Roger Appleton £20
Daughter Agnes Appleton 20 marks
Servants Thomas Webbe and William More
Brief codicil written 15 March in the 1st year of Queen Mary:
Another codicil, undated: grandson John, son of daughter Agnes Appleton, £20 [presumably John was born after the first will was written]

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Walter’s daughter Agnes married Roger Appleton of Dartford. Their son Henry married Faith Cardinall in 1561 in Great Bromley, after the death of her husband [William?] Derehaugh.

Coale, Peter, grocer of Ipswich, 1641

Wife Mary, exec: property, named in the will, and land in Little Oakley, Essex, which was Mary’s before their marriage
“I have given my four former children some small portions formerly which doe unable me to given them over againe.”
Son Peter
Son William
Son Steven
Daughter Mary
Son Nathaniel
Son John
Daughter Elizabeth

Witnesses: Edward Mann senior, Steven Cooale, John Nightingall, Thomas Hinsom

Written 9 May 1641, sealed 4 July 1641. Date of probate unclear.

SRO

Transcriber’s notes: Peter’s wife Mary was a daughter of Anthony Mannock and his wife Bridget Pannell/Hopton. It appears that Peter’s “four former children” were by a previous wife. The three last children mentioned, Nathaniel, John and Elizabeth, are mentioned in Arthur Hopton’s will as his niece Mary’s three children.

Mary’s sister Dorothy married Edward Mann, which might explain why he’s one of the witnesses to this will.

See the will below of William Cole, 1626 – perhaps the testator’s brother.

Cole, William, tanner of Ipswich, 1626

Of St Clement’s, Ipswich.
Cousin Alice, wife of Coddenham, linen weaver.
Anne Greene, widow
Robert Mormett
Hard, a “gardiner”
Prudence Jackson, widow, and her son, Francis Smith
Margaret Early, widow
Mr Samuel More, preacher
Mr Thomas Scott, preacher of St Clement’s
Brother Philip Cole
Son William Cole, under 24: property in Wetheringsett
Daughter Hester, under 21
Nephews, the sons of his brother Peter Cole (executor): William Cole, the younger son, Peter Cole, the eldest son [Peter, the father, is perhaps the testator of the will written in 1641 – see above].
Wife Elizabeth
Daughter Elizabeth

Fathers-in-law: Stephen Cooke, Nicholas Culham?, executor.

Written: 14 Jan 1620/1, probate 13 June 1626

PCC

Colman, Edward, clothier of Great Waldingfield, 1598

Tenement and yard called Cobbes for the poor and the church of Great Waldingfield
Mr Lovell, minister; Mr Knewstubbe; Mr Sandes: £5 each
Grandson: Francis Thornedike: £20 when 21
Son-in-law Francis Thornedike and Alice his wife, my daughter
Eldest son: William Colman
Cousin Charles Ray lives in a house called Sheppardes: Francis Thornedike and Alice to release their interest in to William Colman
Indenture dated 3rd July 1586
Grandson Robert Colman, son of son William Colman
Grandson Edward Colman, son of son Samuel Colman: £10 when 21
Eldest son William: manor of Abbots Hall in Monks Eleigh, and other properties. After his deceased, to his eldest son John.
Grandson Robert, second son of son William: properties
Two looms to son William, in occupation of William Cowper at Castlyns, and Thomazine Sheldrake, widow of Great Waldingfield
Household goods to sons William and Samuel

Executor: son William Colman

Witnesses: Samuel Colman, Edmund Fowle

Written 27 Oct 1596, probate 23 Nov 1598

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: according to the Cutler pedigree in The Visitations of Suffolk, ed Walter C Metcalfe, Anne Cutler married Edward Colman of Waldingfield. Anne’s sister Joan (d about 1590) married twice, her second husband being William Vesey of Hintlesham. In her will, Joan left her “sister Colman” a diamond ring that had belonged to her brother. So we know that Anne was living in 1586, when Joan wrote her will.

There are baptisms in Great Waldingfield for Edward Colman’s children: Anne (1554), Daniel, (1556), and Frances (1558). Then in the 1570s, baptisms for Edward’s children: Samuel (1572), and Edward (1574). There was a marriage in Great Waldingfield in 1564 for Edward Colman and Anne Roff. I only have access to the Boyd’s index entry for this, so it doesn’t give any extra information. I wonder if this could be the marriage of Edward Colman and Anne Cutler, and that Anne was a widow. An Alice Colman was buried in Great Waldingfield in 1563, so could have been Edward’s first wife, by whom he had (at least) his daughter, Alice.

Equally, however, the Edward Colman who married Anne Roff could be a son of the testator’s. William Colman had several children in Great Waldingfield in the 1570s and 1580s, including sons John and Robert, as per the will, in 1582. He might be the testator’s son, and could be the same William Colman who married Margaret Roff in Great Waldingfield in 1569. Could he have married his stepsister? It seems more than coincidence that two Colmans married two Roffs in the same parish within a few years of each other.

Metcalfe’s pedigree for Rolfe of Hadleigh says that Robert Rolfe (PCC will 1588 – he was also High Constable of the Hundred of Babergh) and his wife (the daughter of Butler of Dedham) had a daughter Anne, who married William Colman of Waldingfield. Either this should be Margaret, who married William Colman, or Anne who married Edward Colman. Robert Rolfe’s will mentions his wife Anne, but it’s not clear if she’s also the mother of his children, and the daughter of Butler of Dedham. The will of Roger Rolf of Hadleigh (d1564) contains a tantalising clue: he mentions “my brother Veysy”. Was this a son of Robert Vesey, who died in Hadleigh 1559 and had married one of the Rolfes, or was his wife a Vesey, and he’s refering to a brother-in-law? Or did his mother marry again, to a Vesey? Roger’s father’s 1552 will mentions an unmarried daughter called Rose, as well as three married daughters, Martha Blosse, Joan Blosse, and Elizabeth Greene.

Note that the Butlers or Butters of Dedhams were associated with the Gurdons of Dedham and Assington: John Gurdon of Dedham (father of Joan, who married John Cole and William Cardinall) had a wife, Mary, who was a daughter of John Butter of Dedham. According to Muskett’s Manorial Families, Mary’s older sister married Robert Rolfe of Hadleigh. John Gurdon’s other wife was Anne, the daughter of John Colman of Edwardston. One of John Gurdon’s daughters married William Butter of Dedham.

Meanwhile, Edward’s daughter Alice had married Francis Thorndike, and they lived in Lincolnshire. The Thorndike’s tree can be found in the Lincolnshire visitation. This also shows that their son Herbert (1575-1646) married Anne, the daughter of Edward Colman of Waldingfield, as his second wife. I’m not sure on the date, but Herbert’s first wife died in 1616.

Cracherode, Matthew esq, the elder, of Cavendish, 1615

To be buried at Cavendish
Money to the poor of Cavendish, Glemsford, Melford, Clare and Pentlow
Friend Ambrose Biggs the elder
Friends Mr William Ferners, curate of Cavendish
Cousin Bryan Smythe
My brothers (unnamed)
My sons-in-law and daughters (unnamed)
Daughter Mary, wife of George Abbott, gent
Daughter Elizabeth
Son Matthew Cracherode, and his wife Anne
Son-in-law George Kempe
Son-in-law Christopher Kempe

Written 15 March 1613/4, probate 8 Feb 1614/5

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: the testator was a son of William Crachrode (1505-1585) and Elizabeth Ray (1510-1588).

Cutler, Alice, widow of Ipswich, 1632

[She mentions many pieces of furniture and household goods, which are divided among her family]

Late wife of Robert Cutler esquire
Was left a meadow in Glemsford by her father, with an annuity coming out of it to the poor of Glemsford. Mentions a deed with John Gardener of same, clothier, and mentions in connection with the meadow Dr Garnons, parson of Glemsford; Thomas Gardner, and Henry Kerrington
Poor of St Nicholas’, Ipswich £3 and £7 among the poor of the other parishes of Ipswich
Mr Samuel Ward, preacher of Ipswich, and Mr Smart, preachet at St Nicholas’: £3 each
Grandson Thomas Cutler, son of deceased son Robert Cutler, under 21
Granddaughter Alice Cutler, daughter of son Robert Cutler, under 18. To be brought up by her uncle, testator’s son Benjamin Cutler
Granddaughter Alice Cutler, daughter of son Thomas Cutler, under 21
Grandson Thomas Cutler, son of son Thomas Cutler
Grandson Robert Cutler, son of son Robert Cutler
Son Benjamin Cutler, and his son Benjamin Cutler
Granddaughter Alice Snelling
Owns a 16th part of a ship which Benjamin Butter is the master of
Granddaughter Elizabeth Cutler, daughter of son Benjamin Cutler
Daughter Snelling, late wife of Robert Snelling, and her seven unmarried children [unnamed]
Daughter Brande, wife of Mr Benjamin Brand, and her twelve unmarried children [unnamed, except Elizabeth and Alice Brand]
Granddaughters Susan Cutler and Anne Cutler, daughters of son Thomas Cutler, under 18
Daughter-in-law, wife of son Benjamin Cutler [unnamed]
John Howe and Robert Howe, sons of my brother Edward Howe, late of Glemsford
Servants Prudence Dutton, Elizabeth, and her “man” Isaac Francklyn
Manor of Hurts, and property in Saxmundham – to son Thomas for life, then to his son Thomas
Grandson Benjamin Cutler son of my son Thomas

Executors: sons Thomas Cutler and Benjamin Cutler

Supervisor: Son-in-law Benjamin Brand

Witnesses: Robert Hamby, Isaac Francklyn, Thomas Seely

Written 12 Sep 1631, probate 14 Feb 1631/2

Transcriber’s notes: The widow of Robert Cutler, who died in 1619 (see his will below), and therefore sister-in-law of Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey. Daughter of Thomas Gardener of Glemsford.

PCC

Cutler, Anthony, of Ipswich, 1589

Mother Dorothy Maddocke £40, to receive on a bond in the hands of my uncle Reinolde Barker
Brother Richard Cutler: £20. £10 of which upon a bond of Robert Bakons of Ipswich, the other £10 of a bond of my master Reinolde Gouldingham’s, which my uncle Reinolde Barker has in his keeping.
If Dorothy dies before the bond is paid, £10 of it to brother Richard. If Richard dies before it’s paid, £10 to my mother Dorothy. The other £10 to be equally divided between my brothers and sisters.

No witnesses or executor

Date of writing not given, proved by his mother, “Dorothy Maddock alias Cutler” 13 Sep 1589

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Anthony is one of the sons of William Cutler (see his will below) and Dorothy Vesey. His uncle Reginald Barker is in fact his great-uncle. His mother was the daughter of Margaret Barker, who had married William Vesey. After William Cutler’s death, Dorothy married William Maddock of Ipswich.

Cutler, Charles, of Eye, 1582

Executors to divide land into three parts, and to sell two of the parts to pay debts
(Servants?) William Morgan and John Dadysheh? (possibly abbreviated): 20 nobles each
Money to servants 20sh each
All goods and chattles to wife Susanna
Brother Henry Cutler 40 marks. Henry “to give his best assistance and comfort to my poor wife and infants.”

Executors: wife and brother Henry

Written 24 Feb 1581/2, probate 22 May 1582

Transcriber’s notes: Charles’ wife isn’t mentioned in the body of the will, but is named in the probate. The Suffolk Visitations say that John Vesey, son of William Vesey of Hintlesham and his first wife (who appears to have been Margaret Barker) married Alice, the daughter of Cutler of Eye. Charles could be Alice’s father. He may also be related to the Ipswich Cutlers who Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey was part of.

Volume 3 of Copinger’s The Manors of Suffolk says that Charles had inherited the Manor of Occold from his father, Nicholas Cutler, who died in 1568. Then after Charles died in 1581 (or eary 1582, which would’ve been 1581 back then), the manor was inherited by his two daughters Eleanor and Mary. Then from Eleanor and Mary, the manor passed to Charles’ brother Henry. It sounds as if Charles only had two children. The Cutlers mentioned in Henry’s will, his “cousins”, would in that case be the descendants of his father’s brothers, William and Andrew, who are mentioned in the 1561 Suffolk Visitation.

But in that case, is there a mistake in the visitation that says that William Vesey’s first wife was the daughter of Cutler of Eye? Because William and Alice had children, so if she had been Charles Cutler’s daughter, Occold Manor wouldn’t have descended to her uncle, but to Alice and William’s children.

PCC

Cutler, Christian, of Stoke by Nayland, 1563

To be buried in the churchyard at Nayland
William Scrivener and Richard Hunt of Nayland: my house in Bene Street in Nayland called Crowse? Term to be equally divided between them
Margery Scrivener daughter of William Scrivener: a bed and household goods
Brother James Sole: some household goods
Katherine Bemon, daughter of Robert Bemon: a bed and household goods
Daughter Rose Scrivener: furniture
John Scrivener, son of William Scrivener: 20sh
Christian Bokkinge, daughter of James Bokkinge: some platters

Executors and overseers: rest and residue to William Scrivener and Richard Hunt

Witnesses: Thomas Larkinge, John Bragge, W. Woddathen?

Written 1562, probate 15 March 1562/3

SRO

Transcriber’s notes: widow of Robert Cutler of Nayland who died in 1549 (see his will below). Compare the names that match between the two wills.

Cutler, John, merchant of Ipswich, 1646

Cousin Robert Cutler, youngest son of my deceased uncle Samuel Cutler: moiety of the manor of Blofield in Trimley St Mary. If he dies without issue, to my cousin Martha, wife of Ralph Noore of Ipswich, merchant, Robert’s sister. She to pay £100 to the poor of Ipswich
Cousin Martha Noore: the other half of the manor
Mr John Smithier of Ipswich, merchant: £20 for assisting my executor, and £50 to his wife.
Elizabeth Smithier, daughter of John Smithier, £50, and £30 to each of his other daughters when 21
John, William and Henry, sons of John Smithier: £10 each when 21
Nicholas Kerrington “the said Mr John Smithier’s wife’s brother’s son” now dwelling with them: £20 for his apprenticeship
Two maidservants of John Smithiers who were there while I lived with them: 40sh each
Mr John Smithier lives in my house in St Nicholas’, Ipswich. He and his wife to live there for three years. After three years, my house to my friends John Lany? the elder esqr, the said Mr John Smithier, merchant, Mr George Gosnald, merchant, and John Sicklemore esqr, now or late a resident of Ipswich
Mr Samuel Snelling, son-in-law of cousin Mr Ralph Noore: £10
Martha Snelling, wife of Samuel Snelling: £5
Her sisters, my cousins, Mary Noore, Alice Noore: £100, when 21
Her brother, my cousin Richard Noore: £30, when 21
Cousin Thomas Cutler, secretary to the company £10
Elizabeth Hubbard and Mary Ward, maidservants of Ralph Noore: 40sh each
Mrs Ward, widow of Mr Samuel Ward, late town preacher of Ipswich: £10
Her son Samuel Ward £10 when 21
Money to the poor of Ipswich and Whatfield, near Hadleigh
Mr Laurance, common preacher of Ipswich
Mr John Revett, merchant: £30
John Cressall: £3
Johan Nowell (or Mowell?)
Cousin Margaret, wife of Jonathan Skynner, clerk: £10, and to each of her children £5 when 21

Executor: my said cousin Ralph Noore of Ipswich, rest and residue

Witnesses: Robert Daines, George Raymond, Robert Horninghold

Codicil: Ralph and Martha Noore to pay an annuity to Ipswich’s town preacher

Written 10 Nov 1645, probate 29 Jan 1645/6

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: John appears to be the son of Roger Cutler, who died in about 1633 (see his will below). Roger’s brothers William and Samuel both left PCC wills too (see below). William Cutler married Joan, one of the daughters of Thomas Sicklemore, and thier only child married Jacob Brand of Boxford.

It’s not clear how William, Samuel and Roger fit in with the other Ipswich Cutlers, however, it’s interesting to note that Ralph Noore’s son-in-law was Samuel Snelling, because Mary, the daughter of Robert (died 1619) and Alice Cutler (see their wills on this page) married Robert Snelling of Ipswich.

Cutler, Robert of Nayland, Suffolk, 1549

Wife Cristian £50
nephew Nicholas Cutler, brother Thomas’ son: a featherbed
Anne Gorbowlte
Servant Alice Cryssall
Wife’s sister Margaret Sowle
Wife’s daughters Rose and Anne
Wife’s sons John Gorbowlte and James Bocking
Money to the poor of Hadleigh and Nayland
Brother-in-law Thomas Howlton
Nephew William Cutler, son of brother Thomas
Brother William Cutler
Children of brother Thomas: Roger, John, Annys
Children of brother William: Laurance Cutler, Johane Cutler
Richard Manoke [Mannock?]: grove in Boxted, as long as he pays executors £16.

Executors William Cutler, Thomas Cutler

Supervisor: brother-in-law Thomas Howlton

Written 12 Mar 1548/9, probate 5 April 1549

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: possibly a relative of Joane Cutler, who married John Walton, then William Vesey. The Suffolk visitation for Cutler says her father was Robert Cutler, as does the visitation for Vesey. It’s possible that this is her father and she wasn’t mentioned in the will as she had been provided for on her marriage.

Cutler, Robert, merchant of Ipswich, 1619

Poor of Ipswich £16
Wife Alice: £80 pa out of my manor of Sutton Hall, Suffolk, and out of lands in Bradfield Combust, Cockfield, purchased from Sir William Spring, for life
Capital messuage in Ipswich, where I now dwell, and all household stuff, plate, bedding and linen in the houses.
Wife to have land in Monks Eleigh and Milden for life, as per the indenture between my father Cutler deceased, and my father-in-law Thomas Gardner deceased, dated 16 March 1584/5
Son Benjamin Cutler: manor of Bonds, purchased from Leonard Tillett, gent, in Fressen Whested, occupied by Camplyne, and a wood in the same place bought from John Wrighte, when 21.
Eldest son Thomas to have said properties if son Benjamin dies under 21.
Eldest son Thomas: lease of Handford Hall in Stoke-next-Ipswich, and lease of lodge or park in Glemsford occupied by Richard Lennington, and lands and tenements in Milden occupied by Thomas Kynge purchased from Shurland, and the manors etc that Alice’s annuity is to come from. And manors, tenements, and lands called Winkolls Hall Fenns and Bowers in Monks Eleigh and Milden, and the capital messuage where I now dwell after Alice’s death.

Adminstration to son Thomas.

Written 26 Aug 1615, probate 31 July 1619

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Robert was buried at Sproughton, Suffolk, on 10 July 1619. According to the additional pedigrees in the Suffolk Visitation (published 1882), Robert was the brother of Joan Cutler, who married first John Walton of East Bergholt, then William Vesey of Hintlesham. He was married to Alice, the daughter and sole heir of Thomas Gardner of Glemsford.

According to the pedigree, Robert and Alice had three sons: Thomas, Robert and Benjamin, and two daughters: Mary and Elizabeth. The names of their spouses tie up with other connected families. Thomas, the eldest son, had two wives, one of whom was Ursula, daughter of Robert Gosnold of Otley. There are several men of that name – Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey’s sister-in-law, Mary, was married to a Robert Gosnold of Otley. He was perhaps the grandfather of Ursula. The son Robert (d 1625) married Amy or Ann Brand/Brond, daughter of John of Boxford, and Robert’s sister Elizabeth married Benjamin Brand/Brond as well. The sister Mary married Robert Snelling of Ipswich – Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey’s sister-in-law Rose Vesey was married to a Snelling as well.

The additional pedigrees only says that the testator was the son of Robert Cutler of Ipswich. At the time of writing (April 2021) I don’t know if Robert had the same mother as his sisters – Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey, and Anne (wife of Edward Colman). However, what we do know is that Joan’s mother was also the mother of some of the Derehaugh brothers, hence Robert Derehaugh of Gray’s Inn left money and property to Joan’s children.

Cutler, Robert, merchant of Ipswich, 1625

Brother Thomas Cutler esquire to be executor
Wife Ann £100, household goods, wearing apparel, half of the linen
Daughter Alice Cutler: the other half of the linen
Rest and residue to youngest son Thomas, eldest daughter Alice, and youngest daughter Ann (which last I had by the said Anne my now wife)
Mother-in-law Ann Mayhewe, widow, who has looked after me in my sickness

Witnesses: Barnabe Greene, Henry Sherman

Written 24 Oct 1625, probate 5 Dec 1625

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Robert Cutler was the son of Robert Cutler (d1619) and Alice Gardner (d1631) (see their wills above). He is, according to the Cutler pedigree in Metcalfe’s 1882 Suffolk Visitations, the nephew of Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey. His first wife was Ann or Amy, the daughter of John Brond/Brand of Boxford. He married his second wife, Ann Mayhew, at Sproughton in 1623.

Cutler, Roger, merchant of Ipswich, 1633

son John Cutler: house in St Nicholas’, Ipswich, where I now live, when 21
Nephew Robert Cutler, under 21, youngest son of my brother Samuel deceased, to inherit the house if John dies under 21.
“My reverend friend” Mr Samuel Ward, preacher of Ipswich, £20
Mr Nathaniel Smart, minister of St Nicholas’: 20 nobles
Mr John Cater, preacher of Belstead: £5
Mr John Rogers, preacher of Dedham: £5
Mr Marshall, minister of Finchfeild [Finchingfield, Essex?]: 40sh
Good friends: Mr Raphe Noore, Mr Robert Knapp, Mr Edmund Day: £3 each
Margaret Cutler, daughter of my brother John Cutler deceased: £3
Mr Newman Rookes: £3
Sister Joane Bressie: £5. If she’s already died, the money to her daughter Anne
Poor of St Nicholas’: £4
Executor and supervisors to have joint care of son John during his minority
All movables, plate and household stuff to be sold, to buy freehold property to provide son John with an income forever.
If John dies under 21, the property bought by him to Mr William Cage, Mr John Sicklemore and Mr William Moysey, portmen of Ipswich, and Mr Thomas Scott, clerk of Ipswich, with executor and supervisors. Half of the property is to be used to provide 2sh a week each to poor of Ipswich. Then a quarter to be paid to the sons of my brother Samuel Cutler, Margaret Cutler daughter of my brother John, and Anne Bressie, daughter of my sister Joan Bressie. The last quarter to the minister of St Nicholas’, to increase his stipend.
Shipping: three 16-parts of the Rose of Ipswich where Theophilus Monnings is master; one-eighth of the Concorn of Ipswich where Robert Longley is master; one-eighth of the Expedition of Ipswich, where William Andrewe is master; one-sixteenth part of the Goodwill of Ipswich, where William Croford is master. All to son John when 21.
Servants: Elizabeth King £3, Elizabeth Arundell 20sh

Witnesses: Edmund Day, Edmund Myles notary public, Elizabeth Kinge x

Written 22 Oct 1632

Executor: Mr John Smithier of Ipswich, merchant

Supervisors: Mr Samuel Ward and Mr Nathaniel Smart

Codicil 8 Nov 1632:

If John dies under 21, the profits from the houses to go as mentioned before. But as the beneficiaries die, the profits of each one dying to nephew Thomas Cutler, son of my brother Samuel Cutler and his heirs. If he has no issue, to his brother William Cutler. If he has no issue, to Robert, the younger brother.
Raphe Twead the elder of Harwich: £30
[forename not given] son of Michael Trayneham late of East Bergholt clothier deceased: £13
William Carelton: £8

Witnesses as before.

Probate 10 Jan 1632/3

Cutler, Samuel, merchant of Ipswich, 1626

Wife Joane: all messuages and tenements in Washbrook, Hintlesham, and Sproughton lately bought from Henry Wright, for life
Son Samuel: the said property after Joane’s death
Wife: All her wearing apparel, and all household stuff that she brought with her on our marriage, and £20-worth of my own household stuff
Son Samuel: house in Ipswich St Clement’s where I now dwell, wife to have residence of certain parts of the house for life.
Three younger sons: Thomas Cutler, William Cutler, and Robert Cutler: £500 each when 21.
Son Thomas is apprenticed to Mr Burnell of London. The other two sons to be apprenticed too
Daughter Elizabeth £400 when 21
Mr Samuel Ward, preacher of Ipswich, and Mr Thomas Scott, minister of St Clement’s: £5 each
Money to servants
Son Samuel: messuage and lands in Ipswich St Clement’s, St Nicholas’, St Helen’s and St Stephen’s
Poor of St Clement’s 5 marks
Brother Roger Cutler, brother-in-law John Fowle of Colchester, and nephew Mr Benjamin Cutler: £5 each
Wife: £100

Executor: son Samuel, rest and residue, and if he dies, son-in-law Benjamin Cutler [same man as his nephew?] and Raph Moore to be executors

Supervisors: John Fowle and Benjamin Cutler

Witnesses: John Flich, William Crossord, Thomas Laster scrivener

Written 21 Dec 1624, probate 24 Oct 1626 by son Samuel

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Brother of William Cutler (husband of Joan Sicklemore, father of Elizabeth, who married Jacob Brand/Brond) who died in 1621. See his will below. Father of Samuel, who died in 1631 (see his will below).

Cutler, Samuel, merchant of Ipswich, 1631

Wife Mary: house in occupation of myself and my mother-in-law [presumably stepmother] in St Clement’s, Ipswich, for life, and after the Joan’s death, to hold the residue of the house occupied by Joan for life
Wife Mary: all household stuff
Wife Mary: all plate, to son Samuel after her death
Son Samuel: under 21
Daughter Mary: £400 when 21
Wife Mary: property in Ipswich St Clement’s, St Nicholas’, St Helen’s, and St Stephen’s for life, then to son Samuel
Son Samuel: after death of mother-in-law Joan: property in Washbrook, Hintlesham and Sproughton
Executors to sell all shipping and merchandise
Mr Scot, preacher of St Clement’s: £3
Poor of St Clement’s: 40sh

Executors: wife Mary, and John Blyeth of Ipswich, merchant

Supervisors: uncle John Fowle of Colchester, cousin Benjamin Cutler of Ipswich, merchant

Witnesses: Charles Smith, Peter Coale, William Tyler

PCC

Transcriber’s note: Son of Samuel Cutler who died by 1626, above.

Cutler, Thomas, merchant of Ipswich, 1538

To be buried in the church of St Clement’s, Ipswich
Eldest son Robert: house in Thorpe occupied by John Walshe, which he inhabits according to to the will of my father John Cutler, when 21
Youngest son William to have said house if Robert dies under 21
Remainder of lands and tenements to be divided between sons Robert and William
Wife Juliane: house in St Clement’s, Ipswich, where I now dwell, for life. After her death, to my youngest son William. If he died under 21, the house to son Robert.
Sons Robert and William to have a bed and £20 each when 21
My three daughters £40 each and a bed each on their day of marriage
Thomas Swynnerton alias Robert, parish priest of St Mary Elms, Ipswich, 20sh for a sermon
John Goslynge, curate of said church, 6sh 3d
Stevyn Cardenall £4

Executor: wife Julian, rest and residue

Overseer: Adam Berwike of Stratford

Witnesses: Adam Berwike of Stratford, clothmaker; Thomas Barbour of Ipswich; John Goslyng of same, priest; Thomas Swynnerton alias Roberts of same, priest; Thomas Grythe of Bergholt, clothmaker, and others.

Written 29 Apr 1538, probate 14 Oct 1538

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: it’s difficult to know how this testator fits in with the Ipswich Cutlers. He is unlikely to be the brother of Robert Cutler of Nayland (mentioned in the will above) as Thomas doesn’t mention a son called Nicholas. It would’ve been helpful for us if Thomas had named his three daughters. It’s interesting to note that he knew the Cardinalls – presumably Stephen Cardinall mentioned in this will is Stephen Cardinall of East Bergholt, who married Anne Grith. This seems likely given that Thomas Grith, the same name as Anne’s father, was one of the witnesses.

His son William could be the William Cutler who married Dorothy Vesey, daughter of Margaret Barker and William Vesey – see his will below. He mentions his brother Robert Cutler in his will.

The testator’s father was John Cutler of Thorp who died in 1523 – his surname is Cutlar in the PCC will. No mention is made of John Walsh in his will, but a tenement called Warmans in Thorpe was to be inherited by Thomas’ sister Joan after the death of their mother Agnes. It might be the case that John Walsh had married Joan, and after his death, it would revert to Thomas’ heirs. John’s will was witnessed by Richard Cardinall – perhaps not a surprise given that Thomas’ will mentioned a Cardinall too.

Cutler, Thomas, gentleman of Stanstead, 1652

Parish of Stanstead: 40sh
Messuage called Dales, late occupied by John Jacques, now by Licewell Dobbs to be sold to pay off debts and to redeem mortgages
Lands that weere mortgaged to be divided among my four youngest children: Frances, Mary, Elizabeth and Anne, and the overplus of the sale of Dales to be divided among those four children too.
Land called Giffords Green in tenure of Goodale, and Spring Grove lying between Stanstead Hall towards the south and Coopall Lane towards the north of Shimpling: to Henry
Goods and chattels to be divided among the aforesaid younger children
Son John: land called Downes in Stanstead, and land called Lowes and Flowerlands, and copyhold grove in Stanstead called Wood Croft, and a copyhold grove: on condition he pays my four youngest children £20 each

Executor: son Henry

Sealed 15 Nov 1651. Witnesses: Richard Short, John and Benjamin Cutler

Written 1 Aug 1651, probate 3 Feb 1651/2. Henry renounced executorship, but there is a blank where the new executor’s name should be.

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Thomas Cutler’s wife was Mary Vesey, the daughter of William Vesey of Hintlesham (d abt 1616) and his wife Elizabeth Reynold. She was a granddaughter of Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey, and she is mentioned as Mary Cutter or Cutler in the will of Joan’s half-brother Robert Derehaugh of Gray’s Inn, written in 1611.

Cutler, William, merchant of Ipswich, 1579

A preacher to preach twelve sermons in Ipswich in the year following my death, 6sh 8d per sermon
Poor of Ipswich £6
Wife Dorothy to have her apparel
All goods chattels, implements, plate, jewels, merchandise and debts to be collected together and divided by executors into four parts:
Three parts to be divided between my sons and daughters, to sons when 21, and daughters when 20
One part to wife Dorothy
Dorothy to have custody of the children’s portions under they can receive them, except for son John, who is already of age.

Executors: son John; brother Robert Cutler, merchant; John Hawes the elder of Ipswich

Supervisor: Robert Sucklinge, merchant

Written 13 Aug 1579, probate 20 Oct 1579 by Robert Cutler

25 Jan 1598/9: Richard Cutler, a son of the deceased, swore to administer, as Robert Cutler hadn’t.

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: apparently the husband of Dorothy Vesey, daughter of William Vesey of Hintlesham and his first wife, Margaret Barker. Dorothy married William Maddock of Ipswich after her husband’s death.

The testator might be the son of Thomas Cutler (see his will above), as Thomas mentioned his sons William and Robert, and William mentions his brother Robert in this will.

Cutler, William, of Ipswich, 1621

To be buried in the church of St Stephen’s, Ipswich
Wife Johane: all houses and lands in Suffolk and Essex
Daughter Elizabeth Brond, wife of Jacob Brond: to inherit said houses and lands after her mother’s death, and to descend to her male heirs.
Nephew William Cutler, son of brother Samuel Cutler: if daughter Elizabeth has no male heirs, the said houses and lands to descend to him
Mr Samuel Warde, preacher of Ipswich: £10
£10 to be spent on books for the library at Ipswich, to be chosen by Mr Samuel Warde
Brothers Samuel Cutler and Roger Cutler: £10 each
Mr Warner, minister of St Stephen’s, Ipswich: £5
Poor of said parish: £5
Maid Anne Raye: £5
Mr Thomas Laster: £10
£100 to the bailiffs, burgesses and portmen of Ipswich, to buy a house worth £6 a year, the annual income to be given to three poor people
Daughter Elizabeth £1,300 to be spent on property for income
Wife: plate bought from Mr Armiger
Wife: all other plate and household stuff for life, and after her death to daughter Elizabeth

Executors: wife

Supervisor: brother-in-law Mr Nicholas Revett

Written 24 Jan 1620/1, probate 28 March 1621

Transcriber’s notes: In 1596, William Cutler married Joan, the daughter of Thomas Sicklemore, an Ipswich portman with ties to Bramford in Suffolk (see his will). Joan had a large number of sisters, who married as follows: Frances (d1626, buried in Wivenhoe), to William Beriffe of Colchester (d1626); Rose, to John Parkhurst in 1604; Elizabeth, to Tobias Blosse (d1631) of Ipswich and Belstead in 1591; Sarah, to Robert Senior (d1638) in 1598; Mary, to Nicholas Rivett (their son Nicholas of Brandeston, Suffolk, died in 1648 and made his mother his executor); and Susan, to John Goulding in 1595, and to William Cardinall of Hadleigh, Suffolk, in 1603 (of Gray’s Inn when he wrote his will in 1616). Susan appears to have left a will too – Susan Cardinall of Layer-de-la-Haye, in 1666.

The testator, William Cutler, must’ve linked in with the other Ipswich Cutlers. One clue is the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth to Jacob Brond. Jacob’s sister, Amy/Ann, married Robert Cutler, the brother of Joan Cutler/Walton/Vesey who both appear in Metcalfe’s Cutler tree under additional Suffolk Pedigrees in his Visitations of Suffolk.

The testator’s widow, Joan, died in Polstead, Suffolk, in 1656.

PCC