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).
- Day, Abraham, of Washbrook, farmer, 1748
- Day, Isaac, of Washbrook, farmer, 1774
- Day, John, of Washbrook, farmer, 1808
- Derehaugh, Francis, of Gedgrave, 1621
- Derehaugh, Robert, of Gedgrave, 1637
- Dearhaugh, Susan, of East Bergholt, 1640
- Derehaugh, William, of Gedrave, 1613
Day, Abraham, farmer of Washbrook, 1748
Wife Mary the use of half of Abraham’s farming implements. The other half to his son John. John and Mary to live together and run the farm together. Abraham holds farms and lands in Washbrook and Little Wenham
After Mary’s death, the farming implements to be sold and from the money £5 each to daughters Mary (wife of Robert Pascall) and Sarah (wife of William Garwood).
Rest and residue to be divided among the children of his sons and daughters (note it does says sons but the only son named in the will is John).
40 shillings to daughter Sarah Garwood
Executors: wife Mary and son John
Witnesses: Susan Heard x, Richd King x, John Burrell
Written 13 Mar 1747/8, proved 2 April 1748
SRO ref IC/AA1/177/18
Day, Isaac, yeoman of Washbrook, 1774
£5 each to sons John Day and William Day, and daughters Ann Leverett, Mary Bush and Sarah Bush
£50 each to sons George Day and Isaac Day, and daughter Ann Day
Wife Ann: interest on £200 for life. After her death, the £200 to be divided between children Mary Bush, Sarah Bush, Ann Day and Isaac Day
Has recently sold property in Capel and conveyed it to sons John Day and George Day
Son Abraham Day: rest and residue
Executors: sons Abraham and Isaac
Witnesses John Lewis, Pet. Clarke, Thos. F. Notcutt
Written 9 May 1772
Codicil: £10 each for Mary Bush and Sarah Bush instead of £5 each. Son George Day has already received his £50 so is to receive no more.
Written 4 July 1772, proved 22 April 1774.
SRO ref IC/AA1/194/116
Day, John, farmer of Washbrook, 1808
Executives Saml Tricker, innholder of Stratford St Mary and James Turner of Little Wenham, farmer.
To his mother (unnamed in the will): 6 shillings a week plus house, rent and “firing”
Wife Rachael Laws Day: rents, profits etc while a widow.
His children: Rachael Laws Day, Ann Day, John Day, Samuel Crussel Day, William Henry Day
At wife’s marriage or death, property leases etc to be sold and government securities bought to raise the children. When the youngest reaches 21, to be divided between them.
Witnesses: Newman Jno Stubbin, Isaac Bush, John Stubbin
Written 14 April 1808, proved 12 November 1808
SRO ref IC/AA1/228/102
Derehaugh, Francis of Gedgrave, 1621
Has entered into a bond with John [Marcon or Marton?] the younger of St Andrews, Suffolk, regarding estate in Peasenhall, Suffolk.
Brother Robert Derehaugh, under 21
Late uncle Robert Derehaugh of Gray’s Inn brough property in High Holborn in testator’s name and in the name of William Vesey of Gray’s Inn.
Owned Gedgrave Hall.
Bond with Arthur Middleton of Horsham, Surrey, gent and John Godbould, gent. His properties, including Gedgrave Hall, to pay for various debts, including his father’s.
Brother James Derehaugh
Mother Mary Martine, £200 if she survives her husband, Peter Martyne.
Sister Mary Saxey, widow and late wife of William Saxey esq, £200
Dorothy Derehaugh £300
Arthur Middleton £500
John Gardiner and John Godbould both of Gray’s Inn, £200 each
If both brothers die before debts and legacies paid, Arthur Middleton to have the properties, and to his heirs. If he has no heirs, to Thomas Derehaugh of Badingham, gent.
The poor of Orford
Witnesses: Thomas Bence, Anthony Porter
Written: 1 Oct 1615
Published and declared again on 31 Aug 1616. Probate: 1 May 1621.
Witnesses: Jonas Beriman, John Girling, John Thurston, George Birch
PCC
Derehaugh, Robert of Gedgrave, 1637
“About Christmas 1615 and in the month of December”… Robert Derehaugh said he was to “travell beyond the seas” and made a verbal will with his friends:
When I dye yf I doe not leave a will in writing I give all my estate to my sister Sexie or will that my sister Sexie have all my estate.
Probate 15 Dec 1637: In Latin, the gist of which is that William Cardinall had married Mary Cardinall alias Sexie, and that she had died, leaving the couple’s children William and Anne Cardinall.
PCC
Dearhaugh, Susan, spinster of East Bergholt, 1640
Noncupative will.
“I doe give all my goods and chattells whatsoever unto Frances Noone of Melton, Suffolk, gent, my brother-in-lawe.”
In the presence of Elizabeth Woodgate x and Anne Westupp x
Given verbally: 7 Feb 1639/40, probate 2 April 1640
PCC
Transcriber’s note: her brother-in-law is presumably Francis Nunn. Whether he is her sister’s husband or a stepbrother isn’t clear as “brother-in-law” could mean the same thing at the time.
I’m not sure of Susan’s identity as she doesn’t crop up in the Markshall or Gedgrave Derehaugh wills. However, William Cardinall who married Mary Derehaugh (as a widow after the death of her husband William Saxey) lived in East Bergholt as well, so perhaps Susan was a cousin of Mary’s. Mary had died before 1637.
Derehaugh, William, esqr of Gedgrave, 1613
“My sonne Francis is not experienced in matters of the world.” Executors therefore to manage his estate.
Executors: Thomas Cornwallis of St C*, Humphrey Wingfield of Brantham, Thomas Wingfield of Ipswich.
Daughter Dorothy Derehaugh £400
Son Robert Derehaugh to be bound as an apprentice for 7 years. To be paid £400 once he has completed his apprenticeship.
Daughter Saxie.
Servant John Warren.
The poor of Orford.
Has certain household goods in his cousin Thomas Higham’s house in Stratford, Essex.
Witnesses: Francis Mason, Francis Hiegate.
Written 26 Sep 1612, probate 3 May 1613.
PCC
Transcriber’s notes: William was buried at Orford, near Gedgrave, on 30 Sep 1612. There is a memorial slab at Orford for a William Derehawghe, son of Edward Derehawghe of Markshall, who died on 23 Nov 1613 aged 53. There is no burial for that man in the register – the closest is the burial of William in 1612. It is entirely possible that the slab was laid some years after William’s death and the wrong information was included. Edward Derehaugh certainly had a son called William, who appears in his will, and Edward had land in Gedgrave. Also, a William, son of Mr Edward Deero, was baptised at Great Bromley 28 June 1561, which matches up with the details on the slab. It seems that William was the son of Julian Cardinall, and the Cardinalls were living in Great Bromley at that time. Julian’s sister Faith also married a Derehaugh, possibly another William Derehaugh, before marrying as a widow in 1561 to Henry Appleton.