These wills are from a variety of sources – some from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and others from county record offices. Most of the wills have been transcribed to include all the names mentioned, but not necessarily all of the details of what each person received, so please see the originals for complete details.
- Hill, Margaret, widow of Norwich, 1549
- Hill, Philip, of Norwich, 1538
- Hopton, Arthur, gentleman of London, 1647
- Hull, Richard, draper and citizen of the City of London, 1647
Hill, Margaret, widow of Norwich, 1549
To be buried in the parish church of St Peter by my first husband
Brother Robert Flynt: house I live in St Peter Per Mountergate, Norwich, and the house adjoining. All household stuff in the said houses, and tenement and close in Norwich bought by my late husband by Sir Robert Lewins, clerk.
Widow Hare: to have her dwelling in the house she now lives in for life.
Nephew Robert Flynt: property outside the city of Norwich when 21.
Niece Margaret Flynt: 100 marks on her marriage, as long as marries with the permission of her father and grandfather. Also my “great cup”, which I will her grandfather Mr Rougge keeps until her marriage.
Other properties in St Peter Per Mountergate to be sold.
Brother William Flent: his children to have some of the proceeds from the sale on their marriages.
Old servant John Holybake, and late servant Philip Coke: some money
All other houses in Norwich and the parish of St Faith’s to be sold.
Forgives husband’s nephew Humphrey Hill his debts.
Executors: brother Robert Flynt, Master Drake, a prebendary of Christchurch, Norwich.
Written 26 Oct 1548, probate 5 Feb 1548/9
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Transcriber’s notes: Margaret was the second wife of Andrew Pawe of Norwich (see his will), making her the stepmother (or mother, but stepmother appears more likely) of Margaret Pawe, one of the two wives of William Knightley. Margaret’s second husband was Philip Hill of Norwich (see his will below), the son of William Hill of East Bergholt (see his will). Keeping the families connected, Philip’s nephew Simon Hill (see his will) married Elizabeth, a daughter of William Knightley and Margaret Pawe. So in other words, Margaret’s stepdaughter married Margaret’s stepnephew.
Hill, Philip, of Norwich, 1538
My brother’s children Symonde and Humfrey: 40sh when 16
To Sir Robert 40sh
Money to servants.
I forgive my father his debts of 100 marks. To father: 40sh.
Rest and residue to wife [unnamed, except in the probate]
Executors: wife and father
Witnesses: William Rogers, Alderman of Norwich, Robert Flynt of Gray’s Inn
Written 28 Aug 1517, probate 6 May 1538
Probate (in Latin) by Margerie Hill, relicte [Margaret]
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Transcriber’s notes: Philip Hill married Margaret (see her will above), the widow of Andrew Pawe of Norwich (see his will). He was a son of William Hill of East Bergholt (see his will), who died in 1528 or 1529, hence it was only Margaret who was able to probate Philip’s will in 1538. Robert Flynt, one of the witnesses, is perhaps the man of the same name was who was Margaret’s brother.
Hopton, Arthur, gentleman of London, 1647
[Transcriber’s note: notes in square brackets have been added from other sources to help identify the many people mentioned in this will]£5 to the poor of Belaugh, Norfolk, where I was born
£5 to the poor of the parish of St Sepulchre’s, where I’ll be buried, near my dear brother Henry Peynell (this surname is usually Pannell/Paynell)
About 12 years ago, bought an annuity for £600 from brother Henry Paynell and my nephew Robert Paynell his son, £40 pa, to be paid from their land in Belaugh and some other places in Norfolk. Conveyance dated 1 Nov 1631. From this money, £20pa to nephw Robert, and the other £20 to nephew Edward Paynell. Plus a legacy to Edward, and his debt forgiven.
Godson John Paynell, nephew Robert’s eldest son
My noble kinsman Sir Raphe Hopton, knight, a silver bowl, and the ring with the Hopton crest.
Kinsmand Sir Arthur Hopton, Lord Embassador in Spain: a silver bowl, and the lesser seal ring with the Hopton crest, “which ring I the rather presume to give him, for that it was a legacy bequeathed unto me by his dear sister and my best kinswoman Lady Bacon.” [Dorothy Hopton, 1570-1629, wife of Sir Nathaniel Bacon, d 1622]
Nephew Judge Bacon, Justice of the King’s Bench: a silver bowl [According to Norwich Heritage, this is Sir Francis Bacon, 1587-1657, born in Kings Lynn and the son of John Bacon and Elizabeth Paynell]
Lady Elizabeth, Countess Rivers, a dozen silver spoons “as a testimony of my dutiful respects.” She owes him £100, which he asks his executor not to press her for.
“Noble friend” Viscountess Andevor, a dozen silver spoons.
Friend Mr Thomas Savage, son of Countess Rivers, a dozen silver spoons [Godfather of Thomas Mann, his late niece’s son]
Niece Thomazine Fyrmen, wife of Strange Fyrmen, £40 [Thomasin was the daughter of William Crachrode (d1625) and Mary Paynell or Hopton (d1642)]
Niece Margery Hull, wife of Richard Hull, £40 [Margery was another daughter of William and Mary Crachrode]
Niece Mary Coale of Ipswich, widow, £40 [Daughter of Anthony and Bridget Mannock – Bridget was Arthur’s sister or half-sister]. Mary’s three children: Nathaniel, John and Elizabeth Coale, £5 each
Niece Elizabeth Mayer, sister of Judge Bacon, £20
Jane Mann daughter of Edward Mann of Ipswich, by a beloved niece of mine, £20 [Jane was the daughter of Edward by his second wife, Dorothy Mannock – the daughter of Anthony and Bridget Mannock. Dorothy died young].
Goddaughter Margaret Paynell daughter of Edward Paynell, £20
Brother Henry Paynell’s four daughters: Katherine, Thomazine, Elizabeth, Bridget, £5 each to buy a piece of plate
Niece Thomazine Miller, one of the daughter of my sister Mannock, £5 to buy a piece of plate [Thomasin, the daughter of Anthony and Bridget Mannock. Her first husband was William Bendish of Elmstead, Essex. Second husband not yet identified]
My goddaughter Anne Whittacres, £5 to buy a piece of plate [Daughter of Thomas Whitaker and Martha Hull. Martha was the daughter of Richard Hull and the testator’s niece Margery Crachrode, daughter of William and Mary Crachrode]
Friend Mrs Alice Hulet? of Greenwich, widow, £10 to buy a diamond ring
My cousin William [surname hard to read], a gentleman’s usher quarter waighter to his majesty, of Westminster, 40s for a ring
My cousin, his sister Turner, a widow, living at the Tower of London, money for a ring
John Wells, my landlord
Cousins Mr Richard Hull, William Hull
Nathaniel Deards
Cousin Barbara Firmen and her brother William [Perhaps children of Thomasin and Strange Firmen]
Cousin Martha Whittacres, and her husband, my cousin Thomas Whittacres
My cousin Mary Cratchered: her grandmother’s wedding ring which my sister Cratcherod left me for a legacy
Friend Mr John Barry, steward to Countess Rivers
Grace wife of Mr James Hills, sometime servant to Countess Rivers
My sister Paynell, and my niece Judith Paynell
Cousin Elizabeth wife of the aforesaid Edward Mann of Ipswich. [Unclear how Elizabeth is related to Arthur, other than his niece having married Edward before]
Thomas, son of Edward Mann of Ipswich, some plate that belonged to his godfather, Lord Viscount Savage
Deed for the manor of Stoke Hall, Suffolk, near Ipswich, for the use of Thomas Mann
Deeds between sister Cracherod and Edward Bigg of Toppesfield, Essex, concerning her granddaughter Mary Cracherod
Mr Matthew Cracherod
Executor: nephew Robert Paynell of Gray’s Inn, £100
Written: 24 May 1644, probate 5 Nov 1647
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Note: Arthur says he was born in Belaugh, Norfolk, and there’s a baptism there on 15 Dec 1576 for Arthur, son of Charles and Tomazine Hopton. They also had a son called , baptised there on 28 Dec 1578. It seems possible that Tomazine was first married to a Paynell as that family did live in Belaugh too, and her name seems to have been continued down the generations as Arthur has several nieces of that name.
Hull, Richard, Draper and Citizen of the City of London, 1647
Wife Margery, executor
Son William Hull, executor
Daughter Martha, wife of Thomas Whitacre (overseer of the will)
Granddaughter Anne, a daughter of Thomas and Martha Whitacre
Sister Mrs Mary Wright, wife of Henry Wright, Citizen and Dyer of London.
Cousin Elizabeth Short
Written (not given?), probate 11 Oct 1647.
Note in Latin in the margin: 15 March 1670/1: Martha Randall alias Hull, daughter of…? (It appears the will was left unadministered. The testator’s daughter swore to do so – and she had since remarried).
Transcriber’s notes: The Hulls are mentioned in Arthur Hopton’s will, above.