BEGATS AND BEQUEATHALS

My grandfather RICHARD WHITELOCK maryed a Grove; her frends dwelled at a place called Funges [i.e., Fingest] in [Buckingham] shire. His father William maryed a Cowdrey. My grandfather had four suns: WILLIAM, that was brought up at Eton Colledge, and from thence went to Kinges Colledge in Cambridge, whear he was chosen Fellow, and after was Viceprovost of the colledge, and from thence was presented to the vicaradge of Prescot in the dioces of Chester, as apperethe by the letters of presentation in my hand an. 1559, in whiche he is named viceprepositus of the colledge and sacrce theologies baccalaureus; he had another good benefice in Middlesex, and was canon of Wells, and of Litchefeild, in whiche churche he lived for the latter part of his time altogeather, and thear dyed a single man, being neer fowerscore yeares of age at his deathe.

Liber Famelicus then goes on to discuss Richard Whitlock’s second son John (1509-1589). The previous posting focuses on the information that Liber Famelicus provides about John Whitlock.

Liber Famelicus on Richard’s Son Jerome

Following its discussion of Richard Whitlock’s first son William (died 1584) and second son John (1509-1589), Liber Famelicus then provides information about Richard’s third and fourth sons Jerome (died 1593) and Richard (abt. 1533 – 1570). Regarding Jerome, Liber Famelicus states,[2]

The third sun of my grandfather was HIEROM, who lived not mutche above 60 yeares. He had only on sun at the time of his deathe, called William, that was broughte up in Westminster School, and went from thence by election to Christchurche in Oxon, whear he continued untill he was maister of artes, and was afterward vicar of Sunning, prebend of Wells, and of Lichefeild, and had a competent patrimonye of lay fee from his father. He was a verye good scholer, and a good houskeeper, but lived in great torment withe the stone, of whiche he dyed little above 30 yeares of age, and left children very yong. His widow maryed John Whitelock of the waferye in the king’s house.

Liber Famelicus on Richard’s Son Richard

Then, regarding Richard Whitlock (abt. 1533 – 1570), the fourth son of Richard Whitlock (died 1556) and father of Sir James Whitlocke, Liber Famelicus states,[3]

My father, RICHARD WHITELOCK, was the fourthe and yongest sun. He was put to London to be broughte up in the trade of marchandise, and then became free of the best companyes, as of the marchant adventure[r]s, Spayne, Muskovie, and did trafique in all these countryes, and heer in England withe the Italian marchants, but used most trafique in Fraunce. He used to go in parson into foreyne countryes, and, having a purpose to leave that dangerous course of life, was taken away by deathe in that voyage he made accoumpt shold have been his last. He went from London toward Burdeux in Fraunce, the emporium for Gascoyne wines, 22 September, 1570, and thear fell into a plurisye, 21 October next following, of whiche he dyed 7 November following, and was buryed, withe great difficultye ; for, by reason that he refused extream unction and sutche popishe ceremonies in his siknesse, he was excommunicate as an heretik, and so deprived of Christian buriall. But the Englishe marchants that wear then at Burdeux, to the number of a 100 or more, armed withe shot, did carye the corps into the vineyards, and thear did honorably interr it. He made his last will and testament in his siknesse, dated 30 October, 1570, and in it made my mother his executrix, who did prove it and execute it most faythefully and lovingly toward her children. The inventarye was 1221£. 11s. 7d.

He was but 37 yeares of age when he dyed, as appeerethe by his picture, whiche was made 1563, and then he was 30 year olde, and he died in anno 1570. I have noted his gravitye by his picture, for, being then but 30 year olde, he ware a cap, a verye smale ruffe withe black work, a side coat of fine black clothe, a black satten dubblet, and a Spanishe cape of fine black clothe, furred and edged withe pinked satten, and long stokkins. This apparell now wolde be thoughte overgrave in an elder by ten yeares.

Liber Famelicus on the Lineage of Beches Manor from Agnes de la Beche

Sir James Whitlocke then proceeds to provide detailed information about the four sons of Richard Whitlock (abt. 1533 – 1570), Edmund (1564-1608), Richard (1565-1624), and twins William (1570 – abt. 1597) and James (1570-1632), the author of Liber Famelicus. Prior to offering a biographical sketch of his father Richard Whitlock (abt. 1533 – 1570), Sir James Whitlocke recounts important information about the manor of Beches at Wokingham and how it came to belong to the Whitlock family, passing from John Whitlock and his wife Agnes de la Beche (died 1491) to their heirs:[4]

My father RICHARD WHITELOCK was the fourthe sun of Richard Whitelock, and was born in the ancient seat of the Whitelocks, called Beeches, situate neer Okingham, a market towne in the countye of Barkes, whiche land hathe continued in our blud sithence the year of our Lord 1231; for it appeerethe by a deed in my cosen William Whitelockes hand of Beches that Robert then bishop of Salisburye, who was lord of the manor of Sunning neer Okingham, did give to William de la Beche, out of his purpresture of Bear Wood, that verye land my cosen William Whitelock now holdethe by discent from his father, and he hathe the originall deed of confirmation from the dean and chapter in his hand, dated at that time, and an other deed of composition made between the bishop and the said William de la Beche, dated 1247, for the improvement of the rent of the land so given.

This land continued in the name of Beches, being the manor of Beches, untill 31 Henry VI., and divers court rolles ar in the hands of my cosen William Whitelock of the Beches, in Edward III., and Edward II., and Richard II. his time, by whiche it appeerethe they were sum of them knightes.

The last male of this house was Robert de la Beche, who had only on daughter and heir called Agnes de la Beche, to whome this land near Okingham and an ancient farm of the Beches in Whitchurche in Oxfordshire, called Beches Place, wear intailed 31 Henry VI., and then soon after dyed Robert, and Agnes was maryed to John Whitelock, who, in her right, had these lands; from which John they descended by mean and lineall discents to John Whitelock, father of William Whitelock who now holdethe them as heir to his sayd father John, except sutche as William, the now tenant, hath solde to myself and others.

Thear ar among our evidences of our house, in the hands of my cosen William Whitelock, leases made by John Whitelock and the sayd Agnes, of part of these lands, in the beginning of Edward the IVth his raigne. [12 Maij, 4 E. IV] [N.B. A footnote explains that the date was subsequently added to the manuscript.]

A writ of restitution for John Whitelock, of the lands in Whitchurche upon a forceable entre.

This Agnes in a publique instrument doth write her self “generosa,” whiche is very unusuall for that time, and for this see the deed in my cosen Whitelockes hands. [Rob. Beche gent., in a deed, 14 H. VI.; Agnes generosa, 8 H. Vll].

Querie for a commission that came out of the Eschequer about the end of Elisabethes raigne to enquire of subtractions of rents  of the manor of Sunning, which is now the enheritance of the  crowne by exchange withe the bishop of Salisburye, and you shall  finde that my cosen William Whitelock is by it charged withe the subtracting of the rent of improvement, by the composition made withe the bishop anno 1247, as lineall heir to that William de la Beche.

Observe the moderation of this family, that hathe continued thear patrimony for almost 400 yeares without encrease or diminution ; it hathe been more impaired by the now owner then by all his ancetors, as I can finde by his evidences ; nether do I finde that in all this time they have purchased any land, nether that they have solde anye.

Information about Richard Whitlock in Other Documents

As a Whitelock-Colte lineage chart in Joseph Hunter’s Familiae Minorum Gentium states, Richard Whitlock (died 1556) inherited the manor of Beches (Beche in this source) at Wokingham from John Whitlock and his wife Agnes de la Beche (died 1491).[5] An entry in the calendar of patent rolls held by the British Public Record Office dated 4 August 1548 also shows Richard Whitlock (died 1556) holding a lease on that date along with a number of other men for grant of “a great garden …i n the Parish of St. Brides in Fletestrete, London.”[6] The following year on 8 April 1549, the calendar of patent rolls notes messuages and rents being paid to Richard Whitlock for land in the chantry of St. Mary in Okyngham (i.e., Wokingham), Berkshire and Wiltshire.[7] Also included in this list is William Planer, clothier of Okyngham, whose daughter Agnes married Richard Whitlock’s son John Whitlock (1509-1589).

Will of Richard Whitlock

Richard Whitlock died testate at Wokingham with a will dated 5 August 1556 and proven 24 October 1556.[8] The following is Peter Whitlock’s transcription of the will:[9]

In the name of god amen In the yeare of our lord god 1556 the vth daye of August I Richard Whitlock of Wokingham in the Countie of Berks’ er Do make this my last will and testament in man’r and forme following In primis I od…ed my soule to the …s of god Item I bequeath to the high altar of the parish c…h. of Wokingham vjd. Item I bequeath to Richard my son at the da… of his marriedge v£ of gold & lawfull monie of England. Item I bequeath to Jerome my son after the decease of me & Jane my wife & the longer lyed of us both that my tenement of Whitemarsh in the Countie of Oxford cauled fullres & there lands thereunto apptayning d…h th..pp … to him & his heirs for ever Item I bequeath to Jon H…ij Ke.. to be delivered …. xij monthes after my decease & then I will that Jane my wife whom I have made my sole & full exequtrix to fulfill all things according to the … to h…if she will the said ij …. Item I bequeath to my daughter Alice v…. after the decease of me & Jane my wife Item I bequeath to Willm my son x£ ….during his natural life to be paid out of the land cawled pipands… & after his decease to …John my son Item I will that after the decease of me & Jane my wife & the longer lyved of us that John my son shall have all that my man’ cawld beches planer & also all that lands cawld…. & all that lands … in the Counties of Berks & Wilts to him & to his heirs all my lands .. To son John … her naturall life & if so be that my wife Jane do marrie that then the …by the …will Item I will that my son Willm shall have a …in my said …. for him self & …during his life Item I bequeath … my brother a …. Item the residue off my goods…not bequeathed to … & ….my last will & testament… my brother John Grove to be overseers thereof & I will that a…..

Testa… Richard Whitlock… Richard Johnson Whitlock er Jeromino Whytlock…

xxiiij die mensis Octobris Anno Dom 1556

And this is the sum of what I know at present about Richard Whitlock, who died at Wokingham in 1556.

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[1] James Whitlocke, Liber Famelicus of Sir James Whitlocke, etc., ed. John Bruce (London: Camden Society, 1858), p. 3.

[2] Ibid., p. 4.

[3] Ibid., pp. 4-5.

[4] Ibid., pp. 1-3.

[5] Joseph Hunter, Familiae Minorum Gentium, vol. 3, ed. John W. Clay (London: Harleian Society, 1895), p. 1124. See also the file, “De la Beche Manor Documents Wokingham Berkshire England,” R3441 in the reference files archived at the website of the Whitlock Family One-Name Study site, with a 23 July 1548 legal document in this collection noting the given name of Richard Whitlock’s wife Joan – Johanne in the original.

[6] Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office–Edward VI, vol. 2. 1548-1549 (London: Public Record Office, 1924), p. 69.

[7] Ibid., pp. 423-4.

[8] Probate Records of the Court of the Dean of Salisbury, Wiltshire Wills and Probates P5/20Reg/147-8. A transcript of the will by Peter Whitlock entitled “Will of Richard Whitlock, 1556,” is in Whitlock Family Newsletter 27,2 (June 2008), p. 5.

[9] See supra, n. 8.