Posted by e.m.vine@exeter.ac.uk
23 July 2024In this month’s post, one of our Expert Volunteers shares a fascinating will that he transcribed as part of our project.
Austen Hamilton, Project Volunteer
This month’s post explores the will of Thomas Pechill, esquire of Normanton in Lincolnshire, which was composed in September 1665.1 Pechill died within a few months of making his will, a lengthy document that spanned six pages, and contained considerable detail about household items and clothing, including silver spoons, a sugar box, a ‘seeing-glasse’, thigh-boots, and two wigs – his ‘best perewigge’, as well as one that he wore every day.
Thomas Pechill the Landowner
Normanton is a small village seven miles north of Grantham on the road to Lincoln. Thomas was a wealthy member of the local gentry, and his home was the Normanton manor house. The house is thought to have been built in the fifteenth century but was later destroyed by fire and a subsequent house was itself rebuilt in 1863.2 Unlike Ralph Wright, the Lincolnshire farmer in an earlier blog, Thomas, a wealthier landowner, does not dwell on farming or animals in his will, although there are bequests to servants of ‘sheepe lockes’ and ‘old barley.’ The only animals mentioned are horses. In particular, Thomas bequeathed his wife Mary ‘my coach three Mares and one Colt vizt Two brown bay bald mares one bay Colt with a starre in his head bought at Slow Greene and our browne bay mare called Sewells mare with the harnesse and all other things belonging to the Coach’.
Pechill’s land was largely let out to tenants, four of whom were mentioned in the will – indeed one of them was left a specific bequest: ‘a paire of old bootes in the Closset with Topps [and] a hatt.’ This is one of two references specifically to boots with ‘Topps.’ These were the then fashionable thigh boots, originating with cavalrymen, whose top parts from the knee upwards were usually folded down. Like sailor’s bell bottoms and 1960s flares, the wider the tops were, the more fashionable you were.
Thomas Pechill the family man
As well as horses, Pechill’s wife Mary was also to receive ‘Two silver candle potts with covers and twelve silver spoones … all my Drapes lynnens bedding pewter brasse and all other my household goods whatsoever (except for those bequeathed elsewhere).’ In fact a considerable amount was bequeathed elsewhere. As agreed in their marriage settlement, Mary was also to retain the house during his daughter’s minority, or for the rest of her life should his daughter die before attaining the age of twenty-one. More unusually, this clause was extended in the will, allowing her to retain the house for this time even if she should marry again, but only on condition that she kept the house and grounds in good repair and did not sell off the timber.
It is Thomas’s daughter, also called Mary, who was the main beneficiary of the will and who was named as sole executor. She was seemingly his only surviving child and was still very young when the will was made as Thomas specified an annual allowance to her of £30 up to the age of 12, increased to £40 up to the age of 16, and thereafter to £60 until she married or reached 21, whichever was earlier. That she was the child of a previous marriage is implied by the bequest of ‘one Chest bound with iron standing in the high garrett and one double blacke trvnke in the Nursery which was her mothers with all the apparrell lynnene rings Jewells plate and other things in the said Trunke.’
Providing for the future
Thomas’s main concern was to retain the property intact, as is shown both by the setting out of an order of inheritance in the event of his daughter’s early death and by detailed listing of the items to be kept in the house as heirlooms. Thomas left his house and his land to his daughter Mary, also providing alternative arrangements in case of her early death. Thomas’s Cousin Robert Pechill was appointed a trustee during Mary’s minority and overseer of the will together with Thomas’s ‘very good friend’ John Towne. The trustees were permitted to sell anything for the benefit of improving the estate except for those many items specified as heirlooms, Thomas’s books and items otherwise bequeathed.
The books are not itemised, but the list of heirlooms gives a detailed impression of the house contents from the kitchen and offices to the garretts and extending to ‘the Swyne trough and Stone roller in the yard.’ Thomas specifically lists all the silverware to be left his daughter ‘two silver Canns one large silver sugar box fower large silver plates – six silver Salts and one silver porringer and all other my plate’ – except the ‘douzen and an halfe of silver spoones, two candle potts and their covers’ previously bequeathed to his wife. In fact the earlier bequest had listed only a dozen silver spoons. Let us hope this disparity did not result in a subsequent argument.
The will sets out in great detail the content of the great bedchamber and a second bedchamber, the gilt chamber, and the great parlour. The ‘greate seeing glasse’ (mirror) and ‘landskip’ (likely a ‘landscape’ painting) in the great chamber, and the monogrammed bedding in both bedchambers indicate a wealthy, fashionable household. So do the ‘Two and twenty Turky worke Chaires and two stooles with Covers for all the chaires and stooles and greate Turky worke carpett Two lesser Turky worke Carpetts three leather Carpetts six Spanish Tables’ in the great parlour.
Personal tokens
As well as the appropriate dispersal of household goods, Pechill’s will also made provision for the distribution of mourning rings. There are forty or forty-one recipients listed (one may be included twice), including relatives, friends and members of the local gentry. The giving of rings or money to purchase rings dates back to the late medieval period but became extremely popular in the late seventeenth century. Thomas wanted his executors to buy rings of 20 shillings each for twenty-five people, and the other fifteen or sixteen were to be given 10 shilling rings – at a total cost of about £6,500 in today’s money (purchasing power). It is not clear how he decided who would receive which ring.
Possibly because of the absence of a direct male heir who could make use of them, many bequests are of Thomas’s clothes, boots, rapiers and pistols to his servants and his friends. A neighbour in Normanton, Richard Rooke, a witness to the will, was left ‘my sad coloured Cloth Cloake with gold Buttons,’ ‘sad’ being used then for any dark shade.
The most favoured servant was William Pechill, from his name likely a relative. He was bequeathed Thomas’s everyday wig: ‘my Perewigge which I weare every day’. (His best wig went to one John Thorold, the recipient of a 20-shilling ring). William Pechill was also to receive ‘all my shirts … bands handkerchiefs cuffes bootes topps and the rest of my lynnen’, and a part of the remainder of his clothes which were to be shared with another servant, John Metheringham, together with ‘the two best hatts two best rapiers and belts and two paire of best boots and all my shoes and stockings’. While he divided up his clothing between his male servants, Thomas also specified that William was to have first choice! In his distinction between his servants, and between those who would receive a 10- or a 20-shilling mourning ring, many aspects of Thomas Pechill’s will were carefully thought out, and such bequests reveal the nature of the relationships between Thomas and his beneficiaries.
The Will of Thomas Pechill of Normanton Lincolnshire dated 2nd September 1665 with Codicil dated 5th September 1665, proved 6th February 1666.
1
In the name of God Amen
I Thomas Pechill of Normanton in the County of Lincolne esquire Bee=
ing weake in body but of sound and perfect mynd and memory praised
bee allmighty God therefore Doe make my last will and Testament in man=
ner and forme following hereby revokeing all former wills and testa=
ments by me made whatsoever Imprimis I render and bequeath
my soule into the hands of the Almighty Lord God my creator hope=
ing assuredly by the merritts and passion of his only Sonne and my
alone saviour Jesus Christ the righteous to inheritt his everlasting
kingdome And I commend my body to the earth from whence it came
desireing that it may be decently buryed in the middle of the church
of Normanton And for my temporall goods I dispose thereof as followeth
Item I give towards the repaire of the parish church of Normanton
aforesaid and the mending of the Λ steeple thereof the Somme of Tenne Λ bells and the
pounds to be bestowed thereon within eighteene monethes next after
my death, my executors shall thinke fitt. Item I doe give unto him that
by the appointment of my supervisors shall preach my funerall sermon
forty shillings for his paynes Item I give to my sister Elizabeth
Fancourt to my brother Palmer and to my sister Palmer To Sir
William Thorold of Marston and to his Lady To my sister Bateman
To Sir William Thorold of Hough To Master Phillip Constable To Master
Peter Constable To Sir John Newton To my brother Anthony Tho=
rold and my sister his wife to my brother John Thorold and my sister
his wife To captaine Blythe To my uncle Palmer of Ledenham & to
his wife To Master Anthony Tredway To Master Thornton of Grantham to my
cousin William Savile of Newton To the Lady Hussey of Cuthrop To
my old Cousin Constable To the Lady Tredway and my brother Snowe
every of them a ring of Twenty shillings price to be delivered to them
within fower monethes after my decease Item I give to my Cousin
John Pechill of Magdelen Colledge in Cambridge To my Cousin Pec=
hills wife of Fillingham To Master Thomas Tonstall of Cathrop to my
Uncle Moore of Sewsterne To Mistress Elizabeth Moore his daughter To Master
John Towne of Sudbrooke to Mistress Gelstroy of Whatton To my Aunte Moore
of Normanton To Mathew Fenison of Newarke To my Cousin Thornton
of Willoughby to my Cousin Pechill of Carlton widow To my Cousin
Thomas Pechill of London To my brother Thomas Thorold every of
them a ring of Tenne shillings price to be delivered them within
Fowre monethes next after my decease Item I give unto Richard
Rooke of Normanton, my sad coloured Cloth Cloake with gold
buttons Item I give unto my man Servant John Methringham
2
five quarter my old barley Item I give unto my three Tennants Rich
ard Baker William Skelton and Richard Turner forty shillings a peece
to every of them Item I give to Edward Towne my servant Tenne
shillings Item I give to Elizabeth my maidservant Tenne shillings
Item I give to my Cousin John Pechill of Stourton in Nottingham
shire my blinde browne Mare Item I give unto my Cousin Robert
Pechill of Fillingham Tenne pounds Item I give unto Wiliam Pechill
my servant Tenne quarter of the old barley as it comes from the Riddle
and the bay mare that hee usually rideth on Item I give vnto William
knight of Normanton three stone of the worser sorte of sheepe lockes Item
I give unto Ursula Waring my servant three stone of the best dock-
ing lockes Item I doe likewise give unto my Sister Elizabeth Fancourt
before named twenty pounds to buy her mourning therewith if she
thinke fitt And my will and desire is that all the goods and things
hereafter mentioned That is to say all the tables and seates shelves
safes and Troughes in the Pantry larders brewhouse Boulting house
Dayry sellars and kitching belonging to my dwelling house in Nor-
manton with the livery cupbord and Clocke in the Hall of the Said
house the Iron Backe, Range Jacke and Cobirons Spitts hookes & gallow
tree in the Λsd kitchin the lead brewing vessells quernds and Copper in
the brewhouse the bedsteds in all the garretts, the bedsted and stove
in the nursery the cupboard of drawers Chests great brasses and
bedsteds in the smaller chamber the Ceeling wainscott doores glases and
casements in the parlour and other roomes belonging to the said house
one great Chest in the Cheese chamber one safe and one other greate
Chest in the way to the hall chamber The Swyne trough and Stone roller
in the yard or else where shall remaine and continue in my dwelling
house at Normanton as Heire loomes for ever Item I doe give and be-
queath to the poore of Normanton one yearely rent or Annuall somme
of Twenty shillings for ever to be issue and goeing out of my three
Closes in Hougham Lordship called the Hill closes purchased of Tho-
mas Berry and now in the occupacion of Richard Wright or his
assignes to be paid yearely and every yeare forever on Saint Tho:
day before Christmas at Twelve a Clocke at noone of the same
day in the Church porch of the parish Church of Normanton
aforesaid to the Churchwardens or overseers of the poore of the
said parish for the tyme being to be by them distributed from tyme
to tyme in such manner as my heires owners of Normanton
house shall thinke fitt or directe and for default of payment there
of or any parte thereof at the tyme and place as aforesaid my will
is that it shall and may be lawfull for the Churchwardens and
overseers of the poore of Normanton aforesaid for the tyme being
from tyme to tyme as ofte as occasion shall require to enter into
the said Closes whereout the said rent is to be issueing all or any of
them and to distraine for the said rent and [arrerages] thereof, if
any shall happen to bee and the distresses in pound to deteyne and
keepe until they shalbe satisfied of the said rent and Charges of im-
pounding the same Item whereas I doe stand bound unto Sir Charles
Hussey Barronett, and Anthony Thorold Esquire in one bond or ob-
ligacion of the penalty of six hundred pounds or the like somme as
trustees for Mary my now wife conditioned for the payment of three
hundred pounds to them in trust for my wife in augmentacion of
3
her jointure and mantenance, My will is that if my said wife
shalbe willing to accept of all my landes in Bassingham in the County
of Lincolne in Satisfaction of the said bond And doe procure the said bond
to be delivered in to my executors within Tenne dayes next after my decease
to be cancelled then and not otherwise I doe give unto the said Mary
Pechill my now wife all my lands and tenements whatsoever in Bus
singham aforesaid To hold the same to her and her heires for ever Item
I does give and bequeath all my lands tenements and hereditaments what
soever in Normanton, Carlton = Scroop Haugham, and in case my wife
refuse to accept of Bassingham Landes in Satisfaction of the said bond
as aforesaid Then I doe give Bassingham Landes likewise with the rest
to Mary Pechill my daughter To hold the same to her and the heires
of her body lawfully begotten and my will is That my very good
friend John Towne of Sudbrooke sonne of William Towne of Sud=
brooke aforesaid and my Cousin Robert Pechill of Fillingham in the
parts of Lindsey shall receave the rents funds and proffitts thereof
vntill my said daughter Mary Pechill attaine to her age of one
and twenty yeares or be married. To the use of my said daughter desire=
ing them that they will bestowe the moneyes receaved thereby from
tyme to tyme in land for the advancement of her estate And if my
said daughter dye without issue Then I doe give and bequeath all
the said lands and tenement unto James Pechill eldest sonne of John
Pechill of Inner Temple London and the heires males of his body
lawfully begotten And for default of such issue I doe give and bee =
queath the said lands and tenements unto John Pechill second
sonne of the said John Pechill and the heires males of his body And
my will is in case my daughter dye without issue
during the minorities of the said James Pechill or John Pechill
the sonne or any other person that is to inheritt or enioye my said
lands by force of this my will That then the said John Towne and
Robert Pechill shall receave the rents funds and proffitts of the Said
lands dureing the severall minorityes of such person and persons to the
use of such person and persons respectively hopeing they will bestowe the
moneyes as they shall from tyme to tyme receave the same out of the
rents and proffitts of the said lands in the purchase of some other
lands for the benefitt of such person or persons as are to inherritt my
landes in Normanton and other Townes by force of this my will &
render a true accompt thereof unto them for the same And if the said
John Pechill second sonne of the said John Pechill of Inner Temple
happen to dye without heires, males of his body Theni doe give and
bequeathall my said lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoe=
ver in Normanton, Carlton = Scroop, Hougham and elsewhere as afore
said and upon my said wifes refusall to accept of Bassingham lands
as aforesaid Then I give Bassingham Landes likewise with the rest
vnto the said Rbert Pechill of Fillingham Λ and his heires to the use Λ aforesaide
of the third fourth fifth sixth and all and every other sonne and sonnes
of the said John Pechill and the heires males of their severall bodies
Successively and in order one after the other as they shall be in Se=
nioritie of age or priority of birth, theeldest and the heires males
of his body to be preferred before the yonger and the heires
males of his body And for default of such issue to the only use
and behoofe of the said Robert Pechill and his heires forever
4
Item I doe give and bequeath to my said daughter Mary one Sute
of Dammaske lynnen vizt one large table cloth two lesser table
clothes a douzen and Λan halfe of large napkins and two long Towells
one single blacke Trunke and all that is therein And two silver Canns
one large silver sugar box fower large silver plates – six silver Salts
and one silver porringer and all other my plate except a douzen and
an halfe of silver spoones, two candle potts and their covers which i
intend for my said wife And if my said daughter- to – dye before
she attayne her said age of one and twenty yeares as aforesaid or be
married in either of the said cases my will is that the said plate and dam=
maske before given shalbe sold by the said John Towne and Roberte
Pechill to the best advantage for the raising of the estate and to be accompted
for by them unto the next person that shall inheritt my said Lands
by force of my said will as aforesaid And to that end I desire they
may keepe the said Things in their Custody – till such tyme as my
said daughter happen to attayne her full age or bee marryed as afore
said Item I doe give Λ unto my said daughter Mary Pechill all my Λ and bequeath
furniture whatsoever being in the greate chamber guilt chamber
and greate Parlour belonging to my said Dwelling house and every
of them vizt in the greate Chamber all the hangings the bedsted every
the Curtaynes and double vallence, Tester and head one silke quilte
Two large holland quilts and feather bed and bolster roule with the
letter P : thereon Two large Pillowes Three large blanketts, one blacke
Rugge three chaires and fower stooles one greate seeing glasse and land=
skip two standards one hanging shelfe the bellowes brasses grates fireshovell
and tongs there one little Table and Carpitt and other vtensills thereon
in the guilt chamber one bedsted with Curtaines double vallence
Covnnter pane hed Tester two large hollund quilts one feather bed &
bolster roule with the letter : P : thereon Two large pillowes three large
blanketts The hangings three Chaires and fower stooles one Table one
Carpett one guilt glasse a paire of bellowes fire shovell and tongs a fire
grate and all other things therein In the greate parlor Two and twen
ty Turky worke Chaires and two stooles with Covers for all the chaires
and stooles and greate Turky worke carpett Two lesser Turky worke
Carpetts three leather Carpetts six spanish Tables one paire of greate
brasse andirons a paire of bellowes with a fire shovell and tongs &
all other things therein And my will is that the said John Towne and
Robert Pechill shall have likewise in their Custody all these things
untill my said daughter attayne her full age of one and twenty yeares
or be married, which shall first happen And if my said daughter dye be=
fore shee attayne to her said age of one and twenty yeares and unmar=
ried Then I igive all the said furniture and goods in the said three roomes
last mencioned unto my saide wife if shee be then living But in case my said
wife be then dead my will is that the same Λbee sold and disposed of by the
said John Towne and Robert Pechill for the benefitt of the nexte
person that is to inherritt my said lands in Normanton by force
of this my will as aforesaid Item I doe give and bequeath to my Sd
daughter Mary Pechill one Chest bound with iron standing in the
high garrett and one double blacke trvnke in the Nursery which
was her mothers withall the apparrell lynnene rings Jewells
plate and other things in the said Trunke to be at her owne dispose=
ing at the present with the advice of my Lady Hussey of Cathroppe
5
Item I doe give and bequeath unto my dearely beloved wife Mary Pechill
Two silver candle potts with covers and twelve silver spoones as aforesaid
all my Drapes lynnens bedding pewter brasse:and all other my household
goods whatsoever not formerly or hereafter in this my will bequeathed
or disposed of not extending to any goods in the barnes or outhouses belonging
to my dwelling house Item I doe give unto my said wife my coach three
Mares and one Colt vizt Two browne bay bald mares one bay Colt with
a starre in his head bought at Slow Greene and our browne bay mare
called Sewells mare with the harnesse and all other things belonging to the
Coach And whereas my mannor house of Normanton and our close of
pasture adjoyning thereto commonly called the Hall close and other Close
called the Tempest close and the Cottage thereto belonging were upon the
Deed of Settlement made upon my marriage with my now wife Mary Peachill
setled after my decease upon my said wife for her life if she so long continue
my widow my desire is that although Λ marry againe That yet she shall enioye Λ my said wife
the said Mannor house Cottage and closes till my said daughter attayne to
one and twenty yeares of age or be married which shall first happen if
my wife live soe long. And in case my said daughter dye before shee at=
tayne her said age of one and twenty yeares or be marryed Then my will is
my wife shall hold the premisses during her life soe as shee keepe the house
and grounds in as good repaire from tyme to tyme as they are in att
my decease Nor doe not suffer any waste to be done in the said Closes or eyther
ofthem by cutting up any the woods belonging to the said closes nor plough=
ing up the said grounds or otherwayes All the rest of my goods and Chattells
whatsoever not formerly bequeathed I doe give and bequeath unto
my said daughter Mary Pechill, whome I make my sole executrix
of this my last will and Testament And I doe constitute and appointte
my said very good friend John Towne and my said Cousin Robert Pechill
of Fillingham overseers of my said daughter And doe further will that
they shall have the sale and disposicion of all my said goods dureing her
infancie and power to make sale thereof towards the payment of my debts
and legacies and discharge of my funerall expenses (Those intended
for heire loomes and my bookes only excepted which I desire may be
kept for the benefitt of my Child and next heire And that they shall
have alsoe the receipt of all the debts oweing Λunto me by mortgage statute
bond booke or other specialty or without specialty And in order there
unto that they shall have power to give discharges for the receipt thereof
hopeing they will dispose thereof for the benefitt of my said Child and
other heire according to the trust reposed in them according to this my last
will & I doe will and appoint that my said Trustees out of the rents
and proffitts of my said lands shall pay and allow unto my said daugh=
ter Mary Pechill for her maintennance untill shee attayne unto her
age of Twelve yeares Twenty pounds a yeare And from thence untill she
bee Sixteene yeares of age the yearely somme of Thirty pounds And after
that until shee attaine to her said age of one and twnety yeares the
yearely somme of forty pounds Inwitnes whereof to this my
last will and Testament comprehended in five sheets of paper I have
set my hand and seale and to every respective sheete thereof have
writ my name the second day of September in the yeare of our
Lord Λ one Thousand six hundred sixty five Thomas Pechill Signed Λ God
Sealed and published in the presence of us Steph: Mason Richard God=
dard Richard Rooke John Farrington
6
September 5th 1665
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my sister Leake a ring of twenty
shillings price Item to brother John Thorold my best perewigge Item
give to Master Tonstall of Cathrop a ring of Tenne shillings Item I give to my
Cousin John Pechill of Magdalen Colledge my plush Coate Item I give to
my Cousin John Towne of Sudbrooke a great Stane bowe fower of my best halfe
shirts the best case of pistolls Item I give to my Cousin Anne and Betty Beres=
ford each of them a ring of Tenne shilling price Item I give Edward Towne
an Hatt Item I give to John Rooke a Ruffe hatt and a long rapier Item
I give to Richard Baker a paire of old bootes in the Closset with Topps a
hatt Item I give to Robert Goddard a little stone bowe Item I give to William
Pechill & ΛJohn Methringham my menservants all my clothes the two best hatts
Two best rapiers and belts and two paire of best boots and all my shoes and
stockings William Pechill always Chusing first Item I give to my man =
servant William Pechill my Perewigge which I weare every day Two
paire of holland drawers in my Closett which must goe with the suite Item I give
to William Pechill all my shirts and halfe shirts bands hankerchiefes Cuffes
bootes Topps and the rest of my lynnen (except foure halfe shirts to John Towne
aforesaid and another halfe shirt to Betty Witnes Λ Pechill John Methringham Λ Will
Edward Towne Eliz Diglin : Septemb: the 5th 1665. My will is that my daugh=
ter Mary Pechill shall have till her first age mentioned in my will Thirty
pounds a yeare; for her second age forty pounds a yeare and for Third
age sixty pounds a yeare witnes Master Tonstall Mistress Goddard Will Pechille
Vicesimo sexto die mensis Februarij Anno Domini (Stio Angl’
Milimo Sexcentasimo sexagesimo quinto apud London Emanavit Com=
missio Roberto Pechill viri supervisorum in Testamento nominat Thoma
Pechill defuncti henntis &c Ad administrand bona Iuraet credita dicti defuncti
cum sive Testamento et Codicil annex iuxta Tenoremit effectum Testamenti et
Codicil annex dicti defuncti in visinn et duranti minori state Maria Pechill
minoret filia et executores in eodem Testamento, nominat De bene et fidele
administrando eadem ad sancta dei Evangelia Iurat
Decimo ono die mensis Aprilis Anno Domini Millimo Sexcentesimo
Septuagesmo apud ades Exoniensis scituat in le Strand in Comitatu
Middes emanavit Commisio Sura Pechill Willimo Pechill et Johanni Pechill
Curatoribus sive Guardianis in Testamento nominat Thoma Pechill defunct
Henntio &c Ad administrand bona Iura et credita dicti defuncti cum sive Testa=
mento et Codicil annx iuxtaTenorem et effectum Testamenti et Codicill
dicti defuncti in usuris et durariti minori Maria Pechill minoris filia
et executores in eodem Testamento nominat De bene et fideiter adminis=
trando eadem at sancta dei Evangelia bigorr Commissionis alias in
ea parte emanavit Iura Hilevis Adrionis omnium et singulorum bonorium
Jurium et creditorum dicti defuncti cum sive Testamento et Codicil annex
in vsum et durante minori alale dicte Executrics Robert Pechill viri
supervisorum ineodem Testamento nominat alias Commissio et
comessio ratione Nortio dicti Roberti Cossutio et expiratis – ExE