THOMAS COMYN.1

Sept. 15, 1607. In the name of God, Amen, I, Thomas Comyn, of Croisgait, in the pish of St. Margaret's. To be buried in the pish church of St. Margaret's aforesaid. I doe give unto my sister, Dorothie Richardson, one french crowne in gold for a token. I doe give unto my sister, Jane Sympson, ten shillinges in money for a token. I doe give unto my Brother in lawe, William Sympson, my black meare. I doe give my father, John Comyne, my clooke lined with baise. I doe give to my brother, John Comyn, my best clooke. I doe give to my brother, George Comyn my green suite of apparell I doe give unto my brother Nicholas Comyn, my best dublett. I doe give unto my man, George Ullocke, one olde dublett and a paire of britches and paire of white stockings. I doe give unto my sonne, James Comyn, thirtie pounds, and my wife to have the tuision and government of my said sonne, James Comyn, and of the aforesaid some of thirty pounds for and during hir widowhood and att the daye of hir marriage I give the tuison and government of my said sone, James Comyn, and the said some of Thirtie pounds to my brother, John Comyne, of Newcastle upon Tyne, Merchant, and all the rest of his porcon due unto him the said James Comyn att the day of my death, and dew unto hym fourth of all my goodes and chattels moveable and unmoveable. I doe give the said Thirtie pounds, the which I have geven unto my sone, James Comyn, by legacy, unto John Comyn, George Comyn and Nicholas Comyn, my three brethern, equally to be devided amongst them, if thatt my said sone, James Comyne, do fortune to dye and departe fourthe of this wicked worlde before he come to the filiall age of one and twentie yeares. I doe give unto the poore twentie shillings. All resydue of my goods and chattells moveable and unmoveable, my debts, legacies and funerall paid and discharged, I doe give and

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'John Commyn, the father of the testator, was bur. at Redmarshall (from which registers all dates are taken unless otherwise mentioned), 1 Oct., 1613, an anncient inhabitant." The testator, bapt., 18 June, 1581, mar. Margaret Bayles, 8 July, 1606, at St. Margaret's, Durham, where his only child James was bapt., 30 July, 1607 (his marriage is also recorded in the registers of Redmarshall," Thomas, son of John Cummin of Redmarshall, to Bales, his daughter, of Durham "); His brother John was apprenticed, 24 June, 1601, as son of John of Cleemar Hall, co. Durham, yeo. (bapt., 20 Feb., 1583). He mar. at St. Nich., Newcastle, 1 July, 1611, Elizabeth, dau. of Ralph Cock, in whose will (dated 29 Aug., 1611, Arch. Ael., 3 Ser., xiii.. 38) he and Elizabeth are mentioned. He was bur. at St. Nich., 12 Aug., 1616. (His master, Alexander Davison, had mar. Agnes, dau. of the same Ralph Cock). His brother George was bapt., 24 July, 1586, and his brother Nicholas, 8 July, 1589; he also was apprenticed in Newcastle. His sister Dorothy, bapt,, 1 Sept., 1572, mar. Thomas Richardson, 19 Sept., 1595. His sister Janet, hapt., 21 Nov., 1574, mar. William Simpson, 27 Apl., 1593. The testator although expressing a wish in his will to be bur. at St. Margaret's, Durham, was bur. at Redmarshall, 16 Oct., 1607.

bequeth unto my wyfe, Margare Comyn, and my sonne, James Comyn, whom I make my full executors of this my last Will and Testament. Also I doe make my Brother-in-law, Thomas Richerdson, and my brother, John Comyne, survisors of this my last Will and Testament, desiring them, as my trust is in them, to see all things pformed according to the trew meaninge hereof. Proved, 28 November, 1607.

WILLM. BLAXTON.1

And

Feb. 5, 1607. I, Willm. Blaxton, of Gibside, in the Countie of Durham, Esquire. My bodie to be buryed in my pish church of Whickham in decent order at the discretion of my executors and supervisors, wthout anie vaine pompe, as neare unto the place where my lait wife was buryed as convenientlie may be. whereas I have alwayes had, and still have, a great care for the pferment and advancement of my welbeloved nephew, Ralph Blaxton, eldest sonne to my nephew, William Blaxtonn, of Hedley, in the Countie of Durham, hoping that he will feare God and seek the advancement of his house and posteritie. I give unto my said Nephew, Ralph Blaxton, all that my messuage or tenement called Netherfreerside, with all lands, tenements thereunto belonging lying and beinge in the parish of Tanfield, in the Countie of Durham, to him and his heirs for ever, in as large and ample manner as they are granted to me from my Brother, Sir Nicholas Tempest, of Stelley, in the Countie of Durham, Knight. Also to my said nephew, Ralph Blaxton, one Rent charge of Three score pounds to be issuing and going forth of the lands, tenements in the County of Durham, to be paid to the said Ralph and his heires for ever at the feasts of Penticost and St. Martin's the

1I. Roger Blakiston of Gibside, will dated, 12 Nov., 1569 (the Inventory is printed in this series, 112, p. 49) by his wife, Eleanor, dau. Millot of Whithill, had, with other issue

of. II. William of Gibside, bur. at Whickham, 18 Feb., 1607/8, mar. Joan, dau. of Robert Lambton of Lambton, bur. at Whickham, 14 Mch., 1604/5, died without issue.

III. George of Hedley Hall, mar. Eleanor, dau. of John Thaine of Swaffham, co. Norfolk, had, with other issue,

IV. Sir William of Gibside, knt., aged 38 at his uncle William's Inq. p.m. taken 17 Mch., 1607/8, at Durham, bur., 18 Oct., 1641, at Whickham, mar. Jane, dau. of Robert Lambton of Lambton (sister to the wife of his uncle William), bur. 11 Nov., 1648, and had, with other issue,

V. Sir Ralph of Gibside, aged 26, 1615, created a Baronet 30 July, 1642, bur., 20 Jan., 1650/1 having mar., firstly, Frances, dau. of Sir Charles Wren of Binchester (bapt., 1 Sept., 1598, at St. Andrew's, Auckland, and died without issue); and, secondly, Margaret, dau. of Sir William Fenwick of Wallington, Northumberland, by whom he had five sons and two daughters.

Bishop in Winter, and such yearly rent to be paide att or within the Manor house or Capitall messuage of Gibside aforesaid. I give and bequeath unto my nephew, William Blaxton, of Hedley, these parcells of plate and household stuffe hearafter followinge-that is to say-Three gobletts with one cover, six white bowells, three bigger and three lesser, two white silver peeces, one gilded saltt, one white salt, and one white trencher salt, three dozen and fower silver spoons, two London bedsteads, the one in the great chamber, the other in the new hie chamber, with two trunkle bedds to them belonging, three tables, two in the hall and one new London table in the great chamber, with a court cupbord belonging to the same, One great presse in the old parlour, The brewing lead withall vessells thereunto belonginge. Nevertheless, my Will and pleasure is absolutelie that my said nephew, William Blaxtonn, shall not during his life alyenate or sell anie of the said plait, implements of householde before mentioned, but shall suffer them to remayne and to be in the said house at Gibside as heirelooms to the said house, and shall either by his last Will or by some Deed executed in his lifetyme, soe dispose of the said plait and implements of household aforenamed as the same shall come to his sone, Ralph Blaxtonn, after the death of him, the said William Blaxtonne, or to such heires as shall happen to be heire unto the said William Blaxton. My will and pleasure is that my nephew, Henry Blaxton, shall have my colemynes in the Snipe, as well opened or not opened, and do hereby give unto my said nephew, Henrie Blaxton, all lands and grounds within the Snipe to sink pitts and to wynn and work the said pitts for his use and benefit from and after the death of me the said William Blaxton, for and during the term of 21 years from thence next insuing, which said coalmynes and libertie of Egress and Regress I give to my

nephew, Ralph Blaxton, my two golde chymes. I give and bequeath to my sisters, Grace Shaftoe, Marie Hardcastle and Ellinor Bennett, to everie of them, 67. 13s. 4d., and to my sister, Barbara Blaxton, 207., And to my sister, Dorothie, 57. I do give unto my nephew, Christopher Hedworth, of Pockerley, his children, 107. I give unto my nephew, Henry Blaxton, three score pounds. I give unto my two neeces, Johann Morrell and Alice Hix, each 67. 13s. 4d. I give and bequeath unto my nephew, William Blaxton, my best horse. I give unto my neece, Jane, wife of my nephew William Blaxton, all my lait wiffe's apparell. To my nephew, Nicholas Blaxton, second son of my nephew, William Blaxton, 2007. to pay one annuity or yearly rent charge for the natural life of the said Nicholas Blaxton. I give and bequeath unto my nephew, William, his other seven children, that is to say, John Blaxton, Roger Blaxton, Lyonel Blaxton, William Blaxton, Dorothie Blaxton, Jane Blaxton, and Barbara Blaxton, each 201. My will is that, if it please God, my neece, Jane Blaxton, be saiflie delivered of one livinge child or more, that then the said

child or children borne alive shall have the like somme of 201. a peece of lawful English money. I give and bequeath unto my wellebeloved brother-in-law, Sir Nicholas Tempest, of Stelley, Knight, one graye gelding now in the custodie of my nephew, William Blaxton. I give unto my wellbeloved sister in law, the ladie Isabell Tempest, wife of the said Sir Nicholas Tempest, one olde Ryall, and to every one of the children of the said Nicholas, that is to say, Thomas Tempest, William Tempest, Henrie Tempest, the ladie Isabella Bulmr, Mrs. Jane Chaitor and Margaret Tempest, each one olde Angell. I give unto my wellbeloved friend and cozen, Thomas Riddell, of Gateshead, Esquire, fower old angells. To everie of my household servants, 5s. apeece. To the poor prisoners in the goale of Durham from the tyme of my death for and dureing the tearm of twentie years, the sume of 20s. yearly issueing out of all my lands in this my Will not bequeathed, and the like sume of 20s. yearly for the tearme aforesaid unto the poore people of the pish of Whickham. And my will is that the 20s. to be payed to the prisoners in Durham goall shall be paid yearly unto the Maior of Durham for the time being, to be distributed amongst the said prisoners according to the meaning of this my Will. And the 20s. to be payd unto the poore of the pish of Whickham shall be paid unto the churchwardens of the said parish. I give unto my nephew, Ralph Blaxton, the full moytie and one halfe part of all my goods and chattels in this my Will not formerlie bequeathed, and I doe hereby appoint my said welbeloved Nephew, Raph Blaxtonn, sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. I give the residue of my goods and chattels, moveable and unmoveable, unto my said nephew, Ralph Blaxtonne. I do intreat and require my wellbeloved brother-inlaw, Sir Nicholas Tempest, Knight, and my loving friend and Cozen, Thomas Riddell, Esquire, to see this my last Will pformed and executed, and also appoint them supersrs. Witnesses. Nicholas Tempest, Tho. Riddell, John Johnson, Roger Colsonn, Robert Forster.

Feb 24, 1607. INVENTORY of all the goods and chattels of William Blakiston, late of Gibside, in the parish of Whickham, Esquire, deceased, praised by these fower honest men, vizt., William Porter, James Shaftoe, Anthony Meaburne and John Blarton.

In the Kitchinge: Fower brass potts, three old mellen potts, two iron potts, one posnett, three yetlinges on morter and a pestell, six panns, three candlesticks, one dripping pann, one baster, with all other furniture as Iron and pewter vessel in the Kitchinge=57. 16s. 3d. In the Maid's Chamber: Two borded bedsteads with clothes to them, 6s. In the Hall, wch are heirelooms: One table with a frame and a cupboarde table, one other cupboarde and a side table, 42s. 6d.. In the Butterie: Eight puter dublers, two basons and ewers, fower candlesticks, five

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chamberpotts, two dozen trenchers, three canns, three potts, 30s. In the Celler: Five hogsheads, two barralls, five halfe barrells, 13s. 4d. In the olde Parlor in heirloome: a pressor, 13s. 4d., one stand bedd, one hurle bedd, one square cupboarde, one hie cupboard, one long settle, six pistolls, one pair of virginalls, two Joyne stolls, one lowe stoll, one little chair, 27. 19s. All the plaite which is an heyrlome, 407., also three gobletts with a coveringe, six bowells, two cupps, one nest of tunnes, one gilt salt, one white salt, and one trencher salt, three dozen and fower spoones. Item, twentie howle puter dishes, 14 sawcers, 12 jellie dishes, 12 trencher plates, 6 slaife dishes, 2 pie plates, 4 candlesticks with 3 nossells, one warming pann, one pfume pann, one featherbedd, one bolsterr, one mattrice, a pair of blanketts, 2 happings, one coveringe, 3 Read curtaine with vallance and frindge, 3 old cuishions, 67. 16s. 6d.; lynninge and napperie, 107. In the new Porlour 1 table, 2 forms, 2 chairs, 8 joyne stools, 6 Turkie cuishions, one lyvorie cupboard, one litle firr cheste and 2 carpetts of blew and grene, 47. In the middle Chamber, wch are heirloms: One standbedd and a truckle bedd, one table and a leverie cupbord, 67. 10s. Other furniture in the same chamber as beddinge, one carpett, 14 joyne stooles and two chares, with two lowe stooles, 87. 10s. In the Hie Chamber, wch are heirloms: One standbedd, 50s. Other furniture there, as beddinge, a lyvorie cupbord, 2 chaires, 4 litle chistes, 2 trunks and an Iron chimney, 57. 10s. In the Scholehouse Chamber: A borded bedsteade, with furniture and a litle cupborde, 10s. In the White Chamber: One standbedd and a truckle bedd, with furniture for the hie bedd, one trunck banded with iron, one Court cupboarde, and an and an olde cuishion, 51. In the Yellow Chamber One standbedd and a hurle bedd, with beddinge and one chaire, 47. In the painted Chamber: Two stand bedds, one boarded bedstead, with their furniture, and 2 chistes, 47., apparell, 207., his two cheynes, 367., his laite wife's apparell, 407. In the brewhouse, which are heyreloms: A brew lead with all brewinge vessells, 40s. In the milk house: A kettle with other wood vessell. Att Gibside: Ten draught oxen, 357. Twelve stotts, 247. Twenty one Kyne, 401. Two whies, 31. Twelve calfes, 67. 10s. Rie, forty threaves, 67. Six score ewes, 271. Oats, three score threaves, 57. Fifteene bowells oat malt, 37. One graie stoned horse, Sl. One graie geldinge, 127. One other graie geldinge, 67. Two maires and one nagge at grasse, 77. In corne on the grounde att Marley hill and Gibside, 77. Att Marley hill Twelve draught oxen, 427. : Four kyne and calfes,

his owne

87. Ten whies, 157. Rie, thirtie threaves, 37. 15s. Oats, twenty foure threaves, 36s. Att fenhouse: Twentie winter stotts and whies with three bull stirkes, 207. One cowe and a calfe, 27. Eleven score weathers, 497. 10s. Nine score ewes, 367. seven gimmers, 137. 6s. 8d. Forty dinmoths, S.

Seventy Forty olde