Continuing the detailing of the 7 John Spencer's of Blunham, Bedfordshire, I will now cover #2 John Spencer below:
2. John Spencer ESQ., b. bef. 1500, d. of at Bramfield Manor,Herts. , his will was probated 24 November 1568 , late of Southmylls, Blunham . Gent. of Southmylles ,Beds. & Bramfield , John married = Ethelredea Baker
Source: Will of John Spencer of Southmylles , Blunham, Bedfordshire
This family is detailed in the 1572 Visitation of St, Albans, Hertsford.
E 115/344/45 :
Certificate of residence showing John Spencer to be liable for taxation in Bedford.
(Details of which pouch this certificate was removed from are now lost.)
Date: 1547-1685
New record: Z 975/10 n.d.[c.1902] National Archives -Source of acquisition: 7936
Contents: Hand-written transcription of a Conveyance in Latin dated 6 July 1545 from John Maynard, gent, to John Spencer, his heirs and assigns, for £8 paid to Henry Audeley, of:(a) one toft, one close, one parcel of underwood and ten acres of land with appurtenances in Moggerhanger "in the parish of Blunham" late in the tenure of John Colbeck and lately the prior of Caldewell in Bedfordshire which land JM/HA had jointly by the gift and grant of Henry VIII by Letters Patent dated 3 March 1545
Habendum: to JS in fee in socage tenure of the Honour or Manor of Ampthill for a rent of 9 pennies, one halfpenny and one farthing payable to the Court of Augmentations on 29th September annually John Maynard appoints John Osseburn as his attorney to take seisin. Endorsed with memorandum of livery of seisin witnessed by Thomas Grey, William Fysher senior, William Blythe (or Elyche), William Ward and others on 11 August 1545..one of his sons was the # John Spencer of the list.
His father was John Spencer b. abt. 1452 ''of Begwary, Beds, fls. in 1473 /75 as per court case, plaintiff vs. brother, (Robert Spencer,the one who died in 1520/21), they fought over the will of his grandfather "Thomas Spencer" regarding: "land use at "Devil Hoe"- Eton-Forde, Beds." Beds. John was named of being of "Begwary, Beds." in about 1474 at the time of this court case.= NN Note: '''Source for court case of 1473,{National Archives C1/48/279 (1473-1575) Hamyldon vs. Isham Plaintiffs''' William Hamyldon & John Spencer of Begwary,Beds. Executors of Thomas Spencer of Eaton Forde, Beds. Defendants: Robert Isham and Robert Spencer of south Myless, feoffes of the use of the Will of Thomas Spencer}.
'''Begwary''' is a small hamlet located in the Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden parish of Bedfordshire, England. Begwary is situated to the north of the parish, near Colmworth and Honeydon.
From: 'Parishes: Eaton Socon', A History of the County of Bedford: Volume 3 (1912), pp. 189-202.
He is named in the probated will of John Spencer of Pavenham, Beds., who died in 1532. in that he is named as the father of Alice Spencer who married a Robert Arnolds and grandfather of Ann Arnolds who married John Spencer of Pavenham, Beds.
His siblings:
Brother: Thomas Spencer in 1493 , provided the wax for the candles of Barford Church. Source: The Archaeological Journal - Volume 70 - Page 273. "Torchiis iijs. iiijd":
Sister: Alice Spencer = Robert Arnolds of St. Neots, Beds.
John's children:
1. John Spencer (#3 of the list" - fls. 1565., he d. 8 Jan 1583, his will was probated on 16 January 1584 he was a Grocer of St. Stephen Walbook and Citizen of London, he had 2 wifes, Anne Clarke, she was buried 14 March 1580 and = Margaret______ after 1580, who according to John's will the 2nd wife Margerett bringing a large Dower / property upon marriage.
Litigation: C 3/157/3
Short title: Skegges v Spencer.
Plaintiffs: Edward Skegges. Defendants: John Spencer and others.
Subject: manor and parsonage of and property in Bramfield, Stapleford, Bengoe, Tewin and Hertford, Hertfordshire. dated:1558-1579
Source for death date of John: is church registry St. Stephen Walbook compiled by his son - in law
His will mentions a brother "Robert Spencer" at time of his wil, his other brother William had already died prior to the date of the his Will..
He had issue who are already covered..see John Spencer #3.
2. Robert Spencer(2), Esquire. of Bramfield, St. Albans, Herts d. will probated 07 May 1591 = Frances Foster on 15 April 1561, dau. of John III FOSTER (FORSTER -1511-58), & Margery of Bramfield, Herts.
Note: He is named in his brothers will as Esquire.
- proved 1572 Visitation of St. Albans., Herts. ** In the visitation he states says the source of the pedigree is himself, so the fact that he names another brother as the same name as himself is curious, but seems true by other facts as well a described under the other Robert Spencer.
He had one son:
2.a John Spencer bpt. 11 January 1561 d. 1622 Bramfield, St. Albans, Herts = 1. Margaret Bayly, This John Spencer served as "Chamberlain to Sir. John Spencer III knight, of Oldthorpe, Northhampton, mentioned in his Will of 1599".
3. Ann Spencer * died before 1602, as noted on a plaque in the Church, also noted as sole dau. of John Spencer of Blunham, Esq. = (Edward Barnwell -Gent., d. 1602) of Cransley, Norfolk. Lord of the Manor's of Newark and Pulton.
Source: *Burke's Landed Gentry 4th Ed 1862. Ann and Edward Barnell had issue:
3.a Stephen BARNWELL
3.b Thomas BARNWELL
3.c Edward BARNWELL
3.d John BARNWELL
3.e William BARNWELL
3.d Angus BARNWELL
3.e Myles BARNWELL
3.f Mary BARNWELL
3.g Elizabeth BARNWELL
3.h Anne BARNWELL
3.i Christiana BARNWELL
4. William Spencer c. abt. 1534
Will of William Spencer, Gentleman of Blunham, Bedfordshire dated: 24 November 1582 = Isabel Osborne, was probably pregnant when her husband died, she being the dau. Edward Osborn. of Kennalmarsh
Litigation: Calendars of the Proceedings in Chancery in Riegn of Elizabtherth 1st.- sometime after 1582-
" Isabel Spencer plantiff, Gilles allen DEfendant, "for relief" Watermills in the parish of Blomham conveyed contrary to an award made between Defendant and complaintant's hsuband William Spencer -deceased. William had issue:
4.a John Spencer c. 25 Oct 1582 , Abbey , St. Albans., Herts. d. Oct. 26, 1582 (Baby)
5. Robert Spencer(1)of South Mylles., Beds. - fls. in 1531 = dau. of George Smyth of Beds. Held a Manor on : 14 Oct, 26 Henry VIII [1534] source: R 6/62/12/95 National archives.
Legal Case 134/36Eliz/Hil9
Thomas Warde v. Henry Foster: Farm in Chalton, whether parcel of the manor of Mogerhanger, in the parish of Blunham (Beds), and parcel of the late priory of St. Neots (Hunts). Customs of manor. [The possessions of Robert Spencer and Wm. Ward (plaintiff's father), are mentioned.]: Bedford
This land was part of an older larger property in Moggerhandger held long ago, that was divided in the past between Spencer descendants. This same land is mentioned in the will of John Spencer of Pavenham, Beds. Much of the various lands and manors were likely divided between the children.
This Robert has been identified as the one named as Co- executor of his Cousin (John Spencer of Pavenham probated will written c. 1531.)
Visitations in the Diocese of Lincoln, 1517-1531, Volume 33
Ttranslated from latin : Lattice defect is in the floor / Robertus Spenser holds it consisting of Blownham- penny per year for three rods of land in the fields of Wiboyston ... "Probably Beggary, two to three miles SW of Eaton Socon, near Colmworth.
Any corrections, comments or additions are welcome.
Regards,
Robert