Sir Nicholas Tufton and Margaret Hever
Sir Nicholas Tufton was the son of William Tufton and Allice --. He was of Tufton in the parish of Northiam, Sussex, England. Sir Nicholas married Margaret Hever.
Margaret was born in or before 1483 to John Hever and Marion --. She is listed in pedigrees as John Hever's heir, which implies that John had no son (or that son would have inherited the estate) and likely no other daughter (as Margaret was listed as heir and not co-heir). An 8 June 1483 will posted on Rootschat for a John Hever of Cranbrook names a wife and executrix Marion and only one child--a daughter Margaret under the age of 18 (with trustees to hold John's assets until Margaret is married or of the age of twenty).
Sir Nicholas died 31 December 1539 and was buried in the church at Northiam, Sussex, England, where he has a monumental brass. His will was dated 2 January 1537/8. An inquisition post mortem was held for Sir Nicholas 12 November 31 Henry VIII (1539-40) and his will was proved 1 Feb 1539. This will was written in Latin. Among his bequests, he left money to the church "for a priest to say mass for him, in the said church for two years, for his soul, and the souls of William his father, Allice his mother, and the souls of John Hever, and Marione his wife, Thomas Hill, Thomas Cryour, and John Bruckland, and for the souls of all the faithful dead."
Sir Nicholas and Margaret’s children are:
- Alice Tufton, married Richard Sharp (of Northiam, Sussex, England).
- Agnes Tufton, married William Denne (Esquire, of Kingston (perhaps Kingston near Lewes, Sussex, England).
- John Tufton, born about 1519, of Tufton in Northiam, Sussex, England and Hothfield, Kent, England, married Mary Baker (dau. of John Baker of Sisinghurst, Kent, England), Sheriff of Kent in the 4th year of the reign of Elizabeth I, died 10 Oct 1567, will dated 27 Mar 1567 and proved 14 Nov 1567, buried at Hothfield, Kent, England.
- Isabel Tufton, married John Cryour.
- Joan Tufton, married William Haye (son of John Haye, taxed in the subsidy roll of 1524 for £23 of goods at Robertsbridge, Sussex, England, and in the subsidy roll of 1525 for £26 of goods, granted a messuage called "Wysemede" in Robertsbridge, as well as a meadow in Salehurst, Sussex, England, 10 Dec 27 Henry VIII (1535), juror 2 April 1536 in Robertsbridge, died 22 Aug 30 Henry VIII (1538), inquisition post mortem held 17 Oct 34 Henry VIII (1542) in Robertsbridge, Sussex, England).
Sources:
- Berry, William, County Genealogies: Pedigrees of the Families in the County of Sussex, London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper, 1830, p. 237.
- Nicholas, Nicholas Harris, Testamenta Vetusta: Being illustrations from wills, of manners, customs, &c., from the reign of Henry the second to queen Elizabeth, vol. II, London: Nichols and Son, 1826, p. 679.
- Collins, Arthur, Peerage of England, vol. 2, London: W. Innys et al., 1756, pgs. 346-9.
- Monumental brass of Sir Nicholas Tufton, St. Mary's Church, Northiam, Sussex, England.
Records related to the William and Joan (Tufton) Haye family but not copied below due to copyright considerations:
- Reed, Paul C., "The English Ensigns: Ancestral to Thomas Ensign of Scituate, Massachusetts, and James Ensign of Hartford, Connecticut," The American Genealogist, Vol. 75, Jan 2000, pgs. 1-15.
- Reed, Paul C., "The English Ensigns: Ancestral to Thomas Ensign of Scituate, Massachusetts, and James Ensign of Hartford, Connecticut (Wybourne Descent and Haye/Hayes Descent)," The American Genealogist, Vol. 75, Jul 2000, p. 229-40.
- Will of Nicholas Tufton of Northiam, Sussex, 1 February 1539, found in the Peculiar Court of Canterbury, PROB 11/27/410, held by the National Archives, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D978055.
- Will of John Tufton of Hothfield, Kent, 14 November 1567, found in the Peculiar Court of Canterbury, PROB 11/49/340, held by the National Archives, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D957373.
- MattD30 (30 Sep 2017), "1483 Will of John Hever" [Online forum thread]. Message posted to Rootschat at http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=779835.0, retrieved 3 Mar 2018, showing original images of the will of John Hever (repository of record not given).
Pedigree
Source: Berry, William, County Genealogies: Pedigrees of the Families in the County of Sussex, London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper, 1830, p. 237.
Probate Records
1 Ancestor of the Earls of Thanet, he married Margaret, daughter and heir of John Hever, of Cranbroke, in Kent, Esquire, by whom he had John; Alice, the wife of Richard Sharp; and Isabel, who married John Cryour; by the inquisition taken after his death it appears that he died on the 3 1st December 1538, leav- John his son and heir, then nineteen years of age.
* Memorials of the Tufton family, p. 15.
Source: Nicholas, Nicholas Harris, Testamenta Vetusta: Being illustrations from wills, of manners, customs, &c., from the reign of Henry the second to queen Elizabeth, vol. II, London: Nichols and Son, 1826, p. 679.
Peerage
Which Elfege de Toketonb is mentioned in a deed without date (by computation in the reign of K. John) wherein Nicholas, and Richard, sons of Edvin de Velde, confirm to Osmere de Toketon (therein written son of the said Elfege) a rent of 18 pence, two hens, and 25 eggs, which Simon, and Jordan, sons of Walter de Meredale, used to pay yearly for lands lying near Meredale.
The said Osmere de Toketon had also a grant of lands in Ulhale, from Levord, son of Roger de Hwithorncland, the inheritance of Emma, mother of the said Levord; and in several deeds is mentioned to be father of William de Toketon.
Which William demises, &c. to Adam de Berne, a certain pasture for 25 sheep, without a ram, lying in the isle of Shepey, in the parish of St. Sexbergo, to hold at 14 s. per ann. rent, from Michaelmas, 34 Henry III. for eight years. And by deed without date, John de Madetune gives, grants, and confirms to William de Toketune, and John his son, for half a mark in money, a yearly rent of ten-pence, and a hen, which Geffry de Meredale used to pay out of a tenement, with the appurtenances, near a lane leading to Sileham on the East; and also an acre, and three roods of land lying in a field called Hamme, and other lands thereabouts, paying yearly a pound of cummin, or a penny: Likewise by deed, without date, Cicelie, the daughter of Osmere of Upecherche, grants to Lucie, sometime the wife of William de Toketune, and to John her son, of the parish of Renham, one penny yearly rent; which William de Toketune, husband of the said Lucie, used to pay out of an acre of land in Upecherche, between the land of John, son of William, on the North, and the land of the said Lucie, and John, on the South.
This William de Toketonc was knighted, and was living in the lath of Scray in Kent, about the latter end of K. Henry III. either at Sileham, or at Tufton in Rainham, being mentioned in an old Leiger-book, belonging to the abbey of St. Augustine's in that county; and was dead before 56 Henry III. when Lucy his wife was a widow, and John de Toketon is mentioned to be their son in divers old deeds.
dWhich John (before the statute of mortmain, anno 7 E.I.) gave lands to the brothers and sisters of the hospital at Rye, to pray for the souls of his ancestors.
To whom succeeded Roger de Toketon his son, who by deed, dated 8 Edw. I. with Lucie his wife, granted to Roger and Joan de Reynhamme all their part of arable land, which William de Toketon bought of Peter de Mere, lying in the borough of Mere in Renham, paying a rose at Midsummer, in consideration of four pounds in money. Both the seals were appendant, but the impression of the said Roger's is gone, and the other was a Flourdelis circumscribed S. LVCIE FIL. WILLI. And by deed, dated the same year John de Rede, clerk, grants, and releases to Roger de Tocton, his heirs and assigns, all his right, &c. in, and to the whole manor of Silham in Renham, which he, and Hugh le Bygod, had for a certain term of years from Oliver le Bygod. Also by another deed, in the same year, Sir Edmund Spigurnel, Knt. of com' Essex, grants to Roger de Toketon, and Lucie his wife, all his lands and tenements which he had in the hundred of Middleton in Kent, scil. those which were Henry de Albaney's, in consideration of fourscore marks sterling. And by another deed in 26 Edward I. Nicholas de Makeland grants to them an acre and half, and thirteen day-works in Renham, in consideration of four marks sterling.
Their son and heir was Roger de Toketon, who, by indenture, dated on the feast of St. Gregory, 36 Edward I. agreed to marry with Julian, sister of Sir John Champaigne, enfeoffing the said Sir John in all his fee-simple lands, in the hundred of Middleton, conditionally to be re-enfeoft again thereof, to the use of them the said Roger and Julian, and their heirs, and the heirs of the said Julian: And by deed, dated the same year, on the eve of St. Peter and Paul, John de Champaigne, Knt. obliges himself to pay 100l. per ann. to Roger de Toketon, and Julian his wife, and to the heirs of their bodies, and the heirs of the said Julian, &c. in consideration of the feofment which the said Roger de Toketon made him a little before of his manor of Silhamme, and all his lands and tenements in the hundred of Middleton. To which deed is appendant a seal of arms, viz. Varry, and circumscribed S. JOHIS DE CHAUMPAINE.
This Roger and Julian had several sons, as appears by the deeds in the family. In 11 Edw. II. John Swyft, son of William atte Cherche, grants to Joan, daughter of Roger de Toketon, three acres of land in Toketon in Renham, butting on the lands of Roger, son of Roger de Toketon, for twenty marks sterling, witness (amongst others) Roger de Toketon: Also by deed dated at Renham, 12 Edw. II. William, son of Richard Reyner, and Henry, son of Thomas Reyner, grant to Roger de Toketon, and Julian his wife, and to John their son, a rent of 10d. out of five acres of land in Makelonde in Renham. Which Julian survived her husband, and was living in 6 Edward III. when Alice atte Stone demised to Julian, sometime the wife of Roger de Toketon, all her right in four acres of land in Renham.
That Roger de Toketon, was son of the said Roger and Julian, appears from a deed dated at Sylham in Renham, in 11 Edw. II. wherein John, son of Tho. Whitsuere, grants to them, and John their son, his whole purparty of land in the parish of Renham; whereunto was witness Roger, son of Roger de Toketon, John Elys, &c.
Contemporary with whom was Peter de Toketon, who was dead before 14 Edward III. when, by indenture, it is declared, that although John, and William, sons and heirs of Peter de Toketon of Renham, have enfeoffed Wythorne ate Halle, in all their garden at Toketon, yet it is agreed, &c. And in 20 E. III. Julian, widow of Peter de Toketon, and John, and William, sons and heirs of the said Peter, demise to Guy ate Halle, a messuage in Toketon in Renham, adjoining to the messuage of John, son of Thomas de Toketon, from Michaelmas the same year, to the end of ten years.
eThere was likewise living in the reign of King Edward III. Sir Lewis Toketon or Tufton (for then the name began to be wrote Tufton) a Commander in the second Battalia of that army, which in the 20th year of King Edward III. gained that great victory at Cressey, and afterwards laid siege to Calais.
The next in succession, who inherited the estate, was Simon de Tufton of Tufton, in the parish of Northiam in Sussex, living with Joan his wife in 12 Richard II. but in the deeds of the family, his father's name is not particularly mentioned; yet, asf he was possessed of the estate, he was without doubt lineally descended from that Roger de Toketon, who married Julian, sister of Sir John de Champaine.
The said Simon was dead before 8 Henry IV. when Joan his wife was a widow, and William Tufton was his son and heir.
Which William, was father of another William Tufton of Tufton in Northiam in Sussex, Esq; who was living in the reign of King Edward IV. and was succeeded by Nicholas his son and heir, who, writing* himself of Northyam, made his will the 2d of January, 29 Hen. VIII. ordering his body to be buried in the church of the blessed virgin Mary of Northyam, before the altar of St. Nicholas there; and that a stone be laid over him, with his picture thereon, and an inscription. He bequeathed XX marks to the said church, for a priest to say mass for him, in the said church for two years, for his soul, and the souls of William his father, Allice his mother, and the souls of John Hever, and Marione his wife, Thomas Hill, Thomas Cryour, and John Bruckland, and for the souls of all the faithful dead: To the high altar of Ewhurst, he bequeathed for his tythes forgotten 3s. 4d. to Isabel Cryour his daughter, an annuity for life; to the marriage of 6 poor maidens in Northyam 20s. each; to the reparation of the church of Northyam, repair of vestments, and other necessaries there, five marks; and 20s. to be distributed by his executors to the poor of that parish; to Nicholas Cryour, son of John Cryour, and all his sons and daughters, by his daughter Isabel, small legacies; to John Tufton his son, his lands, &c. and appoints him executor. By inquisition taken Nov. 12, in the 31st of Hen. VIII. the jury found that he died on the last of December, before the inquisition was taken; and that John his son and heir was of the age of 19: And by another inquisition taken in Sussex, it was found he died possessed of the manors of Northiam, and Ewhurst, in the said county. His wife was Margaret, daughter and heir of John Heaver of Cranbrook in the county of Kent, Esq; by whom he had John, his heir; Alice married to Richard Sharp of Northiam; and Isabel the wife of John Cryour, mentioned in his will.
Which John Tufton, Esq. was seated at Hothfield in Kent; and in the 4th of Elizabeth was Sheriff of that county; he died on the 10th of Octob. 1567, 9 Elizabeth; and was buried in the church of Hothfield, which not long after was burnt down by lightning; he had to wife Mary, eldest daughter of Sir John Baker of Sisinghurst in Kent, Chancellor, and Under-treasurer of the Exchequer, by whom he had issue a daughter Cecilie, married to Sir Thomas Sondes of Throwley in Kent, Knight, ancestor to George Sondes, Earl of Feversham; also John his son and heir, who succeeded him in his estate.
a Ex Stemmate sub manu Greg. King, Arm. Fecial Lanc.
b Ibid.
c Ex Stemmate praed.
d Ibid.
e The Barnes's Hist. of Edw. III. p. 354.
f Ex Stemmate ut antea.
* Ex Regist. Dingley, Qu. 25. in Cur. Praerog. Cant.
Source: Collins, Arthur, Peerage of England, vol. 2, London: W. Innys et al., 1756, pgs. 346-9.
Monumental Brass
Another image of this monumental brass can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/31817544341/in/photostream/
