1505 to 1530 & 1530 to 1532 early references to chairs, stools, forms, trestles and settles in Lincolnshire Wills

I have been examining Lincoln Wills, 1505-1530, edited by C W Foster, Lincoln Record Society Volume 10 (The Lincoln Record Society & W K Morton & Sons Horncastle, 1918) & Lincoln Wills, 1530-1532, edited by C W Foster, Lincoln Record Society Volume 24 (The Lincoln Record Society & J W Ruddock & Sons Lincoln, 1930) for their rare references to chairs.  Extracts from 15 wills across the two volumes are set out below. They include all wills which have any qualificatory words about the chair(s) etc. bequeathed and all wills which bequeath more than one chair or form or settle or trestle. 

1 The testament of John Langholm of Connysholme (Conisholme) dated 27 February 1527, administration granted to the relict on unknown date, includes in the attached inventory:

"[...] It' ij formes 8d [...]"  (Lincoln Wills, 1505-1530, edited by C W Foster, Lincoln Record Society Volume 10 (The Lincoln Record Society & W K Morton & Sons Horncastle, 1918 p. 64/5 LCC 1520–31, f. 129d & Lincoln Diocesan Registry, Inventories i, no. 54).

2 The testament of John Helwys of Kirton in Holland dated 2 April 1527, proved at Swyneshed (Swineshead) 20 May 1527, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To Robert Woodhus and Jone hys wyffe [...] I will that the paynted cloth, the tabull, the longsettyll, and the chare with the forme, as they stand in the hall, do remane in the house the forsayd yerys as hayre lomys."  (Lincoln Wills, 1505-1530, edited by C W Foster, Lincoln Record Society Volume 10 (The Lincoln Record Society & W K Morton & Sons Horncastle, 1918 p. 23/4 LCC 1520–31, f. 43)).

3 The testament of John Leek of Boston, Mercer, dated 19 August 1527, proved at Lincoln 8 March 1527, (one of the dates must be wrong) includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To Alys Arley my wyffys weddyng ryng, and a ambre that standyth in the smalle ale buttre, and all the ix shelffes that be there, and a long table and the trestyls that is in the halle, and a carpyt cloth, a chare in the haule, a blak chyst carvyd in the chamber, ij formys, ij bed stedes and all the payntyd clothys in the chamber, and a pendent and a bokyll off sylver for a gyrdyll. [...]" (ibid. p. 40-43 LCC 1520–31, f. 108).

4 The will of Robert Whyte of Boston dated 19 October, 1527,  proved at Boston 31 January, 1527, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To Robert Whyte, my sone, too fetherbeddes on better and on wors, on sparvar hyngyng over my bedde where I lye, on coveryng and on coverlett, two pare off flaxen schettes, on pare of blankyttes, on pillowe and a pillowbere, on littyle counter in the best chamber, on spruce chyst bounde with yren, on carvyd chare, on candylstyk, on bason, on laver, on bedsted, on towell, on spruce cover, and on sylver spone, to be delyveryd [folio 65] what tyme he cum to laufull age.[...]" (ibid. p. 47/8 LCC 1520–31, f. 64d).

5 The will of John Asserby off Byllesby (Bilsby) dated 14 November, 1527,  proved at Lincoln 21 December, 1527, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[... to his brother Andrew Asserby for his heirs (John's children)] Parler. Fyrst in the parler j pentyd hyngyng off canwes; Item on long saddell; Item on cownter off the lest sorte; Item too gret carrod chystes; Item on borden chare; Item on forme; Item on bordenyd bed stede; Item on lyttyll chyst [folio 59d.]. [...] Halle Item on grene payntyd hyngyng off canwes at the hygh dese; Item on carvyd cupbord with ij awmbres and on slotte; Item on carved long sadle off wanescott; Item ij thrawn longe sadells; Item on thrawn chare; Item on fowldyn tabyll; Item on forme. [...]" (ibid. p. 50-53 LCC 1520–31, f. 58d & 59d).

6 The testament of John Gell of Halton dated 28 January 1528, proved at Spillesby (Spilsby) 14 April 1529, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To John my son a blak arke of oke and a throne chayre, a maser, [etc]. [...]"  (ibid. p. 107 LCC 1520–31, f. 77).

7 The testament of Thomas Kecher of Leverton dated 10 June 1528, proved at Boston 17 April 1529 includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] Resydue of my goodes to Isabelle my wyff and Jenet Leek, my mother, whome I mak my executors. [...] (attached Lincoln Diocesan Inventory i, no. 15,) This es the inventory of the guddys of Thomas Kechers [...] 13 September 1528 [...] In the Hall [...] It'm j char and j fyrme 8d It'm ij bak stoles 4d [...]" (ibid. p. 84/5 LCC 1520–31, f. 79).

Lincoln Wills, 1530-1532, edited by C W Foster, Lincoln Record Society Volume 24 (The Lincoln Record Society & J W Ruddock & Sons Lincoln, 1930)

8 The testament of John Goodalle of Quadryng (Quadring) dated 17 January 1530-1, proved at Spaldyng (Spalding) 6 March 1530-1 includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] The resydewe of my goodes I gyff to Richerd Bell [...]" and in the inventory:

"It' a table wt trestyls xvjd. It' ij chayrres xd. It' ij fermeys wt a cobert viijd."

(Lincoln Wills, 1530-1532, edited by C W Foster, Lincoln Record Society Volume 24 (The Lincoln Record Society & J W Ruddock & Sons Lincoln, 1930, p.98 LCC 1520–31, f. 312d and Lincoln Diocesan Registry Inventories 1508-50 No. 58)).


9 The will of William Parker of Boston dated 15 July, 1530,  proved at Boston 11 August, 1530, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To Alice Ryveley, my madyn, v sylver sponys, on mazer sylver and gylte, a sylver pece, on dosyn pewter vessyll, iiij brasse pottes, the on pott bullan metell, on spruse cobard, on brasyn morter with pestyll, on chafyng dyshe, ij pewter pottes, on laketh a lide, on coarse quylte, on grene chyste, on cofer, ij threne chares on of the more a nother of the lesse, vj candylstykes ij of the best and ij of the secund best and ij of the myddell sorte, vj potagers, and on table. [...]" (ibid., p.19 LCC 1520–31, f. 193).

10 The will of Edmund Hobson of Spalding dated 19 September, 1530,  proved at Swyneshed (Swineshead) 19 October, 1530, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To Alice Vtwell, my servant, a fether bed, a bolster, ij pylloys with ores, a whyte bed with tester, ij pare of flaxen schetys, ij beddes standyng, all the payntyd clothes that hang abowt my parlar and the hangyng at the high dease in the house wher my brother George dwellys, the shelffe bordes in my house wher I dwell with the payntyd clothys longyng thereto, a basyn and a laver and the presse in my chamber, a chaffyng dyshe, a byg candylstyk ij smale candylstykes, a small spytt, iij qwyshens next best, ij sawcers, a coveryng next best, a cownter in my brother George house, a thrawne chare, on of the tables in the kytchyn, and a forme, a joyned stole, and v markes of money, and a olde pewter basyn. [...]" (ibid. p. 53 of pp. 51/4 LCC 1520–31, f. 263d).


11 The will of Sir Robert North, parson of Brynkyll (Brinkhill) dated 29 August, 1531,  proved at Horncastre (Horncastle) 20 November, 1531, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To Robert Madder a basyn with a weshyng laver, my best thrawn chare, my bygest cownter, my hutche, a spruce cofer, [etc.]. [...]" (ibid. p. 158 LCC 1520–31, f. 377d).


12 The testament of Thomas Vyncent, of Waltham dated 8 October, 1531, proved at Grymesby (Grimsby) 18 April, 1532, includes, amongst other bequests:

"To Edmunde my sun a mete borde, a bynke borde, a blake oke forme, a chare, a blake arke, the grettiste, a dysh bynke, a basyn, a laver, [etc.].." (ibid p. 168/9 LCC 1532–34, f. 14.).

13 The testament of Richard Qwyttyngham, of Sutterton dated 22 October 1531, proved at Lincoln 23 June 1532, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] Also I gyff to William Qwyttyngham my sone one jacke, one pare of splentes, ij of my best gownys, one bed as it standes in the parler with the curtens and coveryng, as porch colys, one ambre, one chaffer, one payntyd hallyng in the hall,  one bordyd chare, one thrawne chare, one horse mylne as it standes, and iiij/. laufull money starlyng [...]" (ibid. p. 173-7 LCC 1520–31, f. 342d).

14 The will of Alice Oueray, layt the wyff of William Oueray, of Conesby (Coningsby) dated 22 December, 1531, proved at Lincoln 28 June, 1532, includes, amongst other bequests:

"[...] To John my sonne a thraune chair, [etc.]." (ibid p. 193/4 LCC 1520–31, f. 288d).

15 The testament of James Hertly of Fossedyke (Fosdyke) dated 3 April 1532, was proved at Boston, 9 April 1532. His inventory includes:

"[...] In the Hall [...] Item ij formes ij pair of tristells viijd. Item a chaire and ij stoles vjd [...]" (ibid p. 227/8 LCC 1520–31, f. 333d and Lincoln Diocesan Inventories, 1508-50 No. 14).

© Julian Parker 2020

1532 to 1534: early references to chairs in Lincolnshire Wills

I have been examining Lincoln Wills, 1532-1534, edited by David Hickman, Lincoln Record Society Volume 89 (The Lincoln Record Society & The Boydell Press 2001) for references to chairs.  The volume contains all 585 wills known for this period from the Lincoln Consistory Court and the Archdeaconry Court of Lincoln. The subject index under furniture shows only 29 wills which make reference to a chair or chairs (just under 5% of the total).  Chairs seem to have been rare bequests at this period, therefore. There are 2 wills which mention one stool & two stools respectively and 14 which mention forms (benches). 83 wills mention chests and 33 mention tables.  Extracts from 8 of the 29 wills which mention a chair or chairs are set out below. They include all wills which have any qualificatory words about the chair(s) bequeathed and all wills which bequeath more than one chair. The other 21 wills merely mention a single char or cha(y)re without any other illumination of any kind.

1 The will of Margaret Romforthe of Wyberton, dated 16 October 1532, proved at Boston 20 February 1532/3, includes, amongst other bequests:

" [...] To Richard Wilkynson a sprews chiste, a long spytt, a payr of bedsides, a borden char, a par linen scheittes , a fether bed, a bolster, a pillawe and ij of the worste queshons. [...]"

Lincoln Wills, 1532-1534, edited by David Hickman, Lincoln Record Society Volume 89 (The Lincoln Record Society & The Boydell Press 2001, p. 65, no. 95, LCC 1532-4, fo. 94v).

2 The will of Martin Wyght of Cowbyt (Cowbit) in the parish of Spaldyng (Spalding) dated 27 November 1532, proved at Spalding 4 March 1533/4, includes, amongst other bequests:

" [...] To Agnes Wyght my dowghter a foldyng table and a turned chayre. [...]" (ibid., p. 77, no. 117, LCC 1532-4, fos. 241v - 242r).

3 The will of Alice Clamonde of Kyrton (Kirton) in Holande (in Holland) dated 12 February 1532/3, proved at Donington 28 May 1533, includes, amongst other bequests:

" [...] To Anne my doughter my fether bed as it standes with an hynger, ij coverynges, ij kytylls, one black gowne with all the resydue of my schetes, one cupborde, one long table, one brasse potte, one panne, ij chestes with the best gyrdyll, one pare of beades of whyte amber, one cawdryn, a thrawne chayre, one laver, one candylstyk, one chauffyng dyshe, one leade, iij platters, iii sawssers, one curtyng, one syftyng cheste, iij yerdes of wolne clothe, one saltyng trough with one syftyng arke, one crosse of sylver, one pillo, one towyll, one pare of sylver hookes, ij sylver spones, with iii cushyns.  [...]" (ibid., p. 104/5, no. 151, LCC 1532-4, fo. 167).

4 The will of Gylberde (Gilbert) Tylson of Pynchbek (Pinchbeck) dated 16 June 1533, proved at Spalding 10 October 1533, includes, amongst other bequests:

" [...] To John my son the yonger v pecys of puter and ij pannys, and my best laver and the grettest basyn, and an arke that was hys mother's and a brasse potte that was hys moder's, and a foldyn table and a thrawne chayre, and a forme and my lyttyll fyshying bote which I will that he have immediatly aftyr my decease, also a yerying fylly and a red amblyng mare. [...]" (ibid., p. 173/4, no. 249, LCC 1532-4, fos. 192r - 193v). 

5 The will of Agnes Godfray of Waynflet All Halloys (Wainfleet All Saints) dated 14 August 1533,  proved at Partney 10 November 1533, includes, amongst other bequests:

" [...] To Agnes Foster one cowe, one cownter, my best chare, best fether bed, the best spytt with cobbardes, one pare bedstokes, one forme bust, one pare flaxen schetes, one bolster, one red coverlyd, v pecys puter, one brasse potte, one panne, one candylstyk, one chaffer, one kertyll, one kyrchyff, one pare sylver hookes, my best ryng. To Emmot Foster junior one cobarde, one fether bed, one chare one pare flaxen schetes, one grene coverlyd, one candylstyk, one pare bedstokes, one forme, one brasse potte, one panne, one sylver ryng v pecys puter, one kyrchyff, one spyt, one long bolster, one sydeborde.[...]" (ibid., p. 191/2, no. 277, LCC 1532-4, fo. 212). 

6 The will of Sir Thomas Gybson, preste of Boston dated 7 October 1533, proved at Boston 3 March 1533/4, includes, among other bequests:  

" [...] To Isabell Brygges my cupborde with my beste carpet of verder, my cheiar table, my gret chyste off waynscotte, a pare of schetes, ij pilloys with the berys with semys, a yelowe coverlyd, a thrawn chare of eshe and xxs in money. [...] To John Felde, sun of the forsayd Nicholes Felde, my close presse and j close chare of waynscotte, my nexte best tester of fullary, xxs in money and vj cushyns of verder with a birde in the myddes of them. [...] To Nicholes Smyth a thrawn chare of lynde and one of my handekerchevys with a seame. [...]" (ibid., p. 211/2, no. 308, LCC 1532-4, fos. 141r - 142v).

Footnote 134 explains that "a thrawne chare of lynde" is a turned chair of lime or linden wood.  The glossary, p. 146 of ‘Probate Inventories of Lincoln Citizens 1661-1714’ edited by J.A. Johnston, (Lincoln Record Society & The Boydell Press 1991) defines a chair table as "a chair of which the back fold forwards to make a table resting on the arms of the chair". At p.152 Wainscote is defined as "good quality imported oak; chair or furniture with wooden panelling."

7 The will of John Kyngerbe, of Grymmylby (Grimoldby) dated 29 April 1534, proved at Lincoln 28 August 1534, includes, among other bequests:  

"[...] To Elizabeth my doughter one cowe, one qwye with calve, the thyrde parte of all my puter, ij pottes of brasse, ij pannys, one kettyll, ij beddes with all ther apparell, one thrawn chare, on arke, one chyst, one cupborde, one tabyll, ij salttes, ij candylstyckes, on basyn, one chaffer, one acre of wheate lying on Godderde Hile and on acre of beanys. [...]" (ibid., p. 326, no. 484, LCC 1532-4, fo. 305r).

8 The will of Henry Manby, of Carleton (Great Carlton) dated 1533, proved at Louth 12 November 1533, includes, among other bequests:  

"[...] To Anne my doughter a harnest gyrdell, a maser with a bande of sylver parcell gylte,
viij sylver sponys aftyr the decesse of her mother, and a brasyn morter with the pestell, ij long tables and ij chares. [...]" (ibid., p. 384/5, no. 577, LCC 1532-4, fo. 219).

So we have a borden char, a turned chayre, 5 thrawn(e) cha(y)res (one of ashe, one of lynde) a best chare (not qualified any further, but distinguished presumably at a glance from the other chare), a cheiar table, a close chare of waynscotte  and a lone brace of chares.

© Julian Parker 2020