Family name also spelled SKYNNER.
Lands in Aston Cantlow to the value of £10 a year were granted to Studley Priory by the second William de Cantelupe. At the Dissolution the priory held property in Aston Cantlow, Shelfield, and Newnham and the manor of Little Alne. In 1540 a messuage called Fullys Place and several parcels of land in Little Alne formerly belonging to Studley Priory were granted to Anthony Skinner of London (son of Robert Skinner of Shelfield) and Jane his wife. In 1554 Skinner received a further grant of the manor of Little Alne, then valued at £8 7s. 1d., and the former lands of the priory in Shelfield, worth 55s.The Skinners, who lived at Shelfield, held the two manors of Little Alne and Kinwarton until 1624, when William Skinner sold the latter to Lord Brooke. Little Alne, however, remained in the family for about a century longer. William's third brother, Anthony, was holding it in 1640, and in 1654 petitioned as a recusant to contract for his estates.
After the Dissolution the manor of Kinwarton was granted in June 1540 to Anthony Skinner of London and Jane his wife. 2
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Abstract of the Will of Anthony Skynner of London, Esquire, written 18 Nov 1558, proved 11 Jul 1559. 3
(Names of family members are underlined.)
Wills that his body be buried at St. Bride's Foot, in the chancel of St. Bride's.
Gives & bequeaths to Jane his wife his house, lands, tenements and other hereditaments within the city of London or its suburbs for the term of her natural life, and after her decease he bequeaths the same to his son William.
Item. Gives to his sons George and William all his wearing apparell.
Item. Gives to his daughter Prudence his hoop ring which he wove upon his little finger.
Item. Gives to the rest of his daughters a similar ring.
Item. Gives to his daughter Benett a silver salt cellar, a gilt spoon and 8 ounces of silver parcell gilt.
Item. Wills that the woods within Shelfield Park be felled and sold and the money divided among his three daughters Benett, Martha and Mary as follows: to his daughter Benett 400 marks, to his daughter Martha 200 marks, and to his daughter Mary 200 marks.....
Item. He forgives his servant Anthony Parsons the debt of £10 he owes.
Item. Gives and bequeaths to his servant Richard Turner his bay gelding.
Item. Gives to his servant Henry Marshall his indenture of apprenticeship so that he can continue as servant to his wife Jane for the term of a year after his death. Also gives to Henry Marshall 40 shillings to be paid to him at the end of the said year.
Item. Gives to his servant Matthew Foxe a tenement in Derby Green or Alkynne or Little Alne.
Item. Gives 20 shillings to his maid servant Joyce Pusse, to be paid to her at the day of her marriage.
Item. Gives 40 shillings to his maid servant Elizabeth Swetnam.
All the rest of his goods and chattels he gives and bequeaths to his wife Jane and his sons George and William, making them co-executors of his last will and testament.
Makes and ordains his son-in-law Richard Palmer as overseer of his last will and testament and to whom he gives his best colt for his efforts.
Witnesses: Richard Heywood, Thomas Nycoll, Richard Palmer
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