In her father's Will, written 1558, Martha was bequeathed 200 marks.
In the Will of her first husband William Whetley of Holkeham in co. Norfolk (prothonotary of the Queen's Court of Common Pleas), written Oct 1574, Martha was given his leases of the manors of Harpelie in co. Norfolk and Finchelies in co. Essex, for the term of her natural life, along with all the profits of his lands in Lincolnshire until their daughter Prudence comes of age. Also he bequeathed to Martha all his stock of cattle at Powershall in co. Essex with the utensils of husbandry there, along with all his household stuff now in his house in London, jewells, two silver goblets, one white silver pot that had been her father's, twelve silver spoons, a gilt pot, the gelding she usually rides and another called Smythfeld, three bullocks and a calf. Martha was co-executor of William Wheatley's Will.
In her mother's Will, written 1580, Martha Baynham was bequeathed her Turkish carpet, 2 tent cushions, a window cloth, a cupboard cloth of needlework, a long pillow of needlework with 'Eglantynes', a towell, a dozen napkins and a plain table cloth.
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Mrs. Martha Baynham, widow (burial record)
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Abstract of the Will of Martha Bainham, Widow, late Wife of William Bainham, Esquire, written 31 Dec 1599, proved 12 Feb 1600. 4
(Names of family members are underlined.)
Wills that her body be buried in St. Bridget's Church where the bodies of her father and mother lie.
Gives and bequeaths £100 to her son Anthony Wheatley.
Gives and bequeaths to her son Edmond Bainham her great wedding ring.
Gives and bequeaths £200 to her daughter Bennet Hassillwoode and her children.
Gives and bequeaths £200 to her daughter Prudence Fortescue and her children.
Gives and bequeaths £200 to her daughter Alice Bainham.
Gives and bequeaths £20 and a mourning gown to her maid Margaret Welch.
Gives and bequeaths 40 shillings and a mourning gown to her maid Frances Barker.
Gives and bequeaths 40 shillings and a mourning cloak to William Shawe.
Gives and bequeaths 40 shillings and a mourning cloak to her man Robert Horwoode.
Gives and bequeaths £20 and a mourning cloak to John Wheatley.
Gives and bestows at her funeral £100 whereof to the poor of St. Bride's parish, 5 marks, to the poor of Boxley parish, 53 shillings and 4 pence, to 'goodwyfe Tilden and goodwyfe Payne' and poor gowns if they will come, to Mrs. Burkshoe a mourning gown, 4 marks to one of the prisons, a mourning cloak to her cousin Anthony Skynner if he will come, to her cousin Susan a mourning gown—all the mourning cloth to be part of the £100.
Gives and bequeaths to her two married daughters all her apparel and wearing linen.
Gives and bequeaths to her sister Ellis her great cross with Christ nailed on it.
Gives to her daughter Fortescue her picture with the four evangelists.
Gives to her cousin Smith her picture of our saviour Christ in his manhood.
Gives to her sister Childe her hoop ring worth 40 shillings and a mourning gown. Gives to Mr. Child her seal ring with the tiger's head, and a mourning cloak.
Gives to her three daughters Bennett, Prudence and Alice nine dozen napkins, four towells, with other things in her trunk to be divided equally between them.
Gives to William Reve 20 shillings and a mourning cloak.
Gives to Margaret's mother a poor gown if she will come for it.
Gives to John Wheatley her picture of Christ that is in satin.
Gives to her daughter Alice Fiske the damask gown that was her mother's.
Gives to her niece Digby her enameled hoop ring.
Gives to her cousin Susan Richardson her little seal ring with the bull head.
Martha Beynham
Witnesses: John Wheatlye, Robert Horwoode, Mary Ellys, Dorothye Smithe.
Research Notes: