Research Notes:

Offices Held

Gent. pens. by 1552-60 or later; porter, Wallingford castle, Berks. 1552; steward, lands formerly of Wallingford priory 1552; j.p. Wilts. 1573/74-d.; sheriff 1579-80.

Biography

Nicholas St. John’s home was only a few miles from Wootton Bassett, but if he aspired to election there, he was to be disappointed. Although in middle life he was to procure his return for boroughs in his native Wiltshire, as a young man he had to look outside the county for a seat. He had his first experience of the House in Edward VI’s second Parliament, summoned under the aegis of the Duke of Northumberland, and almost certainly in the company of Robert Huick, who had served for Wootton Bassett in the previous Parliament: presumably St. John owed his seat for a Cornish borough to his post in the royal household and more specifically to his association with Sir Francis Knollys, the constable of Wallingford castle and one of Camelford’s first two Members. St. John’s Protestantism, which doubtless commended him to both Knollys and to Northumberland, became after Mary’s accession a liability and probably explains his absence from the Commons until opinion began to turn against the regime. If he is to be identified with one of the Members for another Cornish borough in 1555, he did not join his fellow, Robert Nowell, in supporting Sir Anthony Kingston by voting against a government bill.

Under Elizabeth, St. John at first sat regularly in Parliament and often figures in the Journal as a committeeman. After his father’s death his obligations as head of the family and member of the Wiltshire bench became his chief concern and he disappeared from the parliamentary ranks. He made his will on 1 Nov. 1589 and died seven days later. ¹

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Beneficiary of the Will of his father-in-law Sir Richard Blount of Mapledurham (1560) [called his son Saintion]

Sole Executor of his father's Will.

Named with his wife Elizabeth in the Will of his mother-in-law Dame Elizabeth Blount of Mapledurham (1582), and appointed as the one of the Overseers of her Will.

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The Will of Nicholas St. John of Lydiard Tregoze, written 1 Nov 1589, proved 27 Jan 1590.

[paragraphed for easier reading]

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the First Day of November in the yere of oure Lorde god a thousand Five hundred Eightie and Nyne and in the [blank] Yere of the Raigne of our soveraigne Ladie Elizabethe by the grace of god of England France and Ireland Quene Deffender of the Faithe

I Nicholas St John of Lydiard Tregose in the countie of Wiltes Esquyer beinge of good and perfect memorye although at this present by the grace of god touched with a Danngerous disseasse for the which I yelde to hym moste humble thanks for his gracious visitacion Do nowe ordeyne and make this my laste will and testamente in manner and forme followinge and herein by theise do utterlie revoke and make frustrate all and any other will whatsoever heretofore by me made

Firste I bequeathe to Christe Jesus my only Savioure my synne full Soule to be receyved into the holie companye of his Electe as he that trusteth by the meritts of his precious blood only to be saved and by no other meanes what soever my bodie to the earthe from whence yt came to be buried by the discretion of my Executor hereafter named with as little pompe as may be wherein I woulde have a Funeral Sermon and Allmes to be given to the poore.

Item I give and bequeathe to the poore of the parishe of Lydiard Tregose Fortie shillings.

Item I give and bequeathe to the poore of the parishe of Purley other Fortie shillings both which sommes to be bestowed by the Discretion of myne Executor

Item I give and bequeathe to my Sonne Oliver St John one Annuitie or yerelie Rente of Fortie poundes of lawfull money of England to be yssuinge and goinge out of all my Mesuages Landes tenements and hereditaments set lyinge and Beinge in Buicknell alias Bynell Cotmershe and Chaddington in the saied countie of Wiltes or in either of them To have and to houlde the saied Annuitie or yerelie rent of Fortie poundes unto hym the saied Oliver and to his assignes for and Duringe his naturall life to be payed at Fower Feasts of the yere that is to say at the Feaste of the birthe of our Lorde god the Feaste of thannunciacion of our Ladie the virgin the Feaste of the Nativitie of Sainte John the Baptiste and the Feaste of St Michaell tharchanngell or within xxviij Dayes next after every of the saied Feaste by even and equall portions The first payment thereof to begine to be made within xxviij Dayes next after that Feaste of the saied Feastes which shall next happen after my Deceasse

Item I give and bequeathe my saied Mannor of Buicknell als. Bynell with the appurtenances? unto my sonne John St John to hym and his heyers for ever uppon condition that yf my saied Sonne John St John or his heyers shall not to the true meaninge aforesaied of this my laste will well and truly satisfye and paye unto my saied Sonne Oliver Seint John Duringe his naturall life the sayed Annuitie or yerely payment at every the saied Feasts aforesaied in manner and forme as is aforesayed that the same is payable at or in the mansion house of the saied Mannor of Buicknell als. Bynell That then and from thencefourthe after any suche Defaulte of paymente the state and intereste before Lymited to the saied John St John shall utterly ceasse and be voide And that then the saied Mannor with the appurtenances shalbe to the saied Oliver and his heyers forever. Provided neverthelesse that yf the saied John St John or his heyers shall at the end of twoe whole yeres next after suche Defaulte of paymente of the saied Annuitie or any parte thereof accomptinge three hundred three skore and Fyve dayes to the yere paye or cause to be payed unto my saied Sonne Oliver the saied Somme of Sixe hundred poundes of good and lawfull money of England at or in the mansion house of the saied Mannor of Byuicknell als. Bynell That then and from thenceforth the sayed Mannor with thappurtenances shalbe to the saied John St John and to his heyers for ever Provided allso further that yf at any tyme in the life of the sayed Oliver and Duringe the minority or Nonage of any heyer of the saied Nicholas or of any heyers heire of the saied Nicholas or of any heyer of the saied Mannor of Lydeard Tregose the saied Annuitie shalbe come Behinde and unpaied as that the saied Mannor of Byucknell als Bynell shalbe come forfeited unto the saied Oliver and his heyers by vertue of the former proviso aforesaied. That yet neverthelesse yf at any tyme within twoe yeres after the full age of twentie and one yere of suche heyer (yf such heyer live to the age or els within two yeres after suche tyme as any suche might have accomplished his sayed age yf he had lived) there shalbe payed by any heyer of the Mannor of Lydeard Tregose clayminge the name of St John unto the saied Oliver or his assignes at or in the mansion house of Birknell als Bynell the somme of Sixe hundred poundes that then and from thencefourthe the sayed Mannor of Buyucknell als Bynell with thappurtenances shalbe to suche so payinge and to his heyers for ever

Item I give and bequeathe unto Walter St John the sonne of my saied Sonne John St John the Bedsted the teaster? of Crimsen damask the Frynge of crymsen silke the curteyns of crimsen taffata with the Quilte of crimsen and allso the Bed the boulster the Fustians with the twoe pillowes that Do usually Belonge with the saied Bed. Allso I give unto hym a cupbourd cloathe of Nedleworke Fyne cushions likewise of needleworke Three chayres likewise of nedleworke with the hangings glasse and Seelings whatsoever that ar or be in the chamber over the hall of my house in Lydeard aforesaied Neverthelesse I moste earnestly charge of my blessinge the saied Walther yf he do quyetly suffer my Sonne John St John his Father to have the use and occupation of the thinges so bequeathed to hym for and Duringe the naturall life of hym the sayed John St John his Father

Item I give to the saied Walther one greate Cheste or Standerd with the Locke and Key thereunto belonginge which is in the chamber called the Brushinge chamber next unto the greate chamber over the hall

Item I give and bequeathe unto Anne St George the daughter of Elizabethe my Daughter all suche Sommes of money whiche Giles Lorde Chandoyes oweth me by reason of a Judgment in a ---?--- which I the saied Nicholas had againste hym the saied Lord by the name of Giles Bridges Esquyer in an Acction of trespas of assaulte and Battrey Of which sommes of money so recovered and concerning the execucion to be sewed uppon the judgmente given in the saied Acction I do ordeyne and make the saied Anne onlie Executrix by theise presents

Item I give and bequeathe unto my Sonne Richard St John one Annuitie or Yerelie Rente of Fower poundes of lawfull money of England to be yssuinge and goynge out of all my Mesuages landes tenements and hereditaments whatsoever within the Realme of England To have and to houlde the sayed Annuitie or Yerelie Rente of Fower poundes unto hym the saie Richard and to his assignes for and Duringe his naturall life to be payed at Fower Feasts of the yere moste usuall that is to saye at the Feaste of the birthe of our Lorde god the Annunciacion of our Lady the virgin the Nativitie of St John the Baptiste and St Michaell the Archanngell or within xxviij Dayes next after every the sayed Feasts by even and equall portions The Firste paymente thereof to beginne within xxviij dayes next after that Feaste of the Feastes aforesayed which shall next happen after my Decease

Item I give and bequeathe to my servante Ralfe Walker one Annuitie or Yerely Rente of xxvis. viijd. of lawfull money of England to be yssuing and goinge out of all my Mesuage Landes tenements and hereditaments whatsoever within the Realme of England To have and to houlde the saied Annuitie or Yerely Rente of xxvis. viijd. unto the saied Ralphe Walker and his assignes for and duringe the naturall life of hym the saied Raphe to be paied at the Feastes or dayes as the saied Richard St John is to be payed as aforesaied by equall portions

Item I give and bequeathe to Katherine Webbe my Daughter a Tankard of Silver guilte

Item I give and bequeathe to my Daughter Cave one Frenche bowle of Silver for bee---

Item I give and bequeathe to my Daughter Nicholas a guilte cuppe with a cover whiche I praye her to keepe for her mothers sake

Item I give and bequeathe to my Daughter St George one colledge cuppe of Silver and allso one potage dishe of silver

Item I give and bequeathe to Dorothie my Daughter my chayne of goulde and such apparrell of her mothers and other Lynnen accordinge to an Inventarye thereof Delivered her under my hand in my life tyme with the cheste of wayneskott wherein the same apparrell and Lynnen is

Item I give to Oliver St John my Sonne a spice boxe of Silver with a spoone in the same

Item I give and bequeathe to my Sonnes Oliver and Richard St John twoe gueldings the one Roane whiche of late I had of John St John and the other geldinge grey and the saied Oliver to take the choice of the saied geldings

Item I give and bequeathe to Richard St John my sonne my beste tablet of goulde ennameled

Item I give to Johane Fulbrooke for her paynes takinge with me in my Sicknes xxvis. viijd.

Item I give and bequeathe to Ralphe Walker for his paynes taken with me in my sicknes xxvis. viijd. and to every of them the saied Ralphe and Johane the --?-- Lineryes? and theire wage at the Feaste of the birthe of our Lorde god next

Item I give and bequeathe to Johane Appaerye the little Nagge called grey Darrie

Item I give and bequeathe to Thomas Horsey either my blacke Cowche geldinge Jennet? Mare to be Delivered by the Discretion of my Executor

All the residue of my goodes and chattels not mencyoned given or bequeathed in this my laste will and testamente my Funerall expenses discharged and payed I will assigne give and bequeathe them to the Dispoticion of John St John my sonne whome I ordeyne constitute and make my Executor of this my laste will and testamente And I further do ordeyne constitute and make Michaell Blounte of Maple Dirham in the countie of Oxon Esquyer William St John of Norton in the countie of South[ampton?] Esquyer and John St John of Hatffeild Peverell in the countie of Essex Esquyer my Lovinge bretheren Supravisors of this my laste will and testamente beseeching them to take the payne to have due consideracion of the execution of this my laste will and testamente And cheifely and above all to have care of Anne St George for the rec---- of suche Sommes of money as I have by this my laste will given and bequeathed to her as those in whome above all others I do repose my truste and confidence And for theire paynes takinge herein I give unto every one of them Fortie shillings a peece

In witnes whereof to this my present laste will and testamente I have subscribed my name and set to my Seale: Theise whose names be hereunder wrytten beinge presente Nicholas SeintJohn

George Hungerfford. Roger Brasgerdill. Ambrose Webbe. George Cleter. Thomas Horsey. ²

[Probate follows in Latin.]