Ancestral Trails 2016 » RICHARD SMYTHE (± 1458-1527)

Personal data RICHARD SMYTHE 

• He was born about 1458 in Corsham, Wiltshire.
• Profession: Merchant Taylor.
• (Relationship) in 15 x Great Grandfather.
• He died on March 27, 1527 in London, Middlesex.
• A child of WILLIAM SMYTHE and Elizabeth SCOTT

Household of RICHARD SMYTHE

Notes about RICHARD SMYTHE

Fryday and Watlyng Streets, London, Parish of St. John the Evangelist: On 22 March 1524 London (Inquistion Post Mortem).

Died on 27 March 1527, London (Ibid).

IPM on 17 July 1529 Guildhall 21 Henry VIII. "Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 17 July, 21 Henry VIII (1529) before John Reston, Mayor, John Hales and John Scott, Baron to the exchequer, and John Baker, recorder of the City of London, by the oath of William Cummings, Thomas Knight, Richard spar, George Hughes, Paul Alexander, William Oxley, Henry stickle, Robert Harrison, John Baxter, Robert here, Stephen Township, we in December, Thomas Osmond, Roger Hennings, Antony Elderton, John Grande and Richard rate, who say that:
"Richard Smythe, late of London, merchant tailor, William Fytzwyllyan, Knight, John Bylsdon, Richard Conhille, Wm. Skrynen, John Hall and John Fulwode, were seised of eight messuages, 2 tofts, and one garden lying in Fryday Street and Watlyng Street in the parish of John the Evangelist, in the ward of Bredstrete, to the use of said Richard Smythe and his heirs

"So seised, they enfeoffed William Wylford, senior, John Goone, Tho Cole, Tho Lee, Robt. Patchett, Paul Wythixoll, John Wylford, Jas Mychelland Robt Fell, of the premises: to hold to them and their heirs to the use of Richard Smythe and his heirs, and for the fulfillment of his will.

"So seised the said Richard Smythe at divers times after declared to the said Wm Wylforde and his co-feoffees that it was his will that the Master and Wardens of the company of the Merchant Tailors of London and their successors should after his death have the said premises to the intent that they should find forever one priest to celebrate in the said parish church of St. John the Evangelist for the souls of thesaid Richard, expending upon the same 52 shillings, 5 pence. Also 13 shillings 4 pence year forever to find 2 wax candles to be burned on Sundays and festivals and one light called a Trenell before the crucifix in the said Church forever. Also 4 shillings yearly to be expended forever for the Paschal light in the said church, and 3 shillings 4 pence to be paid to the Chamberlain of the said city if present at the said anniversary.

"On the 22nd March 1524, the said Richard Smythe made his will, whereby he declared that John Smythe, his son and heir, should have all the said premises, and revoked all other wills by him made.

"After the death of the said Richard Smythe, the said Wm. Wilforde and his co-feoffees were seised of the said premises to the use of the said John Smythe.

"So seised the said Thomas Lee and Robert Fell died, and William Wilforde, John Gone, Thomas Cole, Robert Pachett, Paul Wythixoll and John Wylford survived them.

"The said John Smyth being so seised enfeoffed thereof Thomas Crumwell, John Bylsdon, Richard Ryche,Guy Crafforde, William Gynkes, Richard Holte, John Bodnam, and John Stukley: to hole to them and their heirs to the use of the said John Smyth and Joan, his wife, and heirs of the said John Smythe forever.

"One of the said eight messages, in which Thomas Nixon now lives, is held of the Master of the Rolls of the Court of Chancery by fealty, and the yearly rent of 53 shillings 4 pence. The residue of the said premises are held of the Abbott of the Monastery of St. Peter's Westminster, in right of the said monastery, by fealty, and the yearly rent of 12 shillings, 6 pence. "All the said premises are worth per annum, clear 29 pounds.

Richard Smyth died at London, 27 March, 18 Henry VIII (1527); John Smyth is his son and heir and was then aged 31 years and more."Inquisition, p.m. 21 Henry VII, No. 21 (London).

It seems that two years after Richard's death, his will and estate were still not settled. It took an inquisition to settle the matter and carry out the terms. In the 1400s and 1500s, the Law was carried out in two ways: the criminal issues were handled and settled by the Sheriff and the civil matters were handled by the Inquisition, which sound bad but was merely a judge who acted on behalf of the Crown. The inquisitioners of the 1100s and 1200s were given autonomy of the same judge and jury, but as religion was high theme amongst the people, the greed of the church controlled the judges and used them or misused them to try heretics (anyone who opposed the church); but just 200 yrs later their control had been diminished. And through this inquisition, we find that Richard was a Merchant Taylor (and apparently a good one from the amounts of money being dispersed. These sums at this day an age would amount to thousands of dollars). We also find out that his only son was named John Smyth who at the age of his father's death was 31, which means he was born about 1495/1496. Knowing that Literacy was rarely amongst the poor in this time, to have a will of such would indicate that Richard was of some standing in the community and with the Crown. The Crown belonged to the Tudor Family, of which at this time was Henry VIII.
SOURCE: freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com

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Timeline RICHARD SMYTHE

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