Berkshire
Berkshire
Hij is getrouwd met Katherine Jennings.
Zij zijn getrouwd in het jaar 1556 te St. Helen's Church, Abingdon, Berkshire, England, hij was toen 32 jaar oud.
William was the most important member of the family to live in Abingdon and the one whose life is most abundantly documented. He appears to have married twice; in 1553, on August 2, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Waltham, as recorded in the St Helen's registers, by whom he does not appear to have had issue but of whose burial, about 1555-1556, no trace has been found. William married secondly, about 1556, Katherine, daughter of Thomas Jennings, a prominent burgess of Abingdon, and his wife, Alice, daughter of Richard Bright of Culham, just across the river from Abingdon, and by her had eleven children.
William's steady rise to prominence and a high position of local authority is amply attested by the very numerous references to him found in the borough records and the records of Christ's Hospital. In 1555 the town of Abingdon was incorporated a borough by charter from Philip and Mary and, although not named as an officer or "principal burgess' (whose modern equivalent is an alderman of the borough), William soon joined the ranks of the town's governing body as one of the twelve principal burgesses. On the death of Richard Large, one of the original nominated principal burgesses early in 1558, William Braunche was duly elected in his stead on May 30, by the rest of the Corporation, "and tooke a Corporall oathe for the observacion of all laudable costomes as other(s) have done before him" and paid the custromary entrance fine of 40 shillings. From that date, his progress is steady. He served four times as Mayor of the town, in 1563-64, 1571-72, 1582-83 and from May to September 1588 to complete the term of William Kysbie, who died in office. In 1593 William was elected Member of Parliament for the borough and took part in the deliberations held at Westminster between February 19 and April 10.
The Fraternity of the Holy Cross, with which the first three generations of Branches were connected, was succeeded in 1553 by Christ's Hospital, which was founded as a body corporate under a Master and eleven Governors, established by royal charter, obtained largely as a result of the efforts of Sir John Mason, a native of Abingdon, and first Master of the Hospital for life. The new hospital (not, it should be added, a hospital inthe medical sense but a hospitium, a place for the giving of help to the poor and needy, in the mediaeval sense) succeeded to all such properties of the old Fraternity as had not been granted away by the Crown since 1547 and to the secular and alms-giving duties, formerly performed by the brethren and sisters of the Holy Cross. The Master and Governors resumed control of the Long Alley almshouses and their inmates, carried on the maintenance of the road and bridge across the river, were authorized to give relief to any poor or needy inhabitants of the town, and were empowered to give aid to the former monastic grammar school, if there were sufficient funds at their disposal to do so.
In the same year that he became a principal burgess of the burough and thus closely connected with municipal government, William Braunche was elected a Governor of Christ's Hospital and so began a connection with charitable work in the town, which lasted until his death in 1602. He served as Master, an office of no less honor and dignity than that of mayor of the borough, in 1572-73, 1574-5, 1581-82, and 1593-94, and was treasurer in 1595-96. The services which William rendered to his native town in so many diverse ways over such a long period of years make it abundantly clear that he was a man of considerable importance, authority and dignity in Abingdon and certainly the most notable of his line.
William, together with his brother Thomas was undoubtedly educated at the old mediaeval grammar school in Stert Street. They were contemporaries of, amongst others, John Roysse who reestablished the old school under the control of the Corporation in 1563, a few months before William's first tenure of the office of mayor.
By trade, William was a woollen draper and occasional references to the exercise of his trade are to be found in the borough records, as for example, when he was paid twenty shillings by the chamberlain of the town in 1560 for the gown and livery, purchased for Robert Andrewes, the town's serjeant-at-mace. He lived and carried on his tradein a house and shop in Littlebury Lane (now Bury Street), which he held on lease from the Corporation, and also leased a small wooded copse in the neighboring parish of Sunningwell called Bagley Close. He also owned, as the result of the bequest in his brother Thomas' will, the Bull Inn in Littlebury Lane and in 1585, in company with a number of his prominent fellow burgesses, is mentioned as carrying on the "trade of maulting."
William's wife, Katherine, died in 1597 and was buried in St Helen's Church on August 25. William survived her some four and a half years, dying, full of years and honor, in February 1601/2 and being buried in St Helen's Church on February 7, when his family paid two shillings for the tolling of the knell "with the greate Belle" at his funeral and six shillings and eight pence for his grave.
Almost a year before his death, William had given all his property to his eldest son, Thomas, reserving to himself only one room in his house, his keep, and a small annual sum of money. These facts are disclosed by William's will, which was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on April 24, 1602. But the precise details of the property and goods involved are not known as the orginal of this deed of gift is not now extant. Comprised in the deed would no doubt be the Bull Inn, which, at a later date, was to be the cause of dissension and litigation.
William BRAUNCHE'S NOTES IN THE CARTULARY OF CHRIST'S HOSPITAL
(These notes were entered by William Braunche towards the end of the sixteenth century in his own hand on pp. 8-10 of the cartulary and are here reproduced.)
(a) Behitt knuwen unto All posteritie That Sir Jhon Mason knyght being boren in the Town of Abendon County Bark off a Simple and mean parentage was There Forstered and brawght upe in good Erudiiscion in the nomestarye off the sayd Town. And From thence placed Scloler and Fellowe off alsowles wythin the univercitie off Oxford & affter Travaylyng by yawned the Sease bye prophetyng in Sundry langeweges and mad knyght and An Embassedour to Charles The Fyfft by kynge henrye the Eyght and one off his honorable prevye Councell and soo Consequently to kyng Edward quene marye and allso to oure Soverayng ladye quene Elizabeth and decesed in Ano.
(b)
The worthy Actes off Masone may not be forgotten
Who to his Country bare that lovying mynde
Although long tyme since, the Fownder ded & Rotten
off that Jentle Jeffray Such Seldon lyk to Find
Fownder off the Fraternitie in honor off the Cross
That Att thend so Suppressed was to great A los.
Butt Renewed by mason when all was voyd clean
procurying princly Favour uppon the First viwe
lyck to nehemyas when the Temple Spoylled clean
optayned Favour For the Same Agayn to Renewe
And lyck to darius prince Edward did enclyne
To establyshe Such an hospitall as mason Shuld assine
Enduwed with landes Teh Same tomayntayne
Wyth weklye pencons To Relyve the poore
off impotent persons being Blynde and lame
Fower bridges to repayre & uphold ever more.
( ) arches contaynyng in numbre token
Free passage to have For all kynd off mene
Who worthelye nowe Shall advaunce thys prayerse
Since not highe esstate could chaunge thi constat mynde
Derectying Soo thi cowrs in all they Affayres
in princes Courtes Such favors for to Fynde
and to thi Country so well wast enclinde
That as thy worthy monument remaynth in pawles
So thy Spirit ever more wyth all Faythfull Soules
Wyllm Braunche
(The above furnished by Geraldine Ann Olschki
Kansas City, Missouri
(XXXXX@XXXX.XXX) ) She is webmaster of the The Vernon Richard Burnett, Jr. Family Home Page at Family Tree Maker on the Internet.
May 30, 1558 Berks Record Office, Chamberlain Accounts 1557-1558
After the death of of Richard Large, one of the original nominated principal burgesses, William was duly elected in his stead by the rest of the corporation and took a corporal oath for the observation of all laudable customs as others have done before him and paid the customary entrance fine of 40 shillings.
William served as mayor of Abingdon for four terms during the years of 1563-4, 1571-2, 1582-3, and from May to September 1588 to complete the term of William Kysbie, who died in office. He also served as Master, an office of no less honor and dignity than that of mayor of the borough, in 1572-3, 1574-5, 1581-2, and 1593-4, and was treasurer in 1595-6.
William served as principal burgess of the borough and thus closely connected with municipal government and was elected a Governor of Christ's Hospital and so Began a connection with charitable work in the town, which lasted until his death.
The following three records can be found in the Hall of the Hospital at Christ's Hospital in Abingdon.
These notes were entered by William Braunche towards the end of the sixteenth century in his own hand on p. 8-10 of the cartulary and are here reproduced. 1 and 2 are eulogies of his friend John Mason
1. Be it Known unto All posterity that Sir Jhon Mason knyght being boren in the Town of Abendon County Bark off a simple and mean parintage was ther forestered and brawght upe in good Erudiscion in the monestarye off the sayd town. And from thence placer Skolwe and Fellowe the Sease bye prophyng in Sundry langeweges was mad knyght and An Embassedour to Charles the Fyfft by kynge Henry the Eyght and one off his honorable prevye councell and soo Consequently to kyng Edward and quene marye and also to our Soverayng ladye quene Elizabeth (he served under King Charles V of France, and King Henry VII, Edward V, Queen Mary I, and Queen Elizabeth I all of England) and deceased in 1566.
2. The worthy Actes off Masone may not be forgotten Who to his country bare that lovyng mynde Although long tyme since, the Fownder ded and Rotten off that Jentle Jeffray. Such seldon lyk to find Fownder off the Fraternite in honor off the Cross that att thend so Suppressed was a great A los.
Butt Renewed by mason (John Mason) when all was voyd clean procurying princly Favour uppon the First wive lyck to nehmyas when the Temple Spoylled clean optayned Favour for the same agayn to Renewe and lyck to draius Prince Edweard did enclyne To establyshe such an hospitall as mason shuld assine. Wyllm Braunche
3. Wyllm Braunche then wrote a written account of his viewing of the relocation of the grave of Geoffrey Barbour and he also wrote a eulogy for him.
William was a member of the Fraternity of the Holy Cross.
Will:
Be it knowne by thes presents that I william Braunche of the Borroughe of Abingdon gent hath given and graunted unto my beloved sonne Thomas Braunche uppon good consideracions me moveinge all my goods moveables and unmoveables chattells monies plates Jewells whatsoever as appeareth by a deed of guifte made under my hande and sealle dated the firste of Marche and in the three and forteth of her majesties raigne and that from thenceforth it shall not be lawfull for the saide William to give or sell or waste anie of the saide goods other then upon sustentacion and in releife of his sonne William Braunche by gode will and consent of the saide Thomas neither after the decease of the saide William but onelie such bequests as hereafter followeth which on the behalfe of the saide Thomas are to be observed and kept reserving unto me the said William the proper uses of the same dueringe liefe, also reserved to me the saide William one convenient chamber to lodge in with halfe the yearely profittes of the gardeine and also reserved unto me the yearely rent of tenne poundes payeable by the saide Thomas on the feaste of thannunciacion of the blessed virgin marie at one entire payment or otherwise fortie shillinges yearely and his dyett and that the saide Thomas shall uppon my decease enter bande unto my beloved sonne Robert Paide (he means Robert Payne) and Robert Eyears to performe those legacies at ther convenient tymes appointed and specified
Item I doe give unto William Braunche my sonne for his better mainetenaunce in Oxford Fortie poundes to be paide in Five yeares next followeinge and imediat after my decease if hee shall soe longe live that is to saie yearelie eight poundes payeable Fortie shillinges the quarter
Also I doe give him the twoe featherbedds I have in the shopp with the boster pillowe and pillowbeare blankettes and two paier of sheetes my greene helinge and the payned curtaines of Sayes greene and yellow my little square wyned table fower wyned stooles three partie colloured cushons of sylke the vir chest there and my cruse footed and covered with silver and guilte.
And to my daughter Anne Fowler I doe give to bestowe upon her three children three poundes
And to my beloved sonne John Right my goulde Ringe that I had from my cosen Mr Lionell Bostocke, and unto his daughters begotten on my daughter Mary so manie then liveinge eache of them one guilte spoone and to my beloved sonne Robert Paine I doe give my Halbert and to Martha his wief my best bason and ewer and to his fower sons eache of them one guilte spoone
To my unthrifty and disobedietn sonne Honell (Lyonell?) by blacke gowne and best cloke and to his first borne sonne at eightene yeares of age then liveinge in money Five marks
To Catherine wise twentie shillinges
To Fraunces Braunche dureinge the Lease of Lockwoods close yearelie twentie shillinges requesting that my son maye obaine more yeares the better to maynetaine the daughter of Richard Smithe her unnaturall Father
To William Jenens my best Jerkin and hatt.
To Catherine Whiting my servante the bed shee lyeth on with the bolster sheets blanket and the yellow helinge and her wages due for the yeare.
To my beloved frende Robert Eyars I give my other weapon called a poleaxe and in monye three shillinges Foure pence in consideracion that he with my sonne Paine shall see theis legacies performed in wittnes herof I have putt to my ahnde and sealle the daie and yeare before written per me
William Braunche
Burial: February 07, 1601/02, St Helen's Church, Abingdon, England
Education: William and his brother Thomas were educated at the old mediaeval grammar school in Stert Street.
Fact: 1555, Joined The Ranks of of the town's governing body as one of the twelve principal burgesses.
Funeral Services: February 07, 1601/02, Family Paid 2 shillings to have "the great bell" rang at his funeral. Also six shillings and eight pence for his grave.
Land: 1601, Gave all of his land to his eldest son, Thomas, reserving to himself only one room in his house, his keep, and a small annual sum of money.
Land II: He also owned, as the result of the bequest of his brother Thomas' will, the Bull Inn in Littlebury Lane in 1585, in company with a number of his prominent fellow burgesses, is mentioned as carruing on the trade of maulting.
Occupation: Bet. February 19, 1592/93 - April 10, 1593, Elected A Member of British Parliment and served at Westminister.
Occupation II: By trade he was a woollen draper. An example is in 1560 when he was paid 20 shillings by the chamberlain of the town for the gown and livery, purchased for Robert Andrewes, the town's serjeant-at-mace.
Residence: He lived and carried on his trade in a house and shop in Littlebury Lane (now Bury St), which he held on lease from the Coproration, and also leased a small wooded copse (a small area of trees)in the neighboring parish of Sunningwell called Bagley Close.
...x
Date of Import: Dec 9, 2006/ RootsWeb's WorldConnect
alternate name from notes