Analysing the 1653 will of Nicholas Maunser of Hightown

Nicholas Maunser of Hightown, near Wadhurst in Sussex, made his last will and testament in 1653, the year in which Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. It was also the year in which provincial probate courts were abolished (they were restored in 1660 at the Restoration): hence the fact that Nicholas’ will was proved at Westminster and not in Sussex.

What do we learn from Nicholas Maunser’s will about him and his family? Firstly, as to his family of origin, we learn that Nicholas had a brother named John, to whom he bequeaths twenty shillings a year. If Nicholas was, as I believe, the son of William Maunser of Hightown, then his brother was the John Maunser of Southwark mentioned in the family pedigree to which I referred in an earlier post. Nicholas also had a sister Mary, who married Thomas Scotson: she is not mentioned in the will, but she might have died by this time.

Nicholas bequeaths property to Sarah ‘my nowe wife’. There is a slight contradiction here with the pedigree chart, which claims that his wife was named Elizabeth, but perhaps the term ‘nowe wife’ is meant to signify that Sarah is Nicholas’ present, but not his first wife, as it were.

Part of the revised pedigree of the Maunser family

Certainly the information about Nicholas’ children contained in the will confirms what we know about Nicholas, son of William Maunser. We learn that he had four surviving sons, in this order: Thomas, Nicholas, Herbert and Abraham. This matches exactly the seventh and final generation in the revised pedigree chart (see above). That chart also claims that Nicholas had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, and reflecting this the will mentions two sons-in-law: David Leader of London and Giles Watts.

I’ve found evidence of a couple with the names David and Elizabeth Leader living in the parish of St Olave, Old Jewry, in the City of London, at about this time. In 1641 David and Elizabeth Leader had a son named David baptised there, and in 1647 their daughter Deborah was christened. This was at the height of the Civil War, so there may have been other births that went unrecorded. In 1660 Elizabeth the daughter of David Leader was buried at St Olave’s, and on 18^th April 1662, ‘Mr David Leader’ was laid to rest. In the same parish a merchant by the name of Richard Leader merchant married Anne Hall in 1657: was he a relative, and if so, does this suggest that David Leader was a merchant too?

St Olave Jewry, London

A document in the National Archives records that on 16th January 1683 a mortgage of £250 was conveyed by John Lunsford of Westfield, gent, to Giles Watts of Battle, mercer.  On 11 April 1687 there was a transfer of mortgage from Robert Watts of Battle, draper and John Maunser, executors of Giles Watts, to Edward Britt of Guestling, husbandman. I’m not sure how this John Maunser fits into the family tree. My guess is that Giles Watts was married to Nicholas Maunser’s younger daughter, Mary. Other records in the Archives suggest that Giles Watts of Battle occupied Witheris, a farm in Burwash mentioned in Nicholas’ will. This may be a later Giles Watts – perhaps his son? – and he may or may not be the ‘doctor of physic’ of that name who died in 1792 in Battle.

David Holland of Wadhurst, another mercer, who was appointed as one of the overseers of Nicholas Maunser’s will, together with William Barham of Ticehurst, is also mentioned in other documents relating to both the Maunser and Barham families. Apparently he was the younger son of John Holland of Lamberhurst, by Mary his wife, who was the daughter of John Barham. His name appears in a document dated 1650 relating to the property known as Gutsoll, also referred to in Nicholas Maunser’s will:

Nicholas Manser of High Town in Wadhurst, gent, and his son Herbert Manser, with Thomas Houghton of Mayfield, gent (retiring trustee), and David Holland of Wadhurst, mercer, to William Barham of Ticehurst, gent, and David Holland, in trust messuage, barns, out-houses, stables, orchard and land called Gutsoll in Burwash.

Herbert Manser’s wife Sarah is mentioned in this document, as is their eldest son Nicholas (also mentioned in Nicholas’ will). The owners of the property are to pay ‘an annuity of £16 to HM’s wife Sarah in lieu of dower, and use the residue for the maintenance and education of their children during the minority of their eldest son Nicholas Manser, using the first two fellings of the wood (none to exceed 12 years’ growth) which take place after HM’s death to raise portions for the younger children; when HM’s son Nicholas Manser is 21 and the woods felled, the trustees to convey the estate to him, charged with a rent-charge of £16 in favour of his mother Sarah.’

From another source, I’ve learnt that Herbert Manser or Maunser was born in 1619 and that he married Sarah Haffenden in Lewes on 19^th December 1643. This means that their son Nicholas must have been, at most, six years old when the above contract was drawn up. Confusingly, we learn from Nicholas Maunser’s will that his eldest son Thomas also had a son named Nicholas.

Parish church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Wadhurst

The preamble to Nicholas Maunser’s will, with its expressed hope of joining the ‘elect’ in heaven, may be an indication of his (Calvinist) religious opinions. His references to ‘my reverent friend the Minister of Wadhurst’ and ‘our reverend Minister Mr Willcocks’ appear to confirm this. According to a guide to Wadhurst parish church, it contains a black marble slab ‘commemorating the Rev James Wilcocke (correctly Wilcocks or Wilcox)’ who died in 1662, which is inscribed ‘indignissimus hujus loci minister’ (‘most unworthy minister of this place’), though the inscription goes on to say that he and his beloved wife Mary sleep in the same tomb in confident expectation of redemption. The guide continues:

The fact is, however, that Wilcocks was ‘intruded’, that is, foisted upon an unwilling parish during the time of the Commonwealth because he was prepared to take services in accordance with Puritan rites which were alien and unpalatable to a Church of England congregation, and it is not unlikely that some considered him ‘indignissimus’.

Willcocks died two years after the Restoration, when the parishioners of Wadhurst would have felt free to vent their feelings about their imposed Puritan parson. Reading between the lines of his will, it would seem that Nicholas Maunser of Hightown was not among those who considered the minister to be ‘unworthy’.

The will of Nicholas Maunser of Hightown, Wadhurst (died 1653)

Last week I wrote about the Maunser family of Hightown in Wadhurst, Sussex. My 10 x great grandmother Mary Maunser, who married Stephen Byne of Burwash in 1611, was the daughter of John Maunser of Wadhurst (died 1597), who was one of the two sons of Robert Maunser of Hightown. The other son was William Maunser, who inherited the property at Hightown. William had three children: Nicholas, John and Mary, of whom the first-named became owner of Hightown.

Wadhurst Park, site of Hightown (via morgenguard.com)

In my earlier post, I referred to the will of Nicholas Maunser of Hightown who died in 1674, and whom I believed to be William’s eldest son. I mentioned my difficulties in working out Nicholas’ relationship to the various people named in the will and in understanding a particular word that seemed to hold the key to these connections. A number of people have been kind enough to take a look at the will for me, and the consensus seems to be that the word is ‘uncle’. A discovery I made yesterday may provide confirmation of this.

Searching for more Maunser documents at the National Archives site, I came across the will of ‘Richard or Nicholas Mannser’ of Wadhurst, Sussex, written in 1653. Curious, I purchased a copy and came to the conclusion that the surname was actually ‘Maunser’ and the name ‘Richard’ was a red herring, caused by an obvious error in the first main sentence of the will. Not only that, it became clear that this Nicholas Maunser was also one of the owners of Hightown (spelt ‘Aightowne’ in the will).  In fact, he was probably the son and heir of William Maunser – which means that the Nicholas Maunser of Hightown who died in 1674, and whose will had been the cause of so much confusion, was probably his heir, and the grandson rather than the son of William Maunser.

Early eighteenth-century map showing places mentioned in Nicholas Maunser’s will of 1653

I’ve now transcribed the will of the first Nicholas Maunser and am reproducing my transcription below. I’ll discuss what it reveals about the Maunser family in another post. Besides the mistaken inclusion of the name ‘Richard’, the will also contains a number of repetitions, and some confusing abbreviations and contractions – not just the fairly common ‘pish’ for parish, ‘wth’ for with and ‘wch’ for which, but also the more idiosyncratic ‘pfect’ for perfect and ‘ptaker’ for partaker. There are also more words than usual that I was unable to read, so you’ll see a large number of omissions marked ‘xxxx’ and others followed by (?) registering my uncertainty. However, I believe I’ve transcribed the key information about Nicholas and his family more or less accurately:

In the name of God Amen. The twentieth day of December Anno Dni one thousand six hundred fiftie and three I Richard (?) Maunser of Aightowne in the parish of Wadhurst in the County of Sussex gent beinge crasy (?) in body but of good and pfect mind and memory praised be Almightie God therefore Doe make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme following That is to say first and principally as Christian dutie bindeth me I comend and comitt my soule into the hands of Almightie God my most merciful Creator trusting and Assuredly believinge through the meritts death and passion of my lord and Saviour Jesus Christ my most mercifull redeemer that all my sinnes shall be fully and freely remitted and pardoned and that I shall be made ptaker after this life ended of life everlasting amongst the elect and blessed Saints and Angells in heaven, and my body I comitt to the earth to be decently buried amongst my ancestors and neare to my wife in the pish Church of Wadhurst at the discresion of my executor hereafter named And I give unto the poore people of the said parish of Wadhurst three poundes of currant English mony to be distributed amongst them by myne executor and overseers hereafter named within three monthes next after my decease Item I give unto my reverent friend the Minister of Wadhurst then beinge twenty shillings to preach my funeral sermon Item I devise and bequeath unto Thomas Maunser my oldest sonne all that my capitall messuage or tenement called Aightowne situate in the pish of Wadhurst aforesaid and in the parish of Mayfield in the County aforesaid together with a water mill there belonging allsoe withal woods under woods lands tenements and hereditaments used enjoyed as part and member thereof xxxx only excepted with house tenement and land the said Thomas my sonn hath late purchased to himselfe and to his heires for ever wth his purchase xxxx soe continues (?) unto him and to his  (?) for my xx accordingly Item for my second sonn Nicholas as I did bequeath unto him in my former will all my houses lands tenements and hereditaments lyeinge and beinge in Battell in Sussex wth all and singular there appurtenents And after that did by possession and state delivery and by the delivery of all the writeinge and evidences thereto belongeinge and apperteneinge att or a whole after his marriag confirm and establishe the same Soe I nowe allsoe by this my last will and testament doe confirme and ratifie the same to him and his heires parcel thereof hath xxxx is or ever shall remaine in use or bee Item to my third sonn Herbert Maunser I give and bequeath all those lands tenements and hereditaments lyeinge and beinge in Burrish in the said County of Sussex which I late purchased of one Robert Thatcher to me and to my said Herbert and to the longest liver of us two commonly called Godshale and by the said deed of purchase  from him the said Robert Thatcher to me the said Nicholas and to the said Herbert my sonn made sealed and delivered more plainely appeareth all which said tenemt with all the buildings barnes edifices and outhouses together with all the lands tenements and hereditaments thereunto belonging I have latey enfeoffed (?) in writeinge unto my trusty and wellbeloved friend William Barham of Maplesden in Tycehirst gent and to David Holland of Wadhurst mercer and to theire heires to the use of me the said Nicholas dureinge my natural life and after my death to my sonn Herbert and to Sarah my nowe wife dureinge my theire lives and after theire death to theire children and heires forever as the said deed of feoffment (?) nowe at large declareth which lands and tenements (as aforesaid) my mind and will is that they payeinge to me halfe yearly all those payments wthin the said deed of feoffmt dureinge my natural life are rejoined (?) shall fully and wholy xxx forever Item I give and bequeath unto Abraham Maunser my fourth and youngest sonne all those my lands situate lyeinge and beinge in the pish of Burrish in the County of Sussex aforesaid called or knowne by the name of Withers wch I lately purchased to me the said Nicholas and to my forenamed sonn Abraham of one John Shepheard of the parish of Nowirke (?) in Sussex aforesaid yeoman vizt to nem dureinge my natural life and after my decease to my said John and his heires forever all wch lands and tenements wth the appurtences thereto belongeinge my mind and will is that he the said Abraham my sonne small imediatly after my death to him and his heires forever have hold and xxx And this is my full mind and will concerneinge the bequest of my land and tenement as aforesaid Now concerneinge my other goods mony chattel and moveable estate my mind and will is as followeth vizt First I give and bequeath unto Thomas Maunser my eldest sonne whom I make ordaine and constitute my sole and only executor of this my last will and testament chargeinge him to see the same as formed in xxxx xx thereof as my xxxx hee will doe and to Nicholas his sonne all my tables benches and forms with twelve wyne glasses my booke cupboard in the hall and my cupboard in the little parlor at hightowne wch last I made wth my hands And allsoe I give to  them all my bedstedles (?) there beinge except such only as I shall otherwise dispose of by this my last will Item I give unto them my great iron clock and bell belongeinge there to it with all other my fixed household or such as is fastened to the house Item I give to them all my iron potts kettles and possuetts with all my pothooks and pothangers barres to hange them on and all my iron plates and brandirons as well wrought as cast (?) and allsoe all my iron plates brandirons and all my other household standing standing [sic] or beinge att the Millhouse in  the occupation of Abraham Maunser or his Assignes and in the house in Short Streate in the occupation of Robert Cony (?) or his assignes whatsoever And allsoe I give to my said executor all my xxx of hay corne and cattell horses and sheepe within dores and without wthall my wholes plowes cartes and Waggons withal the chaines xxx shapes and all other thinges members and appurtenances thereunto or to any of them belongeinge or appertaininge and all of other my moveable goods not by me hereafter given Item I give unto unto [sic] my sonn Nicholas my silver (?) Bookes and a good part of my bigger bookes Item I give unto my sonn Herbert Maunser all my moveable goods nowe standinge and beinge att my house called Gutts hole Item I give unto all his children nowe liveinge to each and every of them tenn shillinges apiece Item I doe further give unto all my other grandchildren as well sonnes and daughters to each and every of them ten shillinges a piece to be paied unto them by my executor within two yeares next after my decease Item I give unto my brother John Maunser twenty shillinges a yeare for the xxxx of two yeares next after my decease to be paied unto him quarterly by my executor Item I give unto our reverend Minister Mr Willcocks twenty shillinges to preach a sermon att my funeral Item I do make my sonn in lawe David Leader of London and David Holland of Wadhurst mercer my trustee overseers and I doe give unto each of them forty shillinges apiece for theire counsell and assistance to my said executor in pforming and fulfilling this my last will and testament to be paied unto either of them by my executor within six monthes next after my decease Item I give unto Abraham Maunser my youngest sonne two standinge joined (?) bedestedles with two feather bedds xxxxxx pillowes blanketts and coverlets fittinge unto them the cuppboard standinge in the kitchin the joyned (?) table standinge in the hall  chamber the xxxx plate standing in the kitchinge and a paire of cast brandirons a dosen severall peeces of pewter two pairs of xxxx to each bedd one fine payre and the other a coarser (?) payer two tableclothes six napkins fower pillowxxxx a xxxx of xxxx Item I give unto my daughter Leader six paire of sheetes three paire of tyne sheetes and three paire of coarser sheetes Item I give unto Giles Watts my sonn in lawe one dozen pieces of pewter to be divided amongst them Item give unto George Haselden my servant and to John Haselden my servant to each of them tenn shillinges apiece Item I give unto John Perkham my servant and to Ellin Baker and to Joane White to each of them five shillinges apiece to be paied unto them by my executor within three monthes next after my decease In witnesses whereof I the said Nicholas Maunser have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seale the day and yeare first  above written. Nicholas Maunser. xxxx signed sealed published and declared by the said Nicholas Maunser for his last will and testament the day and yeare above written in the presence of the marke of Richard Lows and Richard Read David Holland.

This will was proved at Westminster the seventeenth day of February in the yeare of our Lord 1653 before the judges for probat of wills and granting of Adminstrations lawfully Authorized by the oath of Thomas Maunser the sonne and executor named in the said will to whom Adminisration was Comitted of all and singular the goods chattels and debs of the said deceased he beinge first sworne by oathe of a xxxxx Comission well and truly to Administer the same.

Analysing the will of Abraham Maunser, apothecary

What do we learn about Abraham Maunser and his family from his will of February 1690? We discover that he was a citizen and apothecary in London, just like the Abraham Manser of East Smithfield who was his contemporary and (near) namesake, and with whom he is easily confused. We also learn that this Abraham had a brother named Nicholas, and two sisters: Margaret, who married John Mason, Ann (now deceased) whose married name was Hampton and who had three daughters named Ann, Mary and Sarah.

As for his own immediate family, we discover that Abraham’s wife, who is still alive when he writes his will, is named Elizabeth and that she is the daughter of Mary Bullmer. Abraham and Elizabeth have two daughters, Martha and Sarah, both of whom are as yet unmarried and under twenty one.

St George the Martyr, Southwark

Searching for records that match these details, I found a reference to a marriage licence issued in December 1682 to Abraham ‘Mauncer’ and Elizabeth ‘Bulmar’. I’m not sure where this wedding took place, but eleven months later, on 22^nd November 1683, Abraham Maunser had a daughter named Mary baptised at the church of St George the Martyr, Southwark. Presumably this child died in infancy, as she is not mentioned in her father’s will. On 10^th April 1687 another daughter, Martha, was christened at the same church. I’ve yet to find a baptismal record for Sarah Maunser.

As for Abraham’s sisters: I haven’t found any records for Ann Hampton née Maunser, but on 11^th April 1686 a marriage licence was issued for Margaret Maunser and John Mason.

Is it purely coincidental that Magnus Byne, younger brother of my 8 x great grandfather John Byne, was also an apothecary in Southwark? In fact, he was a close contemporary of Abraham Manser’s, marrying his wife Jane Dakin at the church of St George the Martyr in November 1690, just a few months after Abraham’s death. Does the south London connection also help to explain why the other apothecary named Abraham Manser, son of John Manser of East Smithfield, chose to marry at St Mary’s church, Newington, in 1683?

London from Southwark, 17th century

Are the Southwark Maunsers or Mansers related to the ‘John Maunser of the borough of Southwark’ mentioned in the pedigree of the Maunser family? He was the second son of William Maunser of Hightown, Wadhurst, in Surrey – the first son, Nicholas, inherited that property. Apparently this John Maunser married Mary Cole, daughter of Benjamin Cole of Aston, Sussex. Since the pedigree was originally drawn up after the visitation of Sussex in 1633-4, John must have been alive and married at that stage. Were Abraham, Nicholas, Margaret and Ann his children – or his grandchildren, perhaps?

The will of Abraham Maunser, apothecary (died 1690)

My last post was about Abraham Manser (born 1659), an apothecary living in East Smithfield, London, in the second half of the seventeenth century. Abraham was the son of John Manser (died 1681), another London apothecary who was a cousin or kinsman of my 8 x great grandfather, London stationer John Byne (1651 – 1690). I’m in the process of trying to untangle the links between the Mansers and the Bynes, a connection which goes back at least to the early seventeenth century, when my 10 x great grandfather Stephen Byne married Mary Ma(u)nser.

An apothecary in his shop (early 18th century)

In the course of researching Abraham Manser, I came across a will that looked as though it might be his. It was written in 1690 by a London apothecary by the name of Abraham Maunser (though it had been mis-filed at the National Archives under the name Mannser). To begin with, this did not put me off, since the spelling of the family name seems to vary between branches and generations, and sometimes within the same document. However, when I looked more closely at the will, I saw that none of the details matched – beyond that misleading name, location and occupation.

In another post, I’ll analyse what this document tells us about the family of Abraham Maunser, but firstly here is my transcription of the will:

In the Name of God Amen I Abraham Maunser cittizen and Apothecary of London being sicke in body but of sound minde and memory (praised bee God doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner following (that is to say) first and principally my Soule I comend into the hands of Almighty God and my body I comitt to the Earth to bee decently and Christian like brought to the Ground and buryed att the discretion of my Executrix herein after named And as for the worldly goods and Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God of his Infinite goodnesse to endow mee I will and dispose (?) of the same as followeth (vizt) Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my brother Nicholas Maunser five pounds to buy him mourning and to my sister Margaret now the wife of John Mason five pounds to buy her mourning and her Receipt alone shall bee sufficient discharge for the same to my Executrix Item I give and bequeath unto my mother in Law Mrs Mary Bullmer the like sume of five pounds to buy her mourning Item I give and bequeath unto my loving friend Thomas Warren Chirurgeon Twenty Shillings to buy him a Ring Item I give and bequeath unto my Three nieces Ann Mary and Sarah daughters of my late sister Ann Hampton deceased the sume of tenn pounds apeece of lawfull English money to bee paid unto them respectively att their respective ages of One and Twenty yeares And in case any of them shall dye before such Age Then the Legacy of her and them soe dyeing shall cease and utterly determine (?) Item I give devise and bequeathe unto my two daughters Martha and Sarah the sume of three hundred pounds apeece of lawfull money of England that is to say unto each of them three hundred pounds in full satisfaction bxxx and discharge of all such parte and share as they overxxxx of them may or cann have or xxx of in or to my Estate or any parte or partes thereof by the Custome of the Citty of London or otherwise howsoever to be payd unto them respectively att their respective ages of one and twenty yeares or dayes of marryage which shall first happen and in case either of my sayd two daughters shall dye before shee attaine such Age or be marryed Then the Legacy of her soe dyeing shall come to the survivor of them All the rest and residue of my goods Chattells ready moneys xxxxxx plate towels Rings and alsoe all my Leasehold and freehold Estate and all other my Estate whatsoever both Reall (?) and personall (after my debts payd my funeral expenses defrayed and the money Legacyes in this my will raised) I wholly give devise and bequeath unto my loveing wife Elizabeth Maunser her heires Executors and Assignes And I doe make and ordaine my said loveing wife Elizabeth Maunser full and sole Executrix of this my will And I doe hereby revoke all former wills codicills and testamentary writings by mee made and none of them to stand in force but this my will only In witnesse whereof to this my last will and testament I have sett my hand and seale the six and twentieth day of February Anno xxx One thousand six hundred ninety and in the third yeare of the Reigne of our most gracious soveraigne Lord and Lady William and Mary over England Abram Manser signed sealed published and delivered in the presence of us John Twigg Joseph Gibbon junior Ro: Everard Snr.

Abraham Manser: an apothecary in East Smithfield, London

The main beneficiary of the 1681 will of London apothecary John Manser would appear to be his son Abraham, from which we can assume that he was probably John’s eldest son (there was another son, named John, and daughters named Rebecca and Jane). As I reported in the previous post, ‘Abraham Manser of London’ was also the heir of his uncle, Nicholas Manser of  Mottensden or Mottynsden in Burwash, Sussex. However, as I also noted in that post, the frequency with which certain names – including Abraham – occur in the Manser family tree can make it difficult to trace what happened to particular individuals.

I’ve been trying to find out what became of Abraham Manser, son of John Manser of East Smithfield, after his father’s death. I’ve now found a christening record for him so we know that he was born in 1659, the last year of the Cromwellian Commonwealth, the son of John and his first wife Sarah. This means that Abraham was about twenty-two years old when his father died, and the will suggests that he was still childless and probably unmarried at the time. The other information that might help us trace Abraham is the fact that his father John bequeathed him his medical books and equipment, as well as the house in which he was living in East Smithfield, in the parish of St Botolph, Aldgate.

If we look for an Abraham Manser who got married in London some time after 1680, then the most obvious candidate is the person of that name who married Aveline (or Avelin or Aveling) Granger at the church of St Mary, Newington, Surrey, on 15^th March 1682 or 1683, depending on which calendar you’re using. The location is puzzling, since both bride and groom appear to have been born and raised in East Smithfield. Aveline, born in 1666, was only sixteen when she married. She was the youngest child of a large family: her parents were Samuel Granger, a patten maker (just like my Bristol-born ancestor James Blanch) and indeed for a time Master of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers, and his wife, another Aveline. Samuel seems to have been something of a Calvinist by conviction: in his will he commends ‘my soule into the hands of Almightie god my Creator assuredly Trusting that through the Merritts and mediation of my onely saviour Jesus Christ I shall be made partaker of Eternall Life and be numbered Amongst his Chosen and Elect people’. Samuel Granger died in 1681, a year before his daughter Aveline’s marriage, leaving her one hundred pounds in his will. His wife Aveline died four years later.

Abraham and Aveline Manser appear to have spent their married lives in East Smithfield, just like their parents – perhaps in the house that Abraham inherited from his father John. On 7^th December 1683, Nicholas, son of Abraham and Aveline Manser of East Smithfield, was christened at St Botolph’s, Aldgate. The date, the address, and the child’s Christian name, all point to this being ‘our’ Abraham.  Sadly, this first child didn’t live long, being buried at the same church only four days later.

East Smithfield, from Rocque’s 1746 map of London

I’ve come across baptismal records for at least seven other children born to Abraham and Aveline Manser. On 26^th July 1685 a daughter named Elizabeth was christened at St Botolph’s.  On 30^th January 1690 their son Isaac was baptised there. In March 1696 a daughter named Sarah was christened: this record is particularly interesting, since it confirms that Abraham worked as an apothecary, like his father John. Mary was baptised in October 1702: this record gives the family’s address as Churchyard Alley, which ran southwards from Rosemary Lane alongside St Botolph’s churchyard towards East Smithfield. (See map above. The next turning off Rosemary Lane was Darby Street, where my Gibson ancestors would be living half a century later.)  This child was buried in the following April, and a second Mary was christened, together with another daughter named Anne, in May 1704, at which time the address given was the same. Finally, on 13^th March 1707, a daughter named Susana was baptised.

We know from this last record that Abraham and Aveline must still have been alive in 1707. But when did they die, and did they leave wills that might enlighten us about their family connections? I’ve found a burial record for Aveline, from June 1725 – she would have been about 59 years old – but not for Abraham.

I’ve found another Manser family living in East Smithfield at about the same time as Abraham and Aveline, though I haven’t managed to work out the connection (if any) between them. According to the London Lives website, Andrew Manser of ‘Morlies Rents’ had a child baptised on 30^th January 1680 (could this be the same place as the ‘Maudlins Rents’, also in East Smithfield, where members of the Bonner family would be living half a century later?). The IGI has a record for a Joseph Manser, son of Andrew and Jane, christened around this time. On 12^th February 1682/3, William Manser, son of Andrew Manser and his wife Jane from East Smithfield, was christened at St Botolph’s, Aldgate. On 2^nd June 1689 the same couple had a son John baptised: on this occasion their address was said to be ‘East End’. This child died and was buried six months later, at which time the family was said to be living in Nightingale Lane (see map above). Unfortunately, I’ve found no other records for Andrew and Jane Manser, but I think there’s a good chance they were related in some way to Abraham and Aveline.

Someone by the name of Abraham Maunser, a citizen and apothecary of London, made his last will and testament in 1690. Confusingly, he seems to be a completely different person from ‘our’ Abraham. I’ll write about him in another post.

The Manser family and Mottynsden Manor, Burwash

The will of John Manser, the London apothecary who died in 1681 and who was related to my Byne ancestors, tells us a good deal about his family origins. We learn from his will that John had brothers named Nicholas and Abraham, and sisters named Ann and Deborah, whose married names were Frith and Barber respectively. I’ve already confirmed that Deborah Manser was born in Burwash, Sussex, in 1648 and in 1671 married William Barber, with whom she had five children. On 4^th February 1666, Ann Manser married Thomas Frith at St James, Duke’s Place, London, though I’ve yet to find a record of their son John’s birth.

Orchard and oast houses in Burwash, Sussex

John Manser’s will provides confirmation, if it were needed, that he belonged to the Manser or Maunser family of Burwash. There are a number of references in the will to the estate of ‘Mottensden’: John bequeaths ‘unto my sonne Abraham Manser All my right and title of that house and Land called Mottensden in the parish of Burwash in the County of Sussex and to the heires of his Body lawfully begotten forever’. It becomes clear that John’s brother Nicholas also has an interest in the same property, since certain bequests relating to it can only come to fruition after the latter’s death.

Finding out more about ‘Mottensden’ has been made difficult by the many alternative spellings for the place: these include Mottingsden,  Mottynsden and Mottingden. Eventually I managed to find a draft contract for a tenancy relating to this property,  dated January 1694, in the National Archives. It reads as follows:

Elizabeth Manser of Burwash, widow of Nicholas Manser, with John Hickes the elder of Burwash, butcher. EM’s life interest in the moiety of Mottingsden Farm in Burwash, late NM deceased, where she lives. JH purchased the reversion and the other moiety from NM’s nephew and heir Abraham Manser of London. EM may occupy the messuage and adjoining gardens, orchards, closes and green for life, and JH shall pasture two milch-cows for her on the land convenient to the messuage, pay her an annuity of £2 10s for life and pay all except militia and Parliamentary taxes; if EM leaves the messuage, JH to pay her an annuity of £12 10s for life; EM may run her hogs and geese on the land after harvest and have the benefit of gratten and acorns 1 Jan; JH he will store for her as much cordwood (at 7s for a 14-foot cord) and faggots at 5s a hundred as she shall require. JH may occupy the barn and land; JH to repair the messuage and fences, except those between the orchards and the land occupied by Stephen Batchellor. 

Given that this document is dated only thirteen years after John Manser’s death, it seems fairly clear that the Nicholas Manser mentioned must be John’s brother. It appears that Mottingsden was his and Elizabeth’s family home. Nicholas’ ‘nephew and heir Abraham Manser of London’ must be John’s son: presumably Nicholas and Elizabeth had no surviving children of their own.

Mottynsden Manor, Burwash, Sussex

Further searches have turned up details of Mottynsden, as it is now known. It appears that the property still exists, and in fact is a Grade II listed building, located in Spring Lane, Burwash. Mottynsden Manor is described as a timber-framed building, dating from the seventeenth century or earlier, ‘refaced with stucco on ground floor and tile-hung above with the trace of an overhang between.’ Consisting of two storeys, the house has a ‘steeply-pitched hipped tiled roof’. Coincidentally, it appears that Mottynsden, with its outbuildings, swimming pool and ten acres of land overlooking beautiful countryside, is currently for sale. (This is now the third Grade II listed building associated with my maternal ancestors that I’ve come across.) It’s quite something to find a house in which my ancestors lived still standing – and occupied.

Another view of Mottynsden Manor house

I’m still not quite sure of the link between John Manser and his Burwash relations, on the one hand, and the Maunsers of Hightown, Wadhurst, whom I wrote about in an earlier post, on the other. I’m sure that there must be a connection, if only because the same Christian names – Nicholas, Abraham, John – recur with bewildering frequency in both families (or branches of the same family). As always, more research will be needed to tease out the precise relationships between the different generations of Mansers and Maunsers.

The last will and testament of John Manser, apothecary (died 1681)

As part of my continuing exploration of the Manser or Maunser family of Sussex and London, I’m returning to the will of John Manser, an apothecary in East Smithfield, Aldgate, in the mid-seventeenth century. I’m interested in John because he was a ‘kinsman’ of my 8 x great grandfather John Byne, a stationer at Tower Hill, and I’m trying to discover their exact relationship: I assume it has something to do with the latter’s grandmother being Mary Ma(u)nser. John Manser’s story is also of interest because it provides further context for the lives of my ancestors in Restoration London.

In this post, I’ll reproduce my transcription of John Manser’s will and in another post I’ll discuss what it can tell us, both about John’s origins in Sussex, and about his life and family in London. As always, I’ve tried to keep to the original spelling and punctuation as far as possible, indicating words I’m unsure of with a ‘(?)’ and illegible words with ‘xxxx’.

In the Name of God Amen I John Manser of East Smithfield in the parish of St Botolphs without Aldgate Apothecary Being weak in Body but of perfect memory praised be Almighty God First I doe comitt my Soule to God trusting that he will receive it in and through the merritts of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my Body to bee decently buried by my Executrix and Overseers hereafter mentioned and as to that small Estate which the Lord hath been pleased to bestowe upon me I give as followeth First I give and bequeath unto my Sonne John Manser five shillings to bee paid him (if demanded) by my Executrix Also I give unto my Sonne John five pounds a yeare to be paid him quarterly if demanded out of the Estate of Mottensden After his Uncle Nicholas Mansers decease during his natural life if hee dies childlesse, but if lawful Issue to him and them forever which I bind my Sonne Abraham Manser his heires and assignes forever to pay unto his Brother the said five pounds yearly or quarterly if demanded Item I give and bequeathe unto my Sonne Abraham Manser All my right and title of that house and Land called Mottensden in the parish of Burwash in the County of Sussex and to the heires of his Body lawfully begotten forever, hee paying to his Brother John the five pounds a yeare before exprest Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca Manser out of the Estate of Mottensden fifty pounds to bee paid by my sonne Abraham Manser three years after his Uncle Nicholas Mansers decease Also I give unto my daughter Jane Manser fifty pounds to be paid out of the Estate of Mottensden by my Sonne Abraham at six yeares after his Uncles decease And in case that either of my two Daughter should die before they come to Receive their Legacie, That then the Survivor of them shall have the others Legacy to be paid by my Sonne Abraham Manser to my Executrix for the rest of his Sisters as it becomes due, shee giveing a Receipt in full for each Legacy or his assignes for the only use of them (that is of my said two daughters) Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonne Abraham Manser the Lease of my house that I now live in (hee paying the Rent as it becomes due) with the Shopp as it is now furnished and all thereto belonging As Stills (?) and Books of Phisicke, and Chirurgiry with the Bedstead and Bed and all thereto belonging which hee now lyeth on with five pairs of Sheets, and two pairs of xxxx sheets for a Servant, and two pairs of pillowboards (?) halfe a dozen of Napkins halfe a Dozen of Towells, two Table Cloths the great xxxxx xxxx in the Upper Chamber, and the Table Chayers and xxxx Cubbard in the Lyving Roome one Brasse xxxx, one small brasse kettle, one brasse pott Six pewter dishes, six pewter plates, six porrengers with the Cubbard in the kitchin six silver xxxxx Cupp marked I.D. (?) two Silver spoones, and what else my Executrix shall thinke fit to give him hee allowing my said Executrix 2 (?) yeares Board with his two Sisters in the house with him and bee assisting of my said Executrix for the getting in of Books or other Debts, But if my said Executrix do not like to stay in the house with him That then my Sonne Abraham shall allow her Twenty pounds a yeare for five years, and to take the profitt of the Shopp himselfe the Books Debts Before my Decease Excepted which I give to my Executrix But if my Sonne Abraham should be without lawfull Issue That then I will and bequeath the Estate of Mottensden unto my Sonne John Manser and his lawfull heires, hee paying the Two Legacyes to my two Daughters or the Survivor of them as before exprest, and in case my Sonne John should die without lawfull issue, That then the house and land called Mottensden shall come to my Daughter Rebeckah and to my Daughter Jane equally divided or to the Survivor of either of them, and then my Daughter or daughters shall pay unto my Nephew and Godsonne John Frith fifty poundes and alsoe to my Sister Deborah Barbers children fifty pounds to be equally divided amongst them, Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebeckah Manser  one hundred and fifty pounds and One hundred  pounds more which was the gift of her Aunt Rebeckah Sawen to her all which my Executrix shall have the use of for the bringing of her up until shee comes to the age of One and Twenty yeares of day of mariage, and then if it bee taken out of her Mothers hands That then my Daughter Rebeckah shall give my Executrix a Bond to pay her nine pounds a yeare during her natural life towards her fathers (?) maintenance (the Bonds being in my Executrix hands Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Jane Manser One hundred and fifty pounds To be paid at the age of One and Twenty Yeares or day of marriage by my Executrix which she hath in money and Bonds now in hand, and when my Daughter Jane shall take the money out of my Executrix hands, That then shee shall give my Executrix a Bond to pay her Six pounds a yeare during her naturall life; and in case that either of my daughters should die before they attaine to their full age or day of marriage That then I bequeath the deceased portion and Legacy to the Survivor, but if my Executrix should marry before the Children come to age, I meane, my two Daughters, That then my said Executrix shall give sufficient Security for my Daughters portions, such as shalbe thought fit by my Overseers or one of them at least, Or else to pay the money into my Overseers for the Childrens’ use, But if both my Daughters should die before they come to their full age That then I give both the Childrens portions to my Executrix during her natural life, and after her decease, One hundred pounds to my Sonne Abraham, and one hundred pounds to my son John, and one hundred pounds to my Brother Abraham Manser if hee bee then liveing, if not to my Sister Anne Frith and her children, the rest I leave to my Executrix to Dispose of to whome shee pleaseth All the rest and Residue of my goods and chattels whatsoever I give unto my loving wife Jane Manser, and make her my full Executrix of this my last Will and Testament Revokeing all other by mee made And I doe desire my loving Brother Nicholas Manser and my kinsman Mr John Byne of Tower hill to be Overseers and to assist my Executrix and I doe give them tenn shillings a peece to buy them Mourning Rings with In witnes hereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seale the Eight day of December in the yeare of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the two and Thirtieth and of our Lord God 1680. John Manser. Witness Josiah Keeling John B xxx John Byne