John SEWELL [11581]

  General Notes:

John Meller
GenderMale
Marriage PlaceBurnham-On-Crouch, St Mary the Virgin, Essex, England
Marriage Date9 Jan 1640
SpouseParnella Ellis
Source DescriptionRegister of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials; Service of Church: Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials; Incumbent; Burnham-On-Crouch, St Mary the Virgin; Parish Records;1559-1759

John inherits from his father the "capital messuage wherein I now dwell" (later evidence shows it was called 'Guyblons) together with lands in Little Henny and Middleton.

John was in dispute in 1601 with Roger Gwinn the then Lord of the Manor about property called Henny Park and Lodgearme Meadow (ESS RO D/DH/V1C59). Some interrogatories survive which mention John's grandparents John Sewall and Margery Gibbon.

  Research Notes:

Alternative baptism date 1570, marriage date 1610

  Other Records

1. John Sewell: Will, 20 Aug 1645, Gt Henny ESS.
In the name of God Amen.
The 20th day of August Anno Domini in the 20th year of the reign of our sovereign lord king Charles now of England etc.,
I John Sewell of Great Henney in the county of Essex yeoman being sick in body but of good and perfect disposing memory thanks be to God therefore revoking and adnulling all other Wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made do now make this my last Will and testament.
First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, believing to be saved in the day of general resurrection and judgement not by mine own merits but by the only merits and passion of my lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
My body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent manner according to the direction of Parnell my loving and well loved wife.

As touching the temporal estate, I give and bequeath unto Parnell all my freehold, messuage, tenement, or farm and the lands etc. with appurtenances now in the tenure, farm, or occupation of Thomas Sewell my son (excepting one half acre of meadow abutting now upon the marsh of John Deekes on the west part), and also all my close of land called the Hide, part thereof being freehold and other part being copyhold, of about 10 acres with the appurtenances, and all that piece of meadow ground called the Great Acre in Daggfenn meadow of about 1 acre and one other piece of meadow lying in the same Daggfenn meadow of about half an acre next adjoining onto half an acre of meadow of John Clifton, and 3 acres of land in mine own occupation in Altonfield with appurtenances, and 1 acre of meadow in Middleton meadow alias Fulling Pitt meadow, as all the premises are in Great Henny and in Middleton or either of them in the said county
of Essex, to have and to hold unto Parnell during the term of her natural life, provided that she or her assigns pay or cause to be paid one annuity or yearly sum of £20 unto John Sewell at or in the messuage where I now dwell in Henny aforesaid at the feast of the Annunciation of our lady Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint
Michael the Archangel by equal portions, the first payment to begin at the same feast or 21 days after my decease and if Parnell shall make default in payment of the said annuity or yearly sum of £20 or any part thereof then my Will is for John Sewell my son to enter into and upon the said messuage etc., as well freehold as copyhold and to hold the same and take the issues and profits thereof to his own use during his natural life.

I give and bequeath to John Sewell my son and heirs all the aforesaid messuage, freehold tenement or farm etc. with appurtenances etc. in the tenure of Thomas my son (except before excepted) with the several parcels of land aforementioned after the decease of Parnell my wife.
And if my son John Sewell shall die before me and have issue then the messuage, freehold, etc. aforementioned to the eldest son of John, his heirs, etc. upon condition that all the profits of the said premises save only £10 per annum shall during the minority of the said son be
taken to raise several portions for his sibling or siblings. If John shall have no issue, then the above mentioned messuage etc. to go to my son Thomas Sewell, Robert Sewell, and Christopher, their heirs, etc.
equally to be divided amongst them upon condition that they pay unto the daughter/s of John my son £600 in the manner following, that is, Thomas Sewell shall pay unto the daughters of John Sewell equally for his part of the said lands etc. £200, and in case the said John shall have but one daughter then to her the said sum of £200, and that Robert Sewell, his heirs, etc., and Christopher, his heirs, etc. shall each do the same.

In accomplishment and performance of certain covenants and agreements had and concluded upon between me of the one part and Edward Alston and Thomas Sewell my son of the other part, upon conclusion of a marriage between the said Thomas and Marie Alston daughter of the said Edmund I do devise unto the said Thomas and Marie, their heirs, etc. and for want of such issue of Thomas the site of the manor or Henney with a close of land and pasture called Henney park one piece of meadow called Lodge acre lying in the meadow called Daggfenn meadow in Great Henney aforesaid of about 1 acre the half of a close or field called Pertwayes field the same moiety of about 20 acres one piece of meadow called the Heath of about 3 acres lying between the meadow ground late of John Fisher towards the south and north parts, one piece of meadow of about 1 acre lying in Daggfenn meadow somewhat near unto the piece of meadow ground there called Long acre, one piece of meadow ground called the Harrow, containing half an acre more or less,
one piece of meadow ground of about one rood lying between a meadow of the said John Fisher on the north part, one piece of meadow ground of about half an acre abutting upon the marsh late of the said John Fisher towards the west, and now in the occupation of John Deekes; one other piece of meadow ground in Daggfenn of about three roods near Lodge acre, one piece of land sometime called Kashmere Went and now called the Swallow of about 8 acres, certain pieces of land in the field called Paxtway Field now divided into 3 parcels of about 20 acres altogether, one piece of land called le Longland of about 1 acre, one croft of land called Cattis alias Chattis Croft of about 1 acre and a half, and one piece of land called Floreland of about half an acre near the river called Hidebrooke.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said site of the said manor of Henney, lands, etc. unto the said Thomas Sewell and Marie his wife, their heirs, etc. and for want of any issue I give and bequeath unto them all my freehold, messuage, etc. wherein I now live with the appurtenances and one croft of pasture of about 5 acres and 1 acre of meadow called the File Acre now in Daggfenn meadow one other piece of meadow called Hydeowle Acre in the same meadow one other piece of meadow of 1 acre called Blacke Acre in the same meadow, one other piece of meadow ground called Three Roods in Daggfenn meadow, about 1 acre called the
Long acre and now Whipp acre in Daggfenn meadow, one piece of arable land of about 1 acre in a field called Stowerfield in Middleton and one other piece of land in Altonfield called Royden Hill of about 4 acres.

I devise unto Christopher my son and his heirs my tenement with the appurtenances in Middleton in Essex now in the occupation of William Hamond or his assigns provided that if John Sewell my son or his heirs shall not permit the tenant/s of the said premises to him devised peaceably and quietly to enjoy the
said premises under the yearly rent for the same reserved by the space of 3 years after the death of the said Parnell and further if the said John Sewell, his heirs etc. shall at any time hereafter sue, molest, or trouble my said son Thomas and Marie his wife, their heirs, etc. or any other of my sons, their heirs, etc. for any lands or tenements heretofore or hereby conveyed to them that then the gift of the said lands to John and the legacy of £600 to his children shall be void.

I give to my daughters Hellen Fryer and Francis Woodthorpe £33.06.08 each to be paid within 6 months of my decease.

I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren John Merridall, Parnell Merridall, Jane Merridall, Sarah Merridall, and Thomas Merridall the five children of John Merridall my son-in-law £6.13.04 each to be paid unto the sons at age 20, and to the daughters at age 18, and if any of them shall die before reaching that age, my Will is for their share to be divided equally among those of them living.

I devise unto the poor of Great Henny £00.26.08 to be distributed amongst them by my executrix within one month after my death.

I give to the poor of Middleton £00.06.08. to be distributed as above.

I give to the poor of Tremseed £00.06.08 to be given out as above.

I nominate and appoint Parnell to be the sole executrix.

In witness whereof to this my last Will and testament I have set my hand and seal the day
and year first above written.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Sutton minister of Great Henny £00.20.00.

My me, John Sewell, signed, sealed, and published, etc. in the presence of
John Danett
John Woodthorp
Edward Fisher
Samuell Coleman

John Sewell's Will on this file was proved in 16 Jul 1645 (PCC PROB11/193)

Transcribed and summarised by C. L. O'Sullivan 07.02.2023

John married Parnell ELLIS [11582] [MRIN: 3885] on 9 Jan 1639/40 in Essex. (Parnell ELLIS [11582] was born about 1590 and died in 1667 in Gt Henny ESS.)