Précis and commentary of the Will of

Sir John CROMPTON

of Skerne
Proved: 04 May 1624

Overview

This précis is an interpretation of the 17th century legal language.

• It is recorded that the will was written on 5 December in the 21st year reign of King James I (1603+21) of England and in the 57th year of the reign of James of Scotland (1567+57), both dates after the will was proved.
• It appears that a declaration was made on the 4 December 1624 whereby legal provision was made for legacies and ‘things of that kind’.
• The name of his wife is not recorded.
• The will names his sons as John, his heir, Robert, his second son and later Sir Robert, Henry, Thomas, Edward, Francis, Anthony and Charles who receives a special mention. Sir John’s daughters are named as Elizabeth and Margaret.
• Sir John Crompton appears to be making Thomas ‘Auditor’ Crompton’s, his grandfather. office of Chirographer in the Court of Common Pleas, a position he held at the time of the will, an hereditary office. Executors were instructed to find each son a prestigious Clerkship within the Office.
• Line 80 of the will declares that all the annuities and lagacies given shalbe paide with such money as is or shalbe raised out of the profitts of my office of C(h)irographer of the common Pleas. This was to happen despite Sir John’s limited tenure, estimated to be worth some £2500 (Equivalent to £263,750 at Bank of England Retail Price Index (BofERPI) 2010) annually and his ‘sub-contracting’ of the running his Office to his clerk Edward Wrightington, for a sum of £100 (£10550 BofERPI) a year.
• It was, in the periods when nepotism ran fairly freely, not uncommon for offices to pass from father to son, but the son would not have the 'right' to the job if he was deemed 'not up to it'. Sons frequently worked alongside their fathers, either in formal apprenticeships or informal mentoring, where they developed the connections that aided them in being the most suitable candidate when the job became available. Some posts were also bought and sold, with the sale price being an important element of the retirees pension and one can assume this could aid the process of the son following the father. Source: Liz Hore, Legal Records Specialist at The National Archives;
• The will makes no reference to any houses or specific land holdings.
• There is an accountants list of his debtors and debuts, the later out numbering that owed to him by £2530.
• Though there are specific instructions for his Executors, their names of Anthony Crofts, his brother-in-law, and Edward Ramsey are unclear until the Probatum.

Précis

To his unnamed but well loved wife Sir John leaves:

• all his glass, china, jewels and household stuff, that being matter, material, or articles, of a specified or indeterminate kind that are being referred to, indicated, or implied;
• his coach and horses;
• a yearly sum of £73 5 shillings and 8 pence (£73.28) (£10 488.71 BofERPI);
• an equivalent sum to be paid to her until his son and heir reaches full legal age;
• £50 (£7156.27 BofERPI) already assigned to her by deed in relationship to John Crompton;
• £20 (£2862.58 BofERPI), from the Executors, for educating each of his children until they reach the age of 16;
• an annual exhibition/salary of £40 (£5725.16 BofERPI) to support each boy between the ages of 16 and 21, paid by the Executors;
• an annual exhibition/salary of £30 (£42938.70 BofERPI) to support each girl between the ages of 16 and 21 or until they marry, paid by the Executors;
• £20 (£2862.58 BofERPI) yearly for education and maintenance of Charles until the age of 16, then £40 (£5725.16 BofERPI) until the age of 19 years if he shall not be bounde apprentice but be thought fitt for such employment to be paid by the Executors;

to be paid out of the Chirographer’s profits, fines and form of his Office.

1600will1624précis, sheet 2

To his son John who, at the time of writing the will was his heir, he leaves:

• his best seal ring of gold which, as a family heirloom, had passed from his late brother Sir Thomas Crompton
• a gilt bowl with cover that was given to Thomas ‘Auditor’ Crompton (qv) by Sir Christopher Hatton, then Lord Chancellor, and thence to Sir John’s brother Sir Thomas Crompton.
• £500 of lawful money of England from the profits of his office as Chirographer to pay his brother Robert’s allowance.

Edward Ramsey, the Master of the Wards and Liveries for the KIng, who died 20 June 1629, was given the responsibility of arranging the marriage of his son John perhaps in the position of wardship for a minor. In this position, Edward Ramsey was charged with maintaining Sir John’s unnamed lands and estates for the benefit of his son.

However, John appears to die after his father but, so far, there are no specific details about his life.

In will order, Sir John leaves to his son(s):

• Charles £500 (£71562.70 BofERPI) of lawful money to be paid at the age of 21 or earlier if the Executors approve. The Executors are charged with finding Charles an apprenticeship with an ‘esteemed Merchant’ to learn that profession and trade for life in the true religion and fear of God. Should Charles die before the age of 21 the legacy passes to Sir John’s eldest son;
• Robert, his second son, various legacies and annuities from the profits of Sir John’s office as Chirographer. He receives £50 (£7156.27 BofERPI) a year for life, to be paid on his birthday from the age of 21 years, if he fails to find a position as Clerk in the said Office. This annuity is to be assured by his elder brother. Should his brother default, Robert would receive £500 (£71562.70 BofERPI) of lawful money of England. However, should Robert become a Clerk in the Chirographer’s office the annuity of £500 ends and Robert receives no more than £200 (£28625.08 BofERPI) up to the age of 21 years. Four parts of Roberts maintenance was to be at hand at his place of abode that was, in 1624, the Inner Temple, London. If Robert died before the £200 was paid, the sum transferred to John.
• Thomas, Edward, Francis and Anthony £50 (£7156.27 BofERPI), each and every one of them, for life, after attaining the age of 21 years. This legacy was to be assured by their closest brother, or next male heir in the manner described for Robert. Again, these sums were to be paid from the profits of the office of Chirographer, but this time Sir John added and no otherwise. This is the first occasion when any doubt about the source is expressed.
• Henry, Thomas, Edward, Francis and Anthony the sum of £200 (£28,625.08 BofERPI), apiece at the age of 21 years when the sum may be convenintlie raysed, or levied out of the profitts of the saide office.

The will refers to anie of my daughters, suggesting more than the two mentioned by name and legacy. He leaves to his daughter:

• Mary £500 (£71562.70 BofERPI).
• Elizabeth £500 (£71562.70 BofERPI) to be paid at the age of 21 or on her marriage, which ever occurred first.

Sir John makes detailed arrange, with his Executors, for his office as of Chirographer of the fines. These imply a belief in a hereditary title.

He heartyly praises his Executors to whom he has committed the ordering and execution of his office The Executors were to ensure that whoever was Sir John’s second son, at the time of his death, was to become Clerk in the Chirographer’s office after Sir John’s death. If this second son was under the age of eighteen the Executors were charged to appoint some honest and sufficient Clerk to act on his behalf. This Clerk was to pass the profits and benefits to the said son or said Executors on a quarterly basis at the end of every term at the Inner Temple. From this allowance, the Executors could take a quarterly deduction to substitute their owne labours and payments without justification to any other body.

His sons Thomas, Edward, Francis and Anthony were to receive the next Clerks place in the Chirographer’s office in birth order and in the same manner as Robert, their saide brother to be perferred still to the best Clerkshipp and for as it shall fall voide.

Sir John further expressed his assumed control over his office by declaring that should any Clerk die or bring to an end his contract his saide sonne should succeede and be preferred in the line of promotion in order to receive the best clerkshipp next unto the Secondaries – those of second rank or status: not a chief or principal (OED). Under the terms of the will Clerks had no permission […] to exchange allyne, sell or make over his place that they shall onlie by death, or forfeiture fall to the absolute disposition of [his Executors] […] for my eldest Sonne benefit onlie.

The exception was Sir John’s very good friend Mr John Bigrane who had lawful carte blanche with all freedome and libertie concerning his place to pass-on his position.

The benevolent Sir John recognises his obligation and the benefit of those for whom I am in nature and duty bounde to provide should hold their present position, rooms, fees and privileges according to their seniority as long as they shall contrieve {i.st}, and demeane themselves in an ordinary, due and honest fashion.

1600will1624précis, sheet 3

The end of the will lists all the financial matters and debts owed to Sir John, perhaps in more detail than his gifts.

• Sir John explains in detail why his sister’s proportion of his will was reduced, though legacies to his sisters are not mentioned. This was because £100 (£14312.54 BofERPI) was loaned to Sir Robert Wright before Sir John was involved. As some £140 (£20037.70 BofERPI) could not be recovered, Sir John and his Uncles Paul(?) and Henry Hudson felt that his sisters should bear the damages equally. Sir John does admit that he is ‘reluctantly’ responsible, in law, for the losses incurred by his late sister Margaret.

The will ends with a codicil, in a different hand, detailing money owing and owed. This was written in the presence of Jo. Gifford, Rich. Andrews, Mattheus Hulfbos; John Bygrave, Adrian Barten, Stephen P/Ranner.

The Executors are instructed to:

• return William Downes’ bond, Sir John being sattifyed;
• collect the £52 debt of Sir Henry Crofts being his sonnes mayntaynance in Francie I doe entreate it may be paide certainly to my Executo^rs;
• calculate the money owing to Sir John;
• calculate Sir John’s debts.

Money owed to Sir John: (the amounts in brackets are BofERPI)

Money owed by Sir John: (the amounts in brackets are BofERPI)

1600will1624précis, sheet 3

The Executors calculated that the debt owing by him are more then the debts owing to him by £1883 (£269,505.12 BofERPI). By my calculations, Sir John owed the sum of £2055 (£294122.69).

The will is signed in a confident, clear, single letter script.

The will contained a Probatum made in the London house of William Byrd, who had unknown academic qualifications from Cambridge. It was made legitimate on 04 May 1624, a date that conflicts with the writing of the will. It records that Anthony Crofts and Edward Ramsey were both faithful; Executors responsible for the administration of the will. It does not confirm that the Executors had completed their responsibilities.

Source: The National Archive: PROB 11/143/467 referenced to Sir John Crompton of Skerne, Yorkshire

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A3 Updated 23 July 2019