Bequests to Theydon Mount Church in 1487, by J.F. Williams

The Will of John Heird, 1487 – Bequests to Theydon Mount Church

Source: Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, New Series, Volume 19 (1929), p. 316.

The Will of John Heird

The following extract from the will of John Heird, "of the Sykehous of Kynges land," in the parish of Hackney, Middlesex, contains items of interest to Essex students.

The will is dated 14 April 1487, and it is registered among the wills proved in the court of the Archdeacon of Essex (Somerset House: Wynterbome 87).

Bequest to Theydon Mount Church

Among other bequests the testator leaves a "cough" (cow) to be:

"delivered to the churche wardens of Theidon Mount at that tyme beyng, or viijs. for the seid cough to be dispoased to the churche werkes wher as most nede is to be don."

The Annual Memorial Service

He directs also that his year's mind is to be kept in Theydon Mount church, and his wife Isabel (to whom he leaves two cows) is to spend 2s. yearly on this service:

"under this forme folwyng.

First to the prist to seye Dirige and Messe of Requiem, iiijd.

Item to the seyd prist to have hym (i.e., the testator) in the bederoll every Son day to be prayed for, iiijd.

Item to the clerk, ijd.

Item for Ryngeng of the seid meynde [mind], iijd.

Item for the offreng at the Messe, jd.

Item to the church werkes (church expenses) every yere, iiijd.

Item for brede and ale and chese for pore peple that comyth to the seid meynde, vjd.

Provision for the Memorial After His Wife's Death

"Also I will that the seid too ken (two kine), or xvjs. for them, in mediatly after the decease of my seid wif be delyvered to the church wardeyns of Theidon Mount at that tyme beyng, and they to be charged with the seid yere meynde for evermore."

Will proved: 10 November 1487.

Historical Context

John Heird's will offers a fascinating insight into late medieval religious practices and charitable giving in Theydon Mount.

A "year's mind" was an annual memorial service held for the soul of a deceased person, often involving prayers, a Requiem Mass, bell ringing and charitable offerings.

The will provides unusually detailed instructions for the distribution of money, including payments to the priest and parish clerk, contributions towards church maintenance, and the provision of bread, ale and cheese for poor people attending the service.

The bequest of cows, or their monetary equivalent, was intended to provide continuing support for these arrangements. Following Isabel's death, responsibility for maintaining the annual commemoration was to pass to the churchwardens of Theydon Mount in perpetuity.

Source and References

• Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, New Series, Volume 19 (1929), p. 316.
• Will of John Heird, dated 14 April 1487.
• Court of the Archdeacon of Essex, Somerset House, Wynterbome 87 (as cited in the published extract).
• Probate granted 10 November 1487.