Edward was master of the Pewterers Company of London in 1561.
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: 19 January 1562/3.
The date is given in Edward’s inquisition post mortem.
Place of Death: unknown (probably London)
Date of Burial: 21 January 1562/3.
Place of Burial: St Peter le Poer, London.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: John Catcher.
This relationship in the Catcher pedigree in Harl. MS. 1096, fo. 83 (MGH ser. 5, v. 3, p. 114). The informant appears to have been one of Edward’s grandchildren.
Mother: unknown.
Sister: Agnes. Agnes married someone surnamed Borne.
This relationship is recorded in Edward’s will.
Kinsman: Robert Borne.
This seems to be someone other than Agnes’s husband, as Robert’s daughter Elizabeth and Agnes’s daughter Elizabeth are given separate bequests. But this may be an oddity of the wording, and they are in fact identical, since the bequests are adjacent.
Spouse: Joan Laxton.
Joan was sister to Sir William Laxton, who mentions his “brother Catcher” in his will. The Catcher pedigree (MGH ser. 5, iii p. 114) calls him “Sir William Layton”. Joan is said to have had one child, who died young.
Spouse: a daughter to Devereux, a surveyor in London.
(MGH ser. 5, iii p. 114). Edward is said to have had two children by this marriage, who died without children of their own.
Spouse: Elizabeth Burgh.
Elizabeth is named in Edward’s will. The Catcher pedigree names her father, John Burgh (MGH ser. 5, iii p. 114).
Children (by Elizabeth):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
John Catcher (about 1536 - 5 October 1602) married Ellen Southwick 10 April 1564 in St Andrew Undershaft, London.
William Catcher married Mary Frank 23 January 1569 in All Hallows, Barking by the Tower, London.
Thomas Catcher (died 1612 or 1613) married Ursula Burton.
Edward Catcher
Jane Catcher
James Catcher
Edward Catcher (buried 12 March 1634/5 in St Mary Aldermary, London) married Phillippa Stray. Edward was a merchant tailor.
Richard Catcher (living in 1612)
Elizabeth Catcher married Charles Bond 16 May 1567 in St Peter le Poer, London.
Evidence
from the Dictionary of London:
Abbot of St. Alban’s Inn
This was the town house of the Abbots of St. Albans, prior to the dissolution of the monasteries in the time of Henry VIII.
It stood at the east side of Old Broad Street, to the north of St. Anthony's School, and was purchased by Edward Ketcher, pewterer of Thomas Leighe about 1544. By his will, dated 5 Elizabeth, the property was devised by Edward Ketcher to his son John (Inq. p.m. Lond. II. 38), who was Alderman of Cripplegate Ward, 1588-96.
It seems probable that Cushion Court and Adams Court, Old Broad Street (q.v.), now occupy the site approximately.
from the St Peter le Poer parish register:
Funera.
Edouerdus Ketcher 21. Januarij Anno 1562.
Elizabeth Catcher vidua 16 August: Anno 1587.
Edward’s will:
In the name of God Amen the Fyrste day of the monethe of December in the yere of our lord god one thousand Fiue hundrethe thre scoore and two and in the Fivethe yere of the raigne of our soueraigne lady Elizabethe by the grace of god Quene of England Fraunce and Ireland Defendor of the Faithe etc I Edward Ketchre cytezen and pewterer of London whole of mynd and of good and parfecte remembrance lawde and prayse be to allmyghty god (althoughe sycke in body do make ordaigne and declare this my present laste will and Testament in maner and forme followinge (that ys to say) First I gyve and com[m]end my sowle and body to allmyghty god my maker and redemer by whose meryttes deathe and passion I truste to be saued, and I will my body to be buryed wythein the paryshe churche of Sainte Peters the poore in London where I am nowe a paryshoner without pompe or vayne glorey at the discrecyon of my Executors here under named / And that don then I will my debtes which I do owe be truly contented and payd and that allso performed, Then I will that all my goodes and Cattells be equally deuyded in thre partes accordinge to the laudable costome of the cytty of London, whereof I will one parte to Elizabeth my welbeloued wief, and one other parte thereof I will shalbe equally deuyded to and amonges my children hereafter named (that ys to say) John Ketcher Willyam Ketcher Thomas Ketcher Edward Ketcher Richard Ketcher and Elizabeth Ketcher and yf any of my said children dye before his or her parte be deliuered him or her accordinge to the said custome of the said cytty of London, Then I will his or her parte so deceassed to be deuyded to and amonges the other of my said children then lyvinge/ and the third parte of all my said goodes and cattells I do resarue unto my self and to my said Executors for the performance of this my laste wyll and Testament as followithe (that ys to say) First I geve and bequethe to the mayster and wardens of the company of pewterers in London for & towardes arepaste or recreacyon to be made for them and the lyverey of the said company at there [...] hall Fortie shillinges/ Item I geve and bequethe to my kinsman Roberte Borne a blacke gowne/ and to his sonne Edward Borne my godsonne xiijs iiijd, and to every of his other children (that ys to say) Harry Borne Elsabeth Borne Margerey Borne and Alyce Borne to euery of them vjs viijd/ Item I geve and bequeathe to Elsabeth Borne my Sisters daughter vjs viijd/ I geve and bequethe to Anthony Ketcher my uncles sonne a blacke coote and twenty shillinges in money. Item I geve and bequethe to Thomas Ketcher my brothers sonne a gowne and Forty shillinges in money/ Item I geve and bequethe to Davy my man a blacke coote and tenne shillinges in money/ Item I geve and bequethe to Richard my servant a blacke coote, and allso I do clerely forgeve and remytt the said Richard of all such debts as he owithe me by specyalty for the debte of his Father, upon condycion that he the said Richard do use and behaue him self honestly and gentley to my said Executors hereunder named/ Item I geve and bequethe to Arthure now my apprentyce a blacke coote and tenne Shillinges in money/ Item I bequethe to Thomas Jackson my apprentyce a blacke coote and tenne Shillinges in money, To be paid to them the said Arthure and Thomas at thend and expyracyon of there said apprenticehood, Item I geve and bequethe to Agnes my lesser mayd a blacke cassocke, and at the day of her marryadge tenne Shillinges in money/ Item I geve and bequethe to every of my godchildren nowe livinge not before named twelue pence/ Item I geve and bequethe to my dawghter Elsabeth Ketcher ouer and aboue her childes parte due to her by the custome of the cyty of London twenty poundes out of my parte and porcyon reserued to my self; To be paid to her at the day of her maryadge/. Item I geve and bequethe unto my Syster Agnes Borne one annuall or yerely rent of twenty Shillinges of lawfull money of England by yere, To be levied & taken in and out of all those my fower Tenements withe thappurtances sett lyinge and beinge togethers withen the paryshe of St Pters the poore wythein the ward of brode strete of London nowe in the seuerall tenures of me the said Edward Ketcher Thomas Wyse Hughe Bendley and Thomas Cartwright To haue hold and receave the said an[n]uall and yerely Rent of Twenty Shillings by yere to the said Agnes Borne and her assignes duringe the naturall lief of the said Agnes Borne at fowre Faistes or termes of the yere (that ys to say) att the Feastes of the birthe of our lord god, The Annuncyac’on of our Lady the Natyuytie of Saincte John Baptyste and St Mychaell tharchangell by even porcions, The firste payment thereof to begyn at the firste of the said Feastes that nexte shall happen after the decease of me the said Edward Ketcher./ And Further I will that yf and as often as yt shall happen the said yerely Annuyty or Annuall rent of twenty Shillinges or any parcell thereof to be behind and not paid at any of the said Feastes at whiche yt ys before lymyted to be paid, and that by the space of one monithe then nexte ensuinge and yt be within the said tyme lawfull asked, That then and so ofte[n] yt shalbe lawfull to and fore the said Agnes Borne into all the said fowre Tenementes withe thappurtenances or into any parte or parcell of them to enter and distrayne for the said Annuall or yerely rent of twenty Shillinges so then beinge behind and not paid/ and the distresse or distresses so taken to driue leade cary away and withhold untyll suche tyme as the said Agnes Borne be and shalbe truly satysfyed and paied/ Allso Further I will geve legate and bequethe unto the mayster and wardens of the company of pewterers of London one Annuall or yerely rent of thirty Shillinges lawfull money of England by yere to be levied perceaued and taken in and out of all those my sayde fowre Tenementes laste aboue mencyoned, To haue hold levye and preceaue the said Annuall and yerely rent of thirty Shillinges by yere ymediatly from and after the decease of the said Agnes Borne to the said mayster and wardens and to there Successors for euer, To be paid at the said fowre termes or Feastes of the yere allso aboue mencioned by even porcions/ The firste payment thereof to be and begyn at the nexte Feaste of the said fowre Feastes aovue mencyoned that shall happen to fall nexte after the decease of the said Agnes Borne and not beofre/ To thentent and purpose that they the said maister and wardens of the said company of pewterers and their Successors for the tyme beinge shall yerely for euermore after the deceasse of the said Agnes Borne geve and pay unto five poore men beinge free of the said company of pewterers xxs of lawfull money of England parcell of the said thirty Shillinges (that ys to say) to every of the said five poore men fowre Shillinges apece, To be paid unto them quarterly by even porcions at the Feastes allso about lymyted, The firste payment thereof to begyn at the nexte Feaste of the said fowre Feastes aboue mencyoned that shall happen to be nexte after the deathe of the same Agnes Borne and not before/ And tenne shillings Residue of the said thirty Shillinges I will that the said mayster and wardens and there Successors shall yerely fore euer haue to theire owne use towardes the kepinge of there quarter dynners to be made at there [...] hall upon theire quarter daies, To thentente allso that the said maister and wardens and theire Successors for the tyme being shall and doe yerely for euer after the decease of the said Agnes Borne call and will the said five poore men which shall fortune to haue the said yerely Annuyty or Anuall Rent of xxs by yere unto every of the said quarter dynners that shall happen to be made withine the [...] hall of the said mayster and wardens called the pewterers hall in London/ And Furthermore I will that yf and as often as yt shall happen the said annuall or yerely Rent of thirty shillinges or any parcell thereof to be behind and not paid at any of the said Feastes at whiche yt ys before lymyted and mencyoned to be paid, and that by the space of sixe wekes then nexte ensuyynge (an yt be within the said tyme lawfully asked That then and so often yt shalbe lawfull to and for the said mayster and wardens and to theire Successors mayster and wardens for the tyme beinge into all and singuler the said fowre Tenements withe thappurtenances and into every parte and parcell thereof to enter and distreyne and the distresse or dytresses so taken to leade beare cary away and withhold untill suche tyme as they the said mayster and wardens and theire Successors or assignes be and shalbe truly satysfyed contentyd and paid ITem I geve and deuyse legate, and allso bequethe to my sonne John Ketcher all those my landes called Corks Landes and Corks Land meade lyinge and beinge within the lordshipp and mannors of maister Dods called welletts and all that my shouse called Richards holden of the Lord wyndsor withall the londs belonginge to the same lyinge and beinge togethers withe in the paryshe of Southe myins accordinge to te custome of the said lordships and either of them And allso I will that Elsabeth my wief shall haue and receaue the third parte of the proffects of the said londes and Tenementes duringe her naturall lief accordinge to the customes of the said mannors or lordshipps, Allso I geue and bequethe all those my sayde fowre Tenementes withe thappurtenances sett and beinge in the said paryshe of St Peters the poore wythein the said ward of Brodstrete in London beinge nowe or late in the seuerall Tenures of me the said Edward Ketcher Thomas Wyse Hughe Bendley and Thomas Cartewrighte to the said Elsabeth my wyef and to my said sonne John Ketcher, To haue and to hold the said fowre Tenements withe thappurtenances unto the said Elsabeth my wief and to the said John my sonne and to theire assignes duringe the naturall lief of the sayd Elsabeth my wyef, The Rentes and seruyces due to the chief lord or lordes of the Fee thereof and the said annuall or yerely Rentes of twenty Shillinges and thirty shillinges by yere goinge out of the same Fowre Tenementes from thensforthe to be due (only excepte) and after the decease of the said Elsabeth my wyef I will legate deuyse geue and bequethe unto the said John Ketcher my sonne all the foresaid fowre Tenementes wythe thappurtenances laste aboue mencyoned and this his haires males of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaulte of suche yssue, the remaynder thereof over to Willyam Ketcher my second sonne and to the haieres males of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaulte of such yssue the remaynder thereof over to [Thomas Ketcher my third Sonne and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaulte of suche yssue the remaynder thereof over to] Edward Ketcher my forthe sonne and to the haires males of his body lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of suche yssue the remaynder thereof ouer to Richard Ketcher my Fyfte Sonne and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten/ And yf yt happen all my said son[n]es to dye without yssue males of any of theire bodies lawfully begotten, Then I will and my mynd ys that all the foresaid landes and Tenements shall remayne and be to the righte haires of me the said Edward Ketcher for euer/ Allso I geve and bequethe to the foresaid Edward Ketcher my sonne all those two Tenements withe thappurtenances nowe or late in the tenure of John Rickford or of his assignes sett and beinge in the said parishe of St Peters the poore withein the said ward of brodstrete of London and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaulte of suche yssue, The remaynder thereof over to the foresaid John Ketcher my sonne and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten/ and for defaulte of suche yssue the remaynder thereof ouer to the said Willyam Ketcher my second sonne and to the haires males of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaulte of suche yssue the remaynder thereof over to the foresaid Thomas Ketcher my sonne and to the haires males of his body lawfully begotten, and for defaulte of suche yssue the remaynder thereof over to Richard Ketcher my sonne and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten and yf all my said sonnes happen to dye without yssue males of theire seuerall bodies lawfully begotten, Then I will that the said two Tenementes shall remayne and be to the righte haires of me the said Edward Ketcher the Father forever/ Allso I geue and bequethe to my said sonne Richard Ketcher all those my landes and Tenementes withe thappurtenances scytuate lyinge and beinge in Tonford withein the paryshe of Cheshunte in the county of Hartf’ and to the haires males of his body lawfully begotten And for defaulte of suche yssue, The remaynder thereof ouer to the said John Ketcher my eldest sonne and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten/ And for defaulte of suche yssue The remaynder thereof ouer to my said sonne Willyam Ketcher and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten withe suche liek seuerall remaynders thereof over to the residue of my said sonnes euery one after other in suche maner and forme as ys before mencyoned, The reste and resydue of all and singuler my goodes chattells debtes Juells plate and redy money (my debtes paid) andthis my present laste will and Testament wholy p[er]formed and fullfilled I will shalbe equally deuyded to and amonges my said children Johnne Ketcher Willyam Ketcher Thomas Ketcher Edward Ketcher Richard Ketcher and Elsabeth Ketcher and euery of them to be others heire thereof accordinge as I haue before willed towchinge theire childes parte And of this my said laste will and Testament I do make and constytute the said Elsabeth my welbeloved wyef and the foresaid John Ketcher my sonne to be myne Executors, And of the executyon of the same my laste will and Testament I do constytute make and ordaigne my truly and welbeloved Frendes Johnne Quarles Draper and John Reston pewterer cytezens of London my Ouerseers, And I do geve and bequethe to either of them the said John Quarles and John Reston for there labors and paines therein to be taken Forty Shillinges and a blacke gowne/ In wytnes whereof unto this my laste will and Testament I the said Edward Ketcher haue sett my hand and Seale the day and yeres firste aboue wrytten, Theise beinge wytnesses whose names ar hereunder wrytten withe theire owne hands ITem I do geue and bequethe to the relief of the poore wythein Christes hospitall in London Forty Shillinges/ By me John Bodleighe as wytnis, by me John Huchenson as wittnes, Signed by Hughe Bendley Teste Roberto Creleo pastore petri pauperio, John Vynsent, By me Thomas Catcher/ Moreover I the said Edward Ketcher will geve and bequethe by this my present Testament and laste will unto Elsabeth my welbelovid wyef ouer and aboue her third parte to her bequethed out of myne owne parte and porcyon reseruyd unto my self the some of one hundrythe marks of lawfull money of England Item I bequethe to Richard Wilkenson a blacke coote and to his wief a blacke cassocke and to Harry Wilkenson there sonne a blacke coote In Wytnes whereof I the said Edward hereunder haue sett my marke the seaventhe day of December Anno 1562, Theis beinge wytnesses shose names ar hereunder subscribed withe there owne proper handes, per me Johannem Huchenson testem ad premissa By me Thomas Cartwrighte, By me John Moll wytness/
[Proved 1 February 1562/3]
An Abstract of Edward’s inquisition post mortem:
Edward Keacher (or Ketcher), pewterer.
Inquisition taken at the Guildhall, 6 March, 1565, before Richard Champion, knight, mayor and escheator, after the death of Edward Ketcher, late of London, pewterer, by the oath of Thomas Lyttone, John Haddon, William Gybbons, Richard Henman, Henry Sutton, Stephen Waldon, Henry Callys, Henry Shaw, Thomas Dewxell , Robert Langwith, Richard . . ., John Wilton, John Noble, Michael Smithe, Robert Dickenson, Robert Cripps, Richard Cowper, John Wilson, Walter Browne, John Harrison and Anthony Garret who say that
Edward Ketcher was seised of 4 messuages in the parish of St. Peter le Poore, London, to wit, [abutting] upon the tenement now in the tenure of Thomas Averey, gent., on the north, the school of St. Anthony there on the south, the highway on the west and upon the yard of the messuage or place of Thomas Leighe on the east, sometime belonging to the late Monastery of St. Albans in co. Hertford, now dissolved, in the several tenures of John Ketcher, Thomas Wyse, Hugh Bendeley and Thomas Cartwright, which said premises the said Edward Keacher purchased of the said Thomas Leighe, and which King Henry VIII by Letters Patent dated 24 September in the 36th year of his reign [1544] granted inter alia to John Wrothe and his heirs, 1 messuage called the Checker late in the tenure of John Ryckford and Margaret his wife, situate in the parish of St. Peter le Poore in the ward of Broade street, London, purchased by the said Edward Keacher of John Fisher of London : which said premises King Henry VIII by Letters Patent dated 26 September in the 36th year of his reign granted inter alia to Thomas Bocher and his heirs.
Edward Keacher made his will dated 1 December, 1562, and thereby bequeathed as follows : Item I give to my sister Agnes Borne a yearly rent of 20s. to be levied out of the said messuages in the said parish of St. Peter le Poore.
I give to the Master and Wardens of the company of the Pewterers of London a yearly rent of 30s. to be levied out of the said 4 messuages: to hold to them and their successors for ever immediately after the death of the said Agnes, to the intent that they pay yearly for ever to 5 poor men being “free of the said company” 20s.: the other 10s. the said Master and Wardens shall have for ever towards the “keping of their quarter dynners to be made at their comon hail upon their quarter days,” on condition that they “call and will” the said 5 poor men to every one of the said quarter dinners.
I “legate” to my son John Ketcher all my lands called Cockes land meade lying within the lordship and manors of Mr. Dodes called Wellettes, and my house called Richardes held of the Lord Wyndesore with all the lands thereto belonging lying “togethers ” in the parish of South Mynes.
I will that Elizabeth my wife have the third part of the profits of the said lands and tenements during her natural life.
I give my said 4 tenements in the said parish of St. Peters the Poore to the said Elizabeth my wife and John my son: to hold for the natural life of the said Elizabeth; after her decease, I give the same to the said John and his heirs male; for default, the remainder thereof to William Ketcher my second son and his heirs male; for default, to Thomas Ketcher my third son and his heirs male; for default, to Edward Ketcher my fourth son and his heirs male; for default, to Richard Ketcher my sister’s son and his heirs male. If all my said sons die without issue male, then the said premises to remain to my right heirs for ever.
I give to the said Edward Ketcher the said 2 tenements in the tenure of John Rickeford, and to his heirs male; for default, the remainder thereof to my said son John Ketcher and his heirs male; for default, to the said William Ketcher my second son and his heirs male; for default, to my said third son Thomas and his heirs male; for default, to my said son Richard and his heirs male; and for default, to my right heirs for ever.
The said 4 messuages in the said parish of St. Peter Ie Poore are held of the Queen by fealty in free burgage and not in chief, and are worth per annum, clear, £8 6s. 8 d. The tenement called the Checker is held of the Queen in free burgage and not in chief, and is worth per annum, clear, 46s. 8d.
Edward Ketcher died 19 January, 5 Eliz. [1563], John Ketcher is his son and next heir, and is now aged 26 years and more.
Chan. Inq. p. m., 8 Eliz ., part 1, No. 83.
Edward’s son Thomas made his “kinsman” Edward Catcher of Hackney, gentleman, an overseer of his 1612 will.
References
Abstracts of Inquisitiones Post Mortem for the City of London returned into the Court of Chancery during the Tudor Period. Part II. 4-19 Elizabeth. 1561-1577 (Sidney J. Madge ed.) (1901).
Alsop, J.D. “Laxton, Sir William (d.1556)” in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004).
Catcher pedigree from Harl. MS. 1096, fo. 83. in Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, series 5, volume 3 (p. 114) (1916).
Cooper, Thompson (rev. R.M.Armstrong). “Catcher alias Burton, Edward (c. 1585 - 1623)” in The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004).
Harben, Henry A. A Dictionary of London (H Jenkins Ltd; London, 1918).
Parish registers of St Peter le Poer. Digital images on Ancestry.com.
Will of Edward Ketchre or Ketcher, pewterer of London. Proved 1563 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Thomas Catcher of London, pewterer. Proved 1587 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Thomas Catcher citizen and draper of London. Proved 1613 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Sir William Laxton, alderman of London. Proved 1556 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.