Elizabeth Draper
Events
Date of Birth: unknown (between about 1525 and 1535).
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: 22 April 1605 or 27 April 1605.
The April 22nd date is given in the Gentlemen’s Magazine (95:2:586) and in Blanch (p. 32). The April 27th date is given by Allport (p. 131) and in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica (p. 152) . Both dates are based on a monumental inscription, and clearly conflict slightly with the date of burial given below.
Date of Burial: 21 April 1605.
Place of Burial: Crowhurst, Surrey, England (St George).
The date is given in the National Burial Index.
Relationships
Father: Robert Draper.
This relationship is given by Nichols (p. 220); the 1623 Visitation of Surrey (Bannerman, p. 32), where the informant was her son, Sir Edmond Bowyer; the 1568 Visitation of London (p. 4), where the informant was her first cousin once removed, Sir Christopher Draper; and the 1619 Visitation of Leicestershire (p. 52), where the informant was presumably her first cousin twice removed, John Draper of Melton Mowbray. Robert Draper mentions his daughter, Elizabeth, in his will. Elizabeth’s monumental inscription gives her father’s name (Blanch, p. 32; Allport, p. 131).
Mother: Elizabeth Fyfield.
This relationship is given in these Visitations: London 1568 (p. 4, p. 76) Kent 1574 (p. 52), Kent 1619 (p. 116), Leicestershire 1619 (p. 52). Elizabeth (Fyfield) Draper mentions her daughter, Eliz Bowyer, in her will.
Spouse: John Bowyer (died 1570). Married 17 June 1550 at Camberwell, Surrey, England.
The marriage is given in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica (3:151). The relationship is given in the 1623 Visitation of Surrey (p. 32), the 1619 Visitation of Leicester (p. 52), and the 1568 Visitation of London (p. 4).
Spouse: William Forster. Married 9 September 1572 in Camberwell, Surrey.
The marriage is given in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica (p. 152) .
Children (with John Bowyer):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Sir Edmund Bowyer (born 12 May 1552 - buried 18 February 1626/7) married Katherine Byne 25 May 1573 at Camberwell.
Elizabeth Bowyer (born 10 June 1553 - died about 1629-1630) married (1) John Byne 25 May 1573 at Camberwell; married (2) Richard Stanley 24 June 1604 at Pulborough, Sussex.
John Bowyer (baptized 12 March 1559/60 - died 2 June 1623) married Emme Byne 2 July 1588 at Camberwell.
Matthew Bowyer (baptized 23 November 1561 - died s.p.).
Luke Bowyer (baptized 30 June 1562 - buried 18 May 1564 or 14 May 1565).
Benjamin Bowyer (baptized 13 July 1567) married Joyce Edney.
Gregory Bowyer (baptized 18 September 1568).
Sence Bowyer (baptized 15 January 1570).
Children (with William Forster):
Frances Forster (baptized 23 July 1573 in Crowhurst, Surrey) married William Strachey 9 June 1595. Strachey owned a one-sixth share in the Blackfriar’s Theatre. He suffered a shipwreck in 1609 and was stranded with a group of men on Bermuda for almost a year. His account of this is thought to be a (perhaps the) major source Shakespeare used for The Tempest.
Matthew Forster (baptized 16 November 1574 in Crowhurst).
Evidence
A transcription of the 1558 will of Elizabeth’s brother, Henry Draper
In the name of god amen I Henrie Draper of Camerwell in the Countie of Surr. the viith Daye of the moneth of August in the yere of our lorde god a thousande fyve hundreth fiftie and Eight and in the fifte and sixte yeres of the Reignes of our soveraigne lorde and ladie Philipp and Marie by the grace of god Kinge and Queene of England beinge hole of mynde and of a sounde and perfecte remembrance god be praysed therof make ordeyne and declare my last will and testament in maner and fourme followinge: Firste and before all things; I commend my self unto god and unto his mercie. Item I will that myne executor shall in as convenient space as he may after my departure paie all my debts and all the debts which my mother ought wch I will to be levied and paide with the moneye comynge of my corne and haye lyinge and beinge in my barnes and Croft lynge and occupied wt my house uppon the grene at Cam’well aforesaid and my house and premeses called Albertone in the said parisshe of Cam’well and in the saide countie of Surrey. Item I will and bequeath unto Briget my wife the occupacon and all the issues revenues and proffitts comyng and growinge of all those landes pastures and medowes called Millewellhill in the parisshe of Cam’well and Lambeth in the countiee of Surrey for the terme of xxx yeres if the said Bridgett so longe do lyve, and if it fortune the said Bridgett decease and die before the said xxx yeres be ended and expired, then and frome the deathe of the said Bridgett I will and give the said lease and terme of yeres of and in the said terme if anye thereof then remayne unto my brother Mathu Draper and to his assignes. / . Also I will and give unto Bridget my wife all suche housholde stuffe goods caattals and other things whatsoever as I or she or either of us had provided gotten and Bought or otherwise obteyned before the deathe of my mother for the fyrnyshing of my farme of alfarthing. I give unto my wife all her rings her chayne of golde, her Flower of golde wt stones her book of golde, her billement of goldesmythes worke and other other Juells, I give unto my wife eleven spones with pestells one gilte spone & goblett silver p[ar]cell gilte, one salte gilte with out a clover my bigger cruse gilte wt the cover./. The Residue of my plate not bequeathed before now hereafter I will and give to myne executor for the payment of my Debts if the corne and haye aforesaid be not hable to discharge the same./. I will and give unto Edmond Bowyer my nephewe one little salte gilte and one silver spone gilte. And I will unto Elizabeth Bowyer my sisters daughter a grater of silver gilte and one silver spone. Also I will unto my brother John Fromonndes one yoke of my oxen, and I will and bequeath unto my sister Fromonndes my mandley cuppe of silver and gilte Item I give unto my brother Mathu xx qters of Otes & x quarters of barley./. Item I give and bequeath unto my brother Mathie all that my farme of Albertons with all the landes and tenements thereunto belonging or in the same purchased or occupied as p[ar]cell of the same ferme, to have the said Ferme and premysses nexts before mencyoned to my said brother Mathie and to the heyres of his bodie laufullie begotten.: The Residue of my goods and cattalls not Before bequeathed or will, I comytte to the discretion my my executor, and do ordeyne and make my Executor of this my last will and testament Willm Draper my brother, Also I will and declare that my brother Willm Draper shall have and take the proffitts occupacon and possession of my Ferme of Alfarthing in the parisshe of Wandesworth for and during the terme of xxxvj yeres if ye so longe lyve. I will and give the same lease and terme in the mannor of Alfarthyng and all the yssues and proffitts therof comyng after the death of the said Willm Draper if anye of the terme then remayne unto the heyres males of the bodie of the said Willm Draper laufullie begotten. provided and my my will is that if it fortune the saide Willm Draper to die before that he have anye issue male wch shalbe of the fulle age of xxi yeres, then I will that my brother Mathie Draper if he be then lyving shall take the profitts and have the possession of all the said ferme and the landes therto belonging untill the same heyre or issue male shall accopliisshe the said age of xxi yeres, to the use and behofe of the said issue and heyres male. provided and my will is that if the saide Willm Draper decease wtout issue male of his bodie laufully begotten then I will the said terme and lease of Alfarthing shalbe and remayne to my brother Mathie and his assignes During the hole terme therfor to come: and as to the devisinge willing distributing and disposing of my landes rents and hereditaments whatsoever they be I do make ordeyne and declare this my last will and testament in maner and forme following. And first I will and devise unto Bridget my wife all my lands tent’s medowes pastures meddes and underwoodes Rents ren’cons and hereditaments wt thapp[ur]rtenances, lyinge in the p[ar]ishes of Lambeth Newington Saincte George in Southwerks and Depford in the counties of Surrey and Kente one tente wherein one Jone Harte widowe nowe inhabiteth and dwelleth in water Lambeth onelie excepte and reserved unto Bridget my wife during her life: . I will also and devise unto Bridget my wife all that Close of medowe and pasture called Copelease lying in the p[ar]isshe of Cam’well in the countie of Surrey to have and to holde all the said landes rents medowes pastures woddes underwoddes and other hereditaments, so longe and after her decease I will and bequeath all the saide landes tent’s and hereditiaments medowes pastures woodes underwoddes Rentes revercons and other herediatments wt ther appurtenances unto my brother Willm Drap[er] his heyres and assignes for ever. Further I will that yf anye ambiguitie or double wyse in my will or about anye clause in my will or if ther lacke wordes in my will whyche shoulde make things to passe accordinge to my meanynge is that Mr Robert Keytowaye of the Temple and my brother John Bowyar shall explayn and supply the same place accordinge to ther Discretions and accordinge to my trust putt in them. wytnesses John Byer and Elizabeth his wife John Cole and Anne his wife with others.
[Proved 17 Dec 1558]
A transcription of the 1559 will of Elizabeth’s brother, William Draper
In the name of god amen William Draper late of Camerwell in the county of Surrey gentyllman deceased made hys Testament and laste wyll nuncapative in maner and forme followinge, That ys to saye, aboute fyve or Syxe dayes nexte after hys death who deceased the xth daye of Apryll Anno 1559 in thafter non of the same The sayed Wyllyam Draper being Sicke in bodye and hf hys perfect mynde and memorye Sayed to hys Brother Mathew Draper this or lyke wordes in effecte/// Brother Towchinge my landes and goodes even as allmyghty god sent them to me and as my brother lefte them to me, I gyve the same fullye to youe I wyll gyve nothing from youe but to my Suster Draper wydowe a ringe of gould whiche I weare on my finger To my Suster Bennett [I forman?] a peare of gould of thirty Shyllinges Wytenesses of the promysses Elizabeth Bowyer [blank space] Draper Wydow, doctor Jane physycyon n... ythe dyners other.
[Proved 18 April 1559]
Notes on the 1574 will of Elizabeth’s brother, Matthew Draper
Matthew’s will mentions:
-his nephew Edmond Bowier
-Nicholas Formandes son and heir
-Bennett Formandes his sister, wife to John Formands of Carshalton, Surrey
-his sister Elizabeth Forster
-his niece Bynde daughter of his sister Forster
-John Bynde her son
-Frances Forster, daughter of his said sister Forster
-John Bowyer, Mathie Bowyer, Beniamyn Bowyer, and Gregorye Bowyer
-John Fromandes son of his sister Bennett sister
-Francis Fromandes (his sister's son)
-Saincte, Elizabeth, and Dorathie Formandes
-his mother-in-law
-Cosinne Norden's wife
-Anne Sperte
-Ann Edwin
-his brother Blackwell
-his cousin Pachinge and his wife
-his cousin Forte
-Mathie Forte
-his brother Forster and his children by his first wife
-Mathie Bacon and George Bacon
-Roger Sharpe his man
-James Bynde
-Humfry Draper
-Johan his maid
-Bennett Bowe
-John Drewe
-John Hill
-Phillipp Band
-John of the Kythin
-Richard Jenkinson
References
“Account of the Bowyer Family” in The Gentlemen’s Magazine, 95:2:585-587.
Allport, Douglas. Collections, Illustrative of the Geology, History, Antiquities, and Associations, of Camberwell (1841).
Bannerman, William Bruce (ed.) The Visitations of the County of Surrey made and taken in the years 1530 by Thomas Benolt, 1572 by Robert Cooke and 1623 by Samuel Thompson and Augustin Vincent (London: [Harleian Society], 1899).
Bannerman, William Bruce; Robert Cooke; and Thomas Benolte. The visitations of Kent, taken in the years 1530-1 by Thomas Benolte, and 1574 by Robert Cooke. (London: [Harleian Society], 1923).
Blanch, William Harnett. Ye Parish of Camerwell. (London: E.W.Allen, 1877).
Burial of Elizabeth Forster, transcribed by the West Surrey Family History Society and available on the National Burial Index (online at Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 21 April 2014).
Camden, William, and John (ed.) Fetherston. The visitation of the county of Leicester in the year 1619, taken by William Camden. (London: Taylor and Co., 1870).
“Extracts from the Parish Registers of Camberwell, Surrey” in Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica, Volume 3 pages 142 - 168.
Hovenden, Robert, and John Philipot. The visitation of Kent, taken in the years 1619-1621 by John Philipot, Rouge Dragon, marshall and deputy to William Camden, Clarenceux. (London: [Harleian Society], 1898)
Howard, Joseph Jackson and George John Armytage (eds.). The Visitation of London in the Year 1568, taken by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, and since augmented both with descents and arms. (London: [Harleian Society], 1869.
Nichols, John. The history and antiquities of the county of Leicester: compiled from the best and most ancient historians; inquisitiones post mortem, and other valuable records; including also Mr. Burton's Description of the county, published in 1622; and the later collections of Mr. Staveley, Mr. Carte, Mr. Peck, and Sir Thomas Cave. (London: Printed by and for J. Nichols, 1795-1815), 2:1:263.
Nichols, John Gough. “Bowyer of Camberwell” in Surrey Archaeological Collections, Volume 3, pages 220 - 226,(London: Lovell Reeve & Co., 1865).
Will of Elizabeth Draper of Camberwell, Surrey, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/39/453.
Will of Henrie Draper of Camberwell, Surrey, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/42A/132.
Will of John Bowyer of Camberwell, Surrey, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/52/505.
Will of Mathew Draper, Gentleman of Camberwell, Surrey, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/59/439.
Will of Robert Draper, Gentleman of Camberwell, Surrey, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/31/536.
Will of William Draper, Gentleman of Camberwell, Surrey, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/42B/124.