Henry Byne was a churchwarden at Sele alias Beeding, Sussex, where his daughter was baptized in 1671. It was in this role, for failing to exhibit a bill of presentments, that he was excommunicated 3 February 1673/4 (Renshaw p. 70).
Events
Date of Baptism: 6 September 1646
Place of Baptism: Thakeham, Sussex, England.
The date and place of baptism are recorded in the parish register.
Date of Death: September 1688.
Place of Death: unknown.
Henry made his will on 16 September 1688 and it was proved on 1 October 1688.
Date of Burial: September 1688.
Place of Burial: St Clement Danes, Westminster.
The burial is recorded in the parish register ("Henry Bynes M").
Relationships
Father: John Byne (1603 - 1658).
Mother: Elizabeth Bridger (1616 - 1682).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Elizabeth Scrase (1652 - 1694).
Renshaw (p. 71) cites evidence from court records that Elizabeth Scrase was Henry’s wife. He also notes (p. 70 fn) that Elizabeth’s brother, William Scrase, refers to her as “my sister Byne” in his will.
Child (by Elizabeth Scrase):
Frances Byne (baptized 6 April 1671 at Sele alias Beeling, Sussex - died about January 1726) married Edmund Nugent 7 November 1687, in Knightsbridge (Holy Trinity).
Evidence
from the Thakeham register:
1646. Henry the son of John and Elizabeth Byne was baptized the 6 of September. 1646.
from the parish register of Upper Beeding:
1671 Frances the Daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Byne was Baptized the sixth Day of Aprill
A transcription of Henry’s will:
In the Name of God Amen I Henry Byne of the parish of St. James Westminster in the County of Middlesex Esqr weake in body but of sound and perfect mind and memorie Doe make & ordaine this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner and forme following First I give and bequeath my sonn in law Edmund Nugent and Frances his wife the summe of Tenne pounds a peece to buy them mourning: Item I give and bequeath to my Sisters Jane Greenwell wife of Stephen Greenwell and Adria Elliott wife of Mr Elliott the summe of Fifty shillings a peece to bee paid them immediately after my decease and the summe of Fifty shillings a peece more to bee paid them at the end of halfe a yeare next after my decease And my will is that the said severall summes shall be paid into their owne hands and their husbands noeways intermeddle with the same Item I give and bequeath to my loving brother William Byne and Sarah his wife the summe of five pounds a peece to bee paid them immediately after my decease Lastly I give and bequeath All and singular my goods and Chattels to my Loving wife Elizabeth Byne whome I hereby make sole Executrix of this my last Will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this sixteenth day of September In the fourth yeare of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord King James the second Annoque Domini one thousand six hundred eighty eight Hen: Byne, Signed Sealed published and declared in the presence of Anne Chetwyne, Cath. Delavall, Will. Collings.
[proved 1 Oct 1688]
A transcription of the will of Mary Gratwick:
Memorandum That Mary Gratwick late of Westerham in the county of Kent widowe deceased did on or about the Eight day of June in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six hundred sixtie and nine being sicke and weake but of good and perfect memorie in the presence of Elizabeth Bine and Anne Burton with an intent and purpose of makeing her last Will nuncapative say and declare as followeth or the like in effect (videlicet) I give Dorothy my Brother Henry Bridgers Wife my Cabbinett but nothing of that, that is in it and alsoe all my Glasses in my Closett I give my Brother Henrie Bridger my greate [...] at his House and a silver Tobaccoe Box. I give all my Brothers and Sisters a Tenn shillings peece of gould a peece except my Sister Bine To whome I give a Twentie shillings peece of gold and my Silver Watch I give unto my neice Jane Bine Tenn pounds I give to Master Wynne Five pounds to preach my Funerall Sermon And to Master Till Twentie Shillings to bury mee And Twentie shillings to the poore of Westerham And to Master Wynnes daughter my God daughter a silver porronger I give to my Brother John Bridgers wife a [...] pointe for a Fantor cheise which I bought at London this last yere I make my Brother John Bridger my Executor Elizabeth Byne the marke of Anne Burton
[proved 23 Jun 1669 by John Bridger]
Commentary
Henry’s parentage
The Ashurst, Sussex, parish register records the baptism of “Jane the daughter of Mr John and Elizabeth Byne” in 1635, among other children. The Thakeham parish register records the baptisms of “Henry the Son of John and Elizabeth Byne” in 1646, of “William the Son of John Byne” in 1651, and of A… [faded] daughter [...] in 1655, among other children.
In his 1658 will, John Byne of “Thackham”, Sussex, gent., named his eldest son Henry Byne, his son William, and his daughters Jane and Aldreda, among other children.
In her 1682 will, Elizabeth Byne of Steyning, Sussex, widow, named her son Henry Byne, Henry’s wife Elizabeth, and their daughter Frances; her daughter Jane Greenwell; her daughter Adrea Lee, widow; and her son William.
The St Marylebone, Westminster, register records the marriage in 1683 of “Gervas Elliott, Adria Leigh” in 1683.
In his 1688 will, the Henry Byne of this page named his sisters Jane Greenwell wife of Stephen Greenwell and Adria Elliott wife of Mr Elliott. He also named his brother William Byne and William’s wife Sarah.
Taking this evidence together, it is clear that Henry’s parents were John and Elizabeth Byne.
John and Elizabeth’s eldest child was baptized in 1635 in Ashurst, Sussex. The Ashurst register records the marriage in 1634 of “John Byne gentleman and Elizabeth Bridger”.
In his 1658 will, John Byne makes among his executors his “Loveinge Friends and Kinsfolkes” Richard Bridger and John Bridger. The 1634 visitation of Sussex records Richard, John, and Elizabeth as children of Henry Bridger of Warminghurst. Sussex registers record that Elizabeth was baptized in Warminghurst in 1616, Richard in Shipley in 1619/20, and John in 1622 in Ashurst.
Henry Bridger’s daughter Mary Gratwick left a 1669 will in which she named her “sister Bine”. A witness to the will, signing her name, was “Elizabeth Byne”.
References
Parish register of St Clement Danes, Westminster. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 31 December 2017.
Parish register of Upper Beeding, Sussex. Digital images on FamilySearch.org accessed 16 March 2018.
Will of John Byne, Gentleman of Thakeham, Sussex (probate 1 November 1660), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, National Archives: PROB 11/300/485.
Will of Henry Byne of Saint James Westminster, Middlesex (probate 1 October 1688), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, National Archives: PROB 11/393/50.
Will of Elizabeth Byne, Widow of Steyning, Sussex (probate 14 December 1682), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/371/531.
Will of Mary Gratwick, Widow of Westerham, Kent (probate 23 June 1669), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/330/215.
Walter Charles Renshaw, Searches in the History of the Family of Byne or Bine of Sussex (London: Chiswick Press, 1913); digital image Open Library (https://archive.org/stream/searchesintohist00rens#page/n5/mode/2up : accessed 12 March 2014)