John Byne matriculated from Christ Church, Oxford 19 November 1621. He was married at Ashurst and his first five children were baptized there. His remaining children were baptized at Thakeham. Renshaw (pp. 62-64) describes some court proceedings he was involved in in the 1630s and 1640s (a dispute with his kinsman John Bowyer of Camberwell over a £20 bond, and a dispute with the unrelated John Bowyer of Charlwood over a mortgage). John Byne was buried at Thakeham.
Events
Date of Baptism: 2 October 1603.
Place of Baptism: Washington, Sussex, England.
The date and place of baptism are given by Renshaw (p. 62) and Foster (p. 226).
Date of Burial: 3 April 1658.
Place of Burial: Thakeham, Sussex, England.
Renshaw (p. 62) gives the date and place of burial. Foster (p. 226) gives the incorrect date 31 December 1661. (John’s will was proved 1 November 1660.)
Relationships
Father: Sir John Byne (about 1576 - 1640/41).
Mother: Adria Weaver (1585 - 1641/42).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Elizabeth Bridger (1616 - 1682). Married 10 July 1634, or 1 August 1634, at Ashurst, Sussex, England.
Renshaw (p. 63) notes that the parish register has the date as 10 July 1634, but the Bishop’s transcript gives 1 August 1634. The parish register is presumably correct.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Renshaw (pp. 66-67) gives information.)
Jane Byne (baptized 19 May 1635 at Ashurst, Sussex - unknown) married Stephen Greenwell.
Elizabeth Byne (baptized 2 August 1636 at Ashurst - died an infant)
Aboara Byne (baptized 31 July 1637 at Ashurt)
Mary Byne (baptized 6 December 1638 at Ashurst - buried 4 July 1657 at Thakeham)
Honour Byne (baptized 25 January 1639/40 at Ashurst - died early)
Frances Byne (baptized 29 April 1641 at Ashurst - buried 2 December 1656 at Thakeham)
Elizabeth Byne (baptized 16 April 1643 at Thakeham - unknown) married Henry Smalley 26 December 1671 at St Mary, Harrow.
Henry Byne (baptized 6 September 1646 at Thakeham - September 1688) married Elizabeth Scrase.
Edmund Byne (baptized 21 September 1647 at Thakeham - before September 1688)
John Byne (baptized 30 June 1649 at Thakeham - before September 1688)
William Byne (baptized 28 January 1651 at Thakeham - buried 5 November 1710) married Sarah Pengry 20 January 1673, London, England (Saint Dunstan in the East).
Adria Byne (baptized 4 November 1655 at Thakeham - unknown) married (1) someone surnamed Lee; married (2) Gervase Elliott 12 November 1683 in St Marylebone, Westminster.
Evidence
from the Ashurst parish register:
[1634] John Byne gentleman and Elizabeth Bridger marryed [August something crossed out] July 10th
[1635] Jane the daughter of Mr John and Elizabeth Byne was baptized 19 day of May
[1636] Elizabeth Bine Daughter of Mr Jo: Bine baptized August 2d/
[1637] Aboara the daughter of John Bynne gent was Baptized the laste day of Jully
[1638] Mary the Daughter of Mr John Byne baptized the same day [the sixth of December]
[1639] Honour Byne the daughter of John Byne Gent was baptized January 25. 1639
[1641] Frances Byne the daughter of Mr John Byne gentl: was baptized, Aprill. 29. 1641
from the Thakeham parish register:
[1643] Elizabeth the daughter of John and Elizabeth Byne was baptized the 6 of August [written above: “April:] 1643
[1646] Henry the Son of John and Elizabeth Byne was baptized the 6 of September 1646.
[1647] Edmund the son of John and Elizabeth Byne was batptized the 21 of Septem 1647
[1649] John the Son of John and Elizabeth Byne was baptized the 30 of June 1649 [entry very faded]
[1651] William the Son of John Byne was baptized the 28 of Janu 1651
[1655, entry faded] A... daughter.. was.borne the 4th of November
[1656] Frances Daughter of John Bine was buryed the 2 of December
[1657] Mary daughter of Jo: Bine buryed the 4th of July 1657
[1658] John Bine gent buryed the 13 of Aprill
West Sussex Protestation Returns (1641): John is listed under Ashurst.
A transcription of John Byne’s will:
In the name of God Amen The Sixe and Twentieth Day of March in the yeare One Thousand Sixe Hundred Fiyfty and Eight I John Byne of Thackam in the County of Sussex gent. being weake in body but of perfect memory (praised be God) and knoweinge the uncertainty of the life of Man[?] Doe make Ordaine and Appoint this my last Will and Testament in manner followinge, First I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almightie God my only Lord and Saviour. Also I committ my bodie To the Earth to be Decently buried Accordinge to the discretion of my Executor hereafter named, Also I give to the poore of the Parish of Thackham aforesaid Twentie Shillings, And Whereas itt hath pleased God to blesse mee with Children for whose Education, Maintenance and proferment(?) itt behooveth mee to provide I Doe give unto them as Followeth. Namely To my Sonnes, Edmund, John and William each of them sixty pounds for the placeinge of them as itt shall seeme best to my wife and my Executors hereafter named Also, I doe give unto each of my before named Sonnes the severall summes of Two Hundred Poundes; when they shall newe Attained unto their severall ages of One and Twentie yeares, And if any of my Said youngr Sonnes shall by Gods [?] dye before his full Age of One and Twentie yeares That then he or their Legacyes or Soe much of them as is unpaied shall remaine To the use of my Eldest Sonne from and after the payment of all other Legacyes given and bequeathed by this my last Will and Testament. Also I give unto my Daughter Jane One Summe of Three Hundred Punds To bee paid her within Sixe Monthes after my Decease, if my Executors hereafter named can [?] the same. Also I give unto each of my younger Daughters namely Elizabeth, and Aldreda the Severall Summers of Two hundred and Fiftie Poundes To bee paied them, when they shall Accomplish their severall Ages of One and Twentie yeares or dayes of Marriage which shall first come, And if any one of all my said Daughters shall dye before her legacy [?] shall become due and payable my Will is that her portion shall remaine To the use of her Surviveing Sisters, And Also if Two of my said Daughters shall Dye before their porcione or Legacyes shall become due That then the said Surviveing Daughter shall have in all for her [?] the Summe of Five Hundred Poundes payable att the Day or tyme aforesaid Also my Will and meaneinge is that the Legacy of my Daughter Jane bee the first paied of any Legacies Also I make Ordaine and appoint my Loveinge Friends and Kinsfolkes John Byne of Washington in the County of Sussex Esqr. Edmund Muschampe of Sullington in the said Countie Esqr, Richard Bridger of Ashurst in the said Countie Gentleman and John Bridger of Billingshurst in the said County Esqr Executors in Trust of this last Will and Testament And whereas my personall Estate in not Sufficient for the payment of my debts and Legacyes before given, I doe hereby give full power and Authority to my saied Executros John Byne of Washington, Edmund Muschampe, Richard Bridger And John Bridger, and their heyres, the survivor or survivors of them, and the heyres of the Survivors of them, full power and authoritie, as if I my selfe had Done itt, To graunt, alien, bargaine, sell, Lease, release, Mortgage, Assigne and Convey All those my Two Mannors with all Edifices, Landes, Tenements, hereditaments, woods, underwoods and premisses withall and singular their Appurtenances in the parrish of Harbledowne or else where in the Countie of Kent in the use and Occupation of Thomas Bridges, or any other persons whatsoever; And all those my Three houses Together with all Edifices; Landes, Tenements, hereditaments, woods, underwoods, and premisses, with their and every of theire Appurtenances lyeinge, and beinge in the Parrishes of Lyngeffeild, Crowhurst, and Hoxsted in the Countie of Surrey Called by the names of Staryde and Millers, or what ever other names soever, in the Occupacons of John Masley(?) gentleman and Christopher Eaton(?) Their or any of their Assignes And all those my Landes Tenements and hereditaments with the Appurtenances in Thackham in the County of Sussex aforesaid called Chamynes in my owne Occupacon for the Raiseinge Moneys for the beareinge dischargeinge and paying all my debtes Legacyes and Expences they or any of them shall bee att, in the Executeinge and performeinge of this my last Will and Testament, Rendringe the overpluse to my Eldest Sonne Henry Byne Also my Will and meaneing is that if my Eldest Sonne when hee shall Attaine unto the age of One and Twentie yeares shall and will pay or give such securitie to pay as my before named Executors the Survivors or Survivor of them and the heyres of the Survivors of them may be Indemnifyed and kept harmelesse from the Breach of the Trust Deposed in them to his said bretheren and Sisters, Soe much of their porcone or Legacyes as shall remaine unlevied by the said Trustees, That then and theireforth all my before menconed Mannors Landes, Tenementes hereditaments and premisses as shall remaine in the Handes and possession of the Trustees the Survivors or Survivor of them, or the heyres of the Survivors of them [?] of For or towards the performance of the Trust aforesaid shall Remaine and more To my Eldest Sonne and his heyres for Ever. Also I Will that my Loveinge Wife shall have the use of soe much of my houshold stuffe as shall be needfull for her keepeinge house dueringe the Tyme of her widdowhood In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seale the Day and Yeare above written / Memorandum that I John Bune of Thakham aforesaid before the sealinge and Publishinge here [...] Whereas I have made and Appointed my Loveing Freindes John Byne of Washington, Edmund Muschamp Richard Bridger and John Bridger Executors in Trust of my last Will and Testament I Doe hereby Further Appointe my Loveing wife Joynt Executor in Trust with them hereby given her power Equall with any of them / John Byne / Sealed and Published in the presence of Mary Chattwel, John Dande, John Camfeild/
[proved 1 November 1660 by Elizabeth Byne, relict]
Commentary
John’s parentage
A number of pieces of evidence, taken together, show that John was the son of Sir John and Lady Adria Byne.
(1) In his 1638 will, Sir John Byne of Rowdell, Sussex, named his younger son, John Byne, whom he left a barn in “Lynnffield in Surry”.
(2) In her 1641 will, Dame Adria Byne, relict of Sir John Byne, knight, deceased, named her younger son John Byne, to whom she left “all and singuler my moyetie, of and in all those my messuage lands tenements and hereditamts whatsoever lyeinge and beinge in the parrishe of Lymesfeild in the Countie of Surrey, And all other my Lands tenemts and hereditamts whatsoever in Lymesfeild Crowhurst and Oxsted or elsewhere in the said Countie of Surrey”.
(3) In 1655, the John Byne of this page named one of his daughters “Adria”.
(4) In his 1658 will, the John Byne of this page mentioned houses and land he owned in “Lyngeffeild, Crowhurst, and Hoxted in Surrey.”
(5) In her 1682 will, Elizabeth Byne of Steyning, widow (the widow of the John Byne of this page), left her granddaughter Adrea Smalley “her greate Grandmother the Ladie Bynes wedding Ring”.
(6) In his 1645 will, Edmund Byne of Washington made “John Byne of Thakeham in the County aforesaid my brother” one of his overseers. Edmund was a son of Sir John Byne of Rowdell.
A number of pieces of evidence, taken together, show that Sir John’s wife Adria was the daughter of Richard Weaver and Audrey (Adria) Holloway.
(1) In his 1599 will, Richard Weaver of “Hexted in the parishe of Lingfielde” mentioned his sister Awdrey Weaver and his uncle Alexander Holloway.
(2) In his 1626 will, Alexander Holloway of Crowhurst mentioned his niece Lady Bine, wife of John Bine, Knight. He made his executor John Byne, second son of John, Knight and his wife Audrey Bine.
(3) In his 1596 will, Richard Weaver of “Haxted in the Parrishe of Lingfeild” named his brother in law Alexander Holloway.
(4) In a Chancery case regarding the manor of Hexted, the plaintiffs were “Sir John Byne and Audry Byne his wife (daughter of Richard Weaver).
References
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 Sir John Byne of Washington, Sussex (probate 8 February 1641), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, National Archives: PROB 11/185/179
Will of Dame Adria Byne of Ashurst, Sussex (probate 4 May 1642), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, National Archives: PROB 11/189/114.
Will of Edmund Byne of Washington. Proved 1646 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Walter Charles Renshaw, Searches into the History of the Family of Byne or Bine of Sussex (London: Chiswick Press, 1913).
Joseph Foster (ed.) Alumni Oxonienses (Oxford: Parker and co., 1891).
R. Garraway Rice. West Sussex Protestation Returns 1641-2. (Sussex Record Society, 1906). Page 24 lists John Byne as among those that took the protestation at Ashurst.
Parish register of Ashurst, Sussex. Digital images on FamilySearch.org accessed 16 March 2018.
Parish register of Thakeham, Sussex. Digital images on FamilySearch.org accessed 17 March 2018.
West Sussex Protestation Returns 1641-2. R. Garraway Rice, ed. (Sussex Record Society vol. V, 1906).