Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Burial: 31 January 1575/6.
Place of Burial: King’s Norton, Worcestershire.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: uncertain.
Mother: uncertain.
The evidence below suggests that John’s parents or grandparents were Humphrey Rotten and Alice Bedill. Alice was the daughter of Richard Bedill and Katherine.
Spouse: Alice Greve.
Alice and John Ratton are named in the will of Alice’s father. John’s will names his wife Alice.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. The children below are recorded in John’s will.)
Isabel Rotten married William Hawkes 11 July 1558 in King’s Norton.
Elizabeth Rotten married Thomas Coxe 15 June 1569 in King’s Norton.
Dorothy Rotten.
Ambrose Rotten (buried 13 April 1619 in Aston, Warwickshire) married Bridget Smallbrook 20 November 1570 in Birmingham.
Walter Rotten (buried 7 October 1603 in King’s Norton) married Anne.
Thomas Rotten (baptized 12 August 1550 in King’s Norton).
Katherine Rotten (baptized 24 May 1553 in King’s Norton).
Evidence
from the Court of Chancery (National Archives Catalogue C 1/305/8)
Gorram v Bedill.
Plaintiffs: Richard, brother and heir of William Gorram.
Defendants: Richard Bedill and Katherine, his wife.
Subject: Detention of deeds relating to a messuage and land in Bredon, late of John Gorram, complainant's grandfather.
Worcestershire.
1504-1515
from the Court of Chancery (National Archives Catalogue C 1/305/8)
Elyot v Rotton.
Plaintiffs: Rafe Elyot, of Coventry, weaver.
Defendants: Humphrey Rotton and Richard Bysell.
Subject: Detention of deeds relating to tenements in Moseley. Worcestershire.
1504-1515.
In the register of members of the Guild of Knowle under 1520:
Edward’ Rotton et Cristiana vx ei’ de Norton
John’ A Rotton et Allys de Kyngisnorton
Rich’us Roton de Moseley
In the 1523 will of Mrs Middelmore late wife of John Middelmore late of Haslewell, “Alice Bedell wife of Ric Bedyll wever” is a witness.
from the Court of Chancery (National Archives Catalogue C 1/564/1)
Short title: Rotton v Tailor.
Plaintiffs: Alice Rotton, widow, daughter and heir of Richard Bedill.
Defendants: Thomas Tailor.
Subject: Detention of deeds relating to a messuage and land at Moseley in King’s Norton. Worcestershire.
1518-1529.
From the Court of Requests (National Archives Catalogue REQ 2/3/75)
John Whelewright and his wife Elizabeth v John Rotton and others: a croft called 'Whete Ruddynge' in Bordesley, Warwickshire.
22 April 1532-21 April 1533
from the Calendar of Patent Rolls 1549:
from a list of rents “heretofore given to the support of the priests in the late services of Holy Trinity, St. Mary and St. Michael in the church of Kynges Norton and chapel of Moseley within the parish of Kynges Norton”: …Thomas Greve…William Greve, Elizabeth Greve, … John Rotton …,Richard Beddell, Roger Beddell, … Thomas Greve, John a Rotten, …
A similar list contains: … Richard Byddyll, John Rotton, John Greve, …Roger Biddill “in Kynges Norton, Moseley and Yerdley or elsewhere, Worc.”
Rent from premisses in King’s Norton exempted from a sale: “to John Rotton and his heirs, 18d.”
John Rotton’s will:
[The paper in the digital image has a few tears and folds where it is difficult to read.]
In the name of god Amen. the xxth day of September, in the yeare of our lord god a thousand fyve hundred seventye and fyve, & in the yeare of the raigne of our moste soueraigne Ladye Elyzabethe by the grace of gode, quene of England, Fraunce & Ireland defendoure of the faythe &c the xvijth I Jhon Rotton of Moseleye in the countye of Wygorn yoman; beinge sicke in bodye, but of good & perfecte remembraunce thankes be to almyghtye god, doe constitute ordayne & make thys my Laste will & testamente in manner and fourme folowinge: Fyrste I commende my soule to almyghtye [...] my maker & redeemer and my bodye to be buryed in the p[ar]ishe churche of Kings Norton, in some convenyente place of the churche [...] shalbe thoughe meete and convenyente by my overseers Imprimis I gyve and bequethe unto the mayntenance or reparacyon of the churche of Kings Norton xxd Item I gyve and bequethe unto the chappell of Moseleye towards the reparynge of the same vs Also I doe gyve unto the poore boxe of kings norton xijd: Item I gyve & bequethe unto Darathye Rotton my daug[...] xl li of good and lawfull money of England, to be payd her at the daye of her maryage, at the hands of Ales Rotton my wyfe my executryx [...] yf that she the sayd Darathye doe marry by her lyfe tyme: or els yf she marrye not by her lyfe tyme, that then that [summe (?) … to …] her presentlye at the dysease and deathe of the sayd Alles Rotton my executryx & to be levied [furth.. all such] goods & cattell as were hers at her dysease. Also my mynde & will ys, that yf it chaunce that the sayd Ales my wyfe, doe marrye, before the abovesayd Legacye be payde unto my daughter Darathye Rotton, that then my minde and will ys, that her whole Legacye aforesayd, to be levyed furthwith, before the daye of the maryage of the sayd Ales Rotton my wyfe, upon all suche goods and cattell as were hers before the daye of her marryage & to be payd [...ntlye] unto the sayd Darathye Rotton before the daye of the maryage of the sayd Ales Rotton. Item I gyve and bequethe unto Katheryne Rotton my daughter xl li of good and lawfull moneye of [England…] payd her at the day of her maryage, at the hands of Ales Rotton my wyf my executryce, yf that she the sayd Katheryne doe marrye by her lyfe tyme: or els, yf she marrye not by her lyfe tyme, that then that summe to be payd presentlye , at the dyscease & deathe of the sayd Ales Rotton my executryce, & to be levyed furthwithe upon all such goods & cattell as wer hers at her discease Also my minde & will ys, that yf it chaunce that the saide Ales Rotton my wife doe marrye before the aforesayd Legacy be payde unto my daughter Katheryne Rotton, that then my minde and will ys, that her whole Legacye aforesaide, be levied [...] the daye of the maryage of the sayd Ales Rotton my wife, upon all such goods and cattell as were hers before the daye of [...]yage, and to be payd presentlye unto the sayd Katheryne Rotton before the daye of the maryage of the sayd Ales Rotton Item I gyve and bequethe unto Thomas Rotton my sonne for hys childs parte fourtye shillings of money a payre of flaxson sheets, to be payd unto him at the two yeares end at after my discease, but not before. Item I give and bequethe unto Ambrose Rotton my sonne for his childs parte fourtye shillings of lawfull englishe moneye, to be payd him at the two yeares ende at after my discease, but not before. Item I give and bequethe unto Elyzabeth Coxe my daughter fourty shillings of lawfull englishe moneye to be payde her at the two yeares ende at after my dyscease, but not before. Item I give and bequethe unto Marye Hawkes daughter of William Hawkes my sonne in lawe fourtye shillings of lawfull englishe money, to be payd her at the daye of her maryage, or els within on monethe after. Also I give & bequethe unto everye one of my godsonnes & [god]daughters iiijd a peece Also I give & bequethe unto Ales Rotton my wife the [gy]lded spone which Mr Grysold gave unto her. [...piece (several words) torn…] he gave it [...] unto her & my minde ys, that she so shoulde quyetlye possesse. Item I give unto my five children [...piece (several words) torn…] Ambrose Rotton, Elyzabeth Coxe, Darathye Rotton, and Katheryne Rotton everye on a sylver spone a peece [...piece (several words) torn…] mother at her dyscease, but not before, (excepte she marrye) & then my mynd & will ys. they should be payd pres[...][...piece (several words) torn…] before the daye of her maryage. Item I gyve unto Jhon Rotton sonne of Water Rotton on sylver spone to be pay[...][...piece (several words) torn…] discease of Ales Rotton my wife, but not before Item I gyve unto Rychard Rotton sonne of Ambrose Rotton on silver spo[...] [...piece (several words) torn…] at after the discease of Alles Rotton my wyfe, but not before. Also my mynde and will ys, that yf eyther of my two [...piece (several words) torn…] Rotton and Katheryne Rotton doe happen to discease or dye, before they doe receave or have their forsa[...][...piece (several words) torn…] a peece payd unto them: that then my mynd and will ys, that the xl li which was my minde she should have h… [...piece (several words) torn…] of it to remayne unto the other sister, & the other halfe of it to be devided equallye amongeste the re… [...piece (several words) torn…] Thomas Rotton Water Rotton, Ambrose Rotton and Elyzabeth Coxe. Item my minde & will ys: th…[...piece (several words) torn…] visite bothe my daughters, Darathye Rotton & Katheryne Rotton so that they bothe doe dye: that then [...piece (several words) torn…] that the three score pounds, which was due unto the longer lyver of them [...] or halfe of it to remayne [...][...piece (several words) torn…] wife: & the other halfe to be devyved equallye amongeste the reste of my children namely these Thomas Rotton W[...] Rotton Ambrose Rotton, & Elyzabeth Coxe, within one yeare at after theire dysceasses. Item I gyve unto Darathye Hawkes and Aline [Alice?] Hawkes daughters of William Hawkes iij s iiij d a peece, to be payde unto them at the day of my deathe. Item I gyve [and] bequethe unto Ales Coxe & Darathye Coxe daughters of Thomas Coxe iijs iiijd a peece [...] them at the daye of my deathe. The residue of all my goods and cattell not gyven nor bequethed, my detts beinge payd, my Legacyes performed, and my funerall expenses firste discharged. I whollye give and bequethe them unto Alles Rotton my wife, whom I doe constitute ordayne and make my full and sole executryce, of this my laste will and testamente. And to see this my laste wyll & testamente well and truelye performed. I doe make and ordayne over seers of the same: Thomas Rotton, Walter Rotton, and Ambrose Rotton: In witnesse whereof to thys my laste will and testamente; I have sette to my seale, put to my hand and subscrybed my name upon the daye and yeare firste above written ./.
by me Jhn Rotton
Sealed subscrybed and delyvered in the presence of these witnesses:
Thomas Rotton clr:
Walter Rotton
ambros rotton
[wyllym hawkes(?)]
Thomas Coxe
[probate 20 March 1575]
Will of Walter Rotton of Moseley. 1603.
In the name of god amen: The seaven and twentith daie of August in the yeare of the Reigne of oure sovereigne Lorde James by the grace of god kinge of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendor of the faithe &c the firste and of Scotlande the seaven and thirtieth Annoque dm’ One thowsand sixe hundred and three I Walter Rotton of Moseley in the Countie of Wigorn yeoman beinge in some dishealthe yett in good and perfect memorie (praise be to god) consideringe the incertaintie of this mortall lief and of my dissolution doe make and conclude this my last will & testament in fourme followinge, First I bequeathe my sowle into the mercyfull handes of my Savior Jhesus Christe hopinge only by his merritts deathe and passion to be saved and my Bodye to be buryed in kingsnorton Churche. Item I give unto the reparacions of Moseley Chappell Sixe shillings eighte pence. Item I give to the poorest People inhabitinge in Moseley Five shillings to be devided be my Executrix. Item I give to Richarde Rotton my Sonne Twentie poundes of lawfull monye of Englande to be paide to him owte of my goodes and Chattells. Item I give to John Marston and Alice his wief my daughter twoe Angells of golde and one silver spoone. And to their first begotten Child one Angell in golde. Item I give to Marie Rotton my daughter the Somme of One hundreth and Fiftie poundes of lawfull monie of Englande to be paide to hir owte of my goodes and Chattells within one yeere next ensuinge after my deceasse or uppon the daie of hir mariadge whither shall firste happen. Item I give to Elizabeth Rotton my daughter the Somme of fiftie poundes of lawfull money of Englande to be paide to hir owte of my goodes and Chattells within fower yeeres next ensuinge after my decease or uppon the daie of hir Marriadge whither shall firste happen. Item for the further assuringe of the Landes and Tenements hereafter menconed to the said Richarde Rotton and his heires I give and devise unto the saide Richard Rotton my Sonne his heires and assignes forever all and everie suche Messuages Landes Tenements and hereditaments with everie of their Appurtenances scituate lienge or beinge in Kinges Norton in the saide Countie of Wigorn and in Bordesley Aston and Birmingham in the Countie of War’k or in any of them which heretofore were of the inheritors of George Pretty and Anne his wief Thomas Coxe gent John Colmore George Chamber and Johane his wief or of anie of them or which heretofore I have had or purchased of them or anie of them. Item I give to my servante Richard Burge Sixe shillings eighte pence And to Walter Biddle Sixe shillinges eighte pence. And to Mary Piddocke Tenne shillings. And to Anne Myles Sixe shillings eighte pence. And I make and constitute Anne my wief my sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament. To whome (my Funeralls being done) and my said Legacies and debts beinge paide) I give all the residue of my debts goodes and Chattells. And I make and request Richarde Foxe and the said John Marston to be Overseers of this my last will the better to see the same performed And I give to either of them three shillings fower pence. And I revoke all former wills by me heretofore made and I acknowledge theis p[resen]ts onlie to be my last will and testament In wittnes whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and putto my sealle yeoven the daye & yeere firste abovewritten. The abovenamed Walter Rotton subscribed his name and putt his sealle to theis p[resen]ts and revoked all former wills by him made and acknowledged theis p[resen]ts only to be his last will and testament in the p[resen]ce of Richard Fox & Richard Browne..
[Proved 31 October 1603]
References
The Register of the Guild of Knowle in the County of Warwick (W.B. Bickley ed.), Birmingham and Midland Institute, 1894.
Will of John Rotton of Moseley. Proved 1575 in the Consistory Court of Worcester.
Will of Walter Rotton of Moseley. Proved 1603 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.