Nicholas Tufton
Nicholas was appointed attorney to the Cinque Ports in 1494 and continued this association until he had his son-in-law Richard Sharp appointed to the same position in 1535 (Cal. WBBCP, pp. 117-220). He was justice of the peace in Sussex from 1532 to 1538 (Baker). He was coroner for Hastings rape from from about 1498 to 1528, and was succeeded in this role by Richard Sharp.
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: 30 December 1538.
The date is given in Nicholas’s inquisition post mortem (Attree p. 228, No. 1038). Baker gives 31 December 1538.
Place of Burial: Northiam, Sussex, England.
The VCH of Sussex (9:275-6) describes his brass monument: “Another brass on the nave floor, with effigy and inscription, is to Nicholas Tufton, who died in 1538. The effigy is of a civilian in fur-lined gown, lappets, and sabbatons.”
Relationships
Father: William Tufton.
Mother: Alice.
Nicholas’s will leaves a bequest for masses to be said for his father William and his mother Alice.
Spouse: Margaret Hever.
The 1619 Visitation of Kent gives this relationship (p. 118).
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Nicholas had three daughters named Joan.)
John Tufton (1520 - 10 October 1567) married Mary Baker. John was Sheriff of Kent in 1562.
Isabel Tufton married John Cryour.
Alice Tufton married Richard Sharp.
Joan Tufton married William Haye.
Margaret Tufton (buried 13 April 1548 in Kingsnorth, Kent) married (1) Richard Ashurst; married (2) John Chalcroft 4 February 1541/2 in Kingsnorth, Kent.
Joan Tufton married John Barrow of Hinxhill, Kent.
Anne Tufton married someone surnamed Meller.
Agnes Tufton (died 1588) married William Denne.
Joan Tufton married Nicholas Cooke.
Evidence
fines abstracted by Salzman (3335, 3354, 3384, 3386)
14 Henry VII.
3335. John Tufton, Nicholas Tufton, John Sharp and John Cryfford v. William Broke and Joan his wife; a messuage, 2 gardens, 50 acres of land, 10 acres of meadow, 30 acres of pasture, 10 acres of wood in Bekley; to John Tufton, etc.; William and Joan and heirs of Joan to warrant against George, Abbot of Westminster, and his successors.
17 Henry VII.
3354. Nicholas Tufton, Thomas Hill, Thomas Frencham, Thomas Whyte and John Bechefeld v. Laurence Steuyn and Margaret his wife; 40 acres of land, 6 acres of meadow, 20 acres of pasture, 10 acres of wood in Pesemershe; to Nicholas, etc.
22 Henry VII.
3384. Nicholas Tu . . . . [and Thomas] White v. Mathew Idell and Alice his wife; a messuage, . . . ., 15 acres of land, 4 acres of meadow, 15 acres of pasture, 4 acres . . . ., 17½d. rent in Northyam; to Thomas [White], etc.
3386. Nicholas Tufton, Thomas Cryour and John Tufton v. Humphrey Warner and Philippa his wife; a messuage, a garden, 100 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow, 60 acres of pasture, 120 acres of wood, 20 acres of heath, 42 acres of marsh, 21s. 8d. rent in Rya, Pesemerssh, Udymer, Brede, Playden and Iden; to Nicholas, etc.
From the East Sussex Record Office catalogue:
Settlement, dated Aug 1501
Thomas Hill of Northiam to Nicholas Tufton, Thomas Frencheham, Thomas White, William Thokey, Thomas Twysden, Richard Ashmyngton, William Patchyng and John Bechfild, to the use of TH's wife Bennet for life, remainder to the fulfilment of TH's will
his lands and woods called Downnys, Blachys, Goselonddes and Wellfyld and a piece of marsh called Elynbroke, in Northiam
Witnesses: William Baate, Oliver Trodes, Edward Frencheham, William Clyterowe, John Langporte the younger; at Northiam; witnesses to livery of the estate: John Powes, John Sherfold, William Clyterowe, Lawrence Squyer and Robert Sherfold
Nicholas appears to have been steward of the manor of Hammerden in Ticehurst in 1509 (East Sussex Record Office DUN 2/44).
Bond in £80, dated 22 Jun 1520.
Description:Thomas Pulton of Battle, yeoman, John Adamys of the same, yeoman, Nicholas Tufton of Northiam, gent, Stephen Cutlas of Hawkhurst, Kent, yeoman, to Thomas Sewell, Doctor of Decrees
TP et al. are bound to pay £40 to the Abbot of the Abbey of St Martin, Battle
Notes of receipt by the Abbot of Battle
(DYK 570)
Lease, dated 4 Jul 1524
THOMAS GARRADE, master warden, chaplain or rector of the hospital, chapel or chantry of St James nigh unto Seeforde, with the assent of ROBERT, Bishop of Chichester, and WILLIAM the Dean and the CHAPTER of Chichester and THOMAS the Abbot and the CONVENT of ROBERTSBRIDGE to NICHOLAS TUFTON and JOHN SEMAN of the site of the said hospital and all lands, tithes, &c., thereto belonging. Term, 99 years; rent 20s
Signature, Robert Cicestr' and fragment of seal; seal of Dean and Chapter gone; portion of seal of Robertsbridge Abbey; one small seal and two tags. No witnesses
Nicholas appears in the Stapull Hundred in the 1525 lay subsidy roll, where his goods are assessed at 133 pounds.
Nicholas’s will (dated 2 January, 29 Henry VIII) (to the best of my reading and translating ability):
In dei nomine amen secundo die January anno Regni dom. Henrici Octam dei gra. Anglie et Francie Regis. fidei defensoris dm. Hibn: ac in terra supremi capitis Anglicane ecclie. vicesimo nono Ego Nichiis Tufton compos mentis de Northyhm. Condo testamentum et voluntatem meam in hoc modo sequen. In primis lego aiam. meam deo omnipotenti et beate marie virgini et omnibus sanctis celi. Corpus qȝ meum ad sepeliend. in ecclia. beate marie de Northyham coram altare sancti Nicholai ibm. si deo placuerit pro qua sepultura. Lego parochianis ibm. vjs viijd Item lego pro quodam lapide cum pictura et scriptura ad ponend. super sepulturam meam xxvj s viij d Item lego summo altari ibm. pro decimis meis oblitis iijs iiijd Item lego Tumulo Sancti Ricardi Cicestren. iiijd Item lego Lumini ante altam crucem de Northyhym. predict. iij s iiijd Item lego decem solidos pro duobus funalibus ibm. emend. Item lego cuilit. filiolo et filiole meis xij d Item lego vni. idoneo capellano viginti marcas pro duobus annis incipiend. die sepulture mee ad celebrand. missas et alia divina in ecclia. de Northyhm. predict. pro aia. mea et aiabus. Willm. pris. mei et Alicie matris mee et aiabus. Joannis Hever et Marione uxoris euis. Thome Hell Thome Cryour et Joannis Buklande et pro aiabȝ. omn. fidelium defunctorum. Item lego summo. altari de Ewherst pro decimis meis oblitis iijs iijd Item lego Isabelle Cryour filie mee viginti solidos per annum. pro termo. vite sue soluend. ad quatuor anni termos. ad emend. villam lineam et laneam pro corpore suo et alijs necessarijs per discrecoem. executorum meorum. Item lego ad maritagm. sex pauperum puellarum xxs videlit. quilit. eorum xld in parochia de Northyham. ex parentela mea qua[rum] Alina Perok servens mea esse una Item volo ut executores mei soluant ad maritagm. pauperum puellarum in Bello xxs Et in vijs nocivis ibm. xs, et in alijs operibȝ caritatius ibm: xs scdm. ultimam voluntatem Joannis Bukland Item lego parochianis de Northyhm. predict. ad rep[ar]acocm. ecclie: et ad rep[ar]acoem. librorm. et vestimento[rum] aut aliorum necessariorum per discrecoem. parochianorum predcorum. et executorum meorum predcorum et executorum meorum quinqȝ marcas Item lego vijs nocuis in Northyhm. predca. viginti solidos et distribuatur per discrecoem. executorum meorum et aliorum honestorum homini de parochia predca. Item lego Nicho. Cryour filio Joannis Cryour et omnibus filiis et filiabus filiarum mearum videlit. quilit. eorum. xs vel vaccam sine juvencam ad usus suos ponend. pro parentes suos. Item lego Johanne Erle vidue qualit. septimana per annum. viii. denarij. durante vita eius Item volo qd. expendatur in die sepulture mee viginti solid. et in Trigintali quadraginta solid. Et in anniversario meo quadraginta solid. Et sit quolit. anno post mortem meam per spacem octo annorum xiij s iiij d Item lego Johe. Tufton filio meo totum. termini: anno[rum] meorum hospitalis de Spetyll iuxta Riam de tenura monasterij Sancti Petri Westm. Itm. lego Margarete uxori mee quatuor vaccas cum quatuor vitulis et dimidiam p[ar]tem. totius utensilij mei et occupacoem. alterius dimidiatis totuis utensil. mei durante viduetate sua except. principalibȝ Et si ip[s]a. Margareta marituaerit vel morietur tunc volo [per] p[re]dca. principalia et dimidia pars totius utensil mei custodiantur ad usum Joannis Tufton filij mei usqȝ ad etatem viginti et duorum annorum Item lego Ricardo Sharp. et Alicie uxoris eius viginti libras Item lego Johannie Haye et filiabȝ suis viginti libras Rco. Assheherst et Margarete uxori eius xviij li et Nicho: Cooke et Joanne uxori eius decem libras in satisfacioe. maritagio[rum] suorum Item lego vijs noc. inter Northyham et Rye viginti libras. Item lego cuilit. famulorum et famularum mearum vjs viijd preter Aliciam Knyght cui lego iijs iiijd et Joannem Clerk et Gregorm. Tufton cui lego x s uterqȝ Item lego Margarete Perok filiole mee xs Residuum vero bonorum meorum non legatorum do et lego Rico. Sharp et Joann. Tufton filio meo quos Ricm. et Joannem facio et ordino meos veros executores Et qd. predcus. Ricus. Sharp habeat pro collectoe. redditum et firmarum omi. terrarum et tenemento[rum] meorum in Com. Kant & Sussex quinqȝ marcas per annum. Item volo qd. Robertus Wodde de Ria. heat. pro collectiom. omn. redditum et firma[rum] mearum in villa de Ria et Gatebarowe mersshe & Playden per annum. xiij s iiij d et ad sup[er]vidend. rep[ar]aciones meas viz. Shoppa[rum] et Stabulorum et omn. mesuag. meorum ibm hijs testibȝ Johe. Cryfford Henrico Upton Johe: Pyper
[Translation]
In the name of God amen the second day of January in the 29th year of the reign of lord Henry VIII by the grace of God king of England and France, defender of the faith, lord of Ireland and on earth the supreme head of the Church of England, I Nicholas Tufton, of sound mind, of Northiam, make my testament and will in manner following: Firstly, I bequeath my soul to almighty God and the blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints of heaven and my body to be buried in the church of St Mary of Northiam before the altar of Saint Nicholas there if this burial will please God. I bequeath to the parishioners there 6s 8d Likewise I bequeath to the high altar there for my tithes forgotten 3s 4d. Likewise I bequeath to the tomb of Saint Richard of Chichester 4d. Likewise I bequeath to the lights before the high cross of Northiam aforesaid 3s 4d. Likewise I bequeath ten shillings for the repair of two torches there. Likewise I bequeath to each of my godchildren 12d. Likewise I bequeath to a suitable chaplain 20 marks for two years starting at my burial in order to celebrate masses and other divine [services] in the church of Northiam aforesaid for my soul and the souls of William my father and Alice my mother and the souls of John Hever and Marion his wife, Thomas Hell, Thomas Cryour and John Buckland and for the souls of all the faithful dead. Likewise I bequeath to the high altar of Ewhurst for my tithes forgotten 3s 3d. Likewise I bequeath to Isabel Cryour my daughter twenty shillings per year for the rest of her life, paying it at the four terms of the year for the repair of the manor, linen and woolen for her body, and other necessities at the discretion of my executors. Likewise I bequeath for the maritagium of six poor girls 20s, that is, to each of them 40d in the parish of Northiam out of my kindred, of which my servant Alina Perock is to be one. Likewise I will that my executors pay 20s for the maritagium of poor girls in Bello. And for bad roads there 10s, and for other works of charity there 10s, in accordance with the last will of John Buckland. Likewise I bequeath to the parishioners of Northiam aforesaid for the repair of the church and for the repair of books and vestments or other necessities at the discretion of the parishioners aforesaid and my executors aforesaid five marks. Likewise I bequeath for bad roads in Northiam aforesaid twenty shillings and it should be distributed at the discretion of my executors and other honest men of the aforesaid parish. Likewise I bequeath to Nicholas Cryour son of John Cryour and to all the sons and daughters of my daughters, that is, to each of them, 10s. or a cow without calf for their use, to be held by their parents. Likewise I leave to Joan Erle widow each week of the year 8 pence for the rest of her life. Likewise I will that there should be spent on the day of my burial twenty shillings and on the Trigintali forty shillings. And on my anniversary forty shillings. And let it be each year after my death for the space of eight years 13s 4d. Likewise I leave to John Tufton my son all the term of my years of the hospital of Spetyll near Rye in the tenure of the monastery of Saint Peter of Wesm[inster]. Likewise I bequeath to Margaret my wife four cows with calves and half of all my tools and the use of the other half of my tools during her widowhood excepting the principal. And if she, Margaret, should marry or die then I will for the said principal and half part of all my tools to be held in trust for the use of John Tufton my son until he reach the age of twenty-two years. Likewise I bequeath to Richard Sharp and Alice his wife twenty pounds. Likewise I leave to Joan Haye and her daughters twenty pounds, to Richard Ashhurst and Margaret his wife 18 lbs and to Nicholas Cooke and Joan his wife ten pounds in satisfaction of her maritagium. Likewise I bequeath for bad roads between Northiam and Rye twenty pounds. Likewise I bequeath to each of my servants 6s 8d, except for Alice Knight to whom I bequeath 3s 4d and to Joan Clerk and Gregory Tufton to whom I bequeath 10s each. Likewise I bequeath to Margaret Perock my goddaughter 10s. The residue of my goods not bequeathed I give and bequeath to Richard Sharp and John Tufton my son which Richard and John I make and ordain my true executors. And that the aforesaid Richard Sharp shall have for the collection of all the rents and farms of all my lands and tenements in the counties of Kent and Sussex five marks per year. Likewise I will that Robert Wood of Rye have for the collection of all the rents and my farms in the village of Rye and Gateborough Marsh and Playden per year 13s 4d and for the supervision of my repairs, that is to say my shops and stables and all my messuages there. These being witnesses: John Cryfford, Henry Upton, John Pyper.
[Proved 20 Feb 1538]
Attree’s abstract of Nicholas’s inquisition post mortem (p. 228, No. 1038)
Nicholas Tufton, esq. Vol. 61, No. 22.
Horsham, 27 Dec. 31 Hen. VIII. Died 30 Dec. last.
Heir, son John T., aged 19 years 4 months and more at Inq.
Lands.-- Messuages and lands in ...and Ewhurst, Bodyham, Monthfeld, Sedlescombe, Ore,..., Ferligght, Beckley, .... etc., and of fee and lordship of "Velde" and "Burcetto" in Peasmarsh, messuages and land and half a windmill in Playden .... land in Vdymer, messuage, gardens and land, also salt marsh in Rye. On 26 Sept. 30 Hen. VIII. enfeoffed trustees to use of himself for life and after for John T., son of N.T., and his heirs male, remainder to use of Alice Sharpe, .... Joan Barowe, Anne Meller, Agnes Denne and Joan Cooke, daughters of said N.T., and their heirs, with exception of tenement called "Nepsums" in Ferlyght, a tenement in Ore, and one other tenement, which to Nicholas Cryour, son of Isabel Cryour, and his heirs male, remainder to aforesaid Alice Sharpe, Joan Haye, Margaret Assehurst, Joan Barowe, Anne Meller, Agnes Denne and Joan Cooke, paying Isabel (Cryour) £3 a year for life. Land and tenements in Northiam and Ewhurst.
A brass burial inscription (SAC p. 76).
Hic iacet Nicolaus Tufton Armiger qui obiiit / penultimo die Decembris anno d(omi)ni Mil(es)imo quin- / gentesimo tricesimo octavo cui(us) a(n)i(m)e p(ro)piciet(ur) deus A(men).
Commentary
Nicholas was named as a feoffee and executor in the 1506 PCC will of Thomas Hell of Northiam. In Nicholas’s will, he left a bequest to celebrate masses for Thomas Hell’s soul. Their relationship has not been determined.
References
Attree, F. W. T. Notes of post mortem inquisitions taken in Sussex: 1 Henry VII to 1649 and after, [1485-1649]. (London: Sussex Record Society, 1912).
Baker, Sir John. Men of Court 1440 to 1550. (London: Selden Society, 2012).
Brydges, Egerton. Collins's peerage of England, genealogical, biographical, and historical, greatly augmented, and continued to the present time. (London: [T. Bensley], 1812). 3:438-439.
A Calendar of the White and Black Books of the Cinque Ports 1432-1955 ed. Felix Hull (London, 1966).
Cornwall, Julian. The Lay Subsidy Rolls for the County of Sussex 1524-1525. (Sussex Record Society, 1956).
Davidson-Houston, C.E.D. “Sussex Monumental Brasses” in Sussex Archaeological Collections Volume 79 (Oxford University Press, 1938) pages 74-130.
Great Britain. Court of Common Pleas, and Louis Francis Salzman. An abstract of feet of fines relating to the county of Sussex. (Lewes, England: Sussex Record Society, 1903, 1908, 1916)
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).
Page, William, et al. The Victoria History of the County of Sussex: Volume 9. (London: A. Constable, 1905 -).
Pocock, Robert. Memorials of the Family of Tufton, Earls of Tufton; deduced from various sources of authentic information. (London: 1800).
Will of Nicholas Tuston of Northiam, Sussex, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/27/410.