Events
Date of Birth: about 1565.
Place of Birth: unknown.
In a deposition dated 17 January 1605/6 concerning the 1605 nuncupative will of Margery Walworke of Prestwich, Thomas Heape’s age is given as about 40 (aetate sue xlto annor’ aut de circiter).
Date of Burial: 7 October 1623.
Place of Burial: Prestwich, Lancashire.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: unknown.
Mother: unknown.
Spouse: Elinor Wallwork.
See Elinor's page. "Ellinor uxor Thomae Heape" was buried 12 July 1619 in Prestwich.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Richard Heape (baptized 24 October 1596 in Manchester) married Jane.
John Heape.
Thomas Heape married Anne Foxe 6 January 1623/4 in Manchester.
Edward Heape (buried 19 April 1628 in Prestwich, Lancashire) married Susanna Smethurst 28 January 1627 in Manchester.
Elizabeth Heape married Thomas Holland 20 February 1622/3 in Prestwich.
Jane Heape (baptized 5 July 1607 in Prestwich).
Anne Heape (baptized 30 July 1609 in Prestwich).
Theodor Heape (baptized 30 June 1611 in Prestwich).
Margaret Heape (baptized 25 May 1617 in Prestwich).
Evidence
from the Court Leet records of the manor of Manchester:
1593:
The Jurye dothe order that Mr wynnyngtone shall Remove and take awaye A dunghill Lyenge vppon his lande over agaynst the howse of Thomas Worsley and Thomas Heape before the xxth daye of Christmas nexte and that he laye no more dounge in that place but keepe yt cleane from tyme to tyme sub pena vjs iiijd….factum est
from the 1603 will of Henry Chetham of Crumpsall, gent.:
“I appointe my lovinge friends James Wroe and Thomas Heape of the ꝑishe of Prestwch to be suꝑvisors”
from the 1608 will of Lawrence Heaton of Prestwich:
“...allsoe I geve to my god daughter Jane Heape xls to Elinor Heape xxs and to Elizabeth Heape xs and to Richard John Thomas and Edward Heape I geve to Everye on of them ij s vj d…”
“... and I desyre my Lovinge frendes Robert Wrooe and Thomas Heape to be my Executors…”
“Deptes oweing to me Lawrance Heaton as foloweth
Thomas Heape — xx li
Robert Wroe – xix li”
The 1609 will of Richard Heape:
In the name of god Amen Maye the fourth daie and in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of our souerainge lord James by the grace of god Kinge of England France and Ireland defender of the faith &c: and of Scotland the two and Fourth of his mats[?] raigne I Richard Heape of the Whitfeelds in Pilkington in the Countie of Lancaster yeoman being sicke in bodie but of good and perfect remembrance laude and praise be given to almightie god Doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme as followeth vizt First I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of almightie god my Creator and to Jesus Christe by [sic] sole redeemer and saviour by whose death and passion I doe hope to obteyne euerlasting lyfe and my bodie to be buried in the parishe Churche or Churcheyard of Prestwich at the discrecon of my frendes Item it is my will and mynd that my goods be equallie devided into two equall parts whereof the first part I reserve to my selfe and the other to be equallie devided betweene my sonne John Heape and my daughter Dorothie Foxe Thomas Foxe his wyfe Item it is my will and mynde to give unto my daughter Marie Whorrox iijli vjs viijd Item I give to my daughter Isabel Heawood iijli vjs viijd Item I give to Thomas Heawood his wyfe xxs Item I give to John Saxone xxs Item I give to Jhon Shaklacke of Manchester xxs Item it is my will and mynd that after my funerall expenses legacies and debts be discharged that my sonne in law Thomas Foxe shall have all the remainder of my parte of goods Item I give unto Richard Heape Thomas Heape his sonne xs Item it is my will and mynd and I desire my loveing cosin Thomas Heape and my sonne in lawe John Whorrox to be my true and faithfull executors of this my last will as my truste is in them and I give unto either of them for theire paines xs and I desire my sonne in lawe Thomas Foxe and my sonne in lawe Willm Heawood to be the overseers of this my last will as my trust is in them and for wytnes that this is my true and last will I have putt to my hand and seale the daie and yeare aboue saied
Richard Heape
Witnesses of this my last will are
Gyles Syddall
Willm Heywood
Richard Berrie
Debts which I doe owe is to
Owen Saxon alias Radcliffe viij li
My will is that Theodore Heape shall have xiij li vji s viij d to be taken out of my parte and putt into Thomas Heape his hands for his use until he be Mr of arts.
Appraisers:
Raph Seddon, Gyles Sydall, Edward Ranthorne, Francis Dosonn [5 June 1609]
The 1612 will of Roger Wallworke of Pilkington
In the name of god amen I Roger wallwork of Pilkington of the parrishe of Prestwich being somewhat infirm & weake by reason of myne oulde age yet of good and ꝑfete memorye I prais god for it, doe constitute ordaine & make this my laste wille & testament in manner and forme as followeth firste I commyt my soule into the handes of god almyghtie & of Jesus Christ myne alone Sauioure & redeemer trustinge more assuredlie throughe his merits death & passioon to be saved & my bodie I commyte tot he earthe to be decentelye & [...lie] buried in the parrish churche or churchyarde of prestwich & for those goods whiche god hath bestoed uppone mee as testymonye of his love untoe mee my will is thate the bee bestoed in manor & forme as followethe: firste I devide mye goods into three ꝑtes on ꝑte for my selfe the second fore my wiffe & the thirdfe fore my children equale to be devided amongste them, & my wille is that my funeralle expences & charges be taken out of mye ꝑte & the reversyon of my ꝑte after my funeralle expences discharged my will is that it bee bestoed as followethe, firste I give to my second sonn giles wallworke & hys wiffe I geve unto margite mye wiffe exepte onlie Edward[?] shillings which I give my goddaughter Thomas’ wiffe heape & for my Executores I have chossen my Eldeste sonn roger wallworke and Rychard farnworth & overseeres John Foxe & thomas heape desiring them to see this my will executed ꝑformed as my truste in them: & this I ordaine to bee my laste will & testamente in witness whereof I have pute to my hand & seale this xxixth of September 1612:
wittnes herof Roger Wallworck his mark
John horrockes his mark
Thomas Foxe
Detes oweinge to mee Roger wallworke
Imprimis the wiffe of adam holland – 31 s
Item henrie sweetlove – 3 li 18 s 4 d
Item John whinsonn – 3 s 4 d
Edward filefloye in lent money – 6 s
from the Court Leet records of the manor of Manchester:
1615:
The Jurye doe finde that Thomas Heape and Raphe Lownds or some Worckeman by theire appointemt haue erected an Incrochemt adioyninge to an howse in the Mealegateend the wch is offencyue and verie hurtefull to ye Market and passengrs therefore ye Jurye doe order yt the same shalbe removed and taken downe beffore the firste of November next sub pena xxs .factum est.
from the 1616 will of Henry Chetham’s widow Jane Chetham of Crumpsall:
“And I make Thomas Heape of Pilkington in the aforesaid County of Lancaster and James Wroe of Heaton in the County aforesaid, Overseers of this my last will and Testamt…”
from the 1622 Subsidy Roll:
Pilkington:
Thomas Heape in goods … iijl … viijs
John Heape in goods … iijl …. viijs
Thomas’s will:
In the name of God Amen the first day of October Ao Dni 1623 I Thomas Heape of Pilkington in the County of Lancaster Clothier doe in my perfect and sound memorie and understandinge make and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and forme followinge That is to saye First and principally I geue and bequeath my Soule to my Lord God and Creator firmely and assuredly trustinge That by the deathe and passion of his dearelie beloued sonne Christe Jesus my sauior and redeemer and by his onley [several words illegible in the digital image] and p[ar]take with his Blessed Saints in his heavenlie kingdome of those Celestiall Joyes wch of his eternall goodnes hee hathe prepared for his electe, of which number I doe confidently and stedfastly hope and through the tender mercy and compassion of my Blessed Savyour beleeue that I amone[?] And my Bodie I comend and leaue to Christian Buriall within the parish Church of Prestwich in suche seemely sorte as my Executors hereafter herein named shall thincke fittinge And as concerninge the disposicon of all such goods and Chattels as Almighty God of his bounteous liberality hath bestowed upon me I do hereby publish expresse and declare my full mynd will and Intencon in that behalfe as followeth (viz) It is my will and mynd That all such debts as at the tyme of my decease I shall happen to owe unto any p[er]sone of right or conscience be duely and truely discharged and paid by my Executors hereafter named And after my debts paid and my funerall expences deducted It is my will and mynd That all the residue of my goods and Chattells of what kynd or qualitie the same bee and in whose hands custody or possession they or any of them shall remayne or bee at the tyme of my decease shalbee devyded into Twoe equall parts The moyety or one halfe whereof I geue and bequeath unto my Children Richard Heape; John Heape; Thomas Heape, Edward Heape, Theodor Heape Jane Heape Anne Heape and Margarett Heape equally to bee devyded amongst them for and in liewe and satisfaccon of theire seuerall filiall porcons and to bee deliuered or paid unto them respectively by my Executors herein hereafter named together with the Increase and profitt thereby obteyned at suche tyme as they shall seuerally and respectively accomplishe or come to theire seuerall ages of One and Twenty yeares For it is my will and mynd That the filiall porcons of soe many of my said Children as shalbee under age at the tyme of my decease shalbee ymployed disposad of and put forth by my said Executors for the most bennefitt and com[m]oditie of euery suche Child Savinge that if anye of my said daughters shall happen to marrye duringe her Nonage Then I will that her filiall porcon bee paid unto her at her Mariage doe that shee marrie suche a One as is one and Twentye yeares of age and of power to acquyte my Executors And if it please God That anye of my said Children doe departe this life before suche tyme as hee shee or they shall Atteyne unto the said age of One and twenty yeares (except suche of my said daughters as shall happen to marrye as aforesaid) That then it is my will and mynd That the filiall porcon al him her or them soe dyinge shall remayne and bee unto Theodore my sonne Jane, Anne and Margarett my daughters or soe manye of them as shall bee then lyvinge equally and proportionably amongst them, And the other Moyetie of my said goods and Chattells I reserue unto myselfe wherewith my Executors hereafter named may discharge satisfye performe and paye the Legacies hereafter herein bequeathed Of which said Moyety I will that the mesuages, Tenements, Closes Clausures and parcells of land herein hereafter specially and particulerly nominated and expressed shalbee accompted to bee parcells And I geue and dispose of the same in manner and forme followinge (viz) I geue wille deuise and bequeathe unto my said sonne Richard Heape All my estate right tytle, terme, intereste, reverson, clayme and demaund whatsoeuer of in and unto all and singuler those the howses, edifices, buildinges, Shopps and other roomes with their appurtenances comonly called the Howe Buildinge beinge annexed or adioyninge unto the Courte howse scituate and beinge in Burye, in the aforesaid County of Lancaster And of in and unto all the rents and yearely profitts issueinge cominge or arysinge out of or in the same premisses and everye or anye parte or parcell thereof upon Condicon neuertheles That my sonne Richard shall and doe within one yeare next after my decease well and truelie satisfy and paye unto such and soe many of my aforenamed daughters as shalbee then lyvinge and unmaryed the sum[m]e of Tenne pounds of Current money of England equally and proportionably amongst them And alsoe w[i]thin the like tyme shall paye unto my Executors Tenne poundes by them to bee put forthe and disposed to and for the use of Theodore Heape my sonne untill hee shall accomplishe the age of One and Twenty yeares, and then geuen unto him And if in case my sonne Richard doe not paye the said seuerall summes of Tenne poundes Then my mynd is that the said Buildinges and Shops shall bee sould or otherwise at the discrecon of my Executors disposed of and the profitts which shalbee reised by the one moyetie to bee devyded amongst my said Three daughters and of the other moyetie to and for my said sonne Theodore Item I doe geue will devise and bequeathe unto my said sonne John Heape All my estate right tytle, terme and termes of yeares interest, revercon, clayme and demaund whatsoever aswell of and in unto all and singuler that and those the messuage Burgage or Tenement with thappurtenances scituate and beinge in Manchester in the said County of Lancaster in or neare to a Certeyne Streete there called the Fennell Streete and nowe in the seuerall occupacons of mee the said Thomas Heape and of Anthony Duckett and Samuell Hallowes and Thomas Barker (which I hould of the right honnorable William Earle of Derbie) scituate standinge and beinge in Manchester aforesaid in or neare unto a certayne Streete there called the Mylne gate and nowe in the seuerall occupacons of George Hulton and Roger Rydinges Together alsoe with all my estate right tytle; intereste clayme and demaund whatsoeuer of in and unto all those the gardens or garden plotts with theire and every of theire appurtenances lyinge and beinge in Manchester aforesaid and nowe in the seuerall tenures or occupacons of William Wharmbie Roger Barlowe, Samuell Hallowes, Thomas Lewis and Anne Rydinges And of in and unto all the rentes and yearelie profitts Issueinge comeinge or aryseinge out of or in the said last menconed mesuages Burgages tenementes and gardens and every or anye of them Item I doe geue will devise and bequeathe to my said sone Theodore Heape All my estate right tytle, terme of yeares, interest, revercon, clayme and demaund whatsoeuer of in and unto all those the mesuages Burgages or Tenements with theire and every of theire appurtenances scituate standinge and beinge in Manchester aforesaid in or neare unto a certeyne Streete there called the Markettsteed Lane and nowe in the seuerall occupacons of John Sorrocold and his assignes and of Richard Dorrell Robert Walworke and Richard Coppcke Together with all and singuler edifices, buildings, Barnes Stables, gardens Backsides, liberties, easments, profitts and Comodities thereunto belonginge or in any wise aperteyninge In as large and ample manner and forme as nowe I haue maye canne, might, could, should or al right ought to haue or enioye the same last menconed premisses and every or anye of them by force and vertue of one Indenture of demyse or Lease thereof unto me heretofore made by Hughe Key Citizen and Skinner of London or by anye other waie or meanes whatsoeuer Item I geue and bequeathe to my worshippfull good frend Mr Langley parson of Prestwiche Twentie shillinges Item I doe geue unto my Sister in Lawe Alice Sharples Fourtie shillings and I doe forgeue and release unto her all and whatsoeuer shee owethe me, Item I geue to my Cosin Theodore Heape Fyue poundes Item I geue to Thomas Holland my sonne in Lawe and Elizabeth his wife either of them Twenty shillinges a peece Item I geue unto my Cosen Marie Horrox Sixe shillinges eight pence Item I geue to soe many as I am Godfather unto and shalbee lyvinge at the tyme of my decease Sixe shillinges Eight pence a peece Item I geue unto soe many servuants as shall dwell with mee and soe many Sheeremen as shall worke with mee at the tyme of my decease Fyue shillinges a peece Item I geue Fyue poundes to bee distributed amongst the poorest howsehoulders within Pilkington aforesaid at the discrecon of my Executors And I doe geue devise and bequeathe all the rest and residue of my said moyetie of goods (if any remainder bee) unto my said daughters Jane Anne and Margarett and unto Theodore my sonne to bee equally devyded amongst them And lastly my will and mynd is That in regard I haue layd out great sum[m]es of money for preferment of my Three sonnes John Thomas and Edward which hereby is not menconed Therefore I desire my said sonnes to paye and doe seuerally to my Executors and in such manner to and for the use of my said daughters Jane Anne and Margarett as hereafter is expressed And in case anye of my sonnes arefuse so to doe, Then hee or they so refusinge not to take or haue any bennefitt or Legacie by this my will, but thereof to bee barred notwithstandinge any former sentence, devise or Legacy whatsoeuer herein conteyned That is to say That John my my sonne shall permitt and suffer my said Executors to take the profitt of all suche howses landes and tenements for Foure yeares next after my decease as I haue either assigned or deuysed unto him, They payinge all rents tapes, suits and seruics duringe the said tyme, And that Thomas my sonne shall paye to my Executors threescore and Tenne poundes by Twenty Marks a yeare The first payment to bee within one yeare nexte after my decease and soe to continue yearely till the full sum[m]e of Threescore and tenne pounds bee paid And that Edward my sonne doe pay to my Executors Fiftie pounds by Tenne pounds yearely till the said summe of Fiftie pounds bee fully paid The First payment to bee within one yeare next after my decease, And I doe constitute ordeyne and make John Horrocks of Pilkington aforesaid and James Lomax of Pilsworth yeomen Executors of this my last will and Testament And I bequeath unto either of them Twenty shillinges a peece for theire paines and labour in that behalfe And I doe desire my kynd and lovinge frendes Richard Halsall gentleman John Croston Steward of Pilkington and Burie and Thomas Foxe gentleman and John Heape of the Whitefeild yeoman to bee Ouerseers of the same hopeinge that they will see the same duelie executed accordinge to my will and intencon formerly herein expressed and my trust and Confidence in them reposed And I geue unto every of them Twenty shilllings a peece for theire care and diligence in that behalfe And if after my decease there shall happen any controuersie or question to arise amongst my said Children for or Concerninge theire filiall porcons or Legacies aforemenconed Or amongst any others Hayueinge anye Bennefitt by force of this my last Will, Or any Ambiguitie or doubts to growe hereafter by reason of the Imperfection or defect of or in anye the wordes or clauses herein Conteyned It is my will and mynd That thonely decydinge; determinacon, exposicon and Judgement thereof shalbee by the good discrecons of my said Supervisors And I doe charge and earnestly requyre All and every of my forenamed Children in the name of Almightie God as they regard the last request of their carefull father, That they will bee ordered and ruled aswell in their educacon and mariage as in all other thinges by my said Executors And if anye of them refuse soe to bee gouerned or doe attempt or goe about to doe anye acte or actes, thinge or thinges tendinge to the contradiccon, rastandacon[?] or ospsposicon[?] of this my last will and testament I doe hereby signifye and declare That it is my will and mynd That hee shee or they soe refusing attemptinge doeinge or goeing about anye suche acte or acts shall utterlie loose all suche Bennefitt as they or anye of them might haue by force of this my last Will and testament And the porcon or bennefitt herein or hereby geuen unto them shall remayne and bee to suche and soe manye of my said Children as will be lovingly and obediently ordered and ruled as aforesaid and peaceably and quyetly satisfyed and contented with this my Testamentarie disposicon And lastly I doe utterly revoke All and every other Testaments wills; Legacies: bequests, Executors and Ouerseers by me in any wise before the date of theise presents made willed bequeathed or named In witnes whereof I the said Thomas Heape haue hereunto sett my Hand and seale the day and yeare Firste aboue written
Sealed signed published and declared by the within named Thomas Heape fore his last will and Testament in the present of
John Glover
[Probate of will of Thomas Heap, lately of Manchester, 20 November 1623]
Commentary
On Thomas’s ancestors:
Presumably Thomas Heape descends from the Heypes who appear in earlier lay subsidy rolls:
1524 Parochia de Prestwiche:
Richard Heype … in goods xls. xijd
1544 Pylkyngton:
John Heype …. for iijl in goods vjd
Thomas Heype … for iijl in goods vjd
Charles Heape suggests that the Richard Heype in Prestwich in 1524 was probably the grandson of a Richard Hepe of Bury who shows up in the plea rolls in the 1450s and 1460s. This Richard, Charles Heape thinks, was probably the son of John Heape, the son of Margaret del Hepe, who was sponsor of John de Radcliffe’s son in 1393.
On Thomas’s relationship with Richard Heape of Whitefield (died 1609).
In his 1609 will, Richard Heape of the Whitefields in Pilkington gave 10 shilllings to “Richard Heape Thomas Heape his sonne” (i.e., Thomas Heape’s son Richard Heape) and in the next sentence made his “loveing cosin Thomas Heape” an executor. He also directed that Thomas Heape (presumably the same one) look after money for Theodore Heape, who was then studying at Oxford. Thomas, in his 1623 will, referred to Theodore as his “cousin”.
This Thomas Heape is presumably the Thomas Heape of this page. It seems likely for chronological and other reasons that Richard was using “cosin” to mean “nephew” in this case. Thomas seems to have had a very close relationship to Richard and his family. In his 1623 will, Thomas’s executor was Richard’s son-in-law John Horrox. Another of Richard’s sons-in-law, Thomas Foxe, was an overseer, as was Richard’s son John Heape.
In his 1663 will, Owen Radcliffe of Prestwich makes his executors his “cousins” Thomas Heape the elder and Theodore Heape. These were two of the sons of the Thomas Heape of this page. Owen appears to have been a grandchild of Richard Heape of Whitefields. In his will, Owen mentions his brother Ellis Saxton. In his 1590 will, Ellis Saxton mentioned his wife Elinor, his father-in-law Richard Heape, his son John, and other unnamed children. In his 1609 will, Richard Heape mentions a debt of 7 pounds he owes to “Owen Saxon alias Radcliffe”, and no other debts. Probably Owen’s mother Elinor was the first cousin of the Thomas Heape of this page, although it is striking that two of Thomas’s sons were Owen’s executors.
References
The Correspondence of Nathan Walworth and Peter Seddon of Outwood, and other documents chiefly relating to the building of Ringley Chapel. (John Samuel Fletcher, ed.) (Chetham Society, 1880).
Heape, Charles, and Richard Heape. Records of the family of Heape of Heape, Staley, Saddleworth, and Rochdale, from circa 1170 to 1905. (Rochdale, 1905).
Taxation in Salford Hundred, 1524-1802 (Chetham Society, 1924).
“Three Lancashire Subsidy Rolls, 1541, 1622, and 1628; and a Recusant Roll, 1628” in Miscellanies, relating to Lancashire and Cheshire v. 1. (Record Society, 1885)
Will of Edward Wroe of Newton, Manchester. Proved 1661 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Ellys Saxton of Sidall. Proved 1590 in the Consistory Court of Chester. Digital image on FamilySearch.org [Film # 004425530, image 368].
Will of Margerie Walworth widow of Prestwich. Proved, with depositions, 1605 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Owen Radcliffe of Pilkington. Proved 1664 in the Consistory Court of Chester. Digital images on FamilySearch.org [FHL citiation: "Lancashire, England records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DT79-V3M?view=explore : Nov 20, 2025), image 309 of 343; . Image Group Number: 004425792]
Will of Richard Heape of the Whitefields in Pilkington. Proved 1609 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Richard Walworke of Cromsall. Proved 1592 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Roger Walworth. Proved 1612 in the Consistory Court of Chester.
Will of Thomas Heape of Pilkington. Proved 1623 in the Consistory Court of Chester.