London PCC

1587 Kateryn Meade, St Giles, court of Dean and Chapter of St Pauls

1604 Richard Meade, Vintner of London (PCC), son of Humphrey Meade of Ware, Herts

1624 Jacob Meade, Waterman of Saint Saviour Southwark, Surrey (PCC)

1628 Henry Mead, Woodmonger of Saint Vedast, City of London (PCC)

Kateryn Meade, St Giles without Criplegate, London, 1587

Memorandum the 11th day of February in the year of our lord God according to the computation of the church of England one thousand five hundred fourscore and seven, Katherine Meade, widow, late of the parish of St Giles without Cripplegate in London, deceased, being then and at that present time sick in body but of good and perfect memory spoke these words or the like effect as followeth, viz. Imprimis being demanded by Mr

Anthony Webbe her landlord to whom she would leave her goods or in what order she would have them disposed after her decease, she answered that she was much beholden to Alice Porter, who had sundry kind of ways shown unto her great friendship, and in respect thereof she would that the said Alice Porter should have all her goods which were left, paying first her debts and seeing her body honestly brought to the ground.

Richard Meade, Vintner, London, 1604

In the name of God amen, the thirteenth day of December, one thousand six hundred and three and in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord James by the grace of God king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, etc., that is to say in the first year of his majesty's regn of England, France and Ireland and in the seven and thirtieth year of his highness' reign of Scotland, I Richard Meade of London, vintner, being at this present sick and weak in my body albeit in my perfect mind and memory, I praise God, do make and ordain this my present last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say I commit and commend my soul which is immortal and dieth not with my body into the hands of almighty God my maker and creator and my body I commit to the earth from whence it came, steadfastly believing the free pardon and remission of all my sins and to obtain everlasting life in eternal happiness only by and through the death, passion and righteousness of Jesus Christ my only vior and redeemer. Item I will and ordain that all such debts which I shall owe to any person or persons at the time of my decease, either of right or in conscience, shall be well and truly satisfied and paid within convenient time next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my loving sister Annys Meade twenty pounds of lawful money of England. Item I give and bequeath unto my father in law Richard Thomas a ring of gold of ten shillings price, and to my natural mother Anne his wife also a ring of gold of like price. Item I give and bequeath unto Hugh Scott vintner dwelling at the King's Head without Bishopsgate London forty shillings of lawful money of England. Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Casse son of Richard Casse of Ware forty shillings of like money. Item I give and bequeath unto Michael Hall son of Christopher Hall late of Ware aforesaid the like sum of forty shillings. All the rest and residue of my goods, chattels and worldly substance in this my present last will and testament not ien and bequeathed (after such legacies which before I have herein set down shall be discharged according to my true meaning and after such time as my funeral charges shall be borne and my debts paid as aforesaid) I do give and bequeath the same unto my brother Nicholas Meade whom I do make the sole and alone executor of this my present last will and testament, and I do revoke all former wills, gifts and bequests at any time heretofor by me made or given, and I do will and ordain that these presents shall stand in force only of my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal. Given the day and year first above written. More I bequeath unto John Caithorne of Ware thirty shillings. The mark of the said Richard Meade. Sealed, delivered and published by the said Richard Meade as his last will and testament the day and year above said in the presence of Philip Hodson, Richard Vinar and of me R. Bright servant to George Wright notary public.

Jacob Mead, St Saviour, Southwark, Surrey, 1624

In the name of God amen, the first day of July in the year of our lord God one thousand six hundred and four and twenty I Jacob Mead of the parish of Saint Saviour in the county of Surrey, waterman, sick in body but of good and perfect memory (praised be God therefore) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and following, that is to say first I commend my soul into the ha nd of almighty God my maker, assuredly hoping through the only merit of Jesus Christ my saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting and I commend my body to the earth whereof it was made. Item I will that all such debt and duties as I owe of right or of conscience to any person or persons be well and truly contented and paid by my executors hereafter named or ordained to be paid without contradiction. And after my debts paid and my funeral expenses performed I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith Pitte the sum of ten pounds of lawful English money to be by my executors so disposed of as they shall think fit sos my said daughter may from time to time have and and receive some profit thereby and the principal to remain unto and for the only use and behoof of my said daughter so long as it shall please almighty God that she shall live with her husband Michael Pitte whom I will shall have nothing to do or meddle therewith, but if it fortune that the said Michael Pitte do happen to depart out of this mortal life before mynsaid daughter then the said sum of ten pounds to be paid to be paid unto my said daughter Judith Pitte, and if it fortune that my said do depart out of this mortal life before my grandchild Alice Pitte do accomplish the full age of sixteen years then the said sum of ten pounds to remain unto my said grandchild Alice Pitte, and then after, if my said daughter happen to depart this mortal life before my said grandchild, then the said legacy of ten pounds to remain unto her my said grandchild. Also I give and bequeath unto my said grandchild Alice Pitte the like sum of ten pounds of like English money t be by my executors so disposed of that my said grandchild may have towards her education some profit thereby which I will to be paid unto her mother for the same intent and purpose until it shall please God that she be able to get her own living, but if it fortune that my said daughter Judith Pitte and Alice Pitte do fortune to die before the said Alice Pitte shall accomplish the full age of one and twenty years then the said legacy of ten pounds bequeathed unto my said daughter Judith and also the legacy bequeathed unto my said grandchild Alice Pitte to remain unto the next of kin. Also I will and my mind is that if my said grandchild do live until she have accomplished the full age of one and twenty years then my mind is that her legacy of ten pounds be then paid unto her or else in her marriage day, whether of them shall first happen. Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Joan Berrydge one piece of gold of two and twenty shillings to be paid unto her upon demand after my decease. Item I give and bequeah unto Katherine Grevyll her daughter one other like piece of gold of two and twenty shillings to be likewise paid unto her upon demand after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Strange the sum of five pounds of lawful English money to be paid unto her at the end of three months next after my decease. Item I give unto the poor of the liberty of the (unclear) in the parish of Saint Saviour in Southwark the sum of thirty shillings of like English money to be by my executor and the overseers for the poor of that liberty given to the poor in bread on my funeral day or as they think good. Item I give unto the poor of the parish of Saint Olavs in Southwark the like sum of thirty shillings of like English money to be likewise by the overseers for the poor of that parish given to the poor in bread on my funeral day. Item I give and bequeath unto my brethren the overseers of the company of watermen the sum of forty shillings of like English money to be spent amongst them on my funeral day. Item I giveunto Mssrs Roger Colle, Nicholas Norman and Andrew Lucas unto every one of them one pair of gloves of the price of ten shillings a pair. And all other my goods and chattels whatsoever unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my three sons Jacob, Edward and Richard Mead to be equally divided betwixt my said three sons part and part alike to be paid unto them severally when they shall have severally accomplished their full age or ages of one and twenty years, but if it fortune that any of my said sons Jacob, Edward or Richard Mead do happen to depart out of this mortal life before he or they shall accomplish the age or ages of one and twenty years then the legacy or legacies of him or them hereby bequeathed to remain unto him or them then surviving equally to be divided. And if any of my said sons shall be obstinate and disobedient and will not be governed and ruled by my executors then he or they so refusing to be governed to lose the one half of his or their legacy or legacies hereby to him or them given, to beand remain to him or them equally that will be governed by my executors. Item further my will and my intent is that my executors as soon after my decease as conveniently they can or may shall put the portions of my said three sons into the hands of the churchwardens of Saint Saviour or elsewhere, taking security for the same for the good of my said three sons as my executors shall think fit. And further my will and my mind is that my said sons' portions shall be paid unto my said three sons when they shall have accomplished their several ages of one and twenty years as aforesaid. And further my will and my mind is that Mr Roger Cole, Nicholas Norman and Andrew Lucas shall have the government and disposing of my said three sons until they may be conveniently placed with some honest master where they may live in the fear of God. And for the good opinion I have of Mr Roger Cole, Nicholas Norman and Andrew Lucas, hoping they will be careful for performance of this my last will and testament, I do make and ordainMr Rogr Cole, Nicholas Norman and Andrew Lucas joint co-executors of this my will and testament. And I hereby revoke and annull all former wills and testamentss by me at any time heretofor made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my seal and subscribed my name the first day of July 1624. Ja: Mede, sealed and subscribed in the presence of us William Checkley, John Facy, Griffith Hinton.

A codicil made by me Jacob Meade the fourth day of July 1624 to be annexed and joined to my last will and testament and to be by my executors performed as followeth. Inprimis I freely forgive Raphe Jepson the debt he oweth unto me by bond and the bond wherein he standeth bound for payment of the sum to be cancelled or else to be delivered unto him. Item my will and my mind also is that the bond wherein the said Raphe Jepson and John Bowen standeth bound unto me for performance of Articles of Agreement be cancelled and delivered unto them. Item that whereas David Sheffell hath promised unto me to take into his charge my youngest son Richard Mead to have brought up in the fear of God, my mind is that if my executors be contented therewith that the said David Sheffell shall and do receive and take all the profit issuing out of the tenements which I hold by lease in the parish of Saint Olave's during the whole term therein unexpired for the further benefit of my said son Richard Mead. Item that the widow Brinks for the pains that she hath taken with me in my sickness shall be well dealt withall by my executors. Item that my maid servant Katherine Reynolds be also by my executors well dealt withall for her pains and services done. Item I forgive my mother in law all the rent that she oweth unto me. Item I also forgive unto Parssell four pounds of the rent which he oweth unto me. Item I do also forgive unto John Facy all debts which he oweth unto me and the bond wherein he standeth bound for payment of the same to be cancelled or delivered unto him. Item that Edward Collins for the pains that he hath taken in traveling in my business be also by my executors well dealt withall. Item I do forgive the widow Terry of St Olaves, sempster, all the rent that she oweth unto me. Item whereas the legacy given by my will unto my daughter Pytte being ten pounds my mind is that when my executors shall bring my estate together and see what the estate is, I refer it to their discretion to give unto my said daughter what more they shl think for the augmentation of her portion. Item I give unto Mr Roger Cole my new red saddle and bridle with the saddle cloth and covering belonging to the same. Item I give unto Nicholas Norman one piece of chamlett of 13 yards or thereabouts. Item I give unto Andrew Lucas my horse and my old saddle and bridle. Item I give unto Griffith Hinton my black (unclear) doublet, hose and the jerkin thereunto belonging. Jacob Mead. Witnesses to this codicil Edward Collins, Griffith Hinton, Joan Brinks.

Draft interrogatories and answers (by Johann Furlong, Ruth Munday, Walter Heynes and Lyonell Titchborne of Grays Inn), in a case of the Attorney General v. William Hensloe and Jacob Meade (on the part of the Bishop of Winchester). The case concerns encroachment on Crown lands at Bankside, Southwark, by tenants of the Bishop of Winchester, including by the erection of the Hope Playhouse by Philip Hensloe, deceased [Henslowe], brother of the defendant William; Questions concern: boundaries and tenants of alleged Crown 'tenements and gardens' called the Great Rose [? the Rose Playhouse] at Bankside, the tenancy of Thomas Keys and Isabel his wife at the Great Rose and the alleged undertenancies granted by the Keys, including the undertenancy of David Watson; land used by Pope and Barnabye for a dog yard and the building erected on the land during the tenancy, now held by Jacob Meade, defendant; whether the Hope Playhouse is built on Crown land, and whether the land behind the playhouse to Maiden Lane is Crown la; tenements and grounds at Bankside let by the Keys to Burges, Tyton, Taylor, Addison, Spencer Garlande, Rockett, Derry, Reynoldes and the widow Williamson; where William Payne, master or deputy of Queen Elizabeth's game of bears, established the site of the baiting place, alleged to be in the court northwards towards the Thames from the Hope Playhouse (or 'utter court'), held by the Bishop of Winchester; where scaffolding was erected as standings for view of the baiting, whether the same place was used by later masters (named) and what Philip Hensloe did as master of the game of bears, replacing the scaffolding with the Hope Playhouse building, the foundations of which were placed on Crown land; whether a copy lease of the Bull and Cock at Bankside by the Bishop of Winchester, 1537/1538 was a true copy. - ref. LM/1154/2 - date: nd [c.Jan 1621]

Copy depositions taken before a commission (comprising Sir Thomas Fowler, Francis Michell esq, Thomas Foster esq and Francis Powlton esq) appointed by the Court of Exchequer, in the case of Attorney General v. William Hensloe and Jacob Meade - ref. LM/1154/1 - date: Oct 1620

Henry Meade, woodmonger, St Vedast, London, 1628

In the name of God, Amen. Memorandum that Henry Mead of the parish of St Fosters [St Vedast Foster Lane] in London, woodmonger, on Friday in the morning the fifteenth day of February Anno domino Stilo Anglie one thousand six hundred twenty seven and about four, however before his death, being sick in his bed, but of perfect mind and memory, with a full purpose to make and declare his last will and testament, did utter and speak unto Anne his wife the only present with him, these or the like words following, viz 'I do give unto you, wife, all the goods and estate whatsoever I have and will not give anything from you and I do make you my executor.'