Yeovil's Virtual Museum

1583 will of William Sugge

Yeoman of Wigdon & Huntley

 

Very little is known of William Sugge, but he is thought to have been born around 1548. From the goods he left in his will, it would appear that he was a fairly affluent yeoman or farmer. The Sugge family of this period lived in the tithing of Wigdon & Huntley (today, East Marsh and West Marsh). However, they were very closely related to the branch of the family at Nether Compton and Trent. Indeed, in his will William refers to "Walter Sugge of Compton my brother".

William's wife, he calls Julian, was probably Juliana. They had at least two children; Lyonell and Elizabethe.

William and his (assumed) brother, John (c1550-1593), both of Wigdon & Huntley, were recorded in the 1569 Muster Roll as a billman and a pikeman respectively. The 1569 Muster Roll noted that William Sugge, together with William Jennynges (a witness to William's will below) and others, paid for "one paire of almaine rivets" (see Note 1 below).

The 1581 Lay Subsidy (see Note 2 below) recorded that in that year, William Sugge paid five shillings for goods valued at £5 (around £1,500 at today's value) - a substantial sum at the time and well above average.

Although William's will is undated, it is known that it was proved in 1583. He was buried in the churchyard of St John's church.

 

Note 1: An Almaine rivet is a type of flexible plate armour originating in Germany around 1500. It was designed to be manufactured easily whilst still affording considerable protection to the wearer. It consisted of a breastplate and backplate with laminated thigh-guards called tassets. Almain rivets were generally of fairly low quality, but they were relatively cheap.

Note 2: The Lay Subsidy was an invention of the early sixteenth century and was essentially a tax on individuals with no fixed amount being placed on a county, parish or individual. It was not the most satisfactory form of tax since the income was not consistent on a year to year basis. In 1580, for instance, the Lay Subsidy only produced a total of £460 for the whole country.

 

 

This family tree is mostly derived from William Sugge's will (see below).

 

1583 Will of William Sugge

 

In the name of god amen I William Sugge of the p[a]rish of Yeavell being sicke in bodye and sounde in memorie doe make this my laste will and Testament in manner and forme following Imprimis I beqeathe my soule into the handes of allmightie God the Father the sonne and the holye ghoste my bodye to be buried in the Churche yarde of Yevell aforesaide. Item I give toward the Repayringe of the Church of Yevell three shillinge fower pence. Item I give the Vicar for my Tythes and oblacions omitted twelve pence. Item to the poore mans boxe twelve pence. Item I give and bequeath to Edithe Sugge my sonne Lyonells daught[e]r Tenne poundes to be paide at the daie of her marriage or at the age of sixtene yeares. Item I gyve and bequeathe more to the foresaid Edithe Sugge fortie shillinges whiche is for the [word illegible] of the wooll of her sheepe now in my keepinge. Item I give and bequeathe alsoe to the saide Edithe Sugge my greate brasse [brewinge?] panne my stoninge Troughe my yellowe bason with a platter and a podinger to be delyvered after the death of Julian my wife Provided that yf ye saide Edithe Sugge happen to dye before the daie of her marriage or before she come to thee full age of sixteen yeares that then all the abovenamed Legacies shalbe equallie divided amonge the children of my daughter Elizabethe Harrison whiche are hereafter named. Item I gyve and bequeath to William Harrison the sonne of Elizabeth Harrison my daughter fortie shillingers. Item more I give and bequeathe to the said William Harrison my beste Wagne and wheeles bound w[i]th yron two [word illegible] a dragge three iron raxes and theree yokes a Cupboard standinge in the hall one featherbed and one standinge bedsteade a cople of plattens and our brass pott whiche ploughe stuffe and household stuffe shall remayne in the custodye of my wife during her life yf she contynue widowe. Item I give and bequeathe to Gyles Harrison the sonne of my daughter Elizabethe Harrison fortie shillinges. Item I give and bequeathe more to the saide Gyles Harrison a wayne and wheeles bound withe yron. Item I give and bequeathe to Thomas Harrison the sonne of my daughter fortie shillinges. Item I give and bequeathe to John Harrison the sonne of my daughter fortye shillinges. Item I give and bequeathe to George Harrison the Sonne of my daughter fortie shillinges. Item I give and bequeathe to Julian Harrison the daughter of my daughter Elizabeth fortie shillinges. Item I give and bequeathe more to the saide Julian Harrison my beste brasse panne with my table borde standings in the hall a beddsteede a cople of platters and one podinger. Item I give and bequeathe to my daughter Elizabethe a cheste. Item I give and bequeathe to Tristram Sugge twentie shillinge. Item I give and bequeathe to Christian [Gamatrell?] of Coker twentie shillinge. Item I give and bequeathe to Richarde Lye half an acre of wheate lyinge at [Treene?] Crosse and a redd cowe now goine at Melberye and an acre of [dreadge?] lyinge at Sherborne. Item I gyve and bequeathe to my brother Richarde Sugge one acre of [word illegible] lyinge at Sherborne. Item I give and bequeathe more to my brother Richard Sugge my best cloake, my beste coate, dubblett and hoses. Item I gyve to Thomas Butt my servaunte three shillinge. Item I gyve to Reynold [Hollanxt?] my servaunt twelve pence. Item I gyve to Margarett Meade my [word illegible] twelve pence. Item I gyve to everye of my Godchildren twelve pence. Item I gyve to the poore of the p[a]rishe a quarter of [meslen?] to be baked in breade and delivered to theme. Item I give half a busshell of [meslen?] to [Sharlocks?]. Item I gyve to [Blway?] a busshell of [meslyn?]. Item I gyve to Walter Sugge of Compton my brother a cloke, a cote, a [trussle?], a paire of hoses, a shirte a paire of shoes and a hatt. Item I gyve to the Almes house of Yevell twoe shillings. Item I give to Joseph Starre Twelve poundes. Item I forgyve all suche debts as Willia[m] Sugge Walter Sugge, William Smythe and John Baylies doe owe me. Item I forgyve John Creedy twelve shillinge whiche he oweth me. Item I give to Julian my wyfe my whole parte of all the graine and other commodities growinge uppon a farme in the parishe of Sherborne whiche my brother Creedye and I doe [two words illegible] together. Item I alsoe gyve and bequeathe to Julian my wyfe All the reste of my goods and c[h]attels moveable and unmoveable (my debtes and Legacies beinge discharged) whome I make my sole Executrix of this my Laste will and testament. Item I make William Jenynge and John Crasse my overseers of this my Laste will and testament made in ye presence of John Sherweard [actually John Seward] vicar of Yevell and William Jenynge

Transcribed by Bob Osborn