This blog re-examines Fermor wills that identify a cousin – Thomas Barrett – and to determine his relationship to the family.
In an earlier blog, we examined the will of William Fermor to determine how he was related to his “goode aunt Elizabeth Horne… and to her sonne my Cosyne Edmund Horne Esquire…”
Fermor Wills
The 05 April 1501 will of Emmote (Hervey, Wenman) Fermor bequeaths to “my cousin Thomas Barett xxs. and vi spones [20 shillings and 6 spoons]…”[1]
The 01 July 1551 will of her son Richard Fermor bequeaths “a life annuity of 5 marks pa to my cousin Barret (which he already has by patent)…”[2]
The 1552 will of her son William Fermor bequeaths “to my cousin Thomas Barret a life Annuity of 40s pa to be levied out of my lands etc in Idbury and Bold…”[3]
Assuming we apply the modern translation of “cousin,” at a minimum Thomas Barett would have been the son of Emmote (Hervey, Wenman) Fermor’s aunt or uncle, of whose identities are unknown at this time. This requires knowing the siblings of her father Symkin Hervey and requires the identify of her unknown mother’s siblings to determine if Thomas is a paternal or maternal first cousin. By default, Thomas Barett as a cousin to Emmote would also be a cousin to her sons William and Richard, either as removed cousins or second cousins (and higher, e.g. third cousins).
As it may be possible that Emmote uses the term “cousin” to lovingly reference her husband Thomas Richards alias Fermor’s kin, we would also need to identify the siblings of her late husband’s paternal and maternal siblings, all currently unknown. Using this same possibility of referencing a late husband’s kin, we would also need to examine the paternal and maternal siblings of Henry Wenman, also currently unknown.
Will of Dame Elizabeth (Tenacre, Kyrkebye, Wymond) Thurston
A search of Wenman wills results in the 15 March 1520 will of Dame Elizabeth Thurston of Saint Vedast, City of London, bequeathing “to wife of Cosyn Barett, a pair of silver beads and a gurdell of stole work… Maister John Barett and his wife… Thomas Barrett and his wife…”[4]
Elizabeth Tenacre, was the daughter of William Tenacre of Strode and the granddaughter of Henry Tenacre of Halling and Strode, Kent.[5] As mentioned in her lengthy will, she married as follows:
Firstly to John Kyrkebye, vintner;
Secondly to Thomas Wymond, citizen and fuller of London, widowed after the death of his wife Johane ___. Both Elizabeth and Thomas are mentioned in the September 1494 will of William Tenacre, Mercer of the City of London, wherein he bequeaths “my Coufen Elifabeth Tenacre the wyf of Thomas Wymond…” as shown on the third line in the title picture.[6] Thomas Wymond’s will is dated 15 August 1496 and was proved 18 October 1496; and
Lastly to Sir John Thurston, goldsmith and borderer (embroiderer), alderman in 1515 representing Castle Baynard, and Sheriff of London in 1517.[7] Prior to his marriage to Elizabeth, John was married to Alice ___.By most accounts, Sir John died between the codicil to his will on 20 July 1520 and probate on 08 August 1520, and was buried at St. Foster’s Church.[8] However, this conflicts with his wife’s writing of the will in March 1520 before his death, and probated 23 February 1521. Other sources place Sir John’s death in 1519.[9]
Note however, no other Wenman wills that are known kin and connection to the Fermor family mention the Barett’s. Additionally, other surnames in the Wymond wills are not mentioned in the Wenman wills of known kin or connection to the Fermor family.
Thomas Barrett
The “cousin Barret” mentioned in the will of Richard Fermor is presumed to be the same Thomas Barett, citizen and merchant tailor of London, partnered with William Fermor and Richard Fermer, their step-brother Richard Wenman, and possibly a Farmer alias Draper relative for several land purchases in 1525 and in 1527…
“Alex Hawte & wife Joan to Thos Barrett, Wm & Ric Fermour. 1/3 of a moiety of 3 mess. 120a land, 30a mead, 140a past & 100a wood in Lee, Charlton, Eltham, Greenwich & Lewisham. £80 (28)”[10]
“Jn Blundell, Wm Draper, esq & Thos Barret & wife Margt to Ric Fermer, Ric Weyman & Wm Fermer. Moiety of 3 mess, 120a land, 20a mead, 140a past & 100a wood in Lee, Charlton, Eltham, Greenwich & Lewisham. £40 (1).”[11]
… and as partners with Richard Fermor in 1532 to acquire and sell land in Kent to Thomas Cromwell and Christopher Hales on behalf of Henry VIII for the king’s use:
“A.5281. Bond by Richard Fermor merchant of the staple of Calais, and Thomas Barett, citizen and merchant tailor of London, to Thomas Crumwell, master or treasurer of the king’s jewels, and Christopher Hales, attorney general, for 100l, for the king’s use. 16 June, 24 Henry VIII. Signed. Two seals.
Endorsed : Condition of above bond, witnessing that if the said Fermor and Barett shall observe the covenants of certain indentures of even date with the said bond, made between the above parties, the said bond shall be void.”[12]
“A.5278. [Kent] Receipt by Richard Fermor, merchant of the staple of Calais, and Thomas Barett, citizen and merchant tailor of London, for 58l. 7s. 3d. received from Thomas Crumwell, master and treasurer of the king’s jewels, in payment of all sums due to them for the purchase of the moiety, ‘purparte or haulfendele’ of the lands and tenements &c. called ‘Smythes landes’ and ‘Newlands’ within the king’s new park of Eltham, purchased by the said Cromwell and Christopher Hales, attorney general, from them, for the king’s use. 22 August, 24 Henry VIII. English. Two seals.”[13]
While numerous other publications reference Barett as a “tailor of London”, one legal source describes a “Thomas Barett, of Wainfleet (Lincolnshire), Merchant of the Staple of Calais…”[14] providing a reasonable rationale how Barett and Richard Fermor were further acquainted having both shared the same occupation.
Likewise, a “John Barett, goldsmith, gifted about £3 5s. per annum to supply coal to the poor of the Goldsmiths’ Company…” in 1511,[15] another likely Barett family connection to the Thurston’s.
Another land transaction involves the manor of Fritwell, Oxfordshire, once owned by Sir William Boleyn, but having died a year or two after possessing the manor, left it to his son and heir Sir Thomas Boleyn. Thomas and his wife Elizabeth promptly sold the manor to Thomas Barett. The manor consisted of 200 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 200 acres of pasture, 3 acres of wood, and 13s. 4d. rent with their appurtenances. As the Boleyn’s did not obtain the King’s license for the sale, Barett and Boleyn sued for the royal pardon granted in 1520.[16]
William Fermor held lands and tenements in Somerton, Fritwell, Duns Tew, Steeple Aston, Middle Aston, Idbury, Foscot, Bold, Kingham, Pudle Hill(?), and Banbury that he left to his wife Elizabeth (Norreys) Fermor, which then passed to William’s nephew Thomas Fermor (son of William’s brother Richard Fermor), and then to Thomas’ son Richard Fermor.
Conclusion
There is insufficient evidence to conclude Thomas Barett is a cousin of the Fermor family, with a pedigree to confirm missing leaves on the Fermor tree. Additionally, while there may be a Wymond-Wenman connection based on similar surnames, the Wymond wills and the Wenman wills show no direct connection. Thomas Barett may have been referred as a cousin as a term of endearment due to his close personal and/or working relationship with the Fermor family.
Philip Farmer is the author and publisher of “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney” tracing the family history from 1420 to 1685, and “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh” following their 1685 arrival from Ireland into Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Harlan County, Kentucky.
[1] TNA PROB 11/12; Hutchens, “Will of Emott Fermer of Witney,” Oxfordshire Family History Society (OFHS.uk). nd; For alternate translation: Bloom, Wayman Wills and Administrations Preserved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1383-1821 (1922), pp.2-3.
[2] Hutchens, “Will of Richard Fermer of NTH Easton Neston,” Oxfordshire Family History Society (OFHS.uk). nd.
[3] Hutchens, “Will of William Fermor of Somerton,” Oxfordshire Family History Society (OFHS.uk). nd. An abstract also found in Blomfield, History of the Present Deanery of Bicester, Oxon (1882), p.105.
[4] PROB 11/20/149; Bloom, Wayman Wills and Administrations Preserved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1383-1821 (1922), pp.6-10. The author in his introduction posits the many spellings of Wenman, to include Wymond.
[5] Jewers, “Grants and Certificates of Arms,” The Genealogist, vol.27(1911), pp.179, 223. Possibly the same Henry Tenacre pardoned for his involvement in the Jack Cade Rebellion of 1450 (reference Orridge, Jack Cade’s Rebellion (1869), p.51; Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry VI (1909), p.350.) The Tenacre heraldric arms are described as “gu. on a fess chequy Or an Az. betw. three martlets Arg., beaks Vert., as many scallop shells Erm.” per Stowe MSS 692 fo.90 & 702 fo.115.
[6] PROB 11/20/248.
[7] Beavan, The Alderman of the City of London (1913), p.23; Jewers, “Grants and Certificates of Arms,” The Genealogist, vol.27(1911), pp.179, 223; Rylands, Grantees of Arms (1915), p.250; AALT CP40no1060, Image 5718f; AALT CP40no1060, Image 6120f.
[8] Chaffers, Hall-Marks on Gold and Silver Plate (1922), p.21. The later states “buried 1519.”
[9] Prideaux, Memorials of the Goldsmiths’ Company (1896), p.322.
[10] CP 25(2) 20/118/687.
[11] CP 25(2) 20/120/753.
[12] A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds, vol.3 (1900), p.159.
[13] TNA E 40/5278; TNA E 40/5281; A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds, vol.3 (1900), p.159.
[14] TNA C 1/174/3.
[15] Chaffers, Hall-Marks on Gold and Silver Plate (1922), p.20.
[16] Blomfield, History of the Present Deanery of Bicester, Oxon (1893), p.18-19.