Katherine (?)

     Katherine was born circa 1506 in England. Katherine married Robert Brooke circa 1525.¹ Katherine's husband, Robert, died before 21 July 1551 in their home called "Sterre & the Styroppe" on Gracious Street within the parish of St. Leonard's, London, County Middlesex, England, leaving her a widow. Katherine married 2nd John Beryman on 22 September 1554 in London, County Middlesex, England, at St. Leonard's Church [Nigh Eastcheap]. She, then, went to live in his home called the "Black Bell" in the parish of St. Margaret's Bridge street (now New Fish Street), probably no more than one or two blocks from her former home.² Katherine's husband, John, died before 2 March 1565 in their home called "Black Bell" on Bridge Street within the parish of St. Margaret's, London, County Middlesex, England, leaving her a widow. Katherine departed this life before 14 March 1566 in London, County Middlesex, England, at their home called "Black Bell" on Bridge Street within the parish of St. Margaret's. Katherine made her will on 14 March 1566 at the parish of St. Leonard's, London, County Middlesex, England.

I Katheryne Beryman of London, wedowe beinge sicke of body ... ffirst and princypally and above all earthely thinges I geve bequeath and comende my soule unto Allmightye god my Creator ... And my body to be buryed in the porche of the p[ar]ishe churche of St. Margarett in Bredgestreate of the Cittie of London betwene the twoe dores of the said church ... to Johan woodde my sister fyve powndes currant money of Englande and my cassocke of virwatered Chamlette garded with a garde of velvit and my kirtle of blacke chamlette garded with velvit ... to Thomas Myles Cittizen and Draper of London tenne pownds currante money of England ... to Fraunces Wesby cittizen and Draper of London fyve powndes currant money of Englande ... to Christian Wesby sister to the saide ffraunces Wesbye fyve pownds currant miney of England to be paide to her within one yeare nexte after my decease or on the daye of her marriage and my shepes collored cassocke which I doe use dayly to weare my redde petitote and my kirtle of black clothe ... to Katheryne Hartinge one of the doughters of William Hartinge of the p[ar]ishe of St. leonard in Shoreditch in the Com of Midd yeoman twentie powndes currant money of England to be paide to her at such tyme as she shalbe of her full age of xxi yeares orelles shalbe maried And my bedstede standinge in the Chamber in (     ) nexte to my ( ) Chamber, the fether bedd nowe lyinge upon the same, the coverlette w^ch now liethe uppon my owne bedde a paire of blankettes, Three paire of shetes twoe pillowed twoo pillowberes a diaper table clothe a playne table clothe, half a dozen diaper napkins half a dozen playne napkins half a garnishe of pewter vessell sorted a brasse potte a panne of the middle sorte and my cassocke of worsted garded with velvette ... to Judethe Hartinge one other of the doughters of the saide William Hartinge ffortie shillinges currant money of England and as much of my howseholde stuff as 'shall extende to the value of three powndes currant money of England at the discretion of my executors hereunderwritten To be paide and delyvered to her at such tyme and when as she shabe of her full adge of xxi yeares or be maried ... to Johan Clarke and to Robarge Clerke the doughter of John Clarke of London yeoman to either of theym asmuche of my husholde stuff as shalbe of the value of xxs currante money of England at the discretion of my saide executors and to either of theym xx^s in redy money ... to William ffranckelyn Cittizen and sadler of London my seconde standing cuppe of sylver with a cover all gilte w^ch late was of John Beryman my late husband and my seconde sallte with a covr all gylte w^ch was of my saide late husbande ... I doe clearly pardon and forgeve to the saide William ffranckelyn the some of eleven powndes which he nowe owethe unto me ... to the saide William ffranckelyn all the waynscot standinge in my parlor excepte and reserved to my said Executors the table the bedstede the stooles and chaiers now beinge in the same parlor ... to the same William ffranckelyn all my wainscot standinge in my hall excepte and lykewise reserved to my said executors the table the press the cupboard the stooles and the chayeres nowe beinge in the same hawle ... to the wiff of the saide William ffranckelyn my golde ringe with an emerode in the same ... to Martha the doughter of the said William ffranckelyn my ale pott of sylver parcell gilte witheowte cov^r thate ys to say the higher of twoe pottes which be comonly occupied in my howse ... to Elizabeth ffrancklyn one other of the daughters of the saide William ffrancklyn one sylver spone withe a pestle on the ende of the same ... to the hospitall of Christs Church within the Cittie of London xx^s currant money of England and to Saynte Thomass hospitall in Sowtheworke in the com of Surr twentie shillings …to the poore prisoners in Newgate of London tenne shillinges To the prisoners of the m^rshall sea [the Marshallsea debtors' prison] in Sowtheworke aforesaid xs & the prisoners in the Kinges benche in Sowtheworke afforesaide xs To the prisoners beinge in the twoe holes in the Counters of the pultrie and Woodstrete in the saide Citie of London tenne shillinges That ys to saye to either of theym v^s... to
every poore howseholder dwellinge in the p[ar]ishe of St Margarette afforesaide twelve pence currante money of England ...My will and
mynde ys that my saide executors on the daye of my buriall shall gyve and distribute to and amongste such poore people as then shall repaire to the said Churche asmuch breade as shall amounte to xxs currant money of England ... to my doughter Margarette Hartinge a mourninge cassocke cloth of blacke and my doughter ffraunces Clerke a like cassocke clothe to the saide Katheryne Harting a lyke cassock cloth ... to Margaret Martyn the wiff of Thomas Martyn Cittizen and grocer of London my golde ringe with a cracked diamonde in the same ... to Margaret Swaman the wiff of William Swaman Cittizen and haberdasher of london my golde ringe with a garnette in the same ...to John Emmes late my servante a blacke gowne of viiis the yard ... to John Atkinson my late servante one paire of shetes one fowrthe parte of a garnishe of pewter vessell one quarte potte one pyncte potte twoe greate candlsestikes dayly occupied in my howse, and my cupoborde standinge in my haule ... to Cicely one of the sisters of the said William ffranckelyn the other of my twoe little ale pottes ... to the wief of Beniamyn Dudsberye one of my twoe little ale pottes of sylvr parcell gilte withowt a cover ... to the mynyster of the saide p[ar]ishe church of St Margarett twoe shillinges and six pence currant money of Englande ... to my said doughter Margaret Hartinge and to William Hartinge her husbanqe in redy money and plate as much as in all shalbe of the value of xxil currante money of Englande and of my howseholde stuff of evrythe somwhat at the discretion of of my saide executors as muche therof as in all shall extendeto the value of xxll currant money of England ... to my saide doughter Margarette hartinge my blacke cassocke of cloth edged with fringe my wor- sted kertle w owt any wellte or garde my hoope ringe of golde nowe beinge upon one of my fingers ... to my saide doughter ffraunces Clarke and to her husband as much ready money and plate as shalbe of the value of twenty powndes currant money of England and asmoche of my howsholde stuff of everythinge somwhat as shalbe of the valewe in all of the some of xx11 currant money of England at the discretion of my said Executors ... more to the saide ffraunces Clarke my doughter my gold ringe with a blewe stone in the same my kirtle of virwatered chamlet with a fringe my cassocke of clothe with a cape of budge ... to Elizabeth Broke my -oane [?] a cassock clothe of blacke clothe my cassocke of ffrenche blacke cloth garded with vilvett and my cassocke of chamlet now ripped ... to Isabel Wilson my doughter a cassocke cloth of blacke cloth & my best cassock of cloth garded with velvitt my best kirtle of silke grograyne and my beste peticote of scarrelette ... to John Wilson Cittizen and Draper of London the husbond of my said doughter Isabell Wilson my diaper table clothe and one dossen of napkins ... to Katheryn Noble wedowe my kynsewoman visviiid in ready money ... to the saide John Broke my sonne my beste gilte cuppe of silver with a cover my best sallte of silver with a cover all gilte my best table cloth like damaske worke my towell and twoe dozen of napkins of the like worke of the saide table clothe ... my will and mynde ys that the Executors of this my laste will and testamente shall cutte my longe diaper table cloth into ffowre equall partes and therof I will my said Executors shall geve one fowrth parte to the said p[ar]ishe Church of Saynt Margarette one other fowrthe parte thereof to the p[ari]she of St. Leonarde nigh Eastechepe in the saide Cittie of London and one other fowrthe parte thereof to the p[ar]ishe Churche of Milton in the County of Kynte and the other fowrthe parte thereof to the p[ar]ishe Churche of Waide in the saide Countye of Kente for the tables of the communion in the saide Churches ... the residue of all and singular my goodes cattalles plate juelles redye moneye & debtes, after my debtes paide and my funerall charges borne and this my testament and laste will p[er]formed I fully holy geve and bequeathe to the said John Broke my sonne and to the said John Wilson my sonne in lawe equally and indifferently betwene theym to be devided and I make & ordeyne the said John Brooke & John Wilson Executors of this my saide laste will and testamente ... to John Broke my sonne all that my messuage or tenemente with Shoppes cellers sollers warehowses yards lightes easementes comodities hereditamentes and appurtnances whatsoev^r thereto belonginge comonly called the signed of the starre and the sturoppe sette and beinge in gracious streate in the said p[ar]ishe of Saynte leonard nighe Eastechepe of london nowe beinge in thoccupacon of the saide John Brooke or his assignes and all and singular my messuages landes [etc], lyinge and beinge in the p[ar]ishe of Horsham in the Com of Sussex nowe beinge in thoccupacon of Richarde hollande or his assignes ... and for lacke of suche issue of the body of [John] Brooke my sonne lawfully begotten and to be gotten I will that
my saide messuages landes tentes, etc. shall fully and holy remayne to the said Isabell my doughter and to her heires and assignes for ever to be holden of the chefe lorde or lordes of the fee or fees thereof by the rentes and services thereof due and of rights accustomed ... witness Thomas Atkinson Nolus pubcus, Thomas Mortyme, John Smithe.³

Her will was probated on 24 March 1566.

Additional Notes: The maiden name of Katherine, wife of Robert Brooke, is not definitely known. There are clues and circumstantial evidence, but there is no definitive evidence to say conclusively what her maiden name is. Katherine, in her will, bequeathed gifts to churches which lie in Milton and Iwade in County Kent. It is probable that Katherine was raised in this area, however, she did not include the common phrase, “where I was born”. Legatees in Katherine’s will give additional clues. She mentions a sister, Joan Wood, this is in all probability a married name. There are generous gifts made to Thomas Myles, Francis Westby, both drapers, and the sister of Francis. It is likely that Thomas is a nephew of Katherine and that Katherine is an aunt to the Westbys, who in turn are cousins to Thomas Myles. There is also a connection to the Brooke family as Robert Foote (son of Joan Brooke Foote) married Elizabeth, widow of Benjamin Myles, as his second wife. Thomas Myles is related to Benjamin, but again the exact relationship is unclear. In a will dated in 1540, an Edward Westby of Milton, mentions a daughter, Christian, but does not mention a son Francis. There are of course several scenarios as to why Francis was not mentioned.
Ultimately, it seems that Katherine’s family originated in the Milton area and that Katherine moved into the London area. It is clear that she is related to the Westby and the Myles families, but unfortunately, her maiden name has not been determined.^4,5