Pase or Parysse
Will of John Parysse (1451)
The Parysse family are no doubt the owners of "Parish Croft" (on site of modern Billings Hill Shaw). John Paris left his lands to his daughter Rose Paris, who was probably the Rose who married Thomas Cotyer. She was still living when Thomas died in 1473. By the terms of Thomas's will, Rose's land was to go to William Hoke and Jane Hoke, his wife. It appears they sold part of this land to Thomas's son Thomas Cotyer in 1488.
In the name of God, Amen. 4 April in the year of the Lord 1451. I John Parysse of Hertle in the diocese of Rochester, of sound mind, make my will in this manner. Firstly, I leave my soul to Almighty God my creator, and my body to be buried in the cemetery of the parish Church of Hertle next to the tomb of my deceased wife. Item: I leave to the high altar of the same church - 20d. Item: I leave for the roofing of the church - 15d. Item: I leave to the light of blessed Mary there - 3 ewes with their lambs, from the best of my flock. Item: to the same light of the blessed Mary - half a quarter of barley to be paid and raised from the barley growing on my lands, on the feast day of All Saints. Item: I leave to Sir John Bonde my curate - 12d. Item: I leave o the Carmelite Brothers of Aylysford - 5s to pray for my soul for the remission of my sins. Item: I leave to each chaplain saying mass on the day of my burial, celebrating mass from my soul together with the obsequies - 6d. Item: I leave to Rose Cotyer, my daughter - my best cooking pot, with a tripod from the best. Item: I leave to Joan, daughter of the said Rose - 4 of the better sheep and one quarter of barley, one brazen pot, one pan of medium quality and one posnet. Item: I leave to John Cotyer, my godson - my better cloak of russet. Item: I leave to Thomas Cotyer, eldest son of John Cotyer and the other boys of the same John - my two cloaks [.......] to make clothes for them and each of them. Item: I leave to Alice Brasyer, for looking after me in my illness - 6d in money with one bushel of wheat, from my growing corn. Item: I leave to John Mabbis - 2 bushels of wheat from the corn as aforesaid. Item: I leave for expenses laid out on the day of my burial - a half quarter of wheat and one quarter of barley, and likewise on the day of my trental - another half quarter of wheat with another quarter of barley. And if it should happen that there is a remainder therefrom, I will that it be distributed to the poor at the discretion of my curate and supervisor. All other vessels especially of metal of whatever quality, which shall not be bequeathed above, I give and leave to Joan and John (sic), daughters of Thomas Cotyer, to be divided equally between them at the discretion of the said curate, my supervisor. The remainder of all goods not bequeathed above, after my debts have been paid and legacies and funeral expenses have been honourably settled and completed; I will that it be given to the poor and distributed in pious ways, according to the discretion of my supervisor, in whom I place especial trust for the remission of my sins. I appoint, make and constitute Thomas Cotier as executor of my will, and the said Sir John Bonde rector of the said Church supervisor of the said Thomas and of the executorship, so that by these presents the same Thomas can execute and complete faithfully and speedily the present (?) will with the supervision of my said supervisor. Given and Hertle on the day and year abovesaid.
In addition I will that Roger Smyth, John Cotyer at le Hay and Stephen Smyth, my feoffees for all my lands and tenements in Hertle or elsewhere within the county of Kent, as appears more fully in a certain deed of enfeoffment made therefore, immediately after my death to enfeoff Rose Cotyer my daughter in all my lands and tenements aforesaid. To have and to hold to the same Rose for the full term of her life without impeachment of waste...... with the duty of repairing, rebuilding and maintaining the houses and buildings constructed on the same. And after the death of the said Rose, I will that the said lands and tenements shall pass by remainder to Joan and Joan, daughters of the said Rose aforesaid and shall remain as one holding. To have and to hold all the said lands and tenements to the said Joan and Joan, and to the heirs of their bodies legitimately conceived in the first instance. And if the said Joan and Joan die without heir of their bodies legitimately conceived, then I will that all the said lands and tenements shall be sold for the best price that can be obtained, and the money so received therefrom shall bedisbursed thus: half of the said money shall be given to the parish church of Hertle; and the other half of the said money shall be disbursed on pious uses.
This will was proved at Dartford on 28 June 1451 (Bishop's register DRb/Pa2 f 160)
George Pase 1608
Based on the 1633 conveyance of Hartley Manor, he must be the owner of Whiffen’s Cottage. The 2½ acre field to be sold looks very likely to be Hartley Field (in 1844 a 2½ acre holding on its own). I assume that the Parysse of 1451 has mutated into Pase one hundred and fifty years later.
In the name of God. Amen. The 16th day of November in the years of Our Lord 1606. I George Pase of Hartley, taylor, in the county of Kent, being of good and perfect remembrance, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First: I bequeath my soul unto Almighty God, my maker, unto Jesus Christ, my saviour and redeemer, and unto the Holy Ghost, my sanctifier. And my body to be buried within the churchyard of Hartley.
Item: I give unto Elizabeth, my wife, whom I do make and ordain my sole executrix of this my last will and testament, two acres and a half of land, by estimation more or less, called by the name of the Uppermost Crofte, to be sold for the most advantage for the paying of debts and legacies, which I do owe and for this cause I do ????? the said 2 acres and a half to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give my house and the rest of my land unto my wife and my mother, during their lives, and if it chance that either of [them] do die, that then the other to have it all during her life. And after they be deceased, I do give the house and that land unto my brother William, during his life, and after his decease unto his son William, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I make William […….] elder [……………………………………………………]
These being witnesses: (S) Thomas Smith scriptor?, (S) Nicholas Ellis, (S) William Elynson.
Proved 18th January 1607 (1608).
William Paise, tailor 1630
This will be the William who was the brother of George (1608). By the terms of George's will, William's eldest son William was to get Goodwins Cottage in Hartley, hence why he was more generous to his younger son Thomas.
First I bequeath and commend my soul unto God my ????? creator, who gave it. And my body to the ground and to be buried in the churchyard of the parish of Fawkham aforesaid and in decent manner at the discretion of mine executrix. I having a lively hope of a joyous resurrection through the merits of Jesus Christ, my blessed saviour and redeemer.
Item: I give and bequeath unto mine eldest son William Paise, 10 shillings.
Item: I give and bequeath unto mine son Thomas Paise, 10 shillings.
Both which legacies to be paid within the end term of 1 year next after my decease.
Item: I give and bequeath unto mine eldest daughter Mary Paise, 2 shillings.
Item: I give and bequeath unto mine daughter Alice Paise, 40 shillings.
Item: I give and bequeath unto mine daughter Dorothy Paise, 40 shillings.
And those said legacies to be paid within 1 year next after my decease.
Moreover I give and bequeath unto mine said eldest son William Paise, all my musical instruments.
Item: I give and bequeath unto mine son Thomas Paise, my best steer and 2 wethers for and towards the furnishing of the building of the Maulthouse, were I now dwell.
Lastly I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary [.........(photocopy unreadable here)...] constituting and [......the executrix......] of this my last will and testament, and discharging of all the rights of my Christian burial, and for the better execution of this duty and office of executrix in all the premises, I ordain my said son Thomas Paise my lawful supervisor.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and sel the 4th day of February AD 1629 (=1630).
William Paise (X)
Witnesses: William Helie (S), John ???? (X)
Proved at Rochester 6 August 1630
Mary Paise of Fawkham, widow 1637
Reference: CKS/DRb/PWr/19BB.99
Mary was the widow of William (1630). Her will is more detailed than her husband's.
In the name of God, Amen. The 1st day of November.... 1638. I Mary Paise of Fawkham... widow, bieng sick in body but of good and perfect memory ????? (laud and praise be to Almighty God) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following....
First and principallhy I bequeath my soul to Almighty God, my creator and to Jesus Christ my redeemer, trusting assuredly through his death and bitter passion to obtain remission of all my sins, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Faukham aforesaid at the discretion of my executor.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son William Paise £20... the flockbed and bolster with a blanket whereon the said William usually lodgeth with the bedstead with my long oaken table, a pair of new hempen sheets already in his mark, 6 flaxen napkins likewise marked, also a swarm of bees of the first swarming, all my implements of tailery (money to be paid and goods to be collected within 6 months).
Also I give unto my daughter Mary Goodburrow, £8.... Item: I give unto my daughter Alice Masters, £8....(each to be paid £1 per quarter for 2 years). Also I give unto my daughter Dorothy Small, £5 (to be paid at £1 per year for 5 years)... And to her two children Sarah and Edward Small, ten shillings apiece when they come to the age of one and twenty years. Item: I give to the three children of my daughter Mary Goodburrow - Martin Goodburrow, William Goodburrow and Elizabeth Goodburrow, 20 shillings to be paid at the age of one and twenty years (if any die before 21 then to be shared amongst their brothers or sisters). I give unto Mary Masters the daughter of my daughter Alice Masters, £10...to be paid in this manner. If my executor refuse to bring up the said Mary Masters, then my will is that he shall pay 40 shillings at the time of the refusal and the rest of the said £10 within 1 year after the said refusal. Andd if my daughter Alice Masters or my overseers can for the good of the child take any other course for her bringing up, then my executor deducting 20s a years for the time he has kept her, is to pay to those that shall pu in good security to undertake it the remainder of the said £10 Item: I give unot my daughter Alice Masters one flockbed and bolster, 1 pair of toone? sheets, 1 blanket, 1 green coverlet, and the bedstead where she lodgeth, my tawny coat and my medley waistcoat. And the rest of my wearing apparel to be equally divided betwixt my three daughters, Mary, Alice and Dorothy. The rest of all my goods, cattles and chattels, I wholly give unto my son Thomas Paise, whom I make and ordain my full and sole executor, and my loving neighbours and friends Mr John Walter and Thomas Stansall the elder? the request to be my overseers. And I give them for their pains they undertke thereon two shillings a piece for their work.
In ????? there is 3 parcels of land containing by estimation 6 acres be it more or less, in my power to give and dispose of called Brocke Hall. This said land I give unto my executor towards the performance of this my will, but if my said son Thomas shall refuse to be my executor or happen to die before my said will be fulfilled, then my will is that my son William shall have and enjoy the said lands called Brock Hall, and all my goods and moveables, towards the performance of my said will and legacies. I say if my son Thomas do refuse to be my executor, then I only give unto him 20 shillings and not more.
In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and sea the day and year first above written.
Mary Paise (X)
Witnesses: Thoas Stensall the elder (S), William Tompson (S)
Proved at Rochester 19 December 1638.