John Toke, Esq.

John Toke of Greate Charte, gentilman, 15 Janyver 1511. To be buried in the churche of Oure Lady in Charte before Seynt John Baptist next the tombe of William Goldwell if it please God so to purvey for me. To reparacion of the said church 20s. To Anne my wyff half my instuff of household, the other amongst my childern. To my doughter Margaret £10. To an honest prest to syng in the church of Charte and somtyme in the Chapell of Mardall 10 marke by yere to syng for my soull, my lorde James Godwell soule, my father and mother, my brother Richard, my wyff Margaret soule and all xpen soules. My wyff shall have £20 by yere during the noneage of Cristofre and Nicholas my sonnes. To John Toke after the deth of my wiff my landes at Beuer and to exchaunge with Lucas for the landes in Goddington yf it maye be. After decesse of my wiff Antony to have my landes at Styllyng, Eluested, Hyhardes and Waltham and for lack of heirs to remain to Cristofer and for lacke to Nicholas and for lacke of such heires to John Toke and his heires.

Executors my wyff, John Tooke and Richard Engham thelder.

Proved 2 July 1513. (P.C.C. 18 Fetiplace) [Tudor P.C.C. Will Transcription by L. L. Duncan - Book 53 page 73b, Kent Archeological Society, http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/Wills/Bk53/page%207...]

Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy

Notes for John Toke

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bobwolfe/gen/pn/p10212.htm

Canterbury Cathedral Archives CCA-U305/33: Brass Rubbing (1972) of John Toke d 1513, in armour, with his wives Margaret and Anne, full length, with a Latin inscription from Great Chart church. Paper, black heelball, torn, 1 image, 762x1315mm

Object Description

Person(s) John Toke and wives Margaret and Anne

Publisher Hamline University

Digitization Date 2/11/08 9:24

Digital Identifier hbr00733

Rights Hamline University Archives

Digital Publisher Hamline University Library and Archives

Original Digital Identifier 755

Region Kent

City Great Chart

Church St. Mary

Series London ""F"" series

http://content.clic.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p16120coll31/id/2282

See the link for a detailed description of the brass. Some highlights:

• The inscription states that John Toke died May 20, 1513.
• His coat of arms was augmented as a reward from the King for his speed in delivering a letter to the King of France.

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"We may contrast this modern practice with the ancient with a single example. In the reign of Henry VII. the King sent John Toke, of Godington in Kent, on a message to the King of France. Toke returned before the King thought he had started: and Henry rewarded his expedition with a grant of arms to be borne quarterly with his paternal coat. It consists of three greyhounds' heads, between three plates, or silver coins, in token that his swiftness was not unrewarded, and the significant crest, ' a fox, courant, reguardant, proper.' "

"Heraldry" People's Magazine: An Illustrated Miscellany for Family Reading, London, January-June, 1869

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Another description of the Toke brasses at St. Mary's, Great Chart, here--

Archaeologia Cantiana, Volume 26: Transactions of the Kent Archaeological Society, 1904

[the computer transcription garbles up much of the text]

The other brasses in this Chapel are upon ledger-stones. They commemorate : —

5. JOHN TOKE, ob. 1513. He is represented in armour, between his two wives. Mr. Belcher [in Kentish Brasses, p. 24] says of this brass : " It will be observed that in the male effigy, the cuirass, instead of being of its usual globular form, is worked in front to a ridge, denominated the tapul ; and the pauldrons have passe-gardes pieces rising from the shoulders to protect the neck ; the sword-belt is altogether omitted." The ladies are dressed exactly alike. Both wear long gowns, with close-fitting bodices and sleeves, the latter having fur cuffs ; the girdles are loosely slung round the waist, and have long ends, terminating with pendent ornaments below the knees. The hoods are of angular form with long lappets. On a scroll above the heads is " Sancta trinitas un Deus miserere nobis," At the foot were three groups of children, but only the matrices remain. Bound the margin is the following inscription: "Orate pro anima Johannis Toke armigeri, nuper de Godynton istius paroch cufus corpus Iacet hic tumulatum; ac pro animabus Margarete et Anne uxorum suarum; que quiden Mtargareta filia fuit natalis dum bixit Johannis Walworth nuper ex comitatu Suff: [the third part of the inscription is missing, but "Weever supplies it:] Anna filia Johannis Engham de Singleton in ista parochia' qui vero .Johannis Toke obiit vicesimo die Maii anno Domini Millesimo quingentessimo tercio decimo ; quorum animabus propicietur rex altissimus,"

In the angles are coats of arms : (1) " On a chevron between three greyhounds' heads erased three silver plates, TOKE." This is an augmentation said to have been granted to this John Toke by King Henry VII. for his speed in conveying a message to the King of Prance. (2) "Toke (the augmentation) ; impaling, A chevron engrailed between two mullets with wavy points in chief and a garb in base." (3) " TOKE (the augmentation) ; impaling, A chevron between three pellets, on a chief a lion passant-guardant, ENGHAM." (4) " EtfGHAM ; impaling, Quarterly : 1 and 4, A saltire engrailed between four martlets, G-ULDEFOBD ; 2 and 8, A chief, over all a bend engrailed, HALDEN."

http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.026%20-...

John Toke is described as the husband of Margaret Walworth [deceased] in the 1510 will of his mother-in-law Clemens Walworth. Hey had 4 children listed; John, Margaret, Anthony & Dorothy.

A later court case names his son as John Tooke.

1515-1518 C 1/448/45 UK Archives
Plaintiff: John Tooke of Great Chart, grandson of John Walworth
Defendant: John Framyngham, Knight. Son-in-law of the said Walworth.
Subject: Occupation of a moity of messuage and land in Ipswich and Westerfield, decayed messuages called “Dachynges” and detention of deeds relating thereto. Suffolk.