John Warner, of Great Waltham

John Warner is the father of John Warner and the grandfather of Andrew Warner. He resided in Great Waltham, or, as it is called in some wills, "Much Waltham," Essex County, England. In his will, dated May 23, 1584, and proved the 9th of the following September, he bequeaths the lease of his farm in Much Waltham to his wife Margaret. He mentions nine children: Thomas, John, Edward, Andrew, a daughter unnamed (probably Mary who married Emmaston), Margery, Elisabeth, Margaret and Joan, each of whome received bequests, either of money or other property. He calls himself a "Husbandman" and his gifts would indicate that he was a man of thrift and of considerable prominence in the community (Warner & Nichols, 1).

Source: Warner, L.C. & Nichols, J.G. (1919). The Descendants of Andrew Warner. New Haven, CT: The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co.

John Warner Sr. was born about 1530 in Great Waltham, Essex, England. He married Margaret. He died May 1584 in Haddern, Heretshire, England. He was buried in the churchyard of Much Waltham.

Most of what is known of John Warner is taken from his will. It was written on May 23, 1584, and proved on September 9 of the same year. He refers to himself as a husbandman (farmer) of Much Waltham (Great Waltham), Essex, England. The will also refers to "the indenture or lease of my farm", so he was not a land owner, but his sons, Edward and Andrew, are bequeathed "foure of my best horses", and his wife, Margaret, "the stocke and Cattells". Therefore, the family was prosperous. From the implied ages of his children, John died at about age 50.

All of this material is taken from The Descendants of Andrew Warner by Lucien Warner and Josephine Nichols, 1919. John Warner's will is given on page 8 of that book.

John Warner Senior's Will mentions his wife Margaret and his four sons, John, Daniel, Thomas and (son-in-law) William Higginson, and his daughter, Sarah Higginson.

"Page 26-7.

Warner, John, Farmington. Invt. £123-03-00. Taken 1679, by John Norton and John Woodruffe. Will dated 14 March, 1678-9.

I John Warner of Farmington, in the County of Hartford, do think it meet to make this settlement of my Estate.

I do give unto my son John Warner %. part of my farm at Crane Hall, and the *4 part of my Meadow Lott called Moore's Corner; also the fourth part of the Lands on the Forte Hill.

I give unto my son Daniel Warner % part of the same Land.

I give unto my son Thomas Warner y. part, half the house & Homelott with these Considerations, that he shall see meet to come with his family to settle in it within the space of eight years after the date hereof; but if my son Thomas shall not come within the time specified, then he shall sell it to my son-in-law William Higgison at a reasonable price.

I give unto my son-in-law William Higgison y$ part of my Farme at Crane Hall, J4 part of my Meadow Lott called Moore's Corner, J4 part of my Land at Forte Hill, as also i/2 of my now dwelling house & Homelott & Barne thereon, all which the sd. William Higgison is to enjoy after the departure of the natural life of me John Warner & Margaret my wife; also my Lott called the Great Swamp, also J4 part of all my Divisions of Land belonging to me in town, with my 4-acre Lott, & also the Grant of that Tract of Land given me by the Country as a Pequott Soldier, to come into the present possession of these Lands.

I also give to my daughter Sarah Higgison my best Kettle.

I do give unto my wife }4 part of my Farme called Crane Hall, & the fourth part of my Land called Moore's Corner, and the y2 of the House & Homested, with all the Moveables & Personal Estate that is mine, the use & Improvement of them during the time of her natural life.

I give unto my four sons the remainder of my Estate, to be equally divided amongst them, viz, John Warner, Daniel Warner, Thomas Warner and William Higginson, after the decease of the natural life of me John Warner and Margaret Warner my wife.

I appoint my four sons Executors, & entreat my loving friends William Lewis sen. & Lt. Steele to be my Overseers.

Witness: William Lewis, John X Warner Sen.

Samuel Steele.

Court Record, Page 18—4 December, 1679: Will proven.

Page 68—(Vol. XIII) 23 June, 1740: Ephraim Warner, son of John Warner & gr. son of John Warner sen., the 1st of the name in Farmington, Decd., in behalf of himself and as he is attorney to the Heirs of Daniel Warner, son of the sd. John Warner sen., of sd. Farmington, deceased, showing that by one Residuary Legacy in the Will of sd. John Warner sen. all the remainder of the Estate was given to his 4 sons, viz, John, Daniel, and Thomas Warner and William Higginson, after his & his wife Margaret's decease, there hath been no division of sd. Legacy, and the Executors being deceased, this Court appoint Capt. Isaac Cowles, Giles Hooker and Gershom Lewis to Dist. sd. Legacy or Estate to the Heirs of the sd. John Warner or their Legal Representatives, viz, John, Daniel and Thomas Warner and William Higginson.

Most of what is known of John Warner is taken from his will. It was dated May 23, 1584, and proved on September 9 of the same year. He refers to himself as a husbandman of Much Waltham (Great Waltham), Essex, England. The will also refers to "the indenture or lease of my farm", so he was not a land owner, but his sons, Edward and Andrew, are bequeathed "foure of my best horses", and his wife, Margaret, "the stocke and Cattells". Therefore, the family was prosperous. From the implied ages of his children, John died at about age 50.

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