Robert Kerrich

Sources: NEHGR, v75, p297 & 299; A Witter Family History.

• NEHGR: Robert Kerrich of Bedfield, Suffolk, the testator of 1577/8.
• Born probably about 1505 and died between 27 Jan. 1577/8 and 13 April 1578.
• His father in his will devised to him his dwelling in Saxsted and lands in Saxsted, Framlingham, Earl-Soham and Monk-Soham, co. Suffolk.
• He was taxed at Bedfield in the subsidies of 1545-6, 1548-50, 1565-6 and 1575-6, and, as Robert Kerriche (sic) of Bedfield, the elder, he was one of the executors of his father's will.
• His own will (page 291) is very long and shows that he belonged to the best class of the yeomanry. In the 1565-6 subsidy Robert Kerrych was taxed 10 shillings on goods valued at 12 pounds--the highest tax in Bedfield that subsidy (page 297).
• Witter Family:
  • Robert Kerrich, born about 1505.
  • Died between 21 Jan. 1577and 13 April 1578.
  • Was of Bedfield, Suffolk;
    • owned land in Saxsted, Framlingham, Earl-Soham, Monk-Sham;
    • taxed 1545/6, 1548/50, 1565/6, 1575/6;
  • yeoman
• Children
  • 1. John KERRICH b: Abt 1535
  • 2. Thomas KERRICH b: Abt 1538
  • 3. William KERRICH b: Abt 1540 in of Saxsted, Suffolk, England
  • 4. Rose KERRICH b: Abt 1543
  • 5. Giles KERRICH b: Abt 1545

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The Will of Robert Kerriche of Beddfield co Suffolk dated 27 January 1577 1577 8

• To the poor of Bedfield 6s 8d to be paid at the Feast of St Michael the Archangel next after my decease and 3s 4d at the Feast of Christmas To the poor of Saxsted 6s 8d To John Kerridge my eldest son and his heirs male my lands and houses in Saxsted Earls Soham and Fram lingham which were my father's he paying to my son William three score and ten pounds as follows 10 at the Feast of St Michael next after my decease and so yearly 10 on the said Feast until all is paid If John default in the payments then my son Thomas Kerrich shall eliter If Thomas make a like default then my son Giles Kerrich shall enter If my son John die without issue male then my said lands shall go to my son Thomas To my son Thomas Kerridge my two shops in Saxsted which I bought of John Pinner called Gembles with a barn and my free land in Saxsted containing the woods which I bought of Humfrye Button To my son William Kerridge my tenement in Earls Soham which I bought of Thomas Sparhawke To my son Thomas Kerridge my tenement in Bedfield which I bought of Smythe and the land by the parsonage in Beddefield which I bought of William Wythe To my son Thomas the lands in Saxsted which I bought of Robert Gibson he to perform the agreements and conditions as in the indenture of Robert Gibson and myself appears To my son Thomas 12 9s and kyne a bull and two heifers To my son William four of my best milch kine after the others To my daughter Rose Kerriche a milch cow To my son Giles milch kyne To Margaret daughter of my son John Kerrige my goddaughter a heifer a year old To Robert Ramsey my godson a one year old calf To my godson Robert Wyard a like bequest To Isabel Kerridge daughter of John a similar bequest To my son Thomas my four geldings To my son Thomas my two best feather beds two of my best bolsters two of my best coverlets two pairs of blankets and two pairs of sheets To my son John a like bequest To my son William a feather bed a bolster a coverlet a pair of blankets and a pair of sheets To my daughter Rose Kerrich a like bequest To my son Thomas my farming instruments carts harness ploughs etc To my son William two pewter dishes To my son Thomas my best brass pot To my son William my next best brass pot To my son Thomas my best copper kettle To my son Thomas the use and occupation of the farm where I now dwell according to the covenant as I now hold of my landlord To John Chapman alias Barker To Thomas my son the cupboard in the hall with the long framed table the long stole in the hall two chairs a royond stole two cushions and three pillows To my son William two pillows one chusing and one chaise To my servant Margery Branche 6s 8d To Rose Kerrich my daughter one pillow To Brigitt Leyton 5s To my son Thomas all my tables etc in the bakehouse To each of my belchildren To Rose Kerrich my belchild daughter of William Kerrich To the same Rose my belchild 5 to be paid at the age of twenty one years and if she die first then to such of her sisters as be living The house where Francis Layton Uvea is to be sold and the money divided among my five children John William Giles Thomas and Rose To Rose Kerrich my belchild William's daughter a copper stand and a pewter dish To my daughter Rose 5 at the Feast of St Michael next after my decease To Isabel daughter of William Kerrich a two year old heifer a pewter dish and a little kettle To my daughter Rose four pewter dishes To Margaret Kerrich daughter of William To Mary Kerrich William's daughter To Margery William Kerrich his daughter To my sons Thomas and William my candlesticks To Thomas my son a dripping pan a pair of andirons a fire pan bellows a pair of pothooks a gridiron and a great frying pan To William Kerrich seven combs of oats three combs of barley and a bushel of pears To my son Thomas my gun and my flasket my bow and my sheaf of arrows my alman corselet with a illegible and a pair of illegible my black bill my hook hatchet mattock axes and other farming implements To my son Thomas two iron dogs The timber about my house equally to my sons Thomas and William To my son John all my beds at my house in Sax sted which be not nayle faste To my daughter Rose one of the best yard kerchiefs To my son Thomas my unbequeathed linen he to give to my belchild Rose Kerriche William's daughter at twenty one years of age one good pair of sheets To my sons William and Thomas my coffers To my son John the great hatch that was my father's To my son Thomas my hangings except one in the cellar which I give to William To Symon Raye a bushel of wheat and half a bushel of barley malt To William Folcard half a bushel of wheat etc To Thomas Pack Robert Fuller Richard Fuller Francis Leyton and Thomas Wythe To Margery Salter 12d My son William Kerrich to pay illegible for the house where he dwells for half a year after my decease To Thomas my son my little brass pot and my mortar and pestle To Marye Kerriche my daughter in law To Margerye Kerrich William's wife My four sons John William Gyles and Thomas To my three servants now dwelling with me John Abell Ciclye Haywarde and Cycelye Shinings 12d each To little Rose William's daughter To Thomas Kerrich and John Kerriche my belchildren Giles sons at twenty one years To my sons Thomas and William Kerrich the 5 due from John Godbold of Worlingwprth To Rose Kerrich the daughter of John my belchild 40s at twenty one Money due from Humfrey Button Residue to my five children Executors John Kerrich William Kerrich and Thomas Kerrich Witnesses Nicholas Hayles Christopher Alleyn and Lawrence Ellis Proved 13 April 1578 Archdeaconry of Suffolk Ipswich book 27 fo 225

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Robert Kerrich was born in Suffolk, England, about 1505. His father left him a dwelling in Saxsted and land in Saxsted, Framlingham, Earl-Soham and Monk-Soham, Suffolk. The name of his wife is not known. They had four sons and a daughter. His will is very long, dealing with dwellings and land that he owned, showing that he belonged to the highest class of yeomen. He died between January and April of 1578 in Bedfield, Suffolk, England. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Nicholas’ Church there.

Bio provided by Ken Smith.

Burial: St Nicholas Churchyard Bedfield Mid Suffolk District Suffolk, England