Person:John Hatch (8)

The Life of John at Hecche

"John at Hecche, of Sellinge, in the hundred of Street, co. Kent, the testator of 1464, was born probably about 1415, and died not earlier than 15 Nov. 1464. He married Agnes -----, who was living when his will was made. He was probably a miller. He was undoubtedly descended from some of the Atte Hacches found in the hundred of Calehill, in the subsidies of 1327-8 and 1372-3. These subsidies do not name the parishes in which the persons assessed lived; but the hundred of Calehill comprised the parishes of Charing, Westwell, Egerton, Littel Chart, and Pluckley, as well as parts of several other parishes. Contemporary with the above John at Hecche of Sellinge were several of the name in Charing, probably his brothers and cousins, who left wills not given in this article. The mention of his lands in Westwell and Charing places his origin in that ancient Atte Hacche family, and he is the first of the name in Sellinge or vicinity of whom record has been found. His will names his wife Agnes and three sons."^[1]

The Estate of John at Hecche

"The Will of John at Hecche of Sellyng next Monks Horton [co. Kent], 15 November 1464. My body to be buried in the churchyard of Selling. To the high altar there 12d. To the light of the Holy Trinity 6d. To the light of the Cross 6d. To the light of the Blessed Virgin 6d. To the light of the Blessed Mary under the High Cross 6d. The residue of all my goods not otherwise bequeathed I give to Agnes my wife and Thomas my son, to dispose of them for the wealth of my soul, my parents' souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed; and I make them my executors.

My testament regarding all my lands. William Knyght, John Parys, William Smyth, John Webbe, and William at Melle are the feoffees of my lands and tenements at Selling, by indenture dated 10 October, 25 Henry VI [1446]. My woods upon my lands at Westwell and Charing to be sold to pay my debts and legacies. My feoffees to permit Agnes my wife, if she remain my widow, to hold all my other lands and tenements until Thomas at hecche, my son, shall come to the age of twenty-four years, when he shall have one third of the lands. My son John to have a third of the lands when he shall come to the age of twenty-four years; and when my son William shall come to the age of twenty-four years, then my feoffees shall make over the lands to my three sons equally, forever, they paying to Agnes their mother 20s. a year during her life. If all my sons died before the age of twenty-four, then my wife Agnes shall have the lands for her life, and after her death they shall be sold and the money shall be employed to provide a chantry priest to sing and pray in the church of Selling for the space of two years, the residue to be expended in charity for the poor of Selling and for the souls of my father and mother and all the faithful departed. If my wife shall marry before the said Thomas, John, and William reach their full ages [i.e., twenty-four years], my feoffees shall allow her 20s. a year and shall use the remainder of the profits of my lands for my sons and for the repair of my messuages and mills. To each of my feoffees for their pains 6s. 8d. [No witnesses and no record of probate.] (Archdeaconry of Canterbury, vol. 1, fo. 5.)"^[2].

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} French, Elizabeth. Genealogical Research in England - Hatch. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jul 1916)
   70:252-253.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 French, Elizabeth. Genealogical Research in England - Hatch. New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Jul 1916)
   70:245.