Person:John Mervyn (1)

Origins

Subsequent to a 1942 article in The American Genealogist (18:3-5), there were conflicting theories about John's parentages. He was either the son of:

1. John Mervyn I, b. 1453, son of Roger Mervyn, b. 1430.
or
2. Thomas Merveyn of Ramsey who died 1503.

Two wills came to the attention of The American Genealogist which published them in volume 18, confirming that this John Marvin was the son of Thomas Merveyn of Ramsey who died in 1503.

Biography

(TAG 18:4-5):

Yeoman; of age in 1503 when he was co-executor of his father’s will. He died at Ramsey between 16 Sep 1533 (date of his will) and 17 Dec 1533 (the date of probate), and was buried in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel at Ramsey.

He is identical with the man whose name Mr. W.T.R. Marvin did not know (though he suspected it might be John), who is No. 7 in the English Ancestry (of the Marvins), and appears on pp. 31 and 38-41 in that work. Mr. Marvin, however, believed him to be a son of John, and grandson of Roger Mervyn of Ipswich; and it has been shown that this belief is erroneous.

John Mervyn was a man of considerable wealth. In his will, he disposed of lands and tenements in the parishes of Ramsey, Great Oakley [Myche or Much Ockley] and Little Oakley. The names of some of his lands were Janecoxe, Waxe, Bennettes, Rolfes, Nether lands, Gesses, Brandons, and Milkes. He also had interests in the town of Harwich, which he left to his brother Thomas, a resident of that town.

John Mervyn married Margaret _____, who survived him, and was co-executrix of his will. From the terms of the will it is obvious that she was the mother of all his children. She was undoubtedly the “Widow Marvin” who was taxed 15s on her movables at Ramsey in the Lay Subsidy of 1540 (English Ancestry, p. 38). The date of her death is not known.

Last Will and Testament

(published in TAG 18:3)

The Will of John Mervyn, of Ramesey, co. Essex, yeoman, dated 16 September 1533. I desire to be buried in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel at Ramsey, near my father, and bequeath to that Church 3s. 4d. To the old work of St. Pauls 12d. I desire an honest priest to sing for me and my friends in Ramsey Church for half a year, he to have L3 6s. 8d. To the four Orders of Friars in and about Ipswich, 40s. To the amending of Ramsey highway and bridge, L4. To my wife Margaret, all my houses and lands in Ramsey, both copy and freehold, except Janecoxe, and also all my household stuff, and L20, ten milch beasts, two couple of oxen, four cart horses, harness, cart and plough, and 100 sheep. To my eldest son John, the house I dwell in, my copyhold land held of the Abbott of St. Osyth, and a pightell called Waxe, he to receive all these after his mother’s death. To my said eldest son John immediately after my decease, my quarter of the ship Mary and John. To my son Raynold, a tenement called Bennettes and lands thereunto belonging, after his mother’s death. To my son Thomas, a tenement called Rolfes, and Nether lands and Gesses, after his mother’s death. To my son Richard, a tenement in Little Ockeley called Brandons, and free pightell. To my son John the younger, a tenement called Milkes in Myche Ockley. To my sons Raynold, Thomas and Richard, L10 each at their ages of 21. To my daughters Margaret, Christian and Marion, L10 each on their marriage. My land called Janecoxe I bequeath to my feoffees to keep an obit for me, my father and all my friends. To John Blosse, two sheep and two bushels of corn. To Richard Tredfall, two sheep. To Roger Smythe, two sheep. To Thomas Cuckcucke the younger, a sheep. To my brother, Thomas Mervyn, L5, a “garthing plate” in Harwich that was my father’s, with all my bows and shafts. To each of my servants, man and woman, two sheep. To John Blosse the older, “my best gown except one.” To Robert Were, John Frotsame, James Carter, John Mote, Thomas Hege, Robert Harting and Purkas (sic), Robert Blosse, Robert Tidder, John Blosse the younger, and Robert Larkyn, closthes and sheep. Residuary legatees: My children. Executors: My wife Margest and my eldest son John. Supervisor: My brother Thomas Mervyn. Witnesses: Nicholas Awdley, curate; Thomas Hurre; John Blosse the older; Robert Blosse; Thomas Cuckekucke, the younger. Proved, 17 December 1533, by the executors named (P.C.C., 8 Hogen).

1. ↑ Boughton, Willis A. Bouton, Boughton and Farnam Families. (Fort Lauderdale, FL: W.A. Boughton, c1949)
   p. 146.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} The American Genealogist (TAG). (Donald Lines Jacobus, et.al.)
   18:3-5, 1942.