Person:Judith St John (1)

Personal History

Marriage and Family

(see the Family page for references)

John Pelham of Sandhurst, Sussex, married Judith, daughter of Oliver Baron Saint John of Bletso, Bedfordshire.

Death and Probate

In her will dated 31 July, 3 James [1605],^[2] Judeth Pelham, widow of Sir John Pelham, named her brother Lord Oliver St John to be sole executor, with oversight by her brothers Thomas St John and Francis St John. Of the £1,000 owed to her by the bond of her brother Oliver, she bequeathed £700 to her said brother and the other £300 to her brother's fifth son Henry St John. To her brother Francis St John, she bequeathed her manor of Posingworth with all of its appurtenances, commodities and profits with any other of its lands, tenements and hereditaments contained within the parish of Walderne (Waldron), co. Sussex (referring to a deed of enfeoffment dated 29 April, 39 Eliz. [1597]). From the said manor she willed that her brother Thomas St John would for life receive an annuity of £20 (referring to a deed of annuity of the same date). To her previously named nephew Henry, she bequeathed all of the lands, tenements and hereditaments of Brodehurste (Broadhurst) containing 54 acres more or less in the parish of Mayghfeilde (Mayfield), co. Sussex (referring to a deed of enfeoffment dated 29 September, 2 James [1604]); to him she also bequeathed her lease interest in the fourth part of the parsonage of Eastborne, co. Sussex, except that the yearly rent of £30 was to be paid to her executor for four years after her decease for the payment of her debts and legacies.

From her personal estate Judith bequeathed a great flagon pot of silver and parcel gilt and a great silver bowl to her nephew Oliver St John, eldest son of her brother Oliver; a jewel having a setting of nine diamonds to her neice Lady Howarde, daughter of her brother Lord John St John; and a book of gold to her sister Wingate[?]. She bequeathed from her place at Carlton a basin and ewer of silver and parcel gilt along with the beds, bolsters, pillows, blankets, and all other furniture from her chamber there to her nephew John St John, eldest son of her brother Francis. She bequeathed to her niece Bethar[?] a spicebox of silver and to her nieces Judeth St John, Judeth Lytton and Judeth Luke her goddaughter two portagues apiece. She bequeathed £15 to Jane St John, £15 to Dorathie Hammon, £10 to John Swester, £5 to William Daves, £3 to Peploe and 20s apiece to each of the rest of her daily servants. She also willed that 20 marks should be bestowed among the poor. Finally her brother Lord Oliver St John was to receive all the residue of her “plate goods, cattles and chattles”.

The will was proved on 24 January 1606[/7] in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, London.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Judith St. John #218905, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} “Will of Judeth Pelham, Widow”, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related probate jurisdictions: Will registers. (Kew, England: The National Archives)
   PROB 11/109/53; register Huddleston (1607), qr 2, f 14.

   Digital image in England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384–1858 (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_311265-00029 : accessed 10 Sept. 2019).
   
   The last will and testament of “Judeth Pelham widdowe late the wife of S^r John Pelham knighte deceased beinge in perfecte healthe” dated 31 July, 3 James [1605], written in her own hand in a single side of each of four sheets of paper fastened with a label where upon she set her seal; sole exor. brother Lord Oliver S^t John, overseers brothers Thomas S^t John, Francis S^t John; no witnesses named. Proved 24 Jan. 1606[/7], London.