15. John13 Flegg (14. James12, William11, John10, John9, William8, Philip7, Philip6, Philip5, Sir John4, Sir John3, Henry2, Algar1), was born about 1465, and as a lad is mentioned in the will in 1480 of hs unicle Sir [Rev.] William12 Flegg, who desired he should become a priest and provided means for his education therefore at Cambridge University. But the youth did not avail himself of this opportunity, became a yeoman like his ancestors, and doubtless most of his father's lands were settled upon him by deeds of enfeoffment. To these properties he succeeded in 1527 on the death of his father, and he is also mentioned in the latter's will.
Previous to 1500, John13 Flegg settled permanently in Shipdham (which parish adjoins East Bradenham on the east). Walter Rye, Esq., of Norwich, has translated copies of the court rolls of the Manor of Shipdham from 1500 to 1509, and from 1553 to 1558, and from these rolls the following items about John13 Flegg have been obtained:
Court of Manor of Shipdham held on Friday after the Feast of the Annunciation, 15 Henry VII [27 Mar. 1500] : John Flegge on a jury for the Leete of Shipdham.
Court held on Friday after the Feast of the Annunciation, 18 Henry VII [31 Mar. 1503] : John Platfote and Thomas Platfote his brother and Thomas Wenne, present in court, surrendered into the hands of the lord of the manor three roods of customary arable land of the tenement of William son of Ralph, to the use of John Flegge and his heirs, to whom seisin thereof is delivered, to hold by the rod at the will of the lord by service and custom; and said John pays a fine of 12d., acknowledges fealty, and is admitted tenant, etc. At the same court John Flegge was one of the jury out of twenty-four head boroughs [tithingmen] of the Leete of Shipdham.
Court held on Thursday after the Feast of St. Faith the Virgin, 19 Henry VII [12 Oct. 1503] : Essoms [excuses for absence] ; John Platfote by John Flegge. In the list of head boroughs [tithingmen] appears John Flegge.
Court held on Friday before the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen, 21 Henry VII [17 July 1506] : John Flegge a head borough.
Court held on Friday before Michaelmas, 23 Henry VII [24 Sept. 1507] : William Leveryngton, by the hand of John Fleg, and in the presence of Thomas Platefoot, Sen., and Thomas Maygall, has surrendered certain arable lands in Shipdham to the use of Marian his wife and Robert his son, etc.
In the parish chest of Shipdham are preserved four volumes of church wardens' accounts from 1511 to 1710, which have these few mentions of John13 Flegg: 1511, received of John Flegge for questword [legacy] of Jone Skeyton, 9s. and 6s. 8d.; 1517, "recd off ye drynkyng yt John Symunds, John Flege, Thomas Platfote and John Todman made, 14s.;"1524, received of John Fleg 5s. 4d.; 1536, received of "owld John Fleg" 6s. 8d. The "drinking" mentioned was an annual custom of the parish, and is regularly mentioned in the accounts.
In the subsidy of 15 Henry VIII (1523), roll for Mitford Hundred, co. Norfolk, Shipdham has over a hundred names, including John13 Flegge who was rated 120s. [£6] on goods, for which he paid a tax of 3s., the largest assessment in the parish. (Lay Subsidy, Norfolk, 150-214.) His eldest son William14 Flegg was the only other Flegg in Shipdham on this roll.
The will of John Fleg of Shipdham, the elder, dated 25 Jan. 1535/6. My soul to God, St. Mary, and all the saints in heaven, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Shipdham. To the high altar there, the repairs of the church, the guild of Shipdham, and Christ Church [Cathedral] in Norwich. A solemn dirge mass to be sung on my burial day. To Margaret my wife, two milch cows, all her household stuff, a round brass pot, a round pan, etc., for life, with remainder to my son Richard. To Joane my daughter, 26s. 8d. and a "chesill with a bill "[pruning fork], and a "potell panne" [two quart measure]. All residue of goods to my executors, viz. William Fleg my son and Richard Bushe, to each of whom 20s. Witnesses, Walter Burnell, clerk [clergyman], Thomas Alen, Peter Water, Simon Newell. Proved by the executors, 2 Jan. 1536/7. (Archdeaconry of Norfolk, register for 1534-1540, fol. 95.)
John13 Flegg died in Shipdham in 1536, aged about seventy years. He married about 1490, Margaret Wenne, sister of Thomas Wenne of Shipdham and East Dereham, whose will dated 1 Dec. 1533, mentions his sister Margaret Flegg.
