Will of John Chaunterell, vintner of London

Written 28th August 1547

Died 1st Sept 1547

Buried 5th Sept 1547 at Braunton, Devon

Proved 24th Sept 1547 at London

National Archives Ref: PROB 11/31/639

Transcribed by David Carter 2020

[Most punctuation, all line-spaces and implied letters in brackets have been added by the transcriber to aid understanding. Spelling remains verbatim]

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Will of John Chaunterell 1547
[‘Channkerell’ according to National Archives; ‘Channtevell’ according to Ancestry].

In the name of God amen.
The 28th day of August in the first yere of the raigne of o[u]r soveragne lorde Edward the sixt[h] by the grace of god king of England Frannce and Ireland defendor of the faythe and of the church of England and Ireland on earthe the supreme hedd.
I John Chaunterell citizen and vyntner off London being [w]hole of mynde and of perfytt memory made his testament and last will in man[n]er and forme as foloweth.
First he bequethed his soule to almighty god and his body to be buryed where it shall please god.
Allso the sayd John Chaunterell did will 20s to be dely[vere]d amongst poore men in the day of his buryal.
Also the sayd John Chaunterell gave all his apparell that he hadd then about him in Devonshire to his father Rychard Chaunterell.
Also the sayd John Chaunterell willed and gave all the lands messuages pastures and ten[emen]ts with the appurtenances of the same that he did purchase late of Mr Thomas Whitington esquire lying and being in Baunton Arundell within the County of Devon aforesaid to his sayd father Richard Chaunterell and to his assignes for evermore trusting that his welbeloved wiff Alice Chaunterell wilbe contented wyth the same.
Also the said John Chaunterell did gyve and bequethe to Alice his wife all his other lands ten[emen]ts mesuages pastures and medowes wyth all their app[ur]tenancs lying and being in the County of Mydelsex London or elswhere.
To have and to holde the sayd lands ten[emen]ts mesuages pastures and medowes to his sayd wif and to her assignes for evermore.
Also the same John Chaunterell gave unto his sayd wife all his goodes chattells and leases moveable and unmoveable before not bequethed she to bestowe the same at her owne pleas[u]re.
And of his testament and last will the same John Chaunterell made and constitite the same Alys his wif has sole executrix.
Them being present Philipp Wyett, Richard Chaunterell, Mr White p[er/ar]sonne of Highamton and John Dabton(?) being wittnes to the p[re]misses wyth other mo [men?].
Probate granted at London 24th September 1547 to Alice, widow and executrix.

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Notes by transcriber:

Although of London, John’s father (Richard Chaunterell, c.1490-1559) lived and died at Hartland, Devon. Richard was an attorney (see Cornwall Record Office - AR/1/606).

The lands in Devon might have been at Leworthy in Woolfardisworthy (see Tristram Risdon, Survey of Devonshire 1630, page 242) or West Southdon in the Manor of Hartland (see Cornwall Record Office - AR/4/2047) which were held for the lives of Richard & 
John Chaunterell. However, the Will states that lands in the Manor of Baunton (i.e. Braunton) Arundell were purchased by the said John.

John Chaunterell must have made his Will whilst in Devon, because he died there four days later and was buried in Braunton. The names of the witnesses bear this out. The Will also appears to have been nuncupative (recorded by witnesses), rather than a signed testament, suggesting that he died after an illness of at least 4 days.

There is no record of a marriage for him to Alice, and his Will does not mention any children.
He was probably aged about 32 when he died.
He was buried in Braunton on 5th Sept 1547 when he was described as being ‘Of London’.

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Inquisition Post Mortem of John CHAUNTERELL [2 Edw VI], 1547.

Delivered unto court 20th Oct by Richard BEARDE.
Inquisition taken at Exeter 4 Oct, 2 Edw VI [1548] before Simon WORTH esq escheator, after the death of John CHAUNTERELL gent, by the oath of Richard POLLARD, Robert COURTNENAY, Robert POLLARD esquires, John COURTENAY, Edmund PENFOLD, John BROWNE, Nicholas FURSSE, Francis MAR' gentlemen, William WEUELL, John, BURNEBY, Walter BABBYNGTON, Hugh CULLUME esquires, John HANFORD and Thomas HEXTE, gentlemen:
Who say that John CHAUNTERELL was seised of the manor of Braunton Arrundell, and 2 messuages, 100 acres of land, 40 of pasture, 10 of meadow, 6 of wood and 200 of heath in Braunton Arrundell, Braunton' & Kyngeshamton', held of Edmund GORGES esq and Anne his wife, of the manor of Braunton Gorges' by fealty and 17s rent; worth by the year, clear £4.6s.8d.
John CHAUNTERELL died 1st Sept 1 Edw VI [1547].
Sister and heir, Agnes, wife of John DOCTON, aged 30 or more.
(D.C.Rec.Soc, Chancery Series II, Vol.86, 36; Exchequer, File 190, 10; Wards & Liveries, Vol.4, 45)
(National Archives ref: C 142/86/36)

A further Inquisition Post Mortem was held in London, Middx, ref: C 142 85/2.

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