Sir Thomas White of Farnham, probate 1 Feb 1641

PCC will ref PROB 11/185 Image reference 123/108

Note by PJT 16 Oct 2006: I have not yet started working on this will. I have therefore provided below a note on Sir Thomas White, third son of Sir John White MP. This extract has been taken from pages 9-11 of the Pedigrees of the Whites of Farnham, Aldershot, South Warnborough and Essex, and a Note of the Yateley Cup by Henry Curtis FRCS(ret), 1936. Please note that this Sir Thomas is not Sir Thomas White of South Warnborough, his uncle, who died 2 Nov 1566. Nor is he the Sir Thomas White who founded an Oxford College. I have included Curtis' note in full since it shows the thoroughness of his research. I have no reason to doubt its veracity since I have already shown it is more accurate in places than a current entry in the new DNB and an entry in the History of Parliament. I have included Curtis' footnotes with their original numbers

A Note on the Parentage and the Two Marriages of Sir THOMAS WHITE,

Of Farnham, Surrey, Kt., born c. 1549/50; died c. 1640/41; Patron of the Advowson of Farnham, 1634-1641.

It is natural to assume that Sir Thomas White, Kt., cr. 23 Mar., 1614/15, was son of Sir John White, d. 1573, Lord Mayor of London, 1563-4, who was of Aldershot, Hants., but was born at Farnham, whence the family derived. Yet there is nowhere a suggestion, even, of this in the 'Visitations of Hampshire,' nor in Berry's 'Genealogies of Hampshire,' nor in Manning and Bray's and the Vict. Co. Histories of Surrey. His identity is made clear by his will of 2 June, 1635, in which he left £10. for repayring the Church of Aldershott, where my father Sir John White, Knight, lyeth buried. Apart from this, other bequests to relatives would alone have sufficed to establish such identification.

Sir Thomas White was third son, b. c. 1549/50; William, the secondËœliving in 1573 -Ëœintervening between Thomas and the eldest son, Robert, b. c. 1545, being aged twenty-eight when the father, Sir John White, d.1573. The will of Sir Thomas White was pr. 1 Feb., 1640/41, P.C.C., 10 Evelyn; and he perhaps died, therefore, about Christmas time, 1640, or early in 1641, and must have been then about ninety years of age. In a feoffment of 1620, he is described as Sir Thomas White, of Poyle in Tongham, par. of Seale, Surrey. Whether or not Sir Thomas had a house there, Poyle being only some 4 miles distant from Farnham, his will, as we shall see, indicates that he resided at his Mannor or Mansion howse, called Culver Hall, in ye towne or parish of ffarnham.

Sir Thomas White's father-in-law, Sir Nicholas Woodroffe, Lord Mayor of London, 1579, held Poyle from 1581 until his death on 18 May, 1598, when it passed to his eldest son, Sir David Woodroffe, who died 16 Feb., 1603/4. Sir Thomas White's eldest brother, "Robert White, c. 1545-1599, had indeed held a mortgage of Poyle from its previous owner, Stephen Vyne, from 1580 to 1581. Possibly this and the close association with the Woodroffe family, especially after Sir Thomas became allied therewith by his marriage to Mary, one of the two daughters of Sir Nicholas Woodroffe (26) may have occasioned the misleading description that he was of Poyle Sir Nicholas' other daughter, Jane Woodroffe, made a grant (27) of land in Worplesdon, Surrey, 30 Nov., 1599, to Thomas White, Gent., of London; and on the death of her brother, Sir David Woodroffe, and by direction of his will, the "Inwood," in Ashewyke, par. of Ash, and lands in Wanborough, and Seale, in Surrey, were sold to Walter Tichborne, Esq., of Aldershott, by Sir David's younger brother, Sir Robarte Woodroffe, of Almington, alias Allington, Co. Gloucester, Knt.; (28) Thomas White, of London, Esquire, and Dame Katherine Woodroffe, late wife of Sir David Woodroffe, late of Poyle.

Sir Thomas White, of Farnham, is included in the 'Pedigree of Woodroffe,' of Poyle, par. of Seale, Surrey, as second husband of Mary, who d.s.p., one of the two daughters of Sir Nicholas Woodroffe, her first husband being Robert Cotton, Esq.; Manning and Bray, 'History of Surrey,' iii. 176. So far, no printed reference has been met with as to this having been Sir Thomas's second marriage, as is indicated in his will, wherein he makes a pleasing allusion to his first wife. Though her Christian name is not stated, we learn that she was a Miss Vernon, (29) d.s.p., whose nephew, of whom hereafter, Henry Vernon, was executor and residuary legatee of the said will, in which bequests were made to "Mr. Michaell Gisbie (30) who married my first wife's sister," and to their children, George, Elizabeth and Joan. 'The Marriage Registers of St. Dunstan's, Stepney,' ed. by Sir T. Colyer-Fergusson, Bt., record that: ‘‘'Michaell Gisby, of Collear Lane, nere Shardich Church and Joane Davis of Shardich, Wid., were m., by Lic., at St. Dunstans, Stepney, 22 April, 1606; and that, the two daughters were also there married when, both were "of Spittlefields":

1. Elizabeth, m., 30 Nov., 1630, William Stone, of St. Mary Abchurch, London, clothworker; and

2. Joane, m. 4 June, 1635, Randol Rudd, of Bednall Greens, husbandman.

Their brother, George Gisbye, s. of Michaell, of Stepney, Middx., b. 10 March, 1610; d. 13 May, 1664, became Canon of Lincoln; for his career, see 'Al. Oxon.'

The father, Michael Gisby, it is suggested, is the "Mr. Gisby" mentioned in the heading to the second volume of the Stepney Marriage Registers, which commence on 2 Jan., 1609/10:

Mr. Doctor Gouldman Vicar.

This Book was boughte by Richard Phillippes, Churchwarden Ano 1612. Also hee and Mr. Gisby builte new of their owne chardges the weste Church Porch of Brick and Stone. He boughte also a new bible and a great parchment books for Christninges besides many other things. He deserueth great Comendacons.

Returning to the testator's nephew by marriage, and executor, Henry Vernon, Sir Thomas White in his will describes him as his "trustie and faithfull servante" to whom, and his wife, "Joane, his nowe wife," and their heirs, he bequeathed his Mansion howse called Culver Hall--presumably in the tithing of Culverland˜

with the next howse thereunto adioynninge, wherein Robert Bicknall, the yonger, now dwelleth, And alsoe my Three water milles under one roof together with their righte members and appurts., belonginge to the said

Howses and Milles, All which are scituate lyeing and being in ye Towne or parish of ffarnham.

Sir Thomas then adds this graceful tribute of affection to his first wife:

Sir Thomas had modified his original intentions as shown by the following remark, which immediately prefaces the bequests to Henry Vernon:

Besides bequests to Henry Vernon, his executor and nephew of his first wife, Sir Thomas White left legacies to various members of the Woodroffe family with which he was allied through his second marriage, and to kinsmen arising out of such alliance.

He was not unmindful of the less fortunate, leaving money for gowns to cost 4 Nobles a-piece to each of forty men and forty women of Farnham, with 2s. 6d. each at the funeral; and, to be divided equally amongst them, £l00, at the rate of £10 p.a. until the £100 was exhausted. He also left sums of money to be distributed to the poor of Ash, Worplesdon and Guildford in Surrey, and to the poor of Aldershot, Alton, "Crundall" and Odiam, all in Hampshire.

Sir Thomas White's will. dated 2 June, 11 Charles (I), 1635, with codicil of the same date; pr. 1 Feb., 1640/41, P.C.C. 10 Evelyn, by Henry Vernon, was witnessed by "John Garrard, C1er.," (31) John Chaper, John Mannoure, John ffordes, John Chaper, Jn., Robert Bicknell, Jun., Peeter Turner, Henry Wood, and Thomas Reeves.

Overseers: The testator's "good friend and brother-in-law, John Machell, Esq., Thomas Addams, of the Middle Temple, Gent.," and Edmund ffacham, of Clement's Inn, Gent., probably to be identified with Edmund Fauchin of Farnham, Go. Surrey, Gent, to be mentioned later.

The Rectory of Farnham, Co. Surrey.

Sir Thomas White acquired the advowson of Farnham in 1634, from his two nephews by marriage, the brothers Sir Richard and Sir Waiter Tichborne.

Mr. H. R. Moulton's Catalogue, ibid., supplies the following abstracts of the relevant Deeds:

a. 1634, 10 June. Letter of Attorney by Sir Richard Tichborne, of Tichborne, Go. South'ton, Knt., and Bart., and Sir Walter Tichborne of Aldershot, Co. South'ton, Knt., appointing Sir Robert Albany, of Badshott Lee, Co. Surrey, Knt. [cr. 23 May, 1605], and Edmund Fauchin, of Farnham, Go. Surrey, Gent., to deliver unto Sir Thomas White, of Farnham, Co. Surrey, Knt., seisin of Farnham rectory.

Wits.: Robte. Courtman, Henry Vernon, Richard Ledesham.

b. 1634, 10 June. Assignment by Sir Richard and Sir Walter Tichborne--described as in the Letter of AttorneyËœon the one part, to Sir Thomas White, of Farnham, on the other part, of Farnham rectory, etc., for the term of the lives of Francis, John and James Tichborne, sons of the sd. Sir Walter Tichborne, which said rectory was leased to the said parties hereto of the 1st part by George Hakewill, D.D. (32) on 8 June, 1621, for the said term of lives. Wits. Edw. (sic) Fauchin, - Robt. Thos. Vernon, John Chaper, Robert Chamberlaine, Robbe Bicknell, John Fordes, Rich. Ledesham, Robt. Courtman.

1634, 12 June, 1634. Indent. betw. the sd. Sir Walter Tichborne and Benjn. Tichborne of the Middle Temple, London. Esq., of the one part, and the sd. Sir Thomas White, of Farnham, of the other part, witnessing that the rectory of Farnham shall remain unto Sir Thomas White during the whole estate and term contained in an indent, da. 10 June, 1634. Wits: Henry Vernon, Henry Wood, Rich. Ledesham.

As already mentioned, to the first witness of the last document, Henry Vernon, his nephew by his first marriage, Sir Thomas White, bequeathed the Rectorie or Parsonage of Farnham as it had been granted to him.

Among the monumental inscriptions in Farnham Church, is one to Henry Vernon, of Farnham, Esq., aged about 68 years, who having beene dark about 12 yrs., on. ye 5th of Jan. 1656 (-7), exchanged this life of Faith for that of Vision.

26 She was afterwards wife of John Machell, in some Visitations descr. as "of ..., Co. Bucks," but in the 'Visitations of Bucks.,' as of Tangley, Co. Surrey; his s., John "Matchell," being the first of Wendover, Co. Bucks.

27 'Catalogue of original Deeds, etc., relating to Palaeography, Genealogy and Topography,' pub. by Herbert R. Moulton, of Richmond, Surrey, ed. 1930.

28 Sir Robert Woodroffe of Alvington, Co. Glouc., Kt., cr. 12 May, 1604; d. 17 May, 1609; 2nd son of Sir Nicholas Woodroffe, m. Mary, d., s.p., 24 March, 1609/10, dau. of ˜. Fox, M.I., in Alvington Church; 'Hist. of Gloucs.', by Bigland and Fosbrooke, ed. 1791, p. 54.

29 For the ancestry of this Vernon family, deriving from cos. Stafford and Salop, see M. & B., 'History of Surrey,' iii, 159.

29bis Later note. See Misc. Gen. et Herald. 5S., Vol. ix., ed. 1935, Ped. of Vernon, where Sir Thos. White's parentage. is confirmed, and his first wife is named Matilda Vernon.

30 Perhaps near kinsmen were the two mentioned in the following entries in Col. Chester's 'London Marriage Licences,' both from the Bishop of London's Office.

i. Richard Tomlins, of London, Gent., alleges marriage of George Johnson, gent., of St. Martin-in-the-Fie1ds, Middx. widr, 60, and Priscilla Gisbie, of New Brainford, 45, wid, of Thomas Gisbie, decd---at St. Bride. 22 Aug., 1623. B.

ii. Richard Gisby of Thistleworth (mod.Isleworth), Middx., Brickmaker, and Margaret Horsley, of Stepney, sd. County, Wid. of James Horsley of same, Yeo -- at St. Mary, Whitechapel, Middx. 5 Jan., 1623/4 B

As Margarrit Gisby of. Bednallgreene, Wid. of Ed. Gisby, she m. 23 June, 1625, at Stepney, Wm. Peacocke of St. Botolph, Aldgate, butcher; Bp. of Lond. Mar. Lic., dated 20 June, 1625; Par. Regrs., St. Dunstan's, Stepney.

31 This first witness "John Garrard, Cler", may perhaps prove to be the incumbent of Farnham from c. 1635, or from c. 1643. Peter German was inst. 12 Oct., 1592, and Paul Clapham, Vicar 1643, was sequestered the same year. According to M. & B., iii, 165, the Farnham Par. Regrs., 1616-1628, and 1643-1644 are missing. A John Garrard, or Garrad, was adm. Pens. at Emmanuel Coll., Camb., 5 July, 1640; matric. 1640; B.A., 1643-4; MA., 1647; V. of Wiston, Suffolk, 1662; 'Al Cantabr.' The long interval between graduation and the Wiston incumbency is noteworthy. Was this Suffolk Vicar of 1662 previously for some time incumbent of Farnham?

32 Chaplain to Prince Charles; 'Visitations of Devonshire,' 1620.

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