SMYTHE, Margerie (Will)

The following summary of the will of Margerie Smythe appeared in the May 1913 edition of the Badsey Parish Magazine. E A B Barnard, FSA, of Evesham, was a regular contributor to the magazine and wrote a series on “Old Badsey Wills”, in connection with his researches concerning the history of the Rural Deanery of Evesham.

Smythe, Margerie, Badsey, n.d. [?1534] (Cal. Worc. Wills, Vol I. p. 7, f. 32).

My body to be buried in the Chancel of St. James at Badsey.

I bequeath to the great bell¹ of the Mother Church of Evesham, 3s 4d.

• To the Church of Badsey, 3s 4d. and a coverlet.
• To the Church of South Littleton, 12d.
• To the Church of Hampton, 12d.
• To the Church of Pebworth, 12d.
• To the Church of Bretforton, 12d.
• To the Church of Bengworth, 8d.
• To the Church of Wykhamford, 1 strike of wheat.
• To my ghostly father² to pray for me, 3s 4d.

Sir Thomas Jamys³, one of the witnesses to the Will.

NOTES ON THE WILL

1 Probably in the Bell Tower, which Abbot Clement Lichfield was then building. Similar bequests were made at this time to "the bell in the new tower."

2 His confessor.

3 The scholastic title "Sir," the translation of "dominus," applied to a person who had taken his first degree in the University. Sir Thomas Jamys is styled Chaplain in the Badsey Registers, which also record his burial, September 4, 1557. In the Churchwarden's Accounts, 1558, it is noted that, "Sir Thomas James Vicar here did give to the Church 10s. at his departing." In the Halliwell Collection was "A manuscript of medical receipts written by Sir Thomas Jamys, Vicar of Badsey, about 1450", an obviously incorrect date. Possibly he owed his appointment to the fact that as he also possessed medical knowledge his services would be useful at the Seyne House, the house for the convalescents from Evesham Abbey when they were recovering from sickness and the bleeding customary in those days.

[According to a document in the Treasury at Christ Church, Oxford, the "Curacie of Badsey" was granted by Clement, Abbot, and the Convent of Evesham to Thomas James for his life 1 Oct. 16 Hen. VIII. - Ed.]