Holbrooke wills from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1503-1617

Transcribed 1 October 2026 from the register copies in The National Archives, series PROB 11, downloaded as PDFs by Dasloops the same day. These are the clerks' copies of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), the senior probate court, used for people with property in more than one diocese or of some standing.

Conventions. Original spelling is kept. Abbreviations are expanded silently. Punctuation and capitals are lightly modernised so the text can be followed. Square brackets mark uncertain readings [?] or editorial notes. Dates between 1 January and 24 March are given in both years (1616/17). Evidence tiers follow the other project files: [D] Documented, [I] Inference.

What the wills add, in brief

• Robert Holbrooke of Queen Charlton, yeoman (will March 1616/17, proved 3 July 1617) names "William Holbroke the sonne of John Holbrooke my brother deceased." So a William Holbrooke of the north Somerset family was alive in 1617, his father John was dead, and his uncle was Robert of Queen Charlton [D]. Robert also names other Holbrooke kin: the sons John, Robert and Thomas of a John Holbroke, the sons Richard and John of a Nicholas Holbroke, and a James Holbrooke. His overseers were the vicar of Compton Dando and the minister of Queen Charlton [D].
• John Holbrooke of Compton Bishop (will 11 Oct 1585, proved 11 Dec 1585). The catalogue says only "Compton." The will reads "Compton Epi[scopi]," which is Compton Bishop, near Axbridge and Cheddar, about 12 miles north-west of Glastonbury. It is not Compton Dando, as I had guessed. He had property at Cheddar, brothers Thomas and Roger Holbrooke, a married sister, Mrs Fisher, a kinsman Henry Holbrooke, and a wife Joan. No children are named [D].
• Roger Holbroke of Chew (1503). The register copy agrees with the printed abstract and adds small legacies, including one to a man of Midsomer Norton [D].
• Nicholas and Alice Derell of Marksbury (1546 and 1551/2). Alice calls Thomas Holbroke "my sonne in lawe" and names his children John and Johan. Her own daughter was Agnes Saunders, and a granddaughter Johan Saunders. In 1556 Thomas's son John married Elen Saunders at Norton Malreward [D]. A fuller second copy of Nicholas's will has Thomas Holbroke of Norton as a witness and as a trustee for money left to Robert Derell [D].
• Richard Holbroke, yeoman (1549/50) was "yoman of the kinges most honorable pryvy chamber," with property at Eltham in Kent, Westminster, Windsor and St Albans. He has nothing to do with Somerset and can be set aside [D].

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1. Robert Holbrooke of Queen Charlton, yeoman

TNA PROB 11/130/32. Will dated [the sixteenth?] day of March 1616 (that is, 1616/17); proved at London, 3 July 1617.

In the name of God Amen, the [sixteenth? the word is not clear] day of Marche Anno Domini 1616, I Roberte Holbrooke of Quinte Charlton in the Countie of Somersett, yeoman, being sicke in bodie but of perfecte memorye, thankes be to God, doe make my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge. ffirst I bequeath my soule into the handes of God my maker and redeemer, and my bodie to be buried in the Churche or Churchyard of Quinte Charlton whereas my executor shall thinke most fitt. Item I give to St Andrewes Churche in Wells six pence. Item I give to the Churche of Quinte Charlton twelve pence. Item I give to my eldest daughter Jone one hundred poundes, to be paid [her?] by twenty poundes a yeare within six yeares after my decease. Item I give to my sonne Robert twentie poundes, to be paid twelve yeares after my decease. Item I give to my daughter Katherine twenty poundes, to be paid three yeares after my decease. Item I give to my daughter Milliard twentie poundes, to be paid twelve yeares after my decease. Item I give unto William Holbroke the sonne of John Holbrooke my brother deceased one ewe and a lambe. Item I give to John, Robert and Thomas the sonnes of John Holbroke one sheepe apeece. Item I give to Richard and John the sonnes of Nicholas Holbroke one sheepe apeece. Item I give to James Holbrooke one sheepe. The rest of my goods and chattells moveable and unmoveable I give and bequeath to Elnor my wife, whome I make whole and sole Executrix. And I ordaine Richard Davies and John Nicholls, clarkes, the one vicar of Compton Dando, the other minister of Charlton, my overseers to see this my last will and testament performed. In witnes whereof I have to this my will and last testament sett my hand and seale the day and yeare above written. Signed and sealed in the presence of John Nicholls, clerk. Roberte Holbroke.

Probate, in Latin: proved at London before Sir John Bennet, doctor of laws, judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, on 3 July 1617, on the oath of Elnore Holbrooke, widow of the deceased and executrix named in the will, to whom administration was granted.

Notes

• [D] "Quinte Charlton" is Queen Charlton, between Keynsham and Norton Malreward.
• [I] He is very probably the "Robert, son of Thomas Holbrooke" baptised at Norton Malreward on 13 Mar 1557/8. Norton Malreward adjoins Queen Charlton. The SHC abstract file DD/X/HBS/1 also includes "Robert Holbrooke, Queen Charlton, yeoman, 1616."
• [I] If so, "John Holbrooke my brother deceased" is most likely the John, son of Thomas, named as a child in the Derell wills of 1546-1552. That John married Elen Saunders at Norton Malreward in 1556 and had children baptised there from 1558 to 1581. No William appears among those baptisms in the FamilySearch index. A William could have been born before 1558 or baptised elsewhere, or the index could be incomplete.
• [I] His widow "Elnor" is very probably the Elinor Holbrooke of Chew Stoke, widow, whose will of 1627 is abstracted in DD/X/HBS/1.
• [D] The vicar of Compton Dando was one of his overseers. The Somerset Heritage Centre bundle DD/BR/su/6 holds leases of a farm at Wick in Compton Dando, with land in Woolland, Marksbury and Saltford, 1577-1685, involving among others "the Holbrooke family of Glastonbury."

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2. John Holbrooke of Compton Bishop

TNA PROB 11/68/700. Will dated the [eleventh?] day of October 1585; proved at London, 11 December 1585.

In the name of God amen. The xi[th] daie of October in the yeare of the Lorde God one thousand fyve hundreth eightie fyve, I John Holbrooke of the parishe of Compton Epi[scopi] in the countie of Somersett, sicke of bodye and of perfect memorie (I thanke my maker), doe make my testament and last will as followeth. ffirst I gyve my soule to Allmightie God my maker and redeemer, and my body to be buried in the churche yarde of Compton Epi[scopi]. Item I give to the Cathedrall churche of St Andrewes in Welles fower pence. Item I give to my parishe churche a pecke of wheate. Item I gyve to the parishe churche of Chedder fyve pence. Item I gyve to Dorathie Durkett three ewe sheepe and the wynteringe of one cowe, one platter, one potinger and a litle posnett. Item I give to Agnes Durkett one cowe called Gentle, two platters, one potinger, a candlesticke, one posnett with a narrowe mouthe, one featherbed, two bolsters, one shete and one blanquett. Item I gyve to Edithe Stone sixe ewe sheepe, fower ewe hogges, the bedsteede in the hall chamber at Chedder and the biggest bed in the inner chamber there, a paire of blanquetts, one sheete, one bolster, two platters, one potinger, one patched crocke, [and] one litle newe panne which came from Chedder. Item I give to Henry Stone fyve ewe sheepe, one newe crocke, one panne, one platter, one potinger, [and] one coffer by the windowe. Item I gyve to my brother Thomas Holbrooke halfe my greate mowe of wheate. Item I give to my brother Roger Holbrooke one quarter of the same mowe, my best dublett and my best hoses. Item I give to my sister ffisher my best cloake and a litle featherbed being at Chedder. Item I give to Henry Holbrookes wiffe the best coverlett at Chedder. Item I gyve to Elizabeth Wilmouthe and to Elnor Willmouth to eche of them ffyve poundes, to be paide them at the dayes of their marriage, and if any one of them dye before the daye of their marriage it shall remayne unto my wiffe. Item I give to Edwarde Mansell one busshell of wheate. Item I give to Thomas Bill halfe a busshell of wheate. Item I gyve to John Stone of Mudesley three sheepe and tenne shillinges in money. Item I give to William Trott and to Elizabeth Trotte to eche of them one ewe sheepe. The residue of all my goods and cattells not geven nor bequeathed I gyve and bequeathe whollye unto Joane Holbrooke my wiffe, whome I ordaine and make my whole executrix. Witnes to this will John Pirsse, Symon Burges, Thomas Wilmouth, with others.

Probate, in Latin: proved at London before William Drury, doctor of laws, on 11 December 1585, on the oath of [William?] Fleck, notary public, proctor for Joan, widow and executrix.

Notes

• [D] "Compton Epi[scopi]" is Compton Bishop. He also had a house at Cheddar (a hall chamber and an inner chamber). "Mudesley" is probably Mudgley in Wedmore. All three places lie on the south side of the Mendips, roughly 7 to 13 miles north-west of Glastonbury.
• [D] Kin named: brothers Thomas and Roger Holbrooke, a married sister Mrs Fisher, and Henry Holbrooke's wife. No children. The Durketts, Stones and Wilmouths are not described as kin.
• [D, context] A Henry Holbrook and a John Holbrook were mustered in Bishop Sutton tithing, Chew hundred, in 1569, and "Henrie Holbrooke" signed a Chew hundred return in 1600. Whether that Henry is the Henry of this will is unknown.
• [I] This is a second Holbrooke family close to Glastonbury. (The "Edith Holbrooke of Compton Dundon, widow, 1593" once put beside it is really Edith of Compton Dando; seventh pass.) Like the Chew valley family, it uses the names Thomas, John and Roger. Nothing in the will names a William.

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3. Roger Holbroke of Chew

TNA PROB 11/13/574. Will dated 8 May 1503; proved 26 October 1503. In Latin.

In dei nomine Amen. viii die mensis Maii Anno domini millesimo quingentesimo tercio. Ego Rogerus Holbroke de Chewe, compos mentis et sane memorie, laudetur altissimus, condo facio ordino atque dispono presens testamentum meum in hunc modum. In primis lego animam meam deo omnipotenti, beate Marie virgini et omnibus sanctis, corpusque meum sepeliendum in cimiterio sancti Andree de Chewe. Item lego ecclesie matrici sancti Andree de Welles iiii d. Item lego ecclesie sancti Andree de Chewe vi s viii d. Item lego capelle beate Marie ibidem iii s iiii d. Item lego John Chelton [?] de Camerton vi s viii d. Item lego John Rugge [?] de parochia de Mydsomer Norton vi s viii d. Residuum vero omnium et singulorum bonorum meorum in hoc presenti testamento meo non legatorum, debitis meis et funeralibus expensis solutis, do et lego Agneti uxori mee, Johanni Storowe et Thome Holbroke filio meo, quos facio et ordino meos veros executores, ut ipsi disponant pro salute anime mee prout eis optime videbitur. Hiis testibus domino Henrico [Haywardyng?] presbitero, Roberto [Ashford?], Rogero [Bully?] et Johanne Hayward, cum multis aliis.

In English: Roger Holbroke of Chew, of sound mind, makes his will on 8 May 1503. Soul to God, the Virgin Mary and all saints; body to be buried in the churchyard of St Andrew, Chew. To the mother church of St Andrew at Wells, 4d. To St Andrew's, Chew, 6s 8d, and to the chapel of Our Lady there, 3s 4d. To John Chelton [?] of Camerton, 6s 8d. To John Rugge [?] of the parish of Midsomer Norton, 6s 8d. The residue, after debts and funeral costs, to Agnes his wife, John Storowe and Thomas Holbroke his son, his executors. Witnesses: Sir Henry [Haywardyng?], priest, Robert [Ashford?], Roger [Bully?] and John Hayward.

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4. Nicholas Derell of Marksbury

TNA PROB 11/35/42 and PROB 11/35/101: two register copies of one will dated 22 July 1546 (38 Henry VIII), proved 1551/2. The second copy is fuller and has extra legacies at the end. Only the passages that bear on the Holbrookes and the family circle are given here; the printed abstract is in Somerset Medieval Wills, 3rd series, pp. 90-91.

• Churches: Marksbury, Wells cathedral (12d), and one bushel of barley each to Farnborough, Chelwood, Preston, Stanton Prior, Newton St Loe, Burnett, Compton Dando and Publow.

• ...poundes, the which tenne poundes is in the handes of Thomas Holbroke of Norton Malerward. And also I give to the said Richard [Gage] the lease that I hold of Robert Holbroke within the Lordship of Staunton Prior duringe my yeres or terme that I have therein.

• ...and a yerlinge which is with Thomas Holbroke...

• Item I forgive my syster Agnes Derell all suche debts that she oweth unto me, except fyve marks... Item to John Holbroke and Johane Holbroke every of them vi s viii d. Item to every of the children of Agnes Saunders vi s viii d. Item to every householder of the parishe of Marksbury iiii d...

• The residue of all my goods I give and bequeathe to Alice Derell my wife, the which Alice and Richard Gage I make myne executours. Item I make Thomas Holbroke of Norton and John Richman of Stanton myne overseers, and every of them to have twentie shillinges for their paynes.

• Second copy only (PROB 11/35/101): legacies to Alice, daughter of George Abraham; the lease of his farm to his wife and George Abraham; and "to Robert Derell twentie poundes sterling" and goods, "the which goodes I will to remayne in the handes of Thomas Darnbody, parson of ffarnborowe, and Thomas Holbroke of Norton. Witnes hereof Thomas Darnbody and Thomas Holbroke, with other."

Notes

• [D] Nicholas does not call Thomas Holbroke his son-in-law, and he does not call John and Johane Holbroke his grandchildren. His wife Alice does call Thomas "my sonne in lawe" (next will). In the 1500s "son-in-law" could also mean stepson, so the exact relationship is open.

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5. Alice Derell of Marksbury, widow

TNA PROB 11/35/315. Will dated 9 March 1551/2 (6 Edward VI); proved at London, 6 October 1552.

In the name of God Amen. The ix daye of Marche in the yere of our Lorde God after the computacion of the Churche of Englande a thowsande fyve hundreth fiftie and one, and in the sixt yere of the Reigne of our soveraigne Lorde Kinge Edwarde the sixte etc., I Alice Derell of Marksbury in the countie of Somerset, wydowe, do ordayne and make this my present testament and last will in maner and forme folowinge. ffirst I bequeathe my soule to Allmightie God, my body to be buryed in holy buryall accordinge to the discretion of my executours and overseers. Also I gyve and bequeathe to Johan Saunders my daughters childe one dosen of silver spones and two gyrdells plated with silver and my best coverlet, the which spones and gyrdells I will to remayne and be in the keping and safe custodie of her mother Agnes Saunders my daughter till the said Johan Saunders come to lawfull age. Also I gyve and bequeathe to my cosyn Richard Gage my [donne?] and my best colt and my great crock. Also I gyve more to my said cosyn Richard Gage my [?] and other half of my brewing kettill. Also I bequeathe to John Holbroke and to Johan Holbroke, the children of my sonne in lawe Thomas Holbroke, to every of them a cowe. The residue of all my goods moveable and unmoveable I gyve and bequeathe to Agnes Saunders my daughter and Richard Gage my cosyn, whom I make and ordeyne by these presentes my hole executours. Also I make my overseers Thomas Holbroke and John Aprice. In witnes the day and yere above written: by me John Bysse, by me Nicholas [Barnhouse?], by me Nicholas Bathe alias [Johnes?], clerke, by me William Chapman, by me John Aprice.

Notes

• [D] Alice's only daughter named is Agnes Saunders. Thomas Holbroke is "my sonne in lawe," and his children are John and Johan.
• [I] John, son of Thomas Holbroke, married Elen Saunders at Norton Malreward on 28 Nov 1556. Elen was quite possibly one of the children of Agnes Saunders, Alice's daughter, to whom Nicholas left 6s 8d each. Not proven.

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6. Richard Holbroke, yeoman of the King's Privy Chamber (not Somerset)

TNA PROB 11/33/142. Will dated 4 February 1549/50 (3 Edward VI); proved 21 March 1549/50. Summary only.

• [D] "I Richard Holbroke yoman of the kinges most honorable pryvy chamber." Bequests to the poor of Eltham, Kent, and of St Margaret's, Westminster. To his son-in-law Adam Keller, his lease of a house at Eltham. To his son Frances Holbroke, leases including the manor of Clewer beside Windsor, and a bailiwick at St Albans held by royal patent, from which an annual sum is to go to his mother Margery Holbroke. Also named: his brother Sampson Holbroke, his cousin John Carrell, and his wife Thomasyn, executrix. Witnesses included the curate of St Margaret's, Westminster.
• [I] A royal household servant of the Home Counties. Nothing connects him to Somerset, and he can be dropped from the Glastonbury question.

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7. John Horsington of Corston (added 10 October 2026)

TNA PROB 11/25/610. Will dated 1 October 1536; proved at London, December 1536. Downloaded by Dasloops on 10 October 2026; not a Holbrooke will, but the lead for Edith Holbrooke's family (early-holbrook-family-england.md, section 5B). The long lines are faint at the right edge, so the order and amounts of the small bequests are uncertain.

In the name of God amen. The first day of Octobr in the yere of our lord god a thousande fyve hundreth xxxvj, I John Horssyngton of the parishe of Coston in the Dioc' of Bathe and Welles, sik in body but of perfite remembraunce, thanks be to god, make my testament and last wille in maner and forme folowing. ffirst and principally I bequeth my soule to almighty god, to our blissed lady saint mary and to all the celestiall company of hevyn, and my body to be buried in the parishe church of Coston. Item I bequeth to saint Andrewe of Welles and to my mother church iiij d. Item I bequeth to every godchilde that I have iiij d. Item I geve and bequethe to every housholder to [?] every one of myn owne children halfe a dossen of silver spones and a Cupp of silver. Item I bequeth to the poure people in Coston [?]. Item I bequeth to the poure people of the Spittell house of Bathe [?]. Item I bequeth to the poure people of the almes house of Pensforthe [?]. Item I bequethe to my sonne Richard Horssyngton the myllys at Pensforthe, the Tannehouse, twoo Culverhouses, the tenements and all maner of thinges as I do holde there, And I will that my wife Agnes his mother shall have half parte with him the terme of hir lyfe. And yf it happen that my sonne Richard doo dye, then I will that my sonne Giles Horssyngton and his mother shall have the said Mylls, the Tannehouse, the Culverhouses and the tenements with all other thinges there for the terme of their lyfe. Item I bequeth to my sonne maister Thomas Horssyngton foure pounds, whiche shalbe paid yerely by the handes of John Callowe [?] of the parishe of Mydsomernorthon, whiche is a porcion of the Rent of the psonage of [Midsomer Norton?], for the terme of eight yeres. Item I bequeth to Agnes my wife [?] ... for the terme of tenne yeres. Item I bequeth to my goostly father Sir Thomas Goldston [?] ... Item I bequeth to Water Horssyngton xx s [?]. Item I bequeth to William Mauncell of Northstoke xx s [?]. Item I bequeth to Nicolas Moorton [?] xx s [?]. The resydue of my goodes not bequethed, moveable and unmoveable, whersoever they be, my dettes paide, my legacies fulfilled, my funeralls deducted, I geve and bequeth to Agnes Horssyngton my wife the oon halfe, and the other halfe to Gyles my sonne and to Richard my sonne, whiche I ordeyn and make myn executours to distribute and to dispose my goodes ... to the pleasure of god and for the helthe of my soule, as my trust is in them. Item I make William Horssyngton my sonne, Thomas Horssyngton my sonne, Water Horssyngton my brother, William Mauncell of Northstoke and Nicolas Moorton of Bristowe [?] supervisours of this my testament and last will. Thise being witnesses: Sir Thomas Goldston, preest, Cristofer Stork [?], clerk, William Kynge, John Kynge, John Cotton and John Brytton [?], with moo.

Probate, in Latin: proved at London in December 1536 [the day not read], on the oath of the executors, by their proctor Robert Johnson.

Notes

• [D] No daughter is named. The silver goes to "every one of myn owne children," so there were children not named in the will.
• [I] So the will can neither confirm nor rule out Edith Holbrooke as a Horsington daughter. A daughter of John born by 1536 would have been in her late fifties or older at her death in 1592/3, which fits a widow with grown Sandes sons.

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How this bears on William of Glastonbury

• New, and the most useful: Robert of Queen Charlton's will shows that a William Holbrooke, son of a John who was dead by 1617, belonged to the north Somerset family [D]. William of Glastonbury was alive in 1617 (he died in 1625/6), and nothing yet names his father. So Robert's nephew William is a candidate for him, not a proven match [I].
• Place: the Keynsham baptism of Rebecka, daughter of William Holbrooke (12 Jan 1594/5), comes from the same district. Keynsham, Queen Charlton, Compton Dando, Marksbury, Saltford and Norton Malreward lie within about five miles of each other. Arthur, son of John Holbrooke of Norton Malreward (bapt. 1566), later lived at Keynsham (his son John bapt. there 1609; his will 1631). William of Glastonbury had a daughter Rebecca, who married Clement Weaver in 1617 [D for each fact; I for the connection].
• The land: the "Holbrooke family of Glastonbury" appears in the leases of a farm at Wick in Compton Dando with land in Marksbury and Saltford (DD/BR/su/6, 1577-1685), and Robert's overseer was the vicar of Compton Dando [D]. That puts the Glastonbury family's property in exactly this neighbourhood [I].
• Against, or not settled: no record yet says that William of Glastonbury was a son of John, or that he came from Keynsham. John Holbrooke of Compton Bishop (1585) shows that another Holbrooke family lived nearer Glastonbury, on the south side of the Mendips [D].
• My judgment: the north Somerset origin is somewhat stronger than before. I would now put it at roughly 60-65% that William of Glastonbury came from the Norton Malreward and Queen Charlton family, and perhaps 40% that he was specifically Robert's nephew William, son of John. Both are below the 80% standard.
• Update, seventh pass (same day). William of Glastonbury's own deposition of 9 May 1617 (abstract in Spear, Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John, vol. 26) says he was born at Norton Malreward, aged 65 (so about 1551-2), and lived 20 years at Compton Dando before moving to Glastonbury about 1598. The will of Thomas Holbrooke of Norton Malreward (1571/2, known from abstracts) names Robert as a son and leaves another son, William, the lease of the park at Compton Dando. So William of Glastonbury was very probably Robert's brother, and the nephew William of Robert's will is a different, younger man. The FamilySearch index also gives Robert's burial at Queen Charlton as 27 Mar 1616, which must be 1617 if the will is dated March 1616/17; Davis (1945) reads the will date as 15 March. Full discussion in early-holbrook-family-england.md, section 5A.

Whether the paid Somerset copies are worth it now

These wills change the priorities.

• DD/BR/su/6 (11 documents, the Compton Dando leases). This is now the most promising item. Leases for lives name the "lives," usually a man and his sons or wife. A lease naming William of Glastonbury beside a father John, or beside Arthur of Keynsham, would come close to settling his origin. Only the Holbrooke documents are needed.
• DD/X/HBS/1 (the 15 abstracts). These are second. They include Thomas of Norton Malreward, yeoman (1571), probably Robert's father, whose will should name his sons; John of Norton Malreward (1593); Arthur of Keynsham (1631); and Elinor of Chew Stoke (1627). Together they would show whether this family had a William of the right age.
• D/D/ct/1/H/137 (William's original will) and the Chancery suits are lower. Lord and Weaver have already abstracted the will, and the suits are about the Glastonbury property after William's death.

A single request limited to DD/BR/su/6 and DD/X/HBS/1 would probably fit within one to two hours of the archive's time (£44 to £88).