John Holbrooke

The will begins at the foot of the first page, beside the margin title “Test[amentu]m Nich[ola]s Derell”: “I Nycholas Derell of Marksbury,” 22 July 1546, in the 38th year of Henry VIII.

The rest of the will is on the second page. Ten pounds “in the handes of Thomas Holbroke of Norton Malerward”; a yearling “which is with Thomas Holbroke”; 6s. 8d. each “to John Holbroke and Johane Holbroke”; and “Thomas Holbroke of Norton and John Richman of Stanton” are the overseers. These are the earliest records of Thomas Holbrooke of Norton Malreward and of his two eldest children.

The will was entered in the register twice. The second copy (PROB 11/35/101) is fuller: its extra legacies name Thomas Holbroke as a witness and as a trustee.

The register copy of Alice Derell’s will, in the middle of the page with the margin title “T[estamentum] Alice Derell.” She leaves “to John Holbroke and to Johan Holbroke, the children of my sonne in lawe Thomas Holbroke, to every of them a cowe,” and makes Thomas Holbroke one of her overseers. Thomas is Thomas Holbrooke of Norton Malreward (d. 1571/2), probably the father of William Holbrooke of Glastonbury. “Son-in-law” could then also mean stepson, so how Thomas was related to the Derells is open. Her own daughter was Agnes Saunders.