Thomas 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.

A second, fuller register copy of the same will, with the margin note “T. Nich[olas] Derell. See another Will folio 3.” Its extra legacies end with twenty pounds to Robert Derell, the goods to stay “in the handes of Thomas Darnbody, parson of ffarnborowe, and Thomas Holbroke of Norton,” who are also its witnesses.

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.

The short Latin will in the middle of the page, with the margin title “Test[amentum] Rogeri Holbroke”: “Ego Rogerus Holbroke de Chewe,” 8 May 1503. He is to be buried at St Andrew’s, Chew, and his executors are his wife Agnes, John Storowe and “Thome Holbroke filio meo,” his son Thomas. Roger is the earliest Holbroke of the Chew valley found. Whether Thomas Holbrooke of Norton Malreward was this Thomas, or a grandson, is open.

The will begins at the foot of the first page, with the margin title “T[estamentum] Robert Holbrooke”: “the ffifteent[h] [?] day of Marche Anno Domini 1616, I Roberte Holbrooke of Quinte Charlton in the Countie of Somersett, yeoman.” He leaves money to his daughters Jone, Katherine and Milliard and his son Robert, and a ewe and a lamb to “William Holbroke the sonne of John Holbrooke my brother deceased.” Robert was the son of Thomas and Edith Holbrooke, baptized at Norton Malreward in 1557/8, and very probably the brother of William Holbrooke of Glastonbury.

The second page has the end of the will: the overseers, the vicar of Compton Dando and the minister of Queen Charlton, and the probate at London on 3 July 1617 to “Elnore Holbrooke,” his widow.