Richard Aylmer (politician)

Richard Aylmer (d. 3rd day before the Ides of September 1512, i.e. 11 September 1512^[1]) of Norwich, Norfolk, was an English politician.

He was a grocer,^[2] Sheriff of Norwich in 1501^[3] and Mayor of Norwich in 1511.^[1] He was married twice, first to Joan, and had by her two sons and two daughters,^[1] and secondly to Elyn/Elena,^[4] and had by her four daughters.^[1]

The Ruined St. Michael's Church, Mintlyn

The site of a lost village – Cecily Aylmer's Myntlynge

He was the son of Robert Aylmer, grocer,^[5] Sheriff of Norwich in 1471,^[6] Alderman of Norwich^[7] in 1480, and Mayor of Norwich in 1481 and 1492,^[1] and Elizabeth (d.1518^[8]). After his father's death his mother remarried to Thomas Thursby (d.1510). Richard Aylmer's second wife Elyn^[4] may have been the daughter of his step-father—identical to Thomas Thursby's daughter called Elyn. Though this could be in the capacity as his step-son, Richard Aylmer is named together with the rest of Thomas Thursby's sons-in-law as four of the executors of his will.^[9][10][11]

When reaching St. Peter Mancroft in Norwich, Francis Blomefield, Rector of Fersfield in Norfolk, was met with the following view: The following inscriptions are in the nave; and first of those on brass plates, beginning at the most eastern part, just by the step out of the chancel, lies a large stone, having the effigies of a mayor in his robes, between his two wives; by the first wife are the effigies of her children, two boys and two girls; and by the second four girls; it being placed here in memory of Richard Aylmer, mayor in 1511, son of Robert Aylmer, who was mayor in 1481, and 1492, and Joan his first wife; he died in 1512.^[1]

Aylmer Ricardus Procerum de stipite natus,

Is quondam Maior Urbis, iacet hic tumulatus,

Natis cum prima atque suis Consorte Johanna,

Moribus ornatus, Bonus omnibus atque benignus,

Anno Milleno, D. bino, cum duodeno,

Idus septembris trino, migrauit ab orbe.

O bone Christe Jhesu, fons vite, spes, Medicina,

Votis inclina, te quesumus aure Benigna,

Ut sibi sit Requies, vivat tecum sine fine.^[1][12][13]

Children

Children of Richard Aylmer and his first wife, Joan:

• John (by 1500 – before 1509). He is left a very specific piece of land in the will of his uncle, Thomas Aylmer in 1500.^[14] This piece of land can be found again, now in the possession of Richard Aylmer, when he writes his will in 1509.^[4]

Children of Richard Aylmer and his second wife, Elyn:

• Elyne/Elyn^[4]/Helene/Helen^[8]
• Elizabeth,^[4][8] probably the 'my syster Elisabeth Cressnore' in Cecily's will from 1541, married name Cressener^[15]
• Margaret,^[4][8] m. Richard Batiscroft of Bexwell, and had Beatrix, Ellen, Agnes, Thomas, Christopher and John^[16]
• Cecily^[8] (d.1541^[15]) of Myntlynge. She wishes to be buried in St. Michael of Mintlyn 'by my lady my mother', now a ruin.^[15]

References

1. "City of Norwich, chapter 42: Middle Wimer ward". An Essay Towards A Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: Volume 4. British History Online. 1806. Retrieved 21 September 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. Ewing, William C. (1852). "Notices of the Norwich merchant marks". Norfolk Archaeology. Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society: 219. doi:10.5284/1077292.
3. A Compleat History of the Famous City of Norwich: From the Earliest Account, to this Present Year 1728. ... Published at the Request of Several Ingenious Gentlemen, Citizens, ... William Chase. 1728.
4. "Will of Richard Rymere – The National Archives". Published by Ancestry here. 26 February 1515. Also I gyve my wyff my two closes with the syke mens houses [...] I orden and make myn Executors Elyn my wyff
5. Catalogue Description: Indenture - Agreement. Indenture - Agreement. Description: 1) John Fyncham the elder, gent. and John Fyncham the younger his son and heir. 2) John Pagrave of Norwyche, Esq. and Henry Falyate of the same, merchant. Agreement re release made by John Fyncham the elder to Thomas Brewys, Knight, Hugh Fenne, William Tendale, Esq., Richard Holdich, Esq., John Sulyard, Robert Aylmer grocer and John Cook, draper of the manor of Grymston called Brokeles Halle, the advowson of the same with appurtenances and lands and tenements in Grymston, Congham, Rydon, Pawsey and adjoining towns. 9 Edw IV. Date: 3 Nov 1469. Held by: Norfolk Record Office, not available at The National Archives. 3 November 1469.
6. A Compleat History of the Famous City of Norwich: From the Earliest Account, to this Present Year 1728. ... Published at the Request of Several Ingenious Gentlemen, Citizens, ... William Chase. 1728.
7. Probate inventory of Robert Aylmer of Norwich, citizen and alderman. Date: 4th July 1492. Held by: Lambeth Palace Library, not available at The National Archives. 4 July 1492.
8. "CatalogueRef: NCC will register Gylys 97. Title: Thursby, Elizabeth, widow, 'Robert Aylmer late my husbond', of Norwich. Date: 1518. Description: Will. Level: Item. Repository: Norfolk Record Office". Published by FamilySearch here. In the name of god Amen the xiij daye the monyth of Decemb In the yere of o[u]^r lord god y^t ccccc xllj^th I Elizabeth Thursby of norwiche widow in my good mynde and hole Remembrance beyng (laudyd be god) at norwiche make this my testament and last wyll in this wyse ffirst I comend my soule to allmythi god and too o[u]^r blessed lady Sancte Marie and mother to criste Jhu. Sancte Laurance myn advoyz and to Sancte Andrew and to all the holy sanctes in hevyn and my body for to be burid in the churche of Sancte Andrew in norwiche by the sepultcre of Robert Aylmer late my husband whos hey altar ther I bequethe xxs [20 shillings] I bequethe to the Reparacons and admedment[? amendment?] of the sayd churche x marcs It[e]m I will have a wexe [wax] candyll of a pownde to beurne[? burn] dayly upon my grave by the space of one hole yere nexte after my decesse. And in the myghtys within the same yere I wyll have a lampe brennyng duryng the sayd yere And I geve and bequethe to hym that shall kepe and give attendance to the same hyghtes eny quarter viijd [eight pence] duryng the yere aforesayd, It[e]m I bequethe to the sayd churche of Sancte andrew my best wreten masse bok and my best chales gylte It[e]m I bequethe to the hey altar of the churche of Sancte Laurance in norwiche xxs [20 shillings] and to the Reparacon of the same churche v marcs A vestment to the value of xxs [20 shillings] and my nexte best chales gilte It[e]m I will thatt myn executores ffynde a seculer preist to syng and pray for my Sowlle my husbands Sowlles Robert John and Thomas, my childers Sowlles Richard Thomas and Cecyly my frends and benefactors Sowlles within the churche of Sancte Andrew aforesayd by the space of viij yeres nexte after my deceasse takyng eny yere to his wayges viij marcs [eight marks] It[e]m I wyll thatt myn executores shall ffynde a nothis [an honest?] Secular preiste to syng and praye for my Sowlle and for the Sowlles aforesayd within the churche of Sancte Laurance aforesayd by the space of ij yeer nexte after my deceasse It[e]m I bequethe to the churche of Sancte George of Colegate my wreten Sawter and xxs [20 shillings], It I bequethe to the Reparacons of thes churches folowyng that is too say Sancte Martens att the parish gate, Sancte Cruxes [Holy Cross], Sancte John of Madermarket and Sancte Peter of Mancrofte to iche of them xxs [20 shillings], It[e]m I will thatt myn executores shall kepe my dirige and messe solemnly amyt in the weke in the churche of Sancte Andrew with v. seculer pristes ij ffryers preist beyng ther p[re]sent both att dirige and messe takyng iche of them for ther labor iiijd [four pence] It[e]m to ij p[a]r[i]she clerks beyng ther pres[e]nt att dirige and masse to iche of them ijd [two pence] It[e]m to the clerke and sexten of the same churche of Sancte Andrew for ther labor and attendance in tollyng of the belles att ij att the clokke att after none to the dirige and for tollyng of the belle the nexte day att ix of the clokke to masse I bequethe to iche of them for ther labor and attendance iijd [three pence], It[e]m I will have ij children att the sayd dirige and messe in ther Sirplesses [surplices] to syng versicules I bequethe to iche of them jd [one pence], It[e]m I wyll have xij poremen and women att the sayd diriges and masses to pray for my Sowlle and for the Sowlles Aforesayd duryng the terme of the same diriges and messes and I bequethe to iche of them for ther labors jd [one pence] It[e]m I will thatt oon person in the stede of myn executor shall offer att eny masse so keppe in the honor and worchippe of the blessyd trinite for my Sowlle and the Sowlles Aforesayd iijd [three pence], It[e]m I bequethe to the curate in the sayd churche for the fondyng of the hyghtis ther for eny day att dirige and masse iiijd [four pence] It[e]m I will thatt my hyghtis whiche I have ordenyd for the said dirige and messe be continewyd att my coste and charge, It[e]m I bequethe to hym thatt shall warne the preistes clerks and pore folke to be present att the diriges and messes as is aforesayd for eny day for his labor iiijd [four pence] It[e]m I will that thes diriges and messes shalbe continewyd wekly as I have be [...] and as itt ys aforesayd wekly the fyrst day of September nexte after the date hereof It[e]m I bequethe to dame Elizabeth canf my goddoughter beyng a nune in blakburyh abbey [Blackborough Priory] xxs [20 shillings], It[e]m too Anne Canf xs [10 shillings], Item I bequethe to the p^ri^orisse of carrow xijd [12 pence] and to eny othere nune there iiijd [four pence], It[e]m I bequethe to iche anker [anchorite] and ankerisse [anchoress] in norwiche viijd [eight pence] It[e]m I bequethe to the presoners in the castell and in the Guyldhall of norwiche att the day of my buryall to iche of them in mete and money ijd [two pence], It[e]m I bequethe to iche person beyng a Lazar dwellyng att the Lazar houses att the w. gates of norwiche ijd [two pence], It[e]m I bequethe to the Sisters of normans within norwiche iiijd [four pence] It[e]m I bequethe to the churche of Sancte Clement in London where my Sonne Thomas Aylmer light buryd xxs [20 shillings] It[e]m I bequethe to the Reparacons of the of the churche of Sancte Margaret in Leun [Lynn] xxs [twenty shillings], It[e]m I bequethe to danne [See: Don (honorific)#Academia – Like the don used for Roman Catholic priests, this usage derives from the Latin dominus, meaning "lord". An English corruption, "dan", was in early use as a title of respect, equivalent to master.] George Henghm [George Hengham, Hyngham or Hingham was prior of Lynn from 1506. He is also mentioned in the will of Elizabeth's third husband, Thumas Thursby, of 3^rd of May 1510] p^ri^or of Leun [Lynn] xxs [twenty shillings], It[e]m I bequethe to the continuans of A comynd[?] carte for the foluyng of the strete in norwiche xli [£10] for the ward of Mydyll Wymer, It[e]m I bequethe to Helene Ayllmer, Elizabeth, Margrett and Cecely Aylmer the daughters of my Sonne Richard Aylmer whenne they come to the age of xviij yeres to Iche of them x marcs and to iche of them att the sayd age in plate assignaied and stuff of howshold appoyntid to iche of them to the value of x marcs and if fortune any of the sayd Helen, Elizabeth Margrett and Cecily or all to decesse by for the age of the sayd xviij yeres Thenne I wyll thatt the sayd Legatt made to the sayd chylde and childern to be deceassed shalbe distributed by myn executors in d[ee]ds of pythe and charite for my Sowlle my husbands Sowlles and all cristen Sowlles by myn executores [...] It I wyll thatt my place lyyng in Sancte Andrews parishe be sollyd by myn executores and the monye ther of commyng to go to the pformance of this my present testament, It[e]m I bequethe to Nicholas Gapston[?] Willm Amyes and Nicholas Osborn to iche of them v marcs It I wyll have a manne to goo in pylgrimage for my Sonne Thomas to o[u]^r lady of malsynggny [Marcigny] and he too have for his labor iijs iiijd [three shillings four pence] It[e]m I wyll have a manne to goo in pilgrimage to Sancte Antonye att Camb[irs]ton [Camber] in Sussex and he to have for his labor xs [10 shillings] It[e]m I bequethe to Thomas Thursby an agnus dei Silver and gilte withe holy wexe [wax] ther in and too his wyff A Image of o[u]^r lady Silver and gilte It I bequethe to Elizabeth Westgate A payre of Smalle corall be[a]ds of twyse ffyfty withe gilte pater noster, It[e]m I bequethe to [...] to be dysposed of for my Sowlle myn childers Sowlles myn husbands Sowlles and all my frendes Sowlles in [...] to the moste plesire of god and comfort to my Sowlle [...] I orden and make my welbelovyd in criste
9. "Will of Thomas Thursby, Burgess and Merchant of Lynn Bishop, Norfolk – National Archives. 23 October 1510.". Published by Ancestry here. In the name of god amen the thirde day of May In the second yere of the Reigne of king Henry the viij^th And the yere of our lorde god y^t v.^C and x I Thomas Thursby burgeys and merchaunt of Lynne Bisshop [...] I give unto John G[...]dell son[?] unto Margerie my doughter to [...] above appoynted to Elizabeth my wif during hir life after the decesse of the same Elizabeth and also of the [...] my doughters or their heirs of their bodyes shalhave the same lands and ten[emen]ts after suche [...] any of the said Elizabeth Elyn Beatrice Margarete or the said John Gryndell [...]
10. Eller, George (1861). Memorials: Archaeological and Ecclesiastical of the West Winch Manors from the Earliest Ages to the Present Period. Thew & Son. pp. 133–140.
11. Bannerman, W. Bruce (William Bruce) (1906). Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. London, England : Mitchell, Hughes & Clarke. p. 139.
12. Blomefield, Francis (1806). An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk: History of Norwich. W. Miller.
13. Weever, John (1767). Antient Funeral Monuments, of Great-Britain, Ireland, and the Islands Adjacent: With the Dissolved Monasteries Therein Contained; Their Founders, and what Eminent Persons Have Been Therein Interred. As Also, the Death and Burial of Certain of the Blood-royal, Nobility and Gentry of These Kingdoms, Emtombed in Foreign Nations ... W. Tooke.
14. "CatalogueRef: NCC will register Cage 111. Title: Aylemer, Thomas, grocer, of Norwich. Date: 1500. Description: Will. Level: Item. Repository: Norfolk Record Office". Published by FamilySearch here. It[e]m I gefe to John Aylemer my nevy [nephew] the seke mens houses with the gret close therto p[er]teynyng at west Wyk gate to hold to the said John his heir[es] and his assignes for ev[er] more whan he com[m]yth to thage of xxj yer[e]
15. "CatalogueRef: NCC will register Attmere 338. Title: Aylemer (Aylmere), Cecily, dowghter of Rycharde Aylmere, citizen and alderman of Norwich. Date: 1541. Description: Will. Made of Myntlynge. Level: Item, Repository: Norfolk Record Office". Published by FamilySearch here. In the name of God Amen The x daye of November in the yeer of o[u]^r lorde god y^t ccccc xl^th I Cicely Aylmere made of Myntlynge doughter of Rychard Aylmere Citysyn and alderman of Norwich beynge in my hooll mynde and of good remembrance make my testament and last wyll in forme folowynge ffyrst I bequethe my Sowle unto almyghtie god to o[u]^r lady and to all the holy company of hevyn and my body to be buryed in the church of Sayncte Mychaell of Myntlynge by my lady my mother It[e]m I bequethe to the hyeghe aulter xxd [ten pence] It[e]m I bequethe to the reparacons of the sayd church iijs iiijd [three shillings four pence] It[e]m I bequethe to my aunte Thorysby one spone of sylver and vjs viijd [six shillings eight pence] It[e]m I bequete my salte with the conee [coin] to be devyded betwene my syster Bachecroft my syster Grenall and my syster Elisabeth Cressnore [Cressener] It[e]m I bequethe to my syster katheryn my corall beids and a spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to my syster Laine[?] my Ghete [gete = goats] It[e]m I bequethe to my syster Grenall my best worsted kyrtyll It[e]m I bequethe to Thomas Bachecroft my neppew^e [nephew] a conee [coin] of sylver It[e]m I bequethe all my shepe to Alexander[?] Grenall and to Mary Grenall to be devyded betwene them It[e]m to Mary Grenall one spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to Jone Grenall one spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to Beatrix Bachecroft one spone of sylver and my botell It[e]m I bequethe to Margaret Bekhin[?] one spone of sylver It[e]m I bequethe to Mother Manfold my best petycote and a apron of saye It[e]m I bequethe to Mother Plank[?] my worst petycote and my worst apron The resydue of my goods not bequethed I put them in the dysposycyon of my executor whom I do make my brother Rycharde Bachecroft to dyspose them for the welth of my sowle & These be the wittenes Anne Thorysby Elyn Grenall Thomas Buttler
16. Rye, Walter; Hervey, William; Cooke, Clarenceux; Raven, John. The visitacion [i.e., visitation] of Norfolk, made and taken by William Hervey, Clarencieux King of Arms, anno 1563, enlarged with another visitacion [sic] made by Clarenceux Cook : with many other descents, and also the vissitation [sic] made. Family History Library. p. 22.