Nicholas Barham, of Wadhurst

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Nicholas Barham, of Wadhurst (1450 - 1502)

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Bivelham Manor, Wadhurst, East Sussex
Death: 1502 (47-57)
Chillington Manor, Maidstone, Kent
Immediate Family:

Son of Richard Barham and Anne Barham
Husband of NN Barham
Father of Richard Barham; John Barham, of Woodlande; William Barham, Sr., of Stalerege and Nicolas Barham
Brother of John Barham

Occupation: Church Warden
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About Nicholas Barham, of Wadhurst

SAC Vol26 pg93 SAC pg 130 note46 - Nicholas Berham was Churchwarden of Wadhurst during the incumbency of "Sir John Broun, preest vicar of the seid chirch" As appears by a Chancery suit (undated) a copy of which is the possession of the present Vicar.. John Browne chaplain was collated to Wadhurst 24 Jan 1464 and died before 16 Nov 1487.

1499 Court Rolls Sussex Portfolio 206 No33 - SAC pg 130 note47 - At court of the Manor of Mayfield 28 Nov 1499 William Kingewood Nicholas Berham and 10 other jurors were appointed to hold an inquisition on the hehalf of the Lord of that Manor concerning the payments due for pannage (The right of pasturin swine in the lord's woods. Rentall de Beddellaria de Maghfelde in the custody of Messrs Stone and Simpson of Tunbridge Wells solicitors to the Marquess Camden - SAC pg 131 note48 - ther are several references to Nicholas Berham and the lands he held of this manor. Some of these lands were inherited by his youngest son William Berham of Stalerege in accordance with his will of which Thomas Baker was feoffee. This will is not registered either in Lewes or Somerset House though it is mentioned on the Court roll of the manor.



Nicholas BARHAM was born in 1450 in Bivelham Manor, Wadhurst, Sussex. Some sources indicate that he died on 25 Jul 1577 (this death date is impossible, he would have been 127 years old) in Chillington Manor, Maidstone, Kent. Nicholas of Wadhurst, Sussex. Land records 1 Sep 1491. Church Warden Wadhurst 1463-1487. Last record Juror 28 Nov 1499 b) Marriage record. SAC Vol26 pg93 SAC pg 130 note46 - Nicholas Berham was Churchwarden of Wadhurst during the incumbency of "Sir John Broun, preest vicar of the seid chirch" As appears by a Chancery suit (undated) a copy of which is the possession of the present Vicar John Browne chaplain was collated to Wadhurst 24 Jan 1464 and died before 16 Nov 1487. 1491 Courtthope manuscripts at Whiligh - SAC pg 129 - Nicholas Berham was feoffe of lands in Wadhurst call Stumblett, East Bynne, Mottesfield, Takkscroft and Ramgates by charter from Richard Goding and others dated 1 Se 1492 SAC pg 129 - In Easter term 1492 Nicholas Berham and Thomas Baker of Fayer crouch (in wadhurst) were parties to another fine of lands in the adjacent parish of Lamberhurst. 1493 SAC pg129 - A Fine levied in Easter Term 1493 between Thomas May, William Fatynden, Nicholas Berham and Thomas Baker querents and Richard Goding and Margaret his wife deforciants concerning 64 acres of woodland in Wadhurst 1494 SAC pg129 - In Easter Term 1494 Thomas May Nicholas Berham and Thomas Baker occur as querents in a Fine concerning land at Ealding (Yalding 2 miles south of Teston Kent). 1499 Court Rolls Sussex Portfolio 206 No33 - SAC pg 130 note47 - At court of the Manor of Mayfield 28 Nov 1499 William Kingewood Nicholas Berham and 10 other jurors were appointed to hold an inquisition on the hehalf of the Lord of that Manor concerning the payments due for pannage (The right of pasturin swine in the lord's woods. Rentall de Beddellaria de Maghfelde in the custody of Messrs Stone and Simpson of Tunbridge Wells solicitors to the Marquess Camden - SAC pg 131 note48 - there are several references to Nicholas Berham and the lands he held of this manor. Some of these lands were inherited by his youngest son William Berham of Stalerege in accordance with his will of which Thomas Baker was feoffee. This will is not registered either in Lewes or Somerset House though it is mentioned on the Court roll of the manor.

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(III) Nicholas Berham, of Wadhurst,

who was presumably the elder son of the same Richard and Anne, the copyhold lands decending to the youngest son, by custom of the Manor. This Nicholas was feoffee of lands in Wadhurst called Stumblett, East Bynne, Mottesfield, Takks (? Turke's) croft, and Ramgates, by charter from Richard Goding, and others, dated 1 Sept. Henry VII (1491).
William Berham was witness to this deed. The original charter is mentioned by Mr William Courthope, as being then (i.e. circa 1840) in the possession of George Campion Courthope Esquire.
At the Public Record Office there is an interesting account of a Chancery Suit between “William Turke and Nicholas Berham, Wardens of the parisshe Chirche of Wadehurst, and one Sir John Brown, preest, vicar of the said Chirch”, relating to the appointment of “one William Broun, cousyn to the said Vicar, to the office and service of parisshe clerk”. John Brown, chaplain, was collated to Wadhurst 24 Jan 1463-4, and died before 16 Nov. 1487, so that Nicholas Berham the Church Warden was probably identical with Nicholas Berham, the feoffee of lands in Wadhurst, in 1491.
We have another reference to the same individual at a Court of the Manor of Mayfield, held there 28 Nov. 15 Henry VII (1499), when William Kingewoode, Nicholas Berham, and others, were appointed to hold an Inquest concerning payments for the right of pannage in the Lord's woods. At the same Court “Nicholas Berham and Thomas Baker surrendered certain lands called Cookeham in the Ward of Corocle to the use of (a portion
of the roll has been torn off) who paid a fine .... and did fealty.” It may be only a coincidence, but it is worth noting, that “Thomas May, Nicholas Barham, and Thomas Baker” were parties to a Fine, of lands at Ealding (Yalding) co. Kent, in Easter term 1494, in view of the traditional descent of the Wadhurst Barhams from those of Teston. In the Rental of the Manor of Mayfield, referred to on page 1, we have several references to this Nicholas Berham, & to the lands he held in this Manor. Some of these lands were inherited by William Berham (of Stalerege) under his will in 1545, and other lands were purchased from his grandson, Nicholas Berham Junr (who afterwards became Queen’s Serjeant) by John Berham of Woodlande and Buttes, and by William Berham Jun r the eldest son of William of Stalerege.

Nicholas Barham had three sons:-
i Richard Berham, of Wadhurst, who is shewn in the visitn Pedigree recorded by Nicholas his son in 1574, as elder brother of John Berham (of Woodlande and Buttes, in Wadhurst) the father of Thomas Barham of Boughton Monchelsey, (whose son Robert Barham of the same place recorded his pedigree at the Visitation of Kent in 1619), married “Alice daur. of ....... Cradock, of Sussex”. James Cradock of Gowdhurst co. Kent. in his will dated 12 Aug 1533, pr. in Consistory Court, Canty (date of probate not mentioned in Register), refers to “the feoffees and Executors of Alyce Berham late of Wadeherst deceased, for the purchase of my said lands and
tenements in the parishes of Saleherst and Bryghtlyng.” From the Rental above mentd we learn that a house in Wadhurst in which Richard Berham formerly dwelt, with 30 acres of land called Brownes, formerly held by Nicholas Berham [his father] and recently by Nicholas Berham Junr [his son], was then in the possession of John Berham. ... ... (illegible) ... ... father of Richard & uncle of Nicholas Junr ]. Other lands in the same Manor, formerly held by the said Nicholas & Richard Berham, were at the same date in the possession of William Berham Junr [son & heir of William of Stalerege]. Richard Berham, by Alice Cradock his wife, had issue a son,
Nicholas Barham, of Chillington Manor, in Maidstone, co. Kent, Esquire; born circa. 1525; admitted of Gray's Inn 1540, called to the Bar 1542, Serjeant-at-Law I567, Queen's Serjeant 1573; Recorder of Maidstone 1562, and elected, with Henry Fisher, Esquire, as the first two Members of Parliament for Maidstone, under the Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth in December 1559; they took their seats in the House in 1563. He had previously purchased the Manor of Chillington, with the Mansion house, and three score acres of land, from Robert
Maplesden, John Mapelsden and George Maplesden, sons of Peter Maplesden of Maidstone deceased, by deed dated 25 Sept. 4 Eliz. (1561), beeing there described as “Nicholas Barham of Greys Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Esquier”.
Nicholas Barham recorded his Pedigree at the Visitation of Kent in 1574, and entered the Arms:- Arg. on a Fess between three bears sa. muzzled gu. a fleur de lys between 2 martlets or. (Courthope M.S.S., Stemm. Misc. II.296). By Mary his wife, daur. of John Holte of Cheshire, who survived him and died 1 Aug. 1597, he had, with a daur. Margaret, who was married to Peter Nott of Heming, co. Kent, an only son and heir, Arthur Barham, of Chillington Manor, Esquire, born circa.1549, (he was aged 28 in 1577, Inq. p.m. at Deptford); admitted of Grays Inn 1570; he married, at Maidstone, 17 Feb. 1573-4, Jane, daur. and co-heir of Richard Chamber of Charing co. Kent. by Elizabeth his wife, and sister of Mary Chamber, the wife of George Franklyn, 2nd son of John Franklyn of Charte, (whose 1st. Cousin, Mildred Franklyn, was the wife of Thomas Barham of Boughton Monchelsey),
by whom he had, with other children who died in infancy:-
(1) Nicholas Barham, eldest son, bapt. at Maidstone 27 Feb. 1574-5; married at Boughton Aluph, 28 March 1597, Rebeeca Bromfield and had issue two sons, Thomas and Arthur Barham, and several daurs. Nicholas Barham
was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Cork, Ireland, as appears by his Funeral Certificate in U1ster's Office, and is described as of C1oghnekelty in that County; he had previously been Deputy Vice Admiral of Kinsale, in 1626; he died at Cloghnekelty in February 1639.
(2) Richard Barham., bapt. at Maidstone, 25 March 1576, married the daur. and heir of ............. Scudder, and had issue two sons, Nicholas Barham, who married Eleanor Love, and John, who died S.P., and two daurs.
(1) Jane, bapt. 9 April 1592; married to Thomas Osborne Esq.; she died 26 November 1654, and was buried at Chartham.
(2) Anna, married to Stephen Bunce of Throwley, one of the Ancients of New Inn; he died 10 Feb. 1634/5, (will proved 11 Apr. follg ); they had, with other issue, a daur. Jane, married to Sir John Roberts of Cranbrook and
Canterbury, Kent, whose daur. Martha was the first wife of Edward Gibbon, an elder brother of Matthew Gibbon, the great-grandfather of Edward Gibbon the Historian.
(3) Mary, bapt. 4 Jany. 1578-9, married, by licence dated 10 April 1602, to William Cobbs of Chilham, Gent, son and heir of Thomas Cobbs, of Old Wives Leas in Chilham, co. Kent, descended from John Cobbs, of Cobbs
Place, in Romney Marsh, Esq.,
(4) Susan, bapt. 25 Apl. 1590, living in 1601.
Nicholas Barham, the Queen's Serjeant,, died 25July 1577 (Inq. P.M.) at Worcester, of fever caught at the Black Assize, while on the Oxford Circuit; his will dated 24 July 1577, was proved 29 Nov. foll; (P.C.C.) by Thomas Wheler, Notary Public. on behalf of Mary Barham his widow & Thomas Barham, son and heir of James Barham of Barham Court in Teston, his Executors. Mary Barham died 1 Aug. 1597 (Inq. pm, 11 Oct. 1609.)
ii John Barham, 2nd. son of Nicholas, and younger brother of Richard Berham of Wadhurst, was ancestor of the Barhams of Buttes & Shoesmiths in Wadhurst, and of Boughton Monchelsey and Lamberhurst co, Kent. By a deed of feoffment dated 10 Feb. 12 Henry VIII (1520-1), Humphrey Lewknor, Esq, (son of Walter Lewknor of
Leigh co, Kent, Esq., and Joyce his wife) conveyed to John Barham, Thomas Luck, and William Barham, certain lands called Brooklands, in Frant; and in a subsequent deed, dated 31 July 1528, John Luck of Faircrouch (in Wadhurst), and William Barham of Wadhurst, released all their rights in the said lands to John Barham & his heirs. On 21 Dec. 1536. Robert Lewknor (son of Humphrey) undertook to make a title of Barkley Mill, with other lands in Frant and Wadhurst, to the aforesaid John Barham and his heirs. Both these properties formed part of the Shoesmiths Estate, and continued in the possession of that branch of the family until the death, without
surviving issue, of the last John Barham of Shoesmiths, in 1724. (Subsidy Rolls 1523 & 33)
At a Hundred Court, held at Mayfield, 30 Sept. 1546, the name of John Barham occures first on the list of Jurors for the King, while Henry** and William Barham were fined for default of suit. This is a very interesting entry, as, in “Mr. Barham's Pedigree”, referred to in a pencil note in Mr. William Courthope's hand-writing, Henry and William Barham are/is shewn as the (two?) younger brother(s) of John Barham of Woodlande and Buttes - (Courthope Mss., Stemm. Misc. II, 311 & 314) [or 321 & 324]. [ ** From the Camden estate papers, however, it appears that this Henry was the son of Thomas Berham, which Thomas was probably another son of Richard Berham, and brother of Nicholas Berham Senr of Wadhurst, and of John Berham of Bivelham.]
See letter from Lady Bond, the daur. of Rev. R. Harris Barham, dated 3 May 1903, in which she alludes to this Pedigree.
At a Court of the Manor of Mayfield, 20 Feb. 1547-8, Nicholas Barham with Robert Wemborne and Thomas Baker of Wyke, surrendered lands called Bengrede and Bengrede Croft (which formed part of the Shoesmiths Estate), “to John Barham senior for life, & after his death to the use of John Barham, son of the said John, and his heirs”. This John Barham senr. has been identified by Mr. William Courthope with John Berham of Woodlande and Buttes, whose will dated 1 May 1551 was pr. (P.C.C.) 19 June 1555, by Nicholas Berham his eldest son and executor. See abstract of his will – “Evidences”, p.20. It is however somewhat strange that he does not
mention a son John in his will, by which he bequeaths considerable property to his four other sons, Nicholas, Thomas, Richard [of Wateringbury] and Robert Barham. [Thomas Barham, his 3rd son, was of Boughton Monchelsey, co. Kent. See his will dated 28 Aug. 1595 – “Evidences”, p.20.] But the probable explanation of this omission is that John Barham his second son was already sufficiently provided for, and as this John Barham (the younger) in his will, dated 4 April 1583, proved (P.C.C.) 7 Aug. follg , mentions his brothers Nicholas, Thomas, and Richard Barham, their seems no reason to question his identity. Moreover, one of the Jurors on an Inq. p.m., held at Lamberhurst, 22 Jan. 7 Eliz. (1564-5), was “John Barham son of John Barham
of Buttes”, which seems conclusive. and the Rental above ment d affords additional evidence in support of Mr. Couthope’s statement. John Barham (the younger) was a noted Ironmaster, and on his death in 1583 he
left what was in those days a large fortune, in money and lands, to his six sons, besides providing for his three daurs. He married, after 1541 and before (June 1558) 1557, Alice, daur. of Richard Isted, of the Moate, in Mayfield, and his eldest son, Nicholas was bapt. at Frant, 21 Sept. 1559, the witnesses being “Nicholas Barrham” (his eldest brother) “Thomas Isted” (his brother-in-law,) and “Annis Porter, sister to Thomas Isted” (his sister-in-law, the wife of John Porter of Beyham Abbey).
John Barham, his 2nd. son, to whom he left Barkley Mill and all his other forges and iron works, purchased the estate of Shoesmiths from his 1st. cousin, William Fowle, of Lightlands, in Frant, Esquire (son and heir of Nicholas Fowle of Riverhall in Wadhurst, by Elinor Isted his wife) by deed dated 20 Dec.1611, for £1000, and either he, or his son of the same name, built the present mansion of Shoesmiths about 10 years later. Previously he resided at Faircrouch in Wadhurst, and is so described in a deed for the purchase of Sewers Bridge Wood, dated 1 Oct. 1619, in other records.
Henry Berham, who is incorrectly shewn as younger brother of Richard & John Berham in the Barham pedigree referred to on page 24, was the son & heir of Thomas Berham, who is mentioned at a Court of the Manor of
Mayfield, 2 March 1546-7, when George Norton, feoffee of Thomas Barham and his heirs, at the request of Nicholas Barham, a kinsman and next heir of said Thomas, surrendered lands called Twysdenffeld in Wadhurst, to Henry Barham, Nicholas releasing all his rights to same. [Henry Barham was possessed of considerable property, held of the Manor of Mayfield, part of which he inherited from Thomas Berham his father and purchased the remainder from Nicholas Berham and others. Thomas Berham his father was probably a son of Richard and Anna Berham, and brother of Nicholas Berham Senr , as already stated.] The death of Henry Berham was reported at a Court held 10 Sept. 1547. His will, dated 31 May 1547, was pr; (P.C.C.) 21 Nov. foll g ., by William, Penkherst, on behalf of Joane his widow & executrix. He left issue, an only son, John Berham, aged 11 at his father's death, and two daurs. Agnes and Denys, both minors, under the age of 20 years, & unmarried.
iii William Barham, of Stalerage


The pedigree of the family of Barham of England and Virginia by College of Arms (Great Britain); Barham, Robert Young

https://archive.org/details/pedigreeoffamily00coll/page/n87/mode/2u...
WADHURST (East Sussex)
The parish of Wadhurst adjoins the Kentish boundary. Here begins with Thomas Bereham, in the year 1440, the earliest authentic and fully documented lineage of the Barham families of Wadhurst and of Maidstone and Boughton-Monchelsea in Kent.
Nicholas Barham, grandson of Thomas Bereham, and grandfather of Nicholas -the Queens Sergeant of Chillington Manor, Maidstone, was Church Warden of Wadhurst during the incumbency of John Browne, Vicar of Wadhurst, 1464 to 1487.
Nicholas of Wadhurst was the father of John Barham, Iron Maker, who was born late in the 15th century. He was one of the first and most successful of the Sussex Iron masters. His assessments in 1543 indicate he was by far the wealthiest inhabitant in Wadhurst at the time. He died about 1555.
The most remarkable feature of the church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Wadhurst is the large number of fine cast iron grave slabs on the floor. There are no less than 30 of these and they vary in date from 1617 to 1799. Of nine connected with the BARHAM family, several carry the BARHAM ARMS.

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Nicholas Barham, of Wadhurst's Timeline

1450
1450
Bivelham Manor, Wadhurst, East Sussex
1487
1487
Age 37
Wadhurst, East Sussex
1498
1498
Bivelham Manor, Wadhurst, East Sussex
1500
1500
Boughton-, Kent, England
1502
1502
Age 52
Chillington Manor, Maidstone, Kent
1505
1505
Bivelham Manor, Wadhurst, East Sussex
????
Broughton, Kent, England (United Kingdom)
????
Maidstone, Kent
????