A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname

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Notes for Martin BARNHAM

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According to Lena Cowen Orlin, in Locating Privacy in Tudor London, "Martin's public history was solid and respectable: there were three years at St Albans Hall in Oxford, a brief placement in service to a lawyer, and then five years at Gray's Inn.

Sir Martin Barnham, Knight of Hollingbourne, was High-Sheriff of Kent in 1598 (40 Elizabeth). The patent of nobility granted to Sir Martin was the third of four known to have been granted by the Crown to members of the Barnham family in England. Sir Martin was knighted at Whitehall on July 23, 1603, by James I (reigned 1603-1625). This was just a few months after James had ascended to the throne, following the death of Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603). [Note: A Martin Barnham (Branham, Barham) of Hollingborne, as yet unidentified, was knighted by Charles I on 25 Apr 1631 at Whitehall].

Martin was freed of his apprenticeship 3 Jun 1572 by patrimony.

The arms of Sir Martin are blazoned as 'Quarterly, 1st and 4th sable a cross engrailed between four crescents argent, 2nd and 3rd azure a phaeon proper.' The crest is a dragon's head argent; the motto is Per Crucem ad Lumen -- Through the Cross to the Light.

Sir Martin lived much of his life in the village of Hollingbourne, near Maidstone in County Kent, England. His place of residence was Hollingbourne Parsonage, which he bought for £1,110. He built a new house in 1609, just a year before his death.

Historic All Saints Church, in Hollingbourne, contains an ambitious monument to Sir Martin which is inscribed: "Sacred to the memory of Sir Martin Barnham. Sprung from the old Southampton family of Barnham, who married Ursula, daughter of Robert Rudstone, of Bouton, Monchelsea, and had two daughters and one son. On her death, he married Judith, the daughter of Sir Martin Calthorpe, Lord Mayor of London, by whom he had five sons and five daughters. He was a man on every side of gentle birth, most happy in the extreme piety of his life and death alike; on whom God of the boundless riches of His mercy poured (piled upon him) of this world's gifts of nature, Grace and Honor, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. He died 12th. December 1610, aged 60 years." Sir Martin is buried in Saint Clement's Church, Eastcheap, London.

The Genealogical Record of the Barnum Family refers to Sir Martin's (1st) wife as Ursula Wotton, while Burke and the inscription quoted above call her Ursula Rudstone. Noah G. Barnum, in The Barnum Family, calls her Miss Hudston.

The Barnum Family also says that Sir Martin was born abt 1559 and died 12 Dec 1604.

In 1569 Francis and Martin Barnham were granted the reversion of Pendlestone mills, the small tithes and Easter dues of Saint Leonard's, and profits of the spiritual jurisdiction of the Deans of Saint Mary Magdalen, Bridgnorth. The rest of the deanery estate was granted in 1579 to Sir Christopher Hatton, who immediately sold it to Rowland Hayward and John Lacy. The reversion of Morville prebend was acquired in 1554 by Thomas Reeve and George Cotton, who then sold it to William Acton of Aldenham. Alveley prebend, which had been leased to William Gatacre in 1561, was granted to the Barnhams in 1569. From: 'Colleges of secular canons: Bridgnorth, St Mary Magdalen', A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 2 (1973), pp. 123-28. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=39947&strquery=barnham. Date accessed: 05 June 2006.

From The Visitations of Kent, Taken in the Years 1574 and 1592; The Publicatitons of the Harleian Society FHL Book 942 B4h vol.75: 1592- Martien his eldist Sonne (of Stephin); Martin Bernham of Hollingborne in the Countie of Kent Esquire Sonne and heire to ffraunces maried to his firste wyffe Vrsula Daughtr of Robert Rudstone of Boughton Monchelsea in the saide Countie Esquire and by her hathe issue, ffraunces his eldest Sonne, Benedicke Died yonge, After the saide Martein maried to his seconde wiffe Judethe Daughter to Sr Martyn Calthrope of Autingham in Norff. late of London Lord Maior, and by her hathe issue Martyn his thirde Sonne Jacobe fourthe sonne, Thomas fifte Sonne, Alys, Elizabethe and Judethe.

From The Visitations of Kent, Taken in the Years 1619 and 1621; The Publicatitons of the Harleian Society FHL Book 942 B4h vol.42.
1619- de Hollingborne in co' Cant. Ch'l'r

Sir Martin was made High Sheriff of Kent in 1598 and was knighted in 1603. At the time that he received his knighthood the purchase of a knighthood, at up to 500£ was quite common. When Sir Martin's son Francis suggested that avenue to his father, he states: My father made this answere, that havinge by God's blessinge an estate fitt enough for knighthood, and havinge managed those offices of credite which a country gentleman was capable of, he should not be unwillinge to take that honor upon him, if he might have it in such a fashion as that himselfe might hold it an honor, but said he yf I pay for my knighthood I shall never be called Sir Martin but that I shall blush for shame to thinke how I came by it ; yf therefore it canot be had freely I am resolved to content myselfe with my present condition, and for my wife (saied he merrily) I will buy her a new gowne instead of a ladyshipp, this is my resolution for myselfe, and that which I thinke fittest for you.
According to his mother, Martin was born at 9:00 am.
London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812. Name: Martin Barname [sic]; Baptism Date: 27 Mar 1548; Parish: St Mildred Poultry; County: London; Borough: City of London; Parent(s): Francis; Record Type: Christening.
Writing about his father's death, Sir Martin Barnham wrote, about 1630: ....from his
age of 14 till hee was above 60 he never had but one sicknesse, and that neither longe nor extreame. But aboute one yeare and halfe before his death, which happened in the 63rd yeare of his age, he beganne to feele some declination of his
former health, which continued till the time of his death, with some little weakness and distempers which by often appearinge and attacking him in such manner only as might well be reckoned amongst the blessings of his life ; for it gave him almost a certaine foreknowledg and fayer warning of his death, without any such torment of sicknesse as myght make his life grevious unto him, of which he made a right and true christaine use, by preparinge himselfe for the life to come, to wch he was summoned aboute the beginninge of December 1610 by a sicknesse somewhat sharpe at the first, but groweinge every day more violent till the day of his death, which was on the 10th of that month, which sicknesse he bare with a manly courage and christaine patience, and that time which he could make use of by any relaxation of his extreamity he spent in prayers, and in grave fatherly and wise admonitions and perswasions of love and peace to his wife and children ; havinge his memory and speech perfect till very few houres before his death, and soe the happinesse that accompanied his life was crowned with the perfection of all happinesse, in the blessednesse of his death.

Writing further, about the funeral of Sir Martin, Sir Francis said: His funerall were performed (accordinge to his owne directions) without any serimonous pompe but with soe greate a confluence of gentlemen of the best and second qualitie, and of all other sorts of people that dwelt neere him, as gave a full expression of the generall respect and love that was borne him ; for a more particular testimony whereof his body was carried to the church by six knights and gentlemen of prime quality, who gladly offered themselves to doe that honour to his ashes, and against the day of his buriall his tenannts sent in above 700 fowlles of all sorts as theire last
tribute of love and thankfullnesse to his memory and meritt ; and of that parte of his funerall sermon made by Doctor Boyse which represented his worth and vetrue even in a very transcendinge degree, it was yett sayed by some that knewe and could judge him well, that those prayses might fittley be compared to a picture that was like, but not so well as the life, to which censure this weake expression and imperfect collection of myne may justly be more liable.

PROBATE: PCC, 9 Wood FHL Film #092045. IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN This 16th daie of November 1609 I, Sir Martin Barnham knight make this my last will declaringe therein my full mynde and intent as well as my faithe as of my goodes Chattells landes Tennementes and hereditments that I am possessed of in possession and revercon

ffirst of all my belief is in god the ffather, god the sonne and god the holie ghost by whome onlie I hope to be saved and washed from all my sinnes which without the mercie of God doe deserve damnason, but am by his mercie fully insured of eternall salvacon hopinge onlie by his mercie to fill up the number of his heavenlie seates to whome be all honor and glorie

ffirst for disposinge of my goodes and Chattells my debts beinge paid my will is that my welbeloved wife shall have Three hundred pounds, that my Daughter Anna shall have One Thousand pounds and that my Daughter Katherine shall have one thousand poundes to be paide unto them out of all my goodes in possession or by bills obligations or bondes owinge unto me or otherwise accordinge to this my last will by me therin appoynted. The rest that shall remaine, my will it shall be evenlie divided betweene all my Sonnes, that is, my Sonne ffrancis, Martin, Jacob, and Thomas. Provided all waite that none of the saide sommes of money be paide unto anie of my saidee children until they shall accomplish the age of twentie and one yeares or be at convenient yeares married savinge that my sonnes ffrancis, Martin, and Jacob shall have their their porcone within six monethes after my decease, and the reasonable proffit of the rest to be employed aboute the fundinge and educacon of my saide other children untill they shall accomplishe the yeares or in convenient to me be married as is by this my will before saidee which monie shal be levyd by my saide executors for reasonable proffitt, for the which saide sommes as allso for the proffit my executors shall at the time above saide at their perrills, and as they will answere with good conscience accomplishe and paie to my saidee children.

And as touchinge my landes, Whereas my Sonne Francis is allreadie advanced of a full third part with all my landes in Bilsington, Ruckinge, Newchurche, Snave, Allington, Bonnington and Mersham accordinge to such an estate as by conveyance is to him formerlie lymited, I the saidee Sir Martin doe by this my will for his further advance give unto my saidee sonne ffrancis Barnham, and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, all that my house and all those landes Tennements and hereditamentes lyingee and beinge upon Hollingborne hill which I latelie purchased of Robert Seathy and Richard Wood, as allso my greate wood called Parkewood with a small wood called Sprottswood and one Close or field called Parkscrofte lyingee together onlie a sheeveway betweene Sprottswood and Parkewood as allso one parcell of woodland late purchased of the saide Richard Wood as allsoe one parcell of lande and two parcells of wood late purchased of Henrie Stapell, likewise I doe give unto my Sonne ffrancis all those my landes meadowes, and pastures called Brenmarsh Burletts Impton, and longe feild as allso Lambes leafe all lyingee together to be had to him and to the heires males of his bodie, Allso I doe give unto my saidee Sonne ffrancis all that parcell of land of mine called Vouklet and one half acre of lande all lyingee in ye parish of Hollingborne and Huckinge which saide halfe acre upon parte therof it is thought that parte of the Parsonage house doth stand referringe the truthe thereof to my evidences and other honest gesses not defyringe by anie meanes either to essage my conscience or anie of my Childrens in not havinge that which is not truly myne, for my evidence is good for half an acre but while anie part of the Parsonage house doth stand upon yt I, or noe, I doe referre to good testimonie and honest proofe. All which saide landes, tennementes and hereditamentes so by me in this my will given to my saide sonne ffrancis my will and meaning is that my saide sonne ffrancis shall have all those landes by this my will bequeathed to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue to my sonne Martin and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue to my sonne Jacob and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, And for default of such issue to my sonne Thomas and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten. Provided all waite that neither my saide Sonne ffrancis Martin Jacob or Thomas or the heires males of their bodies after their severall estates shall accrue or come to them shall enter upon the saide house or anie of the saide landes Tennements and hereditaments but after the marriage of my now well beloved wife Judith Barnham or after her decease which of them shall first happen, for my will, and meaninge is that she shall not have that house and those landes, Tennementes, and hereditamentes longer then she is my widdow and doth keepe herself unmarried and so livinge unmarried, Then I will all that house and all those landes tennements and hereditaments hereby bequeathed to my sonnes ffrancis, Martin, Jacob, and Thomas accordinge to their severall estates shalbe to my saidee wife Judith duringe her life yf she remaine sole and unmarried, I doe by this my last will give unto my sonne Martin Barnham my Manner of Rippell together with my landes and woodes called Bablinge late purchased by me of Mr Brockwell and his son in law Mr Combes, as allso those landes purchased of Richard wood with the wood called Bablinge wood to be had to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten upon condicon that if he the saide Martin or the heires males of his bodie shall refuse at the reguest and charges by fine at the common lawe to assure and convey unto my sonne ffrancis and the heires males of his bodie that wood above saide called Parkwood and that field above saide called Vouklett with the half acre, and those three parcells of land meadowe and pasture called Brenmarsh which in truth I did convey to the issues of Judith my nowe welbeloved wife and therfore do not yt from them but for their further advance, All which landes abovesaide severally bequeathed do lie in the parishe of Hollingborne and Huckinge in the Countie of Kent then my will & meaninge is that my sonne Francis shall receave the proffitts of my Mannor of Rippell, and untill my saide sonne Martin or the heires males of his bodie shall make such assurance by fine as is aforesaide Likewise by this my will I give unto my saide sonne Martin all my landes, tennementes, and hereditamentes lyingee at Yorkshill in the parishes of Sundwich and Cheveninge which I late purchased of Sir Perswall Willoughbie, and John Sidley or either of them to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue to my sonne Jacob and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten and for default of such issue to my sonne Thomas and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, And for defaulte of such issue to the right heires of me the saide Sir Martin forever.

Item I do by this my last will give unto my sonne Jacob Barnham all my landes tennements and hereditaments lyinge in the parrishes of Stapleherst and Gowdherst in the saide countie to him and to ye heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten and for default of such issue to my sonne Martin and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, and for default of such issue to my son Thomas and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, And for default of such issue to my right heires of me the saide Sir Marten forever

Item I do by this my last will give unto my sonne Jacob all my landes aswell arrable pastuer as woodland lyingee in the parrishes of Stapleherst and Gowdherst in the saide Countie to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten; and for default of such issue to my sonne Martin and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten. And for default of such issue to my sonne Thomas and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten. And for default of such issue to the right heires of me the saidee Sir Martin Barnham forever

Item I do by this my last will give unto my sonne Jacob all my landes aswell arrable pasture as woodeland called Wrens and Cutnole as allso my wood there called Cutnole late by me purchased of Sir James Crowmer knight lyingee in the parrishes of Borden and Tunstall in the saidee Countie, To be had to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten upon condicon, that yf he the saide Jacob or the heires males of his bodie shall refuse at the request and charges by fyne at the common lawe to assure, and convey unto my sonne ffrancis and to the heires males his bodie that wood above saidee called Parkewood and that field above saidee called Vouklett with the half acre and those three parcells of land meadowe and pasture called Brenmarsh which in truth I did convey to the yssues of Judith my nowe welbeloved wife, and therfore doe not take it from them but for their further advance, then my will and meaninge ys that my sonne ffrancis shall receave the proffitts of all those landes called Wrens & Cutnole and untill my sonne Jacob or the heires males of his bodie shall make such assurance by a fyne as is aforesayde.

Item I doe by this my last will give unto my Sonne Thomas All those my landes, Tennements, and hereditamentes lyingee in the parishes of Littlebourne, and Ickham as allso all those my landes, tenementes, and hereditamentes lyinge in the parrishe of Lenham to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten, and for defaulte of such issue to my sonne Martin, and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten, And for default of such issue to my sonne Jacob, and to the heyres males of his bodie lawfully begotten and for defaulte of such issue to the right heires of me the saidee Sir Martin forever But if my sonne Thomas shall refuse by fyne in due for me of law after that he shall accomplish the age of twentie one yeares to convey unto my saidee sonne ffrancis the saidee wood called Parkewood and the field called Voutlett and the half acre, as allso those three parcells of land medowe and pasture called Brenmarshe, Lames leafe, Impton, and longe fielde, then my will and meaning is that my sonne ffrancis shall take and receave the proffitts of all those landes to my saide sonne Thomas bequeathed in the parrish of Lenham untill such tyme as my saide sonne Thomas shall by fyne in due forme of lawe convey those landes accordinge to this my last will and testament. Provided allwayes that yf my saide sonnes Martin, Jacob, and Thomas or the heires males of their bodies shall convey their right, title, and Interest in those landes within saide to be conveyed to my sonne ffrancis, that then presentlie upon such conveyance by them or anie of them or the heires males of their bodies, made, tendred, and performed as above sayde That then my sonne ffrancis and his heires shall not anie longer after anie such conveyance by them or anie of them or the heires males of their bodies soe to him or his heywes made take or receave anie of the proffitts of anie of their landes by this my will to him my sonne ffrancis lymited, but as touching the givinge of those proffitts by this my will, that part of my will to be utterlie void.

Item I will that my welbeloved wife shall recieve the ffiftie poundes by me yearlie reserved out of the Parsonage of Hollingborne so longe as she doth live my widowe and is unmarried.

Item I will to my sonne ffrancis the fortie poundes yearlie reserved to me and my assignes out of my wives Indenture which is the Priory of Bilsington with all the landes and Parsonage therunto belonginge.

Item I will and give to my sonne ffrancis all those landes that I purchased of Henry Dyer lyingee in Bilsington to him and to the heires males of his bodie lawfullie begotten, and for default of such issue to the heires males by bodie of me Sir Martin Barnham, and for default of such issue to the right heyres of me Sir Martin Barnham forever. Provided allwaies that if the two thousand pounds before by me bequeathed to my Daughter Anna, and my Daughter Katherine, that is to each of them one thousand pounds will not sufficientlie rise out of my goods, chattells, bondes, Billes, and abligacons or other debtes due to me then my will and meaninge is that my Executors doe sell my house, landes, and parsonage of Chalke in Kent to pay all my debts & legacies butt truely to be paid to my Daughters Anna and Katherine the thousand poundes to each of them before bequeathed and that the profitts of my saide house and landes and Parsonage in Chalke shalbe evenly divided betweene my saide Daughter Anna and Katherine until my Executors have solde the house, landes, and Parsonage aforesaide towardes their maintenance and educacon; but yf my goodes chattells bondes billes and obligacons together with the sale by my Executores of my saide house, landes, and Parsonage of Chalke will not pay my debts and discharge all my legacies, then my will and meaninge is, that out of all my landes tenements and hereditamentes that I have by this my will given to my Sonnes ffrancis Martin Jacob and Thomas there shal be yerelie by indifferent porcons out of all their sayde landes unto them formerlie bequeathed by my Executors to be indifferentlie accordinge to their yearlie proffitts apporconed the full some of two hundred poundes yearlie to be taken untill all my saide debtes and legacies by my executors be accordinge to this my last will fully satisfied contented and paide.

Item I will unto my sonne and daughter Honywood fiftie poundes, and to my sone and Daughter Steward fifty poundes.

Item I doe give unto every servant that are at this time in my service, and so shalbe & continued at the houre of my death to everie one of them the full some of tenn shillinges over and above their wages for everie yeare that they have served me, hereby meaninge to give them most that have served me longest and to Authur Pelliton because he is my poore kinsman I doe give over and above the somme of ffive pounds, of all which my will and Testament as above sayde I doe make my very welbeloved wife, and my sonne ffrancis my sole and onlie Executores desyringe them faithfullie to performe this my will and doe desire my wife often to thinke upon me, and to remember the lovinge familiar and secrete speeche and communicacon that have passed betweene her and me for her owne good and the good the good of all our Children desyringe her often to call to minde that her tyme in this world cannot be longe after mine, And if in that time she shall endevour to be lovinge and helpfull unto her children she shall live a most free life bindinge them to serve her and love her and soe shall she be able to be helpfull unto them that shall deserve best of her which God graunte, Lastlie I defyne, entreate, and charge you my Sonne ffrancis to be dutyfull and lovinge to my wife your Mother, of whome I am assured no man lyvinge had ever a better wife nor noe Childe had ever a better Mother thyn you have had of her, and one that brought me a greatt porcon many Children whom God blesse, and hath all her tyme with greatt respect to my credit kept my house as proffitably as anie woman in Kente could doe. ffurthermore I desire entreat and charge you my Sonne ffrancis that as God hath made you the heire of my _?_ house beseechinge God to blesse the inheritance thereof so have you five tymes more than anie Brother you have and therfore desire you not onlie for your part to performe and keepe this my last will and testament inviolable but in every _?_ to keepe and performe the same accordinge to this my will and often to read yt and thinke on me, as allsoe to be brotherly lovinge aydinge and helpinge wherin you may to all your Brothers and Sisters rememberinge you all had one carefull and most lovinge ffather, and howe you shall therby please God, honor your ffather and gaine greatt commendations from the world with undoubted love of all your Brothers and Sisters which God graunte, and soe to gods blessinge I commend my self, my wife and you with all your Brothers and Sisters and all my grandchildren and soe doe make an end of this my last will and testamente. And in witnes that this is my true will, I the saide Sir Martin Barnham have written all the same with mine owne hand and doe publish it as my last will and testament and thereunto have sett my hande the day and yeare first above written to everie leafe. Martin Barnham This xyth 12th December 1610 Edward Listen, Robert Honeywood Jr, Augustine Steward, John Dale

NOTE: The inheritance of 1,000 pounds that Sir Martin left to several of his heirs is the equivalent of $186,347 for each of them in 2001 dollars. The annual stipend of 50 pounds that he left to others equals $9,317 per year. Since those monetary grants were dwarfed by the amount of property and chattels that were divided among his heirs, his total worth must have been quite significant for a person of his time.
The will of Sir Martin Barnham of Hollingbourne, Kent, dated 02 February 1611, may be found in Department Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers. Name of Register: Wood Quire Numbers: 1 - 58, Catalogue reference PROB 11/117.

UK, Extracted Probate Records about Barnham, Sir Martin, Knighte. Text: 1611 Barnham, Sir Martin, knighte, Hollingborne, Stapleherst, Gowdherst, Chalke, Bilsington Priory, Ruckinge, Newechurch, Snave, Allington, Bomington, Mersham, Huckinge, Mannor of Ripple, Yorkshill in pars. of Sundrich and Cheuening, Borden, Tunstall, Littlebourne, Ickham, Lenham, Kent 9 Wood. Book: Wills Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and now Preserved in the Principal Probate Registry. 1605 to 1619. (Will)
Collection: England: Canterbury - Wills Proved in The Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1605-1619.

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