Fressingfield is a large and very pleasant village in the county of Suffolk, England. From ancient deeds, written in Latin it is found that in 1477 WILLIAM ALDOUS, whose family had lived in the parish for some generations, received a gift of land there from his father-in-law, THOMAS WARNER, of neighbouring Wingfield; from other records we can assume that this land was a wedding gift to WILLIAM and his bride JOHAN (JOAN). They were deeded more property by JOHAN's father in the years 1478, 1500 (four acres) and 1502, a messuage (house, outbuildings, and yard) called Cryktots, with a pightle (small plot) and garden containing three roods ( a rood is one fourth acre) Regarding the 1478 holding, which was later transmitted to WILLIAM and JOHAN's son THOMAS, a deed in 1567 reveals that previous to THOMAS WARNER it had belonged to his father NICHOLAS WARNER; NICHOLAS had received it from THOMAS COOK by gift deed form JOHN BALIE 7 March 1431. The 1500 deed pertains to acreage which THOMAS WARNER had also previously been given by his father. The 1500 and 1502 gifts included WILLIAM's and JOHAN's son ROBERT, and in 1518 the three deeded those acquisitions to son THOMAS.
In 1528 were written reciprocal deeds, indicating a mortgage between JOHN HOBARD and WILLIAM ALDOUS, his son THOMAS, and others, regarding four pieces of WILLIAM's real estate, one called Ferfield, one in Chepenhall hamlet, one in Wittingham hamlet, and a fourth, also in Chepenhall hamlet, called "Impehedgelond." WILLIAM and JOHAN had a third son, RICHARD, involving whom there may have been deeds also, but if there were they probably have not survived the ravages of time, as deeds were private and kept in possession of the owners, with no public registration required.
In 1524 WILLIAM and his three sons were listed on the Suffolk Subsidy Return, all living in Fressingfield. Their last names are spelled ALDOWES, ALDHOUS, AND ALDHOWS. All four paid their tax "in goodes."
WILLIAM's will is dated 13 December 1528. He and his wife were living in Fressingfield, he "in good and hooll mynde beyng." He commended his "soule to god allmyghtie to our Lady Saynt Marye and to all the sayns in hevyn." and his "bodye to be buryed in the church yerde of fresyngfeld." As was customary he bequeathed an amount, in his case three shillings four pence, to the "highe Aulter" of the parish for my tythes forgoton withholdyn or ellys negligeictlie paide." Son THOMAS' shall paye and contrict unto JOHAN my wyff yerelie as long as she shall lyve xxvj sviij d (twenty-six shillings eight pence) sterling money. And also the same JOHAN to have her choyse whether she will dwelle still with the same THOMAS and there she is to have hir chamber
in the south end of my tenament of ellys to be att cherch."
From this we can assume that WILLIAM held a lease on some church owned property. The will continues, "And yf she be dwellyng still with THOMAS my son that I will that he and his assignes shall fynd hir sufficient mete and drynke and all other thinggs to her nedefull and contentment." Additionally, "yf she dwelle att my house at cherch than I will that whe shall have yerelie delivered by THOMAS my son or his assigns sufficient fuell or fire woode. and also to deliver ther redie ground sufficent whete and malte durying hir lyff." Further on in the will it the notation that "yf my siff dwelle att the cherch I wyll that she shall have ij mylche ken (two milk cows) to do the wyth what she will." "THOMAS my sonne shall have all suche landes and medowes with the appurtenance ans lye within Wytyngham "RICHARD my son shall have a pightell colle Godbaldys pyghtell lyeing in Chepynhale." Apparently son ROBERT had received his full portion of the estate and is only mentioned when "JOHAN ALDOWS doughter of ROBERT ALDOWS" was bequeathed a small amount of money "under this condition that she be fulyed and guyded answele by her beldame (grandmother) as by her godfather(must be her grandfather) and that money to be paid hir at thir daye of mariage but not withstandyng I will that hir father shall pay my executor iiij nobyllys (four nobles, a noble being worth aboutten shillings) which he auyth me and that to be part of the original legacy, or ellys yf hir father pay it not I will she shall bave but ls (one shilling)." Before mentioning JOHAN and her father ROBERT, WILLIAM had stated that "the residue of all my stuffe moveabillys and unmoveabillys I wyll that THOMAS my son shall have it under this condicion that he performe his my sast will and testament."
The will concludes: "I ordeyn and make THOMAS my son my executor he to performe this my will and testament and to do for me as he shall semost best to the pleasure of God and profyght of my soule. And I bequeath to eny oan of my godchildren iijjd (four pence.)
Probate was made 15 January 1531/2
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