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 Ellen/Elaine/Helen,Norfolk.[4] and had by her four daughters.[1]
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][9][10]
The Ruined St. Michael's Church, Mintlyn
Elizabeth Thursby, the 15-great grandmother of Prince Williiam, Duke of Cambridge, is possibly Richard Aylmer's half-sister from his mother's third marriage to Thomas Thursby (d.1510[11]). Thomas Thursby was married several times, so there is some uncertainty as to who the mother of his children was.[12] If the birth date given for his son of the same name, 1487,[12] is correct, he cannot possibly be the son of Elizabeth, as she was still the wife of Robert Aylmer (d.1493) then. However, certainly Richard's daughter Cecily mentions ' my aunte Thorysby' in her will, leaving her a spoon of silver and six shillings and eight pence,[13] indicating that at least one of Thomas Thursby's children was by Elizabeth. She also mentions her 'sister' Grenall,[13] which must be Margery Thursby, married name Grindell.[12] Thomas Thursby spells the name 'Gryndell' in his will. Margery had already had a son, John, by 3 May 1510 when the will is dated.[11] Curiously, Thomas Thursby is involved in a suit in 1504–15 with John, son of John Gryndell, and Margery, his wife, daughter and heir of Robert Pylly over a tenement built on a common lane in Lynn, allegedly fraudulently conveyed by Thomas Thursby to Richard Pepir, who married Margaret, another daughter of Robert Pylly.[14] Richard Aylmer writes of 'my brother ffrannces mountford', the husband of Thomas Thursby's daughter Margaret,[15] in his will.[4] The names of Thomas Thursby's daughters, Elizabeth, Ellen, Beatrice, Margaret and Margery, correspond almost perfectly with known Aylmer given names. Richard's mother Elizabeth is not the daughter of John Burgoyne who in the Visitations of Cambridgeshire marries 'Thomas Thorseby of Norfolk', as that Elizabeth is still alive and apparently a wife in 1528, when she receives an inheritance from her mother Margaret.[16] Nor can she be the wife of his son, as that Thomas Thursby was marrying Anne[12] Knyvett in 1527.[17] Anne Thorysby along with Elyn Grenall are two of the witnesses of Cecily Aylmer's will in 1541.[13] She is probably the Isabel, late the wife of Thomas Thursby, who is involved in a suit in 1532–38.[18] Isabel and Elizabeth were considered the same name in the period.
Children
Children of Richard Aylmer:
The site of a lost village – Cecily Aylmer's MyntlyngePossibly John (by 1500 – before 1509). He is left a very specific piece of land in the will of his uncle, Thomas Aylmer in 1500[19]. This piece of land can be found again, now in the possession of Richard Aylmer, when he writes his will in 1509.[4]
^ abcde"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 yt ccccc xlljth 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 admo[...] 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 myghtye within the same yere I wyll have a lampe brenning duryng the sayd yere And I geve and bequethe to hym that shall kepe and give attendance to the same [...] 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 frende and benefactors Sowlles within the churche of Sancte Andrew aforesayd by the space of viij yeres nexte after my deceasse takyng [...] yere to his [...] It[e]m I wyll thatt myn executores shall ffynde a nothis [...] 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 [...] 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 wok[? work?] in the churche of Sancte Andrew with v. seculer pristes ij ffryers preist beyng thes p[re]sent both att dirige and messe takyng iche of them for ther labor iiijd [four pence] It[e]m to ij [...] clerke beyng ther pres[e]nt att dirige and masse to iche of them ijd [two pence] It[e]m to the clerke and [...] of the same churche of Sancte Andrew for ther labor and attendance in tollyng of the belles an 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 [...] 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 [...] It[e]m I bequethe to the curate in the sayd churche for the [...] 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 and ankerisse 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 [...] 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 lighe buryd xxs [20 shillings] It[e]m I bequethe to the Reparacons of the of the churche of Sancte Margaret in [...] 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 afforesaied[?] and stuff of howshold appoyntid to iche of to the value of x marcs and if [...] 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 [...] 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 [...] 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
^ ab"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 viijth And the yere of our lorde god yt 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 [...]
^ abcdBannerman, W. Bruce (William Bruce) (1906). Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. London, England : Mitchell, Hughes & Clarke.
^ abcdef"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 yt ccccc xlth 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 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 neppewe [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
^"Impington: Manors and other estates | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-28. John's widow Margaret held Impington until her death in 1528, (fn. 34) when it passed under a settlement of 1512 to their daughters Margaret, wife of George Heveningham, and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Thursby.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"K". A Who’s Who of Tudor Women. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2020-09-28. In the covenant for a marriage settlement dated May 31, 1527, Anne was described as "one of the queen's gentlewomen and one of the daughters of Sir Thomas Knyvett deceased." She was to marry Thomas Thuresby or Thoresby of Asshewykyne.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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