{"id":2124,"date":"2014-08-15T11:34:01","date_gmt":"2014-08-15T10:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teresa-goatham.me.uk\/genealogy\/?page_id=2124"},"modified":"2015-09-30T10:15:31","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T09:15:31","slug":"john-bigg","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/teresa-goatham.me.uk\/genealogy\/wills-about\/kent\/becon\/john-bigg\/","title":{"rendered":"The will of John Bigg (1602-1643) (husband of Sybilla Becon)"},"content":{"rendered":"

(John<\/a> was the husband of Sybilla BECON<\/a>, a cousin 10 times removed of mine)<\/p>\n

Many people appear not to have written their wills until they were sick, although it is not usually possible to know if the will written then was replacing an earlier one made in good health. It is even said to have been considered badluck to write a will, causing an earlier death.<\/p>\n

John wrote his while well; possibly he was prompted to start this task by the death of the last surviving of his 6 children a couple of months earlier. Two had survived the most risky time of babyhood, but the last to die was aged just 9, surely a reminder to John of his own mortality.<\/p>\n

Of course another reason for writing this will soon after the death of his last child may be that an earlier will with his child or children as the main beneficiaries was not longer appropriate. Sybilla appears to have had no children, despite she and John having been married about 6 years when he started writing the will, and now being aged 43 it must have seemed probable he would leave no heires. John did still think of the possibility of an heir; a little strangely he allows for the possibility of Sybilla being with child when he died, but not that she might have given birth to a child between him writing the will and dying; I guess he would have rewritten the will or added a codicil PDQ if that had happened.<\/p>\n

As is often the case with a childless testator, John’s will is a particularly long one, with very many people receiving bequests. However, all the relations seem to be relations of his, not his wife Sybilla’s, as far as I have looked; two relations of Sybilla’s are mentioned, her late brother Anthony and her cousin’s husband George Yonge, who is asked to help adminster a bequest in Anthony’s will, if necessary.<\/p>\n

Some of John’s relations were amongst the early settlers seeking religious freedom in New England and John himself had land there. The puritan connection is obvious not only in the references to New England but also in some of the names: Hopestill, Thankful, Smallhope.<\/p>\n

[Names highlighted in blue indicates also mentioned in his brother Smallhope’s will so where they are relations they appear to be on John’s side, not his wife Sybilla’s; line breaks and page numbers to aid referring to \/ from images of the register copy.]<\/p>\n

In the Name of god Amen: The Seaventeenth
\ndaie of August in the yeare of our lord Christ a thousand sixed hundred and fortie I John Bigg
\nof Maidstone in the Countie of Kent Jurat beeinge by the mercie of god in good health of bodie and of
\nperfect remembrance in mind for the which I doe give thanks unto God doe make this my last will &
\ntestament in manner and forme followinge, that is, First I committ my Soule unto the mercie of
\nGod my Creator trustinge assuredlie thorrough the meritts of Jesus Christe my Redeemer & Saviour to
\nbee made partakers of life everlastinge, And my bodie to the earth to bee buried at the discretion of my
\nwife and mine Executor Mr<\/sup>. Andrew Broughton, whom I doe ordain my sole executor of this my
\nlast will and testament, trustinge that hee wilbee carefull to performe the trust by mee committed
\nto him herin And now concerninge my temporall estate I dispose of it as followeth Item I do give
\nto the ordinarie poore of the pariishe of Maidston five poundes to bee distributed by the Overseers then
\nbeeinge And more I give fifteene poundes towards the clothinge of fifteene poore people whom my
\nwife and executor shall think most fitt to bestow it upon Also I give unto Roger Ball John Bowden
\nWilliam Whetston Samuell Browne and Samuell Skelton five poundes a peece And to widdowe
\nClarke and Mrss Peirce widdow fiftie shillinges a peece. Also I give unto the poore of the parrishe of
\nCranbrook five pounds, to bee distrubted to twentie poore godlie people by my brother Peter Masters<\/span> [husband of his sister Rachel, who had previously been married to Moregift Starr] and James Holden<\/span> of the same parrishes or their executors: Also I give to the poore of the parrishe of
\nBiddenden five poundes to be distributed to honest godlie poore to twentie poore five shillings a peece,
\nat the discretion of Mr. William Randolph and Mr. Robert Drayner or their executors All which
\nlegacies my will is to bee paid within sixe monethes after my decease Item I doe give to Susan the
\nwife of Daniell Clarke my anncient tenant five poundes to bee paid her at twentie shillinges a yeare
\nexcept it can otherwise at discretion of my executor bee laid out for her good I give also to William
\nLauraman five poundes to bee paid twentie Shillinges a yeare Item I doe give unto William
\nAyerst fiftie poundes to bee paid within sixe monethes after my decease And my Mynde and will
\nis that hee takinge my stocke and livinge in my house at my desiris, that all the ware except
\n[p.2]
\nHapps and goods that hee shall take beeinge indifferentlie prized that hee shall paie for one halfe of
\nthem, the other halfe so soone as may paie my debtes for them in London, or els so soone as my executor
\nshall want it a hundred pound per Annum. And for all my debtes that shalbee then owinge mee
\nto the end hee may take some paines and bee the more carefull to gett them in that hee shall have One
\nShillinge per pound allowed him out of them hee doinge his best endeavour for the hastninge them in,
\nand acquaintinge my executor with them that will not paie without trouble, that speedie course.
\nbee taken with them And to all other my servants I shall have livinge with mee at the time of my
\ndeath I give fortie shillinges a peece and twentie Shillinges a yeare for so manie yeares as they
\nhave lived above two yeares with mee, if such bee in my service to bee paid within sixe monethes after
\nmy decease. Item I give to Richard Weller senior of Cranbrooke fortie shillinges, To [blank space]
\nCheesman my Porter and fetcher in of my water fortie shillinges, and to old goodman Greensmith
\nof Loose fortie Shillinges and to widdow Darbey of Staplehurst fortie Shillinges. And old good=
\nman Humphry or his wife of Harresham [Harrietsham?] fortie shillings To Mrs<\/sup>. Warren widdow late of Sandwhich
\nfive pounds and Mr<\/sup>. Harber Minster of Raish beside Mallinge [St. Martins Ryarsh] five pounds. And to Mr<\/sup>. Elmeston
\nSchoolemaster of Maidston give pounds desiringe him to preach at my funerall, And to Mr<\/sup>. Good=
\nacker and to Mr<\/sup>. Bramston brother to widdow Charleton loose [of Loose?] two poore godlie Minsters I think of Sussex
\nfiftie shillinges a peece, to bee paid within one yeare after my decease Item I give to the Corporation
\nof Maidstone of which I am a member tenn pounds toward buyinge a new Mace withall Item I give
\nunto Damarys Wilson now livinge with mee, to bee paid her at her date of marriage or at the yeares of
\nOne and twentie one hundred pounds, five pound a yeare to bee paid for the hundred pound to
\nher father or mother, if her father dye duringe the said time it shalbee payable to her, beginninge the
\ntime from after one whole yeare after my decease. Item I give unto Mary Tatnell<\/span> they daughter of
\nThomas Tatnell<\/span> [‘Thomas Tadnall, late of Dover’ with wife Judith in his bro Smallhope’s will] now livinge with mee to bee paid at the daie of her marriage, or at one and twentie
\nyeares of age Twentie pounds. And if shee dye before the said money bee due, then I give it to her sister
\nJudah Tatnell<\/span> to bee payable as aforesaid. Item I give to Packnam Johnson now livinge with mee
\nTenn poundes to put him out apprentice to some convenient trade, when hee shall attaine the age of
\nfowerteene or fifteene yeares And I give to my sister Johnson his mother tenn pounds to bee paid by
\ntwentie Shillinges a yeare. Item I give to my Cozen Milles widdow livinge at Raysh [Ryarsh] and to my Cousin<\/span>
\n Botten<\/span> widdow livinge at Brenchley [‘kinswoman … Anne Bottinge of Brenchley’ in Smallhope’s will] five pounds a peece And to my Aunt Bredger<\/span> of Peckham [‘Aunt Mary Bridger of West Peckham’ in Smallhope’s will], to my
\nCousin Hunts<\/span> wife of Brenchley and to my Cousin Saxbeys<\/span> wife of Leeds to each of them fortie shillinges
\na peece And to my Cousin Gaskyne, and my cousen Betes<\/span> livinge about Lengly [Langley] fortie Shillinges a peece.
\nThese legacies to bee paid within one yeare after my decease. Now concerninge my lands in new England,
\nmy will is, that my mother<\/span> [Rachel Bigg according to web] beeinge paide twentie pound a yeare out of it, due to her by my brothers will
\nout of his house at Cranbrooke that then shall have twentie pound a yeare more out of it duringe her
\nnaturall life And that my sister Foster<\/span> [Patience acc to web] have twentie pound a yeare out of it duringe her naturall life
\nAnd my brother Stowe<\/span> [John, husband of John’s sister Elizabeth] tenn pownd a yeare out of it, all these livinge in new England. Now if it shall
\nnot yeild Seaventy pownds a yeare, then I will my mother to have her twentie pownds a yeare at Cra=
\nbrooke to bee paid her as the will goeth And the Rent of that in new England to bee divided betweene my
\nmother theire and sister Foster But if that shall yeild above Seaventie pownds a yeare my will is what=
\never it bee that it bee equallie divided between my mother and sister Foster And my mind is, that after
\ntheir decease that all my landes in new England shall goe equallie the Rent divided to Hopestill Foster,
\nThomas Stowe John Stowe Nathanaell Stowe and Samuell Stowe, and my brother Stowes two
\ndaughters one parte of sixe, And so equallie to bee divided into Sixe partes to goe to them & their
\nheires for ever and so the one halfe of it after my mother or Sisters decease to come presentlie to
\nbee divided, and my brother Stowes tenn pownd a yeare also after his decease. Now, concerninge my
\nlandes in old England my mind is that my wife Sibella Bigg<\/a> besides her Joynter shall have the remayn=
\nder of what my howse yeildeth that lyeth in Maidston which I now live in besides the twentie poundes a
\nyeare which I hope wilbee twentie poundes a yeare more, And also the Rent of my house and land in
\nLynton [Linton] Besides I give unto her one hundred pownds to bee paid within one yeare after my decease if shee
\nbee then livinge And One hundred pownd of my platt and househould stuffe to take where shee pleaseth
\nafter that its prized, And if Michaeltide or our ladie day fall not out within one moneth after my
\ndecease, my will is, that within one moneth after my decease my Executor let my wife have fortie
\n[p.3]
\nPownds shee payinge it againe the first Rents shee comes to receave. And for all my other Rents at
\nCranbrooke, Wittersham Lyde which is about Fiftie pownds per Annum my legacies and debtes
\nbeeinge first paid and that my mother and sister Foster receavinge Sixtie powndes a yeare at
\nleast in new England out of my landes there, Then my mind and will is that Hope Foster and
\nmy brother Stowes fower sonnes before named shall have the Rents of it equallie divided with li=
\nbertie to sell either of their purces beeinge of age to make good sale of the same. Alwaies provided
\nthat if my mother and Sister Foster enjoy not the former Sume of threescore poundes a yeare in
\nnew England they shall receave the Rents of this duringe their lives, vizt. thirtie poundes a
\nyeare my Mother Bigg and twentie pownds a yeare my sister Foster, and the longest liver
\nto have the whole fiftie powndes a yeare duringe her life and after to the uses aforesaid And
\nafter their decease to goe as aforesaid. And for my other house and land at Horsmonden of
\nTenn powne a yeare, one whole yeare after my debtes and legacies bee paid I give to Elizabeth
\nStowe One hundred pownds, and to Thankfull Stowe the remaynder of it, which if my Exe=
\ncutor will not give hundred pownd more at her cominge to age or daie of marriage then to make
\nit upp a hundred out of my estate And concerninge the rest of my landes after my wifes decease
\nwhich wilbee about threescore powndes a yeare or upwards if my mother Bigg bee then livinge
\nand my sister Foster or either of them, my will is that they, or either of them then livinge shall
\nhave twentie powndes a yeare out of the said landes besides what before given them duringe
\ntheir or either of their naturall lifes. And after my wives decease or either of theirs the Remayn=
\nder of the Rents aforesaid to bee divided, as my will is the whole shalbee after all their deceases : v
\nThat is I give to Hopestill Foster fifteene powndes a yeare, To John Stowe fifteene pownd
\na yeare, And the Remaynder to bee equallie divided betweene Thomas Stowe, Samuell Stow
\nand Nathanaell Stowe with libertie either of them to sell their partes when its come unto them
\nif they bee of age to make good sale of it And I authorise my executor either to sell or keepe the
\naforenamed tenn pownd a yeare in Horsmonden hee payinge the two legacies given to Eliz=
\nbeth and Thankfull Stowe as aforesaid. Item I give unto Elizabeth Pell<\/span> dwellinge with mee
\nat the time of my decease. Also I give to my Cousin Beatupes wife of Tenterden Fortie
\nShillinges. And to <\/a>Marie Terrie [1]<\/a> in new England tenn powndes to bee paid in one whole
\nyeare as the other Also to my Cousin Godfery Martyne<\/span> five poundes and to my Cousin
\nSmithes wife of Ladoim [Ladonn or Ladomi?] late Saltman five powndes Item I give unto my Cousin Will[ia]m
\nBoyffe [? could be Boysse – looks more like Boyffe to me] fortie poundes and tenn powndes in household stuffe of that remayninge unsold in
\nmy house at Cranbrooke. And this to bee paid him when hee discharges such bond or bonds
\nas I shall at the time of my decease bee ingaged for him, if anie bee, and if nowe, then to
\nbee paid within one whole yeare after my decease Item I give unto John Crumpe sonne
\nof Thomas Crumpe to bee paid him within one yeare after my decease tenn powndes to
\nbuy him bookes with: And as concerninge one hundred pownds I receaved of guift of my
\n<\/a>brother Beacons <\/a>[3]<\/a> to goe towards mayntenance of a godlie Scholler sent from Canterbury
\nto Cambridge for seaven yeares if hee so longe continued there, which accordinglie hath beene
\nperformed, yet notwithstandinge, if it bee conceived it was meant for ever I will my
\nexecutor with my wife and <\/a>Cousin Yonge <\/a>[2]<\/a> of Canterburie, that they see the said hundred
\npownd setled in such way as may bee most agreeable to my brothers will. And that my
\nexecutor seeinge it soe to bee done pay the hundred pownds which I have receaved, And to
\npaie five pownds a yeare to the use aforesaid till he paie it in or bee setled as aforesaid. Item
\nI give to my brother Peeter Masters<\/span> of Cranbroke tenn poundes and to his fower children
\nFive powndes a peece to bee paid so soone as my executor shall have money in his handes,
\nafter my former legacies and debtes bee paid. Item I give to my Cousin James Bure of new
\nEngland of Cousin lyne of new England to each of them fortie shillinges, and to Clement<\/span>
\n Bate<\/span> and William Bachelor<\/span> each of them five pownds, And to Edward Whitt<\/span>, John<\/span>
\n Compton<\/span> John Moore Thomas Bridgden, Goodman Beale that went from Cranbrooke
\nand my Cousin Betts<\/span> there, each of them twentie Shillinges a peece, and twentie pownds
\nmore to godlie poore in new England, to bee given by the discretion of my Mother and
\n[p.4]
\nBrother Stowe or their executors. this to bee paid next after my brother Masters: Also I give
\nunto my executor Mr. Andrew Broughton all my parte of the hopp garden on my brother Swi=
\nnockes land And all my parte of that Shipp and Stocke called the London, Mr. John London
\nbeeinge Maister of it, besides all his expences hee shall at any time or occasion lay out about this
\nexecutor shipp by mee committed to him. Also if it shall happen my wife should bee with child
\nwhen I dye, then my minde and will is that all legacies of my lands given in old England to
\nbee voide and goe to my Childe whether it bee sonne or Daughter, but if it live not to the age of
\nOne and twentie yeares or to bee married then my mind and will is, that my legacies & guifts
\ngoe as aforementioned And if I should have anie Childe before or after my death, and this my
\nwill not altered, And that anie of my Sisters Children in new England shall seeke by anie
\nmeanes or device of law to trouble my executor or heire about any of my landes, that where
\neither my brother Biggs or mine, that then or they attemptinge anie law shall make voide all
\nhis or their partes of landes given them in new England or other legacies in this my will And
\nalso to my brother Robert Swinocke I give a Stone pott with a guilded lidd And also to my mother Mrs.
\nmother [mother-in-law by his first marriage] Mrs<\/sup>. Dorothie Maplisden, my brother Mr<\/sup>. Jervis Maplisden and his wife, my brother
\nMr<\/sup>. Nymion Butcher and his wife <\/a>Mr<\/sup>. Robert Swynockes [4]<\/a> wife Mr<\/sup>. Thomas Swynocke my
\nbrother in law also Mr<\/sup>. Wilson and his wife, and my brother Wildinge to everie of these fortie
\nShillinges a peece to buy them a Ring or such like for a token or remembrance And to Mrs<\/sup>.
\nMarie Duke twentie Shillinges to buy a Sugar loafe All which legacies I desire to bee paid
\nwithin a yeare or sooner, if my executor have money in his handes And further my will is
\nthat if there been besides my debtes paid and legacies given One hundred or Fiftie pounds
\nspare, that if the Companie doe goe on againe of buyinge in of Imprepriations that my
\nexecutor shall paie towards the furtherance of that pious worke within sixe monethes after
\nit comes into his handes the said hundred poundes, or if not so much then Fiftie poundes if
\nit been spare, out of my estate as aforesaid, And after this is performed if anie yet bee my will
\nis that it shalbee equallie divided, one halfe to goe to ten godlie Ministers or Ministers wid=
\ndowes, whereof I desire Mr<\/sup>. Elmeston of Cranbrooke whom I have forgotten in my will to have
\none parte, And the other halfe to bee given to such godlie poore Christians as my wife my Exe=
\ncutor and Overseers herafter mentioned shall thinke fitt. And I intreate and appointe my
\nlovinge freindes James Holden of Cranbrooke, Thomas Lambe of Staplehurst for to bee Over=
\nseers of this my will and Testament and to bee aydinge to my executor by their advice and
\nCounsell for the better performance of this my will and testament. And doe herby give to
\nmy said Overseers for their paines and trouble the sum[m]e of Five poundes a peece to bee paid
\nwithin Sixe monethes after my decease. And it is my minde and will, that if mine Execu=
\ntor shall die before my will bee proved, that then my two Overseers shalbee sole Executors &
\nenjoy to them those two guiftes of my parte of the Hoppground, and my parte of the Shipp
\ncalled the London as my aforenamed executor Mr<\/sup>. Broughton should have done. It is also
\nmy will and mind that if it shall happen at anie time herafter, that anie ambiguitie
\ndoubt or question shall growe or arise betweene anie whatsoever about the meaninge of this
\nmy will or anie parte therof by reason of the imperfection or defecte or or in anie wordes
\nClauses or Sentences in this my will, that then and for the further and better explana=
\ntion therof and Construction of the said ambiguitie or doubt I will and ordaine that
\nmy lovinge freindes and Overseers aforenamed that they shall expound explaine and
\nInterprett the same accordinge to their wisdomes and discretions and as shall seeme to
\nthem most agreeable to my minde and will. And the same so determined by them shall so
\nstand and bee whatsoever may seeme to the contrarie in this my will. And further it is
\nmy will, that if anie whomsoever to whom I have in this my will given anie guift of
\nlandes legacies money or of goodes or the heires executors of anie of them doe attempte
\nto goe about to doe anie acte or actes thinge or thinges for to aliene alter or discontinue
\nthis my will and testament, or anie thinge therin mentioned and shall refuse to bee
\nordered and not abide the awarde or order of my lovinge friends and Overseers afore=
\nnames, or of one of them, if it shall fall out, but one of them livinge when the doubte or
\n[p.5]
\nQuestion shall arise or the executors of them if that they bee all dead, if anie I saie shall
\nrefuse to bee ordered by him or them as aforesaid then it is my will and minde that the persons so
\nattemptinge and refusinge to bee ordered as aforesaid that then and from thenceforth his, hers
\nor theirs guifte or guiftes leagcie or legacies whatsoever by mee formerlie given to anie such
\nshalbee utterlie voide and the same guiftes so formerlie given to anie shall remaine and bee
\nto such person or persons in this my will mentioned, as if the person or persons so attemptinge
\nwere dead indeede, anie thinge before in this my will declared to the contrarie. Also I will that
\nmy executor and Overseers to see performed anie legacie or guift in my Brother Smalehope
\nBiggs will late of Cranbrooke which shall not bee performed by mee before my death by reason
\nof not beeinge due or forgotten, or also if anie thinge in my brother Beacons will which by
\nreason of my wife ought by mee to bee performed about either the guift of a hundred pounds
\nor the Remayndinge parte of a lease at Cambridge I desire them accordinglie to see it performed
\nin what they shall thinke fitt in their consciences or by law by mee to bee performed. Also it is
\nmy will and minde that anie to whom I have given anie guiftes or legacies that if at time
\nof my death they are indebted to mee or their husbands that they shall unsett that they owe
\nmee, or so much as their legacie or guift comes unto. Also its my mind and will that anie
\ncharges my executor or Overseers shalbee att, at anie time about this my will, that it shalbee
\nallowed them over and besides their guifte or legacie by mee given In witnes wherof I have to
\nthis my last will and testament conteyninge three Sheetes of paper putt to my hand to everie
\nSheete therof and my Seale to this last Sheete therof beeinge all written with mine owne hand
\nand finished these seaven and twentieth daie of March one thowsand sixe hundred fortie &
\nOne. Per me John Bigg.<\/p>\n

Probatum fuit testamentum suprascriptum
\napud London coram juro Willmo Saines legum doctore, Surrogato venerabilis viri Willmi
\nMerricke legum etiam doctoris Curie Prerogative Can Matri Custodis sive Commissarii (ltime?)
\nconstituti Septimo die mensis Februarii Anno dm nixta computatoem ealesie Anglicane mil=
\nlesimo sexcentesimo quadragesimo secunido, Juramento Andrea Broughton Executoris in huius=
\nmodi testamento nominat Cui commissa fuit Administratio omni et singulorn. bonoru. Juriiu.
\net Creditorum eiusders(?) defuncte de bene et fidels administrandon eadem ad Sta. dei Evangelia[i.e. the will was proved 7 Feb 1642 by the English way of calculating; it would have been 1643 if the year had then started on 1st Jan as it did in many countries]<\/div>\n

<\/a>[1]<\/a> Marie Terrie – Sybilla’s 1st cousin Maria, daughter of my ancestor Basil Becon, married Thomas Terrye in 1616; I did wonder if she the Marie Terrie referred to in New England in this will. However, researching her family (i.e.<\/em> the family of Basil’s daughter) it clearly was not<\/strong> this one (Terry was quite a common surname in the area, and obviously Mary was a common Christian name)<\/p>\n

<\/a>[2]<\/a> Cousin Yonge – Sybilla’s 1st cousin Rachel, daughter of my ancestor Basil Becon, married George Young in 1613. George was an apothecary and it seems clear he was the George Yonge referred to in Anthony Becon’s will. Like Anthony he had been educated at Canterbury School.<\/p>\n

<\/a>[3]<\/a> John’s brother-in-law, Sybilla’s brother Anthony Becon.<\/p>\n

<\/a>[4]<\/a> I can see that iv or ev could look like a w in some handwriting, but with the writer of this copy of the will I’m sure it isn’t. But did it in the original? I can’t find the name Sw(i\/y)nocke anywhere, but I know there was the name Sennockes (Sevenockes) in the area, so it seems to me it could be that. Anyone come across Sw(i\/y)nocke?<\/p>\n

\n

Unfortunately John Biggs will, together with that of his brother Smallhope, led to family disputes, between their nephews in New England. “Many and uncomfortable differences” arose between Hopestill Foster, son of their sister Patience and Thomas, Nathaniel and Samuel Stowe, sons of their sister Elizabeth. An instrument is recorded in September 1653 which had the aim of ending these differences. A few more particulars can be found in ‘Genealogical Gleanings in England’, p23<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

The will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury<\/a> and is held at the National Archives.<\/p>\n

TNA<\/a> ref: PROB 11\/191\/96<\/span> (more details about source on John’s page<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Because my interest in John and his will is because he married a cousin, and he was not, so far as I am aware, a relation of mine in his own right, I do not plan to add a transcription of the will I refer to, that of his brother Smallhope. An abstract of it is available online here<\/a>. This can be seen on microfilm or ordered from the Canterbury Cathedral Archives<\/a> or the Kent History and Library Centre<\/a> in Maidstone.
\nReferences (from the East Kent wills index, now in a new section on the Canterbury Cathedral website<\/a>):
\nBigg, Smallhope of Cranbrook, will made: 1638, probate: 1638;
\nreigster copy ref: PRC32\/51\/115, original will ref: PRC31\/108 B\/1<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(John was the husband of Sybilla BECON, a cousin 10 times removed of mine) Many people appear not to have written their wills until they were sick, although it is not usually possible to know if the will written then …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1350,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2124","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"\nThe will of John Bigg (1602-1643) (husband of Sybilla Becon) - Teresa's Tree and the Goatham \/ Gotham One-Name Study<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/teresa-goatham.me.uk\/genealogy\/wills-about\/kent\/becon\/john-bigg\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"23 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/teresa-goatham.me.uk\/genealogy\/wills-about\/kent\/becon\/john-bigg\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/teresa-goatham.me.uk\/genealogy\/wills-about\/kent\/becon\/john-bigg\/\",\"name\":\"The will of John Bigg (1602-1643) (husband of Sybilla Becon) - 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