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Name: John Coo
Sex: M
Birth: 1523 in Gestingthorpe, Essex, England
Death: 12 OCT 1558 in Of Wissington, (Or Wiston), Suffolkshire, England
Burial: 1558 Wissington Church, Wissington, Suffolk, England
Note:
Source: WFT Volume #14, Tree #1715
John (7th generation) Coo "THE ELDER" was born in 1523, as the Court Rolls
of the Manor of Overhall on Apr. 30, 1534, record that John Coo aged ten
years and his mother Margaret, were admitted to the messuage and lands of
his deceased father John (6th generation) Coo junior, called Smythes and
Hikkes atte Dene in Gestingthorpe and Maplestead, which premises were to
come to the said John (7th generation) Coo at the age of nineteen years.
After the succession of John Coo to these estates, his uncle John (6th
generation) Coo "the elder" unsuccessfully claimed a title to them at the
courts in 1544 and 1545; the basis of his claim is not clear, but was
probably grounded on primogeniture. No further mentions of John Coo
appear in these rolls, as a hiatus in them occurs until May, 1559, a year
after his decease. As John Coo was survived by his mother Margaret who
held as dower the estate calles Mayes in the manor of Netherhall, this
property was never held by him, but later came to his son John (8th
generation) Coe. John Coo of Gestingthorpe was taxed xx sh. viij d. on
goods at the Subsidies in 36 and 37 Henry VIII, (1544 and 1545) (Lay
Subsidies, Exxes, 109-319 and 110-327.) He was still at Gestingthorpe in
1552, as disclosed by the will of his brother John (7th generation) Coo
"the younger" (see ante, p. 35). About 1555 he leased of Sir John
Wentworth, Knt., the extensive manor of Wissington (or Wiston) co. Suffolk
and removed thither, but retained the estates in Gestingthorpe and
Maplestead he had inherited from his father and grandfather. At
Wissington he occupied Wissington Hall, the ancient manor-house which
adjoins the churchyard, and which with rebuilt front* is still extant and
occupied; but he lived but a few years to enjoy this estate, dying in
August 1558, aged thirty-five years, and was buried at Wissington Church.
*The illustration shows on the left this new front erected on the
foundations of the former building; on the right, enbowered in foliage,
still remains a part of the former building of the time of Henry VIII.
(1509-1546.)
His will dated Aug. 19, probated Oct. 12, 1558, left to wife Dorothy
profits of lands etc. in Great Maplestead and elsewhere in co. Essex, with
reversion to the son and heir John (8th generation) Coo at age of
nineteen. Also to wife Dorothy the lease of the manor of Wiston, she to
pay to four younger sons Henry, Robert, Thomas, and William, 20 pounds
each at their ages of twenty-one years, and she to give a bond for same to
friend Robert Golding of Belchamp-Walter and brother-in-law Richards
Walford of Wethersfield. Wife Dorothy sole executrix and Sir John
Wentworth, knt., supervisor. (P.C.C. 54 Noodes.) As the testator was the
grandfather of Robert Coe, the founder of the Coe family in America, a
complete copy of this will, taken from the original, is appended. "In the
name of god amen, The xixth daye of August in the yere of o Lorde god a
thousande five hundred fiftie and eight. And in the vth and sixte yeres of
the of the Reignes of our soveraine lorde and ladye Philipp and Marye the
kinge and Quene, I John Coo of Weston in the Countie of Suff. and in the
dioc of Norwiche yoman sicke in bodye and nevertheles in good hole and
parfite mynde and memorye being thanked be god doo make ordeine and
declare his my present testament and last Will in manner and forme
following. ffirst I geve and bequeath my soule unto the infinite mercy of
allmighti god the veray Creatour and Redemer thereof and my bodie to be
buryed in the churche or churche-yarde of Wiston aforesaide at the
discreation of myn executrice. Item: I will that Dorothee my wif shall
take and have the hole yssues Revenues and profites of all and singulier
my lands tenements and hereditaments holden freely by deed sett and being
in muche maplelstede and els Where in the Countie of Essex unto suche tyme
as John Coo my eldest sonne shall attayn and come of his age of xix yeres,
towards his finding and Well bringing up untill he come to the said age.
And then she to rendre him a true and full accomptes of the same. Saving
allwaies her juste right and titill of Dower of and in the same according
to the ordre of the comon lawe of the Realme in that behaulf. And I geve
to the same John my sonne at his said age all such interest and tearme of
yeres as I have in certayn grounds Whiche I holde in ferme by lease in the
Towne of much Maplestede aforesaid. And also I geve and assigne to John
my sonne and to his heires forever all my lands holden by coppy of courte
roll in the towne of Bulmer Whereof I have made a lawfull Surrendre unto
the lords handes of Whome it is holden accordinglie. Also I geve and
bequeth to Dorothee my Wiff all such lease interest and terme of years as
I nowe have and in the Whole Scrite and demeanes of the manor of Wiston
aforesaid togither with my whole stocke and store of corne, Cattall and
all other my moveable goods whatsoever they be under this condicion
nevertheless that she the same Dorothee shall well and trulie satisfie
content and paye for and out of the same all and singular suche legacies
in readye money as I have hereunder willed bequeathed and assigned to iiij
of my younger sones hereunder named that is to say I give and bequeath to
ev'y of my said younger sonnes named henrye, Robert, Thomas, and William
xx li of lawful moneye of England to be to them severally paid when ev'y
of them sev'ally by himself shall attayne and come to his age of xxi
yeres. And if it shall happen any of them to dye before his saide age,
thenne, the parte or partes of the said legacies of so many of them as
shall doo dye within age, and I will shall remayn and be divided
indifferently to and amongest the survivor or survivors of them attayneing
to the saide age, and if it shall happen them all to dye within the age
aforesaide then I will that all their said legacies shall be equally
divided betwene the said Dorothee my wif and John my eldest sonne. And I
will that the saide hole some of fower score pounds assigned for the
legacies aforesaid shall still be and remayne and contynue in the hands
possession and custodie and the said Dorothie my wif only under this
condicion, that she witn one moneth next and ymmediatelie after my decease
by her lawfull deede obligatorie shall become bounde to myn assured
trustie and loving freends Robert Golding of Walter-Belcamp and my
brother-in-law Richard Walforde of Wethersfild in the some of one hundred
and three score pounds for the more suertie of true payment and
contentacion of the said legacies of xx/iiij li and ev'ye parcell of the
same in manner & forme in ev'ye thinge as be therof above willed declared
and expressed. And that if it shal happen the said Dorothee to be at any
tyme herafter dispossed to marry again That then he the parsonne whom she
shalbe mynded to marrye unto shall before his saide marriage fynd twoo
able and sufficcent suerties to be ioyntelie bounde with him to the said
Robt Golding and Richard Walford in alike bonde of Clx as is aforesaid for
the true payment of all and ev'ye of the saide legacies and bequestes in
man' and fourme above specified. And for lacke or defaulte of the lawfull
making putting in and delivery to the said Robt. Golding and Richard
Wolford of the said twoo severall bondes or any of them contrarye to my
true meanyng and intent thereof above declared, And then and ymmediatelie
therapon I will that it shalbe lawfull to my said trustie freends Robert
Golding and Richard Walford or to the Survivor of them by vertue and
auctoritie of this my present testament and last will to take unto his or
their hands possession and custodie as muche corne Cattall and other
movable goods then being in the possession of the said Dorothee whiche
shall or may be founde and taken uppon my said ferme and elswhere as shall
amounte to the full value of the said some of xx/iiij li to the use and
intent that they therewith may and shall trulie pay and satisfie all and
ev'ye of the legacies aforesaid. And to thentent that it may the better
aper how and wherof my said legacies and bequestes may convenientlie be
levied and raysed I will that the saide Robt Golding and Richard Walford
wtin one month nexte after my decease shall cause a full true and parfite
Inventorye indented to be made and taken of all and singulier my goods
Cattalles readye money and dettes whatsoever they be whereof the one parte
to remayn in the Regre with the ordinarye for a perpetual memorye of the
same. And of this my present testament and last will I doo name make and
ordeyn the said Dorothee my wif to be my soole true and faithfull
executrice. And shall most humblie beseche my right worshipfull Sir John
Wentworth knight to be Supervisor of the same to whom I bequeth for his
paynes and travaill therin to betaken x sh. in gold. Thies being
witnesses of this to be my whole true and last will and testament Rogbert
Ardeley Thomas Bridge henry Sherewood William harrison ffrunces (illeg)
and others." Prob. at London Oct. 12, 1558, on the oath of William Syday,
attorney for Dorothy the relict and executrix. (P.C.C., 54 Noodes.) John
Coo married about 1545, Dorothy _____________; she married second, Robert
Turner of Groton and Stoke-Nayland who died inn 1571, and married third,
Oliver Dixon (an extensive landholder of Groton, Boxford, and
Stoke-Nayland who died in 1582), as is shown by their wills and by the
followig lawsuit: On May 3, 1582, Thomas Turner complained that his late
father Robert Turner of Groton willed to plaintiff a messuage called
Oversmiths held of the manor of Groton, on which he entered at his
father's death as recorded on the court rolls of Jan. 10, 1571-2; but
plaintiff confiding in his mother-in-law (step-mother) Dorothy, widow of
Robert Turner and executrix of his will, did permit her to occupy the said
premises. Afterwards the said Dorothy in conspiracy with Lawrence Locke
now deceased, then steward of the said manor, got herself secretly
admitted as tenant of the premises and later married Oliver Dixon the
elder, and they hold possession of the said messuage and the evidences to
same, to the undoing of plaintiff. Most of the tenants of the manor are
allied, to defendants and so prejudiced against plainntiff who has no
remedy in the common law. (No Answer is extant.) (court of Requests Series
1485-1603, bundle 77.) The will of Robert Turner of Stoke-next-Nayland,
dated Sept. 1, 1571, names his children Thomas Turner, John Turner,
William Turner, Dorothy Turner, and Phennena Turner; also his wife Dorothy
and her children John Coe, Robert Coe, Thomas Coe, and Henry Coe, each of
whom to have 20 sh. when twenty-one. (Arch. of Sudbury, Book "Hum," no.
31, fol. 84.) The will of Oliver Dixon, the elder, of Stoke-Nayland,
yeoman, dated Sept. 30, 1582. To son Robert Dixon lands etc. in Groton
and Milding; to son Oliver Dixon lands in Groton and Edwardstone; to son
John Dixon lands in Poulstead. To every one of my children's children 6
sh. 8 d. at marriage. All residue to wife Dorothy, she to be sole
executrix. Friend John Spencer of Groton, supervisor. To the poor of
Groton, Edwardstone, and Waldingfield. (P.C.C., 42 Tirwhite.) The will of
Dorothie Dixson of Stoke-next-Naylande, co. Suff., widdowe, dated Jan. 2,
1584-5. Sick in body. To be buried in churchyard of Stoke. To sone John
Coo 20 sh. within one year. To my son John Cooe's eldest son 6 sh. 8d. at
age of twenty. To Dorothie Cooe, my son John Cooe's daughter, 6 sh. 8 d.
at age of twenty. To each of the other children now living of my said son
John Cooe, 6 sh. 8 d. at twenty. To son Thomas Cooe certain household
goods to be delivered within one year. To Robert Cooe, Faith Cooe, and
Alice Cooe, children of my son Robert Cooe, 3-6-8 pounds each at age of
twenty-one or marriage. To each of my two brothers and two sisters 10 sh.
To the wife of my son Robert Cooe 20 sh. and certain goods. To Frances
Forgin 3 sh. 4 d. To daughter Dorothy Turner 90 pounds with the 5 pounds
her father gave her, at age of twenty-one; if she die before of age, then
20 pounds of it to son Thomas Cooe and 20 pounds to each of the three
children now living of my son Robert Cooe when twenty-one. To daughter
Dorothie Turner at twenty-one some goods left me my the will of my late
husband Oliver Dixon. Residue of goods at Scotland Hall to sons Robert
Coe and Henry Coe. All residue of goods to son Henry Coe he to be sole
executor. Witnesses Launcelot Baker, Robert Wentt, Thomas Joslyn.
Probated by executor Henry Coe, Feb. 8, 1585-6. (P.C.C., 6 Windsor.)
Dorothy Coe-Turner-Dixon passed her last years at Scotland Hall in
Stoke-Nayland, probably her dower from her last husband Oliver Dixon: and
she was buried in the church-yard of Stoke-Nayland, Oct. 25, 1585, aged
sixty-three years, according to the church registers of that parish.
Children of John and Dorothy Coo: i. John b. about 1545, eldest son and
heir. ii. Thomas, b. about 1547, was living in 1585, but his further
history is not certainly known. He was possibly the Thomas Coo who was
buried at Little Conard, co. Suff., May 7, 1609, having married there Nov.
25, 1583, Alice Warner; no further record. iii. Robert, born in 1550. iv.
William, b. about 1552; as he is not mentioned in the wills of his
stepfather in 1571 and of his mother in 1585, he proably died unmarried.
v. Henry, b. probably about 1555; Father of Robert Coe, ancestor of the
Coes of America.
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