General Notes

[spelman.FTW]

REFN: 679
Although only one son of William Spilman is certainly known, it is
possible that another son was the
John Spilman, who, removing from Sudbury to the near-by Halstead, in
County Essex, died there in
1494. He owned much la nd, as appears in his will, which names his wife,
Margery, sons, William, Joh n Edmund, and Thomas, and two daughters. This
son, William, was of Thaxted, a nd died, leaving a will, in 1557. He
brought an action in Chancery to recover a house and land in Great
Leighs, County Essex, near Chelmesford, which was claimed by his wife,
but held against her will by one William Fraunceys. (Ear ly Proceedings,
167/46: 1486-1515.) It is probable that this suit was won, fo r soon after
Spelmans were living in Great Leighs and Fairstead. (James, Will 1527.)
As William Spilman, Ancestor in the Eighth Generation, was the last of
the line of direct descent to the
American Colonist to reside in Suffolk, i t is appropriate to speak here
of other Spelmans of that County. In the Sixte enth Century Spelmans were
seated at Woodbridge and Thrandeston, at Stoke-by- Clare, and at
Harkenham. A John Spilman purchased, with three others, one-thi rd part of
the Manor of Exning from Robert Porter and the latter's wife, Alic e.
(Walter Rye's Calendar.) This may have been the John Spilman who sold
la nd at Langham in 1390. (Clare Court Roll, 123/1859, Folio 70.) Spelmans
were living at Exning in 1410. (Suffolk Fines, Number 24, 12 Henry IV.)
THOMAS SPIL MAN, the son of William Spilman of Sudbury, removed to
Thaxted, County Essex, some time before 1469. Court records as early as
that year show him a reside nt of the latter place. Thaxted was a part of
the Honour of Clare, and was gi ven by King Edward IV to his daughter,
Elizabeth, who became the wife of Henr y VII. Henry VIII bestowed the town
upon the Queen, Catherine of Arragon. At Horham Hall, Thaxted, Queen
Elizabeth resided for some time as a princess.
H e was a merchant and a land-holder, one of his holdings being property
in Fin chingfield, Essex. This
he held from Agnes, his father's wife, who may have be en Thomas' mother,
although it seems more
probable that he was the child of a former marriage of William Spilman,
and that Agnes was the latter's second wife. As mentioned under the
Eighth Generation, she married, second, John Cab oche or Caboge.
That Thomas Spilman was regarded as a good citizen and held in esteem by
the townsmen of Thaxted, is proven by the fact that he was elected to two
public offices. In 1478 he was chosen as Bailiff of the Borough. In 1 483
he was made an Inspector of Excise.
Thomas Spilman died between 1 and 16 September, 1483, the dates of the
making and proving of his
will.