General Notes

Roger Gifford, Esquire

Testator of 1538 INEHGR, vol. 74, page 269)

The Visitation of Northamptonshire states that Roger Gifford of Middle Claydon was son of Thomas Gifford of Twyford, co. Bucks, the testator of 1511; but the Harleian pedigree in the printed Visitation of Oxfordshire and also the pedigree of the Giffords of Middle Claydon i the Heralds' College make him the son of John and Agnes Gifford and therefore the brother of Thomas. The latter statement is clearly the correct one. Thomas Gifford, in his will, dated 10 OCT 1511 mentions only one son, Thomas, and his inquisition post mortem, of 10 NOV 1511, shows that this Thomas, the heir, was then aged thirty years and more, and therefore was born about 1481. The inquisition post mortem of Roger Gifford of Middle Claydon, of 22 NOV 1543, shows Thomas Gifford, son of Thomas, in his will, dated 2 NOV 1550, calls Roger's sons, George, William, Ralph, and John, his cousins; and in AUG 1538, in a complaint of injuries done to him by Roger Gifford and his sons, John, George, Ralph, William, and Nicholas, he calls them his kinsmen (Letters Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, vol. 12, part 2, p. 96, 97).

On 24 FEB 1524 (1523/24?) Roger Gifford was commissioner of the peace in co. Bucks, and on 1 APR 1524 he was a collector of the subsidy for the French War (Letters Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII). In 1495 he leased the manor of Middle Claydon of the Verney family for ninety-nine years. In his will, dated 24 SEP 1538, he mentions his wife Mary, his sons John (eldest son), George (second son), Rauffe (third son), William (fourth son), and Nycholas (youngest son), and provides for the occupation of the manor of Middle Claydon by his sons.

The Will of Roger Gyfforde of Mydle Cleydon in the County of Bucks, Esquire, 24 September 1538. To be buried in the parish of All Saints in Mydle Cleydon. To the parson of said church, for tithes omitted and forgotten, 6s. 8d. To the mother church of St. Paul in London 3s. 4d. Whereas I hold the manor of Mydle Cleydon, with appurtenances, in the County of Bucks, of Raufe Verney of Penley in the County of Hertford, Esquire, by his deed dated 14 November, 27 Henry VIII [1535], for the term of ninety-five years yet to come, which lease I purchased for the living of Mary, my wife, if she overlive me, and for my own natural sons, I will and bequeath said lease to George Gyfforde, my second son, to John Gyfforde, my eldest son, to Rauffe Gyfforde, my third son, to William Gyfforde, my fourth son, and to Nycholas Gyfforde, my youngest son, provided that the manner and form of occupation of said manor shall be observerd as herein expressed: my son George solely to have the occupation of said farm and every commodity thereof for the term of forty-one years; but if said George die during the forty-one years, said grant is then to cease. Said George is to pay all rents and charges due by virtue of said lease, during his occupation thereof, and is also to pay my said son John Gyfforde during his occupation of said lease, at the two usual terms of the year, 20 pounds yearly, and if said John die, said George shall pay 20 pounds yearly, equally, divided among his brethren. After the decease of said George said John Gyfforde shall have the occupation of said farm of Cleydon during the term of forty-one years; or if said George's term of forty-one years expires, said John shall hold the lease for forty-one years; and for lack of him the next brother in age, and so the remainder to follow to my other sons until the last of my said sons; and when my last son surviving shall die, then any years remaining shall be granted by him to the heir male of my eldest son John, to have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns, the residue of years yet to come. All my other leases I will to my son George Gyfforde, to be ordered in like manner and form as the lease of the aforesaid manor of Cleydon. If I have not, at the time of my decease, paid the 100 pounds I promised my son Nycholas Gyforde, then my executors shall pay said Nycholas 100 pounds within one year of my decease. My said son George shall give to my said wife Mary the annuity of 100 markes [?] and meat and drink for her and her maid. To my son John Gyfford 100 pounds. I forgive my son George his debt of 220 pounds, he paying within thirteen months after my death to my son William Gyfforde 40 pounds and to my son Nycholas 40 pounds. I freely forgive my son Rauffe Gyfforde the 35 pounds he oweth me. Residuary legatee: my wife Mary. Executors: my wife Mary and my sons John Gyfforde, George, Rauffe, William, and Nycholas. I set my seal to this my last will and testament this 28 April, 34 Henry VIII [1542].

I give further to my son John Gifforde my three gilt goblets with the covers; to my son George my best down bed and my best counterpoint; to every other of my sons one of my best feather beds and beds of down, to be delivered to them after the death of my wife Mary Gifforde; to my godson Roger, my son John Gifforde's son, 3 pounds, 6s. 8d.; to my godson Roger, my son Rauffe Gifforde's son, 3 pounds, 6s. 8d.; to my godson Thomas, my son George's son, a cup of the value of 3 pounds, 6s. 8d., with this scripture on it: "My godfather & graunde father Roger gave me Thomas this cupp"; to my daughter Dawnsty a gilte spoon; to my sister Fongan a gilt spoon; to my brother Robert Gyfforde, 40s.

[Signed] 2 December, 34 Henry VIII [1542], my mother Mary Gyfforde, William Smythe, John Mason, and Elyn Gyfforde being then present, on the Saturday in the morning, per me, George Gyfford, as commanded by my father, the said Roger, on the day and year last stated. Proved 8 February 1543/4 by Robert Alen, notary public, proctor for the relict, John Gyfford, George Gyfford, Rafe Gyfford, William Gyfford, and Nicholas Gyfford, the executors named, etc. (P.C.C., Pynnyng, 2).