Pearson, Christopher of Ullock in Dean (-1613)
Webster (i.e. weaver), under the mastership of Thomas Hodgson of Ullock. As he was an adult at least in his thirties at his death, he would have been a journeyman.
Son of John Pearson (died 1599).
There is no (transcribed) record of his baptism.
A widow 'Agnes, relict of Christopher Pearson of Ullock' was buried in 1619, though there is no indication of her in the will.
His will suggests that he was sharp. He has an awareness of his financial status (four nobles) and how to use his cash. He was expecting his trustees to lend money out at 25% interest (presumably as he would have done in his lifetime), and he knew that they required a commission for so doing.
I get the impression that he had used the comparatively meagre profits from his weaving to 'farm' [i.e. invest] his savings elsewhere, and had been successful in so doing. Had he lived another twenty of thirty years, his inventory would have been much fatter.
His inventory doesn't mention cooking utensils as such, so it seems likely that he was either fed by his master, Thomas Hodgson, or lived on the Pearson farm.
His chattels were only valued at £4 9s, but he was owed £12 5s 4d. This compares favourably with another apparent bachelor, William Dickinson of Lamplugh, who also died in 1613.
Transcript of Will
In the name of God. Amen, the first day of Januarie, and in the tenth year of the Kinge our most Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God, kinge of England France & Ireland kinge defender of the faith & And of Scotland the [sixth?] Anno Dm 1622; | |
I Christopher Pearson dwelling at Ullocke in Deane p[ar]ishe in the County of Cumberland webstar being wholl & per[fect] in remembrance, Laud and praise be unto Almighty god, do make & ordaine this my p[re]sent testament contayninge herein my Last Will in manner & forme followinge: that is to saye, | |
first & principally I commit my soule into the handes of Almightie God, my only maker & redeemer, trustinge that through the merritts & death of his only sonne Jesus Christ, the same to be saved. And my Bodie to be buried in the p[ar]ish churchyard of Dean [unreadable] confirmed devised [.....] the same | |
First | I give & bequeath by Legacye [to] Thomas Pearson my brother iiii£ [£4] at the time of my death which iiii£ are in the handes of John Harrison of Taydholes[Todhole in Lamplugh] iii£ and twenty six shillinges 8d [this looks more like 'in one' but must be 8d as confirmed below] Thomas Biggrigge in his handes [ie John Harrison has £3 and Thomas Bigrigg has 26s 8d], out of which fower [four] nobles [the noble, called an Angel, was a gold coin worth 6s 8d], if he paye twenty shillings, my will is that he shall have the other noble forgiven him [so he pays 20s, keeps 6s 8d], & my further minde is that Wllm Walker & my Cossen [cousin] Henry Wood of Woodsyde [Woodside in Dean] hall see that this iiii£ shall be put to farminge for xxd [20d or 1s 8d] a noble [interest of 20d on 6s 8d – that's an interest rate of 25%] until such tyme as my said brother Thomas Pearson shall stand neede of that himselfe, and the said Willm Walker & Henry Wood to have either of them iis for every xxs in the yeare for their paines [commission 2s for every 20s – at 25% interest, 20s should earn 5s, so 3s profit per year left for Thomas], And if it please God that my brother Thomas dye before my brother John Pearson, that then my will is that my brother John Pearson shall have the one forty shillings, and the other forty shillings shall be bestowed upon the repayeringe of Deane Churche & Deane Schollehouse [this school had been endowed in the will of John Fox, goldsmith, in the 1590s]. |
Item | I give to my cossen Willm Wood of Ullock 20s at the day of my death |
Item | I give to John Rogers of Keswicke a noble |
Item | I give to my cossen John Oxenbrand xxxiiis iiiid which is in the handes of the said John Rogers & he the said John Rogers to give the said five nobles a year next after my death without any he might be owing for a year & nat longer. |
Item | Whereas I am owing to my mr [master, not mister] Thomas Hogdson of Ullock xls [40s or £2] it is agreede betwene him & me that he is content take the same xxs of James Benn of Woodhouse and then xxs of Richard Lawrance of wedi […? probably Weddicar] which [is] the amount he is owinge me |
Item | Whereas [...............] my mr Thomas Hodgson & me that then my will is [.................] Hodgson shalI have my pte [part] of the said [corn?] as well as his owne |
Item | I give to my godsonne John Pearson the [sevane?] sheppe [ie sheep] betweene him & me, My weblomes [ie looms] & all the the [sic] geare hereunto belonging . |
The reste of all my goodes & chattles movable & unmovable when my debts & legacies & funerall expenses be payde & discharged, then my will is that my brother John Pearson shalbe [ie shall be] my wholle executor.Wittnesses of the same, Thomas Hodgson of Ullocke & Paule Peile Curatt at Inerdaill [Ennerdale] & Thomas Benson | |
[inserted in margin] I give Thomas Peile iiis iiiid | |