~1515 - ~1559
Crewkerne, Somerset, England
All this information comes from an article by Phyllis Hughes:
"The Hulls of Crewkerne, County Somerset, England. Part I Richard Hull : Grandfather of Early Immigrants, George and the Rev. Joseph Hull"
published in
The Hull Family Association Journal, V. 12, #3, Autumn 2001, pp. 83-86
The records of St. Bartholomew Parish begin in 1551 and do not extend back far enough to reveal the names of any Hull individuals before Richard. Phyllis and some other Hull researchers (Robert W Hull, John I Coddington) think he may have had close relatives named John, Roger, Robert, Thomas.
He was born in about 1515, in the reign of Henry the 8th, and lived through the reigns of Edward 6 and Mary and possibly the beginning of Elizabeth I. Their dates:
1485-1509 Henry VII
1509-1547 Henry VIII
1547-1553 Edward VI
1553-1558 Mary I
1558-1603 Elizabeth I
He was a farmer (husbandman) and, apparently, a miller. The first mention of his name in the Crewkerne records was in 1548 in The Survey and Rentals of the Chantries, Colleges, and Free Chapels in the County of Somerset:
Richard Hull holds by copy half a mill there called Cont mill, and renders per ann. 3s., 6d.
This survey was made after the dissolution of the monsteries by Henry VIII. Richard's mill was property of the Chantry of the Blessed Mary in the Churchyard of Crukerne. This mill, and many other properties, was granted to Robert Wood of London on 21 July 1549. The grant specifically mentioned "the moiety of a mill called Count Mille there in the tenure of Richard Hull, which belonged in the same chantry."
He was married twice, although no marriage records have been found. The name of his first wife is unknown, but it is assumed, from the ages of his children, that they must have married in about 1533. They had four children (known to researchers):
1. William, born ~ 1536, was a priest. He was mentioned in his father's will, so somehow he made it through the religious upheavals of the Tudors. It is not known when he died. (Or, rather, his death date was not given in the article by Phyllis Hughes.)
2. Thomas the elder, born ~1538, was mentioned in The Certificate of Musters in the County of Somerset, 1569 as among those able to bear or supply arms in the defense of the realm (he was a pikeman). He married a woman named Agnes, and lived at least until 1582 when he witnessed the will of his brother Raynold. He may have also witnessed the will of his half-brother John in 1588, but that may have been his (half) brother, Thomas the younger.
3. Elynor was born before 1540. She married John Harvie November 24, 1560 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England.
4. Raynold, born ~1540, was also mentioned in The Certificate of Musters in the County of Somerset, 1569 - he was a billman. (whatever that is!) He married Elinor Unknown sometime before 1562. His will, written 10 Feb 1582 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, left all property to his wife Elinor; it was witnessed by brother Thomas Hull the elder.
In about 1550, he was married again, to Alice Unknown. They had 3 children known to researchers.
5. James, born ~1550; died July 27, 1567 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England.
6. Thomas the younger, our next ancestor, born ~1552, married Joane Pysinge or Peson. He wrote his will in 1636. (his page)
7. John, born ~1554, was married twice, first to Elizabeth Unknown and second (on 6 Sept 1585, in Crewkerne) to Maude Cossens September 06, 1585. His will, dated 29 July 1588, was witnessed by a Thomas Hull, but it is not known if it was the elder or younger. I suspect it was the younger, because the overseers appointed were Thomas and a Robert Pysinge, who may have been Thomas the younger's brother-in-law.
Richard's will was dated 10 Feb 1558/9.
Abstract of the will of Richard Hull:
Richard Hull of Crokehorne, husbandman, dated 10 Feb 1558/9
To be buried in churchyard of Crokehorne.
To the mother cuurch of Wells: 4d.
To my parish church: a wether.
To Sir William Hull, my son, a fether bed and many household goods (enumerated).
To Thomas Hull, my son the elder: a furnes pan and 2 witches.
To Raynold Hull, my son: a hand mill with such timber as is in my baron.
To my three sons James Hull, Thomas Hull, and John Hull: two silver spoons a piece.
To my wife Alice Hull and to my daughter Elynor Hull: a silver spoon each.
To my wife Alice Hull: 4 oxen, my weaver, my Sole, my dragge, my ithe, my iron ropes.
Residue to my wife Alice and Elnor Hull, my daughter, executrixes.
To Sir William Sherewell, my ghostly father: 8d.
Overseers: William Metford and Thomas Price/Pince
I do owe to Sir William Hull, my son, 15s, 8d. and to Alice Hawkins 6s. 8d.
Proved: 6 June 1559
Archdeaconry of Taunton, Bk. 3, P. 38
Alice lived for at least another 26 years. Her will is dated 12 Oct 1577, but she lived 10 years after that and was buried 20 October 1587.
Abstract of the will of Alice Hull:
Will - written 12 Oct 1577 in Crewkerne
To be buried in churchyard of Crewkerne
To Thomas Hull, my son: 20s.
To William Hull, son of said Thomas: 10s.
To Mary Hull, daughter of said Thomas: 10s.
To the poor of Crewkerne 10s., to be distributed where most need is by the discretion of William Robins, parson of Easthamme, and Peter Slembridge/Stembridge before my departing out of this world.
To John Morris/Moore's: a ewe sheep.
Residue to John, my son, executor.
Witnesses: Peter Slembridge, Roger Garris, Robert Jeffery.
Overseers: William Robins, parson, and Roger Garris.
Witnesses: (sic) Roger Garris, William Robins, Rector of Easthamme and Curate of Crewkerne.
Archdeaconry of Taunton.
Phyllis has detailed source notes in her article, which I am not reproducing here. If you are interested, I will send you a list of them.
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