Fayrey blazon from Bedfordshire: Per pale or and azure, a chevron between three eagles all counterchanged, on a chief gules as many fusils ermine. [Crest.- A griffin rampant wielding a sword in the dexter claw.] From: The Visitation of Bedfordshire 1566.
Sherrif of London under Henry VIII
Folio ccxxxvi b.
Anno 31.William Hollis, Knt., mercer.
John Fayrey, mercer, Thomas Huntlowe, haberdasher.
From: 'Folios ccxxxi - ccxxxvi: Lists of mayors and sheriffs, temp. Richard I to Edward VI', Calendar of letter-books of the city of London: F: 1337-1352 (1904), pp. 276-303. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=33550&strquery=Fayrey. Date accessed: 08 February 2007.
Another record of the above with a different spelling:
31 Henry VIII
1539-40
Sir W. Holles, mercer, mayor
John Feiry, sheriff
Thomas Huntlow, sheriff
Sources:
The Survey of London by John Stow, Citizen of London, edited by Ernest Rhys, Everyman's Library, J.M. Den & Sons Ltd, London and E.P. Dutton & Co, New York. Has list of mayors and sheriffs through 1602.
William Gregory's Chronicle of London, in The Historical Collections of a Citizen of London in the 15th Century, edited by James Gairdner. Printed for the Camden Society, 1876.
My Lord Mayor - 800 Years of London's Mayoralty by Valerie Hope, Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London © Corp of London 1989. ISBN 0297795198.
512. John Fayry, John Carway, mercers, for the orphan of William Whit, letherseller (£410)105
From: 'The 1541 Orphans' Book', Two Tudor subsidy rolls for the city of London: 1541 and 1582 (1993), pp. 298-315. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36146. Date accessed: 13 April 2007.
Was a member of the Fraternity of St. John The Baptist in Dunstable.
Will of John Fayrey
PCC Film #91918 Will #36
August 12, 1540
Transcribed by Pam Bott
In the name of God amen the 12th day of the monneth of Auguste in the yere of our Lord God a thousamde fyve hundreth and fourtye. And in the 33rd yere of the Raigne of our Sovrraigne Lord kinge Henry the VIIIth. I John Fayrey Merces and marchainite ('merchant' is one whose occupation is the purchase and sale of marketable commodities for profit, wholesale traders to those having dealings with foreign countries) of the staple of Calleys beinge of hole mynd and perfect memorye lawd and prayse be given to almightie god make and ordayne this my pnt (abv. for present) testament contaynying my last will in manner and formme foloing (following) that is to say Furste and princypalye I bequethe my soule to almightie god my creator Redeamer and Savyor to hys moste glorius mothere our blessed Lady Sainte Marye the virgin and to the holy company of heaven. And my body to be buryed in the probe (abv. for parish) curche (church) of sainte Stevyns in Colman Streate of the cyti (city) of London where I am nowe p.shen (abv. for parishioner) in suche a convenyent place in the chappell as shalbe thoughte necessary at the discretion of my executors and for my sepulcure there beinge I bequethe 13 shillings 4 pence. Item I will that therebe bestowed at my buryall to pristes (priests) and clerke for ringing of bells w(t) (with?) wa ____?____ and to be given to the pore neadye people dwellinge in the said paryshe of sainte Stevyns in Colman Streate of London in a dynner (dinner) to be made for the paryshens (parishioners) the some of twentie pounds. Item I bequeth to the 3 pryson howses that is to wete (he means 'to wit': to be observed or noted, to be sure, to say, inform or instruct) to the pore prysonners of Newgate to the prysonners of Ludgate (Newgate & Ludgate are prisons in London) the prysonners of the Marshallsey (Marshalsea is a prison in Southwark belonging to the Marshal of the Kings household) and to the prysonners of the Kings benche (Kings Bench is also a prison in Southwark (Southwark is a borough of London) and is a place of confinement for debtors and libels) to every of theyme (them) to be given in bread to the som of three pounds 6 shillings 8 pence sum totalis 13 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence Item I bequeth to the sicke folks of Bedlem three pounds 6 shillings 8 pence. Item I bequethe to the twoo compters (compters means prisons) within London that is to say to the compter in Bred Streate and the compter in the poultrey (Poultry Compter is a prison in London) to every of theyme (them) to be given in breade to the some (sum) of 33 shillings 4 pence sum totalis 3 pounds 6 shillings 8 pence. Item I bequeth to Edythe late (I presume that late is her last name, not meaning she is deceased or he wouldn't be giving her 10 pounds) the daughter of Raynolde Gayton of Spaldinge for makinge of satisfaction in discharginge of my conscience tenne pounds. Item I will and bequeth to my Mr. Sir Robert Dymmocke knyghte (knight - meaning that he is a knight) in makinge to hym restitution (abv. for restitution) in the discharginge of my conscience the som of a hundreth pounds. Item I bequethe to Mr. Edwarde Dymmocke for a token of remembrannce to the some of six pounds threteen (13) Schillings foure pence (he spelled out the numbers here instead of writing them). Item I will and (this is the end of the line and then the scribe begins the next line with:) Item I bequethe to Master Arthure Dymock for a token of remembrannce the some of 6 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence Item I will and bequeth to Margaret Holland a blacke gowne and in money the some of 40 shillings. Item I bequeth unto her hawsbande (husband) Master blase (Blase is his first name but not capitalized) Holland a black gowne. Item I will and bequeth to my couseyn John Fayree of Wotton (Wooton is a parish in Bedford, Lincoln and several other counties) tenne pounds. Item I will that immediatly after my decease that therebe dyrige (dirge is a song or tune intended to express sorrow and mourning as at a funeral service) and masse said or songe (sung) with the paryshe Churche of Dunstable. Item I bequeth to Richarde Andlabie 6 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence. Item I bequeth to John Lightfoote the some of twentye pounds. Item I bequeth to Edwarde William sometyme myne apprentyce the some of 40 shillings. Item I bequeth to James Garway my best ringe of golde. Item I bequeth to Alyce Goodhope the some of three pounds 5 shillings 8 pence. Item I bequeth to Mr. Judd my best gowne furred w(t) (with) seymes (seams). Item I bequeth to Ursula the some of three pounds 6 shillings 8 pence. Item I bequeth to Mery Sarvamikin my house (probably meant house maid) a black gowne. Item I will and bequethe for a dynner to be made in the Mercers ('mercer' means one who deals in textile, fabrics, a dealer in silks; velvets and other costly materials; also a small wares dealer) hall for the hole company of Mercers the some of sixe pounds 13 shillings 4 pence. Item I will and bequethe to my cousyn Rychard Fayrey of Holcot the some of fyve pounds. Item I bequeth to my gossopp ('gossip' means to be a sponsor to; a familiar aquaintance; to be a boon companion; to make oneself at home) Pattenson three pounds 6 shillings 8 pence. Item I bequeth to John Pattenson three pounds 6 shillings 8 pence. Item I bequeth to be bestowed yerely in soles (show soles?) to the pore neady people dwellinge in the parishe of sainte Stevyns in Colman streate every yere 6 loads untill the some of twenty pounds be bestowed. Item I will that all and singular my goodes the w(th) (there with) I shalbe woorthe at the tyme of my decease that is to wete (wit) my movables debts Cattalls (chattels?) and suche to be both w(t) (with) the plate and Juells (jewels) as well of my wyfes as of myne owen (own) to be devyded equally in to three partes. ___?____ of the firste parte I Reserve unto my self the second parte unto my wyffe and thirde unto Julyan my doughter the w(c)h (which) parte or portion belonginge unto Julyan my daughter I will to be in the kepinge of Andrewe Judd and John Garway Cytezons (citizens) of London equally to be devyded in to theyre handes they putting in suffycent suertryes ('sureties' meaning a security against loss or damage; security for payment) in to the Guildhall and that they to give her yerely towards her fyndinge (funding) till she come to lawfull age or maryage the some of (it's left blank here) The Residue of all my parte or portion I will that it be devyded in three partes of the whiche the one paste thereof I bequeth to Julyan my daughter. And the seconde pte (part) I bequeth to John Lightfoote tenne pounds. To Roger Dawson dwellinge in Wartton (a parish in Lancashire, North Umberland and Warwick) a Matteris (mattress) and a payre of sheates (one sheet is of fine thread or material and the other one is coarser meaning thick in bulk or large) one fyne (fine) and another courser (coarser) and a Mantell (can mean a loose, sleeveless cloak of woolen cloth; a wool blanket; a measure of quantity of furs containing from 30-100 skins accoding to size) and my peice of pewter and my brasse potts and my chests. Also remaynyinge (remaining) in the handes of my cousyn Symond A. brigges (last name is Brigges) my Fathers will and in obligation that is betwene my brother and my pyper (piper) of the howse w(c)h (which) was my Fathers also I borowed of hym in Redy money 9 shillings 4 pence and I lefte hym as myne attornay to Receve of Robert Roper 15 shillings for a cowe and so the rest is unto me 5 shillings 8 pence. And once I doo charge you all aforer her side ? (This is how he spells it b ut I think he means 'aforehere said') that you doo forthwithe and iommediatly after the syhte (sight) of this purt writinge to render all suche goods aforere her side ? unto thauds (the hands) of my forsaide uncle Roper whiche is full executor of my will as ye will answere before the high Judge at the dreadfull day of Judgement were w(h)ic(h)e (where which) man shall geve (give) accounpte (account) for his fautes (faults) written the 28th day of May in the 33rd yere of o(r) (abv. for our) soveraigne Lord Kinge Henry the 8th theis (these) beringe (bearing) wittness John Grenway grocer of London and William Hindmarche and written by me Sr. William Bensson pressented ? was her gastly father of the will.
(This last line doesn't make sense but the experts on the British floor thought it said this as well. I even asked a full time paid researcher there and he agreed also. 'Gastly' means frightful, terrified, afraid, waste, spoil'. 'Gast' is a form of ghost. He could also be saying 'gostly father'. It almost looks like gostly but that doesn't make much sense either.)
The above mentioned Sir Andrew Judd is Mayor of London, 1550-1551: mayor of the staple of Calais; six times master of the Skinner's Company; founder of Tonbridge school, 1553.
Jn. Fayrey. was Exor. of the will of his father-in-law Wm. Butler [q.v.]. He and his w. Mary are depicted on a pall formerly belonging to the fraternity of St. Jn. the Baptist at Dunstable and believed to have been donated by a member of the Fayrey family, almost certainly this testator as it depicts the arms of the Merchants of the Staple and of the Mercers and also those of the Fayrey and Butler families. Behind the figures of Jn. and Mary appear bales of wool or cloth bearing a merchant's mark and the initials J.F. John's name appears in the register of this fraternity under the year 1522. Also on the pall are Hen. Fayrey and w. Agnes, shown leading groups of brothers and sisters of the guild. There exists a brass to Hen. (d. 28 December 1516) and Agnes, who may have been Jn.'s parent's. Beds. Mag. ix, 311.
Note by Tim Farr:This funeral pall is said to have been donated by Henry to the fraternity of St. John the Baptist around 1500 to 1505, This would not be possible because John and Mary are depicted on the pall with their names, COA, and trade. I contacted the Mercers historian in London and John wasn’t accepted a mercer until 1525 and he didn’t join the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist until 1522. Henry and his wife both died by 1516. The pall would have to of been donated by John and Mary after 1525 and before 1541. The pall does depict Henry and Agnes Fayrey also.
172. [B. 167] 18 August 1542.
Parish of All Hallows in Honey Lane. Variance between Master Andrew Judde, Alderman, and John Garwey, mercer, executors of the testament of Master John Fayry, deceased, and the owner or landlord of a tenement in Westcheap, pls., and John Butler, tenant of the same by lease, def., concerning certain 'selyngs of waynescot, shelfes and warebourdes' in the shop, warehouse, and kitchen of the tenement, to determine whether the ceilings, shelves, and wareboards or any part of them may be removed and taken away without the assent and will of the landlord. The viewers say that the ceiling is set and made in the hall of the tenement and in two chambers over it, containing in all 89 yards square or thereabout. 'And that asmoche of the said selynges, shelfes, warebourdes and other necessaryes as have ben made in tyme past withyn the said tenement by tenantes of the same for their own ease whiche is not fastened nor nayled unto any part of the frame of the said tenement with any manner of nayles or pynnes of iron or tymber may be lawfully taken awey. And all suche of the premisses as be fastened or nayled with any nayle or pyn as is aforesaid may not be removed nor taken awey without speciall licence of the said landlord. Except there be any covenant or promise made to the contrary.'
From: 'File of Viewers' Reports 1509-46 [B]: 1540-46 (nos 143-205', London viewers and their certificates, 1508-1558: Certificates of the sworn viewers of the City of London (1989), pp. 58-84. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36058&strquery=Fayry. Date accessed: 08 February 2007.
John Fayrey was Master of the Mercers Company during the year of 1540 under King Henry the VIII. The Company is first in order of precedence and is, therefore, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies.