The Holm's and Emerson's and our Ancestors:Information about Thomas SHERMAN
Thomas SHERMAN (b. 1422, d. 04 Apr 1493)
Notes for Thomas SHERMAN:Thanks to Mel Sherman for providing this background history; GSH.
He was born, probably as early as 1420, in Diss, which is in Norfolk on the north bank of the Waveney River about seventy-five miles northeast of London.Some thirty-five miles to the west is Ely with its great cathedral and forty miles to the southwest is Cambridge with its famed university while a similar distance to the east lies the Channel coast which suffered so many incursions from the invading Danes.The Waveney marks the boundary between the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk and the village of Yaxley is close to Diss on the south side of the river.(The Suffolk Yaxley of our story is not to be confused with another Yaxley just south of Peterborough near Norman Cross on "Ermine street."}
Thomas was referred to as "Gentleman" in records, a term indicating that while he had no title of nobility, he bore a coat-of-arms and was known to be descended from a family which had always borne one.
According to the records of the College of Arms, the Coat-of-Arms of the Shermans of Yaxley is the same, with slight variations, as that of the Shermans of Essex.
THE SHERMAN ARMS AND MOTTO
Shield:Or, a Lion rampant sable between three oak leaves vert.
Crest:(Yaxley):A Sea Lion sejant per pale or and argent, gutte de poix, finned of the first.
Crest (Dedham}:A demi-lion rampant sable.
Motto:Virtute mortem vincere (conquer death by bravery).
The lion represents service to the country; also courage.The heraldic sea-lion is a rather rare charge and not often seen in armor.This imaginary creature was composed by the heralds in ancient times and represents a connection with the sea.Colors are representative of the personal characteristics of the original bearer.Or (gold) signifies generosity; sable (black) nobility; and vert (green) strength; in this case the actual colors of the oak leaves.
*************
Our definite information about Thomas Sherman, while greater than that available concerning his predecessors, is rather meager.However, we do know that his wife's first name was Agnes, that he lived both in Diss and Yaxley, and that he had two children named John and Agnes.Also it is recorded that he was a lawyer, that he served as church warden of the Yaxley Parish and that he was a "man forceful and interesting."He survived the Wars of Roses which raged intermittently from 1455 to 1485, possibly because he was not enough of an aristocrat to have a real stake in them and too much of an aristocrat to be included in the fighting levies of the nobles.After all, those wars were fought by only a few of the great barons, their friends and vassals and, above all, their mercenaries.All respected the neutrality of towns and villages as armed men were numerous and if vexed, would rally against Lancaster or York. So in the countryside and in the towns life went on, the crops were harvested and trade developed.
Thomas lived to the then ripe age of 73 and, when he died in 1493, he certainly did not know that Columbus had discovered the New World and surely did not suspect that it would become the home of thousands upon thousands of his descendants.His will, written in Latin, gave to his son John his property in Diss and Yaxley and bequeathed to each of the four orders of Friars at Norwich the sum of three shillings and six pence, providing that they "will have an honest Priest celebrate for my souls of my Parents and benefactors, for the space of four years".He left thirteen shillings and four pence to the church at Diss while the Yaxley church received three shillings and eight pence and the reparation of the Reydon and Stustion churches was to be aided by bequests of two bushels of corn and four of malt a piece.These ecclesiastical requirements being satisfied, each godchild received the sum of four pence.These bequests are a dramatic illustration on the decline in the purchasing power of "hard money" since the reign of Henry VII.
His will dated, Nov. 4, 1492; proved Apr. 4, 1493.
Desires to be buried in the churchyard of the parish of Diss.Bequeathes to the altar of said church, 6s. 8d.; to repairs of the church 6s. 8d.; to the Guild of St. Nicholas, 20d.; to the Guild of Corpus Christi, 12d.; to the high altar of Yaxley, 2s.; to repair of that church 20d.; to William Twyenham, his serving man, 6s. 8d.; to each of his godsons and goddaughters, 4d.; to the lane called "Styvys Lane," 6s. 8d.; to repairs of Roydon church, 2 bushels of wheat and 4 bushels of malt; to repairs of Stufton church, 2 bushels of wheat and 4 bushels of malt; and to repairs of Burston church, the same.
Agnes, my wife, shall have my tenement (except three houses, etc.) next the tenement of Agnes Melton, with the croft lying between the land of Thomas Cowper of the one part, ant land in the tenure of Wm. Boby on the other part, for the term of her widowhood; also 8 cows.
John, my son, shall have my lands and tenements in Diss and Yaxley to fulfil this my last will.
To the four orders of Friars at Norwich, to each of them, 3s. 4d.
Will have a suitable priest to celebrate for my soul, and the souls of my parents and benefactors, for the space of 4 years.
To Agnes, wife of John Clerk, a heifer of the best; to Thomas, my godson, a heifer and calf; to Elizabeth Clerk, a heifer; to each of the sons of John Clerk, a calf; to each of the daughters of John Sherman, a calf; to Thomas Shereve, my godson, a calf.
Said John Sherman and John Clerk, residuary legatees and executors.
Not Witness.Proved by John Sherman, with power reserved for a commission to the other executor.
(This will is in Latin.)
Death:1493.Buried in the churchyard of the Parish Church of Diss. Will in Latin dated Nov. 4, 1492, was proved April 4, 1493 (Consistory Court, Norwich, Awbrye 130.)
Source:Birth:Sherman Family Genealogy by T. T. Sherman, June 1920, found in LDS Library, Salt Lake City. Utah No. 1, p 18-20
More About Thomas SHERMAN and Agnes FULMER:
Marriage: Abt. 1458, Diss. Norfolk, Englan.286
Children of Thomas SHERMAN and Agnes FULMER are:
- +John SHERMAN, b. 1445, Diss. Norfolk, England286, d. 10 Aug 1504, Yaxley, Suffolk, England286.