Thomas Wilde
Will, calendared in the Orphans and Wills Court, 1558
Who was Thomas Wilde?
Thomas Wilde (died 1560) was a clothier who amassed his wealth
during the period when Worcester’s industry was dominated by the
textile trade.
He also served as a Bailiff and Alderman for the Corporation for
Worcester.
He bought the Commandery in 1545, his family being the first to
use this building as a private residence.
The Commandery remained in the Wylde family until 1764. The
Wildes (or Wyldes) were one of the most prominent families in
Worcester for over 200 years, producing barristers, army officers
and MPs.
They gave their name to Wyld’s Lane in the city, and monuments
to some of the family are in the Cathedral.
About the
document
The Orphans & Wills Court dealt with the estates of the
city’s deceased freemen and ensured their families were provided
for if a freeman died intestate.
The two books of the Orphans & Wills Court span several
decades and include the wills of many important Worcester
people.
A full copy of Thomas’s will is copied into the court records;
this page shows the calendar (abstract).
Along with bequests of land, property and money to his wife and
children (Robert, Thomas, George, Margaret, Esther, and Alice),
Thomas also left money to be distributed to the poor, to maintain
the local highways, to pay for the marriages of poor maidens, and
land to establish a free school.
For a sarmonde – vi s viii d
To the poore people - xiii li vi
s viii d
More to the poore - vi li xiii
s iiii d
To the highe waies – xx li
To the mariage of maides – xx
li
Landes geven to the free scole of woceter
To Robert my sonne, landes
To George my sonne, landes
To george my sonne – l li
To thomas my sonne, lease
To thomas my sonne – l li
To mergret my doughter – cl li
To ester my doughter – cl li
To my doughters...
To alice my doughter cl li
To hughe wilde xl s
To Richard Wilde xl s
Every of my other brethren xl s
Every of my brother and sisters children vi
s viii d
Every of my said brethren a blacke gowne
To my sister mawde Bewley
My father levington to kepe my doughters My
wife to kepe my ii yongest sonnes and my yongest doughter
If my wife mary, then the childrens money to
be put into the chambre of the cytie of worcester
My landes leases & takinges to rename
after my death to my children
My prentice jornemen & servantes
Parker my husbande man
To wyllyam webbe
My wyfe to have and enjoy
Over sears of my wille