John Barham

  General Notes:

John BARHAM was born in Broughton, Kent, the second son of Nicholas (SAC P.137) He died on 19 Jun 1555 in Buttes, Wadhurst, East Sussex. He married Thomasyn in 1532 in Wadhurst, East Sussex. "Of Woodlane and Buttes in Wadhurst aforesaid, feoffee of Brookland in Grant 1521. Purchased Barkley Mill 21 December 1536. Settled Reversion of Bengrede and other lands on his, John 1547, will dated 1 May 1551, proved 19 June 1555.
a) Birth record abt 1500 - SAC pg137 2nd son of Nicholas.
b) Marriage record - SAC Vol 2 pg212
Ironworks of Co Sussex by MA Lower - Lamberhurst - Gloucester Furnace, the largest iron manufactory in Sussex was principally in the parish though partly in Wadhurst. Its occupiers were residents in Wadhurst and intimately connected with that parish. The centuries since it was worked by the Barhams of Buttes William Benge Esq of Faircrouch in Wadhurst rebuilt the works and made them the most extensive of any in this part of the kingdom.
1521 SAC pg138 - John also owned Brookland Forge in Frant which he purchased from Humprey Lewknor, Esquire by deed dated 10 Feb 1521 with Barkley Mill and Verredge Forge on the borders of Frant and Wadhurst.
1543 The Subsidy indicated John Barham was by far the wealthiest inhabitant of Wadhurst.
1546 SAC pg138 Burrell Manscripts 5,682 f12 - The Mayfield Rental contains a long list of Chief-rents payable by John Barham, in the new book of Sir Edward North lord of the Manor of Maughfeld. The Manor of Mayfield was granted to Sir Edward North on 5 Jan 1546. The schedule of his lands extends to 5.5 closely written pages and includes: 104 acres in the Virgate of Pell called Woodland and Southland together with 157 acres in the Virgate of Stedyngligh and 6 acres in the virgate of Wyke. This entry evidently refers to the estate mentioned in John Berham's will as "Woodlande and Buttes conteyning by estimacon xiiii score (14x20(0 acres) held by John Waller Esquire until his death on 5 Mar 1517. Another entry in the Rental records that "the same John [Berham] holds 2 pieces of land called Bengerede and Bengerede croft adjacent to the king's way leadingfrom Wadherst towards Suresbrege on the south formerly held by Nicholas [Berham] Sen, and before by Richard Melle and recently by Richard Berham.
1548 SAC pg138 - Turning to the court roll of Mayfield Manor the identical holdings (above) with Dedemanscroft and other lands in the virgate of Stalerege were surrenderd by Nicholas Berham,Robert Wemborne, and Thomas Baker of Wyke on 20 Feb 1548 "to the use of John Barham Sen for life and after his decease to the use of John, son of said John.
c) Death record - SAC pg139 - "John Berham of Woodlande and Buttes in the parish of Woodherst within the Counties of Sussex, Iron Maker" will dated 1 May 1551 and proved by Nicholas Barham his eldest son and executor on 19 Jun 1555.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Marriage: to Thomasyne Barham, Abt 1532, Wadhurst, East Sussex.