James FLEGG County Norfolk properties, County Norfolk, England
The Flegg Pedigree 14 [James Flegg (1440-1527)]Pages 415-417; Genealogical Notes on the Founding of New England: My Ancestors Part in that Undertaking
By Ernest Flagg
Published by Genealogical Pub. Co., 1973
ISBN 0806305339, 9780806305332
440 pages
Reprint of the 1926 ed.
14. James12 Flegg (13. William11, John10, John9, William8, Philip7, Philip6, Philip5, Sir John4, Sir John3, Henry2, Algar1), was born about 1440, probably in or near East Dereham, county Norfolk. The earliest mention found of him is at a court of the Manor of Rougholme, held on Friday after Easter, 22 Edward IV [12 Apr. 1482], when James Flegg was amerced 2d. for default of suit of court.
A complete examination of one term in each of the twenty-three regnal years of Edward IV (1461-1483), of the unindexed Coram Rege Rolls, failed to find any mention of this James12 Flegg; this one particular search required a whole week’s time at the Record Office in London, with fruitless results.
Over thirty years elapse before another glimpse is obtained of James12 Flegg. At a court of the Manor of Rougholme held on Friday after the Feast of St. Ambrose, 7 Henry VIII [11 April 1516], Thomas Dany appears and renders fealty to the lord for a parcel of free land in Skerning [Scarning] late of James Flegge and previously of John Wagstaff. (This piece of land was probably the same one conveyed in 1447 to a John Wagstaff by William11 Flegg.)
In June or July, 1522, James12 Flegge of East Bradenham, county Norfolk, yeoman, was summoned to answer Robert Sylvester of Little Ryburgh [county Norfolk], yeoman, in a plea that said James pay £20 he owes said Robert, but unjustly detains, whereof said Robert claims that on 29 August, 12 Henry VIII [1520], by his bond of obligation agreed to pay said £20 at the following Feast of the Annunciation [25 March 1521]. James Flegge appears and desires to hear said bond read, and having heard it, begs for postponement until the Octaves of Michaelmas next [6 October 1522]. (Common Pleas Rolls, Roll 1036, Trinity, 14 Henry VIII, m. 137d.)
In 1523, Parliament granted to Henry VIII a subsidy of such a nature that practically all householders were assessed and even servants were taxed on their wages. In the roll for South Greenhoe Hundred, county Norfolk, among the twenty-eight persons assessed at East Bradenham appears “Jamys Flegge in goodya iij li; [tax] xviijd.” This James12 Flegg paid the largest assessment in his parish, and was the only Flegg listed in the whole Hundred. (Lay Subsidy, Norfolk, 15 Henry VIII, 150-205.)
The will of “James Flegg of Est Bradenham,” of hoole minde and good remembrance.” My soul to Almighty God, our Lady of St. Mary, and all the blessed company of heaven, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of East Bradenham. To the high altar there 2s., to the reparation of the church 6s. 8d., to the common light one pound of wax, and to the torches 6d. To the reparation of the highways in East Bradenham 6s. 8d. To the “Austin Fryers, Black Fryers, and Grey Fryers in Norwich, to eche of them 12d., and to the gylde of St. John in Shipdham 12d.” To my son John 20s. To each of my three daughters 13s. 4d. to be paid as it may be borne of my goods. I will that all my howsing and landys’ be sold by my executrix, that my debts and legacies be paid, and that the residue be disposed for the good of my soul. My feofees to make estate in my messuages [dwellings] and lands when required. All residue of my goods [personal estate] to my wife Margaret, executrix, she to see my body brought honestly [honorably] to the earth. Proved 1 July 1527. (Archdeaconry of Norfolk, vol. for 1524-1531, fol. 6.) The testator was doubtless over eighty-five years of age when this will was made. At that period real estate could not be directly devised by will, so it was then customary for a landholder to deed his land to feofees [ or trustees] for his own use for life, with specified remainders, after his death, to his wife and children; the clause in this will referring to his feofees shows that he had made such a settlement of most of his land-holdings, which accounts for the small bequests in his will to his children. It should also be noted that money at that time had a purchasing power of at least thirty times its present value.
The records gleaned of James12 Flegg indicates that he was a prosperous yeoman of substantial estate in East Dereham, Scarning, East Bradenham and Shipdham. His long extended life was passed in the reigns of six sovereigns, Henry VI (1422-1461), Edward IV (1461-1483), Edward V (1483), Richard III (1483-1485), Henry VII (1485-1509), and Henry VIII (1509-1546). He thus witnessed the famous War of the Roses (1455-1485) so disastrous to the old feudal nobility of England, and the despotic but efficient rules of Henry VII and Henry VIII, under whom the country became prosperous by freedom from civil wars and a great increase in manufacturing and foreign commerce; this period was also marked by extensive rebuilding throughout England.
James12 Flegg died in East Bradenham in 1527, aged over eight-five years. From his time “Fleg” is the most usual spelling of the family name, and ample records exist to trace most of his descendants of the name for seven generations, or down to nearly 1700.
He married about 1465, Margaret ----- who survived him.
Children:
i. John13, born about 1465. (Ancestor of the Flaggs of America.)
ii. William, born about 1470; mentioned in the will in 1480 of his uncle, Sir [Rev.] William12 Flegg, who left him means to attend Cambridge University to be educated for priesthood. His further history has not been learned.
iii. v. Three Daughters (names unknown), mentioned but not named in the will of their father.
Added by BlueRibbon78681 on 23 November 2008
found on ancestry.com
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