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John Bolle was born in Chartham, co. Kent
where the Bolles were known to be tanners but were also very wealthy.
See The Bolles of Chartham,
Kent He, however, settled in London and apparently
established himself as a very successful grocer. Certainly he
lived in a grand house on Great Tower Street which had previously been
occupied by Sir Thomas de Salisbury.
ref.
John Bolle's Will of 1449 is very informative
regarding his family. He mentions his birthplace as Chartham in a
bequest of 5 pounds "for the work of the steeple of the church of
Chartham, co. Kent where I was born". He mentions his son John who
will receive his 20 pounds and two silver cups when he reaches the age
of 28 but until then he is to be supported by his wife, Blanche who is
leaves the bulk of his estate to. He leaves furred gowns to his
brothers Richard and Thomas and foregives his sister Alice Redehode's
debt to him. He leaves a house to his nephew Thomas Redehode.
ref. In 1459 he updated that Will to leave a
little house in Chartham to his half-brother William and to his wife,
the daughter of John Morley. His son John now inherits directly so
he must have become 28 within the 10 years since the first Will.
He also adds some remainders of his estate to his brother Henry's son
John (but not to Henry). He also mentions his "grete place in
Shamelford" which is most likely the Bolle's great house at Shalmsford,
Chartham. Since it was not mentioned in the 1449 Will he probably
inherited it in the 10 years since.
ref.
There is also a Chancery Court pleading to the
Archbishop of Canterbury involving a bond for a marriage in Kent.
The catalogue entry is undated so we don't yet know if it refers to John
Bolle Sr. or Jr.'s marriage to a daughter of Richard Smyth's.
ref.
John Bolle Sr., the grocer in London, lived in a
very significant house as well.
John Bolle's Family Tree
Based on the above mentioned Wills, his family
tree would look like this:
Mr. Boles
m.(1) ? (late
1300’s)
1. William
Bolle m. daughter of John Morley
(inherited a
little house in Chartham parish from his half brother John)
m.(2) ?
2. John Bolle
b. Chartham; grocer in London; owned land of ‘the Serte’ in
Chartham and a tenement in the lane called ‘Waterlane’ or
‘Sporyerslane’ in All Hallows, Berking with messuages in Tourestrete;
a Great House in Shamelford.
m. Blanche
(inherited lands in Chartham, Chilham, Feversham, Caunterbury)
2.1 John
Bolle Jr.
John Sr. bur.
All Hallows, Berking; Will dated Aug. 9, 1449, updated Aug. 9, 1459,
proved 1461-62
(left furred
gowns and silver cups in his Will)
3. Richard
Bolle
4. Thomas
Bolle
5. Alice
Bolle m. Mr. Redehode
5.1 Thomas
Redehode (inherited an interest in the Wollehous or Herynghous at
Caleys from his Uncle John)
6. Henry
Bolle
6.1 John
Bolle
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