James Levett
James was born in 1615 and baptised on 20 August 1615 in Lewes Sussex In 1642 he was mentioned in the Alfriston "List of Contributors to the Relief of Irish Protestants", as contributing two shillings and nine pence.
About 1645 it seems that he and his first wife Philadelphia went to Willingdon, together with their two young children. Two more children were born to them, one of whom died, and Philadelphia died there too.
He married for a second time to Margaret GOODWYN
Willingdon, James and Margaret had 2 sons
Robert
1656 - 1709 and Richard 1665 -
1734 .
By 1662 James and Margaret and their children were living in Alfriston, at Winton, where
his last child was born. In the Hearth Tax for that year James is listed as having two
hearths at Winton.
In the Alfriston Parish Vestry Book James is listed
as a Churchwarden in 1663 and 1664.
In 1667 and 1677 he signed as a witness to the Churchwarden's Accounts.
In 1679 he was nominated as a Surveyor, together with Thomas DAVIS, for the following
year.
On 12 April 1680, just 4 months before he died, James was
nominated as Overseer, together with Robert HAMLEN, and John WOOD.
Further evidence of birth for James's date of birth might be obtained, if information
taken from the back of the Berwick Manor Court Book is noted:
At a court held 9 October 1633 the list of accounts and money
collected shows a fine of three pence levied on:
"George READE guardian of James Levet...............
for not appearing at the said Court............"
Similar entries appear for 9 Oct 1634 and 26 Oct 1635.
At the court of 3 Nov 1636 James Levett's name appears below the list of Jurors, as
having sworn fidelity. If then he was 21 and of age, this would give him a birth
date of 1615. His guardian, George READE, was probably a member of his mother's
family.
James appeared as a Juror, sworn under the homage of Berwick, at Courts of:
11 Oct 1637
16 Oct 1640 when he and Philadelphia were admitted land in Berwick
22 Oct 1643
There is then a gap of 14 years, which was when James lived in Willingdon.
He then reappeared at the Courts as Juror:
14 Apr 1657
03 Oct 1659
28 Oct 1662
28 Apr 1663
30 Jul 1663
The land listed in the Court Book for 16 Oct 1640 was:
"A cottage called "PINERS",
with an orchard and croft of land beside it, and about an acre and one rod of
land. The rent for this land was 4 shillings, one chicken, and 6 eggs per annum. And
there was a 3 pence herding money, which would have been the contribution to pay the
shepherd's wages"
There was also the Southern part of the barn and 8 acres of arable land, the annual rent
for which was 5 shillings and 4 pence - 2 1/2 acres in Brookland Furlong, adjacent
to the barn 1/2 acre and 1 acre in Brookland Furlong, next to the town of Alfriston.
1 acre Red Furlong
1 acre divided by the highway called Winton Street
2 half acres in Drove Furlong
1/2 acre in Harnenore
1/2 acre in Blackenacre Furlong
All this pass to the heir of James and Philadelphia, which was their youngest son,
William.
When James died, his youngest son Richard [by his second wife], was only 15, and so
Margaret was made his legal guardian. At 21 he would inherit land held for him -
half a wist of land, with appurtenances, in Winton.
James must have acquired this land after his second marriage.
James purchased Berwick Windmill of Sir Thomas NUTT. It stood on the Downs
above Winton, and in the parish of
Alfriston. In his will he says "lately of Sir Thomas
NUTT", and left it to Robert, his elder son, by his second wife.
Noted events in his life were:
1. Occup & Abode; 3 Nov 1636; SSX, Berwick. 19Juror.
2. Occup & Abode; 11 Oct 1637; SSX, Berwick. 20Juror.
3. Occup & Abode; 16 Oct 1640; SSX,
4. Land; 16 Oct
1640; SSX, Berwick. 20James and Philadelphia [his first wife] were
admitted to land in Berwick. The land listed was:
A cottage called PINERS, with an orchard and croft of land beside it, and about an
acre and one rod of land. The rent for this land was 4 shillings, one chicken,
and 6 eggs per annum. And 3 pence herding money.
There
was also the southern part of a barn and 8 acres of arable land, the annual rent
for
which was 5 shillings and 4 pence - 2 1/2 acres in Brookland Furlong, adjacent to the barn
1/2
acre and 1 acre in Brookland Furlong, next to the town of Alfriston.
1 acre in Red Furlong
1 acre divided by the highway called Winton Street
2 half acres in Drove Furlong
1/2 acre in Harnemore
1/2 acre in Blackenacre Furlong
642; SSX, Alfriston. 21James contributed two shillings and nine pence to Contributors to the Relief of Irish Protestants.
6. Abode; 30 Apr 1643; SSX, Alfriston. 22
7. Abode; 5 Aug 1646; SSX, Willingdon. 23
8. Abode; 29 Mar 1649; SSX, Willingdon. 24
9. Abode; 23 Aug 1653; SSX, Willingdon. 25
10. Abode; 23 Jan 1654/55; SSX, Willingdon. 26
11. Abode; 10 May 1655; SSX, Willingdon. 27
12. Abode; 17 Jun 1656; SSX, Willingdon. 28
13. Hearth Tax; 1662; SSX, Winton. 1James listed as having "2
Hearths at Winton".
14. Occup & Abode; 1663; SSX, Alfriston. 29Churchwarden.
15. Occup & Abode; 1664; SSX, Alfriston. 30Churchwarden.
16. Abode; 13 Apr 1665; SSX Alfriston 17. Occup & Abode; 1667; SSX, Alfriston. 32Witness to Churchwarden
Accounts.
18. Occup & Abode; 1677; SSX, Alfriston. 32Witness to Churchwarden
Accounts.
19. Occupation. 15Miller.
20. Occup & Abode; 1679; SSX, Alfriston. 1Nominated as
Surveyor, together with Thomas DAVIS.
21. Occup & Abode; 1680; SSX, Alfriston. 1Nominated as Surveyor,
together with
Thomas DAVIS.
22.
Occup & Abode; 12 Apr 1680; SSX, Alfriston. 1Nominated as Overseer
of the
Poor. Together with Robert HAMLYN and
John WOOD.
23. Will; 15 Jun 1680. Left mill to eldest son from second
marriage. Robert
24. Abode; 26 Jul 1680; SSX, Alfriston. 33
25. Probate; 28 Aug 1680. 15
James married Philadelphia BENNIT, daughter of Edmond BENNIT on 27 Apr 1640 in
EASTBOURNE, St Mary's PC, SSX14, 15. (Philadelphia BENNIT was baptized on 6 Feb
1618/19 in EASTBOURNE, St Mary's PC, SSX and was buried on 23 Aug 1653
in WILLINGDON, St Mary's PC,)
James father William LEVETT was a Yeoman Farmer, holding lands of the
Manor of
Berwick, Sussex. James was the only son and spent his life in Berwick and Alfriston
Sussex. He was a miller and had bought a Windmill on the top of the downs.
James and his first wife, Philadelphia held land at Berwick Manor, which
passed to their youngest son William The Custom of the Manor
was for the heir to be the YOUNGEST
son - a custom known as Borough English. James bought Berwick Windmill in Alfriston, Sussex, from Sir Thomas NUTT, prior to 1680.
James mentions it in his will dated 15 Jun of that year. It was not subject to the
Custom of the Manor, for he left it to his eldest son of his second marriage
[Robert On condition that he [Robert] permit his mother to be a partner and to share in
the profits of the mill, so long as she remained a widow
