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Tobias Mathew (1546-1628), Archbishop of York
A family legend says that there is a family link to Tobias Mathew, Archbishop of York,
but this link is not proved.
The story comes from my Grandfather Bolsover, but no one knows where the connection is supposed to be.
I regarded the story as an unprovable family legend until I discovered a 4g-grandmother named Sarah Matthews.
Sarah married George Bolsover in 1760, Hope, Derbyshire.
Sarah was born in 1732 in Chapel-en-le-frith, Derbyshire, daughter of Abraham Matthews and Sarah Lowe.
I have not traced any ancestors of Abraham, but it is just possible that the story is true.
Tobias was archbishop of York from 1606 to 1628.
Tobias was the son of a merchant from Bristol, John Matthew (born Ross, Herefordshire) and Eleanor Crofton.
The picture of Tobias in Christ Church Oxford shows him to be a small man with moustache turning grey.
Tobias was loved for his wit, genial temper and generosity,
though he persecuted Roman Catholics who refused to take the oath of allegiance.
(His charges were political, rather than religious).
He preached 50 sermons per year for 40 years and claimed to have converted 590 persons at one time.
Tobias was Archbisop of York, Dean of Durham and Vicar of Bishopwearmouth.
He died at Cawood in 1628 and is buried in York Minster beneath the east window.
Tobias was married to Frances Barlow (born ~1550), daughter of Bishop Barlow of Chichester and the widow of Archbishop Matthew Parker.
She was the daughter, daughter-in-law, wife and sister-in-law of six members of the episcopy.
She died in 1629 and is buried at St.Martin's Church, Coney St., York.
Her memorial is beneath the east window of the minster.
She bequeathed her husband's 3000 books to form the nucleus of the present library.
Archchbishop Tobias Mathew and his wife Frances had five children:
Toby Matthew ("Tobie", "Tobias"), born 3 October 1577, in Salisbury, died 13 October 1655
daughter still born 2 August 1579 in Salisbury
John Matthew, born 6 December 1580, Oxford in Christchurch
Mary Matthew, born 24 October 1582 in Salisbury
Samuel Mathew, born 1 February 1583, Oxford in Christchurch died 15 June 1601, buried in Peterhouse in Cambridge
His son Sir Tobie, was confidant of Francis Bacon, diplomat and writer.
Sir Tobie converted to catholicism and became a Jesuit. He translated the Confessions of St Augustine into English.
Will of Frances Matthew, wife of Tobias Matthew
The following is a transcript of the original document held by the Borthwick Institute
In the name of God Amen I Frannces Matthew of the cyttie of york widow by the pittyfull
godnes of god, of p[er]fecte health both of bodye and mynd yett consydering with myselffe the manifoulde
and sudden frailtyes of this lyffe, the certayne and sensible infirmities of olde aige, and havinge
by the experience that the neglecte of these Considerac[i]ons hath prevented many in the
Disposition of those worldly Blessings God hath geven, do [constitute ?] and ordeyne this my last
will and Testament in manner and forme followinge ffirst I comytt my soule into the hands of
Almighty god my heavenly father whose only power anf goodnes it was that gave it unto me
and so longe contynued unto me throughe this so may afflic[ti]ons in this weake dwellinge of my Bodye
praysinge his holy name that he hath given me my beinge within this church of England wherin I
have Learned the p[ro]ffession of Christian and savinge doctryne with firme resolucion to poure out my
last breath in the same, And humbly beeseching him the father of heaven and earth by the mediacion
of Jesus of Jesus Christe my saviour & only redeemer by the sanctffinge of the Holy Ghost, that when
this earthly Tabernackle of my bodye shall be disolved he will be pleassed to receyve my soule
into those heavenly mansions prepared in his Kingdome for all those that love the Comynge of
of his sonne, my bodye I leave to be comitted to the Earth from whence it was taken in
Decent and ffitinge sorte to be buried as beinge fully assured that it shall in gods good tyme
be agayne raised and be maid like his glorious bodye that redeemed it by by the sheedinge of his bloode
That portion of worldlye estate wherwith Gods goodnes hath inricht me; I desyre to bequeath them
to his glorye in manner and forme Foll[ow]inge: And I give and bequeath to my Lovinge Brother
Mr John Barlowe of Petefeild if he be livinge at the tyme of my decease, the some of
Twenty Pounds of lawfull english money: Item to my nephew Mr Doctor Wickham one silver
Bason and Ewer duble gilt and the casse of Reed lether gilded Lyned with grene velvett
and to Mrs Elizabeth Wickham his wyffe one sylver Chaffin dishe with a parfuminge pann of silver
and a little silver grale to broyle things upon, to Anthonine Wickham my goddaughter and
daughter of my said nephew one gould ringe with adiamond sett in acrowne and forty shillings
in money and to her Brothers Toby and William Wickham twenty shillinges apeece
Item to my nephew Westfaylingeof Hereford esq One sylver boule duble gilt with acover weighinge
eightene ounc[e]s or therabouts beinge graven with athrec Leavd grase, And to Elizabeth the
Daughter of my said nephew Westfaylinge One silver boule duble gilt with acover haulffe
graven weigheinge fiftene ounces Item to my neece Scott one sylver Barrell cupp and
cover weigheinge one and twenty ounces three [
?], and to [hev her ?] Husband Thirtie
shillings to make him aringe. To my goddaughter Frannces Scott fortye shillings in money
and to Timothie Scott, Anne Scott, and Jane Scott, Twenty shillings apeece Item to
my neece the lady Cade and M[ris] Elizabeth hir sister and unto my nephew M[r] William
Daye Thirtie shillings apeece to make them rings, and to my nephew and godsonne
Richard Day three pounds, Item to my neece Anne fletcher thirtie shillings for
aringe, and to Franncis Fletcher my godson three pounds, To my neece mrs m[ar]grett
Littleton one gold ringe with a table diamond and Ten lesse diamonds about it w[hi]ch
was sent me by Queene Anne, To my neece mris Elizabeth Dickins thirty shillings to
make her aringe, To mrs Frannces Jenkes thirty shillings to make herr aRinge, and to
my neece mrs Eliannor Toothby Five pounds in money, Item to mrs Ursulay
Sheffeild my goddaughter one diamond sett pendant wise with a little ruby at the ende
w[hi]ch was sent me by Queene Anne afforesaid, Item I give and bequeath to my
sonne Sir Toby Mathew kn[igh]t one golde ringe sett with a xj[o] diamonds w[hi]ch the
Kings ma[jes]tie that now is gane me, Item I give to my sonne M[r] John Mathew the
sum[m]e of five hundreth pounds in money Provided alwayes and my will is
That the said som[m]e of Five hundreth pounds shall remayne in the Costodye of my Executors
duringe the liffe of my said sone John and he to gane only the benefitt therof duringe
his lyffe, And after his decease my will is that the said som[m]e of Five hundreth pounds
shall whollie remaine to Frannces and Dorcas Matthew daughters of the said John
and to the survivors of the said Frannces and Dorcas, Item I give to M[r] Josias Mathew
my Grandsonne Two hundreth pounds in money, And my will is That one Hundreth
pounds therof shalle for the sole use of Barberie his now wyffe, and her Eldest Brother
or such other kinsman as she shall approve of to gane the Costodie therof for her beniffytt
and behoofe, To my grandson M[r] John Matthew two hundreth pounds in money, Item I
give to my grandchild Frannces Mathew afforesaid the som[m]e of foure hundreth pounds
And to her syster Dorcas Mathew three hundreth pounds in money to be payd at ther sev[er]all
Aige of one and twenty yeares or dayes of marriage w[hi]ch shall first happen, And if eyther of
them shall dep[ar]te this lyffe before ther [sev[er]all ?] aige of one and Twenty yeares or dayes of
marriage, then my will is that the survivor of the said Frannces and Dorcas shall gane the
p[ar]te and porcion of eyther of them deceassinge, And my will is further that my Executors shall
allow to the said Frannces and Dorcas the beniffit of ther said porcions for ther maintenance
until ther severall aiges of one and Twenty yeares or dayes of marriage as afforesaid, And
Further I give and bequeath to the said Frannces and Dorcas Mathew all such things as are
Conteyned in one truncke standinge in the little house in the [upp[er]end ?] of the great Chamber
and also in asquare black Chiste over the kitchinge to be Equally devided bewixte them, It[e]m
I give unto my neece Worliche all my linnen w[hi]ch is in a stale skin Chest one petticoate of Scarlett
with an Imbrodered [garde ?], Two of my best gownes kirtles and bodies and my best nyght
gowne with my cloake safegard and hoode, and I doe also give unto her one hundreth pounds
in money It[e]m I give to my nephew John Barlowe the like som[m]e of one hundreth pounds, To
M[r] Willm Turbut One gilte bowle with acover weighinge xiiij[tene] ouncs and a halffe graven W[th]
[Srapps ?], to his wyffe one sylver Bason and spout pott for an Ewer weighinge forty one ounces, to
Richard Rothwell Cittizen and m[e]rchant taylor of London one gilt stand my cupp of sylver
with acover of the same weaigheinge fourtene ouncs and a halffe, and to his wiffe xx[s] to make
her aRinge To my servant William Walker Forty pounds and to Ursula Copley my maid servant
Tenn pounds, Item I bequeath to Peter house in Cambridge of w[hi]ch my sonne Samuell
was sometymes a scholar and dyed ther the som[m]e of Two hundreth pounds to the p[ro]ffit &.
increase therof to be yerely imployed by the Govnors of the said house for the behooffe of two
poore scholars ther for ever: The resydue of all my goods cattalls chattalls plaite Jewells
and other my estate whatsoever not before dispossede my debtsbeinge payde and Legacies and
funerall Charges discharged I give and bequeath to the said Frannces and Dorcas Mathew
my grandchildrento be payd and delivered unto them at ther severall aige of one & Twentye
yeares or dayes of marriage w[hi]ch shall First happen and to the survivor of eyther of them
To the poore of the parrishe where I shall deceasse Five pounds. Also I doe herby make and
ordeyne M[r] Doctor Wickham and M[r] Westfailinge my nephewes the said M[r] Will[ia]m Turbatt
and Richard Rothwell Executors of this my last will and Testament Revokinge all former
wills whatsoever. And I give to every of them over and alone therfore said Legacie Fortye
shillings. In witnes whereof I have to every leaffe of this my last will beinge fyve in number
sett my hand and to the labell fixinge them togyther my seale the nynth day of Awgust in
the fourth yeare of the reaigne of our soveraigne Lord Lord Charles by the grace of
God Kinge of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the Fayth [etc ?] And in the
yeare of our Lord god one thousand Six Hundreth Twenty and Eighte [
?] Sealed published
and declared to be the last will and Testament of the said Frannces Mathew in the presence of us
Mathias Watsonn, Richard Hyndmarsh, Thomas Armstronge, & Wilkin Heslington, present likewys
at the acknowledginge hereof Mary Scott & Anne Ravenscroft: [etc ?] Aprill the xxxth 1629
Memorandum that I Frannces Matthew of the cyttie of york widow by way of Codicill in writtinge to be
annexed to my will formerlye maid bearinge the dayte the nynth day of August in the yeare of of our lord god 1628
doe will and dispose in mann[er] and forme followinge. Imprimus whereas Phillipp Forde Clarke & p[re]bendarie
of the p[re]bend of Stillington within the Cathedrall and metropoliticall church of St peters in yorke hath
passed an estate by lease in writtinge for the tearme of three lives to Edmond Mainnaringe of the
Cyttie of yorke Batchlor of Lawe William Turbutt of the same Cyttie Esquire as Feoffees
intrust to the use of me the said Frannces Matthew of the mansion or prebendall house of Shillington
afore said withall the ediffices, easements, offices, courts, Closses, gardens orchards grounds and backe sydes
with all other the appurtenanc[e]s therunto belonginge situate lyinge and beinge within the close
of the Cathedrall and metropoliticall Church of St peters in yorke aforesaid commenly called the
minsters garth as by the said lease more at large doth and maye appeare beringe Dayte the xxvith day
of August in the yeare of our Lorde 1624: Now my will and mynd is that Doctor Wickham my nephew
shall gane the said mansion and p[re]bendall house with the appurtenancs and I doe give the same unto
him the said Doctor Wickham my nephew togyther with all my ryght, title, estate and interrest therin
and all and singular the p[re]misses recyted he paying to my executors for the same the som[m]e CCXX £
of lawfull english money that beinge the som[m]e that I payed for the said house It[e]m besydes
my Legacies form[er]ly geven to Josias Matthew and John Matthew my grandchildren, I give to the
said Josias one hundreth pounds, Provided alwaies that the same shall remayne in the hands of
my executors and he to gane the p[ro]ffyt thereof duringe his lyffe, and after his decease I give the
said C £ to the Child he now hath by Barbera his wyffe, Item I give and bequeath unto the said
John Matthew my grandchild the som[m]e of CC £, It[e]m wheras I have geven in my will the
som[m]e of CC £ to Peter house in Cambridge for the maintenance of twoo poore schollers ther
my will and mynd is that Toby Worliche my nephew shall have the p[ro]ffit and beniffit therof
duringe his aboode in the univ[er]sitie of Cambrydge and after the same to goe and be imployed to the uses
in my will form[er]ly recyted at the discretion of the master and three of the anciaent fellowes of
of the said house for the tyme beinge, Item I give to marie Scott daughter of my Neece
Scott xxs, Item I give x £ more to Ursula Copley my maid servant, Item I give to Dorathie
Stockdale widow x £ and some of my cloathes at the discretion of my executors, Item I give
to my Brother John Barlowe the C £ w[hi]ch he owes me, Item I give to M[r] Mercer and his wife
all that they owe me, Item my will and mynde is that that my grandchildren Franncis & Dorcas
Matthew shall live and be brought up with Mris Turbatt she livinge and contynuinge in yorke
shyre, and I appoynte my executors Testmentarye tutors of them and of such Legacies as I gane
geven them, by this my last will and testament untill they shall eyther marrie or come
unto the age of xxi[th] yeares Item I give to the said Franncis and Dorcas Matthew my
grandchildren the yearly rentcharge of one hundreth and threescore pounds of lawfull
english money for the space of nyne yeares or therabouts yett in [beeinge ?] and due unto me by
Thomas Lewis of Marre in the county of yorke esq as more at large doth and may appeare
by his Indenture of Lease Beringe Dayte the xxiiij [th] of July in the yeare of our lord
god 1628, Item I give to Thomas Armstronge my servant V £ & to M[r] Heslington V £
To Mathew the cooke iij £ Item to Anthony Thwaite the Coache man xl[s] to Stephen Simson a boye in
the kitchen xx[s], to Isabell Wade v £, to Sarah Crofte xl[s], Item to Anne Jackson xl[s], Item to Anne
Ravenscroft V £ to a sonne and daughter of hers Beinge my godchildren eyther of them xx[s] apeece
Item I give to the wyffe of Samuell Lewis of Rippon gentleman the sum[m]e of Tenn pounds w[hi]ch
he doth owe me upon a Bonnd. Item ther child my godson xl[s] Item I geve to every one of the children
of Doctor Wickham my nephew and every one of the children of my neece Scott xx[s] apeece more
Item I give to Mr Edmond Mainwaringe of the cittie of yorke my loving frend Mrs Mainwairinge
his wyffe to eyther of them apeice of playte of V £ and I make the said Edmond Mainwairinge sup[er]visor
of this my last will and Testament. Item I give to Elizabeth Oddey my late servant xx[s], Item I give
to the minster wher I shall dye V £ and a gowne w[hi]ch was my lords at the discretion of my executors
Item I give more to Tobye Worliche my nephew X £ Item to my neece Sanforde X £ Item to my
neice Mordant X £ Item to my neice Antonimia Worliche X £ Item to my nephew henry Worliche
V £, and his sister Joyce Worliche V £ and to Franncis Matteram my god daughter XX[s] Sealed
Signed and acknowledgd for my last will and Testament in the presence Mainwairinge William
Walker, Josephe Micklethwayte & timothy Thriscrose presente likewyse at the acknowledginge herof
Mary Scott and Anne Ravenscrofte [etc ?] Memorandum that the said Mris Matthew [did ?] afterwards [virt ?]
at or upon the sixt day of Maye Anno D[o]m[ini] 1629 or therabouts give and bequeath by word of mouth
these Legacies Followinge, Imprimus to widow Wharton of the p[a]rish of Saynte Martyns in [connystreed ?]
2 xx[s] peeces and a gowne kirtle and Bodyes of [ ] Item to Anne Watsonn xx[s] in gold and a mourninge
gowne kirtle and bodyes of flanders Searge Item to Mrs Clarke widow xx[s] in gould and a double
bayse petticoate Item to Mrs Layton abayse gowne kirtle and bodyes Item to Mrs Allon a gowne kirtle
and bodyes Item to Mathew Watson V £ It[e]m to Willm Walker her late servant such household stuffe as
shall be thought fittinge By her executors wishing that her executors should use him well or in words
to the like effect [
?]
15 May 1629 [The last four lines are difficult to read. Possibly Latin?]
Will of Tobias Matthew
The following is a transcript of the original document held by the Borthwick Institute
In the name of God Amen I Tobie Archbishopp of Yorke primate
and Metrapoliitaine of England, weake in body by reason of myne old age & the infirmities incidente
thereunto, yet of perfecte memory (the lorde name be praised) doe make & ordayne this xxiijth day of
August Anno Dni 1625 this my last will & testament in manner & forme followinge. First I
Comend my soule to the Almighty creator therof, in full assurance through that faith, wherof
it hath pleased god to appoint me an assiduous preacher in those emminent places of the Church
wch by his goodnesse I have been sustained, that at the dissolution of this body of clay I shalbe an happy
partaker of the inheritance of the glorious sonnes of light And I comitt my body to the earth
wherof it is composed to receive Christian buriall att the discretion of my executrix And
concerneinge my temporall estate whatsoev[er] wherwth god hath blessed me I doe hereby
give & bequeath unto my eldest sonne Sir Toby Mathewe knight a peece of plate of twenty
markes sterlinge as well remembringe the large porcon of my estate wch my said sonne
hath had from me in my life time to the value of fowerteene thowsand pownds att the
least, farr surmountinge all that I can leave behind me For the p[ro]vision of others that doe
depend upon me Item I give to John Mathewe my second sonne a peece of plate of
twenty markes sterlinge, as callinge to minde wth much greife the excessive charge I have
been putto by him amounting to the value of two thowsand powndes at the least by his
unthrifty course of livinge, whom I humbly beseeche god by the hands of his grace
to call backe to a better consideracon of himself: Further my will and pleasure is that
both my said sonnes doe rest contented wth these sev[er]all legacies here specified in full
satisfaccon & discharge of their filliall porcons wthout troubleing or molestinge
my Executrix after my death And for the rest of my goods & chattells not form[er]ly
disposed of (my debte legacies & fun[er]all expences discharged) I give them all to my
beloved wife Frances Matthewe whome I doe make sole executrix of this my last will &
testamente relyinge wthall confidence upon her care & providence (of wch I have had
good experience for the space allmost of fiftie yeares wch time it hath pleased god
of his goodness to continue us together husband & wife) to make p[ro]vision for my
grandchildren in such [sonte ?] as my estate will be and In witness wherof I have here unto
putt my hand & seale of armes the day and year first above written Signed sealed
& deliv[er]ed in the prsence of us H Wickham [W?] Turbatt John Newsam Sam
Motteram Et secundo die Aprilis Anno Dni millimo sexien[ms] ?iccsimo octavo Probat
fuit
testamenta p[
]testes nei
Francisce Matthewe relict dict desanct
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