The Middleton Accounts of 1525: #4

The fourth entry in the Middleton household accounts of Sir Henry Willoughby in 1525 was only dated as March although, due to a date given for the next entry, we know that it must have been before the 29th March. This entry was the payment of a reward by Sir Henry Willoughby at the christening of Robert Jelliff’s child. The amount was 20 pence, which is the equivalent of about £36.77 today. Records indicate that Sir Henry often gave money at the christenings of family members, friends and servants and especially when he was the godfather of the child.

It is uncertain who Robert Jelliff and the child were and what their connection was to Sir Henry. A brief glance into the history of the Jelliff family indicates that the surname has been present in England since the Norman Conquest of 1066 and is a French surname. It has numerous alternative spellings and variations including Jolliffe and Jolli. General records reference that the family was based primarily in Staffordshire as well as Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The noted family of this surname were described as having been merchants.

One record that we have come across that piques an interest, in relation to considering the question of who Robert Jelliff was, is the will of a Robert Jelliff who died on the 18th May 1559 in Wishaw, which is a neighbouring parish to Middleton. Another is that a connection was made in the Middleton Manuscripts index between this entry and another in the accounts dated the 27th January 1521. That entry concerned money paid to Mr Gaylife for fresh fish and 200 oysters that were purchased for consumption at Middleton Hall. It was suggested that Gaylife and Jelliff was the same surname, which is certainly highly plausible – the meaning is identical if nothing else.

St John's Church, Middleton, Warwickshire, 2015. Photograph taken by Debbie Jordan.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p. 333, 376.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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