The Middleton Accounts of 1526: #9

The next entry in the Middleton household accounts for Sir Henry Willoughby in 1526 was dated 21st February. It was described as money paid to Mistress Alice to gift in reward at the christening of Hugh Avery’s child. The amount was 20 pence, which was the equivalent of about £36.77 today.

The Mistress Alice referred to in this entry was Sir Henry Willoughby’s youngest daughter. She was about 14 years old at the time of this entry and, although already married to Richard Draycott, was still living in her father’s household.

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

The Avery family were servants and tenants of Sir Henry Willoughby and there are multiple references to numerous members of this family in the Middleton Manuscripts. However, there is only one other entry that specifically mentions Hugh Avery, which was dated 5th June 1522. It was money allowed to Hugh Avery, which another of Sir Henry’s servants, Hugh Large, had borrowed from Avery in order to purchase fish at Lichfield Fair. The amount was 40 shillings, which was the equivalent of £1,040.05 today.

There is one other known mention of Hugh Avery in documents that we have in our possession. It was in the final will of Sir Henry Willoughby, dated 7th May 1528. In this document, Sir Henry willed, amongst a lot of other requests, that his servant, Hugh Avery, received his old fee as an annuity as long as he continued in service in the same office, which was as bailiff of Middleton and keeper of Middleton Park.

Next entry: 2nd March.

Further Reading: W. H. Stevenson, Report on the Manuscripts of Lord Middleton, Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1911. p.342, 381.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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