BIRTH: Date not given and a duplicate in Medford
Surname may be Kitteridge
In addition to the children in this file, Simon's will mentions another three unmarried daughters, probably born 1434-7. No other details known.
In the name of God Amen. The year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and sixty-four twenty-second day of December.I Simon Fisk in my last agony in sound mind and good memory make in words my testament in this manner. First I commend my soul to Almighty god the Blessed Mary and all the saints my body to be buried decently in the cemetery of the parish church of Laxfield. Item I leave to the altar of the aforesaid church 3s. 4d for ten year of my dues/tithes. item I give 6s. 4d annually for ten years towards the upkeep/decoration of the chapel of the guild of the Blessed Mary. Item I desire my heirs and successors to have a mass said for the repose of my soul once a year in the church of Laxfield at the discretion of my executors. Item I leave 30s for three "TRIGINTULA" [ this was a series of thirty Requiem masses all said on one day for the repose of the soul of the departed ] as soon as it can be arranged after my death. Item I give 30s to the community of Laxfield aforesaid. [ this probably went to the poor ]. Item I give Katherine my wife my household utensils, my house and moveable goods therein. Item I leave to my three brothers an annuity of ten pounds to be paid to them within a year of my decease and if any one of my said brothers depart this life before this time his portion is to be returned to my executors for disposal. Item I leave to my son William forty shillings, Item I leave to my son Geoffrey forty shillings, and to my eldest son John forty shillings. Leave to Margaret Doesing my daughter forty shillings. Item I leave to my son Edmund forty shillings, to ensure this is not a source of temptation he is to remain in my house in Laxfield aforesaid. For their work as my executors I give also forty shillings. The residue of my goods not bequested I give to Katherine my wife Joh....[ there is a break in the text but Simon probably names his eldest son John ] my son James, John Noleth and Nicholas Noleth, my brothers and faithful executors who I desire to honour my wishes and pay my debts fully and faithfully. The residue of my goods to be disposed of to the pleasure of Almighty God the good of my soul and all Christian souls. In conformation of this my will I make my mark / affix my seal / sign my name. date and day as written above.
The following is Hugh's (this Hugh is 0 in the following) line of descent:
The ffirst ffysk(e)s
Hugh(00)
|
Hugh(0)
|
Simon(1)-William(1a)-(1b)
| |
| (contd)
|
William(2)-(2a)-(5)-(6)-(6a)-Jeffery(3)-John(4)
| | |
Thomas(7)-(9)-(11)-(12)-(13-14) | (20)-(21)-(21a)
| | | | |
(contd) (27-27a) | Jeffery(15)-(16-19a) (33c-k)
| |
(34)-(35)-(36)-(37-43d) (33a)-Richard(33b)
| | |
(77a-e) (78-80) (contd)
*00 - HUGH - First mentioned about 1340, he was a landholder in Laxfield in 1345-6. Probably descended from Daniel Fisc.
Offspring of 00
*0 - HUGH - Born about 1370 in Laxfield, he was probably either the son or the grandson of Hugh above.
HUGH - Born about 1370 in Laxfield, he was probably either the son or the grandson of Hugh. This Hugh was probably a descendant of Daniel Fisc. The following is what is know of the first Fiskes':
The first known Fisk(e)
Until recently I have been content to accept that Daniel Fisc of Laxfield was the earliest known holder of the surname (see extract from Fiske Family Papers below). However in browsing the Phillimore edition of the Domesday Book for Norfolk I found (in section 34,20 under the lands of Peter of Valognes) the following entry for Wood Dalling, in the Hundred of Eynsford:
In (Wood) DALLING 1 free man, Fish, held 1 c.* of land before 1066.
Always 9 villagers; 16 smallholders; 2 slaves.
Always 1 plough in lordship; 3 men's ploughs; meadow, 2 acres; woodland, 6 pigs. When he [Peter of
Valognes?] acquired it 1 cob, now 2. Then 6 head of cattle, now 20. Then 6 pigs, now 30. Then 16
sheep, now 80. 30 goats. Also 5 Freemen, 20 acres of land. Always 1 plough.
The jurisdiction (is) in the King's (manor of) Foulsham.
Value 40s.
It has 1 league in length and in width, it pays 19d in the King's tax, whoever holds there. *1 c. is 1 caracuta, which was as much land as could be tilled with 1 plough and a team of 8 oxen in a year. This is an imprecise measure which is usually taken to mean a unit of about 180 acres of which 60 are fallow, 60 spring and 60 autumn sown corn. It is also considered equivalent to 1 Hide.
Also in the book is the original Latin text, in which the name of the freeman Fish is clearly spelled 'fifc' [the second 'f' having no cross bar and hence 's']. The notes for the entry state that 'Fisc' represents either the Old English fisc [FISH] or the Old Norse Fiskr [FISKE], and refers the reader to the 'Dictionary of British Surnames' and to 'The pre-Conquest Personal Names of Domesday Book' by O. von Feilitzen [Nomina Germanica III, Uppsala 1937].
In the light of the above I have little hesitation in now stating that the the family name is pre-Norman, and thus quite possibly of Danish (ie Viking) origin...
From Chapter 1 of Fiske Family Papers by Henry ffiske, 1901:
The family of Fiske flourished for a very long period in the County of Suffolk. So early as the eighth year of the reign of King John, A.D. 1208, we find the name of Daniel Fisc, of Laxfield, appended to a document issued by the King, confirming a grant of land in Digneveton*, made by the Duke of Loraine to the men of Laxfield. The original is in the Public Record Office in London, and is dated May 1, 1208.
*Dennington, Suffolk. [The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names]
ROTULI CHARTARUM, vol. 1, part 1, page 177
Confirmation by King John, May 1, 1208, to the men of Laxfield of land in the park of Digneveton; granted by the Duke of Loraine. The following are the names of those to whom the grant was made: Robert Garenoise, Eustace Percario, Henry de la Hose, Walter de Holoc, William son of Robert, William Daniel, Jeffrey Daniel and Daniel their brother, Daniel Cuppario, Brithmare son of Brithwalden, Stephen Proest, Stephen Archer, Eustace son of Philip, Melvine wife of Roger Gadermod, Picot son of William, Bernard son of Roger, Edmund son of Robert, Jordan son of Robert, William son of Gilbert, Robert son of Brithmar, Simon son of edric, William Odonis, Godfrey and Herbert, Robert son of Jeffrey, Osbert a clerk, Ralph a clerk, Hadebrand Haiward, Robert son of William, Simon son of Turstan, Brithmar son of Godwin, Roger Haiward, Richard Haddoc, Reignald son of Godwin, and Robert and Daniel his brothers, John Emelin, Johnson of Roger, William Wudewell, Roger Crespin, Henry son of Ade, Roger Hunne, Matilda wife of Gilbert, Ernest de Radbrooke, and Robert his brother, Gerald son of Adwin, and DANIEL FISC.
WILLIAM - of Laxfield, married Joan ?, his will was dated March 6, 1462 and proved on April 21, 1463; it mentions Nicholas Noloth and Johann Smyth and his executor Johis [John] ffyske. Continuation.
The will of WILLIAM FISK of Laxfeld the Elder, 6 March 1462.
To be buried in Laxfeld church. To the high alter there, for tithes forgotten, 3s. 4d. To a priest (to sing) for one year. Executors and residuary legatees: my wife Joan, Nicholas Noloth, and John Smyth, "Raffman," of Laxfeld. Proved 21 April 1463 by Joan, the widow, and by John Smyth, "Raffman,", Nicholas Noloth renouncing.