Geoffrey Hitchcock - miller of Chattisham, Suffolk (c. 1580 - c. 1639)

Geoffrey Hitchcock's baptism

Geoffrey Hitchcock was baptised in Long Melford on 22nd October 1580 to Thomas Hitchcock and his wife Katherine. Geoffrey appeared to be the eldest of 9 children, his parents, Thomas Hitchcock and Katherine Wade married on the 18th November 1580, about a month after Geoffrey's baptism.

Geoffrey's father, Thomas' name appeared on a "muster role" for Long Melford in 1579. Under the reign of Elizabeth I, records of names of able-bodied men and their roles was used to organise defence, training and provisions in case of invasion. "The names of the men that you constables shall straightly charge in her Majesties name to be ready upon one hours warning to serve her said Majestoy if they happen to be called for with their armour above written..." . Thomas was among a list of 20 men "to be furnished with shott". Other men were to be furnished with long bows or corselets (a type of armour).

Thomas' name also came up in "Bisbie's Book" of Long Melford. Nathaniel Bisbie was rector of Long Melford from 1660-1689, ‘Bisbie’s Book’ was an account of the parsonage or rectory compiled by Nathaniel Bisbie between 1676 and 1694. It was mainly extensive lists of tithes paid and by whom during his tenure and from before his tenure.

Geoffrey's mother, Katherine Hitchcock was buried on 20th October 1597 in Long Melford, Thomas married again (wife's name unknown) and had two more children baptised.

Between May and September 1604 a plague epidemic visited Long Melford, the rector noted in the parish register "This Plauge lasted from the beginninge of May to the end of September in wch 5 monthes The Tottall that died & are here registred were juste one hundred & nineteene men woomen and children".

Geoffrey's father Thomas Hitchcock was buried on 6th December 1604.

Long Melford parish register, the note about the plague at the top, Thomas Hitchcock's name at the bottom.

It is possible that Geoffrey left Long Melford to escape plague.

No marriage record has been found for Geoffrey and his wife Rose. The next record of them was in St Matthew's, Ipswich, where their daughter Elizabeth was baptised "Elizabeth daughter of Jeffrey Hitchcock and Rose his wife was baptised 16th July 1609"

The family next appeared in Wherstead, Suffolk where two more children were baptised "Robert Hitchcock the son of Jeffrey Hitchcock and his wife was baptised the 21st July 1611" and "Mary Hitchcock the daughter of Jeffrey Hitchcock and his wife was baptised June the 13th 1613".

The next records of Jeffrey Hitchcock are in the manorial records of Chattisham which are held at Eton College Archives, and Amor Hall Manor, Washbrook which are held at Suffolk and Norfolk Archives.

Manors were units of administration, communities of people on estates of land that often crossed geographical boundaries of parishes and counties. Landowners[within a manor would pay rents and pledge fealty to the Lord. Farmers, peasants and serfs were given plots of land and protection in return for labouring and military service. Each manor had its own court presided over by the Lord, and each manor would have its own customs.

All land was owned by the monarch, people in possession of land simply held it on behalf of the Lord who in turn held it on behalf of the King or Queen.

Geoffrey Hitchcock in the Chattisham Manorial Records:
Item:	Date:	The Interesting Part:
1610-1650 Chattisham Manor Receipts & Notes Eton College ECR25 129 (2)	March 1635	Received at a court holden there by Mr WEAVER in March last of Jeffrey HITCHCOCKE for 3 acres & 10 roods more or less a tenant in two coppies 4d. [Jeffrey was a tenant of copyhold land and implies that Jeffrey came from outside & was now a tenant].
1610-1650 Chattisham Manor Receipts & Notes Eton College ECR 25 129(3)	March 1635 June 1636	Received of Jeff HITCHCOKE taking up 3 acres for the life of Robert HITCHCOCKe. [Took up another 3 acres for his son Robert, this may be "Betsman's Croft" which was 3 and a bit acres in the middle of Chattisham and mentioned in his will the following year]. More off him for a punishment for cutting down an elme tree upon his coppie 10d. [Fined for cutting down an elm tree on his copyhold land without permission]. Received off Robert HITCHCOCKE upon the death of his fath[e]r Geoffrey HITCHCOCKE for 3 acres of land 4d. Received also of the s[ai]d Robert HITCHCOKE for 3 roods in the fields called Cutberts Land. Received [from Robert HITCHCOCK] for a cottage & ten perches of lands of Agnes HITCHCOCKE upon the surrender of his late father Geoffrey HITCHCOCKE 30d. [This was the first mention of daughter Agnes, and as her name did not appear in Jeffrey's will, she had probably died]
1642-1650 Court Roll Amor Hall Norfolk Archives WLS VIII/15, 408X7	1642	[Court Baron] Amercements 6s 3d The homage aforesaid say upon their oath that Geoffrey HITCHCOCK [3d] [and several others] are tenants of this manor and owe suit of this court on this day and did not come but made default. Therefore each of them are in mercy as appears above their names.[1] [ Geoffrey was supposed to appear at the Manor Court meeting but failed to appear and was fined for not appearing N.B. Geoffrey had died c. 1636].
1642-1650 Court Roll Amor Hall Norfolk Archives WLS VIII/15, 408X7	1642	[the homage] say upon their oath that Geoffrey HITCHCOCKE on the day he died held one tenement with appurtenances in Chattisham by fealty, suit of court and annual rent of one penny. Therefore there accrues to the lord a relief of one penny. And that Robert HITCHCOCKE is his son and closest heir. Therefore the bailiff is ordered to distrain the aforesaid Robert to be at the next court to do fealty to the lord etc [a tenement was a house & appurtenances were outbuildings][2]
Copdock with Barons rental with Amor Hall Norfolk Archives WLS VIII/26, 408X8	1644	Off Elizabeth GORT for one tenement, 6d [Elizabeth Gort was Jeffrey's daughter married to John Gort].
1642-1650 Court Roll Amor Hall Norfolk Archives WLS VIII/15, 408X7	1649-1650	[the aforesaid homage] likewise say that Elizabeth GORT, free tenant of this manor, after the last court and before this court, has died, and on the day of her death she held various lands and tenements freely of this manor for annual rent of [blank], whereupon there accrues to the Lord a relief namely [blank] but who her closest heir is and who should have the aforesaid lands and tenements the jurors do not know. Therefore to have a day before the next court to inquire therein etc. And meanwhile it is ordered to distrain both for relief and fealty[3] [Translated from Latin]
1649 Survey & Rental. Copdock with Barons Manor Norfolk Archives: WLS XXXII/1-2, 417X7	1649	This tenem[en]t is [  ] Amor Hall. The heires of John GORT holdeth free one tenement in the tenure of Henry TAYLOR with a piece of land to the same belonging rent by estimation two acres more or less. [N.B. John Gort was the husband of Elizabeth Hitchcock who was daughter of Geoffrey Hitchcock]
1610-1650 Chattisham Manor Receipts & Notes Eton College ECR 25 129(3)	16 Aug 1650	Of Robert HITCHCOCK on behalf of Daniell CARRE heire to Ann CARRE Daughter of Jeffrey HITCHCOCK for a Cottage in 10 perches of land lying in Chattisham instead of 2d wit[c]h was the fyne  because it was on behalfe of an orphan Infant maintained by the p[ar]ish, 15d was abated so taken clear. Enquire what the com[m]on fyne is & when it was paid.     1s 05d [This curious entry is not very clear, was the orphan infant a child of Ann Carre (nee Hitchcock) and her husband Daniel? had they died? who was the orphan?]

[1] w

According to Geoffrey Hitchcock's will, he was a miller of Chattisham. There was a watermill at the bottom of Lower Barn Road, Chattisham, which is no longer there. The watermill is long gone, but the Old Mill Cottage which dates from circa 1500 still exists. The cottage was lived in continuously until the 1930’s when it became derelict. In the 1950’s and 60’s it was renovated. It's quite likely that Geoffrey, Rose and their children lived at Old Mill Cottage, but later in life Geoffrey's will indicated that he lived in the centre of the village near his piece of land called "Betsman's Croft". The watermill was out of the village and close to the boundaries with Hintlesham and Washbrook.

The site of the watermill is shown on a Hintlesham Hall estate map of 1595 in Suffolk Archives. The watermill is also shown on a 1721 estate map of Hintlesham Hall,[Suffolk Archives stated the estate map was too fragile to be produced.

A Chattisham terrier of 1664[4] (a terrier was a topographical survey of a manor) mentioned:

"att Mill with a mill house, a barne, a hovell or stable Called Puttocks downe mill with a little piece of ground now digged & sett w[i]th some hop poles, and a little yard thereunto belonginge"

During the summer of 2025 as part of my IHGS Diploma studies I located the places where Geoffrey Hitchcock, his son Robert Hitchcock, grandson Samuel Hitchcock, great grandson Samuel Hitchcock and great-great grandson also Samuel Hitchcock held land from the manors of Chattisham and Hintlesham.

Robert Hitchcock also held land in Copdock which I believe to have been near the boundary of Capel St Mary at the top of Old London Road, Copdock.

Geoffrey and his daughter Elizabeth Gort also held a tenement and possibly a little land in Washbrook as their names appeared in the manor of Amor Hall.

No records of Geoffrey, Rose or their children were found in the parish register of baptisms, marriages and burials in Chattisham, even though they exist form 1559 onwards/ This may support the theory that they lived at Old Mill Cottage, close to the boundary of Hintlesham, and were therefore closer to Hintlesham church, whose records frustratingly go back to 1655 by which time Geoffrey and Rose had already died and their children moved on.

Geoffrey's will was written and signed 14th January 1636 when he was about 56, and was probated in May 1639, meaning he died between Jan 1636 and May 1639, probably early 1639, but no burial record exists. His will was lengthy and detailed and named the piece of land called Betsman's Croft.

Transcript of Geoffrey Hitchcock's will:

In the name of God Amen I Geoffery HITCHCOCK of Chattisham, in the county of Suff[olk] Miller beinge in reasonable good health

thanks be given to god but [c  ]knowinge the uncertainty of man’s lyfe here on earth revokinge all other wills by me aforesaid

formerly made do ordayne and make this my last will and testam[en]t: in manne[r] and forme followinge; and first of all I comitt and com[m]end

my soule unto the hande of allmighty god from whence it came and unto Jesus Christ my only Savio[ur] by whom I hope for

redemption and my boddy I yelde to the earth from whence it came to be buried at the dyscression of my executor hereafter

named ; And for that pourtion of worldly goods which God hath lent me I dispose thereof by his permission as followeth And first of all I

give and bequeath unto my daughter ROSE the [   ] of all that messuage or tenement wherein I now inhabit and dwell with all and singular

the lands tenem[en]t and hereditements thereto belonginge and the apperurtenance which I p[ur]chased of one Clement CRICK to hold to her the said

Rose after the decease of Rose my lovinge wyfe and to the lyves of her boddy lawfully to be begotten and for defalt of such issue I

will that the same messuage or tenem[en]t and appertenance shallbe equally divided amongst the rest of my children

that shall then belyvinge; And ffurther I give and bequeath unto the said ROSE my wyfe one freehold messuage and

all the lande tenem[ant] and hereditame[n]t hereto belongine with the appurtenance I late p[ur]chased of one John Gardener situate

lyinge and beinge in Chattisham aforesaid nowe in the occupation of John SEXTON and Anne CAUSAN widdowe to holde to her

and her assigne duringe the term of her naturall lyfe and after her decease I bequeath the land unto my daughter MARY

now the wyfe of Antony STEGGOLD and to the heyres of her boddy lawfully to be begotten and for defalt of such issue the remains

thereof I will shallbe and remayne unto ELIZABETH my daughter now the wyfe of John GORT and her heyres for ever; Item I give and

bequeath unto ANNE my daughter one coppyhold cottage and a peece or of lande hereto adjoyninge p[a]rc[e]ll of Belchams

crofte counteyinge altogither by a estimation ten perches as it is nowe in the occupation of one Smyth to hold to her

and her heyres for ever; Item I give and bequeath unto ROB[ER]TE my sonne the said peece or prcell of lands called or knowne by

the name of Belchams croft   [sentence here crossed through and illegible] nexte adjoyninge to the said cottage

lyinge in Chattisham aforesaid, beinge nowe in my occupation counteyinge by estmation three acres more or less to hold

to him and his lyves for  and  uppon condition that he paye or cause to be paide unto the said Elizabeth GORT his sister

her heyres execcutors or assignes the some of twentye pounds of lawfull money of England wi[th]in two yeares after my

decease and unto his sistor ANNE the sume of fifteene pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid

two yeares after my decease, And if it shall happen the said sevrall somes or any p[ar]te of them to be behinde and unpaid contrary

the sume aforesaid beinge lawfully demanded and then my will and meaninge is that it shall and maybe be lawfull to and for them [ damage to page  ]

ELIZABETH and ANNE and their heyres and assignes or oyther of them [   ] p[ar]te behinde and unpaid in p[ar]te or in all to enter into the

peece of lande and the same to hold to them and their lyves respectively for  ever And all other my lande and tenement bequeathed

give the same unto the said ROB[ER]TE my sonne and his lyves Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter ANNE the sum

of five pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her out of my personall estate w[ith]in one month after

my dicease if she lyve soe longe but iff she shall happen to depart this lyfe before the pay[men]t be [   ]to be put into [damaged edge ]

Item I bequeath the same fyfe pounds unto the children of my daughter GORT that shalbe then lyvinge to equaly

divided amongst them. item I give and bequeath unto my said wyfe ROSE halfe the rest of my goods and chattells and household  sufficient so

dispose of at her owne will and pleasure and the other halfe I will she shall have the rest of duringe her naturall lyfe and after her

disease  I will the same unto my said daughter ANNE or the full value of them save only my will and meaning is that my

executore and the charge of the  p[ro]bate of this my last will and testamen[t] shallbe deducted out of the rest of my said [damaged edge]

And further my will and meaninge is not with standinge any thinge aforementioned that if my wyfe shall marry agane [damaged edge]

to whom she shall soe marryed shall enter into a Bonde double the value of halfe of my goods and chattells & household sufficient

with the condition to deliver or cause to be deliverd the said halfe of the rest of my said personall estate unto my said daughter [Anne?  ]

or the full value of them of lawfull money of England within one month after my wyfes decease; And if af[oresaid] shallnot

enter such bonde I will that the said ANNE shall have the halfe of the rest of said personall estate before bequeathed

delivered unto her by my said wyfe or her assignes within two monthes next after my said wyfe shall marryed as aforesaid

lastly I do make and appointe my said sonne ROBTE to be sole executor of this my last will and testamen[t]; In wintess

I have hereunto sett my hande and  oath the fourteenth daye of January in the twelth yeare of the rainge of [damaged edge]

Lord Kinge Charles Anno Dom 1636:

Sealed pubblysed subscribed and declared       

in the presence of

William CHAPLIN                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jefferey HITCH[cock]

Willim HIMBY

Will of Geoffrey Hitchcock
Name & Occupation:	Geoffrey Hitchcock, a miller
Abode:	Chattisham, Suffolk
Date of death:	Not known, circa 1636 – 1639
Physical & mental health:	Reasonable good health
Place of burial:	Not known or found
Bequests:	To his wife Rose: To stay in the home in which Geoffrey purchased off Clement Crick for rest of her life. The Freehold home purchased off John Gardner. Half of the goods, chattels and household goods. If Rose marries again, the person whom she marries shall enter into a bond worth double the half of the goods and chattels. To son Robert: Betsman’s Croft. To daughter Rose Hitchcock: On the death of his wife Rose, the home purchased off Clement Crick. If Rose dies, home to be divided among rest of surviving children. To daughter Anne Hitchcock: Copyhold cottage with piece of land adjoining Betsman’s Croft in occupation of Smyth. £15 to be paid within 2 years of father’s death. £5 to be paid within 1 month of father’s death. If Anne has died, the £5 to be divided between her sister Elizabeth Gort’s children (Names of children not stated). If mother marries again, Anne to receive half goods and chattels. To daughter Mary, wife of Anthony Steggold: After her mother Rose’s death, the freehold home which Geoffrey had purchased off John Gardner. (Will implies by the wording “and her heirs and assigns to be lawfully begotten” that Mary does not have children yet). To daughter Elizabeth, wife of John Gort: If her sister Mary Steggold dies before her, the freehold home which Geoffrey purchased off John Gardner. £20 within 2 years of father’s death. Elizabeth’s children to receive the £5 bequeathed to Anne if Anne has died. (Implies that Elizabeth has children).
Details of land:	Betsman’s Croft in Chattisham, Suffolk A copyhold cottage with piece of land adjoining Betsman’s Croft in the occupation of one Smyth. A freehold home purchased off John Gardner now in the occupation of John Sexton and Anne Causan, widow. The home in which he dwelt purchased from Clement Crick
Executors:	Robert Hitchcock, his son
Witnesses:	William Chaplin and William Himby
Date of will:	14th Jan 1636
Codicils:	None
Date of probate:	May 1639
Court of probate:	Archdeaconry of Suffolk

After Geoffrey's death, his wife Rose Hitchcock, widow, appeared in the Ship Money Returns for Chattisham in 1640 where she was assessed to pay 3s 0d. This was the last record found for Geoffrey or Rose and their family.

Ship Money was a tax levied from time to time in England by monarchs, from the late medieval period until 1640, for furnishing ships for war; mostly on inhabitants in coastal areas, although Charles I extended this tax to inland areas of England. Extensive ship-money returns survive for Suffolk from 1639-1640 in the British Library with a digital copy online. Ship Money returns are useful for showing names of people paying tax living in a parish at that precise point in time.