John Emptiache’s testament is dated 11 February 1500. He leaves his soul to Almighty God, the Blessed Virign Mary and all the saints and he asks that his body be buried in the churchyard of the church of St Peter in Thanet. He leaves 8d to the high altar for tithes forgotten and 2d to each light of which he is a brother in the said church, to the work of which, he leaves a further 12d. He leaves all his utensils to his son George and appoints his two sons George and Simon as his executors.

Additionally dated in the 16th year of the reign of Henry VII, his Will concerns all his lands and tenements with their appurtenances, in which Robert Graunt and Stephen Culnar are enfeoffed. Immediately after his death his feoffees are to enfeoff his son George of and in all the aforesaid lands and tenements with their appurtenances to hold to himself, his heirs and assigns in perpetuity on condition that George pays the testator’s son Simon, £6 in equal portions over a period of 6
years, the first payment to be made in the second year after the testator’s death.
The witnesses include: ‘Dominus’ Hugh (vicar of St Peter); Robert
Graunt and William Yoklett.

Summary of Latin Testament and Will: PRC17/8/86 held at Kent History and Library Centre Maidstone

Notes:

1. This John seems to be contemporary with Michael d:1489; possibly a brother or cousin?
(The spellings differ but that doesn’t mean much!)

2. Is he the John Emptiache, feofee and/or witness in the wills of George 1494 and his
mother Christina 1497?

3. Again, the inclusion of people common to earlier Emptage wills

4. ‘Dominus’ (or Father) Hugh would have been Hugh Hough, vicar of St Peter-in-Thanet
from 1498 to 1524. [‘The Story of Broadstairs and St Peter’s’ by James E. Bird]