Robert Kerrich
Robert Kerrich was born about 1505, the son of William Kerrich of Saxtead in Suffolk. His father's will of September 1551 left him "my tenement where I dwell and my lands in Saxsted, Framlingham, Erls Soham, Monks Soham, and Abbotte." It also charged him with paying 40 shillings to his sister Annes and £3 6s 8d to his sister Christian. His father named him executor as "Robert Kerriche of Bedfield, the elder", with his brother William of Weston. Two of Robert's sons, John and Thomas, were their grandfather's godchildren.
He lived at Bedfield, a parish next to Saxtead. He was taxed there in the subsidies of 1545/6, 1548 to 1550, 1565/6 and 1575/6. In the last two his assessment was the highest in the parish, on goods worth £12. Part of his farm was rented: he held the farm where he lived "according to the covenant as I now hold of my landlord". His wife's name is not known.
He made his will on 27 January 1577/8 and was dead within weeks. It was proved at Ipswich on 13 April 1578. It is a long yeoman's will, and it walks through his lands, his house and his yard.
The poor of Bedfield had 6s 8d at Michaelmas and 3s 4d at Christmas, and the poor of Saxtead 6s 8d. His eldest son John had "my lands and houses in Saxsted, Earls Soham, and Framlingham which were my father's", paying his brother William £70 at £10 a year. If John failed, Thomas was to enter, and after him Giles.
Thomas, who was to go on farming, had the most goods. He got two shops in Saxtead called Gembles, bought of John Pinner, with a barn, and free land with woods bought of Humfrye Button. He also got a tenement in Bedfield bought of Smythe, the land by the parsonage bought of William Wythe, and land in Saxtead bought of Robert Gibson. With these came £12 9s, cows, a bull, two heifers and the four geldings. He had the farming instruments, carts, harness and ploughs, and the use of the rented farm. In the house, Thomas had the best brass pot, the best copper kettle, the cupboard in the hall, the long framed table, the long stool, two chairs, a round stool and the tables in the bakehouse. In the kitchen he had a dripping pan, andirons, a fire pan, bellows, pothooks, a gridiron and a great frying pan.
William had a house in Earl Soham, four milch cows, bedding and pewter, and the oats, barley and pears. Giles had milch cows. His daughter Rose had a cow, a feather bed, four pewter dishes, £5 and "one of the best yard kerchiefs". Each grandchild had something, a heifer or a calf or a pewter dish. His three servants living in the house, John Abell, Ciclye Haywarde and Cycelye Shinings, had 12 pence each, and another servant, Margery Branche, 6s 8d. What was left went to his five children, John, William, Giles, Thomas and Rose.
His granddaughter Rose, daughter of William, married Thomas Clarke of Westhorpe in 1600, and four of her sons went to Rhode Island.
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Cite: Heirology, "Robert Kerrich (1505-1578)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/robert-kerrich-1505-1578-bb8ceb.