Andrew Brigde of Soham : proved before the Commissary of the Prior and Chapter of Christ Church, Canterbury, Aug.1503. Reg. C.C. Cantuar. F. fo 213a.
Burial in Churchyard of S. Andrew, Soham - Bequests, High Alter for oblations forgotten 6s. 8d. Church repairs 6s. 8d. repairs of the Chapel of S. Mary at Soham 3s. 4d. common light of the Church 3s. 4d. Guild of Corpus Christi 3s. 4d. Guild of S. Peter 3s. 4d. to each of the 4 Orders of Friars in Cambridge 6s. 8d. to the Master and Scholars of Pembroth in the University of Cambridge 6s. 8d. to Petronilla, testators Wife, his capital messuage with 40 acres of land and 1 1/2 perches scattered through Soham Common, a shop with the adjoining  close, and another close called Oxleys. Also a close at Nethershall and Le Fluth with 3 rods of land and privelege of  folding sheep ( cum libertate unius le Folde ) near Bawns land. Also 7 acres of Meadow and 2 of arable ( all ) for term of her life. After her death, John, Testators Son, to have the reversion of all. To Margaret his Daughter 10 marks. To Petronilla his Daughter 10 marks. To Margaret his Servant a Heifer of 3 years old. To John Emlyn a Heifer. To an honest Priest celebrating for a year for Testator and his Kin £5 6s 0d. To increase stipend of Priest of Guild of Corpus Christi 40s. To Rathesure ( ? ) his Servant a Heifer. To Will Mylton the Elder, a Calf. Residue to Petronilla his Wife and John his Son who are Executors. Witnesses Joan Howdy and Will Waldow, Priest, Joan Gardyner and others.

Thomas Pechie of BrokeStrek: 1523. Brydon fo. 32.
High Auter a combe of barley. To Church 20s. to be payed next year after death, and 10s. within 3 years of death. To reparacons of  '' Chapple in highe waye '' 6s. 8d. the second year after death.
 

Thomas Pechie, Hall St. 1523. Brydon fo. 87.
To High Alter for oblations, &c. 5s. To Reparacons of Church, 40s. To Corpus Christi Guild, and S. Peters Guild 3s. 4d. each. That these be yerely payed by my Wyff Elizabeth and John Pechie of Hall Street. Of the profytt of the land which I and the same John Pechie did hold together some tyme of Wm Pechye my Father, to Corpus Christi Guild Preste Soham 13s. 4d. Yerely for ever as longe as the Brethren and Sisterne of the Guilde will maynetayne any honest Preste their singing or saying. 1 acre of land called Dumstallacre ( ? ) to maintenance of Guild Priest of Corpus Xti on above condition.

Thomas Yaxley, 1523. Brydon fo. 68.
To Corpus Xti Guild 6s. 8d. and the best Mere I have, and to our Blessed Lady Guilde the next best Mere. To the Rood Lights 2d., 2s. to be paid which I owe, and if my Children live then none of these legacies to be paid but my debts and the High Alter.

William Patte, 1525, Brydon. fo. 131.
To High Alter 1combe of barley. 3 solemn diriges with ..... with 3 drinkings and at every dirige 5s. to be disposed and at every drinking 1 combe wheat, 1 qr malt, 1 Calf and 1 Sheep. To Xmas ( ? ) mass 1 free acre of land in Estfield called Foly loye ( ? ).

Edward Norfolke, 1527, Brydon, fo. 261.
To High Alter 2 Bushels Barley. to Alter Of Our Lady in Soham Church an Alter cloth with a towel. To Guild of Corpus Xti 20s. To an honest Priest to sing trentall of S. Gregory 20s. I will have an honest Priest to sing and pray for my soul in Soham Church for 3 months, taking as stipend 26s. 8d. Witness Sir Thos. Dobet ( ? ) Parish Priest of Soham.

Wm. Yaxlie, 1525, Brydon. fo. 284.
To High Alter 2 Bushels barley. To Guild of Corpus Xti 4 bushels barley within 12 months of death. To Guild of our Lady 2 bushels barley and 1 bushel to maintenance of Rood Light.

Alice Pechie, Widow, of Thorn St 1525, Brydon, fo, 310.
To High Alter 12d Three dirigies, one at my burying, one at my 7th and the third at my 30th day as well and honestly as my goods will bear, with three drinkings, the value of every dirige with the drinking 30s. The money of both my houses to be divided on this manner, 6s. 8d. to reparacon of Soham Church, 6s. 8d. to High Way of Soham, and 6s. 8d. to poor of Soham, i.e. 3s 4d. at Christmas and 3s. 4d. at Easter, to pray for the soul of Thos Pechye and Alice with all their good friends. To hanging ( ? ) of the great bell 20s. To Rood Loft 13s.4d. if any man will do anymore thereto, or else to the painting of the Crucifix with our Lady and S. John. To the '' honoment'' of the relic of S. Andrew 20s.

John Hadnam, Smith, of Soham 1523, Brydon fo. 316.
To High Alter 16d. reparacon of Church 12d. To maintenance of the light before our Lady at the Font 14d.

William Pechie, 1529, Brett, fo. 25.
To High Alter 12d. for a trentall of Masses for my soul and '' odyr '' as I am bounden 15s. ( ? ) . To Soham Church 6s. 8d. to Wicken Church 13s. 4d. Witnesses Richard Guston , Vicar and Robert Salusbury.

Richard Voyce, 1530, Brett, fo. 133.
To High Alter 12d. To maintenance of Church work 20s. , 6s. 8d. yearly for 3 years.

John Garson, c.1540, Cole, fo, 240
To High Alter 16d. Jesus ( ? ) mass Priest, if there be any, to have 6s. 8d. to pray for the soul of Peter Salisbury and Margaret his Wife, Wm Gore and Johan his Wife, to be paid 4d. a year so long as the said sum shall last. Mass and birige at burial, 30th and year day and 10s. To the poor at each of these days. To Church one Surplice.

John Garsham, 1543, Longe, fo. 356
To the three solemn diriges with Masses and other divine service on burying 7th and 30th days, and at each day 26s. 8d. To poor people and clarks. Son John Garsham to pay the Priest who says the Mass of S. John 18d. yearly, that the said Priest pray for the Testators soul and for those of his Father and Mother &c. If the Son fails to pay, the Priest is to call him before the ordinary for punishment. ( 1 1/2 acres of land were left to provide the money. )

Richard Gunston, Clerk and Vicar of Soham 1545, Longe, fo. 569
To be buried on  South side of  Church against the Vicarage. Burying, 7th and 30th days to be kept, his Executor bestowing at each of them as he thinks most expedient. An honest stone to be laid on his grave. Guild of S. John 6s. 8d. ( Qy whether at Soham or Walsall ). Vicar of Fordham to have all his books , paying 7 marks of lawful money in 7 years, with which money his yearday was to be kept for 7 years bestowing at each 13s. 4d. the residue 6s. 8d. he forgives the said Vicar '' for his paynes yearly by him to be taken to be present at my sayde yeare daies, such books did cost and are worth much money more. '' Residue of property after paying debts &c. to be given to yong single folke of Soham toward their marriage. Faggots and other wood to be carried about the Town and given to the Poor at executors discretion. Witness, amongst others, Sir Matthew Lawson '' my wyse Prieste and Curate.''

Henry Seaman, 14th June 1607, Comfirmed by a Decree of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, ( 57 Wingfield )
One of the strangest of the many strange testamentary provisions of the whimsical days of James 1st, will be found in the Will of Henry Seaman, a rich Yeoman, of Soham, were he plans the details of his burial, in the words which follow.
My body to be boughte to the earthe from whence yt came and to be buryed in the Churche of Soham at my stooles end and there to be set downe righte up, standing upon my feete in a cophine. And for my Soule peale to be runge twelve howers I give for the ringing thereof tenne shillinges of money. And I give to the Churche for breaking up the pauiment and to be set up at my stooles end fyve and twentie shillinges of money. And allso I give unto them that shall ringe at my buriall daye and to ringe fyve dayes after to make up sixe dayes to be runge for with my buryall daye, to be so runge for presentlie after my buryal, they to have for euery daye eighte shillings. And allso my will is that at my bringing to the Churche to be buryed, that I have twoe Minstrells to playe some musicke before me to the Churche to be buryed, and to playe all the day after, and they to have for their laboure and paynes takinge seaven shillinges. And allso my will is that at my buryall daye my executrix shall make some good chere with her neighboures, and shall give to the poore people fortie shillinges...... within twoe yeres after my buryall my executrix shall give three poundes of money, that is to saye thirity shillinges a yere towards the releife of the ympotent, lame and blynde.

Robert Pate, 1545, Peterborough, M. fo. 165.
His Soul to God and B.V.M.&C. Three pounds to be distributed among the poor at burying 7th and 30th days.

John Pechey, 1557, Peterborough, H. fo. 126.
To reparacons of Church of Soham 10s . Buried in Churchyard.

Thomas Pechye, ( ? date ) . Peterborough H. fo.128.
In perfect remembrance &c. to High Alter 20s &c.

John Baledyn, or Balodyn, Presbyter, of Parish Church of Soham. 1501. Popay fo. 106.
To be buried in S. Andrews Churchyard. Soul to God, B.V.M. and A11 SS. To High Alter for tithes forgotten 4s. to Blessed Mary of Pity, to S. John Baptist and to the Holy Trinity in the said Church, each 1lb of wax. I leave a book called Ortulus Artium to be chained in the Chapel of S. Mary in Soham Church. To Sir William my Brother, 2 silver cups, one tippet of sarcenet and 2 books, Golden Legend and Festivals (of Saints ?), if he will come for them, if not, to be sold. To Alice Hall, mattress, pair of sheets, bolsters, bed &c. 2 platters and dishes, and 2 salt cellars of pewter, and a latten candlestick if she will come for them. To her Father John Hall, a counterpane of black worsted. To Joan my Wife ( sic ) a pair of beads of jet if she will come for them. To Thomas Baledyn my Brother, 13s. 4d. and debts I owe him. To Margaret Besteneyson, a caput (perhaps a picture ) of S. John Baptist. To John Hall, my jacket with lappets ( or corded ). To Richard Chery, my russet gown &c. To Agnes Boteler, a silver cup. To the Chapel of the Blessed Mary in Walsingham, a pair of beads with a ring. Magister Doctor ( sic ) Sokborn ( ? ) Executor. Witnesses, John Gardener, William Melton, Thomas Palmer.

John Norfolk, of Hall Street Soham, 1520, Coppinger Fo 41
To High Alter 1 combe barley. To each house of Friars in Cambridge 3s. 4d. To Daughter Joan , a bullock of 4 years. whoever hath the acre of land at Hobshotts shall keep such year days as it was given for, and '' ther ben 3 yeredays as yt abberyth in the Sexten book '' and also who hath the half acre of land that was Warners shall pay the Gild Priest half an acre of my own land, the which lieth next Warners half acre, or else 6d a year for the same. To Agnes my Daughter, bullock of three years. John Norfolk my Son's Son, to have both my closes with the lake, and 2 '' wanetts longyng thereto '' on condition he keep my year day and my Wife's, my Father's and Mother's and his Father's and keep the bede roll to the same. To Robert Salisburys Children, each Child of Edward Wake, a bullock. Robert Salisbury to have my house in Brook Street. with the close and the lake- Ellen my Wife to be Executrix and residuary legatee.

Helen Yaxlie, of Soham, Widow 1553, Beeles, fo 32.
To Alice Glofer my Daughter, feather bed, bolster, pillows, a blanket of tartyne, and another the best I have, best gown &c. cheese '' fattes '' great washing '' bolle '' my great '' wourpe and boll '' pewter, 3 best kerchiefs, a double rail, linen, a painted '' hawlinge '' an old violet gown that was my Husbands, 2 tubs of the best I have a brewing pan, a kettle, spit, cloth of sacken woven in twill for a bed, a carpet cloth to lay on a Child's bed &c. &c. If the said Daughter die before her Husband, then the above to be divided among her Children. Jane, Daughter of Harry Yaxlie my Son to have 6s. at her marriage of my gift. To Margaret Lathbury, my second brass pot, a '' keatill with a bite'' 3 pewter platters, 3 saucers, a latten candlestick, 1 salt, 2 pair of sheet's, table cloth, towel, blankets, pillows &c, a little kettle of 3 pints, a painted cloth with images by my bed, one pot hangel, one pair of pot hooks, one pot hangel and one cradel, 5 ells of woollen cloth &c. To Harry Yaxlie my Son Richard's Child, a coffer,