The Somaster Family

Elizabeth (Somaster, Colshill, Unde) Speke

Married (1st): John Colshill

Children: Married (2nd): Richard Unde
Richard and Elizabeth were married by 1503-4, when a record refers to "Elizabeth, wife of Richard Unde". Elizabeth's first husband died on 21 July 1495.

Richard Unde was one of the bailiffs of Exeter when John Colshill was mayor in 1493-4 (History & Description of the City of Exeter p89 (Alexander Jenkins, 1806)), and a document dated 17 July 1494 names him as "Richard Unde, Receiver of Exeter, and Surveyor of the Lords of the Manor of Awlyscomb" (Notes and Gleanings vol 4 p58). Richard was mayor of Exeter himself in 1498-9. In 1498 Richard petitioned the King against the election of John Bonnefant as his successor as mayor, claiming that the custom of Exeter was that "no man of evil name of fame" should be elected or chosen to bear any office and that John Bonnefant was "evermore a troublesome man", of "evil name and fame", had been "reproved in many diverse points of falsehood" and was the "mover steerer and causer of great variance and discord". Richard's petition seems to have had success - a second election was held and Nicholas Hamlyn became mayor in 1499 (although John's brother, Robert Bonnefant was elected a bailiff, and John himself elected a bailiff in 1505). The full petition is transcribed in Select Cases in the Court of Requests, A.D. 1497-1569 pp3-7.

History & Description of the City of Exeter p97 (Alexander Jenkins, 1806)
MAYORS and BAILIFFS in the reign of HENRY VII.
    1490.
John Hooker.
John Calwoodley.
Richard Undy.
Wymond Austin.
John Welch 
...
    1493.
John Coleshill.
Richard Undy.
John Danester.
Richard Nordon.
John Merrifield.
...
    1498.
Richard Undy.
John Hull.
John Vigures.
John Brendon.
Wm. Cleyhanger.

In 1503, John Colshyll "son of John Colshyll" was noted to be an apprentice of "Richard Unde, merchant" (Exeter Freemen, 1266-1967 p64 (Devon and Cornwall Record Society, 1973)). In 1504 and 1505 Richard was a churchwarden in the parish of St Petrock or "Warden of the Magdelene" (Notes and Gleanings vol 3 p148).

The History of the Parish of St. Petrock, Exeter p38 (Robert Dymond, 1882)
      THE CHURCHWARDENS’ ACCOUNTS.   ...
  20-21 Henry VII. (1504-5).  John Calwodeley and Richard Unde.
  This account is missing. [Richard Unde, or Undy, was Mayor in 1499. It will be seen that he died in 1505.]
  21-22 Henry VII. (1505-6). Richard Unde and John Thomas.
  Receipts. For the jewels (jocalibus) of the church at the burial of Elizabeth Werthe, 8d.
  Payments. To — Saynthyll for playing on the organs to Michaelmas, 20d. To Master Germyn for the same at Easter, 16d. For writing the feast of the visitation of the Virgin and the Transfiguration of our Lord in a “Portiphorio” (breviary), late the gift of Master John Burton, 3s. To John Symon when he rode to London for the foot of the cross, 2d. To Richard Toker, carpenter, for renewing three bells at the time of the burial of Richard Unde, 8d.

Richard died in 1505 and is buried in St Petrock, Exeter. His will, proved on 15 May 1507, is held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/15/487). The will is written in Latin, but I believe it is dated 8 February 1505. The will mentions John Colshill and Walter Colshill (as well as a third Colshill I cannot make out, perhaps Jacob?). Elizabeth is appointed an executrix of the will.

Effigy of Sir John Speke from his tomb in Exeter Cathedral
photo from wikipedia
Married (3rd): Sir John Speke between 1505 and 1507
This marriage obviously occurred after Richard Unde's death in 1505, and had occurred by 1507, when churchwarden accounts for St Petrock list a gift from "Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Speke, Knight".
The History of the Parish of St. Petrock, Exeter p39 (Robert Dymond, 1882)
      THE CHURCHWARDENS’ ACCOUNTS.   ...
  22-23 Henry VII. (1506-7).  John Thomas and Richard John Colshyll. 
  Receipts. For 2 ozs. of broken silver from a girdle (zona), with silver harness, the gift of Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Speke, Knight.
  Payments. For making a foot for the best silver cross, 36s. 2d., besides 10½ ozs. of broken silver, collected from the parishioners. For repair of a silver thurible (censer), 2s. For work on the image of St. Jerome, 12d.
  [Elizabeth, daughter of John Cheney, of Woodley, county Berks, survived her first husband, Sir John Speke, of White Lackington, Somerset, Knight, and afterwards became the wife of Hugh Tucker, of Woodland, county Dorset, the second son of Alderman Robert Tucker, of Exeter. (Her. Visit. Devon, 1620.)]

I believe that the biographical note on Elizabeth, "wife of Sir John Speke" in the churchwarden accounts entry is incorrect. It is copied from the The Visitation of Devon, 1620 p353 (Henry St. George, 1872), but The Visitation of Dorset, 1565 p41 (William Harvey, 1887) had that Hugh Tucker married Dame Elizabeth Speake, late wife to Sir Thomas Speake, which makes more sense, since Sir John Speake of Exeter was married three times, firstly to Joan Wynard, secondly to Isobel Calwoodley and thirdly to Elizabeth (Somaster, Colshill) Unde, the last of whom outlived him. The point has relevance since it tells us that Elizabeth Somaster's marriage to Sir John Speke had occurred by the time of the 1506-7 churchwarden accounts transcribed above.

John was born in 1442, the son and heir of Sir John Speke and Alice Beauchamp. His father died in 1444, when John was just 2 years old, and he was placed in the wardship jointly to William de la Pole, 1st Marquess of Suffolk (later Duke of Suffolk), William Waynflete, Provost of Eton (later Bishop of Winchester), and John Hampton of Kinver, Staffordshire, all three of whom in 1442, together with others, had been placed in charge of the foundation of Eton College by King Henry VI. John married firstly Joan Wynard and had four children, John, George, Christopher and Alice. He married secondly Isobel Calwoodley.  John was a Member of Parliament in 1477, and knighted in 1501. He was Sheriff of Devon in 1517. John died on 28 April 1518 and was
Tomb of Sir John Speke in St George's Chapel, also known as the Speke Chantry in Exeter Cathedral, Exeter
photo from wikipedia
buried in the Speke Chantry of Exeter Cathedral. His will, dated 20 February 1516/17 and proved on 31 May 1518, is held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/19/103).
Somerset Medieval Wills: 1383-1500 pp189-90 (Frederic William Weaver, 1903)
    1516. SIR JOHN SPEKE, KNT.
       [9 AYLOFFE.]
  February 20th, 1516. John Speke, knight, my body to be buried in the cathedral church of Saint Peter in Excetor within my chapell of Saint George. I will my executors ordeyn 2,000 masses with placebo and dirige as soon as possible after my departyng and every preest to have for his labor 6d. To George Speke my son 200 marks. I will Elisabeth my wife have all such plate as she brought with her and 20 marc worth more of my plate as she will chuse herself also iͯxͯ and xli. in money that it be furnysshed and made to her worth ccc marcs, also she shall have the almeshouse at Excetor to lye in as she will as long as she is sole leaving it at her death to my executor as good as it is, also all suche stuff as is here at Whitlakington, hangings both in chamber and ellswhere, oxen, kee, shepe, almaner of ploughgere, crokkes, pannys, pewter vessell. And if she clayme any other things than I have bequethed, my bequest to her to be voyde. And yf John Speke of Haywode interrupt hir of any landes that I have gevyn her then I will my feoffees doo sell away the landes from him and from his heires for evermore, she to have the profitt and value of it during her life. And if the said John Speke of Haywode interrupt any other man of lands I have gevyn him, I will my feoffees demayn them in likewise as before rehersid. To George my son the one half of my best cheyne, the other half to John Speke of Haywode, yf he kepe the poyntments and premisses that I have put her in, if no, the whole cheyne to George Speke. To Anne my doughter 40 marc and her fynding till she be 17 yeres of age. To Elisabeth the litill mayde to her mariage 10 marcs and her fynding till she be 14 yere of age. To William Marshall my servant 40s. and his half yeres wages and to his son, my godson 20s. To Thurstone Harop 40s. and half a yeres wages. To John Joyner 100s. and to his son, my godson 40s. To Petyr Markynfeld 20s. and to John Joyner and him all my wering gere, gownes, dobletts, hosys, jaketts and shirts. To every godson of mine in Whitlakyngton 6s. 8d. To Richard Wysche his fynding while he liveth and som̃ money in his purse. To Thomas Ratclyff my roon horse and 4 marcs. To Thomas Cotton 40s. and the keping of my parke and 40s. yerely for his labour. To Petir Markinfeld the graye horse whiche he rideth upon alway himself. To George Speke my sonne all my newe hangings of tappystrye and the coverlet of the same. The residue to George Speke my sonne, my executor.
  Witnesses: Sir Robert Adams, vicar of Whitlakington and Sir John Michell, parson of Compton Martyn, maister Prior of Evylchester, John Purkas, maister William Chamborne and William Marshall.
  Proved at Lambeth May 31st 1518     

Children: Notes:
Elizabeth is named variously as the daughter of John Somester and Isabell Roch (Visitations of Essex in Publications of the Harleian Society vol 14 p561 (1879)), or the daughter of Adam Somester of Widecombe, Devon (Devonshire pedigrees. Recorded in the herald's visitation of 1620 p111 (John Tuckett, 1859)), or the daughter of  William Somaster, Esq., of Netheraxe, Somerset (Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon p236 (Sir William Pole, 1791)). I have not found primary source documentation of any of these claims. In her will, Elizabeth leaves "To my suster Alice Gere my gowne of violet ingrayned, furred with black bogie. To Alice wife of John Gere a gowne of violett ingreyned and furred with whyte letees." I would interpret this to mean that she had a sister, Alice, who married a Gere, and that a relative of that Gere, John Gere, also married an Alice. The The Visitation of the County of Devon in the Year 1564 p110 (Frederic Thomas Colby, 1881) shows a Walter Gere of Hevytree who married Alice Somaster of South Hames. They had a son, John Gere, who married Alice Thorowbridge of Crediton, which perhaps ties into the "Margaret Trowbrigge" also left a legacy in Elizabeth's will. This all makes me think that Elizabeth (and her sister Alice) came from "South Hames" which probably refers to South Hams, Devon. The Visitation of the County of Devon in the Year: Comprising the Herald's Visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620, Volumes 1-7 p695 (H. S. Eland, 1895) states further that Alice (Somaster) Gere was the daughter of John Somaster, of Wydcombe, Devon, in turn the son of Adam Somaster and Julyan Prideaux.

In 1495, John Colshill's estate was sued by Alice Tapton, who had been arrested and imprisoned by John during his time as mayor. As John was deceased, Alice requested Elizabeth to appear at the court on his behalf..
Select Cases Before the King's Council in the Star Chamber vol 1 pp 51-4 (1903)
          TAPTON v. COLSYLL.1
... A boue The Charges and the sayd Colsyll there Wrongfully And Extortyusly toke Certeyn goodes & Catell from youre sayd oratryx os14 the parcell & valuye aperyth in A Cedull to thys byll Annexyd & oure all the forsayd Wronges in prysonment bettyng11 wondyng the sayd Colsyll hath Cawsyd your sayd bedwoman to spend by fanyd & sinistere Accons & by meyns in the lawe xl li. & more money to herre vttere vndoyng so that youre sayd bedwoman now ys of no powere ferthere to suye with oute youre good grace to herre be shewyd in thys behalf nowe Gratyus lorde hyt ys so that the sayd Colsell ys late dyssessyd and youre sayd oratryx hayth syth the tyme of hys deyth ben with hys wyffe to haue rescyte of herre landes and recompens of herre goodes & Catell the whech she denyeth to do where for that yt wold ples youre hyghnes of youre moyst habundant grace The premyssyes tenderly to Conseder to graunt your lettere of preuay seall to be dyrecte to the sayd Issabell17 late the wyfe of the sayd Colsyll18 & his execortrice18 that she may personally Apere A fore youre hyghnes And the lordys of youre moyst honorabull Cowncell At A certeyn day & Apon A certeyn payn by youre hyghnez to herre to be lymite and there Abyde and Abay all suche dyreccionz and Jugementes as to herre shall be A iugeyd be youre hyghnes and the sayd lordes of youre moyst honorabull Cowncell. And your poure oratryx shall euer pray to gode fore the preseruacyon of youre moyst Ryall Estayt &c.
    Indorsed. Termino michaelis Anno xjo.19

  17 ‘Elizabeth’ in the Inquisition. See ib. Document B shows Elizabeth to be correct.
  18 Interlined.
  19 Oct. 9, – –; Nov. 28, 1495.   

Elizabeth is named as the wife of John Colyshill in John post mortem inquisition on 3 November 1495. The inquisition also refers to a deed dated 9 October 1484 that mentions "John Colshyll, and Elizabeth his wife".
Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem: Henry VII vol 1 p525 (1898)
1185. JOHN COLSHYLL, ‘gentilman.’
Writ 16 Sept., inq. 3 Nov., 11 Hen. VII.
  William Somayster, clk., was seised of the under-mentioned messuage and land in Morton Hampstede in fee, and being so seised, by deed dated 9 Oct., 2 Ric. III, gave it to the said John Colshyll, and Elizabeth his wife, and his heirs, and the said John accordingly died seised of it in fee.

In 1503-4, Elizabeth is recorded in the churchwardens' accounts as having purchased a gold ring that had been bequeathed to the church of St Petrock.
The History of the Parish of St. Petrock, Exeter p37 (Robert Dymond, 1882)
      THE CHURCHWARDENS’ ACCOUNTS.   ...
  18-19 Henry VII. (1502-3).  John Symon and Richard Smyth.
  Receipts. Twenty yards of linen cloth, the bequest of the wife of William King, to make two surplices, and a gold ring, the bequest of Elizabeth Werthe, widow, “ad pengend’ ymaginem sce Sithe” in the church. Also a pair of amber [ornaments] with “gaudys” of silver and gilt, appraised at 20s., not now sold.
...
  19-20 Henry VII. (1503-4).  John Calwodeley, Esq. and John Symon.
  Receipts. By sale to Elizabeth, wife of Richard Unde, of the ring appraised in the last account, 3s.

Death: between 18 December 1518 and 17 June 1519

A crowned female statuette holding a shield displaying arms of Sir John Speke impaling Somaster (for his 3rd wife Elizabeth Somaster), in St George's Chapel, also known as the Speke Chantry in Exeter Cathedral, Exeter
photo from wikipedia
Burial: Chapel of St George, Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, Devon, England

The chapel of St George, also known as Speke's Chantry, was provided for in the estate of Elizabeth's third husband, Sir John Speke, who died in 1516. Elizabeth requests in her will "to be buried in the cathedrall church of Exeter by the body of my said husband Sir John Speke, within the newe chapell of Seint George, which he late made and founded". The statuette shown here is in the chapel and displays the arms of Sir John Speke "Argent, two bars azure over all an eagle displayed with two heads gules" impaling Somaster "Argent, a castle between three fleurs-de-lis sable"

Will: The will of Elizabeth Speke, widow dated 18 December 1518 and proved on 17 June 1519, is held at the National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/19/258).
Somerset Medieval Wills: 1383-1500 pp195-6 (Frederic William Weaver, 1903)
    1518. ELIZABETH SPEKE (COLSHILL).
       [17 AYLOFFE.]
  December 18th, 1518. Elizabeth late the wif of Sir John Spek knyght. My body to be buried in the cathedrall church of Exeter by the body of my said husband Sir John Speke, within the newe chapell of Seint George, which he late made and founded. To the parisshens and parish churche of Whyte Lakyngton £4, two gownes, oon of black damaske furred with greye, another of violet satyn. To everyche of my godchildern 12d. To my sonne William Colshill is wif a bee of gold with stonys, and to the said William my two best salts of silver and gilt with the cover and oon of my best stondyng cuppis gilte and chased of oon sorte, and to his brother Walter Colshill the other cupp of the same sorte and my best basyn and ewer of silver. To Maister Lewes Pollard, Justice, my gilt water ewer To my cosyn John Rowe serjaunt at the Lawe my second best basyn and ewer of silver and my best bolle pece of silver and gilt, six sponys of silver and gilt the oon half of my fyne naprie clothe and the oder half to my cosyn John Soumaster and to hym my thred basyn and ewer of silver, a standyng chaced cupp gilte and 12 spones knopped with the twelve appostells and a lytull cheyne of gold, the same cheyne to remayne to his sonne and heire after hym which is claymed by George Spekk to be the goodes of his fathers. To his wyf another lytull chayne of gold wrought in diverse places after the forme of bedstones, which is also claymed by the said George Speke. And if the cheynes be taken away by the said George, then I will she shall have my lytull rope of perells with the bedstone of gold. Also to hir my litull paire of beides of gold, and my best purfle fot a bonet sett with perells and my best pyncasse, also a crosse of gold that hyng aboute my necke usually, my secound best frontlet and a demy girdell the coorse of venys gold. To maister Hawke a scoler of Oxford an old chaced pece of silver. To Seint Patryks of Exeter my black gowne of satyn furred with whyte mynever and purfelyd with powder armyne. To Elisabeth Colshill a tawny gowne of cloth purfeled with black velvet. To my suster Alice Gere my gowne of violet ingrayned, furred with black bogie. To Alice wife of John Gere a gowne of violett ingreyned and furred with whyte letees. To Margaret Trowbrigge a gowne of black chamlett purfelyd with cremysyn velvet and my best bonet garnysshed and my best frountlet embrouded. To Alice the wife of John Gere my second best bonet. To Amy the wif of William Ashe my thryd best bonet and a chaced pece of silver. To Alice Uppeton my cheff woman-servant a gowne of tawny clothe purfeled with crymsyn velvet and to her an old bonet of black velvet and 40s. To the chapell of Seint George of Exeter a gurdell harnessed with silver and gilte. To the housse of Greye freris of Exiter seven yerdis of tawny satyn. To the parisshens and parish of Pokyngton a kirtill of tawny damaske and an other of black satyn for a paire of vestments. To Elisabeth Marshall a bolle pece of silver. To my suster Alice Gere 3½ yerdis of fyne tawny clothe and a blak kirtill of wolsted. To Cristian my servant a girdell harnessed with silver. To my servants William Marshall, Richard Parker, John and Thurston Harroppe, John Coke, Gilbert the porter, to every of them 6s. 8d. To my twoo wymen servants 6s. 8d. each. To Richard Webbe 3s. 4d. To John, undercoke, Thomas Taunton, Thomas Bruer, Walter Bayly and Henry my cosyn Somaster ys man 20d. each. To my godsonne John Hawker 3s. 4d. The residue to the forsaid John Rowe and John Somaster my executors.
  Proved at Lambeth, June 17th, 1519.    

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