Family and Education

Offices Held

Biography

The Goodwin family was prominent in East Grinstead. In 1524 Edward Goodwin was assessed at £20 in goods by the subsidy commissioners, an amount equalled by only one other townsman. His comparative wealth and position in the town explain his Membership of Parliament. He presumably also sat in the Parliament of 1536, when the King asked for the re-election of the same Members, and he may have done so again in 1539 and 1542, Parliaments for which the borough’s returns are lost or incomplete.2

Goodwin made his will on 25 May 1548, asking to be buried in the churchyard at East Grinstead ‘under the thorn on the south side of the said church’. He left 3s.4d. to the poor box and 30s. for a preacher to ‘declare the word of God’ within five days of his burial. After remembering his godchildren and grandchildren he provided for his sons and daughters. His wife received his house and lands in East Grinstead called Harwards and Steckewell, and he divided his other property in the town between his sons Edward and John. He named his eldest son Edward his sole executor, and another son William and a neighbour Thomas Cappes the overseers of the will, which was proved on 12 June 1550.3

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Author: R. J.W. Swales

Notes

• 1. Date of birth estimated from first reference. East Sussex RO, Lewes archdeaconry wills A2/7.
• 2. Suss. Rec. Soc. lvi. 137; Suss. Arch. Colls. cvi. 49, 51; cix. 26-27, 30.
• 3. E. Suss. RO, Lewes archdeaconry wills A2/7; Comber, Suss. Genealogies (Ardingly) , 226.