The Forders
In the summer of 2000 the Archive was contacted by Judy Helme (nee Forder) who had seen our website and was writing a book for a family reunion in the autumn. She very kindly sent us a copy of the book, so this page will document the Forder's residence in Froyle. As they were here in the 16th century we have no pictures of them, but here is some of the documentation. They lived in Blundens in Upper Froyle, and the late Theo Beck, who lived there, discovered the following in his investigation of the history of his house.

The first section is an extract from “Froyle, 100 Years of Memories”:-

Blundens House
Thomas Forder appears in The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1586. He died in 1605, leaving his widow Alice his executrix. He is described as a yeoman and appears to have been far more affluent than John Mixenbroke. The total of the Inventory is £91 18s. 8d., but he owed £56 16s. 4d. to various persons including £5 to William Jephson (the Lord of the Manor), 11 shillings to the Vicar, £40 to Helen Knight (presumably the Vicar’s wife) and amounts varying from 4/-. to 40/-. to neighbours, local well-to-do people and what appear to be tradesmen. His wearing apparell” was apprised at 26s. 8d. compared with John Mixenbroke’s apparell” and the money in his purse 10s.

His debts were as follows:-
 to Sir Wm Jephson £5  to Helen Knight £40
 to Stephen Write 24s  to William Barnes 40s
 to Lawrence Gele 16s  to Griffeth Morgan 24s
 to John Dene 10s  to George Hawkins 28s 6d
 to John Whetstone 12s  to Mr Knight 11s
to Thomas Newman 4s 4d to Richard Loughe 7s
 to One Bumbrick 3s to Bulbrick of Alsford 4s 4d
 to James Ledall 4s  to Edward Pratt 14s 8d
 to William Broman 10s  to Robert Campson 12s
 to Wm Matthew of Alton 3s to John Powte 8s 6d

In his Will he left 3s 4d “unto the poor of Froyle to be divided amongst them” and to each of his children 20/- and the rest of his goods, “after my debts be paid and funeral expenses discharged” to his wife.
An Inventory of his goods at the time of Thomas Forder’s death in 1605 makes interesting reading and helps us build up a picture of the house at the beginning of the 17th century.
   £   s   d
Imprimis in the Hall a table and chair
3 framed stools a form a bench a back board
2 trestles and a shelf board prised at
 

 10
0
Item in the Chambers 4 bedsteads a cupboard 4 coffers
A shelf board prised at
  37 0
Item a feather bed 3 feather bolsters 4 feather pillows
3 flock beds 2 flock bolsters 4 coverlets 4 blankets
6 pair of sheets and 4 pillows prised at
 9 10 0
Item 10 platters 4 pongers and saucers 4 porringers
3 candlesticks 2 salts a mortar and pestle prised at
  27 8
Item in the Buttery certain barrels and timber stuff
And other things prised at
  20 0 
Item 4 bushels of wheat prised at   12 0
Item 2 kee and 2 bullocks prised at 10 10 0
Item in the Kitchen 2 brass pots a cauldron 3 kettles
2 skillets a chafing dish and other stuff prised at
3 0 0
Item the wood in the grate   20 0
Item certain hurdles a scythe 2 prongs and
a van prised at
  5 0
Item 6 hogs and 3 pigs prised at   42 6
Item the hens and ducks prised at   3 4
Item the geese and gosskens prised at   4 6
Item 6 horses prised at 9 0 0
Item the carts ploughs harrows prised at 4 0 0
Item the wheat and other corn in the fields prised at 50 0 0
Sum is 91 18 8

Note: A prong is a hay fork and a van is a winnowing fan or food hopper.