Sir Andrew Judde, son of John Judde and Margaret Judde [Chiche]
Sir Andrew Judde, Knight, the founder of Tonbridge School was born c 1492 in Tonbridge to John and Margaret Judde. As a young man he went to London and was apprenticed to the Company of Skinners where through trade - he is styled a "skinner and merchant of Muscovy" - he amassed a large fortune, a considerable portion of which he used on the foundation of Tonbridge School. In 1544, Sir Andrew Judde filled the office of Sheriff of London, and in 1550-1551 was Lord Mayor when he took an active role in opposing Thomas Wyatt's rebellion. In 1555, he was Lord Deputy and Mayor of the Staple of Calais.
In May 1553 he obtained the charter from the King that "henceforth there may and shall be one Grammar School in the said Town of Tonbridge which shall be called the Free Grammar School of the aforesaid Sir Andrew Judd, Knight, in the said Town of Tonbridge, for the education institution and instruction of Boys and Youth in Grammar, to continue for ever.". By the time of Sir Andrew's death in 1558 the original school had been built and the first headmaster - Rev. John Proctor - appointed. The date of the original statutes for the school is uncertain but they were drawn up during Sir Andrew's lifetime and formally adopted six years after his death in 1564.
Sir Andrew Judde married three times and his daughter Alice from the first marriage married Thomas Smyth and their son Sir Thoams Smythe (c 1558 - 1625) was a major benefactor to the school.
Sir Andrew died on 4th September 1558 and was buried on the 14th in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, where there is a marble monument in his honour
See also The History of Tonbridge School and
Date
Type
Information
Source
c 1492
Born
In the Parish of Tonbridge, Kent
1523
Married
c 1545
Married
1552
Married
4th Sep 1558
Died
The History of Tonbridge School
14th Sep 1558
Buried
At St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, in London
The History of Tonbridge School
Sir Andrew Judde
"To Russia and Muscova,
To Spayne and Gynny withoute fable
Traveld he by land and sea.
Both Mayre of London and Staple,
The Commonwealthe He norished
So worthelie in all his Daies
That ech state full well him loved,
To his perpetuall prayes.
Three wyves He had, one was Mary
Fowre sons one mayde he by her,
Annys had none by him truly
By Dame Mary had one Dowghtier
Thus in the month of September
A thousand fyve hundred and fyftey
And eyght, died this worthie Staplar
Worshipynge his posterytye."
1524 to 1544
Birth of a son
1524 to 1544
Birth of a son
1524 to 1544
Birth of a son
1524 to 1544
Birth of a son
c 1530
Birth of a daughter
c 1555
Birth of a daughter
16th May 1553
History
At Tonbridge Grammar School
The History of Tonbridge School
Charter to Sir Andrew Judde
The King To all to whom &c. greeting know ye that we, at the humble petition of Sir Andrew Judd, Knight, and Alderman of our City of London, for the erecting and establishing a Grammar School in the Town of Tonbridge in the County of Kent for the institution and instruction of boys and youth in the said Town and the County there adjacent, of our special grace and of our certain knowledge and mere motion do will, grant and ordain that from henceforth there may and shall be one Grammar School in the said Town of Tonbridge which shall be called the Free Grammar School of the aforesaid Sir Andrew Judd, Knight, in the said Town of Tonbridge, for the education institution and instruction of Boys and Youth in Grammar, to continue for ever.
....................
In witness whereof &c. Witness the King at Westminster the sixteenth of May in the seventh year of his reign
By Writ of Privy Seal
12th May 1564
History
At Tonbridge Grammar School
The History of Tonbridge School
The Original Statutes of the School of Tonbridge
Be it known to all Christian People, by this present Writings indented, That whereas I, Sir Andrew Judd, Knight and Alderman of London, have erected a Free Grammar School in the town of Tunbridge, in the county of Kent, for the bringing up the youth in virtue and learning; for the better accomplishment of the same, I have appointed certain Orders to be observed, as hereafter doth follow.
Imprimis, I require that the Master of the said School be whole of body, well reputed, Master of Arts in degree, if it may be, chosen by my trusty and well-beloved Friends the Company of the Skinners of London, to whose direction I commit the governance of this my said School and Orders. Always foreseen that the Schoolmaster and Usher teach the Grammar approved by the Queen's Majesty that now is, and that the Schoolmaster first allowed by the Ordinary, and by examination be found meet both for his learning and his dexterity in teaching, as also for his honest conversation, and for right understanding of God's true religion now set forth by public authority, whereunto he shall stir and move his scholars, and also shall prescribe to them such sentences of Holy Scripture as shall be most expedient to induce them to godliness.
..................
THESE ARTICLES perused, approved, and subscribed to by the most Reverend Father in God, Matthew, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England and Metropolitan, and by the Right Worshipful Alexander Nowell, Dean of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in London, the twelfth day of May, in the year of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth of England, France, and Scotland, Queen Defender of the Faith, and so forth, the Sixth.
(Signed)
MATTHEW CANTUAR
ALEXANDER NOWELL.
1544
Appointed
Sheriff of London
The History of Tonbridge School
1550 to 1551
Appointed
Lord Mayor of London
The History of Tonbridge School
c 1555
Appointed
Lord Deputy and Mayor of the Staple of Calais
The History of Tonbridge School
