Many members of the family have greatly distinguished themselves since the Diarist’s day, and of them Mr. Foss wrote ("Judges of England,” vol. vi., p. 467):—­

     “In the family of Pepys is illustrated every gradation of legal rank
     from Reader of an Inn of Court to Lord High Chancellor of England.”

The William Pepys of Cottenham who commences the pedigree had three sons and three daughters; from the eldest son (Thomas) descended the first Norfolk branch, from the second son (John Pepys of Southcreeke) descended the second Norfolk branch, and from the third son (William) descended the Impington branch.  The latter William had four sons and two daughters; two of these sons were named Thomas, and as they were both living at the same time one was distinguished as “the black” and the other as “the red.”  Thomas the red had four sons and four daughters.  John, born 1601, was the third son, and he became the father of Samuel the Diarist.  Little is known of John Pepys, but we learn when the Diary opens that he was settled in London as a tailor.  He does not appear to have been a successful man, and his son on August 26th, 1661, found that there was only L45 owing to him, and that he owed about the same sum.  He was a citizen of London in 1650, when his son Samuel was admitted to Magdalene College, but at an earlier period he appears to have had business relations with Holland.

In August, 1661, John Pepys retired to a small property at Brampton (worth about L80 per annum), which had been left to him by his eldest brother, Robert Pepys, where he died in 1680.

The following is a copy of John Pepys’s will: 

                            “Myfather’s will.
                        [Indorsement by S. Pepys.]

“Memorandum.  That I, John Pepys of Ellington, in the county of
Huntingdon, Gent.”, doe declare my mind in the disposall of my
worldly goods as followeth: 

“First, I desire that my lands and goods left mee by my brother, Robert Pepys, deceased, bee delivered up to my eldest son, Samuell Pepys, of London, Esqr., according as is expressed in the last Will of my brother Robert aforesaid.

     “Secondly, As for what goods I have brought from London, or procured
     since, and what moneys I shall leave behind me or due to me, I
     desire may be disposed of as followeth: 

     “Imprimis, I give to the stock of the poore of the parish of
     Brampton, in which church I desire to be enterred, five pounds.

     “Item.  I give to the Poore of Ellington forty shillings.

     “Item.  I desire that my two grandsons, Samuell and John Jackson,
     have ten pounds a piece.

     “Item.  I desire that my daughter, Paulina Jackson, may have my
     largest silver tankerd.

     “Item.  I desire that my son John Pepys may have my gold seale-ring.