She was one of six daughters of William Wayte of Wymering. Her father died in 1561 leaving Wymering and other lands in Hampshire to be equally divided between his daughters. Honor Wayte married her cousin, another William Wayte who pre-deceased her. When Honor died at Chidham in 1600 she granted her interest in a 5000 year lease she acquired in 1594 to her trustees for a messuage, orchard and garden in Cosham upon which she had built a poor house for four poor women with the intent that the premises should remain forever a dwelling house for the poor women of Wymering or Wickham. In addition, she left a legacy paying 30 shillings a year, forever, to each of the poor women who was resident in her poor house in Cosham.
She also left a bequest of 20 shillings a year, forever, for the relief of the poor of the parish of Wymering to paid out of her manor of Denmead, on condition that the Overseers or Churchwardens only pay relief to those poor aged, impotent, needy and sick that are of honest conversation and behaviour and not to any lewd people. She also left a similar bequest of 20 shillings a year, forever, for the relief of the poor of Chidham, the poor of Southwick and the poor of Wickham with the same proviso. Remarkably, after over 400 years, Honor Wayte’s current Trustees are still paying the bequest to Chidham Church. Wayte Cottages off Chidham Lane is named after her, as is Wayte Street in Cosham.
Her will is a fascinating document with an unusually large number of bequests to family and friends of money, clothes, jewelry and other precious metal items. She requested that four poor women from Cosham, 2 poor women from Wymering and 4 poor women from Chidham should have gowns made of the finest cloth at sixteen shillings a yard for them to attend her funeral. A lengthy part of her will deals with ensuring that her wishes are carried out. It is well worth a read. Read Honor Wayte's Last Will & Testament