RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: sephardictyke on Friday 25 December 20 23:11 GMT (UK)
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Hi everyone
In my search for some fairly distant Grand Parentals. I am finding a particular line a bit of a challenge.
- (15 x Gt Gfather) Robert Wilford. -1395?. Woad etc merchant. 13 x Mayor of Exeter. He and his wife apparently gave money to the cathedral to be buried inside. Cathedral cannot find them.
- Son of Robert, William Wilford -1413?. MP. Wood wine herring etc. Merchant. Mayor of Exeter. Commanded a seaborne revenge raid on the coast of N France. Married into the Cruwys family, then the Cornu/Corneus family - our line.
- Son of William, Robert 1406?-1476?. Lived in Oxton, Kenton parish Devon. Wife no idea.
- Son of Robert, James (?-1526?) m Elizabeth Betenham 1454?-1540?(d of Thomas B and Alice Fitzherbert) of Pluckley, Kent. Company of Merchant Taylors, Warden in 1488. Master in 1494. Sheriff in 1499. Alderman City of London 1500-1511. Will dated 27 April 1526. Buried in St Bartholomew the Less in the chapel of St Nicholas and St Katherine. Left to eldest son Thomas the manor/s of Hartridge and Hockridge in Kent.
- Son of James, Thomas. 1491?-. Married Elizabeth Culpeper/Colepeper then Rose Whetenhall. Some suggestion he was a Marian exile, which might be the connection with his and Roses` daughter Cicelys`future husband Edwin Sandys (future Archbishop of York) who certainly was.
There is more on
https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org
An Account of the Hospitium de le Egle
and some dodgy stuff on Wikitree
Any Wilfords out there? Or other interested people, that might help me out?. If yes I will endeavour to do the same for you.
Tks
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The descent of the Wilford family, usual modern spelling, continues to baffle most researchers.
Yes, there is a clear line through Robert (-1396), merchant in Exeter, his son William (-1413), merchant in Exeter and naval hero, to his son Robert (-1476), gentleman at Oxton in the Devon parish of Kenton.
Then there is a clear line from James (-1526), merchant in London, who married Elizabeth Bettenham.
James was from Devon, and it is widely held that he was from the Exeter/Kenton family, but I've not yet seen a believable link. My guess is that he may descend from an undocumented younger son or illegitimate son,
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This is very interesting. I also track to the line via Thomas Wilford (ca 1530-1610), youngest son of Thomas (ca 1480-1553) by his second wife, Rose Whetenhall. I seem to have more than one executed ancestor in this line, including the notorious Capt. Thomas Williford/Wilsford (https://www.geni.com/people/Captain-Thomas-Williford/6000000001364602812), a principal in Bacon's Rebellion (and evidently also a participant in the massacre of at least one Indian village in Virginia).
The jump from Exeter to Kent (with a stop in London) seemed a long one. Are there other known lines descended from the Exeter Wilfords that bypass Kent or does it just vanish? Would love to see the Exeter connection either fleshed out or disproved with additional facts.
Paul Williford
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Hi all
New on here and was only bought to the site by a websearch !
I am of the same bloodline and in Leicestershire uk ! Lebbus wilford was the first of the bloodline in Leicestershire from what I can find and prior to that there were few decades of ancestors in Hendidge prior to that London and prior to that the Devonshire wilfords .
I actually grew up very near to the property where Lebbus lived and a relative actually lives and works on the hall/land and country estate where the original moated property that was his home stood ! The moat is still there but the building was wrecked and in ruins long before my time !!
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Very cool, AdamMJ! How lucky to be near the place your family has lived for so many generations!
I'd love to stomp around such ancestral areas.
I believe our most recent shared ancestor is Sir Thomas Wilsford, Kt MP (ca 1585-1646) (http://"https://www.geni.com/people/Sir-Thomas-Wilsford-Kt-MP/6000000001364833001"). It looks like Lebbeus was his older son while my ancestor Thomas was his younger son; Thomas emigrated to Virginia ca 1651.
You mentioned "Hendidge" in your post. I wrote to the Kent Family Historical Society a while back because I was confused about the name of the manor the Wilsford/Wilfords there near Kingston. Here's what I wrote:
"Greetings! While researching an ancestor (Thomas Wilsford/Wilford, 1530?-1604?), I came across this sentence: 'He died about 1604, probably at his manor, Hedding in Kent ...' I've also seen it spelled 'Heding' and 'Hedinge' and referred to as being in Kingston Parish. I'm wondering where precisely this may have been and if any part of the manor still exists. Google is not helping me! Pictures would be appreciated! Thomas's son, also named Thomas Wilsford (ca 1585-1640), was supposedly executed - 'He lost his life and estate in the King's quarrel with his Parliament at the beginning of England's Civil War' - so, I imagine the manor passed out of the family's hands at that point. Thanks in advance for any suggestions on locating Hedding/Heding/Hedinge - and extra points for posting a photo or two!"
And their helpful reply:
"Hasted’s survey of Kent lists Sir Thomas Wilsford as having the seat called ILEDEN, or Ilding. You can read it online at: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp338-349 (https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp338-349) Scroll down below below the Manor of Kingston. Ileden Farmhouse was sold in 2018. I think the building looks too recent but may stand on the site. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=68414054&sale=8611705&country=england (https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=68414054&sale=8611705&country=england) This history of Kingston is on the parish website https://kingstoncanterbury.wordpress.com/history/ (https://kingstoncanterbury.wordpress.com/history/)
It might be worth contacting someone on the parish council who may have local knowledge."
The Hasted source says James Wilsford sold Ileden in 1668 while the property description calls the Ileden farmhouse "Georgian," so the buildings shown in the property listing photographs were not inhabited by my ancestors. But it's nice to get a sense of the landscape where they lived. (Selected pics attached.)
Here's the Google satellite view of the Ileden Farmhouse: https://goo.gl/maps/SZmZr2jd2HntNs2B7 (https://goo.gl/maps/SZmZr2jd2HntNs2B7) Kingston is less than a mile to the southwest.
Paul Williford
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Any of us who trace patrilineally to Sir Thomas Wilsford (ca 1530-1610) or earlier must share our Y-chromosome. I don't know if others have done any DNA testing, but I have my DNA profile on GEDMatch (https://app.gedmatch.com/) under this kit number: MY6325175. That's my 23andMe DNA profile. (I actually have three up there, but 23andMe tests the Y chromosome more thoroughly than the others.) My (our) Y haplogroup comes back as I-L813 which originated due to genetic mutation about 3900 years ago in Sweden, so the patrilineal line is Scandinavian, presumably entering England by Viking invasion. Here's a map showing approximate migration of the patrilineal line from about 37,000 years ago to the formation of I-L813 about 3,900 years ago:
(https://williford.org/img/I-L813snapshot.png) (https://williford.org/img/I-L813snapshot.png)
Source: http://scaledinnovation.com/gg/snpTracker.html (http://scaledinnovation.com/gg/snpTracker.html)
I could get a narrower (more recent) determination of my Y haplogroup since the I-L813 mutation, but that would cost more money. Haven't decided to go that route yet.
I'd definitely be interested in comparing DNA to confirm the Y-chromosome overlap if others are able either to share your DNA profile on GEDmatch or with any of the three services I used (23andMe, Ancestry, FamilyTreeDNA).
Best wishes,
Paul Williford
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Paul
Many thanks for posting the excellent pictures of Ileden!
I think you can be confident that the present house is the one in which Sir Thomas Wilford lived. Originally timber-framed, it would have been faced in brick at a later date, possibly in the Georgian period.
Best wishes
Conan
PS It is wise never to believe any statement by an English estate agent.
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I think you could be right. I have just sent an email to a historian who knows all there is to be known about old houses in the area, to see if he can help. Old timber-framed houses often came down in the world during the Georgian period, and became several farm workers cottages, before being restored much later.
I will tell you what he comes up with.
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I think you can be confident that the present house is the one in which Sir Thomas Wilford lived. Originally timber-framed, it would have been faced in brick at a later date, possibly in the Georgian period.
Interesting, Conan!
There are two other homes in Kent that are tied to the Wilford/Wilsford family - these in the Cranbrook area:
"THE BOROUCH OF FRI[E]ZLEY, as it is now called, corruptly for Freechister, alias Abbots Franchise, is a district situated about a mile eastward from Flishinhurst, and is within the liberty of the royal manor of Wye, which formerly belonged to the abbey of Batteli, whence it has likewise the name of Abbots Franchise. (fn. 3) This borough has a court leet of itself. The principal estate in it formerly belonged to the Wilsfords, of Hartridge, one of whom sold it to the Hovendens, great clothiers here, whose principal mansion it was."
"HARTRID[G]E is a manor, which lies at the northern boundary of this parish, next to Stapelhurst, the mansion of which was formerly a seat of note, being the property and residence of an antient and worthy family of the time name, one of whom, Thomas Hartridge, was a conservator or justice of the peace in this county in the 34th year of Edward III. when there were eight only in the whole shire. In his descendant, who bore for their arms, Or, a chevron between three griffins heads, erased, sable, this seat continued, till it was at length sold by one of them, about the reign of Henry VIII. to Thomas Wilsford, esq. who came and resided here at Hatridge, and by the acts of 31 king Henry VIII. and 2 and 3 Edward VI. had his lands disgavelled. He was descended from William Wilsford, of Devonshire, anno 4 Henry IV. of whose grandson, James was alderman and sheriff of London, anno 15 Henry VII. and Edmund was S. T. P. provost of Oriel college, in Oxford, &c. and died in 1507. They bore for their arms, Gules, a chevron ingrailed, between three leopards heads, or. By his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Colepeper, of Bedgbury, he had two sons of nine daughters, of the former, Francis, the youngest, was of Nonington, and ancestor of the Wilsfords, of Dover and Yorkshire; and James Wilsford, esq. the eldest, was of Hartridge. By this second wife he had Sir Thomas, who was of Ilden, in kingston, ancestor of those of that place, and of Rochester; and one daughter Cecilia, wife of Edwin Sandys, archbishop of York. James Wilsford, esq. the eldest son by the first marriage, inherited and resided at Hartridge, and was afterwards knighted; from whom this seat at length descended down to James Wilsford, esq. his eldest grandson, who having married Anne, daughter and heir of Thomas Newman, esq. of Quendon, in Essex, removed to the seat of her inheritance there, where he died in 1619, before which he had alienated, this estate of Hartridge to Tindal, of Sutton Valence."
Source: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp90-113 (https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp90-113)
The house at Friezley evidently still stands. The attached photo showing half-timber construction is Friezley. More details on it here, dating the earliest surviving construction to the 16th century: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1347912 (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1347912)
Less certain is the status of Hartridge. The 34th year of Edward III's reign would have been 1361, and the 31st year of Henry VIII's reign would have been 1540. I found a candidate on the Historic England website: Hartridge Manor (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1084836). (See attached pic.) The official details date it to the 17th century - too late to have been the Wilsford residence:
"Farmhouse. C17, clad in C19 and extended in mid and later C19. Timber-framed on wide red brick plinth, tile-hung above. Plain tiled roof, half-hipped with brick ridge stack. 2 storeys. Three windows, regular through the central first floor window is blocked. Tripartite glazing bar sashes. Entrance at rear. L-shaped block with mid C18 2 storey block in angle of L to rear with further wing beyond, (to north-east). Triple-span hipped roofed extension to right (south)."
Any chance this is the location - if not the actual building - where the Wilsfords lived for nearly 80 years?
If not, I wonder also if Sissinghurst Park (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1084870) (built in 1916) might be on the location of the Wilsfords' Hartridge Manor, because the name was changed in the Listed Buildings entry from "Hartridge House":
- In the entry for: CRANBROOK Cranbrook Common TQ 73 NE (west side) 3/88 Hartridge House - II -> The entry shall be amended to read: TQ 73 NE CRANBROOK Cranbrook Common (west side) 3/88 Cranbrook Court - II
- In the entry for:- CRANBROOK CRANBROOK COMMON TQ 73 NE (west side) 3/88 Cranbrook Court II -> The entry shall be amended to read:- TQ 73 NE CRANBROOK CRANBROOK COMMON (west side) 3/88 Sissinghurst Park II
Thanks for your thoughts, opinions and expertise!
Paul Williford
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I've also just stumbled across a "Hartridge Manor Cottage" that is just a little south of "Hartridge Manor" from my post above. It isn't listed on the Historic England website, but Archaeology South-East prepared a 35-page Heritage Statement for it in 2010. You can page through it here: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/43744160/2010075-4364-hartridge-manor-cottage-cranbrook-kent-hbr (https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/43744160/2010075-4364-hartridge-manor-cottage-cranbrook-kent-hbr) - and if you create a free Yumpu account you can download the full report as a PDF. Very interesting report with photos, floor plans, maps, and detailed descriptions. I've attached a little collage of pictures I "snapped" from the report. Unfortunately, the PDF is too large to add as an attachment here.
I think it looks older than the structure called "Hartidge Manor," but the report suggests it is not old enough to be the Wilsfords' residence. Still, this caught my eye:
"Hartridge Manor Cottage was built in the early-mid 17th century, and comprised a three-cell, lobby-entry house, fully-floored throughout, and with attic space designed to be used as accommodation. The house is well-built, and incorporates timbers of large scantling, though many of these timbers display redundant mortices which indicate that they are secondhand in their existing locations."
Wonder if those "recycled" timbers may have come from the original Hartridge Manor ...
Paul Williford
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I asked a local expert on the construction and archaeology of such buildings for his opinion on Ileden. This is his reply.
Picture of house at this website
https://picclick.co.uk › Ileden-House-Kingstone-Kent-P...
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Thanks so much, Top!
Quite eye-opening - and such a complex history where things are added onto, torn down, reused - over centuries! I've gone ahead and attached the image from the 1912 postcard.
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Finally, while I'm still not sure whether those Wilfords in Exeter are ancestors to the Wilsfords in Kent, I did find an interesting post (http://demolition-exeter.blogspot.com/2011/12/nos-55-56-and-no-57-high-street.html) about No 56 High Street in Exeter being the likely location of Robert Wilford's "Hospitium de le Egle." The location is directly across the street from Exeter's historic Guildhall (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exeter_Guildhall) (built ca 1470). A drawing, map and several photos of the property are included.
I'm attaching the drawing by James Crocker, published in Old Exeter (1886). The caption in the blog post says, "Crocker's illustration ... shows Nos. 55, 56 and 57 as they existed c1880. If any of these buildings was the old 'Eagle House' then it was likely to have been No. 56, whose wide plot probably retained the original footprint of Robert Wilford's prestigious 14th century mansion."
Also attaching a pic of the buildings that currently stand at Nos. 55-56 and 57-58. The one labeled Santander is the building in question. BTW, Santander has since moved next door to Nos 53-54, and Card Factory is now occupying the space of 55-56. The property is also featured in a YouTube video (https://youtu.be/PR1ZoM8NdJA) by a real estate firm that has listed the building for sale at £710,000 (https://www.singerviellesales.com/properties/investment-property-exeter-retail-EX43DQ).
I also found The Exeter Journal and Almanack for 1853 (https://books.google.com/books?id=AI_E6_OIu7MC), and page 61 indicates No. 56 was the location of a public library which had perhaps been there since 1812. (See attached screenshot.) I've been a librarian myself for nearly 34 years now, and that bit of information warms my heart!
For those who may need a little help finding it, here's a link to Ethel Lega-Weekes' 1912 article about "The Eagle" (https://archive.org/details/ReportAndTransactionsOfTheDevonshireAssociationVol441912/page/n528/mode/1up?view=theater) which includes reference to the Wilfords in Exeter.
Paul Williford
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Can anyone help me with a Wilford family whose earliest member that I can find is Major Ernest Christian Wilford RA who died in Pilton, Barnstaple 1836. In his obituary of The North Devon Journal his surname is given as Wilsford. The earliest record that I can find of him is 9 Nov 1799 Lt. Ernest Christian Wilford moves from 2nd Battalion of Argyle Fencibles to be Adjutant of the Royal Irish Artillery. No idea as to why he joined the Argyle Fencibles as that Batallion was raised in Scotland and I can find no evidence of him being in Scotland. At least 3 of his 7 children were born in Ireland ,the rest in Woolwich. His wife Ruth Cochrane was born in Ireland, no trace of her either ! She died in Pilton also. I wondered if there was a connection to the Wilsfords of Devon. The names Ernest Christian were passed down the line to another 2 generations.
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Yes, there is at least one other party researching this family. My wife's grandmother's maiden name was Willford and we have traced her family tree from Texas to Mississippi to North Carolina to Kent, England. We have found many of the same names in both Devon and Kent in the same time frames but with some differences. Our sources have been some of the same that have been referenced in this thread but some additional ones, i.e., The Genealogist, vol. IV dated 1880 by George Marshall; The Visitation of Essex of 1612, and on-line lists of Mayors of Exeter and Sherriffs of London.We have tried source a copy of Pedigrees of the Families of the County of Kent here in the States but the closest library that has a copy is not convenient and we don't want to spend $460 to buy a copy.
We have run into some of the same tangles that you seem to have but we are reasonably comfortable with the information we have on the lineage of James Wilsford (c 1460-1499 and Elizabeth Bettenham (c 1463-1540). The tangle that we have is between William Wylford (c 1321) and James.
To answer a question earlier in the thread, the connection between Devon and Exeter seems to have occurred when William Wilsford Esq (c1365-1413) traveled to London on business for the city of Exeter and became an MP.
Ironically, we retired to Kent County in Maryland a couple of decades ago. The county was settled in the late 1600s and the paternal branch of my wife's family settled in a nearby county in the 1660's when a yeoman from Middlesex purchased a "Hundred" and named it Bollenbrooke. A creek in the s area still retains the name
Would be interested in trading notes on the family ties between 1320 and 1460 or any other period.
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Hi Lovely -
(Don't tell my wife I called you that!)
The Pedigrees of the Families of the County of Kent (1830) is available as scanned microfilm on FamilySearch. You need to create a free account to access it, but here is the direct link:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNR-WD4Y?i=367&cat=306626
It's not searchable, but you can page through (and download) two pages at a time.
Included on the same reel are
- Abell's History of Kent (1898) - starting on Slide 9 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNR-W8HY?i=8&cat=306626)
- Some Pedigrees from the Visitation of Kent, 1663-68 (1887) - starting on Slide 216 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNR-W8HY?i=216&cat=306626)
- May's Charlton: Near Woolwich, Kent (1908) - starting on Slide 642 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNR-W8HY?i=642&cat=306626)
Ancestry has a searchable version of Pedigrees ... here - https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/28684/ - but you'll have to be a paying member to take full advantage.
I did go ahead and attach the pages from the Pedigrees pertinent to the Wilsford line. For offspring of the Wilsford daughters and ancestors of the Wilsford wives, you'll have to go to the indicated family names. I had to reduce the resolution to meet the allowable upload size. First image is actually two pages (134-135) - click on the image name to download and view both pages. To go directly to the higher-resolution pages on the film, they are Slide 442 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNR-W81C?i=442&cat=306626) and Slide 623 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNR-W8VJ?i=623&cat=306626).
Hope this helps!
Paul Williford
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It is good to know Paul that there is at least one other person in the world researching the Wilfords etc etc. We make a merry bunch !! I used a genealogist some years ago to try and unearth the background of Ernest Christian Wilford's family and she came up with the same sources as you ! I did spend sometime trying to dig deeper but became increasingly frustrated with what seemed like a total lack of any information at all between 1600 and 1750 ! I am in South Australia so a long way from where some information must be hiding. Ernest Christian's wife is just as frustrating, the 1841 census says she was born in Ireland but I have tried everything to locate her , my only success being the possible name of her sister who was mentioned in "The story of Saskatchewan and its People". Not at all promising. Anyway I will plug on. Great to hear that you are a librarian. I volunteer in a 2nd hand bookshop and probably should have been a librarian a long time ago. Instead I became a music teacher. Thank you very much for the pictures and please let me know if you find any other good leads.
Best Wishes Merrilie
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Many thanks for the posts and the links!
A quick look suggests that the Wilford mystery remains unsolved so far: where are names, dates and documents to prove the descent of James Wilford “of London”, who died in 1526 , from William Wilford “of Exeter” , dead in 1413?
It seems to me that the gap may well require two male Wilfords. First a son of William born roughly around 1400, call him X Wilford, who if not an unrecorded child of William's second marriage to Margaret Cornu/Cornew might be adopted or illegitimate. Second, a son of his we could call Y Wilford, born in approximately 1430, who became the father of James Wilford.
Any ideas?
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Yes a "Y Wilford" etc could be a good idea. Faced with the information that I have re my branch of the Wilfords is that most were all professional soldiers, and good soldiers judging by their records. The names Ernest Christian seem to have been passed onto all 1st sons regardless of whether they were eldest sons of the eldest son. The name Christian does intrigue me as it seems to be present in the Wandsworth branch a few generations back Probably coincidence and possibly a popular name in Victorian times anyway. Whatever their forebears did or didn't do, my Wilfords certainly travelled all round the globe, I cannot see their forebears being " stay at homes ". The fact that Ernest Christian went to Pilton, near Barnstable, to retire also seems strange as back in those days people didn't hop in the car, go for a drive and decide to end their days in a beauty spot. People are like homing pigeons, something attracts them unwittingly sometimes to their home range. Might be twaddle but I think its often true.
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Thank you for the very informative reply. You can tell your wife that the full user name is "Lovely Cove" which is the name of the body of water that we live on.
It will take me a while to analyze the links and information that you sent but at first glance, the data agrees with some of what we have. Since my post of several weeks ago, I believe that I have untangled the knot that had us stopped. It was in the "Visitation of Kent 1619" where James (b. 1370) was listed as Jacobus (Latin for James, which I did not know at the time). That thread eventually led to Thomas Williford 2nd (1618 - 1676) who died in Northumberland, Virginia. From that person we have been able to track the American branch to my wife's grandmother (Ruth Williford) who spent most of her life in Texas.
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I could imagine the math working from William to Robert (presumably of the "Eagle" in Exeter) to James - particularly if one or more May-December marriages are involved - but, like you, I'd like to see the receipts!
There are two Wilsford pedigrees in the Visitation of Kent, 1619-1621 (https://ia804708.us.archive.org/6/items/visitationofkent00camd/visitationofkent00camd.pdf). Both show William, then Robert, then "Jacobus" (James?), sheriff of London. The second pedigree shows offspring of Thomas's second marriage to Rosa (Rose) Whetenhall. In fact, the second is likely the source (albeit in Latin) for the pedigree in The Pedigrees of the Families of the County of Kent (1830).
Pages below.
At least a name is given for William's wife (Robert's mother) in the Pedigrees and Visitation: Margaret Cornens (elsewhere "Corneus"). But I don't find her grandfather (Sir Walter Cornens/Corneus) or anyone of the family name mentioned independently elsewhere - not even Visitation of Devon, 1620 (https://ia600300.us.archive.org/21/items/VisitationOfTheCountyOfDevonInTheYear1620/VisitationCountyDevon_St.George_424pgs63179646.pdf). (All references seem to originate from these pedigrees.)
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That thread eventually led to Thomas Williford 2nd (1618 - 1676) who died in Northumberland, Virginia. From that person we have been able to track the American branch to my wife's grandmother (Ruth Williford) who spent most of her life in Texas.
Yes, Captain Thomas (1618-1676) is in my direct line. You mentioned tracing your line from North Carolina. I have four generations living in Bertie County, NC, for about 100 years starting with Richard Williford Sr (ca 1701-1776). My great-great-grandfather Stephen B. Williford (1828-1888) moved his young family and, sadly, "a few slaves" (per his son's two-page history) from Bertie County, NC, to Shelby County, TN, in 1854 and farmed on 80 acres there. His brothers Solomon Freeman Williford (1813-1864) and Henry Brooks Williford (1818-1880), as well as his mother Sarah Freeman Williford (1780-1863), also moved to Shelby County, but I'm not sure if they all moved at the same time. I was born and grew up in Shelby County (Memphis), and still have family there.
Would be interested to know where our lines diverge.
Paul Williford
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Although we probably should open new threads for different family names, could I just add a bit on the wife of William Wilford of Exeter who died in 1413?
If we start with Vivian's “Visitations of Devon” (1895) at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002002213917&view=1up&seq=9, on page 59 this records that Margaret Cornu, daughter of Walter Cornu, married first Robert Cruwys and secondly William Wilford. With her first husband she had a son named William Cruwys. No mention of any Wilford children.
Page 256 confirms this, stating that Robert Cruwys, a gentleman alive in 1381, married Margaret Cornu, daughter of Walter Cornu, who after his death married William Wilford. They had two sons: Thomas Cruwys, gentleman, and William Cruwys. Again, no mention of any Wilford children.
A different account on page 597 says that Elizabeth Pollard, daughter of Walter Pollard, of Way in the parish of St Giles in the Wood, and his wife Elizabeth Cornu, second daughter and co-heiress of William Cornu, of Horwood, married William Wilford. No mention of any Wilford children.
When we turn to the “History of Parliament” online (1993) (I've no access to the print version) at https://historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/member/wilford-william-1413, it is quite explicit that between 1393 and 1400 William Wilford married Margaret Cornu, widow of Robert Cruwys and daughter not of Walter Cornu but of Sir Robert Cornu, knight and MP, of Thornbury. It adds that this Sir Robert Cornu in 1385 was a retainer of Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, as was Robert Wilford, MP for Exeter and father of William. There is no mention of Elizabeth Pollard and the only Wilford children mentioned are Robert (named after both grandfathers!) and Elizabeth
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Interesting, Conan!
I think the strongest evidence for William having a son named Robert is William's will itself, which predates the Visitations by more than 200 years. Attaching pages 401-402 from The Register of Edmund Stafford, (A. D. 1395-1419) (https://archive.org/details/05089706.1329.emory.edu). Robert is mentioned several times - notably, "his son Robert, a minor" - and appears to have been the primary beneficiary. Margaret is named as William's wife and also an executor of his will, but there is no indication of her maiden name or previous marriages. A daughter named Elizabeth, wife of John Parkere, is also mentioned.
It's a shame we don't know the date of William and Margaret's wedding, so we cannot calculate whether the "minor" Robert was her child or perhaps the child of a previous marriage.
The Visitations seem primarily concerned with tracing patrilineal lines. Where a daughter is named and a marriage shown, one must nearly always turn to her husband's line to see if there were any offspring. By the time of the Visitations (1619 and following), it appears there were no male Wilfords/Wilsfords in Devon (or at least none of note), so they don't merit their own section and we have few details on what became of Robert - with the exception of his daughter Elizabeth marrying John Farringdon and having five children (p. 339-340) of The Visitations of Devon) and his daughter Julyan marrying John Kelly Esq and having a daughter named Jone who married Richard Drewell (p 479). And sadly, the Visitation of Kent lacks the specifics we crave for James/Jacobus, Robert, and William.
Interestingly, St Petrock's Church (http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/em/_churches/stpetrocs.php), mentioned prominently in William's will, is still standing. It's about a block down the street from William's house, "The Eagle," on High Street in Exeter.
Paul Williford
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You'll notice that William also leaves "a jewel worth 4 marks" to a John Wilford. And "his brother" is named as an executor. In an appendix, The Register of Edmund Stafford, (A. D. 1395-1419) also includes a will for John Wilford, but it is in Latin (pp. 480-481). I'm attaching those pages as well. Here is a quick-and-dirty Google translation of John's will:
In the Name of God, Amen.—On the penultimate day of February, in the Year of the Lord 1417, I, John Wilsford, citizen of the City of Exeter, comp mind, I make my will in this manner. First of all, I read and recommend redeem my soul to the Almighty God Who earns the precious blood of Sao, and my body my sacred burial Also, I give and bequeath to John Melbury and Thomas Montegu, to the guardians of the Church of St. Kyrany, in Exon, one acre of my land with the appurtenances in Velewill, lying outside the Boreal Gate of the aforesaid City of Exon, in the suburbs of the same State, between the land of the late Roger Askerswille, which William Shaplegh holds, on the west side, and land late of John Sleghe on the east side, and land called Starcombe on the north side, and a lane leading towards Starcombe on the south side. Also, I give and bequeath to the same John Melbury and Thomas, to the aforesaid keepers, one of my tufts with a garden adjoining belongings, on the hill of St. David outside the aforesaid Gate, in the suburbs of the same City, between the tenement of Robert Hoigge on the south side, and the land of John Lange on the north side, and the royal road leading towards Coulegh on the east side, to have and hold the aforesaid land, toft, and garden, with all the trees growing in the same ground, the toft, and the garden, together with to each and every one of his belongings and heirs, to his guardians, and theirs to the successors who were for the time, from the day of the making of the presene until to complete the end of the term of ninety-nine years in the next sequence, paying thence annually to the principals of the Lords of those fees, and the services which are due therefrom; under this condition, however, that the aforesaid guardians, and their successors who have been for the time being, shall hold my anniversary in the aforesaid church of St. Kyran every year on the Tuesday next before the Feast Kyrani Bishop, with the Rector of the same Church and with five other presbyters and two clerics: so that the Rector from there has, if he is present at the funeral than at the Mass, iiijd., and any of the said presbyters thus present iiijd. and every one of the clergymen thus present ijd. ; and for the light burning there iiijd., and every keeper of the said Church present there for his work iiid. And after at the end of the aforesaid term of ninety-nine years I will that the aforesaid toft land and garden with its appurtenances be sold by the guardians of the said Church who for in time, and I want the proceeds of the money to be for the use of the said Church be converted Also, I give and bequeath to the undersigned executors all the remainder my messuages, lands and tenements with the appurtenances which I have in the City of Exon and in the suburbs of the same to be sold in perpetuity; and the money from it therefore I desire that all my debts be first and foremost in full paid And of the residue of the same money, after my aforesaid debts have been thus fully paid, I will that Walter Leye shall have thence decern marks of sterling, if so much remained at that time; and this under the following condition, namely that the executors of Thomas Poleworthy, | Baker, for the aforesaid sum decern marks all the debt which the same Walter owes them for the acquisition of that tenement of the late said Thomas Poleworthy, which of the aforesaid executors he recently inquired whether they wished to forgive him completely and relax under thirty days after the sale and settlement of the same messuage of my aforesaid lands and tenements. And if the said executors Thomas Poleworthy if they do not agree to this, I will that my executors below write among other remainders to dispose of the aforesaid decern marks of my goods well and faithfully, as they shall think best expedient. But the remainder of my goods not bequeathed above I bequeath to my executors to find one presbyter celebrating in the aforesaid church for my soul and the souls of those to whom I owe it, as long as it lasts the said residue may last. For the good and faithful execution of this will, I order, make, and appoint my executors, Thomas Cooke, clerk, and Edward Langyuow.
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This Exeter family owned my house in Devon, and I have over several years researched the family's genealogy from the 14th to 17th centuries in some detail. Needless to say the various Visitations as well as secondary sources have several errors. William Wilford (d.1413) acquired the House/Manor as a result of the Cornu/Cruwys marriage. His son Robert of Exeter (d.1476) inherited the manor and acquired Oxton. Robert's third son was James Wilford (merchant/alderman of London and founder of the Kent branch); Robert's fourth son was Edmund DD, Prebendary of Oxford; Robert's fifth son was William the younger of London; Robert's eldest son and heir, William the elder, was mayor of Exeter 1511, and father of Peter Wilford of Oxton, whose sole child and heir Joan married Jasper Horsey who thereby acquired the family's Devon estates. I have considerable info on the overall family, and I would be happy to share this should anyone contact me direct via Rootschat.
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A very quick reply to your very interesting post, since I hope we can explore this family in more depth.
The line of Robert Wilford (died before 28 August 1396) to his son William Wilford (died before 19 July 1413) to his son Robert Wilford (died 1476) seems fairly well documented and accepted. It is over their descendants that surviving records differ.
To keep things simple, might we perhaps look first at James Wilford (died after 27 April 1526), alderman and sheriff of London in 1499. Could you perhaps say which sources you've relied on to prove his parentage?
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Very briefly, James is recorded in his father's 1476 Will (enrolled in the Mayor of Exeter's Court Roll MCR 17/18 Ed IV m7)), and in the two 1490 Deeds of his father's executor, Philip Skinner, with regard to properties in Exeter (DRO: ED/M/912 & D5/222/2). (These documents are held at the Devon Heritage Centre). These properties, including that at Broadgate, Exeter, also provide a fairly constant connection between James, his younger brother William the younger, Merchant of London, and James' children. James was an apprentice 1470/80 of John Percyvale, Merchant Taylor and later Mayor of London, and as "James Wilford Alderman" is recorded in Percyvale's Will proved 1503 (PROB:11/13). James' first Will 26 Sep 1524 (enrolled in the Court of Hustings pt2, Roll 240 (6), Sharpe, 1890) bequeathed the Broadgate property to his son William. Also see the Action at Chancery 1551/53 brought by James' son, Thomas of Hartridge, against his cousin Peter Wylforde of Oxton and Combe Lancey, Devon, regarding "Detention of Deeds relating to the manor of Oxton, late of Robert Wylforde, deceased, grandfather of the said Thomas and Peter" (TNA: 1/1322/40-42). There are many more firm connections but too detailed for this forum. I would be happy to provided full (if lengthy) details by email if you are able to provide a contact via RootsChat.
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For a further, immediate, connection, see the 1515 IPM of John Farringdon, (who married Elizabeth daughter of Robert and sister of William, James, etc) in which a Charter 4 Sep 1510 records trustees, William Wilford senior, James Wilford, William Wilford junior (TNA: C142/30/131).
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Brilliant! Thanks very much for all these leads, which I'll explore. And I agree that James “of London” (died 1526) certainly looks to be the son of Robert “of Oxton” (died 1476). Thanks too for your kind offer of further info, which will probably be taken up as soon as the present chunk has been digested.
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See attached Will of Robert Wilford 1 Nov 1476. Records, inter alia: son Robert (priest), son Jacobus (James), daughter Frydeswyde, daughter Elizabeth, son Edmund, son William junior, father William Wilford, wife Johan, William Wilford senior my son and heir.
Given the order, William senior son and heir was probably son by a first marriage
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Attached painting 1781 of Oxton, Kenton, Devon, by Rev John Swete, who demolished it same year and replaced it. Oxton was acquired by Robert Wilford c.1445 from William Norton (husband of Elizabeth Cruwys, the stepdaughter of Robert's father, William Wilford). Most probably the birthplace of Robert's children, including James. It was inherited by Robert's eldest son William Wilford senior (Mayor Exeter 1511), and descended via William's granddaughter Joan to the Horsey family, being sold c.1589 by the impecunious Sir Ralph Horsey (Robert Wilford's g.g.g.grandson) to William Hurst of Exeter.
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See attached Will of Robert Wilford 1 Nov 1476. Records, inter alia: son Robert (priest), son Jacobus (James), daughter Frydeswyde, daughter Elizabeth, son Edmund, son William junior, father William Wilford, wife Johan, William Wilford senior my son and heir.
Given the order, William senior son and heir was probably son by a first marriage
Do you have a transcription of this will?
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I have done a cursory scan of the Will, with a full transcription awaiting a rainy day together with an attempt to recall school and uni medieval abbreviated Latin. My brief notes as follows:
This Will, “Robert Wylsford Senior”, see right and Appendix which requires a full translation, is dated 1 November 1476 and was “made in the presence of the venerable master Walter Wyndesore subdeacon of the Cathedral Church of St Peter of Exeter”. It records, inter alia, that Robert requested that his body be buried in his prepared tomb at the church of St Andrew of Kenton “in ecclia’ Sct’ Andree de Kenton’”. Throughout his Will Robert refers to “St Andrew’s of Kenton”, however St Andrew’s is at Kenn, near Willesworthy & Bepyls Bridge, while the church at Kenton, in which the Oxton Chapel is sited, is dedicated to All Saints. Neither church has a North Porch, although St Andrew’s at Kenn has a blocked door on the north wall. Both Kenn and Kenton were held by the Courtenay family at the time. Presumably Robert did mean St Andrew’s at Kenn? Robert’s son, Robert a priest, is bequeathed the rent of properties in Exeter. Daughters Frydeswyde and Elizabeth are bequeathed sums of money upon marriage. Sons and daughters “Robert, James, Frydeswyde, Elizabeth, Edmund and William Wylsford Junior” are recorded in relation to property, and reference is made to “William Wylsford Senior my son and heir”. The Vicar of Kenton is given 3s 4d for ten obiits; 40s is given for the construction of a north porch? at the Church of Kenton “edificado’em’ borialis p’oic’ ecclis’ de Kenton’”; 20d is given to the High Cross of the same; 20d is given to the Office-holders of the Blessed Marie of the same; 20d to the Office-holders of St Andrew of the same; a Missale and silver Chalice are given to the Church of St Petrock’s in Exeter; a reference is made to the “Chaple of William Wilford my father”, see William Wilford 1408 earlier. Robert appointed as his executors his wife Joan and Walter Wyndesore subdeacon of the Cathedral Church of Exeter.
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By way of interest, herewith translations of the two Deeds of 1490:
1. 3 June 1490 (DRO: ED/M/912)
“To all faithfull Christians to whom these presents shall come, Philip Skynner, Clerk, executor of the Will of Robert Wilfford, Armiger, sends greeting. Whereas Robert Wilfford Armiger gave, conceeded and by his deed dated (blank) confirmed to the aforesaid Philip, together with Walter Wyndsore, Clerk, Nicholas Pyne and Thomas Dourissh now deceased, for fulfilling the last will of that said Robert, which by the Will of the aforesaid Robert may more at large appear, all those messuages, lands, tenements, rents, and services, with their appurtenances which he had lately in the City of Exeter. Tenure being granted to said Philip, Walter, Nicholas and Thomas, their heirs and assigns forever, as fully appears in that deed. Now I the said Philip grant, demise, and by these writings confirm to John Faryngdon, Armiger, and Elizabeth his wife daughter of the aforesaid Robert, a moiety of all those messuages, lands, tenements, rents, and services, with their appurtenances which he had lately in the City aforesaid which John Starre, Robert Chubb, Henry Stephyns, John Brendon, Thomas Elys, Thomas Sares and Stephen Clawe now hold separately, to hold of the aforesaid John Faryngdon and Elizabeth and the heirs of the body of the said Elizabeth lawfully begotten; and on the failure of issue, with remainder to James Wylfford, Edmund (Edo) Wylfford and William Wyllford Junior, brothers of the said Elizabeth. And in case of failure on their part, the moiety to descend to the right heirs of the said Robert Wylfford. Randolf Duke (Duck) Junior and William Northlegh attornies.
Witnesses: Stephen Ruggeway, Maior of the said City, Mathew Alyngton, Robert Bonyfant, Walter Yorke and Simon Davy, Bailiffs of the same City and all citizens of Exeter aforesaid. 3 June An. Reg. HVII 5.” (Seal: a Lion rampant guardant crowned).
2. 4 June 1490 (DRO: Exeter City Archives D 5/222/2).
“To all faithfull Christians to whom these presents shall come, Philip Skynner, Clerk, executor of the Will of Robert Wilfford, Armiger, sends greeting. Whereas Robert Wilfford Armiger gave, conceeded and by his deed dated (blank) confirmed to the aforesaid Philip, together with Walter Wyndesore, Clerk, Nicholas Pyne and Thomas Dowrisshe now deceased, for fulfilling the last will of that said Robert, which by the Will of the aforesaid Robert may more at large appear, all those messuages, lands, tenements, rents, and services, with their appurtenances which he had lately in the City of Exeter. Tenure being granted to said Philip, Walter, Nicholas and Thomas, their heirs and assigns forever, as fully appears in that deed. Now I the said Philip grant, demise, and by these writings confirm to William Wilsford junior the moiety of all those tenements, and their appurtenances in the City aforesaid in which William Osett, Richard Cliff, Geoffrey Lewes and Robert Crewes now live, situated in the High Street (in summo vico) and extending from the Broad Gate (lata Porta) of the City aforesaid called le Brodeyeate towards the East as far as the tenement of Thomas Calwodelagh in which John Weston, apothecary (poticary), now lives. Tenure of that moiety and all its appurtenances to the said William Wilsford and to his legitimately begotten heirs. And on the failure of such issue, with remainder to James Wilsford, Edmund Wilsford and Elizabeth, wife of John Faryngdon, and to their legitimately begotten heirs. And in case of failure on their part, the moiety to descend to the right heirs of the said Robert Wilsford for ever. Tenure from the Chief Lords of that fee for the rent and services formerly owing for the same and by right accustomed. Witnesses: Stephen Ruyggewey, Maior of the said City, Matthew Alynton, Robert Bonefaunt, Walter Yorke and Simon Davy, Bailiffs of the same City and all citizens of Exeter aforesaid. 4 June An. Reg. HVII 5.” (Seal: a Lion rampant guardant crowned).
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Re the two 1490 Deeds, the Seal appears to depict "Gules a lyon rampant ermine crowned or" which was the armorial of Hamlyn of Larkbeare. Nicholas Hamlyn was Bailiff Exeter 1485 and 1491, Mayor of the Staple 1491/2, Mayor 1499. He died 1504 and his widow Anne/Amey married by 1511, and as his second wife, William Wilford (eldest son of Robert) Mayor Exeter 1511. There was a later Action at Chancery relating to Oxton, Combe Lancey and other properties (1539/44) between Peter Wilford (William's son by his first marriage) and Henry Hamlyn (the well recorded Mayor Exeter) who was the son of Nicholas and Anne/Amey (her parentage presently unknown).
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Thanks for posting these. It helps clear up what has always been a little problem. These deeds were also abstracted in Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association, vol. 44, (1912): pages 480-511, see page 508. "Account of the Hospitium dele Egle", by Ethel Lega-Weekes. https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd05AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA508
However, this article said the grant was to "Robert" Farringdon and Elizabeth his wife. This caused some confusion as to whether Elizabeth had married John Farringdon, or Robert Farringdon. Your post makes clear that the RTDA article made some sort of transcription error and that her husband was John Farringdon.
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I append a couple of extracts, from my research, relating to Elizabeth and John Farringdon, which may provide further interest. Her Will still requires a full translation:
In 1513 John Faryngdon was appointed an Escheator to the Crown for Devon and Cornwall, and the Compotus Returns record that he acted as Escheator on 4 IPMS held 1513/14. John Farringdon died 7 October 1515, and his IPM was taken at Newton Abbot 31 October 1515, which records his brothers-in-law William Wilford I of Exeter, James Wilford, and William Wilford II of London:
“Before William Gybbes, esq., Escheator; by the oath of John Wulston, Robert Pomeray, John Raynold, John Forde, Nicholas Parker, Thomas Ca.., John Carypynter, William Sachevill, William Nek, Thomas Coke, Thomas Abram, Nicholas Jane and William Tobyn: Who say that John Faringdon, esq., was seised of the manors of Faringdon and Orway, and 47 acres in Rockebeare, in his demesne as of fee. By charter dated 4 September 1510 he granted the same to John Kirkham, knt., Will Wilford senior, James Wilford, Nicholas Kirkham junior, Edmund Larder, Gilbert Seyntclere, William Wilford junior, Robt Alway, Rich Duke, and Charles Hoppyng, to fulfil his last Will. Faringdon is held of the heirs of John Tredirff, in free socage; worth by the year, clear, 10 marks. Orway is held of the lord of Audley in free socage; worth by the year, clear, 10 marks. Rockebeare is held of the Abbess of Canonleigh, by fealty; worth by the year, clear, 20s. Charles is his son and heir aged 15”. (TNA: C142/30/131 & E150/155/1).
“Elizabeth Faryngdon widow of John Faryngdon esq” wrote her Will 8 July 1516, and it was enrolled into the Exeter Mayor’s Court Roll during the mayoralty of Thomas Hunt (c. 8 July 1517 MCR 8/9 HVIII, m.36) see right and Appendix which requires a full translation. It records, inter alia, her request that her body was to be buried in her tomb in the Chancel of the parish church of St Petrock’s, Farringdon, where the Rector is to be paid 6s 8d for the burial; pious bequests are made to the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Farringdon church and to the churches of St Mary at Aylesbeare and Clyst St George; to “John Wadham son and heir apparent of William Wadham of Caterston, Dorset, esq, and Mary his wife a daughter and coheir of me”, property in the City of Exeter “legacy of my father Robert Wylfford” except a tenement called “Our Lady at the Corner” situated in North street adjacent to Waterbeare Street to the south, occupied by John Scose/Scoose; to Margaret Faryngdon, another daughter, all that tenement called “Our Lady at the Corner”, occupied by William Ducke; property in the City of Exeter to Charles Faryngdon “my son”, who is appointed executor. John Wadham and Dom. Robert Wylsfford, clerk Rector of Upton Pyne, appointed Supervisors. The three properties at Waterbeare Street are doubtless those recorded in the 3 June 1490 Grant of the Executors of Elizabeth’s father, Robert Wilford (“Studies in Rom & Med Arch of Exeter”, Rippon, 2021), and recorded later by Hooker in his 1575 “Description of the Citie of Excester”: “The heyres of Robt Wylfford for the lands in Waterberestrete xvjd”, see also George Horsey later. In 1529/30 John Wadham still held at least one of the Waterbeer Street properties. Dom. Robert Wylsfford was Elizabeth’s brother, see earlier.
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I have put a full translation and transcription of Robert Wilford's will on his WikiTree page (Thanks to Nic Donnelly): https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Wilsford-6
It names 7 children total including two sons named William. Robert is not yet a priest, is under age 26, and is the 2nd oldest. The way the will mixes the daughters names among the sons, it is likely the will is giving us the correct birth order: William Sr, Robert, James, Frydeswyde, Elizabeth, Edmund, William Jr.
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Many thanks for the translation. I attach what I have on son Robert, which also ties him to brother James the Alderman of London:
Robert Willesford, clerk (holy orders), recorded prominently in his father’s 1476 Will. Regretably no armorial relating to him appears to have survived, which would otherwise have carried a Crescent mark of Cadency indicating the second son (see example right). The 1552 Essex Visitations record him as fourth son, however his father’s Will appears to contradict this. Born c.1455 no records relating to his early career have been found and it remains a speculative hypothesis that he may have held a junior position in the Cathedral hierarchy, and remained in Devon. As “Robert Wylsford” he was admitted Rector of St Mary’s, Upton Pyne 24 March 1498/9 on the death of the previous incumbent John Tanbrette, by Patent of William Larder, gent., (Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Devon, George Oliver, 1840). He is recorded in an action dated between 1504-1515 at the Court of Chancery before William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, (Ref: C 1/373/26):
“Robert Willesford, clerk v. The mayor of Exeter: Action of account by Richard Faux, of Exeter, to compel the withdrawal of one of debt against him by complainant’s brother James, alderman of London. Certiorari.: Devon”.
Richard Faux appears to have been a senior member of “The Worshipful Company of Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen of Exeter”, was one of the Bailiffs of Exeter in 1523, and in 1525 “The Farm of weapons (here forfeited for breaking the King’s Peace) was divised to Richard Faux” (Memorials of Exeter, Izacke 1649/1731). Richard is recorded in the Will of John Whiddon of St Olave’s, Exeter, (3 March 1525) and appears to have been an Executor for a number of persons associated with the Company (eg that of Alice Kensey widow of Robert Kynsey). He was still a member of the Exeter Corporation 24 December 1531 (DRO: 332A/PF11).
“Dom. Robert Wylsfford, clerk Rector of Upton Pyne” was appointed a Supervisor of the Will written 8 July 1516 of his sister Elizabeth Faringdon, see later, and had died before 3 May 1527 when Peter Mainwaring succeeded to the Rectorship of Upton Pyne by Patent of Philip Champernoune Esq., who had been impowered this time to present by Sir Thomas Denys, Knight, Richard Lyster and Philip Fulford Esqrs., Henry Ridlake clerk, and John Thomas, as Feoffees of the estate of the late Edmund Larder Esq., by assignment dated 12 February 1521/2.
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Regarding the Wilford arms: the Will written in English, of William Wiford (senior) of Exeter 31 Dec 1511 displays the leopard faces "en-face" (DRO:ED/M/980), see attached
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Robert's second wife was Joan (surname unknown). I append details of his IPM as well as the two IPMs of his widow Joan:
The record of the Inquisition Post Mortem of Robert Willesford has survived. Unfortunately much of it is very worn and virtually impossible to decipher without advanced technology (TNA: C 140/57/57). The Inquisition was held at “Criditon in the county of Devon” on 19 January 1476/7, however while the document appears to provide some detail with regard to Robert’s property holdings, such as land areas and values, this cannot be deciphered completely at presently:
“Devon. Inquisition taken at Criditon (Crediton) 19 January 1476/7 before John Thornbury escheator; by the oath of John Handtcote, John Keton jun., Richard Bydwyll, Will. Bowdon of Stoke, John Lettin, Robert F…., Wil….., Will. Tremayn, Robt. Seman, Thos. Newhall, Rich. Toker and Rich. Balle; who say that Robert Willesford esq., at the time of his death was seised in his demesne of ……messuages and lands in Estowford, Westowford, four messuages 30 acres of land with their appurtenances in Comblauncells, Sacampton (Saghaton) and Frogemere, held of the Duchy of Cornwall as of the honour of Braddynishe by 1/5 of a knight’s fee; worth by the year clear 100s 10d. A messuage in Crydyton held of John, Bishop of Exeter, by 12d rent and fealty worth by the year clear 20d, two messuages 20 acres of land 40 acres of heath and furze with their appurtenances in Oxton in the said County, held of James earl of D(ouglas)., in right of his wife of the manor of Kenton by rent of (5s)., worth by the year clear 40s.
By Charter dated 9 October 14 Edw IV (1474) Robert Willesford granted the same to Walter Wyndsore clerk, ……, Thos. Dourissh, John Denys, Nicholas Pyne, William Carew/Cornew?, Tristram Pyne and John Whitechurche clerk, for the life of Joan wife of the said Robert Willesford the said Joan is yet living.
And further the said Jurors state that Robert Willesford was seised of … messuages and lands with their appurtenances in Filham held of John ……., of his manor of Ugbourgh by 12s rent and fealty worth by the year clear 20s. …. messuages and … acres of land with appurtenances in Penyton and Cotelford held of the Abbot of Buckfast by 3s rent and fealty worth by the year clear 40s., one messuage 24 acres of land with appurtenances in Tegnmouth held of John Bishop of Exeter, in free socage by 1d rent worth by the year clear 2s., ….messuages and lands with all appurtenances in Daulysshe and Esteyate (esteignmouth) held of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter by fealty worth by the year clear 10s.
By Charter dated 12 October 13 Edw IV (1473) Robert Willesford granted the same to John Hacche, Michell Denys and Tristram Pyne and their heirs for ever.
Robert Willesford died 9 November 1476. William Willesford aged 25 years and more is his son and next heir.
Delivered into the Court 9 February 1476/7 by…………”
The record of the Inquisition Post Mortem of Johne Wilfford widow has been preserved at the National Archives (Ref: C 142/29/71):
“Devon. Inquisition taken at Exeter 29 July 6 Henry VIII (1514) before John Gilberte, escheator by the oath of John Acland, Will. Wekys (Wike) of Cokyntree (Cocktree, in Wonford Hundred), John Drake, Will. Sommaister, Robert Kensey, Ralph Kyngston, Thos. Garland, Richard Seynthyll, John Carsewyll, Edward Fursse, John Fursse of Yarnescomb, John Stephyns, John Browne, Vincent Maynard and Roger Rous; who say that Joan Wylfford widow at the time of her death was seised of four messuages 40 acres of land 50 acres of pasture 10 acres of meadow and 100 acres of heath and furze, with their appurtenances, in Stowford and Comblauncells in the Hundreds of South Molton and Crediton in Devon held of the Lord the King as of the honour of Bradnynche part of the Duchy of Cornwall by 1 knight’s fee; worth by the year clear 100s 10d. Also two messuages 200 acres of land 8 acres of meadow 4 acres of wood and 100 acres of heath and furze, with their appurtenances, in Oxton in the same County held of the Lord of Westmorland as of his manor and lordship of Kenton in free socage by 2s rent; worth by the year clear 40s. The said Joan held the premises in her demesne as of free tenement by demise of Henry Webber and Nicholas Pyne with remainder to the right heirs of Robert Wilfford. That remainder belongs to Peter Wilfford son of William son of the said Robert deceased.
Joan Wylfford died 20 October 5 HVIII (1513).
Peter Wilfford aforesaid is kinsman and next heir of Robert Wilfford, namely the son of William Wilfford who was the son of the said Robert, and is aged 26 years and more.
Delivered into Court 9 August 6 HVIII (1514) by John Wolcote”.
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Joan's second IPM:
On 30 June 18 HVIII (1526) a “Writ of Melius Sciri” (for better knowledge) was issued at Westminster to the King’s Escheator in Devon, refering to the Inquisition taken by John Gylbert of Johannes Wylford widow who died seized in her demesne of land and tenements in Stowford and Comblauncells in the Hundreds of Southmolton and Credyton, and instructing him to make further enquiry. This was duly effected at Exeter 23 October 1526. The Jurors’ statement is virtually identical word for word with the earlier IPM however with the clarification that Joan held Stowford and Comblauncells for 20 years from 20 May 4 HVIII (1512) by the demise of Peter Wylford. In this regard it should be noted that Peter’s father, William Wilford, died 11 January 1511/12, see later. Given the date of this second IPM it may well have some connection with the marriage of Peter Wilford’s daughter and heir, Joan, to Jasper Horsey, see later, and was required to clarify specific ownership of the properties:
“Devon. Inquisition taken at Exeter 23 October 18 Henry VIII (1526) before John Kayleway arm, escheator, by the oath of Henry Denys arm, John Calwoodlegh arm, Rich. Martyn arm, John Bydwill arm, Edward Speccote, John Sampford, Thos. Pomfreyt, Will. Peryham, Thos. Hogge, John Bear, Rich. Millond, Rich. Cole, and Philip Howe; who say that Johanna Wylfford widow at the time of her death was possessed of four messuages 40 acres of land 50 acres of pasture 10 acres of meadow and 100 acres of heath and furze, with their appurtenances, in Stowford and Comblauncells in the Hundreds of South Molton and Crediton in Devon for 20 years from 20 May 4 HenryVIII (1512), by the demise and concession of Peter Wylford who held of the Lord the King as of the honour of Bradnynche part of the Duchy of Cornwall by 1 knight’s fee; worth by the year clear 100s 10d. Also two messuages 200 acres of land 8 acres of meadow 4 acres of wood and 100 acres of heath and furze, with their appurtenances, in Oxton in the same County held of the Lord of Westmorland as of his manor and lordship of Kenton in free socage by 2s rent; worth by the year clear 40s. The said Joan held the premises in her demesne as of the tenement by demise of Henry Webber and Nicholas Pyne with remainder to the right heirs of Robert Willesford. That remainder belongs to Peter Willesford son of William son of the said Robert deceased.
Joan Wylfford died 20 October 5 HVIII (1513).
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While on the topic of Wilford Wills, the following provides information in respect of those of Robert Wilford 1396, and and his son William Wilford 1413. Copies of the Wills are attached:
Robert Wilford citizen of Exeter died between 7 July and 28 August 1396 on which date “William Wilford, son of Robert Wilford” was made a Freeman of Exeter “by succession”. Robert’s Will was enrolled into the Exeter “Mayor’s Court Roll” during the mayoralty of John Talbot (8 January 1396/7 MCR 20/21 Ric II m.17). This enrollment, which requires a full translation, see right and Appendix, does not appear to be the complete Will nor is it specifically dated. However it records that he left one third of his estate to be sold for prayers for his soul, another third to his wife and a third to his son William, who was to receive his mother’s share at her death (sometime between 1399 and 1404, most probably the former, see below); Robert provided for masses for the souls of himself, his wife Elizabeth, his father and mother, Sir Hugh Courtenay (2nd Earl of Devon) and his wife Margaret and their son William Courtenay Archbishop of Canterbury (died 1396), Sir Henry Slakborn, Sir William Somaster, R…Westcote. Robert’s executors were his wife Elizabeth, son William Wilford, Master John Westcote, John Lusquyt Rector of the church of St Kerian (who died by 14 Dec 1398), Henry Hull (his step-son and apprentice), John Wilford (his apprentice & apparently illegitimate son), John Lake. The Accounts of the Earl of Devon for 1396/7 record: “The feoffees (executors) of Robert Wyllefford for the performance of his Will: 35s” (D&C Rec Soc. 1977 vol.22/24). Robert was buried in Exeter Cathedral (where the last major rebuilding phase, being most of the Nave and the West End, had been completed by the 1370’s). The archives of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter Cathedral record that the Bells of the Cathedral were rung for him in Christmas Term 1396/7 and a sum of 20s. was paid to the Cathedral between Michaelmas 1397 and Michaelmas 1398 for stone for his tomb (D&C 2657). The archives further record that a sum of £2 was paid to the Cathedral by his widow Elizabeth Wilford between Michaelmas 1397 and Michaelmas 1398 for her tomb and for permission to be buried in the Cathedral with her husband. Elizabeth appears to have continued aspects of his business, and as “Elsota Wilforth” is recorded, together with Henry Hull, Peter Stret/Sturt, William and John Wilford, among the most important cloth merchants in Exeter in the Aulnager’s Returns at the turn of the 14/15th century. She appears to have died in 1399 and the Cathedral Bells were rung for her in that year (D&C 3773, f70r).
William Wilforde citizen of Exeter had died by 19 July 1413, (Izacke states 11 July 1413) during his 1412/13 Mayoralty, when it was recorded that Henry Hull (his half brother, who had been Mayor 1403) had taken over the office mid-term. A section of his Will was enrolled into the Exeter Mayor’s Court Roll during the mayoralty of Peter Sturte (c.9 July 1414, - MCR 1/2 H.V m.41), see right and Appendix which requires a full translation. This duplicates much of that recorded in Stafford’s Register, and provides more information than the Will of his father. It records, inter alia, that he commended his body to be buried in Exeter Cathedral or its churchyard. The settings of the various Candles and Torches reflecting property interests resulting from his marriage with Margaret Cornu, the widow Cruwys. To his daughter Elizabeth for her life, he left the reversion of a tenement in the north suburb of Exeter, which once belonged to Robert le Noble and had passed to William’s wife Margaret. (Robert le Noble had been Receiver of Exeter, and Mayor in 1349, 1357 and 1358. In 1355 he was recorded holding property at “Fysshfoldesyate” ie Broadgate). William bequeathed to his half-brother William Hull and to his son-in-law John Parker all his half share in a ship or barge called “le Marie de Exemoth”. He bequeathed a jewel worth 4 marks to his half-brother John Wilford. To Margaret his wife and Robert his son (when the latter should come of age) he left in equal shares all his household utensils belonging to the chamber, hall, pantry, kitchen, and buttery, for daily use; the silver cups, salt cellars, spoons, and other silver plate, to be divided in equal portions, according to custom “between my wife and my said son Robert”. Executors were his wife Margaret, Thomas Reymond (lawyer, JP, Recorder of Exeter 1382-1396, sheriff of Exeter, and Commissioner), Henry Hull “Testator’s brother”, and Peter Sturt; with John Westecote (the cleric who had been an executor of the Will of William’s father) as Overseer. The Will was Proved 2 October 1413 at St Petrock’s Church, and certified 3 October 1413 by the Bishop at Clyst. The value of his goods was £228 6s 9d. William’s widow Margaret is understood to have died by 1421.
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Re my previous post regarding Wills of Robert and William Wilford. Have just noted that the resolution of my attachment was poor. I attach a better resolution.
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Some questions...
Why do you say Joan was the second wife of Robert Wilford?
Do we know anything about the ancestry of Robert Wilford (d. 1396)?
What record says Robert Wilford was alive 7 July 1396?
Are Elizabeth, wife of Robert Wilford, and Elsote the same person? I had Elsote being the first wife of William Wilford. A sum of 3s. 8d. was paid to Exeter Cathedral between Michaelmas 1405 and Michaelmas 1406 for her tomb, probably in the cathedral, and a further sum of 26s. 8d. was paid in the same period by William Wilford 'for the tomb of his dead wife in the [cathedral] church' (D&C 2663).
Do you have any more info or records on the ancestry of John Faryngdon and his wife Elizabeth Wilford? My own ancestry goes through them.
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1. Speculation, as there is no specific record. However Robert died aged c.71, 9 Nov 1476 (IPM), while Joan died 20 Oct 1513 (IPM) some 37 years later, very much suggesting a considerable age difference. Note also the “terminology” in Joan’s 2 IPMs which does not appear to reflect a grandmother/grandson relationship with William senior’s son, Peter (although these are official documents). Add to this the fairly clear indications, from surviving documentation (little in Devon, -note the 1490 deeds- but more re James and the London/Kent branches), that son William senior, was “differenced” to Robert’s other children (as per Robert’s Will) – note that daughter Julia, who married, as his 1st wife, John Kelly/Kelvelegh, had died by 1476. The various Visitations, London and Kent, virtually ignore the branch of William senior (unfortunately the Devon branch was extinct by the time of the earliest Devon Visitations). John Faringdon’s 1515 IPM does record William senior as a trustee, but he was in Devon, and the record of the 1551/53 Chancery Action between Thomas of Hartridge and Peter of Oxton merely states that they are grandsons of Robert.
2. Essentially nothing, apart from that recorded in Alice Lovecock’s grant 1375 (RTDA 1912, 44, p.511), see attached extract from my paper.
3. Unfortunately cannot readily find the source for 7 Jul 1396. The date is precise so doubtless relates to a specific document. I’ll keep searching.
4. I suspect that there is potential for either conflation or the fact that Robert’s widow was Elizabeth and William’s first wife also appears to have been Elizabeth (daughter of Walter Pollard). I have only seen partial printed transcripts of the D&C entries (which appear to overlap) and speculate that “Elsote” is a diminution/abbreviation “Elsbt”? in the original. There could well have been two “Elsote-s”, and further research into the chronology of these entries would I think be worthwhile.
5. As you have found, there are few records relating to John F. I attach two (self-explanatory) files on what I have re his immediate history/Wilford connection. I have additionally quite a bit of research on John and Elizabeth’s children and their marriages – Christopher, Charles (Stukeley, Walrond,plus children), Mary (Wadham, plus children), Margaret (Barnes, Dunch), Grace (Paget, Sharington).
I would be happy to email my research to you (to enable you to pick through it at leisure) should you contact me direct via the Rootschat system.
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Further to my previous post, herewith the third attachment
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I realise this topic is over a year old but if Mohun is still active on the forum I have a query regarding the Wilford/Wilsford family - specifically about the tenements etc in Broadgate Exeter - which they might be able to help with.