Alexander Pettifer was buried in St Mary the Virgin, Bampton, West of Oxford, on 11 Jun 1586. His will, proved at Oxford was granted probate on 25 Jun 1586.
Alexander’s oldest son was also an Alexander and together with his widow, Margaret, were made joint executors of the will, He had other named sons viz William, Thomas and Richard, and two daughters Agnes and Elizabeth.
The will was actually written on 9 Jun 1586, two days before the recorded burial and the bequests to his children, somewhat peculiarly, are delayed payments differing years after the writing of the will, rather after the date of decease.
We do not know the year of Alexander’s birth but he is very likely the son of Richard Pettifer, who left a will probate 23 Dec 1556. This shows a son Alexander and three daughters, the second of which, Margaret Pettifer was seemingly baptised on 12 Dec 1539. Perhaps Alexander was baptised a few years before that in about 1535. He married a Margaret on 3 Nov 1561 but the extant St Mary the Virgin register no longer shows the surname of his wife.
His granddaughter Elizabeth Pettifer (bap 11 Nov 1602), daughter by this oldest son Alexander was to marry Thomas Collingwood of Bampton on 4 Jun 1629.
In his will Alexander describes himself as a husbandman meaning he was a farmer. Much agriculture in the area revolved around sheep. In subsequent generations as land tenancy and ownership evolved, the Collingwoods especially were clearly farming larger land areas and diversifying in to trades such a s glove and breeches making. Witney nearby was a large consumer of wool for the burgeoning blanket market.
Sources and Notes
- Will of Alexander Pettifer, Probate 25 Jun 1586, Oxford
- Will of Richard Pettifer Probate 23 Dec 1556 (father)
- Parish Registers of St Mary’s Bampton OFHS transcript
- Will of Alexander Pettifer probate 3 Oct 1633 OFHS (son)