G10 Grandparents

Jan

2025

George Birch of Smethwick, died 1587

George Birch, who died and left a Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC) will in 1587, was a member of the important ‘yeoman’ Birch family, that had accumulated considerable lands and wealth by 1600, centred on Smethwick, Wednesbury, Walsall, Handsworth and Aston. Continue reading →

Mar

2020

William Hayward of Little Wenlock, died 1602

William Hayward, Gentleman of Little Wenlock died and left a will with probate dated 1 Apr 1602. Continue reading →

Mar

2020

Edward Allcock of Little Wenlock

Edward Allcock, a gentleman of Little Wenlock in Shropshire died and left a will with probate date 25 Nov 1606. Continue reading →

Jan

2020

Thomas Madstard, Mercer, of Stourbridge

Thomas Madstard was a wealthy merchant based in Elizabethan Stourbridge. He died and left a will dated 1587. His wife, Mary, and unmarried second daughter, Ann, also left wills, from which we can build a picture of their life and family. Continue reading →

Apr

2018

Raphael Norman, Rector of Mavesyn Ridware

Raphael Norman was the Rector of Mavesyn Ridware just north of Lichfield from 1575 until his death in 1602. He was also Vicar of Harborne from 1584, probably in parallel Continue reading →

Feb

2018

Robert Smyth of Wombourne

Robert Smyth of Wombourne is referred to as his father-in-law in the will of the young Thomas Shaw of Dudley in 1583. Thomas Shaw and his wife Katherine are the parents of Richard Shaw of Pinfolds in Dudley and the putative direct ancestor of Rev Thomas Shaw-Hellier, who inherited the Wodehouse Wombourne in 1786. Continue reading →

Jan

2018

Elizabeth Bendy

Elizabeth Bendy was buried on 15 Mar 1607/8 in St Mary’s Kingswinford and left a will probate 26 Apr 1608. She must have been born in the 1530’s Continue reading →

Jun

2017

Edmonde Darby

Edmonde Darby of Oldbury in the Parish of Halesowen died and was buried on 5 Sep 1598 in St John the Evangelist Halesowen. He left a will dated 21 Jun 1598 naming his three children and the numbers of his grandchildren. Continue reading →

Jun

2017

John Cartwright of Rowley Regis, died 1587

John Cartwright of Rowley in Staffordshire left a will dated 25 Nov 1587. He seems to have been a man of moderate wealth and the will gives a whole list of fellow inhabitants of Rowley Regis who owe him money. This list is fascinating as a background to many of the families featured on this web site. Continue reading →

Oct

2016

John Leigh

Little is known about John Leigh, Sadler of Wolverhampton who died and left a will probate 1609. Here are the salient features and remarks about the will. Continue reading →

Oct

2015

Anne Sutton

Anne Sutton was the only daughter of Sir Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley and his first wife Katherine Bridges. She was born probably in late 1556. Sometimes she is referred to as Agnes Sutton. Continue reading →

Sep

2015

Thomas Wilmer

Elizabeth Wilmer, who married Gilbert Jellians in Dudley in about 1642, had a father, grandfather and great grandfather each called Thomas Wilmer. Their dates were respectively Thomas Wilmer of Staverton (c1530-1580), his son Thomas Wilmer of Budbroke (1554-1628) and his son Thomas Wilmer of Dudley (1594-1680). Elizabeth Wilmer was baptized in St Edmunds Dudley on 11 Aug 1623. Continue reading →

Aug

2015

Richard Shawe

Richard Shaw, yeoman of St Edmunds Dudley, left a will of 1616, held at the Worcester Record Office. This will shows that he is the father of Richard Shaw of Netherton, whose PCC will of 1657 is discussed on this site. Continue reading →

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