The Bougheys of Whitmore and John Berdmore, from Olive Dale’s papers
Another typescript sheet from Olive Dale’s research, also marked as fitting in “somewhere”, with her handwritten notes. It is drawn from the wills of Humphrey Boughey, his wife Joyce and John Berdmor of Whitmore. She very probably sent it to George Beardmore with her letter of 27 March 1955, which mentions “a draft of his will”.
Transcription
[Handwritten at top:] This page fits in somewhere
HUMPHREY BOUGHEY, Lord of Whitmore. Will dated 10th Aug. 1539, proved 25th Sep. 1539. Buried at Whitmore.
= JOYCE. Will pr. Jan. 26, 1539/40.
[Handwritten:] both these wills refer to John Berdmore as husband of their dau. Margaret
Their children:
- ROBERT, and 6 other sons. Robert’s daughter ALICE married (2nd husband) EDWARD MAINWARING: the Mainwarings of Whitmore.
- MARGARET, and 2 other daughters. Margaret = (1) JOHN BERDMORE (of Froghall), marr. before 1539.
(2) JOHN BERDMOR of WYTTMOR = ELIZABETH. Will dated 13 May 1558, proved 20 Oct. 1558. “To be buried at Wyttmor.” Beq. all lands, etc. lying in the lordshippe of Kingsley to his wyffe ELIZABETH, and (see children below):
- (3) JAMES BERDMOR (my sonne), to have all lands lying in the lordshippe of Kingsley after the death of his mother (ELIZABETH, above)
- (4) STEPHANE (my sonne), £4 of lawful money of England
- JONE (my doghter), £4 of lawful money of England
All grandchildren to have 1 Lambe.
Elizabeth Prachett to have 1 Yewe and 1 Lambe, etc.
[Handwritten:] (1), (2): Are these the same John or father & son?
(3), (4): James & Stephane were “frankpledges” of Whitmore & appear in Newcastle Court Rolls.
More anon.
What it tells us
These are the earliest Beardmores in the family papers, a generation before Thomas. Before 1539 John Berdmore of Froghall, in Kingsley parish, had married Margaret, a daughter of Humphrey Boughey, Lord of Whitmore. A John Berdmor of Whitmore, who died in 1558, held land in the lordship of Kingsley, which was to pass to his son James. Olive could not tell whether the two Johns were one man or father and son.
The Lichfield probate index also lists wills of John Beardmore of Froghall (1562), James Beardmore of Whitmore (1572 and 1613) and Stephen Beardmore of Whitmore (1604). No link to Thomas of Farley is known yet, but the Kingsley land ties these Beardmores to the parish where later generations of the family lived.