Robert
Robert Beardmore was baptised at Alton on October 3rd 1685.
Robert had an older sister, Elizabeth (baptised June 10th 1680). Elizabeth married Samuel Slater whose parents were Jeremiah and Joyce Slater.
At Caverswall on April 26th 1707 Robert married Joyce Slater, Samuel’s sister. Robert and Joyce had six children: Thomas (baptised at Alton February 13th 1708, buried May 10th), Ellen (baptised at Alton June 25th 1713, died in 1800), Jeremiah (baptised at Alton May 2nd 1715, married Elizabeth at Alton on August 20th 1744, died in 1755; see his family at Kingsley), Robert (baptised at Alton August 23rd 1719), Sampson (baptised at Kingsley on March 9th 1726) and Joyce (baptised at Alton November 1st 1722, died in 1773).
Robert was buried at Alton on March 1st 1728.
When his father Sampson died in 1713, Robert, as executor, inherited the lease of the family house at Cotton, held from the Duke of Shrewsbury, and the tithes of Cotton with their tithe barn; the Waterfall lands were to come to him after his mother’s death (Sampson’s will).
Descent from Thomas Berdmore of Alveton, from Olive Dale’s papers
A typescript sheet from Olive Dale’s research, probably from the 1960s. It combines Thomas’s will with notes made in 1905 by Jeremiah Beardmore of Bucknall (“J.B. Notes”; a copy of them is on William’s page), the Lichfield calendar of wills and the Kingsley parish registers. The handwritten notes are Olive’s.
Transcription
[Handwritten at top:] This page fits somewhere
Will dated (proved) April 10, 1573 of THOMAS BERDMORE of ALVETON and notes from JEREMIAH BEARDMORE, BUCKNALL, dated 1905, shew descent as under:–
- THOMAS BERDMORE of ALVETON
- JEREMIAH BERDMORE (my sonne)
- ROBERT (grandson) of FARLEY (?selling tithes 1613?)
- J.B. Notes: ? JEREMIAH (say 1650?)
- Cal. of Wills: ROBERT (Alton), will pro. 1684 (but not in bundle at Probate Office, Birmingham)
- J.B. Notes: ?above ROBERT (actual) 1680–1730 ?will pr. Aug. 18, 1702
- Cal. of Wills: ROBERT (alive 1755) and JEREMIAH, 1705–1755 (will pr. Nov. 6, 1755) (of Kingsley) = ELIZABETH
Regs. at Kingsley, children of Jeremiah and Elizabeth:
- ELIZABETH, bap. Sep. 1, 1745, bur. Dec. 10, 1781, aged 36 yrs.
- ROBERT, bap. July 5, bur. July 6, 1747.
- JEREMIAH, bap. Mar. 12, 1748/9 = ELIZABETH LOCKER Mar. 13, 1773. C/Warden at Kingsley, 1795. Bur. at K. Dec. 8, 1836.
- ELLEN, bap. Mar. 22, 1752.
Children of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Locker:
- CATRINE, bap. June 22, 1775.
- MARTHA, bap. Sept. 13, 1777.
- BETTY, bap. May 25, 1783.
- JEREMIAH, 1790–1868, bap. Nov. 28, 1790.
- HANNAH, bap. Oct. 9, 1795.
- ELLEN, bap. Mar. 22, 1788, bur. at K. Dec. 8, 1826, aged 38 yr.
Children of Jeremiah (1790–1868):
- HELEN
- JEREMIAH, born 1844, died
[Handwritten:] I have seen Jeremiah’s will dated 17[5]5 and he mentions his brother Robert in it, so our Jer. (1905) wondered whether we were related here, but no, as appears from the second sheet attached. OD
What it tells us
The early generations come from the 1905 notes and are marked with question marks. Later research, which this page follows, found no Jeremiah among Thomas’s children: the line runs through his son Francis.
The later part fits the registers. Jeremiah of Kingsley was baptised at Alton on 2 May 1715 (not 1705), a son of Robert and Joyce, and married Elizabeth at Alton on 20 August 1744. The brother Robert named in his will is Robert (baptised 1719), the father of William (1759–1824). So Jeremiah’s descendants at Kingsley were cousins of our line. The Jeremiah born in 1844 is very probably Jeremiah Beardmore of Bucknall himself: in a letter of 1955 Olive describes him as an architect whose sister was Miss Helen or Ellen. Olive’s note seems to say the opposite, on the evidence of a “second sheet” that we have not yet found.
A few dates differ from the Ancestry index of the Kingsley register: it gives Elizabeth’s baptism as 5 September 1745, Robert’s as 5 July 1744 (probably a misreading of 1747) and Hannah’s as 9 October 1785. The burial on 10 December 1781 is indexed as “Bety, daughter of Jeremiah”, with no age, so it may have been an infant daughter of the younger Jeremiah rather than his sister Elizabeth.
Will of Sampson Beardmore of Cotton, 1712
Sampson Beardmore (about 1658–1713), yeoman, of Cotton in the parish of Alton (Alveton), made his will on 5 July 1712. He was buried at Alton on 24 February 1712/13; his goods were appraised on 10 March, and the will was proved at Cheadle on 27 March 1713 by his son Robert. Sampson signed with his mark.
Source: Original will, inventory and probate, Lichfield diocesan probate records, held by Staffordshire Archives. Image on Findmypast, “Staffordshire, Dioceses of Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate 1521–1860”, film 007622947, image 230–233. The images are © Staffordshire County Council and are not reproduced here.
Transcription
In the name of God Amen the fifth day of July in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred & twelve I Sampson Beardmore of Cotton in the parish of Alveton and County of Stafford yeoman being weak in body but of good & perfect memory thanks be to God doe make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following First I bequeath my soule into the hands of almighty God my maker hoping and assuredly trusting in & through the merits & mediation of Jesus Christ my redeemer to receive full & free pardon for all my sinns & offences and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently buried att the discretion of my Executors hereafter named
And for that portion of worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I thus bestow them First I give and bequeath unto Ellen my faithfull and loving wife All those my Messuages Lands & hereditaments whatsoever with all theire appurtenances in Waterfall in the County of Stafford aforesd wch I lately purchased from William Parker Gilbert Hall & Sampson [Baker?] for and during the naturall life of her the sd Ellen Except the sd Ellen marry another husband but if the sd Ellen marry another husband then I give unto the sd Ellen (in lieu of the sd Lands as aforesd) five pounds yearly to be paid to her during her naturall life And doe further give unto the sd Ellen Two Cows and one halfe of my household goods And that end of that dwelling house in Cotton wherein I now inhabitt and dwell for and during her naturall life and priviledges thereto belonging And allso during her sd life sufficient [grass?] for maintenance for one Cow in and upon that my [part] of messuage or Tenement in Cotton now in my possession
Itm I give unto my son in Law Samuell Slatar one shilling Item after the decease of Ellen my now wife if Elizabeth Slatar my daughter be then livinge I then give unto the sd Elizabeth the sume of twenty shillings yearly dureing her naturall life to be paid to her att Michaelmas forth of my Lands att Waterfall aforesd And doe allso give unto my Granson Jeremiah Slatar twenty pounds and to my Grandson Samuell Slatar ten pounds and to my grandaughter Elizabeth Slatar and Ellen Slatar each of them ten pounds All wch sd Legacies herein soe given to my four grandchildren I give and devise forth of my Messuages Lands and hereditamts in Waterfall aforesd to be paid as the sd grandchildren doe respectively attain unto the age of twenty one years but in case the sd Ellen my wife be then living then the Legacyes to my grandchildren shall not become due untill after the decease of the sd Ellen:
Item after the decease of the sd Ellen or second marriage if such happen I give unto Robert Beardmore my son and his heirs lawfully begotten all those my aforesd Messuages Lands & hereditamts with the appurtenances in Waterfall aforesd [a line struck through] Allwayes provided the aforesd Legacyes herein charged on the sd Lands be paid and discharged:
Item I give unto the sd Robert Beardmore my sonn my messuage or Tenemt in Cotton with the appurtenances wherein I now inhabitt and dwell and wch I have & enjoy by virtue of a Lease to me made from his grace the Duke of Shrewsbury all the residue or tearm of years yett to come unexpired in the sd Lease (The [part] thereof herein heretofore to Ellen my wife reserved) he the sd Robert Beardmore or his assignes paying & discharging my just debts funerall expenses and the Legacyes hereafter herein sett downe & expressed And doe further give unto the sd Robert my sonn the other halfe of my household goods & all my husbandry ware wholly and all the rest of my Quick stock and goods & cattells whatsoever
And doe further give unto my sd Sonn Robert all my tenths or Tiths in Cotton aforesd of wt nature or kind soever with all the Comoning thereto belonging and the Tith Barn and all other priviledges thereto appertaining And the sd Robert Beardmore or his assignes distributing to the poor of the parish of Alveton on the north side Churnett yearly for ever on good friday the sume of five shillings And doe allso give unto the sd Robert Beardmore my sonn and to his heirs and assignes for ever all my Tenths or tithes of that Living now in the possession of [Christopher?] att ye Cross wch I lately purchased Itt is my will and mind that my son Robert Beardmore shall collect and gather the Queens Tith Rents in Cotton and pay the same as it shall become due
Item I give unto my Cous: Mr Robert Beardmore ten shillings & to his Ralph [?] two shillings & six pence And to Robt Ranlin [?] ten shillings And to William Wardslong [?] three pounds And to the poor att my buriall each of them one penny And doe further hereby nominate and apoint my aforesd sonne Robert Beardmore and loving Brother in Law [name not legible] Executors of this my last will & testamt hereby revoking & disanulling all former wills by me made In wittness whereof I have hereto sett my hand & seale the day & year first above written.
Signed sealed & delivered in ye presence of us: John Clarke [?]; Mary Allcock [?], her mark; David Oaker [?]. — Sampson Beardmore, his mark (SB).
Probate
In Latin, on the back of the will: proved at Cheadle on 27 March 1713 by Robert Beardmore, one of the executors named, power being reserved to the other executor. The will is endorsed “My Last will & Testamt July 5th 1712”.
Inventory
“A true & perfect Inventory of all the goods cattle and chattells of Sampson Beardmore of Cotton in the County of Stafford yeoman late deceased taken & praised by us this 10th day of March 1712”, by Isaack Ash (his mark) and Geo: Gilbert.
| His wearinge apparill & money in his purse | £3 6s 8d |
| One cow | £3 5s 0d |
| One table, two chairs, three stools & the dishboard | 6s 0d |
| Two iron pots, one grate, fire shovel & tongs & backstone | 14s 0d |
| 14 pieces of pewter | 9s 0d |
| 4 gawns, 1 churn, 1 loom, 1 barrel & 1 dozen trenchers | 8s 0d |
| In the parlour: 1 bed, 1 cupboard, 1 coffer & 2 boxes | £2 6s 8d |
| In the chamber: 1 bed, 1 coffer & 1 chest | £1 10s 0d |
| Meal, bacon & cheese | £2 13s 4d |
| All other things appraisable & not before mentioned | 3s 0d |
| Total | £15 1s 8d |
Jeremiah Beardmore’s notes, 1905
A typed copy, from Olive Dale’s papers, of the “rough sketch of the Beardmore family tree” made by Jeremiah Beardmore of Bucknall, the architect who was working on the family history with John Beardmore of Hanley in 1905. Olive has added the handwritten corrections and the note at the foot.
Transcription
Mr. Jeremiah Beardmore’s Notes. ROUGH SKETCH OF THE BEARDMORE FAMILY TREE.
1337–1360. N.B. In the reign of EDWARD III the Vicar of Leek was one William Beardmore. He was afterwards made BISHOP OF LLANDAFF. Hence the family crest, which is a bishop’s mitre. Motto: “PROVIDENTIAE ME COMMITTO”.
(Supposed) JEREMIAH BEARDMORE, of the Side or Upper Cotton [Olive: say 1650]. His children:
– (Supposed) JEREMIAH BEARDMORE (probably disinherited on account of his becoming a Catholic.)
– ROBERT (actual), say 1680 to 1730
– (Supposed) MICHAEL
– (Supposed) RALPH
– [“Supposed” crossed out by Olive, “Actual” written in] THOMAS whose will is dated 1742 (is he the g.g.gfthr of Mr. GEORGE?) [Olive: “No.”]
ROBERT’s children:
– JEREMIAH (actual) 1705 to 1755 → JEREMIAH 1748 to 1836 → JEREMIAH 1790 to 1868 → JEREMIAH born 1844, livg. 1905.
– (Supposed) William → (Actual) WILLIAM 1759 to 1824, marr. MARY CRITCHLOW Dec. 26, 1780 (had 13 children, FRANCIS, WILLIAM, GEORGE, THOMAS, JOHN, SOLOMON, SAMUEL, DANIEL, JAMES, and FRANCIS (2nd); MARY, KITTY and ELIZABETH).
WILLIAM’s descendants:
– JOHN b. 1792 → BENJAMIN → JOHN, now living at Northwood (1905)
– THOMAS → GEORGE → JOHN at Burslem and EDWARD at BARLASTON
– GEORGE → WILLIAM → Rev. WILLIAM, London
Query: Where does Mr. GEORGE, of Kingsley, come in?
For answer see notes accumulated by O.A.D.
[Olive’s handwritten note on the bishop:] I can as yet find no trace of this William Beardmore (or de Berdmor) being appointed Bp. of Llandaff. He was, I think, undoubtedly Rector of Leek, and gave lands to the chantry etc. and also something to Abbey of Dieulacres. I think he is the Wm. described as “under age” as under: (1) Matilda = Richard de Berdmor = (2) Philippa (sued for dower 1297). Children: Richard de B. [of ?] by Matilda; William ([1297?] under age) and Robert ([1297?] under age) by Philippa.
What it tells us
Jeremiah’s own line is the one on Olive’s sheet about Jeremiah of Kingsley’s family, ending with himself, “born 1844, livg. 1905”. That confirms he was the Jeremiah born in 1844.
Like John, he could not find William’s parents. He guessed at a “supposed William”, son of Robert (say 1680–1730), whose son was William (1759–1824). Our tree instead makes William a son of Robert (1719) and Grace; neither link has been proved, and in 1955 Olive was still looking for William’s parents.
Olive could not confirm the Bishop of Llandaff, the crest or the motto (see her letter of 1955). Her note identifies the William of Leek as a son of Richard de Berdmor and his second wife Philippa.
Olive Dale to George Beardmore, 27 March 1955
Transcription
Telephone: Newcastle, Staffs. 69015
“Kingsley,” 92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs.
27th March, 1955.
Dear Mr. Beardmore,
I was glad to hear that your nephew Richard Beardmore is interested in his family tree. Oddly enough, I had just had a letter from my only nephew asking how I was getting on with my digging into the past history, and asking me not to go too far, otherwise I might find our ancestors wearing tails and swinging from trees – in the next line stating that I was not to worry, as they were not believers in the Darwin theory!
You may tell your nephew Richard that the first definite ancestor of the Beardmores that I have so far traced was Richard de Berdmor (or Bordmor) acting as a Juror in 1280 at the time that Edmund the King’s brother proposed to endow a chantry at St. Mary’s, Tutbury; this Richard died in 1295, leaving a son Richard by his first wife Matilda, and sons William and Robert by his second wife Philippa. My working out of dates, etc., makes me believe that the William was the one who was Rector of Leek, stated by Jeremiah in 1905 to have become Bishop of Llandaff. I have looked up the Llandaff Bishops, and oddly enough one was appointed in 1361, whilst William is supposed to have died 1360, but no note of William de Berdmor amongst the list of Bishops. I went to Llandaff Cathedral last Whit.; three generations of us went; my sister her son and his wife and three boys, my husband and myself. It was badly bombed in 1940, but services are held in part of it. However, I have now got acquainted with the Diocesan Registrar’s Secretary at Lichfield, and knowing that the secret of William de Berdmor must lie entombed in two large volumes lying there – the registers of the then Bishop, Roger de Norbury (Northburgh, Northbury) I shall make another endeavour to find definite information.
With regard to his crest, I can find nothing as to where Jeremiah got this from – nor the motto. A Bishop’s mitre is not handed down to descendants, and in any case William a priest at that period, would hardly be married. Another crest, the stag’s head, which my uncle claimed we had, (also another, a boar’s head my sister vaguely recalls) is given on a seal attached to documents bearing this William’s name, as “W. de Leke”, but it might have been a Rudierd, of Rudyard. A stag’s head caboshed is also the crest of the de Bougheys of Whitmore, and one John Berdmor of Frogholle (with “lands lying in the lordshippe of Kingsley”) married Margaret Boughey. I enclose a draft of his will which I have examined at the Probate Office, B’ham, which may be the son of John and Margaret, or the Elizabeth mentioned may be John’s second wife. However, I am again “taking steps” to see what I can prove about this. I wondered whether Jeremiah’s notes might be a bit of “wishful thinking” and taken from Sleigh’s book, which is not too well-referenced, but I have examined both Sleigh’s big and little volume for all the references to William de Berdmor, but nary a mention of any crest or motto.
Jeremiah was an educated man, an architect, and of good position, and his sister is quoted on two occasions in the history of the Adams family, as Percy Adams visited her when writing it. She is referred to as Miss Helen, which might be correct, but the usual spelling in their branch was Ellen.
In Jeremiah’s notes which you quote, he was evidently trying to attach both John and Uncle George’s branch far too soon. On the copy I sent you, I think I had written “No.” where Jeremiah asks about the old will possibly being Uncle George’s g.g.g’fth’s. I did not know then that Ralph’s wife (my great-great-grandmother) was a Beardmore before she married Ralph, so that sent me off on another branch of the Beardmores, to discover that the will is that of her grand-father, therefore my four-greats and a grandfather’s. To be clear, I am the seventh generation from the Thomas, whose will it is in that branch, whereas Ralph’s immediate ancestors for three grandfathers, that is his father Thomas’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all George Beardmores.
Going back to Jeremiah and his note, he asks “Where do Robert and Mary come in”? Well, Robert and Mary were the parents of Mary who married Ralph, as you will see from the enclosed sheet, quoting notes from the will dated 1742. Unfortunately, Mary’s two brothers Robert and Thomas died in infancy, so your line is not connected through them nor is Jeremiah’s. I have had one or two Wills of Jeremiah’s line out, and found out the information about his family through these and the registers, which gives a lot more information about him that he knew before, but still nothing whatever to shew who were the parents of your William born 1759. Have none of your family any idea at all? However, I shall be getting hold of the Cheadle registers sometime and will let you know if I have any success there. He was not bap. at Alton, nor Kingsley; of course, he might not have been born at Cotton, although living there when he married. We might have to advertise yet, but shall see.
Rychard Berdmore [handwritten: bur. at K. 1575. I have seen his will at B’ham] was the Lord of the Manor of Lutley, otherwise Litley, Cheadle, in Elizabeth’s day, and you may tell Richard that there was a Richard and also a Robert from the Hundred of Totmanslow mentioned in the famous Muster Roll of 1539 as being liable for “a hors and harnesse for a man” which meant all war-harness for the horse and man, and this was the height of importance, some only producing a “bowe” or a “chiefe of arrowes”, or a “byll”. I feel so frustrated sometimes, but progress keeps progressing slowly. Shall eventually write a book on the Beardmores, I think. What do you say? I have a large family tree written out of my own folks, and you have William’s from 1759, and I have some of Jeremiah’s, but want William’s parents!
Yours sincerely,
O. A. Dale
What the letter tells us
Rick started it. Olive was writing because George’s nephew Richard (Rick) had become interested in the family tree.
The earliest Beardmore. Richard de Berdmor, a juror in 1280, who died in 1295, is the Richard de Berdmore mentioned on Thomas Beardmore’s page.
Jeremiah’s 1905 notes. (A copy of his notes is on William’s page.) Olive describes Jeremiah as an architect whose sister was Miss Helen or Ellen. He is very probably the Jeremiah born in 1844, with a sister Helen, at the foot of Olive’s sheet on Jeremiah of Kingsley’s family. She doubted his claims that William de Berdmor became Bishop of Llandaff and that the family had a crest and motto.
The enclosed will. The “draft of his will” she enclosed is very probably her sheet on the Bougheys of Whitmore and John Berdmor, which asks the same question: were the two Johns one man, or father and son?
Olive’s own descent. Her great-great-grandmother Mary Beardmore, daughter of Robert and Mary Beardmore (whose will is dated 1742), married Ralph Beardmore, whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all called George. Mary’s brothers died as infants, so Olive concluded that neither our line nor Jeremiah’s joined hers there. This is the “but no” in her note on the Kingsley sheet.
William’s parents. In 1955 Olive could find nothing to show who the parents of William (1759–1824) were. He was not baptised at Alton or Kingsley. Our tree now makes him a son of Robert (1719) and Grace, who married at Leigh, where William was living when he married; the evidence for that step still needs to be pinned down, and her later letters may show how it was found.
Rychard Berdmore, Lord of the Manor of Lutley (Litley), Cheadle, in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, was buried at Kingsley in 1575. A Richard and a Robert Berdmore of Totmonslow Hundred appear in the Muster Roll of 1539.
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.