Robert

[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

92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. 31st July, 1967.

Dear Cousin George,

It is an odd thing, but I have always felt a relationship does exist between us, although I cannot find where it occurs for several hundreds of years. I feel this more with regard to you than I do with most of my actual cousins, only one of which I correspond with, in this country, at any rate. She lived for many years at the beautiful old farmhouse called “The Black and White House”, but which was originally Old Consall Hall, but has recently had a bungalow built on some land a little distance away, and sold the farm. She has only one son and he also has a bungalow. I write to several relatives in Australia, and recently helped to trace the ancestry of a distant relative in Newcastle, N.S.W. right back clearly to 1529. She was very lucky, as very many of them left wills which was a great help. Sometimes the very ones you need have not been bothered about, or have been lost. You will see I have had to make such entries in the enclosed sheets.

Your naughty postcard of an ancestor amused me very much, but I sincerely hope ours had not such protruding chins or misshapen legs. I note it was made in Easter Island, of course, which explains the “design.”

Now, as you may imagine – I tried several years ago to trace out your ancestry, but got stuck with the baptismal entry of the William born 1759, buried at Audley 1824, aged 65. I tried to link up the three lines of Jeremiah (architect), John (brassfounder) and uncle George (my family) which they had made a start with in 1905. I got things clear regarding Jeremiah and John, presuming William 1759 to be the son of Robert 1719, brother of Jeremiah 1715, which Jere. (arch.) had put down guessing as 1705 to 1755, but poor man, the first Jeremiah only lived to be 40, whereas his son aged 7 when his father died, lived for another 80 years. Anyway, I have let Miss Hope Beardmore, of Longton, niece of Jeremiah (arch.) have the pedigree of her section, which is quite clear back to Thomas 1568. John (brassfndr.) thought William was the son of Robert 1714 as he put it, but he was really born 1719. I have been disappointed this week. The County Archivist (Frank, my husband, is the Chairman of the County Records Committee – and many other things) called at our house the other day, whilst our car was laid up through being knocked in the back by a man when Frank had to brake rather suddenly to avoid a darned dog, and said he was trying to get the Alton registers. He is trying to prevail on parsons to deposit the registers and other parish papers at the County Record Office where they will be cared for properly in the correct atmosphere and conditions instead of being allowed to get mouldy in the churches, as so often happens. However, unfortunately, Alton are just now in the position of being without a Vicar as they are having to build a new Vicarage, so he could not get them yet. When Frank and I went to see them some years ago, the Vicar was residing in a marvellous old stone house, but of difficult convenience, no doubt. This is just what happened at Kingsley. They were without a Rector for a long time, but luckily, the then Verger had been in the employ of my father for some years when we lived there, so he let me see the registers whenever I liked. Of course, I always tipped him, and when the new Rector came I paid contributions to him.

As it is some years since I “did” the Beardmores, and have been employed full time day and evening teaching until two years ago, I do not now know where the Beardmore wills are, but I have managed to make a good stab at getting out the enclosed sheets for you. If only we had William’s [handwritten: 1759] baptism it would be splendid, and I will write as soon as possible to Draycott to see if the marriage took place there and whether the entry gives parents or not. After Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act 1754, much more information had to be given, but not always of use. (This Act was to prevent poor silly heiress girls being rushed off to Gretna Green by fortune-hunters.)

With regard to “The Side”, this was a farm where the Beardmores resided, Jeremiah’s ancestors in particular, and was probably in Kingsley parish (which was a big one) although maybe actually in or near say Whiston, Cotton, Alton, etc. All this area was under Kingsley until two divisions took place. You will note that one or two of the Jeremiahs resided at Kingsley or at least are entered in Kingsley register.

For myself, amongst my ancestral line comes common ancestry with two Lord Chancellors, including the Earl of Macclesfield and the present Lord Dilhorne. One dau. marr. the first Earl of Harewood, and quite a lot of Baronets, Earls, etc. occur along the lines. My father’s third or fourth cousin, Frederick Adolphus Fynney, of Manchester (late of Cheddleton) left over £350,000, died at the age of 75, was a bachelor when 75, so his wife came in for a nice little lot; my poor father would have been “passing rich” if he had had one or two thousands which could have been spared. Fredk. was a Railway Company director when times were good. However, I have traced the definite descent from 1500 or so without finding any clear relationship to either Jeremiah or John, unfortunately, but they must be related somewhere, or why did they come from the same area and bear the same name? I will try again when time permits, but get so many enquiries from America, Canada, Australia, etc., (they send me a few nice little dollars at times, too!) that I am kept very occupied, to say nothing of the fact that I am a member of the Staffs. Education Committee, and have many committees to attend; I am also still teaching at Evening School, and my husband is a Cricket TV addict, and if not cricket, it is tennis at Wimbledon, or football, or wrestling, or something, and this prevents my typing as much as I can even when at home. However, we have to give and take, as they say, and manage to keep busy, and try to rest when we can. I like Frank to get a little amusement as he works very hard as an Alderman on the County Council and an Alderman on the Borough Council; the past fifteen years have been very hard-working, no pay, of course, and sometimes little gratitude.

Well, look through the enclosed and see what you think about it. The first Beardmore in the vicinity was Richard de Berdmore 1290, and his three sons; first wife’s son Richard (she was Matilda), and second wife [handwritten: Philippa]’s two sons, Robert and William. I think the Alton and Cotton set descend from the Robert; the Froghall ones from Richard the eldest and William became a parson, leaving money to St. Mary’s at Leek in 1340–1360.

Must close now for a little rest, then get the ruling done on the pedigrees which takes quite some time, as you may imagine, otherwise you will wonder what it is all about.

Best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Olive

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.

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

Page 1. From: (Mrs.) Olive A. Dale, 92 Hassam Parade, Newcastle, Staffs. [Handwritten: Long version.] The BEARDMORES of FARLEY, COTTON and ALTON.

THOMAS BEARDMORE of Farley. Will dated March 12, 1568. Will proved Apr. 10, 1573.
– FRANCIS of Farley (“my sonne”), will pr. 1579 = AGNES.
– WILLIAM (“my sonne”), will pr. Sept. 20, 1598; Robt. B. to take invty. = ELLEN (son by 1st marr. Humphrey Wollerscroft); will pr. Dec. 17, 1609, dated Nov. 20, 1609.

Children of Francis: ROBERT of Farley (“my grandson”), purc. tithes of Farley, etc. 1607; leased farm from Earl of Shrewsbury 1613; will Apr. 21, 1619, prvd. May 30, 1619; buried at Alton; all 5 ch. under age. FRANCIS, w. 1617, d. unmar.; bro. JOHN apprsr. JOHN of Ford, Wetley, ancestor of B’s of Fd. Wt. ?Other young ch. not named in gfr’s will.
Children of William and Ellen: KATHERINE = BONAVENTURE HARTSHORNE (will 1629 pr. but missing); ALICE = RICH. PERCIVALL; MARGARET (d. 1609) = GEORGE HEWITT → MARGARET.

Children of Robert of Farley: THOMAS; ROBERT = ANNE (→ JANE bp. May 26, 1644; Wm. bur. Mr. 27, 1646); WILLIAM = ANNE (Wm. bur. Mar. 29, 1656; Ann bur. May 24, 1652; → SUSANNAH bp. Ju. 12, 1643; WILLIAM bp. Dec. 8, 1648 xx); ELIZABETH; DOROTHY.

Above ROBERT buried as “Senex” (an old man) at Alton Sept. 9, 1684. Paid tax on three hearths (fair-sized house), 1666. Will dated Mar. 25, 1684 unfortunately missing, but tithes were left to his sons. These were eventually all secured by the BILL family of FARLEY HALL.

xx WILLIAM BEARDMORE = MARY SHAW at Alton Jan. 16, 1676/7. Had one dau. only, SARAH = .. NIXON, one grandson WILLIAM NIXON. Will dated May 6th 1725, pr. May 5, 1725. WILLIAM bur. “Senex” at Alton Apr. 11, 1725. MARY bur. Mar. 5, 1717. I am not sure whether this WILLIAM is the son of WILLIAM and ANNE, or whether ROBERT and ANNE had another son named WILLIAM after the first one died. I had some knowledge that the tithes of FARLEY, COTTON and ALTON were left to ROBERT’s three sons, who are referred to by their residences, but as his will of 1684 is missing, I am not sure. I have had a lot of information from the BILL papers, so will try to find this again, but this particular WILLIAM does not affect you in any case.

ROBERT BEARDMORE = ANNE. Will pr. 1684.
– PRUDENCE (1) = THOMAS of Farley = (2) ELIZABETH ELKES, marr. Dilhorne May 26, 1687. Will dated Apr. 19, 1700, proved Aug. 18, 1702 (refers to my “cosen” Robert, but I think this means his nephew Robert son of Samson). THOMAS bur. Alton May 17, 1700. → ROBERT (Curate at Kingsley) (see over).
– SAMSON of ffur-Cotton = ELLEN HUNT, marr. Dilhorne May 11, 1678. C/W Alton 1683. Left 10s. chg. for sermon to be preached. Will dated July 7, 1712 (refers to “brother” John Hunt). SAMSON bur. Alton (“Senex”) Feb. 24, 1712/3. ELLEN bur. Alton Feb. 1, 1718. → ELIZABETH, ROBERT.

Page 2. ROBERT, B.A. 1683–4, M.A. 1693, born Feb. 12, 1660, bp. Alton. Educ. Jesus College. Curate at Kingsley 1685 on. Marr. at Temple Church, London, May 17, 1688 to ELIZABETH WOOLLEY, d. the late Rev. RALPH WOOLLEY, Vicar of Alton (d. 1681). ROBERT afterwards Vicar of Nassington, Northants, 1693–1730; bur. there Jan. 26, 1730. Children: ANNA, born May 14, 1679 [sic], bap. Kingsley May 18, 1689; RALPH, B.A. 1713–14, M.A. 1726, bap. Kingsley 1691, educ. Pembroke Coll., Vicar of Stamford, Lincs., died unmar.; eventual heir to all Beardmore tithes was his nephew JOHN SWANN, who sold the last of them to complete BILL’s possession; THOMAS, bp. Nassington June 2, 1696, bur. Aug. 1698; ELIZ., bp. Nass. Apr. 9, 1698; ANN, bp. Nass. Apr. 16, 1700.

SAMSON BEARDMORE = ELLEN HUNT (marr. at Dilhorne May 11, 1678); bur. Alton Feb. 24, 1712; she bur. Alton Feb. 1, 1718. Children: ELIZABETH, bp. Alton June 10, 1680 = SAMUEL SLATER, C/W 1720, bp. Alton Apr. 13, 1680; ROBERT, C/W 1722, bp. Alton Oct. 3, 1685, bur. Alton Mar. 1, 1728 = JOYCE SLATER, bp. Alton May 16, 1688 (children of JEREMIAH & JOYCE SLATER (bur. Sept. 22, 1716) – hence name of JEREMIAH). ROBERT & JOYCE marr. CAVERSWALL Apr. 26, 1707.

Children of Samuel and Elizabeth Slater: 1. JEREMIAH. 2. SAMUEL, bp. Feb. 28, 1702/3. 3. ELIZABETH, bp. Feb. 27, 1699. 4. ELLEN, bp. .. 10, 1711. 5. JOYCE, bur. Feb. 18, 1717. 6. JOHN, bp. July 4, 1717. 7. JOYCE, bp. Oct. 12, 1719.
Children of Robert and Joyce: 1. THOMAS, bp. Feb. 13, 1708, bur. May 10. 2. ELLEN, bp. June 25, 1713. 3. JEREMIAH, bp. May 2, 1715 (x). 4. ROBERT, bp. Aug. 23, 1719 (x). 5. JOYCE, bp. Nov. 1, 1722. All at Alton, but 6. SAMUEL, bp. Kingsley Mar. 9, 1726. (x See next page for descendants of JEREMIAH and ROBERT.)

Page 3. (3) JEREMIAH BEARDMORE of KINGSLEY, bp. Alton May 3, 1715, bur. Aug. 24, 1755, will pr. Nov. 6, 1755 (aged only 40 yrs.) = ELIZABETH HARRIES, marr. at Alton Aug. 20, 1744; (2) marr. SAMUEL FITTON of SWINDON, May 1764; Wit: ROBT. BEARDMORE. Children: ELIZABETH of “The Side”, bp. Kingsley Sept. 1, 1745, bur. Kingsley Dec. 10, 1781, aged 36 yrs.; ROBERT, bp. Kingsley Jy. 5, 1747, bur. Kingsley Jy. 6, 1747; JEREMIAH, bp. Kingsley Mar. 12, 1748/9, C/W Kingsley 1773 and 1795, juror for Whiston, Totmonslow Hundred 1784, bur. Kingsley Dec. 28, 1836, aged 87 years = ELIZABETH LOCKER, d. JOSEPH & MARTHA, bp. Kingsley Aug. 19, 1753, d. Ju. 5, 1820, aged 67, marr. at Kingsley Mar. 21, 1773; ELLEN, bp. Kingsley Mar. 22, 1752, bur. Kingsley.

Children of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Locker: CATRINE, bp. Kingsley Ju. 22, 1775; MARTHA, bp. Kingsley Sept. 13, 1777, marr. THOS. MOOR Feb. 21, 1814, wits: HANNAH & JERE. BEARDMORE; BETTY, bur. K. Dec. 10, 1781; BETTY, bp. K. May 25, 1783; HANNAH, bp. K. Oct. 9, 1785, d. Sp. 21, 1852, ag. 67 yrs.; ELLEN, bp. 1788, bur. K. Dec. 8, 1826, aged 38 yrs.; JEREMIAH 1790–1868, bp. Kingsley Nov. 28, 1790, C/W Oct. ?, d. at Bucknall Dec. 20, 1868 = SARAH, d. Ju. 1882.

Children of Jeremiah and Sarah: JEREMIAH (architect, of “The Poplars”, Bucknall), born 1844, died 1923, unmarried; JOSEPH, b. June 2, 1850 = ANNIE, b. Sp. 15, 1858, d. Oct. 2, 1938 → HOPE & or. ch. (This Miss Beardmore has visited me, and I know she has a nephew to carry on the descent.); ELIZABETH, d. Aug. 1919; CATHERINE, d. Sept. 1921; HELEN, d. Feb. 1920. I think all are bur. at Bucknall, but have not searched too thoroughly for the gravestones – grass too long and wet.

(4) ROBERT BEARDMORE, bp. Alton Aug. 23, 1719 = GRACE BRASSINGTON, marr. at LEIGH, Staffs. July 27, 1741. Children: MARY, bp. Leigh Mar. 23, 1741/2; ANN, bp. Alton Jan. 20, 1744, marr. Alton May 5, 1766 to EDWARD BIRCH of Stafford, wit: ROBT. B.; JOYCE, bp. Alton Mar. 23, 1745; JEREMIAH, bp. Alton June 18, 1752; ROBERT, bp. Alton May 19, 1754; ? WILLIAM, bp. .. 1759 = MARY CRITCHLEY Dec. 26, 1780. Banns at LEIGH Dec. 3, 10, 17, but no marr. He desc. as of LEIGH, she as of DRAYCOTT. (I will try to find the marr. at Draycott when opportunity occurs. It took years of search before I eventually found the Banns at Leigh. He is supposed to be of Cotton and I cannot find any Beardmore other than Robert & Grace having ch. round that period. One reason for hope is that Robert and William were either married or “banned” at Leigh, and their resp. first child bap. at Leigh.)

Page 4. WILLIAM BEARDMORE, bur. Audley June 11, 1824, aged 65 = MARY CRITCHLEY, married Dec. 26th, 1780 (possibly at Draycott). Banns called at Leigh Dec. 3, 10 and 17, 1780. William described as of Leigh (might have been working there or taken residence to qualify if son of Robert and Grace, so that does not clear up his birth entry). Mary described as of Draycott, although her parents are said to be of Ramsor, or Ramshorn, fairly near to Cotton and Alton.

Children: FRANCIS, bap. Leigh July 11, 1781, died young; MARY, bap. Audley Mar. 24, 1783, died unmarr.; WILLIAM, bap. Audley Dec. 16, 1784, afterwards of Dimsdale Hall Farm, Wolstanton; GEORGE, bap. Audley Jy. 18, 1787, fthr. Wm., g’fr. Rev. Wm. George, London; THOMAS, bp. Audley Apr. 7, 1789, g’fr. of JOHN BEARDMORE (Pidduck & B., Burslem) & EDWD., Barlaston; FRANCIS, bp. Audley Sp. 7, 1790; JOHN, bp. Audley Nov. 2, 1792, g’fr. of JOHN BEARDMORE, Brassfounder, Hallfields Fndy, Hanley, S-on-T. = ELEANOR LUCKCOCK (JOHN d. 1874, ELEANOR d. 1859; → THOMAS, d. unmarr.; JOHN, d. unmarr.; BENJAMIN d. 1890 = H. THOMAS, d. 1892 → dau. H. BEARDMORE, living 1905; son JOHN B. (brassfndr.), lvg. 1905); SOLOMON, bp. Audley Jan. 1, 1795, died unmarr.; SAMUEL, bp. Audley Mar. 26, 1797; DANIEL, bp. Apr. 23, 1799, dd. unmarr.; KITTY, bp. Audley Jan. 29, 1801, died unmarr.; JAMES, bp. Audley Dec. 22, 1804, died unmarr.; ELIZABETH, bp. Audley Oct. 27, 1806, died unmarr.

[Handwritten by George Beardmore, with a line drawn to Thomas:] Richard – This is our line. GCB 20/3/79.

In a list of very rough and incorrect notes supplied by JEREMIAH and JOHN and my uncle GEORGE BEARDMORE, of Hall Croft, Kingsley, they have tried to trace a relationship between all three of them, but without great success. In it they list a ROBERT 1714 as possibly the father of WILLIAM 1759, whereas ROBERT was born 1719. He could be the father of WILLIAM and if only I could find a baptismal entry, I should be happy to accept this. However.. in the KINGSLEY Register there is an entry dated 1759, the crucial date, as under:

1759. WILLIAM, son of THOMAS and ELLEN BEARDMORE, Bapt.

There is also an entry 1766. WILLIAM BEARDMORE, Bur., but I think this was an older WILLIAM with children of his own, as at that date the entries gave the names of all parents whether the child was Bapt. or Buried, so it is possible the above WILLIAM, son of THOMAS and ELLEN, was your ancestor. Shall I type out the other entries appertaining to THOMAS and ELLEN? I really think he was ROBERT’s son, but have no definite proof either way. I think I told you previously that there are no less than fifteen pages of single spaced foolscap entries for BEARDMORES alone in the KINGSLEY registers!

[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.