Sampson
It is thought that Sampson Beardmore was born in 1658 in Alton, Staffordshire. He married Ellen Hunt on May 11th 1678 at All Saints, Dilhorne. They had two children: Elizabeth (1680–1729) and Robert (1685–1728).
Sampson’s brother Thomas was married twice. He and his first wife Prudence had a son Robert who was born in Alton on February 12th 1660. Robert was educated at Jesus College and became Curate at Kingsley in 1685. Thomas and Elizabeth Elks, his second wife, were married at Dilhorne on May 26th 1687. Thomas made his will on April 19th 1700 and was buried at Alton the following month, though the will was not proved until August 1702. It calls his son “Robert Beardmore of Nossington Clerke in ye County of Northampton” (Robert was by then Vicar of Nassington) and leaves Thomas’s money to Robert’s three daughters. Thomas left his brother Sampson and Sampson’s wife Ellen a shilling each. Read Thomas’s will.
Sampson and Ellen were both buried at Alton: Sampson on February 24th 1713 and Ellen on February 1st 1718.
Sampson’s will, made on July 5th 1712, describes him as a yeoman of Cotton. He had bought land at Waterfall, which he left to Ellen for her life and then to their son Robert, and he held his house in Cotton on a lease from the Duke of Shrewsbury. He also owned the tithes of Cotton, with a tithe barn, and he charged Robert with giving five shillings to the poor of Alton parish north of the Churnet every Good Friday, for ever. His daughter Elizabeth had married Samuel Slater, and Sampson remembered their four children, Jeremiah, Samuel, Elizabeth and Ellen. His goods were valued at £15 1s 8d. Read Sampson’s will and inventory.
Will of Thomas Beardmore of Farley, 1700
Thomas Beardmore of Farley, husbandman, Sampson’s brother, made his will on 19 April 1700 and was buried at Alton on 17 May 1700. The will was not proved until 16 August 1702, at Lichfield, by his son Robert, the clergyman. On the docket the clerk first wrote “Roberti” and then corrected it to Thomas, which is why the Lichfield calendar lists this will under “Robert Beardmore, Alton, 18 August 1702”. Thomas 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 007622766, images 263–266. The images are © Staffordshire County Council and are not reproduced here.
Transcription
In the name of God Amen the nineteenth day of April in the twelfth year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord William the third (by the grace of God) King of England, Scotland, France & Ireland, Defender of ye Faith, &c Annoq Domi 1700. I Thomas Beardmore of Farley in the parish of Alveton, in ye County of Stafford husbandman, being weak in body, but of sound & perfect memory (praised be God for ye same) do declare and make this my last will & testament, in manner & forme following, (First that is to say) I give & bequeath my soule into ye hands of Almighty God my Maker, hoping by ye merits of Jesus Christ my onely Saviour & redeemer assuredly to be saved, and to have free pardon & remission of all my sins: and for my body to be decently interred at ye discretion of my Executor hereafter named and for the setling of my Estate I do devise order and give as followeth —
I give and bequeath to my son Robert Beardmore ye summe of forty pounds, which he now oweth me, paying yearly & every year unto my wife Elizabeth Beardmore ye summe of two pounds of lawfull money of England that is to say one pound at ye Feast of St John Baptist & one pound at new years day by even & equall portions, for and during ye terme of her naturall life, if in case she keep my name & keep her selfe unmarried and also it is my desire that my son Robert do permit & suffer my wife Elizabeth to live in this part of house in Farley wherein I do inhabit now at this present, & a little garden unto it, as long as she keep her unmarried, but if my son doth hinder her for living in ye house then shall she have one pound more as long as she keepes my name, but if she marry to have no more but one shilling in full for all, also I give to my wife my bed & all ye furniture unto it, & all my pewter one brass pot & a little kettle —
It. I give unto my brother Sampson Beardmore ye summe of one shilling, & his wife Ellen ye summe of one shilling & also to my Cosen Robert Beardmore one shilling, & to my Elizabeth Slater one shilling to be paid them within a yeare after my decease.
It. I do here nominate & appoint my son Robert Beardmore of Nossington Clerke in ye County of Northampton to be my sole Executor of this my last will & testament, and after my legacies & funerall expences discharged, I do here leave all my money bonds & bills whatsoever to ye said Robert Beardmore for him to dispose of to be equally divided amongst his three daughters, and I do here utterly revoke and make void all other wills & testaments whatsoever in witness whereof I the said Thomas Beardmore hath set to my hand and seale the day and year above written.
Sealed & delivered in ye presence of William Ditch; Ralph Heaton, R his marke; Robert Hill. — Thomas Beardmore, his mark.
Probate
“Lich. 16 Augti 1702”: probate granted to Robert Beardmore, son of the deceased and sole executor named; sworn before W. Walmisley.
Inventory
“An Inventory of the goods & Chattles of Thomas Beardmore of Farley in the parish of Alveton and County of Stafford lately dead”, prised by Ralph Heaton (his mark) and William Ditch: his purse and apparel £3 3s; a pair of bedsteads 15s; a hanging press 8s; an ark 4s; a table leaf 2s; a brass kettle 10s; a brass pan £1; a table 10s; a cupboard and a dishboard 5s; a coffer 5s; other odd things 2s; and one feather bed and blankets (not valued). About £7 4s in all.
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 |