Thomas
Thomas Beardmore of Farley’s will was dated March 12th 1568 and proved on April 10th 1573. We only know of two children: Francis (died 1579) and William (died 1598) .
William’s wife was Ellen who had a son from her first marriage to Humphrey Hollerscroft. William’s will was proved on September 20th 1598. Ellen’s will was dated November 20th 1609 and proved December 17th.
Thomas may have been a descendant of Richard de Berdmore who died in 1295, leaving a son Richard by his first wife Matilda , and sons William and Robert by his second wife Philippa.
Olive Dale’s fullest account of the family is her “long version” of the Beardmores of Farley, Cotton and Alton, from which much of this site’s early history was built. Her papers also include two typescript sheets, probably from the 1960s, that she marked as fitting in “somewhere”. The first sets out a descent from Thomas, using his will and notes made in 1905 by Jeremiah Beardmore of Bucknall. Its early generations are guesswork, but its later ones record the family of Jeremiah Beardmore of Kingsley (1715–1755), a son of Robert, down to the 1840s. The second shows Beardmores at Froghall and Whitmore a generation before Thomas, through the wills of Humphrey Boughey, Lord of Whitmore, and of John Berdmor of Whitmore.
‘Berd’ = edge or rim, and ‘mor’ or ‘more’ = moor: A person living at the edge of a moor.
We are grateful to Olive Dale for sharing her extensive research on the Beardmores.
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.
The Beardmores of Farley, Cotton and Alton: Olive Dale’s long version
Olive Dale’s fullest typed tree of the family, which she sent to George Beardmore, probably in the 1950s, as part of their correspondence. Much of this site’s account of the early generations was built from it. On page 4 George has added a note for his nephew Rick, with a line drawn to Thomas (1789): “Richard – This is our line. GCB 20/3/79.”
Transcription
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!
What it tells us
Almost everything here was already on the site, but checking it against the tree turned up some gaps, now filled: the family of Robert the curate of Kingsley and Vicar of Nassington; the children of Samuel Slater and Elizabeth Beardmore; the full names of Bonaventure Hartshorne and Richard Percivall; and the descendants of Jeremiah Beardmore (1790–1868) at Bucknall.
Most importantly, it sets out Olive’s reasons for making William (1759–1824) a son of Robert and Grace — and her honest doubt. She found no baptism for him, and pointed to another candidate: William, son of Thomas and Ellen Beardmore, baptised at Kingsley in 1759.
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.
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.
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.