John - The Beardmore Story

John Beardmore was William and Mary’s 6th son. He was born at Audley on November 2nd 1792 and married Eleanor Luckcock on February 10th 1812. Eleanor was born in Shropshire and she was twenty years older than John. Eleanor died in 1859 and John died in 1873.

John and Eleanor had three sons: Thomas (born 1814), Benjamin (born 1818) and Hamlet (born 1831). Thomas died unmarried; Benjamin married Harriet Thomas and Hamlet married Ann Jones. The 1851 and 1861 census reports show John, Eleanor and Hamlet living in Mile Street Cobridge, with Benjamin, Harriet and their son John next door. John senior and Benjamin were working together in the Hallfields Foundry.

Benjamin and Harriet had a son John and a daughter Harriet. John was John Beardmore, Iron and Brass Founder of Hallfields Foundry, Hanley. In 1905 he wrote to George Beardmore, Registrar of Births and Deaths, Hall Croft Kingsley seeking help with the family history and passing on a story about his great grandfather William. It was also this John who wrote in 1924 to Edward Henry, Frank’s brother, about Edward’s grandfather George’s brother Thomas. The two were second cousins once removed: the writer’s grandfather was this John, and Edward’s great-grandfather was John’s brother Thomas (1789). A typed copy of his pedigree of the family survives among Olive Dale’s papers.

Hamlet and Ann had four daughters: Mary (born 1854), Emma (born 1857), Harriet (born 1859) and Elizabeth (born 1860). In 1861 they were living at 202 Waterloo Road Burslem. Hamlet was a carpenter, employing 2 men and 1 boy. We’re not sure what became of Hamlet, but in 1871 Ann and her two eldest daughters were living with Ann’s mother. We did find a Hamlet Beardmore of the right age who died in Lambeth in 1900.

We know quite a lot more about Mary, courtesy of her great granddaughter, Sandra Morrey. Evidently Mary married the Rev Joseph Morrey at Bethel Chapel Burslem on June 15th 1878. They had eight children one of whom was Sandra’s grandfather: Joseph Sydney Morrey.

Mary and Joseph moved around a bit: In 1891 they were living at 67 Hartington Road Stockton in 1891 with daughter Fanny (born March 6th 1880) and four sons Percy Millward (born June 14th 1881), Ernest Beardmore (born January 1st 1885), Joseph Sydney (born July 16th 1887) and William Lawrence (born April 29 1890). By 1901 the family had moved to 7 Woodbourne Square in Douglas Isle of Man.

Joseph died in Harlesden Middlesex on May 23rd 1910. By the time of the 1911 census Mary was living at 128 Rosslyn St, Liverpool with sons Joseph Sydney and Ernest Beardmore. Mary died on August 6th 1941.

Mary and Joseph’s son Joseph Sydney emigrated to Canada in 1911. He may well have sailed from Liverpool with his newly married brother Percy Millward and Percy’s wife Lottie who are recorded as arriving in Quebec on June 17th 1911.

Joseph Sydney returned to England to fight in the Great War. He met Eliza Williams on leave and they were married in 1917 in England. They back moved back to Canada in 1919 where Joseph Sydney became prominent in the mining industry in Manitoba and Ontario. They settled in Cobalt Ontario where they had three sons: Sydney George (born April 5th 1920), Joseph Edward (born June 29th 1923) and William Beardmore (born 1926).

Sandra Morrey, one of Joseph Edward’s three daughters, kindly provided all this information which comes from the Morrey family bible.

John Beardmore’s letters of 1905

Typed copies, made by Olive Dale, of three letters from John Beardmore, iron and brass founder of the Hallfields Foundry, Hanley, to her uncle George Beardmore, Registrar of Births and Deaths, of Hall Croft, Kingsley. The originals were then in Olive’s possession. A copy of the pedigree he enclosed is on his grandfather John’s page.

Typed copy of letters from John Beardmore of 12 August and 12 November 1905 — The letters of 12 August and 12 November 1905

Typed copy of a letter from John Beardmore of 15 November 1905 — The letter of 15 November 1905

Transcription

COPY OF LETTERS FROM MR. JOHN BEARDMORE, Hallfields Foundry, HANLEY. ORIGINALS in possession of OLIVE A. DALE, 92 Hassam Parade, NEWCASTLE.

JOHN BEARDMORE, Iron & Brass Founder. Hallfields Foundry, Hanley, August 12, 1905.

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

I enclose a List of my Grandfather’s Brothers and Sisters – all the women were unmarried – the only married ones were – William. George. Thomas. Francis 2nd. John. Samuel.

I have had an interview with Jeremiah Beardmore, Bucknall – he said he should very likely go to Kingsley – something has to be done to the Church – He is in about the same fix as myself – he has got “stuck” at his Great Grandfather.

With kind regards to the Ladies,
Believe me ever,
Yours sincerely,
Jno. Beardmore.

WILLIAM BEARDMORE of Cotton near Oakamoor – was my Great Grandfather; he married a MARY CRITCHLOW from Licks Head, near to Ramsor.

WILLIAM BEARDMORE = MARY CRITCHLOW, married Dec. 26th, 1780. Had issue as follows. (Note from O.A.D.: “I have inserted dated baptisms. Mr. B. only gave years in this letter.”)

FRANCIS, born July 11, 1781 – died young
MARY, born Mar. 24, 1783
WILLIAM, born Dec. 16, 1784
GEORGE, born July 18, 1787
THOMAS, born Apr. 7, 1789
FRANCIS, born Sept. 7, 1790
JOHN, born Nov. 2, 1792
SOLOMON, born Jan. 1, 1795
SAMUEL, born Mar. 26, 1797
DANIEL, born Apr. 23, 1799
KITTY, born Jan. 29, 1801
JAMES, born Dec. 22, 1804
ELIZABETH, born Oct. 27, 1806

JOHN BEARDMORE – was my Grandfather.
THOMAS – was the Grandfather of JOHN BEARDMORE, Burslem – (Pidduck & Beardmore, Ironmongers).

Letter No. 2. Hanley, November 12th, 1905.

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

I enclose my pedigree as far as I can go. If you have copies out the registers – send them on to me – or to J. Beardmore. It does not matter which, so that he and I can copy them we can each have them then for mutual reference. If you have a chance to look over the Register again, see if you can find the Marriage Register Dec. 26th, 1780. At any rate, I intend to have another good search – “wind and weather permitting”.

Yours ever sincerely,
Jno. Beardmore.

Letter of November 15th, 1905 (to Mr. George Beardmore, Registrar of Births and Deaths, Hall Croft, Kingsley, Staffs.)

Dear Mr. Beardmore,

Many thanks for yours to hand and for the trouble you have taken – I keenly appreciate it.

No doubt if we have patience we shall be able to piece things together to our Mutual Satisfaction.

Mr. J. Beardmore intends to write for the particulars of that ½ Million when he gets it. – No doubt he will let us know.

In my great grandfather’s days a man of the name of Gilbert (Squire Gilbert) – lived at Cotton Hall – or was brother to the man who lived there – (of this I am not certain) – and he came over to the North Staffs. district – he was the Builder of the present “Clough Hall” – whether my Great Grandfather was in his employ I do not know – but he must have had a high opinion of him for he brought him over – and put him on a small farm called the “Foxholes” close to Talk-o’th’-hill – and also Bought Stock – for my Great Grandfather who was – a poor man at least he had not sufficient means to take the Farm on his own account – This Gilbert – also took a great interest in the Sons of my Great Grandfather – and used his influence to “put them apprentice” – to different trades – one a Builder – one a Blacksmith – one an Ironfounder and one a Potter – the one who was the potter – got killed when about 14 years old.

The Estate owned by Gilbert of course Contained Coal and Iron and a Colliery and Ironworks was owned – or rather rented – at the Hall-o’th’-Lee – by a Family of Luckcocks – My Grandfather “John” being put apprentice to these Luckcocks – to learn the Business of an Ironfounder.

At the period my Great Grandfather – came into Staffordshire he must only recently been married for I believe all his children were born at the Foxholes Farm.

My Great Grandfather – walked from “Cotton” to Talk-o’th-Hill – and carried a small cheese with him – I believe the date of this journey could be fixed – for I am told – that it happened on the same day as the Great Gunpowder Explosion happened at Talk-o’th’-Hill and my Great Grandfather – when about ½ way on his journey, felt the concussion – but of course did not know what it was–

The Event was this, a Large waggon – (drawn by several horses) was passing through “Talk” – and it is said that a spark from one of the Horse’s hoofs set fire to the Powder – which Exploded with Terrific effect – and Blew down a good number of Houses – some of which I am told were never rebuilt – and where the waggon stood was excavated a great hole – the waggon and Horses being all blown to atoms–

I almost fancy this “Gilbert” was a Bachelor – at any rate he died – and the Estate passed into other hands.

Do you know this for certain? Did your “Robert & Mary” Live at Cotton? Did they ever Live at the “Side” Farm?

Yours sincerely,
Jno. Beardmore.

What they tell us

These are the sources of the list of William’s children and of the story of the walk from Cotton quoted above. The “Jeremiah Beardmore, Bucknall” who had also got “stuck” at his great-grandfather made the rough sketch of the family tree that follows. The “J. Beardmore” and “Mr. J. Beardmore” mentioned are probably John Beardmore of Burslem, of Pidduck & Beardmore, whose grandfather was William’s son Thomas. The “Robert & Mary” that John asks about were, as Olive Dale explained in 1955, the parents of George Beardmore of Kingsley’s own ancestor Mary, who married Ralph Beardmore.

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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.

Typed copy of Jeremiah Beardmore’s rough sketch of the Beardmore family tree — The typed copy, with Olive Dale’s notes

A drawn version of the same tree, also among Olive Dale’s papers

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.

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Olive Dale to George Beardmore, 27 March 1955

Typed letter from Olive Dale to George Beardmore dated 27 March 1955, page 1 — Page 1 of the original

Typed letter from Olive Dale to George Beardmore dated 27 March 1955, page 2 — Page 2 of the original

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.

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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.

Typescript family tree of Jeremiah Beardmore of Kingsley and his descendants, with handwritten notes — The original sheet

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.

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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”.

Typescript family tree of Humphrey Boughey of Whitmore and John Berdmore, with handwritten notes — The original sheet

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.

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