John Biddlecomb of Merrytown
An exploration of his will and the Beneficiaries mentioned therein. Followed by expanding the research to include him and his family, together with any links to other Biddlecombe families in the series.
This is part of a series of articles about the Families of Biddlecombe and variations of that name. The introduction to the series is Families of Biddlecombe and variations of that name - START. If you have not visited the introduction yet might I suggest that you do so.
John Biddlecomb's Will
John Biddlecomb's Will
The primary source of information about John Biddlecomb of Merrytown and Hampreston is again his Last Will and Testament
Last Will and Testament of John Biddlecomb of Merrytown, Hampshire and Hampreston, Dorset
Slightly more legible, page 2 of the will in three parts below.
My initial transcription of the above will.
In the name of God Amen:
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman being sick and weak in body but of sound and
perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this to my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Imprimis I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker and unto Jesus Christ my Blessed Lord and Saviour hoping in and through his bitter death and passion to receive free pardon and remission of all my sins and as remaining my worldly effects I dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis
Item I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish of Hampreston the Puint of Twe?? Shillings and to the Church of xxxx xxx shillings xxx I give to the poor of Christchurch Twenty Shillings and the parish church there Tenn Shillings xxx
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my sonn Marten Biddlecombe all my Land and estate that I have and am possessed of lying at Merrytown aforesaid and at Moours? xxxx Stabotto? with their and either of their apperstnanted?? And hath to him his heirs and assignes and forever upon xxx xxx xxx that the said Martin my son do pay unto my daughters Elizabeth and Mary apiece the sum of Two hundred and Tenn pounds of lawful English money and the Sums of fifty pounds a xxx which in the xxx xxx Two hundred and Threescore pounds a piece. xxxx
Item. I give to my daughter Joan Biddlecome the Sum of Three hundred pounds of lawful English money to be paid by my said son Martin as aforesaid at their Several Ages of one and Twenty years or dayth of marriage which shall first happen and in the mean time the interest or increase to got for their maintenance But if either of my said daughters shall dye before they attain the said Age or day of marriage her part to got and be divided amongst the survivors of my said daughters
Item. I give devise and bequeath unto my son John Biddlecomb the Summit of fifty pounds of lawfull English money to be paid by my said Sonn Martin at the age of one and Twenty years of my said sonn John and in the mean time the interest thereof to got towards his maintenance and education more I give to my said sonn John one xxxxx and all belonging thereunto both of xxxx and woollen.
Item I give and bequeath unto my men and maidxxxx who shall live with me at the time of my death the sum of five shillings a piece to be paid by my Executor hereafter named.
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my now wife all those household goods and Implements of household which were held before our xxxx marriage or that I had by her for during her natural life and after her death to my Executor hereafter named.
Item whereas my said wife Mary is now with Child
Item I give to such Child as shall be born of her body if it shall be living at the time of its birth the sum of Three hundred pounds of lawfull English money to be paid by my Executor hereafter named at his or her age of one and Twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen the interest thereof to go to the maintenance of such Child as shall be born as aforesaid
All the rest of my goods and chattels whatsoever moveable and unmovable xxxx my debts and funeral expenses being discharged I give and devise and bequeath unto my sonn Martin Bibblecombe whom I nominate and appoint to be my full and whole Executor of this my last will and Testament And I nominate and appoint my Trusty friends John Rissid Cent Richard Spencer my brother Thomas Biddlecombe and Thomas Bayisten to be my XXX to get this my will p xx formed onto whom I give Twenty shillings of xxxx
In witness whereof I the said John Biddlecomb hath hereunto putt my hand and xxx and published and declared the same to be my last will and Testament the Thirtieth day of March in the four and Thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the second now of England xxx
The xxx of John Biddlecomb Sealed published and declared in the xxx of of July in the
Date of will; 'Thirtieth day of March in the four and Thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the second now of England.'
Charles II became king of England on 29th May 1660. For a clear 34 years of reign, this would equate to a date of the will being 30 March 1695, or using a date calculator, 34 years, 10 months, 2 days including the end date, after accession.
However, King Charles II died on 6th February 1685, so something is wrong.
However, apparently after 1660, all legal documents stating a regnal year did so as if he had succeeded his father as king in 1649, following his father's, Charles I, execution.
The new calculation would be starting from Charles I's execution at Whitehall on 30th January 1649. The new result would be 30 March 1683, or after 34 years, 2 months excluding the end date.
However, the side note states, Anno Domini (In the year of our Lord) 1682. 1682 also matches with the probate year of 1682. Or 33 years, 2 months, 1 day including the end date, from the date of accession. Perhaps all down to how regnal years are calculated and stated. Using a regnal year calculator the result is also 1682.
All dates Julian calendar.
Probate date was 30 May 1682
It was only 62 days from the date of Will to the date of probate, end date included.
| Date of Will | 13 March 1682 |
| Date of Codicil | None |
| Date of Proving | 30 May 1682 |
From the above it appears that John Biddlecomb made provision for the following family, in addition to the poor people of Christchurch and Hampreston, and his staff.
People in the Will of John Biddlecombe of Merrytown, Hampshire
| Name | Stated relationship | Assumed relationship | Assumed previous name | Place | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| poor people of Hampreston | None | ||||
| poor people of Christchurch | None | ||||
| Martin Biddlecombe | Son | Right of primogeniture applied to son | |||
| Elizabeth Biddlecombe | Daughter | not of full age, i.e. under 21 years of age. |
|||
| Mary Biddlecombe | Daughter | not of full age | |||
| Joan Biddlecombe | Daughter | not of full age | |||
| John Biddlecombe | Son | not of full age | |||
| Mary | Wife | ||||
| unborn child | Son or Daughter | A yet to be born child at the date of the will. | |||
| Men and Maids | Staff | ||||
| Martin Biddlecombe | Executor / Executrix | ||||
| Not legible | Witness | ||||
| Not legible | Witness |
People mentioned in the Will
Apart from the witnesses and staff
Martin Biddlecombe
Martin Biddlecombe, son
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my sonn Marten Biddlecombe all my Land and estate that I have and am possessed of lying at Merrytown aforesaid and at Moours? xxxx Srabottd? with their and either of their apperstnanted?? And hath to him his heirs and assignes and forever upon xxx ...
All the rest of my goods and chattels whatsoever moveable and unmovable xxxx my debts and funeral expenses being discharged I give and devise and bequeath unto my sonn Martin Bibblecombe whom I nominate and appoint to be my full and whole Executor of this my last will and Testament ...
Birth and Baptism
Not of full age in 1682 (John's Will), so born after 1661 and before 1670 (Richard's Will)
Marriage
Other
The following is very interesting and relevant.
Not just the fact that Martin Biddlecombe of Merrytown Hants, the abbreviation for Hampshire was included in a Dorset return, nor that the value of the estate is more than £20. No it is the fact that the estate is considered a Catholic Property, There is a potential that this is the cause of so few documents or records have come to light so far. Most of the available records are pertaining to the Established Church. Perhaps more info will come to light as more Roman Catholic records become available.
In 2021, the relative value of £20 15s 0d from 1715 ranges from £3,344.00 to £626,200.00.
Now for a little meander.
More of the same records, just because they may be of interest.
Sir John Webb may be of interest to me as I am also researching a Webb family
Lord Arundel is mentioned in more than one county, but just looking at his Wiltshire holdings. In 2021, the relative value of £1,396 18s 8d from 1715 ranges from £225,100.00 to £42,160,000.00.
The final one of these extracts. This time Thomas Neville and his wife. The Neville family are part of my Family Tree. Yes, the famous Neville family. I don't know if Thomas Neville is linked to the other Neville's but I thought it was worth keeping, just in case.
Death and Burial
First name(s) Martin
Last name Biddlecomb
Birth year -
Death year 1725
Burial year 1725
Burial date 23 Mar 1725
Burial place Hampreston
County Dorset
Country England
Source Dorset Burials 1
Record set Dorset Burials
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Burials
Collections from England, Great Britain
Elizabeth Biddlecombe
Elizabeth Biddlecombe, daughter
Not of full age in 1682, so born after 1661.
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
xxx xxx that the said Martin my son do pay unto my daughters Elizabeth and Mary apiece the sum of Two hundred and Tenn pounds of lawful English money and the Sums of fifty pounds a xxx which in the xxx xxx Two hundred and Threescore pounds a piece. xxxx
Item. I give to my daughter Joan Biddlecome the Sum of Three hundred pounds of lawful English money to be paid by my said son Martin as aforesaid at their Several Ages of one and Twenty years or dayth of marriage which shall first happen and in the mean time the interest or increase to got for their maintenance But if either of my said daughters shall dye before they attain the said Age or day of marriage her part to got and be divided amongst the survivors of my said daughters ...
Birth and Baptism
Marriage
Death and Burial
Mary Biddlecombe
Mary Biddlecombe, daughter
Not of full age in 1682, so born after 1661.
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
xxx xxx that the said Martin my son do pay unto my daughters Elizabeth and Mary apiece the sum of Two hundred and Tenn pounds of lawful English money and the Sums of fifty pounds a xxx which in the xxx xxx Two hundred and Threescore pounds a piece. xxxx
Item. I give to my daughter Joan Biddlecome the Sum of Three hundred pounds of lawful English money to be paid by my said son Martin as aforesaid at their Several Ages of one and Twenty years or dayth of marriage which shall first happen and in the mean time the interest or increase to got for their maintenance But if either of my said daughters shall dye before they attain the said Age or day of marriage her part to got and be divided amongst the survivors of my said daughters ...
Birth and Baptism
Marriage
Death and Burial
Joan Biddlecombe
Joan Biddlecombe, daughter
Not of full age in 1682, so born after 1661.
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
xxx xxx that the said Martin my son do pay unto my daughters Elizabeth and Mary apiece the sum of Two hundred and Tenn pounds of lawful English money and the Sums of fifty pounds a xxx which in the xxx xxx Two hundred and Threescore pounds a piece. xxxx
Item. I give to my daughter Joan Biddlecome the Sum of Three hundred pounds of lawful English money to be paid by my said son Martin as aforesaid at their Several Ages of one and Twenty years or dayth of marriage which shall first happen and in the mean time the interest or increase to got for their maintenance But if either of my said daughters shall dye before they attain the said Age or day of marriage her part to got and be divided amongst the survivors of my said daughters ...
John Biddlecombe
John Biddlecombe
Not of full age in 1682, so born after 1661.
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
Item. I give devise and bequeath unto my son John Biddlecomb the Summit of fifty pounds of lawfull English money to be paid by my said Sonn Martin at the age of one and Twenty years of my said sonn John and in the mean time the interest thereof to got towards his maintenance and education more I give to my said sonn John one xxxxx and all belonging thereunto both of xxxx and woollen. ...
Birth and Baptism
Marriage and children
Wife - ??? Biddlecombe
Child - Elizabeth Biddlecombe
[Mouseover the top of the above image to zoom into the individual record. If it flickers move further towards to top.]
Just is case you missed it in the record, a zoom in on part of the writing.
'Elizabeth the daughter of Elizabeth White & the supposed daughter of John Biddlecombe begotten in adultery May 22nd (1681)'
It does not hint at who or if both were adulterous.
However, when page turning the Parish Records for Hampreston, in the Burials section, I found the following:
William King the son of one William King and Elizabeth White the daughter of Thomas White begotten in Adultery was buried January 9 (1617) [New Year in March] the same day {???????} that he was Baptised.
Now I am not suggesting that is the same Elizabeth White in both cases, which would imply her being of child barring age in both 1617 and 1681. A span of 64 years, I think dismisses that premiss, but perhaps it is mother and daughter.
Child - Mary Biddlecombe
The above has a record for the parish of Hampreston in the year 1712, 'Biddlecomb, Mary Daughter of John Biddlecomb Buried Apr 23 - Affict Ap 29.'
There is a Mary Biddlecombe on Ancestry who married a Johannes Tarrant in Poole Dorset on 1 Jan 1711. I have so far found three branches that start from or include Mary Biddlecombe who married John or Johannes Tarrant, one as 7th Great Grand parents. Together they had one child, Honour, born in 1712. It could be that Mary died in childbirth as the above record indicates a burial of April. That would explain why there is only one child recorded on those trees in Ancestry.
However, I am not convinced that the above record is for the Mary that married Johannes Tarrant as the wording would have been, 'Tarrant Mary wife of Johannes Tarrant … '
This record could therefore be for a different Mary Daughter and the record is included here to discount it.
Death and Burial
There is a record in Dorset OPC burials
16 Jun 1709; John BIDDLEMIS ?; ; ; Of Merrytown
Which of the many John Biddlecomes could this be? Not the John of this Will as that was 'Date of Proving 30 May 1682'
Born after 1661, so possibly 48 years of age.
Put the above into Ancestry Tree and it found the following parish record.
Burials, 1709 parish of Hampreston, John Biddlecomb (of Merrytown) Intered June 16 ----- Afftd June 18.
The 'of Merrytown' suggests John is of the same family.
[Mouseover the top of the above image to zoom into the individual record. If it flickers move further towards to top.]
Mary Biddlecombe his Wife
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
Mary Biddlecom, his Wife
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my now wife all those household goods and Implements of household which were held before our xxxx marriage or that I had by her for during her natural life and after her death to my Executor hereafter named.
Item whereas my said wife Mary is now with Child ...
Birth and Baptism
Marriage
First name(s) John
Last name Biddlecomb
Marriage year 1660
Marriage date 15 Jan 1660
Marriage place Hampreston
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Barber
County Dorset
Country England
Record set Dorset Marriages
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Collections from England, Great Britain
'John Biddlecomb and Mary Banber were Married Jan 15th 1660', a record from the Parish records of Hampreston.
Death and Burial
Mary; Possibly Wife
First name(s) Mary
Last name Biddlecomb
Birth year -
Death year 1685
Burial year 1685
Burial date 30 Jun 1685
Burial place Hampreston
County Dorset
Country England
Source Dorset Burials 1
Record set Dorset Burials
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Burials
Collections from England, Great Britain
Unknown Biddlecomb
Unknown Biddlecomb or Unborn child at date of Will
Extract from will pertaining to John Biddlecombe of Merrytown
I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t Yeoman ...
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my now wife all those household goods and Implements of household which were held before our xxxx marriage or that I had by her for during her natural life and after her death to my Executor hereafter named.
Item whereas my said wife Mary is now with Child
Item I give to such Child as shall be born of her body if it shall be living at the time of its birth the sum of Three hundred pounds of lawfull English money to be paid by my Executor hereafter named at his or her age of one and Twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen the interest thereof to go to the maintenance of such Child as shall be born as aforesaid
Born 1683 Date of Will was 13 March 1682 and the unborn child was known about. Hence the birth was less than nine months later, before the end of, I was going to put end of the year, but as the calendar was different then, before the end of December 1683. In England, from 1155 to 1751 the New Year began on 25 March. In 1751 the New Year reverted to 1st of January.
Birth and Baptism
Marriage
Death and Burial
John Biddlecomb
Thought to be, from other Ancestry Trees,
John Biddlecombe
1596–1682
BIRTH 14 SEP 1596 • Ringwood Hampshire England
DEATH ABT 1682 • Ringwood, Hampshire, England
Currently linked in my tree, on my maternal side as 2nd great-grandfather of husband of 1st cousin 9x removed
and
Ann Harrison
1600–1708
BIRTH 1600 • Ringwood Hampshire England
DEATH 25 NOV 1708 • Ringwood, Hampshire, England
Currently linked in my tree, on my maternal side as 2nd great-grandmother of husband of 1st cousin 9x removed
Birth and baptism
Marriage
See the tab John Biddlecomb's Wife for thoughts about his marriage.
Death and Burial
Death would have been between writing the will and any codicil and the date of proving the will. If the rule of proving within is applied his death would have been close to the proving date.
| Date of Will | |
| Date of Codicil | None |
| Date of Proving |
Looking at the Hampshire Genealogy Society Burial Records;
Parish of
From the Parish Records of Hampreston, Dorset
There are three Biddlecombe burials in the above extract of the Hampreston Parish record for 1682.
In the blue and probably the John Biddlecombe above. John Biddlecombe of Merry Town buried April 8th - Affidavit.
The Affidavit is presumably the confirmation that he was buried in English Wool.
Below John, in the yellow, is Thomas Biddlecombe of Merry Town buried July 8th - Affidavit.
At the top, in the pink is Mary the wife of Jo: Biddlecombe buried March 28th - Affidavit.
Jo could be an abbreviation for John, and Mary would, if that is the case be the wife of John Biddlecombe, but not necessarily the same John Biddlecombe of Merry Town as above.
John Biddlecomb's Parents
John's parents are not yet known
John Biddlecomb's Wife
John's wife is a recipient in the Will and is therefore researched and recorded in that section.
John Biddlecomb's Children
John's known children are recipients in the Will and are therefore researched and recorded in that section.
John Biddlecomb's Summary
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