Will of Sir Richard Mill of Mottisfont

Sir Richard Mill of Mottisfont, Hampshire, his will

The starting place for this article is his Last Will and Testament as found in the The National Archives.

Will of Sir Richard Mill of Mottisfont , Hampshire

Catalogue description
Will of Sir Richard Mill of Mottisfont , Hampshire

Reference: PROB 11/956/136
Description: Will of Sir Richard Mill of Mottisfont , Hampshire
Date: 20 March 1770
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

 This is evidently a very long Last Will and Testament.

My initial transcription of the above will.

 S^r  Richard  Mill  Bar^t

 In the Name of God Amen

I Sir Richard Mill of Mottisfont in the County of Southampton Baronet being of sound and disposing Mind do make ordain and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manor and form following that is to say In the first place ratify and confirm the Settlement or xxx made by me previous to and in a Consideration of my Marriage with my loving wife Dorothea Will and do direct the same to be xxx observed and xxx into xxx xxx to the time xxx and xxx as thereof and I do Give and bequeath to my said Wife One thousand pounds to be paid to her within one year next after my death over and above what She is or will be xxx to by such Marriage Contract and I also Give and bequeath to my siad wife for and x during her widowhood all things Jewells watch trinkets x and other xxx of her person and upon her death or Second Marriage of my Wife which shall first happen

I Give and Bequeath the same to my Executors herein after named Upon Trust that they do deliver over the same to my first Son in case I shall dye saving a Son born in my Life for which shall be born after my death xxx and as soon as such Son shall attain his age of Twenty one years and in case of the death of such son before his age Twenty one years then upon Trust that they do in like manner xxx the same to my second Son in case I shall dye having a second Son either born in my life time or after my death but in case I shall leave no Son that shall Live to to attain the age of twenty one years Then upon Trust Wish they do deliver over the same to my present daughter xxx Margaret Dorothea Mill when She shall attain her age of Twenty one years or be married with the consent of her Guardians herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them and in case of her death before such age or Marriage then upon Trust that they do deliver over the same to such of my future Daughters as shall first live to attain the said age or be married as aforesaid to be taken and xxx by such of my daughters as shall first survive the same as and for her own personal Ornaments and as part of her xxx 

Also I Give and Bequeath to my friend and and acquaintance Captain William Barnard One hundred pounds

Also I Give and Bequeath fifty pounds to my Servant Elizabeth Mathews and five pounds x xxx to such other Servants as shall be Living in my Service at the time of my death Also I Give and Bequeath to my said present Daughter Ten Thousand pounds to be paid to her when she shall attain her age of Twenty one Years or be married with such Consent as aforesaid in case I shall dye leaving no other Child either born in my Life or after my Death other than and besides an Eldest or only Son but in case I shall leave another Child either born in my Life time or which shall be born after my death other than and besides an eldest or only Son then and in such Case I Give and Bequeath to my said present daughter the Sum of Six thousand pounds only and to such other younger Child the like Sum of Six thousand pounds said xxx of Six thousand pounds to my said present Daughter to be paid to her when she shall attain her age of Twenty one years or be married with such Consent as aforesaid and the said other xxx of Six thousand pounds to my said other younger Child to be paid to him if a Son when he shall attain his age ot Twenty one years and to her if a Daughter when she shall attain the age or be married with such Consent as aforesaid but in Case I shall die leaving my said present Daughter and xxx or more other younger Children Either born in my Life time or which shall be born after my death

Then and in such Case I Give and Bequeath to my said present Daughter and my said other younger Children the Sum of four thousand pounds a xxx and no more such xxx and xxx xxx to be paid as follows so xx to my said present Daughter when she shall attain her age of Twenty one years or be married with such Consent as aforesaid and to my said other younger Children if Sons when they shall xxx and xxx attain their xxx Ages of Twenty one years and if Daughters when they shall xxx and xxx attain the like age or be married with such Consent as aforesaid which shall first happen and it is my Will and I do hereby xxx that xxx for the before mentioned xxx or xxx to my said present Daughter and other younger  Children after the of three pounds and ten shilling per xxx per Annum to be Computed from the day of my death thill such xxx or xxx shall xxx payable shall be paid and applied toward the Maintenance Education and bringing up of my said present Daughter and other younger Children by her and their Guardians herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them and it is by further Will and I do hereby direct that in case my said present Daughter or any other of my said younger Children shall happen to dye before his her or their portion or portions shall becombe payable as aforesaid then the portion or portions of him her or them so happening to dye shalll go and be paid to and be equally divided between the Survivors when the original portion or portions of such Survivors or Survivor shall become payable as aforesaid but so that no such Child have more than ten thousand pounds and in Case by the deaths such younger Children shall be xxx to one before the aforsaid portion or portions shall become payable then no more than ten thousand pounds shall be paid to such younger Child and in Case all such younger Children shall happen to dye before their or any of their portions shall become payable as aforesaid then the said Sums or any of them shall not be paid but in such Case my Manors Messuages Lands and Estates herein after xxx to the payment thereof shall from xxx forth be discharged and acquitted those from for the benefit of the person or persons to whom the said Manors Messuages Lands and Estates shall from time to time xxx and belong

Also I Give and Bequeath to my three Executors herein after named One hundred pounds a piece

Also it is my Will and I do hereby direct that all my Debts and funeral Expenses and all the xxx xxx by me herein before given together with all the Debts  xxx and Annuities of my late xxx father xxx shall be Charged upon and be paid out of my Several Manors Messuages Lands Parsonages Tithes Pensions xxx and xxx Estates situate & Lying and being in the several Counties of Southampton and Sussex and in the Town and County of Southampton or Elsewhere in the Kingdom of Great Britian in case my personal Estate shall prove insufficient for the payment thereof and I do hereby subject and charge my said several Several Manors Messuages Lands Parsonages Tithes Pensions Hereditaments and xxx Estates to and with the payment of the same accordingly or so much thereof as my personal Estate shall not be xxx to pay and it is my Will that all my personal Estate after deducting the Costs of by Executors in the Execution of this my Will shall be so apply  in the first place xxx and xxx my xxx Manor of Southwells otherwise xxx together with the Mansion House called Grove Place and all other Buildings farms Lands Meadows xxx and xxx xxx to the said Manor belonging in the said County of Southampton and also all my xxx xxx furniture plate xxx and things all xxx part therein of my Executors and to be at Liberty to sell or not sell as they in their discretion shall think fit but if sold then it is my Will and direction that the Money to arise thereby shall be applied towards discharging the Disbursements aforesaid in aid of my xxx Estates Subject as aforesaid to the payment thereof.

Also I Give and devise my said Several Manors Messuages Lands Parsonages Tithes Pensions Hereditaments and xxx Estates so Subject and intangible as aforesaid to my first Son in Case I shall have any Son at my death or there xxx Son that shall be born after my death and the xxx xxx of his Body dutifully  xxx and xx of xxx xxx my xxx Son in Case I shall have any as aforesaid and the xxx xxx of his Body xxx xxx and in default of such xxx my xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx and the xxx xx of their xxx  xxx xxx Lawfully xxx and for xxx of xxx xxx Brother John Mill for and xxx the Town of his xxx xxx without xxx of xx for and xxx of waste and xxx xxx xxx his xxx to his first Son and to xxx Make of his xxx Sons xxx xxx and in xxx xxx xxx to his xxx xxx xxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx the xxx Make of the xxx and xxx xxx Lawfully issuing and in default of such xxx xxx xxx Will forward during the term of his natural Life xxx xxx of or for any mannor of xxx and from xxx xxx xxx xxx first Son and the xxx xx of his Body Lawfully  xxx and in default of xxx xxx his xxx third xxx the and xxx Sons xxx to xxx xxx of Age and xxx of Birth and the xxx xxx of the xxx and xxx xxx xxx xxxx my Brother Charles Mill  for and during the term of his natural Life without xxx xxx of or for any xxx of waste and from and after his demise to his first Son  xxx to xxx xxx of his Body Lawfully xxx and in default of such xxx his second third fourth and other Sons xxx according to their xxx of Age and priority of Birth and the xxx xxx of their xxx and xxx Bodys Lawfully xxx and for and in default of all such  xxx xx xx xx for over and it is xxxx in Case I shall have a Son wholly xx time of this my Will shall   xx  xx to my said Real Estates that the Surplus of the Rents Issues and Profits of my said xxx Estates beyond what shall be xxx to xxx Maintain and bring him up and to pay the Interest of the debts or Sums Charged xx or after xx said  Real Estates by the will of my said father or by this my Will or otherwise together with the allowance hereinafter xxx xxx to the Guardians herein after named of such Son shall from time to time be paid and applied during the Minority of such Son in discharge of the said debts or Sums as part thereof in order to xxx and xxx such Disbursements and to this End that such Surplus or savings may not be considered as the personal Estate of such Son

Also it is my Will and  

 Old Template material pertaining to Christopher Biddlecomb. Not relevant.

My initial transcription of the above will.

In the name of God Amen:
This fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred Forty and seven I Christopher Biddlecomb of Hightowns in the parish of Ringwood in the County of South a yeoman being sick in body, but of good and perfect memory thanks be given Almighty God do make and ordain this my last will and testament as followeth. First I Commit my Soul into the hands of Almighty god, and my body to be buried in the parish Church of Ringwood.
Item I give to the poor people of Ringwood twenty shillings.
Item I give to my Son John Biddlecomb twenty pounds lawful money of England, {....}.
I give to my said Son John Biddlecomb sixteen pounds being part of the debt of Edward Riffen unto me by bond, and which sixteen pounds my said  son John Biddlecomb hath {.........} {were......}.
Item I gift to my Grand children Elinor Dantor Iornd Dantor and Margartt Dantor and Richard Dantor and to xxxx and xxxx of them five pounds lawfull money of England.
Item I give to my Grandchild Thomas Biddlecombe five pounds of lawfull money of England.
Item I give to my Grandchildren Richard Biddlecombe and Elizabeth Biddlecombe and to {.....} and either of them five pounds lawfull money of England
Item I give to my Daughter Margarett Rook twenty shillings lawfull money of England.
All the other of my goods and chattels moveable and nonmoveable my debts and bequests paid.
I give and bequeath unto Richard Biddlecomb my Son whom I do make and ordain my full and sole Executor in and by this my last will and testament
I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hands and seal and published this my last will and testament the day and year above written in the {.....} of Christopher Biddlecomb his sign
Christophor Iun his sign
Nicholas Bounds

People in the Will of Christopher Biddlecombe of Hightown

 From the above it appears that Christopher Biddlecomb made provision for the following family, in addition to the poor people of Ringwood. 

 People mentioned in the Will of Christopher Biddlecomb of Ringwood

 Apart from the witnesses and the poor people of Ringwood. 

Christopher Biddlecomb or Christofer Bidelcom

Birth and baptism

A potential match for Christopher's baptism.

First name(s) Christofer
Last name Bidelcom
Gender Male
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1571
Baptism date 19 Mar 1571
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) John
Father's last name Bidelcom
Mother's first name(s) -
Mother's last name -
Record set England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Baptisms
Collections from England, Great Britain

Another potential match for Christopher's baptism.

First name(s) Christofer
Last name Bidelcom
Gender Male
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1592
Baptism date 18 Feb 1592
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) Morris
Father's last name Bidelcom
Mother's first name(s) -
Mother's last name -
Record set England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Baptisms
Collections from England, Great Britain

Marriage

See the tab Christopher 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. 

 Looking at the Hampshire Genealogy Society Burial Records;

Parish of Ringwood, 16 March 1647 Christopher Biddlecombe is one that jumps out on first impression, but that is before the Will was signed.

 The above was the result of a search for the parish of Ringwood with a first name starting with Chris and a surname starting with Bid, both to deal with the various spelling of the names encountered in records.

There are no appropriate records here.

Widening the field to the whole of Hampshire, surname starting with Bid, and the year 1648 ⁺/_- 1, gave the following result. Again, no matching record.

Perhaps a trip to the Hampshire Records Office in Winchester is required.

Christopher Biddlecomb's Parents

From the potential baptisms found so far, one to John Bidelcom baptism date 19 Mar 1571 and another to Morris Bidelcom with a baptism date of 18 Feb 1592. That calculates the between baptisms duration as being 20 years, 11 months including the end date.

Given a proving date of the Will of 26 May 1649, which I believe had to be completed within three months of death would result in a date of death of about say 26 March 1649.

The date the Will was written was 15 July 1647

Assuming that in both cases he was baptised at a very young age, at least before his first birthday, if his father was John he would have been 78 years of age at his death and 76 when he wrote the will.

If his father was Morris he would have been 57 years of age at his death and 55 when he wrote the will.

If we consider average generation gaps to be twenty years, Christopher could have married at twenty, and his first child married also at twenty, so he would be forty. Accordingly his first grand child could have been when he was 41 years of age. Christopher appears to have 4 grand children in one family from his Will. This would suggest that he was at least 45 years of age when he wrote the will.

Unfortunately, this exercise did not separate between John and Morris.

Trying something else.

From the HGS marriage records;

27 Jan 1592 Ringwood Christopher Bidelcom Elizabeth Rogers

Well a baptism date of Friday 18 Feb 1592, which is after a marriage date of Thursday, 27 January 1592 by 23 days, I think that conclusively rules out Christopher son of Morris as being married to Elizabeth Rogers. Whereas a baptism date of Monday,19 Mar 1571 would give an intervening period to the marriage date of 20 years 10 months. If he was married at full age, it would indicate that Christopher was born before 26 January 1571.

The probability is therefore that John Bidelcom is his father. There is no indication from this as to who his mother was.

Christopher Biddlecomb's Wife

A potential Wife for Christopher

First name(s) Christofer
Last name Bidelcom
Name note -
Marriage year 1591
Marriage date 27 Jan 1591
Marriage place Ringwood
Spouse's first name(s) Elizabeth
Spouse's last name Rogers
Spouse's age -
County Hampshire
Country England
Record set England Marriages 1538-1973
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Collections from England, Great Britain

From other Ancestry trees it is suggested that Elizabeth Rogers may be a widow, with a maiden name of Elizabeth Humber, B:11 May 1575 Ringwood, Hampshire, England. Father Henry Humber and husband Robert Rogers who died 25 Sep 1591 Ringwood, Hampshire, England, however, that date of death is after the marriage at the beginning of 1591.

Another potential later life Wife for Christopher

First name(s) Christopher
Last name Bidelcom
Name note -
Marriage year 1622
Marriage date 24 Oct 1622
Marriage place Ringwood
Spouse's first name(s) Cisley
Spouse's last name Bidelcom
Spouse's age -
County Hampshire
Country England
Record set England Marriages 1538-1973
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Collections from England, Great Britain

Christopher Biddlecomb's Children

Christopher Biddlecomb's Summary 

Christopher Biddlecomb was ill when he wrote his Will on 15 July 1647. He appears to have died a couple of years later in 1649 as the Will was Proved  26 May 1649

He is a yeoman of either High Town Farm or of the nearby hamlet of High Town, later known as Hightown. All near Ringwood in the County of Hampshire.

Christopher mentions in his will two sons, John and Richard Biddlecomb and a daughter Margaret whose married name was Rook.

He also mentions three sets of named grandchildren.

Baptism for Margaret Biddlecomb, daughter of Christofer Biddlecomb on 25 Mar 1606.