ESRI Story Map

Below is, in part the culmination of my 'perambulation of the borders' of the Canford Manor, plotted on a single map so as to see the true extent of the huge manor. It is a stand alone ESRI Story Map so there will inevitably be repetition.

You can also open the ESRI Story Map An exploration of Biddlecomb(e) families by clicking on the link, which will open a new page.

Planned future additions to the story are the locations of all of the people mentioned in this article for whom I can establish a location. Some are already plotted. Others include Biddlecomb(e)'s with later stories and records. All being slowly expanded.

Scroll down the insert to see the map, which can also be expanded.

The reason for including these locations.

Merritown and Avon, Hampshire and Hampreston and Wimborne Minster, Dorset

Merritown has also been known as Merrietown.

The will of Richard Biddlecombe of Merrietown and the will of John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twyneham in the County of South’t are the focus of this location tab. The County stated was an abbreviation of Southamptonshire, now known as Hampshire. The parish of Hampreston, Dorset is also mentioned in both Wills. Despite being in different counties the two locations are relatively close together.

Richard Biddlecombe

In the name of God Amen I Richard Biddlecombe of Merrietown or Merristowne within the parish of Christchurch in the County of South.

With South being an abbreviation of Southamptonshire, now called Hampshire.

From the above, Richard's primary location is Merritown, as it is now known.

Other Lands mentioned in Richard Biddlecombe's Will

I Richard Biddlecombe of Merrytown within the parish of Christchurch in the County of South Yeoman ...

Item I give to my Son Thomas Biddlecombe my ??? and Land at Hampreston

Item I give him one hundred pounds to be paid within the space of two years after my Decease

Item I give him ???? ??? half the rent or profit of my ??? at Avon ???? the two ????

...

I Richard Biddlecombe of Merrytown within the parish of Christchurch in the County of South Yeoman ...

Item I give to my grandchild Martin Biddlecombe fifty pounds ...

Side Cast

Item I give to my grandchild Martin Biddlecombe my land at Wimborn Minster but if ??? ??? ??? got ??? to ??? its before ?? ?? 21 years of age my will ?? ?? go ?? it ??? ??? the money for it.

...

 From the transcription I have managed so far, I have not yet ascertained who inherited the land and property at Merritown

John Biddlecombe

 I John Biddlecombe of Merrytown in the parish of Christchurch Twynham in the County of South't

From the above, John's primary location is Merritown, as it is now known, the same as Richard's

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 ...

On to the locations mentioned in the wills.

Merritown Hampshire

 Previously known as, Meadow Town and Merriton, with the change taking place between the Milne's 1791 and the Ordnance Survey map of about 1810 and the Greenwood's 1826 Map. Chaning again to Marritown for the 1896 OS 25" map.

NLS OS Map - Bournemouth (Outline), Sheet 329, Revised: 1893, Published: 1895 

Old OS Map held by the National Library of Scotland. Merritown circled in light blue and Hampreston in red. Bottom right has Holdenhurst circled in green. The county boundary at the time of the map has been highlighted in yellow, with Devon on the left and Hampshire, which was sometimes known as Southamptonshire, on the right of the yellow line. The River Stour has also been given a blue wash.

Going further back in time towards the dates of the Wills with the help of Old Hampshire Mapped. It is worth visiting the site just to look at the excellent maps of the past. They were not a accurate as more recent one but the engravings are superb. 

Saxton's 1575 New Forest Hampshire

Starting with Saxton's Hampshire 1575. or part of it in the area of the New Forest. A blue ring captures Christchurch and Avon. With red rings drawing your attention to Ringwood, Ellingham, Boldre, and Eling

Taylor's 1759 Meadow Town Hampshire

 What is called Merritown on the old OS Map above, is when you go further back in time, to Taylor's Hampshire 1759, called Meadow Town. Circled in light blue.

Milne's Hampshire 1791 Meadow Town

On Milne's map of Hampshire 1791 Meadow Town is still the name in use, again circled in light blue. Milne's map is also useful in having primary landowners added as well as places and towns. Holdenhurst is circled in green just to aid comparative location with other maps.

OS Old Map Series Hern Hampshire 1810s

 On an early Ordinance Surrey 1" map the name of the place has changed from Meadow Town to Merriton Farm, still circled in light blue. Avon is circled in brown and the route between them named here as Avon Cross Way, latterly known as Avon Causeway. 

From a current Google map Merriton Farm to Avon, is about 3.8 miles, with a walking time of 1 ¹/₄ hours.

Greenwood's Hampshire 1826 Merriton Fm

 The last map from Old Hampshire Mapped is Greenwood's Hampshire 1826, which has a direct placing of Merriton Farm, the same as the OS Map.

OS 25 Old Map Merritown Hampshire -- Hampshire and Isle of Wight LXXVIII.14, Revised: 1896, Published: 1898

A bigger scale map and Merritown and Merritown Farm are clearly shown. The name has changed again with the ton at the end becoming town.

Avon and Sopley

OS 25 NLS Old Map Avon Hampshire

 OS 25 NLS Old Map Merritown, Avon, and Sopley, Hampshire

 Merritown Farm and Merritown circled in light blue, Avon in brown and the yellow circle is around the village of Sopley. Sopley Park and the parish of Sopley extend beyond the circle. The three together gives an idea of close proximity.

Sopley is the subject of a previous article, entitled Sopley and the Domesday Book.

Hampreston

I have not yet found an Old Dorset Mapped or anything similar to Old Hampshire Mapped which would enable me to map Hampreston through the centuries.

Also, Hampreston is a larger settlement, and a parish, so I don't know specifics of location in the same way as Merritown.

OS 25 Old Map Merritown Avon and Sopley Hampshire and Hampreston Dorset

 Again, a map not to show detail, zoomed out to far, but to show comparative locations. To see detail click on the map to travel to the National Library of Scotland, to see the map, without the coloured circles. Merritown Farm and Merritown circled in light blue, Avon in brown and the yellow circle is around the village of Sopley. Sopley Park and the parish of Sopley extend beyond the circle. Hampreston in Dorset is circled in red.

 OS 25 Old Map Hampreston Dorset - Dorset XXXV.10, Revised: 1900, Published: 1901

 The village of Hampreston and the surrounding fields.

Wimborne Minster

 OS 25" NLS Old Map Wimborne Minster Dorset - Dorset XXXV.5, Revised: 1900, Published: 1901

OS 25" NLS Old Map Wimborne Minster Hampreston Merritown Avon

The relative positions of Wimborne Minster and Hampreston, both in Dorset and Merritown and Avon, both in Hampshire. Wimborne Minster is much larger than the other places but Merritown remains the focus.

 Four of the five places mentioned in the Wills of Richard and John Biddlecombe. The fifth place, the transcription alludes me, is yet to be plotted.

There is a Tithe Map covering Merrritown, extract below.

 I have added the text, Merritown Farm, in blue. It is rarely that easy to identify places on Tithe Maps. However, in this instance it is further complicated insofar as the plots around Merritown Farm are not indexed, which makes finding the Landowner and Occupier for the Tithe Record date of 18th September 1838, difficult.

If the landholding is still together, knowing the landowner of one area could help establish the location of the as yet unidentified fifth place. Muckleshell is the area of plot 544 in the Holdenhurst sub-area. Or perhaps Muscliff and Throop. Neither look like the words in the will.

Canford Manor, near Hampreston, Dorset

This may not have anything to to with the Biddlecomb family. However it is being explored due to the Will of John Biddlecomb of Merrytown.

Above is an extract of his will, where he 'bequeath unto my son Martin Biddlecomb all my land and estate ... at Merrytown and at ????' In another part of the will he provides for the poor of the parish of Hampreston in addition to those of Christchurch. Perhaps his other lands are near Hampreston.

Hence looking in the vicinity of Cranford Manor, and how I came across the following extract from Poole History.

Canford Manor 1571
Description of the bounds included in a Survey of the lands of the Manor.

The Perambulations and Bounds of the Manner of Canfford.
“ Fyrste hyt begynnethe at Gallowe Poole nyghe to Rydlesforde and so as the dyche leadeth to Walfforde yn the East part. And from thence to a Stone nyghe unto Dyrley Chine yn the Moore upon a lytle bancke. And from thence as the Water runeth downe Durley cheine yn to the Sea. And from thence by the Sea to Northehaven fronte and so along by the Sea to Tyrland. And from thence to the stone yn Rushe Moor and so to the Stomped Crosse and from thence to Crechmear and as the Moore lyethe to the Weaste gate of Upton. And as the lane leadeth to the northe gate of Upton. And from thence as the Dyche runnythe to Cherwell water. And as the water runethe to Gyllynghame Mylle. And from thence along the Ryver to Julyans Brydge. And so to Allyns Brydge. And from thence to Holman Stubbe and from thence to the corner of the Lytle parke and to the northe parte of Breacke. And so downe to the Stower. And as the Stower runnethe to Rydlesforde where we began.

Transcription based on a handwritten copy of the Survey prepared in 1897 for Lord Wimborne.

It has taken a good while but I believe that I may have found Rydlesforde.

Both on Milne's 1791 map ant the later OS 25" map.

Riddles Ford is circled in blue on the Milne's 1791 map above. Circled in orange is Wellingford, could this be an alternative spelling to the latter of the two names in this extract, ' ... Rydlesforde and so as the dyche leadeth to Walfforde ...? Another ford on the Hampshire boarder?

 Riddles Ford is not very far away from Merritown or Merrytown.

 A mere 1 ¹/₂ miles as the crow flies, just the issue of the River Stour between them.

After Riddles Ford, as the text indicates ' Rydlesforde and so as the dyche leadeth to Walfforde yn the East part.' Could that name have morphed into Walkford? There are several Walkford named places in the vicinity of Walkford Farm. Walkford also fulfils the 'in the East' element as it is only slightly south of due east, about 8 ¹/₂ miles away.

Neither Canford Cliffs nor Canford Cliffs Chine, both shown on the above map, are mentioned in the Canford Manor boundary walk, but the names suggest a link.

Durley Chine is also on the list around the boundary

Durley Chine on a First Series OS one inch map, circled in blue. Note the absence of Bournemouth, as a town. 

 Over seven miles between Canford Manor and North Haven Point. Is this the same place as in the transcription? It does refer to the sea, so it could be.

 This map is for Upton, both western gate (not shown) and northern gate.

The next place found was Julian's Bridge, 'And from thence along the Ryver to Julyans Brydge.'

The perambulation continued thus;

... And from thence along the Ryver to Julyans Brydge. And so to Allyns Brydge.

As part of the research for Canford Manor. Presumably Allyns Brydge could be Allins Brridge, or a bridge over the River Allen.

The River Allen flows from the north to Wimborne Minster, where the river joins the Stour. There are two bridges across the River Stour and three bridges across the River Allen, in Wimborne Minster.

There is Julian's Bridge above and Canford Bridge, below.

Going upstream along River Allen, from Canford Bridge, the next mapped bridge appears to be at East Street. Possibly two bridges, one for the river and another for the mill stream, although the latter may have been more of a culvert. However, to help with the continuity of the maps, the East Street bridge in in the third image below. The three maps are on top of one another and almost join together. I could have done it in one map but without the joins, but the detail would have been difficult to discern.

At the top is Walford Bridge and Mill. The other bridges across the Riven Allen are un-named as far as this map is concerned. I have given the river a colourwash to ease identification.

 Above is a Google StreetView image of the upstream side of East Street Bridge in Wimborne Minster, and adjacent, the bridge viewed from downstream.

Beneath is another Google StreetView slightly further along East Street, as the mill stream disappears under the road.

Walford Bridge is on the outskirts of Wimborne Minster according to the map, and is adjacent to corn mill of the same name.

Returning to tracing the river Allen upstream on the map, the next shown bridge is the 'Bull Bridge' at Wimborne St Giles.

Unfortunately, there is not enough information the identify 'And so to Allyns Brydge.' It could be any of the bridges, apart from Walford Bridge. Well actually it could have been that bridge as well, if it changed name.

Also, unfortunately, I have not been able to find the remaining places on the boundary walk. There are probably enough to give a sense of the extent of the Manor in 1571 as described, but not definitive. It has however, been an interesting exercise, although it did not help locate the second place mentioned in John Biddlecomb's will, starting with an M and looking like Moonre with something on the end. Time to stop and move on. 

Canford Magna Dorset

Kingston Canford Magna

Kingston Tything in the Parish of Canford Magna in the County of Dorset

Also know as Kingstone and Kinson

Kinson is a tithing and ecclesiastical parish formed in 1865 out of Great Canford parish.

Kinson is a parish on the south bank of the River Stour. It was part of the great parish of Canford Magna until 1865 and it became part of the borough of Bournemouth in 1931. The site was recorded in Saxon times and the area of alluvial soil from the river flood plain was ideal farming land. The south of the parish was part of the great Dorset heathland and provided furze for fuel and rough pasture.

Before the Norman conquest the name was Cyneston, the Saxon name for a farm. By the time of Domesday the name had changed to Chinestanestone and the following was recorded:

Edward also holds Chinestanestone. Wulfen held it before 1066. It paid tax for 13 hides. Land for 9 ploughs, of which 5 hides and 1 virgate of land are in the lordship; 2 ploughs there: 7 slaves; 18 villagers, 14 cottagers and 4 cottagers with 7 ploughs. A mill which pays 5s.; woodland, 1 acre; meadow, 100 acres, less 5; pasture 3 leagues long and 2 leagues wide, less 3 furlongs.

The parish name changed a number of times over the next 900 years Kynestanton - Kinestaneston – Kenstaneston – Kinstanton – Kynston – Kingston How – Kingston until finally settling on Kinson in the early 20th century.

The reason for including these locations.

Kingston in the Parish of Corfe Castle and Kingston in the Parish of Canford Magna, both in the County of Dorset

The first is to avoid confusion between the two Kingston places in the County of Dorset.

Kingston in the Parish of Canford Magna

I Henry Biddlecombe of the Tything of Kingston in the Parish of Canford Magna in the County of Dorset Yeoman ...

On to the location mentioned in the will, together with the Kingston of Corfe Castle.

The two Kingston places were about 121/2 miles apart, with Kingston in the Parish of Canford Magna shown as Kinson on the above map.

 At the time of the Greenwood Maps there were two places called Kingston in the County of Dorset as can be seen in the following maps.

Greenwood Atlas Dorset

Greenwood Atlas Dorset South East

Greenwood Atlas Dorset South East Corfe Castle and Wareham

Greenwood Atlas Dorset South East Corfe Castle

Greenwood Atlas Dorset South East Canford Magna

Greenwood Atlas Dorset South East Canford Magna and Hampreston Parishes

Greenwood Atlas Dorset South East Canford Magna Kingston and Ham Preston

One Kingston, and the one found on the OS Map 25" above is near Corfe Castle. Another, which is shown as Kinson on the OS Map 25". Kinson was previously Kingston in the Parish of Canford Magna. Kinson was a tithing but subsequently separated into a Parish of that name. Shown in the County Parish Maps below.

County map of Parishes - Dorset

Extract from Great Britain, Atlas and Index of Parish Registers, from Ancestry

Dorset South East, Hampshire Border

Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions; Red Boundary, Archdeaconry of Dorset. Yellow boundary, Other Peculiars. Blue Boundary, Sarum and Royal Peculiars. 

Canford Magna Area

Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions; Red Boundary, Archdeaconry of Dorset. Yellow boundary, Other Peculiars. Blue Boundary, Sarum and Royal Peculiars. 

 From the above OS 6" map from the National Library of Scotland, with additional labels, in is apparent the close proximity of Kingston and other places of interest, Merritown, Hampreston, together with Canford Manor and Canford Magna.

Tithe Maps

Searching the Tithe Apportionment for the whole of Dorset, which would be about 1840 to 1845. The parishes that returned any Biddlecom??? were;

• Charmouth
• Thorncombe
• Bothenhampton
• Loders (Except West End)

Accordingly there are no Tithe Maps included here.

Historical Description

Kingstone or Kinson, a village in Dorsetshire. It stands on the river Stour, 1¾ mile W of the boundary with Hants, and 5 miles ESE of Wimborne station on the S.W.R., is a considerable place, and has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Wimborne. Acreage, 5340; population of the civil parish, 7295; of the ecclesiastical, 3565. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Salisbury; gross value, £280 with residence. Patron, Lord Wimborne. The church is a Norman building of stone restored in 1894. There are Congregational and Wesleyan chapels. At Newtown is a small hospital opened in 1889. The church of St John the Evangelist at Kinson Heath was erected in 1881; it is a plain brick building in the Early English style. The living is a vicarage; net value, £85. Patron, Lord Wimborne. The church of St Clement's, Newtown, was built in 1889, and is in Early English. St Mark's, in Talbot village, was built in 1870 by Miss Talbot, who founded the village. It contains a beautiful font which was dug up in the river Tiber. The tower has a fine clock and a peal of bells.

No direct reference yet found to Bidcombe Mill, just a similarity in name.

I found Bidcombe Mill whilst tracing the route of the River Allen from Wimbourn Minster, where the river joins the Stour, on an old 25" old OS looking for;

The Perambulations and Bounds of the Manner of Canfford.
... And from thence along the Ryver to Julyans Brydge. And so to Allyns Brydge. 

As part of the research for Canford Manor. Presumably Allyns Brydge could be Allins Brridge, or a bridge over the River Allen.

 Interesting, but probably coincidental, the proximity of Stanbridge Mill, circled in yellow, to Bidcombe Mill. At a guess Stanbridge Mill would have been part of the Stanbridge Estate which is the subject of another part of this website. Equally, it could have derived it's name from the hamlet of the same name about 31/2 miles to the south. Stanbridge Hall is approximately 22 miles away in a vaguely East North East direction.

Stanbridge Hall was, together with a lot of surrounding land the subject of the will of 'Fifield, John of Standbridge otherwise Standbridge Erles in the parish of Romsey, Gentleman' A gentleman attached to my Family Tree.

Parish records are an important part of putting meat on the bones of the Wills which form the starting place.

Knowing what to expect and where to find such records helps with the collection of further information about these families.

Records

Unallocated records have been moved to the next part of this article, Biddlecombe of Hampshire and Dorset

Except

Baptism for William Biddlecomb to father Hugh Biddlecomb

First name(s) William
Last name Biddlecomb
Gender Male
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1605
Baptism date 08 Sep 1605
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) Hugh
Father's last name Biddlecomb
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

Probably the associated burial of William Biddlecomb, son of Hugo

First name(s) William
Last name Biddlecomb
Birth year -
Death year 1605
Burial day 25
Burial month Sep
Burial year 1605
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Record set Hampshire Burials
Notes William son of Hugo
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Burials
Collections from England, Great Britain

If this is the same Christopher as in the will at the top of the page, with a Probate Date 26 May 1649, suggesting a year of death of 1649. 

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

First name(s) Margaret
Last name Biddlecomb
Gender Female
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1606
Baptism date 25 Mar 1606
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) Christofer
Father's last name Biddlecomb
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

Burial of wife of Christopher on 3 May 1664. If this is the mother of Margarett, it is 58 years after Margarett's baptism in 1606.

First name(s) -
Last name Biddlecomb
Birth year -
Death year 1664
Burial day 03
Burial month May
Burial year 1664
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Record set Hampshire Burials
Notes wife of Christopher
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Burials
Collections from England, Great Britain

There is a record of the burial of wife of James on 8 Apr 1666. The above will was 1702, 34 years after the burial of the wife of James. Which in turn would make the nephews mentioned in the will as least 34 years old. If James was born about 1630, he would have been 36 when his wife died.

First name(s) -
Last name Biddlecomb
Birth year -
Death year 1666
Burial day 08
Burial month Apr
Burial year 1666
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Record set Hampshire Burials
Notes wife of James
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Parish Burials
Collections from England, Great Britain

First name(s) Elizabeth
Last name Biddlecomb
Gender Female
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1675
Baptism date 16 Jun 1675
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) John
Father's last name Biddlecomb
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

First name(s) Elizabeth
Last name Biddlecomb
Gender Female
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1675
Baptism date 25 Nov 1675
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) James
Father's last name Biddlecomb
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

First name(s) Mary
Last name Biddlecomb
Gender Female
Birth year -
Birth place -
Baptism year 1675
Baptism date 08 Dec 1675
Place Ringwood
County Hampshire
Country England
Father's first name(s) James
Father's last name Biddlecomb
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

Extract from © 2010 Hampshire Genealogical Society - Marriage Index 1538 - 1659

 Date Parish Groom Forename Groom Surname Bride Forename Bride Surname
09 Oct 1578 Ringwood Tho Biddelcom Marget Diett
08 Oct 1584 Ringwood Xpofer Biddelcom Avis Warne
05 Feb 1596 Ringwood Thomas Biddelcom Agnis Harris
01 Oct 1621 Ringwood Thomas Biddell Dorothi Walter
12 Jan 1623/4 Heckfield John Biddle Alice Freeborne
25 Sep 1626 Kings Somborne Edward Biddlecombe Ann Kente
16 Aug 1632 Ringwood Thomas Biddelcombe Alice Bensteede
01 May 1636 Ringwood John Biddelcombe Elizabeth Welsteede
00 Jul 1638 Broughton Huffe Biddle Susanna Ecton
24 Jun 1638 Ringwood William Biddelcombe Dorothy Foreman
02 Jun 1640 Hawkley Henry Biddle Joane Stretter
20 Aug 1640 Ringwood Christo Biddelcombe Elizabeth Biddelcombe
20 Aug 1640 Ringwood John Biddelcombe Elizabeth Biddelcombe
21 Jun 1641 Yateley Henry Biddle Elizabeth (w) May
24 Aug 1643 Yateley Richard Biddle Alice (blank)
22 Jan 1651 Yateley Richard Biddle Elizabeth Turner
09 Oct 1652 Ringwood William Biddlecombe Elizabeth Pepper
08 Apr 1652 Ringwood George Biddlecombe An Sanders
23 Oct 1654 Eling John Biddlecombe Susannah Thomas
19 Apr 1656 Elvetham Thomas Biddle Mary Wieth
28 Jan 1657/8 Ringwood Christopher Biddlecombe Mary Dunninge
00 000 1658 Stratfield Saye Edward Biddell Ann Caw

Date Parish Groom Forename Groom Surname Bride Forename Bride Surname
24 Jan 1561 Ringwood Hugh Bidelcon Joan Hobes
23 Sep 1574 Ringwood Thomas Bidelcom Joan Inwood
27 Jan 1592 Ringwood Christopher Bidelcom Elizabeth Rogers
07 Oct 1592 Ringwood Morris Bidelcom Agnis Wysman
14 Sep 1614 Ringwood John Bidelcombe An Harrison
24 Oct 1622 Ringwood Christo Bidelcom Cisley Bidelcom
26 Apr 1659 Beaulieu John Bidelcom Elizabeth Puckareg

Other or Miscellaneous

Other or Miscellaneous, may on the other had be much more aligned to what you may have been expecting.

Stories or information not directly relating to the person or place being researched but perhaps adds something to the whole. Maybe a slice of history to and context or timeline.

 The rationale for the "A" Series of Other, there may or may not be another Series of Others,  is pertaining to the Martin Biddlecombe, grand son of Richard Biddlecombe, and son of John Biddlecombe, all of Merrytown or Merry Town, and all assumed to be the same person. There is a record within a Government Report for Catholic Property ownership in 1715 and 1718, which refers to a Martin Biddlecombe of Merrytown being such a landowner. Perhaps if he is Roman Catholic, then other members of the family might also be. What was the status of Roman Catholics it the years leading up to 1715. The limitations for Catholics started with the reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Other A1

 

Dissolution of the Monasteries, and Anne Boleyn

The Reformation in Tudor England was a time of unprecedented change. One of the major outcomes of the Reformation was the destruction of the monasteries which began in 1536.

The Reformation came about when Henry VIII wished to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who had failed to give him a male heir. When the Pope refused to grant the divorce, Henry set up the Church of England. The Act of Supremacy in 1534 confirmed the break from Rome, declaring Henry to be the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

The monasteries were a reminder of the power of the Catholic Church. It was also true that the monasteries were the wealthiest institutions in the country, and Henry’s lifestyle, along with his wars, had led to a lack of money. Monasteries owned over a quarter of all the cultivated land in England. By destroying the monastic system Henry could acquire all its wealth and property whilst removing its Papist influence.

From a recent TV programme about Ann Boleyn there is a slightly different view on this.

Anne Boleyn, William Tyndale and Henry VIII

Anne is thought to have been in position of a book, which could have led to her being called a heretic.

The 2nd October 1528 saw the publication of English reformer and Bible translator William Tyndale’s “The Obedience of the Christian Man” (full title: “The Obedience of a Christen man, and how Christen rulers ought to govern, wherein also (if thou mark diligently) thou shalt find eyes to perceive the crafty convivence of all jugglers”) in Antwerp. What has this book got to do with Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII? Well, it is thought to be the text that helped Henry VIII to realise that Kings were accountable only to God, and not to the Pope.

Tyndale's Bible laid the foundations for many of the English Bibles which followed his. His work made up a significant portion of the Great Bible of 1539, which was the first authorized version of the English Bible.[30] The Tyndale Bible also played a key role in spreading Reformation ideas to England which had been reluctant to embrace the movement. By including many of Martin Luther's commentaries in his works, Tyndale also allowed the people of England direct access to the words and ideas of Luther, whose works had been banned in England.

Perhaps the Tyndale Bible's greatest impact is that it heavily influenced and contributed to the creation of the King James Version, which is one of the most popular and widely used Bibles in the world today.

After a time of hiding the book, she is alleged to have shared it with her husband, Henry VIII. She and the book planted seeds of thought about Supremacy and about the land and wealth grab from the catholic monasteries, initially for redistribution to the poor, to improve the overall condition of England. However, Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, who may have seen a political side and a benefit to filling the Royal Coffers.

 

From 1527, Henry VIII had sought to have his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon annulled, so that he could lawfully marry Anne Boleyn. At the centre of the campaign to secure the annulment was the emerging doctrine of royal supremacy over the church. By the autumn of 1531, Cromwell had taken control of the supervision of the king's legal and parliamentary affairs, working closely with Thomas Audley, and had joined the inner circle of the council. By the following spring, he had begun to exert influence over elections to the House of Commons.

The third session of what is now known as the Reformation Parliament had been scheduled for October 1531, but was postponed until 15 January 1532 because of Henry's indecision as to the best way to proceed towards his annulment. Cromwell favoured the assertion of royal supremacy over the recalcitrant Church, and he manipulated support in the House of Commons for the measure by resurrecting anti-clerical grievances expressed earlier, in the session of 1529. Once he achieved his goal of managing affairs in Parliament, he never relinquished it. On 18 March 1532, the Commons delivered a supplication to the king, denouncing clerical abuses and the power of the ecclesiastical courts, and describing Henry as "the only head, sovereign lord, protector and defender" of the Church. On 14 May 1532, Parliament was prorogued. Two days later, Sir Thomas More resigned as Lord Chancellor, realising that the battle to save the marriage was lost. More's resignation from the Council represented a triumph for Cromwell and the pro-Reformation faction at court.

The king's gratitude to Cromwell was expressed in a grant of the lordship of the manor of Romney in the Welsh Marches (recently confiscated from the family of the executed Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham) and appointment to three relatively minor offices: Master of the Jewels on 14 April 1532, Clerk of the Hanaper on 16 July, and Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 April 1533. None of these offices afforded much income, but the appointments were an indication of royal favour, and gave Cromwell a position in three major institutions of government: the royal household, the Chancery, and the Exchequer.

 

Anne Boleyn
Henry and Anne married on 25 January 1533, after a secret marriage on 14 November 1532 that may have taken place in Calais.

Anne Boleyn (c. 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that marked the start of the English Reformation. 

Anne Boleyn

 

Anne was the daughter of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard, and was educated in the Netherlands and France, largely as a maid of honour to Queen Claude of France. Anne returned to England in early 1522, to marry her Irish cousin James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond; the marriage plans were broken off, and instead, she secured a post at court as maid of honour to Henry VIII's wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Early in 1523, Anne was secretly betrothed to Henry Percy, son of Henry Percy, 5th Earl of Northumberland, but the betrothal was broken off when the Earl refused to support their engagement. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey refused the match in January 1524 and Anne was sent home to Hever Castle. In February or March 1526 Henry VIII began his pursuit of Anne. She resisted his attempts to seduce her, refusing to become his mistress, as her sister Mary had previously been. Henry soon focused his desires on annulling his marriage to Catherine so he would be free to marry Anne. Wolsey failed to obtain an annulment of Henry's marriage from Pope Clement VII, and when it became clear that Clement would not annul the marriage, Henry and his advisers, such as Thomas Cromwell, began the breaking of the Catholic Church's power in England and closing the monasteries and the nunneries. In 1532, Henry made Anne the Marquess of Pembroke.

Anne was crowned Queen of England on 1 June 1533. On 7 September, she gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth I. Henry was disappointed to have a daughter rather than a son but hoped a son would follow and professed to love Elizabeth. Anne subsequently had three miscarriages and by March 1536, Henry was courting Jane Seymour. In order to marry Seymour, Henry had to find reasons to end the marriage to Anne.

Henry VIII had Anne investigated for high treason in April 1536. On 2 May, she was arrested and sent to the Tower of London, where she was tried before a jury of peers, including Henry Percy, her former betrothed, and her uncle Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk; she was convicted on 15 May and beheaded four days later. Modern historians view the charges against her, which included adultery, incest and plotting to kill the king, as unconvincing.

After her daughter, Elizabeth, became Queen in 1558, Anne became venerated as a martyr and heroine of the English Reformation, particularly through the written works of John Foxe. She has inspired, or been mentioned in, many artistic and cultural works and retained her hold on the popular imagination. She has been called "the most influential and important queen consort England has ever had", as she provided the occasion for Henry VIII to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and declare the English church's independence from the Vatican.

 

 

 

The final session of the Reformation Parliament began on 4 February 1536. By 18 March, an Act for the Suppression of the Lesser Monasteries, those with a gross income of less than £200 per annum, had passed both houses. This caused a clash with Anne Boleyn, formerly one of Cromwell's strongest allies, who wanted the proceeds of the dissolution used for educational and charitable purposes, not paid into the King's coffers.

Anne instructed her chaplains to preach against the Vicegerent, and in a blistering sermon on Passion Sunday, 2 April 1536, her almoner, John Skip, denounced Cromwell and his fellow Privy Councillors before the entire court. Skip's diatribe was intended to persuade courtiers and Privy Councillors to change the advice they had been giving the King and to reject the temptation of personal gain. Skip was called before the council and accused of malice, slander, presumption, lack of charity, sedition, treason, disobedience to the gospel, attacking "the great posts, pillars and columns sustaining and holding up the commonwealth" and inviting anarchy.

Anne, who had many enemies at court, had never been popular with the people and had so far failed to produce a male heir. The King was growing impatient, having become enamoured of the young Jane Seymour and being encouraged by Anne's enemies, particularly Sir Nicholas Carew and the Seymours. In circumstances that have divided historians, Anne was accused of adultery with Mark Smeaton, a musician of the royal household; Sir Henry Norris, the King's groom of the stool and one of his closest friends; Sir Francis Weston; Sir William Brereton; and her brother, George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford. The Imperial Ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, wrote to Charles V that:

              he himself [Cromwell] has been authorised and commissioned by the king to prosecute and bring to an end the mistress's trial, to do which he had taken considerable trouble... He set himself to devise and conspire the said affair.

Regardless of the role Cromwell played in Anne Boleyn's fall, and his confessed animosity to her, Chapuys's letter states that Cromwell claimed that he was acting with the King's authority. Most historians, however, are convinced that her fall and execution were engineered by Cromwell.

The Queen and her brother stood trial on Monday 15 May, while the four others accused with them were condemned on the Friday beforehand. The men were executed on 17 May 1536 and, on the same day, Cranmer declared Henry's marriage to Anne invalid, a ruling that illegitimised their daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Two days later, Anne herself was executed. On 30 May, the King married Jane Seymour. On 8 June, a new Parliament passed the second Act of Succession, securing the rights of Queen Jane's heirs to the throne.

 

 

 

 

Other A2

Other A3

Richard Biddlecomb's Will

The primary source of information about Richard Biddlecomb of Merrytown and Hampreston is again his Last Will and Testament

Last Will and Testament of Richard Biddlecomb of Merrytown, Hampshire and Hampreston, Dorset

 Slightly more legible, the will in three parts below.

Together with the side cast turned 90^o for ease of reading.

My initial transcription of the above will.

In the name of God Amen:
I Richard Biddlecombe of Marrietown within the parish of Christchurch in the County of South Yeoman being ???? aged, and ????? in body, but of Sound and perfect memory thanks be to God I do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following

First of all I bequeath my soul unto Almighty God and my body to Christian burial And as ????? ??? such worldly estate as God hath lent me, my will ?? ??? same shall be employed an bestowed as hereafter by this my will ?? ??????

And first I do ???? renounce and make void all wills by me formerly made and ??????? and appoint this my last will and testament? 

Item I give to the parish Church of Christchurch ten Shillings and to the poor of the same parish twenty Shillings

Item I give to the Parish Church of Hampreston ten Shillings, and to the poor of the same parish twenty Shillings

Item I give to my Son Thomas Biddlecombe my ??? and Land at Hampreston

Item I give him one hundred pounds to be paid within the space of two years after my Decease

Item I give him ???? ??? half the rent or profit of my ??? at Avon ???? the two ????

Item I give to my Daughter Clare Watkins one hundred pounds to be unto her ??? within three years after my Decease

Item I give to my grandchild Martin Biddlecombe fifty pounds

Item I give to my grandchild Mary Watkins fifty pounds to be paid within the space of two years after my Decease

Item I give to my grandchild Elizabeth Watkins fifty pounds to be paid within three years after my Decease and if she happen to die Before the age of sixteen years then her said portion to ??? to her Sister Mary

All the rest of my goods and Chattels I leave to the Dispose??? Of my Son John Biddlecombe whom I make my full and lawful Executor of this my last will and testament

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Eighteenth Day of June in the One and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles he Second now King of England Anno Dom 1670

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Richard X ^{his mark} Biddlecomb

   In the presence of

   Thomas Lush

   Margaret M ^{her mark} Spencer

Side Cast

Item I give to my grandchild Martin Biddlcombe my land at Wimborn Minster but if ??? ??? ??? got ??? to ??? its before ?? ?? 21 years of age my will ?? ?? go ?? it ??? ??? the money for it.

Item I give to my ??? ???? two Daughters Elizabeth and Mary ??? ??? ??? fifty pounds ???

??? what money I ??? given in this my will ??? to the poor my will is ??? it be distributed ???? to the ??? of my Executor

Date of will; 'Eighteenth Day of June in the Ano and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles he Second now King of England Anno Dom 1670.'

So the date of the Will is 18^th June 1670. However, I went through the below calculation for John Biddlecombe of Merrytown Will, and as this is an adjusted copy and paste form John, I will go through the process again.

Charles II became king of England on 29^th May 1660. For a clear Ano and twentieth year of reign, this would equate to a date of the will being, well the length of reign is not clear, so I will use a work around by using the AD date of 18^th June 1670, or using a date calculator, 10 years, 21 days including the end date, after accession.

From the calculation in John's Will this is not correct.

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 30^th January 1649. The new result would for 18^th June 1670, or after 21 years, 4 months, 20 days including the end date.

I will change the transcription from Ano to One/

Using a regnal year calculator the result is 1669, so one year out.

I will use the date of the Will as 18^th June 1670.

All dates Julian calendar.

Probate date was ??

It was only ?? from the date of Will to the date of probate, end date included.

From the above it appears that Richard Biddlecomb made provision for the following family, in addition to the poor people of Christchurch and Hampreston.

People in the Will of Richard Biddlecombe of Merrytown, Hampshire

Below is a similar table brought forward from the Will of  John Biddlecombe. I transcribed John's Will before Richard's but have added the table here to aid you seeing the corelations of names from grand child to child which brought me to the thought that Richard is the father of John Biddlecombe. Accordingly I have added this section about Richard Biddlecombe above John Biddlecombe, for ease of reference, despite the fact that I wrote them up in the reverse order.

People in the Will of John Biddlecombe of Merrytown, Hampshire

 People mentioned in the Will

 Apart from the witnesses

Richard Biddlecomb of Merrytown

Birth and baptism

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 ALL

I have not found any record of burial for Richard.

From the Parish Records of Hampreston, Dorset

 Richards's parents are not yet known.

There is a son called Richard Biddlecombe, and a grandson of the same name, both mentioned in the Will of Christopher Biddlecomb of Hightown, the first Will and Testament in this article. Could this be the link between the two areas of Hampshire?

It would make this Richard Biddlecombe about 83 years of age at death, if he died in 1676, and 76 when he wrote the will.

Records about baptisms shortly after Christopher Biddlecomb of Hightown married on 27 January 1591 in Ringwood, Hampshire, England have yet to be found.

The following records could be for a grand children, especially as the fathers are Richard and John respectively.

Name: Richard Biddlecombe
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 29 Sep 1660
Baptism Place: Ringwood, Hampshire, England
Father:
Richard Biddlecombe

And,

Name: Richard Biddlecombe
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 25 Nov 1656
Baptism Place: Ringwood, Hampshire, England
Father:
John Biddlecombe

I have found a Will for a Richard Biddlecombe with a Proving date of 1617, with a location of Throop, Holdenhurst, Hampshire, England. That is about a four mile walk from Merrytown, near Hurn, Hampshire, England.

It appears to be in Latin so I have not been able to transcribe it.

So I need to make some guesses to see if he is in contention.

Let us consider that he possibly lived 60 to 80 years of age. That would result in a year of birth 1537 to 1557, Say married at 25, between 1560 to 1580. Given 20 years of child bearning age for his wife, assuming she is approximately the same age as him, and that they were 'good' people the first child could have been born between 1561 to 1581 and the last born between 1581 and 1601. If this Richard was born say 1571 and wrote a will in 1670 he would have been just short of his hundreth birthday. If he was further along, toward the last child born, it may be less likely that he would have so much land to give in his will.

Perhaps there is another generation between the Richard Biddlecombe of Throop and the Richard Biddlecombe of Merrytown.

Time to have another look at baptism records to see if we can get any closer to the father's identity.

Richards's wife is not yet known. She was not a recipient in the Will and is therefore presumed to have predeceased him

 Richards's known children are recipients in the Will and are therefore researched and recorded in that section.

Jane Biddlecom

However, flicking through the pages of the parish register of Hampreston I came across the following entry.

'John Corbin & Jane Bidlcom were married the 12th May 1653' in the parish of Hampreston. 

The date of Richard's will was 18 June 1670 which is obviously after the marriage of Jane and John Corbin, but they are not mentioned in the will.

Thinking through the dates. Married in 1653, so born about 1630.

Using information about Mary Watkins, mentioned in the Will, Not of full age in 1670, so born after 1649 and after 1661, latter from John's will. Mary was a grandchild so take another 20-25 years off for another generation, which results in Mary's Mother, a daughter of Richard being born about 1636 - 1641, which correlates well with Jane, a sister perhaps, being born in 1630.

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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 29^th 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 30^th 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.

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

 People mentioned in the Will

 Apart from the witnesses and staff

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. 

 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 8^th - 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 8^th - Affidavit.

At the top, in the pink is Mary the wife of Jo: Biddlecombe buried March 28^th - 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's parents are not yet known

John's wife is a recipient in the Will and is therefore researched and recorded in that section.

 John's known children are recipients in the Will and are therefore researched and recorded in that section.