Another Sunday and Blake work yesterday

Another Sunday in Easter - the Fourth Sunday and Church is online in Southwark. My Buller family lived in Bermondsey and attended St Mary Magdalene (also the Beard family as Christopher Buller married Mary Beard at All Hallows Barking by the Tower, London, 30 Dec 1794 (I think it might have been a runaway marriage although Mary was 27 and Christopher was 31 when they wed)) until sometime in the early to mid 1820s. Christopher Buller had been at St Olave as a young man and he was buried there along with Mary (Mary in 1806 and Christopher in 1832). I think perhaps the Church of St Mary Magdalene was the church of the Beard family but Christopher and Mary baptized their children at St Mary Magdalene where Henry Beard married Elizabeth Hemsley 31 Mar 1766. This is a fascinating family and eventually I will get to writing them up but they will be difficult. Perhaps I should be doing it now but God willing my brain will still manage to get around all of that material (plus my latin needs to improve greatly and I work at that every day (at least two times and usually three every day). It is marvelous having Duolingo - works perfectly for me. I also am working on my French but I am fairly efficient at reading but need to improve my spoken French and after one year (September 2025) I will pick up my German once again as it is mostly scientific and it would be interesting to speak a less restricted German. Why, no idea but I am enjoying it because I am a life long learner for sure. Breakfast next and then to Church online in Southwark. We walked and walked the streets of Southwark where the Buller and the Beard family lived. It was fantastic. The Church of St Mary Magdalene was beautiful but had been damaged during the Second World War but a very dedicated group of people are working on its renewal. There are so many churches that I could send money to in England but I have concentrated on the Cathedral here and about 66% of my tithe goes to PWRDF and the other 34% goes to general costs.  

The service was quite wonderful; the homily amazingly perfect to my thoughts of the readings in this time. We have evil war ongoing for those who claim to be the only ones that are perfect in God's image namely Iran with their syncophants  Hamas, Houthis, Hezbollah and for some reason the Russians. They are all terrorists and must clean themselves from the inside for they are satanists. Thank you again for welcoming me from an ocean away to be part of this wonderful Anglican Service which included a young woman of Presbyterian background and someone from Ireland. So many young people as part of the service; the Church needs the youth as always to carry forward the word of God to the next generation.

Whilst working on Blake yesterday, I decided to have a look at the early Wiltshire wills of the Blake and Baynard families. It was an interesting trip actually and at first glance the Wiltshire Blake family wills did not mention the Andover Blake family in the 1500s and 1600s. I transcribed the Baynard family wills as well but I did not see that they mentioned Blake other than Henry at Pinhill. Diana, Princess of Wales, is  descendant of the Baynard family through the Montagu family.  

Diana, Princess of Wales and hence Prince William are descendant of this Baynard family (Mary Baynard and James Montague). Their son James Montagu married Diana Hungerford 30 May 1671 and their son James Montague married Elizabeth Eyles. Their son John Montagu married Sophia Wroughton 15 Dec 1748 and their son George Montagu married Charlotte Wroughton 9 Oct 1783. It was their daughter Georgiana Montagu who married Vice Admiral Sir John Gore 15 Aug 1808 in London. Their daughter Anne Frances Gore married 1st Earl Howe, Richard William Penn Curzon 9 Oct 1845 at Great Witley in Worcestershire. Their daughter Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe married 2nd Duke of Abercorn, James Hamilton 7 Jan 1869 in London. Their son James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn married Lady Rosaline Cecilia Caroline Bingham 1 Nov 1894 in London. Their daughter Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton married Albert Edward John Spencer the 7th Earl Spencer 26 Feb 1919 in London. Their son Edward John Spencer the 8th Earl Spencer married the Honourable Frances Ruth Burke Roche and these two were the parents of Lady Diana Frances Spencer. 

Interestingly the Andover Blake line from which Diana, Princess of Wales, follows:  Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall were the twelfth generation back from Diana, Princess of Wales and Thomas was the son of John Blake married to Margaret Blake (her father not known to me for sure although a Pedigree chart mentions William Blake of Eastontown for both John and Margaret and there were not two by the records!). This John was the son of William Blake of Eastontown and William's father was Nicholas Blake of Enham (The Andover Blake family - William Blake (d 1582) did have a daughter Margaret but her husband was surnamed Jarvis - William left an extensive will). Returning to Thomas Blake and Eleanor Hall and their son Thomas Blake married Dorothy Mayowe and their daughter Mary Blake married William Newland. Mary Newland married Isaac Manley, MP. Their daughter Dorothy Manley married William Gore, MP and their son was Colonel John Gore who married Bellamira Munbee and their son Vice Admiral Sir John Gore married Georgina Montagu in 1808 (and the descent continues as above). Their daughter Anne Francis Gore married Richard William Penn Curzon, the 1st Earl Howe. Their daughter Lady Mary Anna Curzon-Howe married James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn. Their son James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn married Lady Rosaline Cecilia Caroline Bingham. Their daughter Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton married Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer. Their son Edward John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer married the Honourable Frances Ruth Burke Roche. Their daughter was Lady Diana Frances Spencer married to now HRH Charles III, King of England. 

Does this prove the descent from the Andover Blake Family?, it does but there is a particular item which has chosen to display what I believe is an incorrect ancestry for William Blake at Eastontown. More proof  continues to arise. Is Diana descendant of the Calne Blake family, absolutely the mother of Mary Baynard married to James Montague was Anne (Blake) Baynard daughter of Robert Blake and Margret (Inglefield) Blake. This Robert was the son of Robert Blake and Avice (Wallop, Malweyn) Blake.  I did read again the Baynard family wills in this time frame of the 1500s/1600s to see if there is any mention of Blake cousins but did not find any comment other than referring to Henry Blake at Pinhills their cousin. The Baynard family did have Blake first cousins - Roger Blake and Mary (Baynard) Blake had three sons - Thomas, Robert and John (and three daughters). Perhaps it was the refusal of Henry Blake to accept a title for which Charles II destroyed the Blake family home at Pinhills near Calne. Members of the Baynard family were knighted. No ideas on that; I just think it is interesting in a learning way looking back sometimes at how life flowed in centuries past. Living in the fishbowl takes a very significant part out of your life (namely your privacy!). The dedication of this Family of Windsor has been and continues to be incredible.

The wills (date blogged)

Roger Blake     4 Jan 2013

Philip Baynard     5 Jan 2013

Henry Baynard     6 Jan 2013

Edward Baynard     7 Jan 2013

Benjamin Baynard     10 Jan 2013

Sir Robert Baynard     16 Jan 2013

Edward Baynard     17 Jan 2013

Charles Blake      26 Nov 2013

Edward Blake     28 Nov 2013

Mary Blake (Roger's widow)     4 Dec 2013

James Blake      6 Dec 2013

James Blake     11 Dec 2013

John Blake     12 Dec 2013

The Blake wills are for the Wiltshire Blake family.

Living DNA results for my brother

Living DNA results came in for my brother. We are the least alike thus far of us seven siblings and fortunately for me he has been willing to be tested here and everywhere (and I have done so!). I expect his results to show a strong southern England setting and good percentages along the eastern coast of England. That was completely fulfilled but I was surprised not to see any Scotland but he does have a Cumbria component which is our Routledge line and they are far removed from the Scottish Highlands having come to the Cumbria area in the 1400s. I also thought he would have a north western European component that would be Germanic rather than Scandinavian. His results follow and I compare them to my results.

 Area                                                       my brother             me

Europe                                                      98.9%                100%

Great Britain and Ireland                         95.9%                   96.5%

South Central England                            23.9%                   31.7%

Southeast England                                  18.8%                      7.2%

Devon                                                      13.4%                     14.6%

Central England                                       0%                          14.6%

North Yorkshire                                     11.6%                         3.5%

South England                                       11.5%                         2.7%

Lincolnshire                                            7.7%                         2%

Northumbria                                             5.5%                         4%

North West England                                  0%                           3.5%

Cumbria                                                  2.2%                           0%

South Yorkshire                                      1.2%                           5.4%

Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland   0%                        4.8%

Northwest England                                  0%                             3.5%

Aberdeenshire                                         0%                             2.5% 


Europe (North and West)                        3%                              3.5%

Germanic                                                  3%                             0%

Scandinavia                                              0%                             3.5%

 Asia (South)                                         1.1%                            0%

Southern Central Asia                           1.1%                            0%


The first item that pretty much defines our family is the Great Britain and Ireland percentage. My result is 96.5% and my brother's result is 95.9%. Given that our father, three of our grandparents and all of their known ancestors were born and lived in England probably not surprising. Our fourth grandparent - maternal grandfather  John Routledge Pincombe - was born in Canada but his father William Robert Pincombe was born in England (Devon) and his mother Grace Gray was born in Canada and she was our first born Canadian ancestor. However both of her parents (Robert Gray and Elizabeth Mary Ann Routledge) were born in England (father in East Riding of Yorkshire and mother in Cumberland).

The North and West Europe component that each of us have remains somewhat of a mystery. I have 3.5% Scandinavian and my brother has 3% Germanic. Looking at 3% of our DNA the rough estimate would be a 3x great grandparent or 2 4x great grandparents. This is an interesting thought actually. For most of our lines I know the 3x great grandparent's place of birth, who they married and when/where they died. But there are a few exceptions - one is my maternal grandmother's father's grandfather - Christopher Buller. I think he is English but I have no proof. His death registration/burial registration does not give any clues in 1832. I have never found his birth/baptism in London, England where he lived his entire life (actually Bermondsey just south of the Thames in his adulthood). His wife Mary Beard I can trace back a number of generations in the Bermondsey area. The other exception is my maternal grandmother's mother's parents and grandparents. But this line is more likely to be Irish/Scot than Scandinavian or Germanic. We do have a number of matches with people who currently live in Germany and always have and I must have a look to see if my brother actually has more of these matches than I do. In general though these matches are with people having a Jewish ancestry and endogamy is probably playing a part in all of that as I suspect our possible Jewish ancestor converted to Church of England back in the 1400s (first appears in Anglican Church records) or earlier. 

The Devon results for both of us at 13.4% for my brother and 14.6% for me are very reasonable given the matches to our Pincombe lines that we share in common. We have been most fortunate to have half a dozen and more of our Pincombe cousins test ranging from 3rd cousin to 4th cousin. Their testing has enabled the phasing of our grandparents DNA which is progressing and helpful with new matches. Our Pincombe line was at Bishops Nympton from the late 1590s to the present and prior to that the line was at North Molton (East Buckland and Filleigh) back to 1485. Prior to that is not firmly proven although some researchers have placed this family in western Cornwall and others in Herefordshire. They came to North Molton with Lord de la Zouche following the Battle of Bosworth Field in which Lord Zouche was attainted for supporting Richard III.

The South Central England results with 23.9% for my brother and 31.7% for me were also an expected result. South Central England includes Wiltshire and Somerset (as well as Hampshire) and the matches which we have thus far point to my having inherited strongly from my paternal grandmother whose lines were from Wiltshire predominantly although she, herself, was born in Kimpton, Hampshire. Plus I have strong matches with my 2x great grandmother (my maternal side) who was born at Selworthy, Elizabeth Rew (daughter of John Rew and Elizabeth Siderfin) but married her Pincombe husband at Bishops Nympton and my brother does not match the Somerset cousins for the most part. My brother inherited strongly from his paternal grandfather which is primarily Hampshire and perhaps gives some evidence with his South eastern percentage that the Blake families at Andover were indeed all related as one line of this family went to Surrey and then London in the latter part of the 1600s.

Southeast England which includes London and Surrey was the home of my 3x great grandfather Christopher Buller's wife Mary Beard. The Beard family can be found back into the 1600s in the Bermondsey area. Henry Beard (Mary's father) was a tanner and he had married Elizabeth Hemsley and her family is likely from the North Yorkshire/Northumberland area back a couple of generations (Elizabeth was born in 1742 at St Mary Newington daughter of Matthew Hemsley and Mary Coal. But my brother's portion at 18.8% is much larger than would be expected from 4x great grandparents and the only other London line is of course Christopher Buller himself. Hence I am suspicious that Blake is also showing up in this area with its roots in Andover.

No Central England for my brother and again not a surprise as he has very few matches with our Buller and Welch cousins. Henry Christopher Buller married Anne Welch in 1838 at Edgbaston, Warwickshire. He the son of Christopher Buller and Mary Beard and Anne the daughter of William Welch and Sarah Cheatle. In this choice he received more Pincombe-Gray then Buller-Taylor from our mother. William Robert Pincombe having married Grace Gray (family from East Riding of Yorkshire and Cumberland) my maternal great grandparents.

North Yorkshire was 11.6% for my brother and only 3.5% for me. Our Sproxton family likely hailed from North Yorkshire (Ann Sproxton (daughter of Richard Sproxton and Ann Harland married 1753 Great Driffield) married John Cobb 1782 at Lund and they were the parents of Elizabeth Cobb who married Robert Gray 1806 at Lund and their son Robert Junior emigrated to Canada and was the father of Grace Gray. The percentage is high however and I suspect there is also Hemsley in that mix.

South England is primarily Hampshire where our father was born (Ernest Blake born 1904 at Eastleigh) and all of his Blake line mostly from Upper Clatford and all pretty much within a few kilometres of Andover going back in time although Elizabeth Lambden (Elizabeth married Isaac Farmer 1789 at Andover; Ann Farmer married John Blake also at Andover in 1823 (parents of Edward Blake my great grandfather)'s father was likely from Berkshire. For the most part though the Blake line and the families that married into Blake were from Andover or closeby. My brother inherited strongly from my paternal grandfather and that shows up strongly in his matches. He is at 11.5% and I am at 2.7% and I suspect some of mine is from the Dorset area where our great grandmother Maria Jane Knight was born (she married Edward Blake at Upper Clatford in 1870) as I have very good Knight matches.

As with myself, Lincolnshire is partly an unknown. Close to London as I get back into the 1700s there are some unknowns in my lines. My brother was 7.7% and myself at 2%. Certainly he inherited strongly from the Gray family and as I work my way back in the East Riding of Yorkshire there are lines coming in that I have not yet discovered.

Northumbria at 5.5% for my brother and 4% for me is perhaps some of our Routledge ancestry (2 of my 3x great grandparents Thomas Routledge and Elizabeth Routledge (2nd cousins) married in 1785 at Bewcastle Cumberland). There is also my Hemsley family likely from this area and 5x to 6x great grandparents.

Cumbria at 2.2% for my brother and 0% for me is very likely this Routledge family as well. Although I do have matches with our Routledge cousins and my brother does not thus far only two have tested.

South Yorkshire at 1.2% for my brother and 5.4% for me is perhaps again the Gray family who lived at Etton and places within about a 10 kilometre radius of Etton.

Not unexpected, my brother shows no Irish or Scottish. He does not have a lot of matches compared to a multitude of Irish/Scot matches for myself. Northwest England at 0% for my brother and 3.5% for myself, Southwest Scotland and Northern Ireland and 0% for my brother and 4.8% for myself, and Aberdeenshire at 0% for my brother and 2.5% all point to our possible Irish/Planter Scot ancestry. He has very few matches with people of known Irish/Scot ancestry. This is of course our unknown line. My maternal grandmother's mother was Ellen Taylor born at Birmingham and we of course share her mitochondrial DNA (H11a2a1, relatively uncommon although there are probably slightly less than one million people who share it on the planet today!) which does point to Ayrshire/Argyllshire Scotland in the Blood of the Isles Database. Matches with the colony in the Carolinas founded by the Rev William Martin and his six shiploads of colonists in 1772 was from County Antrim and a number of matches with our mitochondrial DNA are found with people who descend from this group of colonists.

Scandinavian (3.5% for myself) and Germanic (3% for my brother) are somewhat mysterious as I do not have any known ancestors born in these two areas. But I have many many Scandinavian matches (and some German). My brother has few Scandinavian but many German matches. Perhaps it is fairly ancient and has just managed to be passed down through the ages relatively intact but through whom is the question and one which I look at in depth with each new close match that is from Scandinavia or the Germanic Countries.

Very pleased with these results as well from Living DNA. Looking forward to their matching. I have also shared one set of another brother's results and one set of another sister's results for the matching. Now that I have these results I will do a write up for Living DNA as they have requested feedback.

Matthew Hemsley (circa 1710s - )

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 19

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

Matthew Hemsley is an interesting story. Possibly my 4x great grandfather mostly according to my cousin Robin Beard so I thought I would pursue Matthew this 52 Ancestor Challenge. I do find it interesting that Matthew has a daughter Elizabeth born 16 Oct 1742 in Newington St Mary, Brixton, Surrey. Newington (or Newington St Mary) is a parish in close proximity to Bermondsey St Mary Magdalen. Indeed they are 1.1 miles apart. Elizabeth was the second child of Matthew Hemsley and Mary Coal. But I do note that the only son of Henry Beard and Elizabeth Hemsley was named Henry and in later generations the forename Matthew does not occur. Possibly I shouldn't judge on that because Matthew and Mary named their only son George and he was baptized 20 Jul 1744 at St Mary Newington. The only other children were Mary baptized 23 Aug 1741 (born 22 Aug 1741) and buried by 1750 and a second Mary baptized 14 Feb 1750 and all events at St Mary Newington.

To really place this area in context it is just 1.2 miles from Newington St Mary to Westminster Abbey in London.

Mary, wife of Matthew Hemsley was buried 27 Apr 1753 at St Mary Newington. I have done a little searching of the parish registers but did not find a burial date for Matthew yet.

My cousin found yet another interesting marriage between John Hemsley and Martha Roland 6 Feb 1704 at St Mary le Bow, London. Martha was baptized 20 Dec 1677 at Morden, Surrey but my cousin did not find a baptism for a John Hemsley that was for sure this man. John and Martha baptized three children at St Saviour Brixton:

Martha baptized 28 Jun 1709
John Roland baptized 3 Apr 1711 and buried 18 Aug 1746 at Morden
Susanna baptized 17 Sep 1712

Was there also a Matthew born to this couple before 1709? In retrospect I think this might be a bit too presumptive as there are other Hemsley families at St Mary Newington but since the work was done I have decided to post the following information on the Roland family at Morden. 

Martha Roland is thought to be the daughter of John and Elizabeth Roland and baptized 20 Dec 1677 at Morden, Surrey. This John Roland and his wife Elizabeth had seven children and baptisms were found for the following five:

Rebekah 29 Sep 1676 baptized at St Lawrence Morden
Martha 20 Dec 1677 baptized at St Lawrence Morden
Hannah 4 Apr 1679  and buried 13 Apr 1704 at St Lawrence Morden
Thomas baptized 15 Oct 1680 and buried 17 Oct 1680 at St Lawrence Morden
Jane baptized 23 Jul 1682 at St Lawrence Morden, married William Tyson 3 Jan 1714 at St Ethelburga Bishopsgate, London

The other two being:

Elizabeth born circa  1673, married to Bartholomew Elliot circa 1708 and their children Ann circa 1708 and buried circa 1708 and Elizabeth born circa 1711.

John born circa 1674 and buried 21 Nov 1691 at Morden (mentioned on the Church Plaque below)


There is a Plaque in the Church at St Lawrence Morden:

40. Near this place lyeth interr'd the body of John Roland, Gent., late of this parish who departed this life the 18th day of October Anno Domini 1700, in the 58th year of his age. Also the body of John Roland son of the said John Roland and Elizabeth his wife who departed this life the 14th day of November Anno Domini 1691 in the 17th year of his age. Likewise the body of Thomas Roland son of the said John and Elizabeth Roland who dyed an Infant. Also Rowland Hemsley who died July ye 30th aged 33.

Arms. — Sable, a pile wavy Argent.

Crest. — An eagle with a ball.

The Rowland Hemsley who died 30 Jul aged 33 is reminiscent of the John Roland Hemsley above son of John Hemsley and Martha Roland. Are they one and the same? John Rowland Hemsley died at 35 years of age and was buried 18 Aug 1746.

Another tomb in the church (Table Tomb) :

97. Here lyeth interred the body of Mre Hannah Roland daughter of John Roland gent, late of this parish and Elizabeth his wife Who departed this life the 5th day of April Anno Domini 1704 in the 25th year of her age.

Source for Memorial Stones:  http://archive.org/stream/registersofmorde00mord/registersofmorde00mord_djvu.txt


Will of John Roland:

Source: The National Archives PROB 11/467/67
Date of document:  6 Jun 1702, probated 10 Nov 1702
Author: Johannis Roland
Location: Morden, Surrey, England

[In margin] T[esta]m[ent] Johannis Roland
1    This is the Last Will and
2    Testament of me John Roland of Moreden in the County of Surrey
3    Being written off with my own hand Wherein First I commend
4    My soul into the hands of Almighty God in hope of his acceptance
5    Into Glory And my body I commit to the Earth to be privately
6    Yet decently buryed without any manner of pomp or ostentation by
7    My Executors herein after named where about my will is that they
8    Shall not spend above the summe of thirty pounds And I doe desire
9    That my body may be layd as near to the body of my sonn John deceased
10    As may be in the Parish Church of Moredon aforesaid if I shall dye
11    At Moredon or within tenn Miles thereof otherwise where I shall
12    Happen to dye I will that all my debts be justly paid And I doe
13    Give and bequeath unto my cozen Martha Huish the summe of five
14    Pounds and unto my sister Marys daughter the summe of three pounds
15    And tenn shillings and to the poor of the parish of Moredon aforesaid
16    The summe of forty shillings And my desire is that my loveing wife and
17    Such of my daughters as shall be unmarryed at the time of my decease
18    Shall live together in my house at Moredon aforesaid dureing the
19    Life of my said wife or untill such daughters shall be marryed my
20    Said wife maintaining such daughters But notwithstanding their
21    Marriage my desire is that my wife shall live there and have the
    [page 2]
22    Reasonable use of the furniture thereof dureing her life Yet in case
23    Only that she continues herself a widdow soe long not otherwise All
24    My reall and personall Estate what soever and wheresoever whether the
25    Same be in my owne name or in any other persons I give devise and
26    Bequeath unto such of my daughters as shall be unmarryed at the
27    Time of my decease and unto their heires Exec[utor]s Adm[inistrator]s and assignes
28    Paying thereout unto such of my daughters as shall be then marryed
29    By and with my consent soe much moneys as shall amount to make
30    All such daughters portions equall as near as may be And in case
31    All my daughters be marryed I give and devise the same in manner
32    As aforesaid to such daughters only as shall be marryed by and
33    With my consent my expresse meaning being that such of my daughters
34    Who shall be marryed in my life time without my consent shall have no
35    Part of my reall or personall Estate And I doe make my daughters
36    Martha and Hanna Esec[utor]s of this my Will And I doe appoint my
37    Good friend and neighbour Mr. Peter Batt (haveing noe Male
38    Relation whatsoever of my owne family to intrust Overseer of this
39    My last Will desireing him to be assistant to my wife and Exec[utor]s in their
40    Affaires and for this trouble or rather a Token of my respects to him
41    I give him two twenty shilling peices of broad Gold And I doe
42    Revoke all former wills by me heretofore made And in witness
43    Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this sixth day of June
44    In the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and two John
45    Roland [signed] signed sealed and published as the last Will and Testament of
46    The said John Roland in the presence of us and by me subscribed in
47    His presence the same day and yeare James Braley [signed] Thomas Cope [signed]
48    Elizabeth Braley [signed]

John doesn't mention Elizabeth, Rebekah or Jane as his daughters by name only Martha and Hannah his executrices. By the tombstone he is known to be 56 but his year of burial is mentioned as 1700 and this will is dated 1702. An error in transcription on the tombstone perhaps as it does appear to be the correct John Roland.

The will of Elizabeth Roland was written 1 Nov 1714 also at Morden. Her death is not mentioned on the above tombstone. Elizabeth only mentions her eldest daughter Elizabeth. Is this the wife of John Roland as she doesn't mention her husband's forename.

Source: The National Archives PROB 11/547/86
Date of document: 1 Nov 1714
Author: Elizabeth Roland
Location: Morden, Surrey, England

[In margin] T[esta]m[ent] Eliza Roland
1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Elizabeth Roland of Moredon in the County of Surrey widow
3    Being aged and infirm in Body but of sound and perfect
4    Mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament
5    In manner following Imprimis I commend my soul into the
6    Hands of allmighty God that gave it being hoping assuredly
7    Through his mercys and the precious merits of my blessed
8    Saviour and Redemer Christ Jesus hereafter to be made
9    Partaker of Everlasting Life my Body I committ to the
10    Earth from whence it came to be buried in Moredon Church
11    As near my late husband as possible And as touching my
12    Worldly Estate I give devise and dispose thereof in manner
13    Following That is to say I give and devise to my loving
14    Freinds Peter Batt of Moredon aforesaid Yeoman and John
15    Mason Citizen and Mercer of London and the survivor of
16    Them the summe of four hundred and fifty pounds of
17    Lawfull Money of Great Britain which is out at Interest
18    Upon diverse Securities nevertheless upon this speciall Trust and
19    Confidence that they the said Peter Batt and John Mason and
20    The Survivor of them do so soon after my decease as conveniently
21    They can lay out the said summe of four hundred and fifty
22    Pounds in the purchase of Lands and Tenements to that value
23    Within Thirty miles of London and to settle the same Lands to
24    The use of my Grandaughter Elizabeth Elliott daughter of my
25    Son in law Bartholomew Elliott of Wallington Yeoman and
26    The heirs of her body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and
27    my Will and meaning is that the Rents and profits of the said
28    ERstate to be purchased as aforesaid during the Minority of
29    my said Grandaughter Shall go and be paid to my daughter
30    Elizabeth Elliott her Mother towards the Maintenance and
31    Education of my said Grandaughter And in case my said
32    Grandaughter Elizabeth shall happen to dye under Age and
33    without issue then I give and devise the said intended purchased
34    Lands and Tenements to the next Child or Children of my said
35    daughter Elizabeth and the heires of their Bodys lawfully begotten
36    in equall Succession as they are in priority of Birth and Seniority
37    of Age And in case of their deaths then I will and devise the
38    Said Lands to my Said Son in Law Bartholomew Elliott and
39    Elizabeth his Wife for the Term of their Lives and the Life of the
40    longer liver of them And after their decease then to the right
41    heires of my said daughter Elizabeth for Ever and to no other
42    use intent or purpose whatsoever And my further will and
43    Meaning is that what charges and expences my said Trustees
44    or the Survivor of them shall be put unto in purchasing of the
45    said Lands and in the Execution of this their Trust they shall
46    deduct and detain to their own use out of such Moneys as shall
47    come to their hands Item I give to the poor of Morden Forty
48    Shillings to be paid at my Funerall by my Executrix hereafter
49    named Lastly All the rest and residue of my Goods Chattles
50    ready Moneys Plate and household stuff and personal Estate
51    whatsoever that are in my disposal and not herein before by
52    me disposed of I give and bequeath to my said daughter
53    Elizabeth Elliott desiring her to pay and defray thereout all my
54    just debts and Funeral charges And I do hereby nominate and
55    appoint my said daughter Elizabeth Sole Executrix of this my
56    Last Will and Testament Revoking all other Wills by me formerly
57    made and declare this my last Will In Witness whereof I have
58    to this my last Will and Testament contained in these severall
59    sheets of paper put my hand and Seal to each Sheet of paper
60    this First day of November in the year of our Lord Christ
61    One thousand Seven hundred and Fourteen I Elizabeth Roland
62    her mark Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said
63    Elizabeth Roland to be her last Will and Testament and
64    attested and subscribed in her presence by us Geo: Knapp Wm
65    Batts Stephen Savery


However they both mention their neighbour Mr Peter Batt as being their good friend. I am left to think that these are the wills of the husband John and the wife Elizabeth and she has outlived him by more than a decade.

This is added to the story of Matthew Hemsley mostly to remind me of my cousin's thoughts and the small amount of work that I did do at the time when we were writing back and forth looking at this Hemsley line.

Ancestry of Matthew Hemsley

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
3. Ellen Rosina BULLER (b 20 May 1886) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
4. Edwin Denner BULLER (b 8 Apr 1850) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
5. Henry Christopher BULLER (b 30 Jan 1805)- St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England
6. Mary BEARD (b 15 Decd 1767) - St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England
7. Elizabeth HEMSLEY (b possibly 16 Oct 1742) - St Mary Newington Surrey England
possibly
8. Matthew HEMSLEY


It was interesting looking at Matthew once again and I now have in my mind a clearer picture of my cousin's thoughts with regard to Matthew and possibly John as being the father and grandfather of Elizabeth. There was a John Hemsley buried at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey who had been living at Grange Road that I found earlier so will have another look at the Burial Register. I found a burial for John Hemsley 28 Nov 1781 again Grange Roade. He was 58 years of age. Since Elizabeth was only 38 I do not think that they are related as Matthew is more likely to be the father of Elizabeth and John not old enough to be her grandfather. I did not find a John Hemsley as a brother to Elizabeth but rather a George. Plus at 58 years his likely year of birth would be 1723

I found a James Beard 16 months old buried 12 Aug 1781 so am left to wonder if this was another son for Henry Beard and Elizabeth Hemsley. Elizabeth was buried 22 Jul 1781 and the last child I have for this couple was Sarah born 23 Feb 1777 and baptized 2 Mar 1777. His birth would have been February 1780 so will have another look at the baptismal register another time.

It does rather seem like I am undoing some of the research but I think I am seeing it more clearly five years later and can see where I need to do some work now that more records are online. I can perhaps solve the mystery of the Beard/Hemsley families back another generation from Henry Beard and Elizabeth Hemsley.

Henry Beard (1741 - 1795)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 18

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

It does seem appropriate to do Henry Beard next because I just referred to him in last weeks 52 Ancestor Challenge.Finding Henry Beard was thanks to my cousin Robin Beard. An email out of the blue identified Christy and Mary Buller as being mentioned in the will of Henry Beard with Mary being his daughter. What a marvelous gift as I had not at that time identified the surname of Christopher Buller's wife. That was back in 2008 and since then we have put together an interesting tree for Henry Beard both ancestral and descendant.

Henry Beard left his will dated  16 Sep 1795 and it was probated 23 Jan 1796. His burial record states that he died at Lion Court, Parish St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey and was buried 1 Nov 1795 in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalen. We visited the Church and graveyard in 2010. It is a beautiful quiet grassy area in behind the Church. We spent a little time there but the exact location of the burial place for Henry and his first wife Elizabeth Hemsley is unknown to me at this time. According to his burial record his year of birth was circa 1741. I have not yet been able to find a baptism/birth for Henry Beard that would fit into this particular year. His will reads as follows:

Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1270/251

[In margin] Henry Beard
1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Henry Beard of Bermondsey Street in the parish of
3    Saint Mary Magdalen Southwark in the County of Surr[e]y
4    Tanner being weak in body but of sound and disposing
5    Mind Memory and understanding do make publish and declare
6    this my last will and Testament in manner and form
7    following first I recommend my Soul into the hands of
8    Almighty God who gave it and my body I commit to the
9    earth to be decently and frugally interred at the discretion
10    of my Executors herein after named and to all my worldly
11    Estate whatsoever and where so ever where with it may
12    please God to bless me being all personal I give devise
13    and bequeath the same after payment of my funeral
14    expences the expence of proving this my will and all
15    my just debt as herein after is mentioned (that is to say)
16    I Give unto my Dear Wife Jane Beard the use of the
17    whole of my household Goods plate linen China furniture
18    and utensils what soever which shall be in my
19    dwelling house at the time of my death To hold use
20    occupy and possess the same during her life and from
21    and immediately after her death I direct that the
22    same be disposed of by my Executors herein after
23    named for the most money that can be reasonably
24    gotten for the same and that the produce thereof be
25    equally divided between my three daughters Mary
26    Buller the wife of Christy Buller Elizabeth Beard and
27    Sarah Beard share and share alike and in case any
28    one or more of my said Children shall die in the life
29    time of my said Wife Jane Beard then I direct
30    that the money arising from such disposal of my
31    said household Goods plate linen China furniture and
32    utensils be equally divided between such of them as
33    shall be living at the time of her decease to and
34    for their own sole and separate use and benefit and
35    I also Give and bequeath unto my said Wife Jane
36    Beard and to my said daughters Mary Buller the wife
37    of Christy Buller Elizabeth Beard and Sarah Beard the sum
38    of five Guineas each for mourning and I Give unto
39    Thomas Rippon of Bermondsey new road in the parish
40    of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of Surrey afores[ai]d
41    Gentleman and Joseph Freeman of Grange Walk in the parish
42    of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of Surrey aforesaid
43    Leather factors my Executors herein after named the sum of
44    ten pounds each for the trouble they may have in
45    the execution of this my will and in the performing the
    [Page 2]
46    Trusts hereby in them reposed and all the rest
47    residue and remainder of my Goods Chattells Stock in
48    Trade book debts Estate and effects of what nature or kind
49    Soever not herein before given or bequeathed I give
50    and bequeath unto the said Thomas Rippon and
51    Joseph Freeman (To hold to them the said Thomas Rippon and Joseph Freeman) their Executors Administrators and assigns
52    upon this Special Trust and confidence nevertheless (that is to say)
53    that they said Thomas Rippon and Joseph Freeman these
54    Executors or Administrators do and shall as soon as
55    convenient after my death sell and dispose thereof and
56    call in and receive all such debts sum and sums of
57    money as shall be due and owing to me at the
58    time of my decease either from my partnership made
59    with George Dade of Bermondsey Street in the parish
60    of Saint Mary Magdalen in the County of Surrey
61    aforesaid Tanner or from any other person or persons
62    whom soever and place the monies arising by such
63    sale or disposal and the monies so to be called in
64    and received upon government or other good and
65    sufficient security in their own interest and in such
66    interests as they shall think proper and also with
67    Trust that they do and shall receive the Interest
68    and Dividends thereof from time to time as the
69    same shall become payable and pay the same unto
70    my said dear Wife Jane Beard for and during the
71    term of her natural life provided she does not
72    intermarry with any other husband after my decease
73    and from and immediately after the decease to pay
74    assign transfer and convey all and every such said
74    and sums of money so to be placed out and
76    invested by the said Thomas Rippon and Joseph
77    Freeman upon Government or other good security or
78    securities unto and amongst my said daughters Mary
79    Buller the wife of Christy Buller Elizabeth Beard
80    and Sarah Beard share and share alike to and for
81    their own use and benefit and in case any or
82    other of my said daughters shall depart this life
83    in the life time of my said wife Jane Beard
84    then in Trust to pay assign transfer and receive
85    the part or share of such deceased child or
86    children unto such other or others of my said children
87    as shall be living at the time of the decease
88    of my said wife Jane Beard in equal proportion
89    but that if my said Wife Jane Beard shall marry
90    any husband in future then the Trust to pay assign
91    transfer and convey one fourth part of the money
92    So to be placed out upon Government or other
93    Securities unto my said Wife Jane Beard to and
94    for her own sole use and benefit and also In
95    Trust to pay assign transfer and convey the remaining
96    three fourth parts or shares of the said moneys
    to be placed out as aforesaid unto and among
97    [Page 3]
98    My said three daughters Mary Buller the wife of Christy
99    Buller Elizabeth Beard and Sarah Beard in equal shares
100    and proportions to and for their own use and
101    benefit and in case any or other of my said dau[ghte]rs
102    shall happen to die in the life time of my said
103    wife Jane Beard leaving issue of her or their body
104    or bodies lawfully begotten then In Trust to pay
105    assign transfer and convey the part or share of
106    such deceased child or children unto such her and their
107    issue share and share alike (if more than one)
108    when and so soon as they shall severally and respectively
109    attain their several and respective ages of twenty
110    one years and to pay and apply the Interest dividends
111    and produce thereof in the mean time for and
112    towards their respective maintenance and education
113    but in case one or more of my said daughters
114    shall happen to die without leaving issue of her or
115    their bodies lawfully begotten then the Trust to pay
116    assign transfer and convey the part of share of such
117    deceased child or children unto such other child or
118    Children as shall be living at the time of the dece[ase]
119    of my said Wife Jane Beard and I do hereby
120    empower and direct my said Trustees to pay assign
121    transfer and convey the same accordingly and I do
122    authorize and empower my said Trustees from time to
123    time as often as they shall think proper to alter and
124    change the securities or which the said residue of
125    my Estate and effects shall hereafter be placed out
126    and from time to time as often as they shall
127    think fit again to place the same upon Government
128    or such other good and sufficient security or securities
129    as they shall think proper and I do thereby
130    authorize and empower my said Trustees to apply
131    the respective part or share of any or other of my
132    said Children who shall so happen to die in the life
133    time of my said wife Jane Beard leaving
134    issue lawfully begotten for putting any or other of them
135    out to Business or any suitable employ or for setting
136    him her or them up in Business or advancing him
137    her or them respectively in any employ or otherwise
138    or his heires their  administrators ______ advancement if this would by marriage otherwise
139    ^ how soever any thing in this my will contained to
140    the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
141    and it is my Will and meaning that my said
142    Trustees or other of them shall not be liable to
143    answer or make good any loss of losses that shall
144    or may happen to the aforesaid residue of my
145    Estate and effects in placing out the trust monies
146    according to the directions in this my will or in the
147    transacting any money affairs or otherwise relating to
148    or concerning the execution of the Trusts mentioned
149    in this my will unless the same shall appear to
150    happen by or through their or other of their
    [Page 4]
151    wilful neglect or default nor shall either of them my
152    said Trustees be answerable or accountable for the
153    acts deeds receipts or disbursements of the other of them
154    but each of them shall be answerable only for his
155    own separate acts deeds receipts and disbursements and
156    I do hereby direct that my said Trustees shall and
157    may pay and reimburse themselves and himself out of
158    the aforesaid residue of my Estate and effects all
159    reasonable and necessary costs charges and expences
160    what soever that they or either of them shall or
161    may bear pay be put into or sustain in or about
162    the creation of this my Will or the trusts hereby in
163    them reposed and Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute
164    and appoint my said Trustees the said Thomas Rippon
165    and Joseph Freeman Executors of this my last Will and
166    Testament and do hereby revoke and make void all former
167    and other will and wills by me at any time hereto
168    fore made and do declare this to be my last will and
169    Testament In witness whereof I the said Henry Beard
170    the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
171    contained in three sheets of paper set my mark and
172    Seal (that is to say) to the first two sheets thereof
173    my mark and to this third and last sheet my
174    mark and Seal this sixteenth day of September in
175    the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
176    and ninety five [The mark] + [of Henry Beard] [Seal] Signed
177    Sealed published and declared by the said Henry Beard
178    the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in
179    the presence of us who in his presence at his
180    request and in the presence of each other have
181    there unto subscribed our marks as witnesses [signed] James
182    Hopton [signed] Jno Rippon
183    This Will was proved at London the twenty
184    Third day of January in the year of our Lord One
185    Thousand seven hundred and ninety six before the w[or]shipful
186    Thomas Champion Crespigny Doctor of Laws Surrogate of
187    the Right Hon[oura]ble Sir William Wynne Knight also Doctor of
188    Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Perogative Court
189    of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oathes of Thomas
190    Rippon and Joseph Freeman the Executors named in the
191    said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and
192    singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased
193    having been first Sworn duly to administer.



The Burial Registers at St Mary Magdalen also have a rather interesting entry 1 Apr 1797 for Ann Margaret Beard who died living at Grange Road in Bermondsey.  Going back in time Elizabeth Hemsley, the first wife of Henry, died while living at Grange Road in Bermondsey. She was buried 22 Jul 1781 (St Mary Magdalen). More on Elizabeth later but would mention that she was baptized November 1742 at St Mary Newington, Southwark, Surrey.


Today searching I have found a marriage for Henry Board/Beard and Margaret Cope 18 Jul 1744 at St Mary Newington, Southwark. Henry's date of birth has been estimated on the burial record as 1741 and I am thinking that likely Henry is not a son of this couple but there are a number of Beard families who live at Grange Road through the 1700s into the 1900s. This is my cousin Robin's line. Henry Beard (mistranscription by Ancestry has Board) was likely baptized 28 Apr 1712 at St Mary Magdalen and born 14 Apr 1712 son of Edward and Ann Beard. I need to find another Beard line that fits into my line. Finding this marriage does rather change the earlier ancestry that we had worked out for the Beard family.



I will leave Richard Beard who left his will in 1823  naming his children as Joseph George (born 29 Sep 1804 and baptized 4 Nov 1804 at St Saviour, Southwark), William John, Ann Elizabeth (born 30 May 1807 and baptized 30 Aug 1807 at St Saviour, Southwark daughter of Richard and Ann) and James Charles attached to the family of Henry Beard and Ann Margaret Cope. But not a daughter Sarah who married Thomas Charlton 9 Apr 1757 at St Mary Magdalen, I have unattached her and left her as a sister to Henry since he named a daughter Sarah. I will leave Edward attached to the family of Henry Beard and Ann Margaret Cope as well.



Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1674/76
Date of document: 9 Jan 1823, probated 23 Aug 1823

[In margin] Richard Beard
1    This is the last Will and Testament of me
2    Richard Beard in the parish of Bermondsey in the County of
3    Surrey I give devise and bequeath all my property and Effects whatsoever
4    And wheresoever ^unto my wife on condition that she pay unto my Son George one
5    shilling and further after the decease of my wife that my son Joseph
6    George have and enjoy all gains profits and Issues arising from the
7    Business on proviso that he pay to my daughter Ann Elizabeth three
8    long as she remain unmarried twenty five percent out of the said gains
9    profits and Issues and after her Marriage ten per Cent only and moreover
10    at the decease of my wife that all Estates main. and Stock in Trade and
11    Household furniture be valued and equally divided among my then
12    surviving children I do hereby appoint my sons George and James
13    Charles Executors to this my last Will and Testament and So declared
14    that neither them nor my Son William John shall at any time

15    during the life of my wife or after her death be employed in my Baking
16    Business In Witness whereof I the said Richard Beard the Testator
17    have to this my last Will and Testament at my hand and Seal this
18    9th day of January in the year of our Lord 1823 Richard Beard [Seal]
19    Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Richard
20    Beard the Testator and for his last Will and Testament in presence of
21    us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have
22    Subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto William James William
23    Rendle William Thomas
24    Proved at London 23 Aug[us]t 1823 before the Worshipful Charles Cook
25    Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of George Beard and James
26    Charles Beard the Sons the Executors to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted
27    having been first sworn duly to administer.

Parents of Henry and Sarah possibilities:


Henry baptized in 1712 had parents Edward and Ann.

Also baptized at St Mary Magdalen children of Edward and Ann:


Joseph baptized 8 Jan 1698

William baptized 23 Feb 1700

Solomon baptized 16 Nov 1702

Jeremiah baptized 2 Mar 1703

Abraham baptized 6 Oct 1706

Sarah baptized 12 Dec 1708

Henry baptized 28 Apr 1712


I did not find a marriage for this couple at St Mary Magdalen searching but will eventually look at the Parish Registers. Lots of possibilities as a father for Henry and arbitrarily choosing Henry as the father of Richard and Edward may be premature so will put that into the possibility column.


I now find that the ancestry of my Henry Beard is unknown and can not find a baptism for him. He was a tanner by trade as mentioned in his will. Perhaps I can find an apprenticeship for him. This was not successful at this time but I believe our next visit to LMA will have a few lookups!


The will of Henry's second wife Jane Blakely.



Source: The National Archives PROB 11/1652/24
Date of document:  1 May 1817, probated 5 Jan 1822
Author: Jane Beard, relict of Henry Beard
Relationship: stepmother of Mary Beard Buller (3x great grandmother)
Location: Crosby Row King Street, Southwark, London, England

[In margin] Jane Beard 13
1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Jane Beard of Crosby row King Street Southwark in the County of Surry Widow
3    do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to
4    say I direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expences be in the
5    first place fully paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named and after payment
6    and satisfaction thereof I give and bequeath unto my daughter in law Sarah Denner
7    now the Wife of Michael Jacob Denner of the Isle of Dogs Gentleman the sum of twenty
8    pounds to my cousin William Cooper five guineas to Christy Buller of Long Lane in
9    the Borough of Southwark aforesaid Slopcutter the sum of ten pounds to the Reverend
10    Doctor John Rippon of the Grange road Bermondsey Thomas Rippon of the Bank of
11    England Gentleman and the said Michael Jacob Denner a mourning ring each which
12    said several legacies I direct to be paid by my Executors as soon as conveniently
13    may be after my decease and as for and concerning all the rest residue and
14    remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature
15    kind or quality soever which I now and or shall at the time of my decease
16    be possessed of interested in or entitled unto I direct that my Executors herein
17    after named shall convert the same into ready money immediately after my decease
18    and as to one equal third part of share thereof I give and bequeath the same
19    to the said Thomas Rippon and Michael Jacob Denner their Executors Admi[nistrat]ors and
20    assigns upon trust they they or the survivor of them and the Executors and Adm[inistrato]rs
21    of such survivor do and shall lay out and invest the same in this or their names
22    or name in the purchase of stock in the Bank of England and do and shall stand
23    possessed of such stocks together with the dividends and interest to arise therefrom
24    as and when the same shall become payable and which said dividends and interest
25    Interest I do hereby direct shall be by them from time to time added to and
26    become part of the principal of the said stock upon trust to pay and divide
27    the said stock and securities and the dividends and interest thereof between and
28    amongst all the every the children of my late daughter in law Mary Buller
29    deceased as and when they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years
30    and in the meantime to suffer the dividends and interests upon their respective
31    shares to accumulate by the way of compound interest for their respective benefits
32    and in case of the death of any or either of the children of my said daughter
33    in law Mary Buller before they shall attain the age of twenty one years then
34    I do hereby direct that the share of such child or children so dying together
35    with all accumulations thereof shall go to and be divided equally amongst the
36    survivors of them if more then one and if but one then to such only child and
37    in case they shall all die in my lifetime or before they shall respectively attain
38    the age of twenty one years then I give and bequeath the said stock and securities
39    and the accumulations thereof unto my daughters in law Elizabeth Millin Widow
40    and the said Sarah Denner their heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns and
41    as to one other full equal third part of share thereof I give and bequeath the
42    same unto my daughter in law the said Elizabeth Millin her heirs Executors
43    Administrators and assigns to and for the and their own use and benefit and as
44    as to the remaining equal third part or share thereof I give and bequeath the
45    same
    [Page 2]
46    same unto my daughter in law the said Sarah Denner her heirs Executors
47    Administrators and assigns to and for her and their own use and benefit and I
48    do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Thomas Rippon and Michael
49    Jacob Denner Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do revoke all
50    former wills by me at any time heretofore made In witness whereof I the said
51    Jane Beard the Testatrix have to this my last Will and Testament contained
52    in one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the first day of May in the year
53    of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen Jane Beard [Seal] Signed
54    Sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Jane Beard as and for the
55    last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence in the presence
56    of each other and at her request have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto
57    David Hudson No 40 Crosby row Sarah Hudson same place Josh Hudson
58    same place
59    This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me
60    Jane Beard of Crosby row King Street Southwark in the County of Surry Widow
61    whereas in my will after given certain specific and perminary legacies I have
62    directed that the residue of all my estate and effects of what nature or kind soever
63    and wheresoever which I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease be
64    converted into ready money as soon as conveiently may be after my decease
65    for the purposes therein mentioned now it is my will and mind and I do hereby
66    direct that all my wearing apparel which I shall be possessed of at the time
67    of my decease be not converted into money but shall be divided between my two
68    daughters in law elizabeth Millin Widow and Sarah Denner now the wife of
69    Michael Jacob Denner of the Isle of Dogs Gentleman and my will and mind is
70    and I do hereby desire to be buried in Burnhill Fields burying ground in the
71    City Road London and in all other respects I do hereby confirm my said will In
72    Witness whereof I the said Jane Beard have to this Codicil to my last Will and
73    Testament set my hand and affixed my seal this seventh day of May in the year
74    of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen Jane Beard [Seal] Signed
74    Sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Jane Beard as and for a
76    Codicil to her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence
77    at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our
78    Names as witnesses David Hudson Sarah Hudson same place Josh Hudson
79    same place
80    [In margin] Proved at London 5th January 1822 before the Worshipful Samuel Rusle
81    Moyrel Doctor of Laws Surrogate by the oath of Michael Jacob Denner
82    one of the Executors to whom administration was granted
83    Having been first sworn duly to administer
84    Power reserved to Thomas Rippon the other Executor

An interesting set of wills with Jane's obviously being that of the widow of Henry Beard my 4x great grandfather. Both Elizabeth's and Sarah's marriages are known to me. As Jane mentions in her will, Mary Buller is now deceased at the time of writing her will.

Discovering more about Henry would be interesting and perhaps our visit to LMA may be fruitful.

Ancestry of Henry Beard

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
3. Ellen Rosina BULLER (b 20 May 1886) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
4. Edwin Denner BULLER (b 8 Apr 1850) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
5. Henry Christopher BULLER (b 30 Jan 1805)- St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England
6. Mary BEARD (b 15 Dec 1767) - St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England
7. Henry BEARD (buried 1 Nov 1795) - St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey Surrey England

Unknown Buller (circa 1730s? - )

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 17

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

I decided to follow a new path today looking at one of my 4x great grandfathers. I know quite a bit about his son Christopher Buller or Christy Buller as he was often times referred to in various documents. Christopher was possibly born in London or Greater London but even that detail is hidden to me. I have two burial records for Christopher Buller with one at St Olave Bermondsey and the other at Saint Mary Magdalene Woolwich and both in a reasonable time period to be my 3x great grandfather.

The first Christopher Buller died May 1832 at the Workhouse Infirmary in Bermondsey. This is not particularly unusual as there were hospitals in the Workhouses that people in the community used. I am not sure where he lived his last days but he is identified in the will of his step mother in law as living on Long Lane in Bermondsey in 1817. In this burial record for Christopher it states that he was 69 years of age when he died and the burial was 13 May 1832 giving him a possible birth year of 1763.

The second burial record for Christopher Buller is at Bromley 23 Nov 1839 and his age is listed as 82 in the burial record at St Peter and St Paul Woolwich. I have the death certificate for this Christopher Buller and it states that he was 81 years of age and a decayed gentleman. It is possible that this certificate pertains to the Christopher Buller married to a Jane (unknown) with sons Thomas Christopher and John Christopher. The baptisms for these two children were at Woolwich which is in Kent where the Christopher Buller who died in 1839 was buried. Thomas Christopher Buller was baptized 25 Sep 1814 at Saint Mary Magdalene Woolwich (birth Charles Street, Bermondsey)  and John Christopher Buller was born Jun 1819 at Woolwich and buried 21 Jul 1819 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich. I believe I have separated out these two burials and the second burial at Bromley is not my Christopher Buller since mine is living on Long Lane in Bermondsey in this time period.

In 1832, my Christopher Buller's only living son was a Pork Butcher with a shop in Covent Garden and his home was there as well. Henry Christopher Buller, my 2x great grandfather, inherited a sufficient amount when his step grandmother died to set up shop in Covent Garden it would appear (or his wife's father set him up). Henry married twice and his first wife was Sophia Scrooby daughter of George Scrooby and Mary Bullock who married 24 Jun 1798 at Saint Luke Chelsea.  Jane (Blakely) Beard step mother of his mother Mary (Beard) Buller was buried 13 Jan 1819 at St Saviour Southward and she died at Crosby Row King Street Southwark. She had married Henry Beard, widower, 8 Feb 1785 at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey. My 3x great grandmother Mary was 18 years of age at the time and her youngest sister Sarah was eight years of age. Her mother had been dead for about three and a half years at that time (Elizabeth (Hemsley) Buller). As mentioned earlier, in her will Jane mentions that Christy Buller is living on Long Lane in the Borough. We walked the length of Long Lane when we visited Bermondsey a couple of years ago. This area was heavily bombed and other than St Mary Magdalen Church there doesn't appear to be many buildings left from the 1800s. At the time of her death Henry Christopher Buller would have been 14 years of age. At that time he had three sisters living Martha Sarah who married George Caswell 29 Oct 1831, Elizabeth Jane who married Edward Churchyard 31 Oct 1827 and Emma Hemsley who married Isaac Debnan in 1827 at the Independent Church and 2 Jan 1840 at Saint Dunstan. Their forenames may or may not be helpful in my pursuit of the parents of Christopher Buller. Elizabeth Jane's are the forenames of the two wives of Henry Beard. Obviously the forename Henry comes from Henry Beard and Christopher from Henry's father. A brother who died was named Robert Hemsley/Hucksley and could this be Mary's mother's father? Emma Hemsley carries the surname of Henry Beard's first wife Elizabeth Hemsley but the Emma is a mystery. Martha Sarah I have not yet determined but could they be the forename(s) of Christopher's mother/grandmother etc? Looking for a Buller marrying a Martha or a Sarah has not yet been productive. But I shall try again as one of the points of doing the 52 ancestor Challenge is to look once again at these particular individuals to see if anything new has appeared in the records.

I did find an interesting transcription from Boyd's marriage index that I probably saw in Origins when I subscribed a number of years ago but was not then aware that Christopher had married Mary Beard. It is the marriage in 1794 of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard (her name was Mary but rather interesting). The marriage at All  Hallows Barking. I shall have a look at their records if they are available on line. They are not available on line at Ancestry so have written to London Metropolitan Archives to see if I can get a copy of that record. I know Christopher and Mary were married by September 1795 because they are mentioned in the will of Henry Beard. Their first child Elizabeth Jane was born 13 Feb 1796 while they were living on St Thomas St in Bermondsey by 1 Dec 1797 when she died they were living on Charles Street in Bermondsey. One can note that I mentioned earlier that Thomas Christopher Buller was born on Charles Street Bermondsey. This is somewhat of a confusion but I think I have successfully separated out the two Christopher Bullers. It is perhaps just a coincidence that they lived on the same street but 16 years apart. Since I know the age of both of these Christopher Bullers in as much as one can know the ages my Christopher Buller was born circa 1763 and the other Christopher Buller buried at Bromley was born circa 1758. They are not likely brothers but they could be cousins and more on that later. The next child born was Martha Sarah and she was born 16 Aug 1797 St Thomas St. The third child Elizabeth Jane once again was born 26 Apr 1799 St Thomas St. Emma Hemsley was born 21 Jul 1800 but no address given. Henry Christy Buller was born 16 Oct 1803 Tooley Street but died mid November 1803 no street adress given. Then the birth of my 2x great grandfather Henry Christopher Buller 30 Jan 1805 on Bermondsey Street. The last child of this couple was Robert Hemsley/Huxsley Buller born 6 Nov 1806 and no address given. He died mid October 1807. His mother died shortly after his birth and was buried at St Olave Bermondsey and Robert was buried 18 Oct 1807 also at St Olave. Christopher husband and father was buried 13 May 1832 also at St Olave Bermondsey. These graves would have all been moved to Bunhill because this grave yard was closed and moved during the building of the ramps for the London Bridge.

All Hallows Barking is easily within walking distance of Bermondsey. None of the Beard girls married in their home parish (were all run-away marriages?). I have a glimpse of these Beard girls in the marriages that they made with men who earned their livings and seemed comfortable for the times throughout their lives. They all left descendants with most remaining in England but a few ventured off to Canada, the United States, South Africa and Australia. Until my grandmother arrived in Canada her line had remained in England.

London was always a mix of people. I consider that my Buller family may have had links with Birmingham because Henry appears there by 1837 as a provision dealer and then a restaurant owner on Bull Street. His first wife had died in 1836 in Lambeth, his daughter had died in the Covent Garden area in 1835 so one thinks perhaps they moved to Lambeth for better air. But she too succumbed. Their son George had died as an infant also in the Covent Garden area. Henry continued to have a pork butcher shop in Covent Garden as he and his second wife lived there for about ten years although back and forth between London and Birmingham where Ann's father was also a restaurant owner. They were part of the slowly growing middle class of store owners in that time period. But still Christopher Buller eludes me.

I can not find in the large Buller families in London a Christopher Buller. But I did find at St Olave Bermondsey another Buller family and for the moment my notes escape me. Unfortunately I do not appear to have blogged that information gleaned whilst researching at the London Metropolitan Archives. The registers for St Olave from 1731 to 1778 are not on ancestry. However, I did not find a Christopher Buller in those records. The thought at that time occurred to me that they could have been related - perhaps an uncle to Christopher. When I find my copied records I shall blog them this time!

The other item that comes to mind for this London area family is the many emigrants to London from the Continent particularly in the time of the Georges as Kings of England. Many people came from the Germanic States and particularly in the confectionary industry. Eventually my Henry Christopher Buller also became involved in the confectionary industry. Is that a link that is significant? Add to that my atDNA results which, for me, show a northern continental European component both at Family Search and at Ancestry. Add to that my two siblings matching on the Pincombe line with a known 4th cousin twice as much as I do so leaving one to surmise that I have inherited more of the Buller line. Is that what is showing up for me - a German component? Is my Christopher Buller the son of a German emigrant at least on his mother's side? Christopher is not a common forename in the Buller family.


There are twelve results on Find My Past for a Christopher Buller born between 1723 and 1803. The first record is the burial of Christopher Buller at Bromley, Kent. The second is the Westminster Rate Books in 1786 for a Christopher Buller living at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly. The third is the entry in Boyd's marriage index of the marriage of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard at All Hallows Barking in 1794. The fourth is another listing in the Westminster rate books at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly in 1806. The fifth is a listing in the Westminster rate books again at Cross St South, St James Piccadilly. Numbers six and seven are a repeat of number 5 except Carnaby Street South, St James Piccadilly. Number eight is the death registration for Christopher Buller at Bromley, Kent. Number nine is the marriage of Christopher Buller in 1856 at Clitheroe, Lancashire. Number ten is the marriage of Henry Christopher Buller in 1838 and Ann Welch (my 2x great grandparents) at Kings Norton, Worcestershire. The eleventh is the marriage of John Christopher Buller in 1865 at Bermondsey. The twelfth is the marriage of John Christopher Buller in 1875 at St Olave Southwark.

Am I further ahead with the father of Christopher Buller? Perhaps, an answer from London Metropolitan Archives might just provide me with something to further my research. Finding this item on Boyd's Marriage Index is certainly a step forward in that search. Finding my notes taken at LMA would also be somewhat useful although there wasn't a baptism for a Christopher Buller at St Olave in the time period. Has it crossed my mind that he could be illegitimate? Absolutely but I did not find any Buller lines at St Olave Bermondsey that would have worked to have a Buller female having a child in that time frame (nor at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey where he and his family worshiped). I did not find any illegitimate Buller children born in the London area in this time period yet.

Ancestry of (unknown) Buller

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) - Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
3. Ellen Rosina BULLER (b 20 May 1886) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
4. Edwin Denner BULLER (b 8 Apr 1850) - Birmingham Warwickshire England
5. Henry Christopher BULLER (b 30 Jan 1805)- London City London England
6. Christopher BULLER (b c 1763)
7. Unknown

Tooley Street Fire 1861 lecture at BIFHSGO

A very interesting personal lecture at the BIFHSGO meeting yesterday on the Tooley Street Fire of 1861. Myra Conway put a human face on what would have been a catastrophic event in the lives of many on the southside of the Thames River in Bermondsey in 1861. Although my own families were gone from the Bermondsey area by the early 1830s (my 3x great grandfather died at the hospital there in 1832), I found it fascinating listening to her story of her own family living quite close to the actual conflagration and indeed they survived to appear once again on the 1871 census. Perhaps it is the mention of Tooley Street which most fascinates me. On our first tour bus in London we passed by the intersection of Tooley Street and the London Bridge and back in 2008 I never anticipated that I would come even close to seeing anything in London that would bring me close to my Buller, Beard and Hemsley families. But there the roadsign was staring back at me as we slowly rounded the corner. The pull was so powerful that on our trip in 2010 to London we walked the streets of Bermondsey spending our time walking up and down Tooley Street, Bermondsey Street, Long Lane and others where I knew that my families had lived; where they too had walked. I mentioned in an earlier blog the slate reproductions of the wharf before the fire under the Southwark Bridge (my blog 18 Oct 2011).

Interestingly, my 2x great grandfather still had his pork butcher shop near Covent Garden (Lamb Conduit Way) and I wonder if he too wandered down to look at the burning docks so close to the area where he was born in 1805. Henry Christopher Buller used to commute between his pork butcher shop/restaurant in Birmingham and London on a regular basis between the late 1830s when he first went to Birmingham and 1862 when he died 26 Jun 1862 at Westminster Hospital in London. His story is an example of how life can change so drastically for a family once affluent with servants and then lacking a solid income on the death of the father. The young widow returned to live with her widowed mother bringing her large family with her (11 children).

I have discovered descendants of Henry's older sister still living just south of Bermondsey and an email from my fifth cousin reminds me of my promise to visit on our next trip to London. Edward (my cousin) is 86 years old and doing very well. He is quite fascinated by all the history that I have sent his way and to discover that he lived only a few miles from where his 3x great grandmother was born. I have these huge generation lengths which makes me a 5th cousin to Edward although we differ in age by 22 years.

Kudos to BIFHSGO for a most interesting lecture. An image that Myra displayed quite caught my attention and it was the funeral procession for James Braidwood (Superintendent of the London Fire Brigade) who died when a wall collapsed during the fire on Tooley Street. I was trying to place the location but heavily bombed London in the 1940s changed the look of the area in so many places but yet it remains so much the same which is amazing given the bombing that London endured. I look forward to walking those streets once again as I have learned even more about my London roots which extend back into the late 1600s thus far with my Beard and Roland families who lived in the Bermondsey area continuously from this time forward to the early 1800s.

Missing items in North Molton Parish Registers and Open Files at The National Archives

Still working on the North Molton Parish Registers and up until 1571 baptisms, marriages and burials were all recorded. However, beginning in 1572 only baptisms are recorded and that has continued to the end of 1578 where I now am. There are now 900 baptisms, 144 marriages and 325 burials. One is left to ponder whether North Molton is that very exceptional parish where there are 50% fewer burials than anywhere else. Up to 1571 the baptisms outnumbered the burials 2:1 approximately. A very healthy sign but unusual for the time period.

A few new names in the parish but the names there in the late 1530s continue also in the parish. There is an increase in baptisms from the early register.

The National Archives is offering for the moment downloads of particular microfilm sets (with a suggestion that transcriptions of these items would be welcomed and could be placed on the "Your Archives" website) and this information can be found

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/digital-microfilm.asp

Quoted from the above mentioned website:  "Digital Microfilm allows you to search and download some of The National Archives' most popular records, which were previously available on microfilm. The National Archives has a large collection of microfilmed records, and we hope that making these available online will increase their accessibility. This will ultimately allow the microfilm readers used at The National Archives, Kew to be retired. Many of the records are indexes and we hope that these will be helpful in locating other relevant records.

The Digital Microfilm method of delivery is by using very large pdfs. Each download contains a whole piece, which could be up to 800 pages long. This means that Digital Microfilm is only available to online users with a broadband connection, and to users in the Research and Enquiries Room at The National Archives.

These records have not been indexed and so you will need to scroll through the pdfs, much as you would when using a microfilm. However, we would be more than happy for users to transcribe any of the Digital Microfilm content and post it on Your Archives, The National Archives' online community of records users.

These documents are currently free of charge to download."

The list of items available is fairly lengthy and I was very pleased to find the Wills from the pre Commonwealth period online:

"PROB 10 Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Other Probate Jurisdictions: Bundles of Original Wills and Sentences -These are the Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills for 1643-6 proved at Oxford, for which there are no copies in PROB 11. The wills are pieces PROB 10/639-642."

The four files found there are huge as a warning but should prove to be very interesting in looking at my husband's Royalist ancestors who came to America in the 1630s, 1640s and 1650s. Each file is around 800 pages.

I also downloaded a couple of Indenture files to see if I can discover anything about my London families - Buller, Beard, Hemsley, Roland, Cole.

I have so much transcription and reading to do that purchasing more documents almost seems strange. Nevertheless I have now ordered the Pincombe document that pertains to the lands that were transferred from John Pincombe Merchant South Molton to his son John Pincombe Merchant South Molton in 1605. This father and son died within half of a year or so of each other with the son dying after the father. I am hoping that by the land I might be able to look more closely at this early Pincombe family and separate out lines that do not easily separate out any other way. I was able to purchase the document from the John Rylands University Library at the University of Manchester as two *.tif although must wait until they have time to do the two files for me. I am of course most anxious to see it but I imagine they are busy this time of year with student affairs as the new school year advances.