Author: Sheila Kleiman

Petronell’s Family

• Petronell’s Young Ladies: typical of the time, Petronell – a wealthy, elderly, childless lady – collected a coterie of young ladies to live with her. She had a ready supply of these – the daughters of her four deceased Stickland sisters from Dorset, as well as her late husband’s nieces. In return for companionship and no doubt some duties, Petronell gave them a home and, most importantly, an introduction to Farnham society in order to find husbands!
• Petronell also had nephews aplenty from those same sisters.
• These nephews and nieces form the main beneficiaries of Petronell’s Will.
• To summarize – Petronell’s nephews and nieces were HORSFORD, ABBOTT, FYVENS/VIVIAN and DAWE and through marriage GARY, LEGGE, and MOORE – 7 families in total.

Like to better decipher old writing? Click the button below to a post I wrote on Secretary Hand Script. Keep in mind that the extra ‘e’ added at the end of many words was silent!

Petronell’s Last Will and Testament

On 19 November 1627, Petronell summoned Thomas Chamberlayne, a Farnham attorney, to her Longbridge home as it was time to make her Last Will and Testament. Petronell had never learned to write and Mr. Chamberlayne probably brought a scribe along with his quill pen and inkpot to take down Petronell’s dictation. Once the will was finalized, the attorney sent the document to the Prerogative Court of Canterbury where it was lodged until needed when Petronell died in April 1628. On 14 May 1628, the Will was proved by the Court and administration granted to the Executors. The version of Petronell’s Will available from The National Archives today is the copy of the original in the record books of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Here is the opening paragraph:

Over 60 People Listed in Petronell’s Will! Here are most of them in alphabetical order:

• Robert Baynard’s Children: Petronell described Robert Baynard as her brother-in-law but as she dictated her Will, we cannot be certain of the spelling of ‘Baynard’. Neither her brother, Christopher Stickland, nor her two husbands (Robert Bradbridge and John Byworth) mentioned this man so he remains a mystery. Possibly, Petronell had a third husband! Petronell’s brother-in-law

• Mr Bennett of Fenchurch Street: Lionel Bennet, citizen and glazier of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London, died in 1629 and left a Will. Petronell’s tenant.

• Robert Bicknall or Bicknell, Surgeon of Farnham: died in 1628 and left a Will. The Bicknell family, like the Horsford’s, were cloth makers who had migrated to Farnham from the West Country. Father-in-law of Robert Horsford, Petronell’s nephew

John Bradbridge of Stoke

• Son of John Bradbridge or Brodbridge of Stoke near Guildford, (a relative of Petronell’s husband). John Bradbridge married Jane Chitty in Holy Trinity, Guildford in 1621. Petronell’s bequest: “to my godson John Bradbridge junior £3”. Petronell’s godson

Robert Bradbridge or Brodbridge

• Born in Guildford in 1588 (mother was Margaret Loveland). Listed in the Gray’s Inn, London Admission Register in 1607 as a law student. Married Margaret Mose in Petworth in 1612. Died in Farnham in 1663 and described as ‘gentleman’ in Farnham Parish Register. Petronell’s stepson

Margaret Bradbridge

• Daughter of Robert Bradbridge, Petronell’s stepson. Married Abraham Thornton in Farnham in 1653. Petronell specified that £30 be used by Margaret’s grandfather, Mr Mose, for her benefit until she is 20 or married. Mr Mose: Thomas Mose, Yeoman of Petworth ~ died in 1634. Petronell’s step granddaughter

• John Bridle of Downing Street, Farnham: died in 1652 and left a Will with Thomas Horsford as an overseer. Petronell stated that 8 year old Robert Horsford was to have the Longbridge house but “John Bridle to hold said tenement for 10 years at £3 p.a. rent and John Bridle owes me £6 / 11s and I forgive him it”. Petronell’s tenant. John Bridle Junior: Born in Farnham in 1620; “to my godson John Bridle, £3 at 20 but if he dies, to his 2 brothers”. Young John died just after Petronell made her Will and was survived by his brothers, Philip and Robert Bridle. Another baby born after Petronell died was called John and he became a Barber and Surgeon in Farnham. Petronell’s godson

Alice Byworth of Farnham

• Daughter of Daniel Byworth, the brother of Petronell’s husband. Lived with Petronell in Farnham and married James Holloway 27 October 1627 in Farnham. Died in Farnham in 1646.Petronell gave “to Alice Byworth of Farnham, £5 and £20 more given her by my husband”. Petronell’s niece by marriage

• Martha Byworth: another of Daniel Byworth’s daughters ~ no information found other than Petronell’s Will: “£2 to one of the sisters of said Alice besides the £10 her uncle gave her”.

• Chaffer of West Street: John Chaffer died in Farnham in 1641. Petronell’s tenant.

• Thomas Chamberlayne: Petronell’s attorney; trained at Gray’s Inn, London; named a daughter ‘Petronell’. Witness to Petronell’s Will.

• William Cooe of Farnham: married Agnes Moore in Farnham in 1599; Petronell purchased land from William Cooe. Agnes Cooe was buried in Farnham a few days before Petronell in April 1628.

• Mr John Crabb of Cranley, gentleman: Died in Cranley just a month after Petronell; was a trustee for the money left to Eleanor Moore (nee Vivian).

Edith Dawe’s Children

• Edith Strickland was Petronell’s sister. Married Elizaeus Dawe in Rampisham, Dorset in 1575. Had sons Elizaeus and Christopher Dawe, before dying in 1584. Petronell’s nephews.

• John Eggar: John was a Crondall Yeoman famous for endowing what became Eggar’s Grammar School in Alton. A witness to Petronell’s will.

• Figge: this person is mentioned as being a Longbridge neighbour of Petronell; probably John Figge, a member of the Figge family of clothiers, who died in Farnham in 1648.

Michael Gary of Farnham

• Michael owned a Woollen Draper’s shop in Castle Street. The Gary family of Farnham is relatively well documented with record from 1593 to 1717 (spanning 124 years). Michael married Petronell’s great niece, Elizabeth Moore, in Farnham in 1626. Michael was one of the executors of Petronell’s Will. He died in 1658. Petronell’s great nephew by marriage.

• Elizabeth Gary, his wife: daughter of Oliver Moore and Elizabeth Abbott; born in Guildford in 1606; died, age 69, in Farnham. Petronell’s great niece.

Children of Michael and Elizabeth

• Christopher Gary: Born in 1626. Christopher became a successful Farnham Woollen Draper marrying into the prominent Bicknell family. His income was sufficient to give him a vote in Parliamentary elections. Died in Farnham in 1703. Petronell bequeathed “to Christopher son of Michael Gary, £12 and goods”. Petronell’s great, great nephew

• Michael Gary: Born in Farnham in 1627 and baptized just a month before Petronell wrote her Will. Despite being an infant, he was named by Petronell as one of the 4 children to share the residue of her estate after all other legacies had been paid. Michael was not the eldest so did not inherit the Gary business in Farnham; he moved to London and opened a draper’s shop. He was caught up in the plague that swept through the city and died, age 37 in St Mary Alderbury Parish in 22 September 1665 (Church was destroyed the following year by the Great Fire). His wife had died the previous day along with a still-born child. The Gary’s servant died a week after Michael. Michael and Mary had a son born in 1663. Petronell’s great, great nephew

Robert Horsford of Farnham

• Born in Netherbury, Dorset. Robert moved to Farnham in 1612 when he purchased a property lease from William Legge and opened a drapery business. In 1613, he married Joan from the Farnham family of Bicknell and they named their first daughter Petronell after her godmother. Robert supplemented his income with the growing of hops, one of the earliest to do so in Farnham. Petronell left ‘Byworth’s’ in West Street to Robert “To Robert Horsford Senior of Farnham all my messuage in his own occupation and rooms there and rooms in occupation of old Chaffer and Mrs Moore, buildings, hop poles etc. in West Street, the dye house etc. with its tools”. Petronell’s Will divided what she called her ‘ready money’ into 4 shares and Robert received one of the shares. He died, about age 50, in 1634. Petronell’s nephew

Robert and Joan Horsford’s Children

• Robert Horsford: born in 1621; Petronell named him in her Will as the successor to his father for ‘Byworth’s’ in West Street ~ he sold the property in 1643 and seems to have moved to Dorking. Petronell’s godson and great nephew

• Petronell Horsford: born in 1613; Married Charles Weston and moved to Wisborough Green.Was an advantageous marriage as when Petronell died in 1698 (at the advanced age of 84) she left an estate that warranted a Will (the only Horsford to leave a will).Petronell’s goddaughter and great niece. Ellen Horsford: Daughter of Robert and Joan Horsford born in 1617; and mentioned in Petronell’s will: “£8 p.a. for 6 years to the 3 younger children of said Robert, snr., viz. Petronell, Ellen and John”. Petronell’s niece. John Horsford: Son of Robert and Joan Horsford born in 1622 and mentioned in Petronell’s will: “£8 p.a. for 6 years to the 3 younger children of said Robert, snr., viz. Petronell, Ellen and John”. No further records. Petronell’s great nephew.

Thomas Horsford of Wrecclesham

• Thomas was born in Netherbury, Dorset in 1592, the son of Walter Horsford and Ellen Stickland (Petronell’s sister). He was sent to London at age 14 to be apprenticed to clothier, John Byworth but did not complete his apprenticeship. He settled in Wrecclesham (no doubt with John Byworth’s assistance) after marrying John Byworth’s niece, Elizabeth, in 1611 and is recorded as a Yeoman farmer. Thomas received a 1/4 share of Petronell’s ‘ready money’. Petronell did not mention Thomas’s eldest son, Byworth Horsford, perhaps because he had already inherited 1/2 of the West Street property from John Byworth. Petronell’s nephew

• Note: Thomas Horsford’s had a son he named Robert who was not born until 1629, after Petronell died. It was Robert’s children who continued the Horsford presence in Farnham until the 1670’s.

Elizabeth Horsford ~ formerly Byworth (wife of Thomas Horsford)

• Daughter of Daniel Byworth, niece of Petronell’s husband, John Byworth. Had at least 8 children ~ at least 3 dying young. Named her eldest son Byworth Horsford. Petronell’s Will: “to Elizabeth wife of Thomas Horsford, the bed brought from London lately and other goods” ~ beds were valuable items of furniture. Died in 1667, just three days before her adult son, Robert. Petronell’s niece by marriage

Thomas and Elizabeth Horsford’s Children

• Robert Horsford: born in 1620 and so 7 years old when Petronell wrote in her will and made him her primary heir ~ “Robert, son of Thomas Horsford of Wrecclesham, all my messuage near Longbridge next to a tenement of Fygges and now in possession of John Bridle”. Young Robert died in August 1628 and disposal of the Longbridge house reverted to the Executors. Petronell’s great nephew

• Elizabeth Horsford: born in June 1627 so just before Petronell wrote in her will: “£20 to Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Horsford”. No further records. Petronell’s great niece. John Horsford: born in 1615; Petronell gave “to John, son of Thomas Horsford, a silver salt next the best” and a share in the lease of her London property. No further records. Petronell’s great nephew. Isaac Horsford: born in 1622; “the lease of house in Fenchurch Street in occupation of Mr Bennett to three of my cousin Thomas Horsford of Wrecclesham’s children John, Isaac and Thomas”. No further records.  Petronell’s great nephew. Thomas Horsford: born in 1625 (an earlier Thomas had died); “the lease of house in Fenchurch Street in occupation of Mr Bennett to three of my cousin Thomas Horsford of Wrecclesham’s children John, Isaac and Thomas”. Predeceased his father in 1648. Petronell’s great nephew.

William Horsford of Yelden, Bedfordshire

• We leave the Horsford family of Farnham and move up north Bedfordshire where their brother, William Horsford, had settled as a Yeoman Farmer in Yelden. He founded the Yelden and nearby Swineshead branch of the Horsford family who lived in the area for centuries. Petronell’s nephew

Children of William and Elizabeth Horsford of Yelden

• Walter Horsford: son of William and Elizabeth (nee Ridley); born in Yelden in 1604 and married Agnes Tole. Petronell left £10 in trust to William and Agnes infant twins, William and Ann. Petronell’s great nephew. Ridley, William, Christopher, Ellen and Elizabeth Horsford of Yelden: the other of William Horsford’s children each received £5 from Petronell. Petronell’s great nephews and nieces.

Walter Horsford of Netherbury, Dorset

• Walter was the last Petronell’s Horsford nephews who remained in Dorset as he was the heir of their father, Walter Horsford, who had married Petronell’s sister. Dorset records are rather scanty from this time and the only records found were his birth in 1593, and the births of his daughters Elinor and Sara. Petronell gave the two girls £10 each. A record of Elinor’s marriage in 1634 has survived. Petronell’s great nieces

Walter Legge of Ewshot near Farnham

• Name sometimes spelt ‘Lagge’. Walter’s family had sold Farnham property to Petronell’s nephew back in 1612. Walter married Joan Abbott, Petronell’s niece and by 1627 they had at least 3 children: Petronell, Joan, and Mary. Petronell’s nephew by marriage and her 3 great nieces.

Joan Legge ~ formerly Joan Abbott (wife of Walter Legge)

• Daughter of Petronell’s sister. Joan inherited a gown of significance to Petronell ~ “a loose gown made of cloth of my own making with a petticoat inlaid with black velvet”. Also Petronell’s largest brass pot. Petronell’s niece

• Petronell daughter of Walter Legge: As Petronell’s goddaughter, young Petronell at age 5 inherited a 1/4 share of Petronell’s estate after all the other bequests had been paid (the residue). Petronell’s great niece

George Moore of Farnham

• Born in 1587, George was the oldest son of George Moore of Holy Trinity Parish, Guildford. He married Petronell’s niece Eleanor Fyvens/Fyven/Vivian in Farnham in 1616. The couple settled in Farnham and the baptism records of 4 children exist but after 1626, no further mention of George. Petronell’s nephew by marriage

Eleanor Moore ~ formerly Fyvens (wife of George Moore)

• Eleanor’s uncle, Christopher Strickland, left her an equal share of his estate: “Eleanor Moore alias Abbott” ~ alias meant maiden name. Petronell left her goods and pair of flaxen sheets, as well as 1/4 share of her Petronell’s ‘ready money’ in trust for her benefit to her brother-in-laws, William and Humphrey Vivian (a derivative of Fyvens). ‘Moore’ was a rather common last name so hard to find records. Petronell’s niece

Children of George and Eleanor Moore

• Joan Moore: Born in 1626; Joan was specially favoured by Petronell as she left her “the lands which I late bought in mortgage of William Cooe and his now wife Agnes”. As Joan was only 18 months old when she inherited this property, it is unknown what happened. Petronell’s great niece. Sarah Moore:born in 1622; Petronell left her a silver spoon. Petronell’s great niece. Petronell daughter of George Moore: Born in 1620; received a silver bowl. Petronell’s goddaughter and great niece

• John Moore: Born in 1616; John was a bit of an afterthought in Petronell’s Will: from the income from the lease of her London property, £3 a year was to go to John, son of Robert Horsford “but if John dies, then the money to go to his two sisters and to pay for schooling of John, son of George Moore”. Petronell’s great nephew

Oliver Moore of Guildford

• Born in Guildford in 1582, son of George Moore. The first of Petronell’s young ladies to get married in Farnham was Elizabeth Abbott who married Oliver Moore in 1605. Baptism of 7 children at St Mary’s, Guildford with 3 dying as infants. Petronell’s nephew by marriage

Elizabeth Moore ~ formerly Abbott (wife of Oliver Moore)

• Elizabeth was the daughter of Petronell’s sister and probably born in Dorset. Elizabeth received a 1/4 share of the ‘ready money” with Petronell specifying that “the part of Oliver Moore’s wife to be delivered to Mr John Crabb of Cranleigh, gentleman, and to my kinsman Michael Garye to be used for her benefit … and her husband to have no power over it”. This was a fairly common way of getting around the law at the time that gave a husband access to his wife’s money ~ it did not imply any sinister intent by Oliver Moore! Elizabeth also received a pair of flaxen sheets. Petronell’s niece

Children of Oliver and Elizabeth Moore

• Mary Moore: born in Guildford in 1608 and received £10 and a silver spoon; Thomas and Richard, sons of Oliver Moore: £10 each at age 18. Petronell’s great niece and nephews

John Myles of Guildford

• This family was known to Petronell through her husband Robert Bradbridge of Guildford. The Myles owned a currier business (processed leather after it was tanned). Petronell was godmother to John, baptized at St Mary’s in 1599. “To my godson John Myles son of John of Guildford, £1 and to John the father and his wife £1 each”. Petronell’s godson and his parents

Parkhurst, Widow of London: this is the same mystery woman named in John Byworth’s Will (he called her Joan Parkins); she received a silver and pearl ring from Petronell.

Christopher Stickland of Yelden, Bedfordshire

• I discussed Christopher in my previous post; Petronell left him the cream of the crop of his belongings but it is unlikely her Executors got the chance of packing them all up and sending them by cart to Bedfordshire as Christopher died shortly after Petronell. Her Executors then had the difficult task of deciding what to do with them; probably they sold them and and added the value to the estate’s ‘residue’.

William Vivian ~ Yeoman of Yelden, Bedfordshire

• Petronell used ‘Fyven’ but the Bedfordshire family opted for ‘Vivian’ ~ probably because ‘v’ became a distinct letter in the early 1600’s not just a version of ‘u’. William, Humphrey, and Christopher were the sons of Petronell’s sister Eleanor who had married John Vivian in Dorset ** We have already met their sister Eleanor who married George Moore in Farnham. Like most of Petronell’s family, the Vivians left Dorset ~ William settled in Yelden (same as Christopher Stickland and William Horsford). Petronell made William and his brother Humphrey trustees for their brother Christopher’s young children to whom she had left the of the Fenchurch Street property. William only seems to have one child alive when Petronell made her Will – a son John – and she gave him £5. Petronell’s great nephew by marriage

Humphrey Vivian of Higham Ferrars, Bedfordshire

• Petronell was very well up on her families affairs: “to the children of Humphrey Fyven living at Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, £40, £10 of which to his eldest son and a silver spoon, the other £30 between his other children by his second wife”. Humphrey’s first wife had indeed died in 1615, and he remarried having a second family. Eldest son was Daniel, born in 1611; destined to be Rector of Farndish. Petronell’s great nephew by marriage and his children

Christopher Vivian ~ Clothier of London

• The 3rd of the Vivian brothers opted for the life of a London merchant. Petronell left him £20. Petronell decided to give to 3 of Christopher’s children ~ Isaac, Susanna and Petronell ~ the lease of her Fenchurch Street property when they reached 20 or at marriage (their uncles were to be trustees). For some reason, the eldest son only got a silver spoon! Petronell’s great nephew by marriage and his children

• John Wassal of Farnham: this was Petronell’s steward who ran her household; he was born in Guildford, the son of a ‘spinster’ (a man or woman who spun wool for a living) in 1596. Petronell left him £5. Petronell’s steward

• Bishop of London ~ Dr George Montaigne: “To bishop of London, my silver tankard”

Others:

• to my servants, £1 each
• to my other godchildren, 2s each and any goods left to be awarded by drawing lots, the eldest first

Select Sources

• The National Archives
• Exploring Surrey’s Past
• FindMyPast.org
• Google Books and Images