Richard Foxall of Stableford, Worfield parish was born in about 1520, most likely the son of William and Ellen Foxall of Farmcote. Richard was found in A List of Families in the Archdeaconry of Stafford 1532-2, with his parents and siblings.

William Foxall, Ellen, uxor eius, Margery, Joyce, Richard, Joan, Elizabeth, Margaret

The list shows William Foxall, Ellen his wife, and their children Margery, Joyce, Richard, Joan, Elizabeth and Margaret. They are listed in the townland of Farmcote "Fornecotte" in the parish of Claverley: "The Paroche off Clareley on Wytsonday". Whit Sunday occurs about seven weeks after Easter and commemorates the day of Pentecost, so the list was created in about May of 1532.

Richard married Agnes in about 1548. His occupation was yeoman or husbandman.

Stableford

Richard was mentioned in the Worfield Court Roll for 1573: "The township presents that Roger Walker assaulted Richard Foxall and drew blood. Richard Foxall assaulted Roger Walker. William Newton assaulted John Foxall." The same year: "William Byllyngsley and Richard Bradney are elected constables and John Rowlowe and Richard Foxall are elected tasters and George Bromley is elected beadle."

Richard was found in the Worfield Court Roll for 1575:

"The township presents that the wife of Richard Marrall attacked Richard Foxall and is in the mercy of the lord.
Richard Marrall attacked John Warter and is in the mercy of the lord.
John Warter attacked the wife of Richard Marrall and is in the mercy of the lord."

Richard was listed as a juror in the Worfield Court Roll of 1575 and 1576. He was also mentioned in a case in 1576: "Chesterton, Stableford - Richard Foxall caused an affray with Margaret Hylle."

Richard also testified in a copyhold case of Frannces Hord, gentleman in 1576: "Whereas it is supposed that the same Francis and Elizabeth his late wife deceased about Easter tyme 1564 made such a surrender as aforesaid out of the court there to John Bradborn a customary tenant by the testimony of Richard Foxall and William Gold also customary tenants there."

Richard died 25 November 1577 in Worfield. He left a will written 29 October 1577, and proven 29 May 1578. The will is torn and ink-stained, but mainly legible.

Will of Richard Foxall of Stableford, 1577

In the name of God Amen, the xxixth day of October Ano Dom 1577, I Richard Foxall of Stableford beinge sicke in bodye but of whole & pfect memorye thanks be to God, make my last will & testament in manor & forme folowynge, first I bequeath my soole to Almyghty God my maker & Redemer & my bodye to be buryed in the hye church of Worfeld. Item, I geve & bequeath to my (daughters) Mary & Elizabeth, ether of them xd to be payd at the day of ___ or the yeres whether they will. I geve to Elenor my daughter ___ & further my will is that John my sonne shall pay her xd within ___after my decease for certen considerations. Item, I geve to Roger & W(illiam) my sonnes ether of them a yerlyinge heyghfer. Item I geve to John my sonne a heyghfer calf & after the decease of my wife I geve to the sayd John my table bord , wayne youkes & shenes. Item I geve to Richard my sonne a heyghfer. Item, I geve to John Ffoxall sonne of Richard Ffoxall the yonger a shepe. Item, I geve to the poore of Worfeld ___of rye to be distributed according to the discretion of my overseers. Item I have geven a surrender of the Lynbutts to Roger & Willm my sonnes for ___ yeres meaning my wife & John my sonne shall pay yerly for it fortye ____. Item, I have geven a surrender of thener yeards to Richard my sonne ___yere paying iijs iiijd by yere. Item, I have geven to John Ffoxall my sonne a surrender of a half yeard with thay monies to him & his heres for ever except the Lynbutts & thener yeardes during the tearmes. Item, all the rest of my goods & cattells movable & unmovable I geve & bequeath to Annes my wife my funeral & detts beynge payd of the whole. Item, my will is if controversy happen my will is it be determined & ended by my overseers. Item, I make my executrix Annes my wife to see this my last will pformed accordynge to the true meanynge & intent thereof. And to be overseers & witneses to the same Humfrey Barney, Clarke, John Brodburn, ___Billingsley & Willm Went.

Dettes owynge unto me:

Imprimis John Rowley of Halam for a quarter of rye

Item, Roger Rowley for wintering a shepe

Item, Roger Rowley for nursing a sayd xx ___

Item, Clarke of Shifnall

Item, Elizabeth Warter ij strike of malt prised

Item, Robert Barret for plowynge

Dettes whiche I owe

Imprimis to John Rowley of Haton unpaid of a yocke of oxen

Item, to Thomas Bache

Item, to John Bruke of Roughton

Item, to Robert Barret

He also left an inventory:

Inventory of Richard Foxall

A inventory of all the goods & cattell of Richard Ffoxall of Stableford late deceased, prised by these men the xxvith daye of November ano dom 1577 – John Brodbearn, Roger Rowley & Willm Billingsley

Imprimis, iij oxon prise   

Item, iij kyne 

Item, iiij smale bease 

Item, on mare   

Item, fortye & iij shepe 

Item, iiij swine  

Item, vi  gese 

Item, viij ducks  

Item, xx henns & a cocke 

Item, corne in the barne

Item, hey

Item, wayne yoaks, shenes, harrowes with all other things belonging to husbandry

Item, his apparel

Item, ij potts, ij pannes & couderns

Item, in pewter & candlesticks

Item, on featherbed, iij flockbeds with all that belong thereunto

Item, all other aperyware

Item, brashe * cobets with all other iron ware

Item, a board & coberd

Item, iiij cofers

Item stands, payles, dishes & trenchers with all other twene ware

Item, malt

Item, hemp & flaxe

In 1577 the lease of Richard Foxall, deceased is mentioned in the Worfield Court Roll: "To this court came John Bradborn attorney for Richard Foxall a customary tenant of this manor now deceased by the testimony of John Warter and William Newton, customary tenants here and surrendered into the hands of the lord one pasture divided into two parts with appurtenances in Stableford called Lymebuttes to the work and use of Roger Foxall and William Foxall brother, sons of the aforesaid Richard Foxall and their assigns from the first day of December last past for a term of 21 years without giving rent to the aforesaid Richard their brother John and their mother Agnes are allowed to occupy the aforesaid." At his death his family had to pay a heriot to the lord of the manor: "The homage present their falls to the lord a heriot by the death of Richard Foxall for a toft and half a virgate of land in Stableford, the best animal, that is of one black cow".

Agnes died as a widow 19 May 1605 in Worfield.

Burial record for Agnes Foxall in Worfield: "The 19 day was buryed Agnesse ffoxall of Stableford widow"

Richard and Agnes had the following children:

1. Richard, born about 1550 in Worfield; married Jease Newton 11 February 1575 in Worfield; buried 4 May 1604 in Worfield. Richard was mentioned in the Worfield Court Roll of 1576: "Stableford - The town presents that John Barber Junior brawled with Richard Foxall Junior. Fine 2s."

2. John, born about 1552 in Worfield; married Alice Haslewood 29 November 1578 in Worfield; buried 13 November 1616 in Worfield. John was mentioned in the Worfield Court Roll, 1578-9 - "To this court came John Foxall of Stableford through Roger Rowley customary tenant of the manor aforesaid his attorney by the testimony of John Haselwood and John Catstrey customary tenants of this manor and surrendered into the hands of the lord half a virgate of land with appurtenances in Stableford to the benefit and use of the aforesaid John Foxall and Alice his wife, a daughter of William Haselwood of Woldington and heirs of their bodies between them legitimately procreated and for default of such issue to remain with the aforesaid John Foxall and his heirs for ever. John and Alice were present in court in their own persons and ask for seisin to which the lord through the steward and by the rod, agrees and by rent, rent and services and by making fealty and paying an ingoing of 10s they are admitted tenants."

3. Eleanor, born about 1554 in Worfield; married Richard Gold 23 July 1582 in Worfield. 

4. Humphrey, born about 1557 in Worfield; buried 20 March 1612 in Worfield.

5. Mary, born about 1559 in Worfield; married Edward Grine 15 February 1583 in Worfield.

*6. Elizabeth, christened 6 December 1562 in Worfield; married Robert Felton 22 March 1592 in Worfield; died 26 February 1640 in Worfield.

7. Roger, christened 9 April 1565 in Worfield; married Jease Felton 2 February 1588 in Worfield.

8. William, christened 2 March 1571 in Worfield; married Jane Bastocke 12 June 1598 in Worfield.

William, an illegitimate son of Richard was found in the parish burial records on 30 April 1563:

From the Worfield parish register: "The 30 day was buried Wm a basse sone of Richard Ffoxall of Stablfort"

SOURCES: www.familysearch.org; extracts of Worfield parish - Foxall of Stableford on sharehistory.org; will of Richard Foxall of Worfield, 1577.