Smethurst Ancestors

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
RICHARD SMETHURST

Richard Smethurst was born in about 1594 of Bury, Lancashire, the son of Richard Smethurst. He married 1) Alice, then 1) Margaret.

Richard Smethurst, son of Richard Smethurst was mentioned in a history of the townland of Heap in Bury: "Richard his son and heir was twenty-six years of age; (Duchy of Lanc. Inq. p.m. xvii, no. 74). Richard Smethurst contributed to the subsidy of 1622; (Rec. Soc. Lancs, and Ches.), i, 161. These seem to have been the Smethursts of Broad Oak, whose estate was afterwards acquired by the Nuttalls; (Raines MSS. Chet. Lib., xxxi, fol. 272, 273). (British History Online – Heap)

Richard died in 1649, as a yeoman of Broadoak. An administration was created for his estate. It mentioned his wife Margaret and son Richard.

Margaret of Broadoak was buried 3 June 1678 in Bury: "An inventory of her effects at 'ye Brode Oke' showed her property at £20.1s.10d." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm)

Richard and his wives had the following children:

1. Alice, christened 16 March 1617 in Bury; married Bartholomew Stones 1 June 1636 in Bury.

2. Ann, christened 6 November 1625 in Bury; may have died young.

3. Ellen, christened 6 November 1625 in Bury.

4. Richard, christened June 1627 in Bury; married Ann; Richard Smethurst of Broadoak, Heap in Bury died and was buried 19 June 1706, leaving a will.

*5. Anne, christened May 1629 in Bury; married Michaell Bentley.

6. Arthure, christened 3 June 1632 in Bury.

7. Thomas, christened 9 July 1637 in Bury.

8. Samuell, christened 19 June 1639 in Bury.

SOURCES; Bury parish register; findmypast.com; Lancashire Online Parish Clerk Project, https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/; http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
RICHARD SMETHURST

Richard Smethurst was born in about 1570 of Bury, the son of Richard Smethurst.

Richard left a will written 18 February 1617 in Bury.

Will of Richard Smethurst of Bury, 1617

"In the name of God Amen the xviijth daye of February and in the yeare of our Lord God 1617 I Richard Smethurst of the parishe of Bury and countye of Lancaster husbandman being sicke in body and of good and perfecte memorye (and prayse be to allmightye God and knowinge the mutablitie of this transitarye warld and that death is certaine therefore I doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and forme following"

Richard left bequests to his wife and younger children, but did not name them in the will. He did mention his eldest son Richard: "It is my will and mynd that all my goods and chattels and cattle be devyded into three equell partes one for my selfe another for my wyfe another for my children and my part I gyve unto my chealdren except my eldest sonne Thomas is to have none of my parte. It is my will and mynd that should be devyded betweene my wife and my eldest sonne and that my younger children showld have xxd a yeare out of my parte until he accomplishe his age of one and twentye and I doe ordayne and make George Nutall my brother in law my true and lawfull executor as my special trust is in hyme desiring John Hamer and John ___ to be supervisers of this my last will and testamt."

An inventory was created for Richard.

Inventory for Richard Smethurst, 1617

The inventory was taken by Bartholomew Smethurst, Robert Shepard, James Kaye and Roger Bothe. The inventory included farm animals such as "kyne" or cows and a mare, and farm implements such as "whelles chartes and whell timber", a plow and two harnesses, crops such as "corne and barleye", "haye and straye". Item in the house included "pewter and brasse", "befe and baken", a silver spoon, and "his aparell for his bodye". The inventory was valued at just over £68.

Richard and his wife had the following children:

1. Bartlemewe, christened 26 December 1591 in Bury.

2. Arthur, christened 26 December 1591 in Bury.

3. Thomas, christened 20 February 1593/4 in Bury.

*4. Richard, born in about 1594 in Bury; married 1) Alice, 2) Margaret.

5. Ellen, christened 29 January 1597/8 in Bury.

6. Arthur, christened 9 November 1600 in Bury.

7. Robert, christened 20 May 1604 in Bury.

8. Anne, christened 31 May 1607 in Bury.

9. Edmund, christened 11 October 1607 in Bury.

10. Thomas christened 24 December 1609 in Bury.

11. Jane, christened 7 June 1612 in Bury.

12. Ann, christened 14 August 1614 in Bury.

13. Alice, christened 16 March 1616/7 in Bury; married Joseph Stot 18 May 1637 in Bury.

SOURCES; Bury parish register; findmypast.com; Lancashire Online Parish Clerk Project, https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/; http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
RICHARD SMETHURST

Richard Smethurst was born in about 1550 of Bury.

"Richard (yeoman of Broadoke) was mentioned (in 1595) in connection with his tenure of a close called Tacklee (as mentioned earlier, Tack Lee Wood was quite close to Smethurst Hall). He died 5th June 1597, and at his Inquisition Post Mortem it was recorded that he held lands in Bury (Lancs) of the Earl of Derby, and a messuage in Middleton of Queen Elizabeth as her ownership of Stanton Lacy (Salop), and that his son and heir Richard was then age 26." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm)

"Richard Smethurst died 5 June 1597 holding lands in Bury of the Earl of Derby in socage, by a rent of 6½d., also a messuage in Middleton of the queen as of her manor of Stanton Lacy in Shropshire." (British History Online – Heap)

Richard and his wife had the following children:

*1. Richard, born in about 1570 of Bury.

Richard may also be the father of Lawrence Smethurst

SOURCES; Bury parish register; findmypast.com; Lancashire Online Parish Clerk Project, https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/; http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm.

Earlier Smethursts in Bury

"The Smethurst family appear to have had lands in Heap. Lands called Bymonds in Heap were the subject of dispute in 1575." (British History Online - Heap)

"In 1568 Arthur Smethurst the elder made a settlement of an estate in Middleton, Bury and Manchester." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm) " Arthur Smethurst the elder made a settlement of three messuages and lands in Bury, &c., in 1568; Pal. of Lanc. Feet of F. bdle. 30, m. 117." (British History Online - Heap)

"In 1439 a Perpetual Lease refers to a messuage and lands in Middleton, formerly held by Roger Smethurst and Alexander Wyld." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm)

"In 1438 an Article of Agreement refers to lands held by several persons including Roger of Smethurst and Alisander of the Wylde." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm)

"In 1357, Henry son of Robert, who was son of Alice de Smethurst made a successful claim for two messuages, 20 acres of land, etc., in Middleton (Lancs). It was claimed that whilst Robert's elder brother Gilbert had originally granted the land to his lord, Henry de Bury, it had been made under duress as at the time Gilbert had been imprisoned by Henry de Bury." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm)

"In 1285, a Gift relating to Tack Lee Wood (quite close to Smethurst Hall) was witnessed by Adam de Smethurst, and others." (http://mauriceboddy.org.uk/Smethurst.htm)