Richard and Joane had the following children:


1. Mauld, christened 28 December 1546 in Alveston; buried 4 January 1547/8 in Alveston.


2. George, christened 31 March 1547 in Alveston.


3. George, christened 31 January 1548 in Alveston.


4. Margerie, christened 19 March 1548 in Alveston.


*5. Jane (Jone), born in about 1550; married Thomas Pope 6 October 1569 in Banbury; buried 22 December 1611 in Banbury.


6. Elizabeth, christened 5 June 1552 in Alveston; buried 20 May 1566 in Alveston.



Two other entries are found for early Beardesworths:

• William Beardesworth, buried 26 October 1545 in Alveston. Perhaps this was Richard's father?
• Joane Beardesworth, buried 20 December 1547 in Alveston.

"This unusual and interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational surname deriving from the place called "Beardwood" in Lancashire, in North Blackburn. The place is recorded in the "Lancashire Inquests" of 1258 as "Berdewrthe", and as "Berdeworthe" in 1296, in the "Records of the Manors of Henry de Lacy". The name means "Bearda's settlement", derived from the Old English pre 7th Century byname "Beard", a nickname for the wearer of a large or noticeable beard, from "beard", beard, with surnames were acquired by the lord of the manor of the place, and by those former inhabitants of a place who had moved to another area, and were thereafter best identified by the name of their birthplace. The modern surname can be found as Beardwood, Bearward and Beardsworth the latter being the older form from the placename." (www.surnamedb.com)

SOURCES: Alveston parish register; Banbury parish register