William Farmer was born in about 1550 of Daventry, Northamptonshire,
and was possibly the son of Ralph and Margaret Farmer. Daventry is a
market town about 15 miles northeast of Cropredy. He married Agnes.
The Farmers were a leading family of Daventry: "The members of
this family appear to have taken an active part in the municipal
life of Daventry. In Queen Elizabeth's charter of incorporation to
the borough, dated at Gorhambury, March 26th, 1576, are given the
names of the first Bailiff and of the 14 principal burgesses ;
among the latter we find that William Farmer and Richard
Farmer are enumerated." (Seventeenth Century Tokens of
Northamptonshire)
Daventry
Agnes died and was buried 20 June 1620 in Daventry.
Burial record for Agnes Farmer in Daventry: "Agnes Farmer ux Wm Farmer ____ bur Junij 16"
William died and was buried 27 May 1629 in Daventry.
Burial record for William Farmer in Daventry: "William Ffarmer bur May xxiij"
William left a will written 23 May 1627, and probated 15 October
1629.
Will of William Farmer of Daventry, 1629
May the xxiij Anno Dom 1629
In the name of God Amen I William Farmar of Daventry in
the County of Northampton yeoman do make this my last will and
testament the day and yeare above written in manner and forme
following: first I bequeath my soule to God by whom I hope to be
saved thorough the merits of Christ and my body to the ground to
be buryed at the discretion of my executor hereafter named. Item I
give to my daughter Agnes Smith three shilling foure
pence. [I give} to my daughter Jeyes Sutton twenty
shillings. Item I give to my daughter Mary Allen
ten shillings. Item I give to my sone Roger Farmar twenty
shillings to be bestowed upon him in apparel within halfe a yeere
after my decease. Item I give to William Farmar the sonne of
the aforesaid Roger Farmar ten shillings to be likewise
bestowed upon him in apparel within halfe a yeare after my
decease. Item I give to my daughter Ales Watson twenty
shillings I give to my daughter Ursula Wyat the like
summe of twenty shillings. Item I give to my grandchilde
Elizabeth Smyth three shillings foure pence. Item I give to
my grandchild Jane Farmar the like summe of three shillings
foure pence. I give to my grandchilde Robert Farmar one
shillings: And my will is that all the aforesaid legacies of
moneyes I give to my sonne Richard Farmar whom I make my
sole executor paying my debts dischargining my legacies and seeing
my body decently brought to the ground hereunto have I put to my
hand & seale the day & yeere first above written.
In the psence of these witnesses Richard Mariat John Salter
Mark of William Farmer on his will
William had the following children:
1. Richard
2. Agnes, married Mr. Smith.
3. Joyce, married Mr. Sutton.
4. Mary, christened 28 March 1579 in Daventry; married Mr.
Allen.
5. Roger, christened 20 September 1581 in Daventry.
6. Ales, christened 28 September 1585 in Daventry; married
James Watson 15 November 1608 in Daventry.
7. Ursula, christened 28 September 1585 in Daventry; married
Thomas Wyatt 21 October 1605 in Cropredy, Oxfordshire.
Baptism record for Ursula Farmer in Daventry: "Ursula & Ales
Ffarmer bap: ye xxviij of Sep"
SOURCES: Daventry parish register; www.ancestry.co.uk; will of
William Farmer of Daventry, 1629,
onhttp://www.oocities.org/heartland/fields/1759/volfour/VOL4.47.htm;
R.L. Greenall, The Daventry Tithing Book,
http://www.northamptonshirerecordsociety.org.uk/eBooks/Miscellany/Tithing_Intro.pdf,
.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF RALPH AND MARGARET FARMER
Ralph Farmer is likely William's father. William Farmer's brother
Ralphe left a will in 1606 which mentioned his brother William and
many other family members. The will takes special care to provide
for Ralphe's mother Margaret Andrewes. His father is not mentioned,
and may be deceased.
Will of Radulphi Farmer of Daventry, 1606 In the name of God Amen this eighteenth daye of June in the
yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred and sixe I Ralphe
Farmer in the towne and borowe of Daventry in the
County of Northampton beinge sicke in bodie nevertheless of good
and pfect memorie lawde and praise bee given to God Almightie doe
make appoynte and ordaine this my last will and testament in
manner and forme following that is to said ffirste I bequeath my
soule to God my creator and redeemer and my bodie to the earth
from whence it came to bee buried at the discretion of my
executor. Alsoe I bequeath to Margaret Andrewes my
mother eight poundes a yeare for eight yeeres to bee
paid owt of an anuitie that I have in London for howses that I
have in lease for eighte yeeres. Fonndly I bequeath unto my said
mother in readye mony five poundes alsoe I bequeath to my
brother Richard Andrewes five poundes a yeere for
eighte yeeres which I woud intreate my brother John
Farmerof London to receive yeerethe for my
brother Richardes use to make him a stocke with all when hee shall
come owt of his yeeres this mony to come owt of the aforesaid
Anuite. Alsoe I doe intreate my brother John Farmer of
London to receive more sixe poundes teene shillings a
yeere for eighte yeeres. And to hope that in his hands soe that ys
soe be that it please God that my mother shall live longer than
eight yeeres and remain tenante to live on my will is that shee
shall have maintenance owt of this sixe poundes and tenne
shillings a yeere. And to bee paid her by my brother John Ffarmer
of London. Alsoe I give to my brother Henry Farmer of
Daintrie tenne poundes. Alsoe I bequeath and give to
my sister Marie Judson five poundes. Alsoe I
give and bequeath to my brother William Farmer
five poundes. Alsoe I give unto the poore of the towne of
Daventrie five poundes. Alsoe I give and bequeath to my
brother Richard Farmer one gould ringe price fortye
shillings and my sword and dagger. Alsoe I give to my Aunte
Elizabeth Bret and to her daughter
Elizabeth Brett and to her sonne John
Brett eache of them a gould ringe price ffortie
shillings a peece. Alsoe I give and bequeath to my
brother Henry Farmers wyffe forty shillings. Alsoe I
give to Mr Wight twenty shillings to preach at my burial. Alsoe I
give and bequeath to my brother Henry Farmer
and my brother Judsonn all my apparell they
payeinge to my mother forty shillings for it. Alsoe I intreate
appoynte and ordeine my brother John Ffarmer of London
to bee my full and sole executor of this my last will and
testament. In witness wherof I have set to my hand and sealle the
daye and yeere above written. Alsoe I give to Mr Marriat ten
shilling for a remembrance. Witnesses to this my last will and
testament these psonns hereunder written the make of Henry
Farmer Bayly Richard Farmer Mr
Thomas Marriat minister there Thomas Judson
This will provides these family relationships:
Ralph and Margaret had the following children:
1. Ralphe, born in about 1540, buried 21 June 1606 in
Daventry.
2. Richard, born in about 1542; married Jane Allin 1567 in
Daventry; buried 22 August 1637 in Daventry.
3. John, born in about 1548;(of London in his
brother's will); died 1626.
4. Henry, born in about 1550; married Anne; buried 4 July
1607 in Daventry, leaving a will mentioning his wife and children,
his brothers Mr. Richard Farmer and Mr. John Farmer of London.
5. Marie, married Thomas Judson.
*6. William, born about 1550 of Daventry; married Agnes;
buried 27 May 1629 in Daventry, leaving will 1629.
Mr. Andrews and Margaret had the following child:
7. Richard (Andrews)
Margaret died as a widow 4 May 1615 in Daventry.
Burial record of Margaret Farmer Andrews in Daventry: "Margarett Andrews vidua buried ye 4 day of May"
SOURCE: Will of Ralphe Farmer of Daventry, 1606, Prerogative
Court of Canterbury; Daventry parish register, www.ancestry.co.uk;
will of Henry Farmer of Daintree, 1608, Prerogative Court of
Canterbury; Farmer Family of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire,
https://farmerfamily-midlands.webs.com/familytree14501700.htm,
suggestng Ralph Farmer as the father of Ralphe, Richard, Henry and
John.
