William Ladkins was born in about 1520 of Boddington, the son of Thomas Ladkins. He is mentioned in his father's will of 1553. William died and was buried 8 December 1580 in Boddington.



Wills left by William's children give additional information about the family.


Son William left a will dated 1588, which included:

"I geve unto my sonne Thomas Ladkins xvl and to be delivered with hime and at the age of xxij yeares my sonne to have it unto his owne use & governement. Item unto Thomas my sonne I geve my malt mill & the best cart that I have and to be delivered as aforesaid. Item, I geve unto my daughter Elizabeth vijl and the best brasse pott and a bedd with three pare of sheets and to be delivered at the age of xx yeares hir mother to have the use of it if she will keepe hir. Item I geve unto my wives ij daughters xiijs iiij d a peece. The residewe of my goods unbequeathed I geve unto Alice Ladkins my wife my debts being paid whom I make my whole executrix of this my las will & testament dated the xxijth of December in the yeare of our Lord God 1588. Witnes to this my xxx will Simond Rogers minister, Edward Wells, Richard Ladkins, William Rowley writer hereof."



Son Richard left a will dated 1602, which included:

"Item I gyve and bequethe unto my brother Jerom Ladkeyns the own halfe of this my three yard lands and halfe during the said terme. Secondly I give unto my brother Jerom the one halfe of my horse and beast and halfe the croppe in the field and at home; Alsoe I gyve unto my brother Jerom one bedsteede and twoe mattrisses and twoe bolsters, twoe paire of sheetes, twoe blankets, one hillinge one bedclothe. Alsoe I give unto my brother Jerom the one halfe of my hogs and halfe my wooll and halfe the malt myll and halfe the brasse and peter and halfe the carte and plowes with this condicon that my brother Jerom shall paye the one halfe of my debts and gyfts when it shalbe due, and halfe all taxes and dues whatsoever it shall happen and to keepe the one halfe of the repayed. Alsoe I give unto my cosen Thomas Ladkeyns son to my brother Wm deceased tenne pounds to be paide at the age of thirtie yeares. Alsoe I gyve unto Henrye Whede xxs to be paid when my executor shall thinke good. Alsoe I gyve unto the poore of Byfeild eighte strykes of corne. Alsoe I give unto the maintenance of the church iijs iijd. Alsoe I give to Agnes Arnole of Boddington and her sonne John xxs a peece. Item I doe owe and am indebted unto my cosen Thomas Ladkeyns aforesayde xvl to be paide at the age of xxijl yeares and one iron bond carte at the same tyme. Item I have owinge of mee by Roger Healey ixs vid, John Arnoll of Boddington xiiijl, Roger Cleden vis viijd, Mr Challenger vis viijd. All the reste of my lese and chattel and all other moneye & goods moveable and unmoveable whatsoever I give to Agnes my loving wife making her my whole executor. Wytnesse of us Robte Ladkyens, Wm Ladkyns, John Clifton"

Son Richard's widow Agnes died and was buried 25 December 1602. She left a will as Anne Ladkins, widow of Boddington, which included more details about the Ladkins family:

"First I give and bequeath to my sister Anne Ladkins my best gowne and my best peticote. Secondlie I give unto my sister Margaret my second gowne & second peticote. Allso I give unto Alice Willson the rest of my wearing apparel. Item I give unto my sisters sonne Thomas Ladkins my joynd bedd after my brother Jeromes decease. Allso I give unto William Ladkins children, either of them a sheepe. Item I give unto Robert Ladkins children either of them a sheepe. Allso I give unto Thomas Frenches sonne a sheepe. Allso I give unto Thomas Curnett a sheepe. Item I give to Henry Stockley a sheepe. Allso I give to John Willmore a sheepe. Item I give to Thomas Ladkins a bedstead & a mattres. Allso I give unto Cicilie Crompe a bedstead & mattres. All the rest of my goods and cettells & money whatsoever I give unto my brother Jerome making him my whole executor.
Wittnes of us John Arnolls, Willm Ladkins, Henry Stockley"



Son Jerome left a will dated 1612, which included:

"First I give and bequeath to Thomas Ladkins the sonne of William Ladkins my godsonne two coffers with that which is in them. Secondlie I give unto William Ladkins the younger sonne of the said William one cowe. Item I give unto the servants of the howse vis. Item I give unto my brother Robbert Ladkins xs & my best sute of reparrell. Item I give unto my brother Roger Ladkins xs. All the residue of my goods and chattels whatsoever I give & bequeath to William Ladkins of nether Boddington the elder makinge him my whole executor."



William and his wife had the following children:


1. Richard, mentioned in grandfather's will of 1553; married Agnes; occupation - husbandman of Byfield, a parish about two miles east of Boddington; left will dated 1602.


*2. Robert, born in about 1550 of Boddington; mentioned in grandfather's will of 1553; married Elizabeth; mentioned in brother Jerome's will of 1612; buried 9 January 1619, leaving a will.


3. Eme, mentioned in grandfather's will of 1553.


4. Jerome, occupation - husbandman; mentioned in brother Richard's will of 1602; buried 18 February 1612 in Boddington, leaving a will dated 1612.


5. Roger, mentioned in brother Jerome's will of 1612; had son William.


6. William, of Byfield; married Alice; had son Thomas and daughter Elizabeth; left a will dated 1588; mentioned in brother Richard's will of 1602 as deceased.



SOURCES: Boddington parish register; will of Thomas Ladkyns of Boddington, 1553; will of William Ladkins of Byfield, Northamptonshire, 1588; will of Richard Ladkins of Byfield, Northamptonshire, 1602; will of Jerome Ladkins of Boddington, Northamptonshire, 1612.







Thomas Ladkyns was born in about 1490 of Boddington. He died, leaving a will dated 1553.



The Testament of Thomas Ladkyns of Bodyngton

In the name of God Amen the  x day of September in the yere of our Lord God God 1553 in the sixth yere of our Souvrayn Lord Edward the Sixth by the grace of God Kyng of England, Frannce, & Ireland, defender of the faith under God of the church of England & Ireland Supreme Lord, I Thomas Ladkyns of Bodyngton beying in pfyt memorye make this my last wyll & testament in manner folowyng, first I bequeth my sowle to Almyghty God, my body to be buried in the chyrchyard of Bodyngton. Also I bequeth to the poore mens boxe vid. Also to the mendying of the hye wayes in Over Bodyngton vs. Also to Rich Ladkyns & Robt Ladkyns the son of Willem Ladkyns my son, to ether of them my land. To Eme the other child of my son Willem Ladkyns xiijs iiijd. Also to my god daughter Anne Wylbox xijd. The resydew of my goods not gevyn and unbequethed I geve & beqeth to Thomas Ladkyns my son, whom I make my sole executor, he to pay my detts pforme my wyll & bring me honestly to the ground. And I order & make Willim Ladkyns my son oversear to see that thys my last wyll be truly pformyd & to the said Willim Ladkyns my son for hys paynes taking in that busyness I bequeth iijs iiijd. These being wytness Wyllm Roo parish preste of Bodyngton, Richard Wylbox, Robert Chylde, Willim Ladkyns with others.


SOURCES: Will of Thomas Ladkyns of Boddington, 1553.


Thomas and his wife had the following children:


1. Thomas


*2. William, born about 1520 of Boddington.