FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS GILES
AND ANN NEAL

Thomas Giles of Great Bourton was christened 25 March 1702 in Cropredy, the son of Thomas and Sarah Giles. He married first, Ann Neal, in 1727 in Deddington, Oxfordshire. Ann was born about 1702, the daughter of John Neal and Hannah Whyte. Ann died and was buried 13 April 1742 in Cropredy. Thomas then married Anne Drake 10 February 1745 in Cropredy. Thomas died and was buried 30 May 1748 in Cropredy. Thomas Giles and Ann Neal had the following children:
 

1. Mary, christened 6 January 1728 in Cropredy, Oxford, England.
 

2. Ann, christened 28 November 1731.
 

*3. Ann christened 3 April 1734 in Cropredy, married James Southam 12 August 1750 in Banbury, Oxford, England, buried 12 March 1810 in Cropredy.
 

4. Martha christened 21 October 1736 in Cropredy.
 

5. Elizabeth, christened 24 June 1739 in Cropredy, buried 2 July 1739 in Cropredy.
 

6. Thomas, christened 22 March 1740 in Cropredy.
 
 

Thomas Giles and Anne Drake had the following children:
 
 

1. Sarah, christened 15 April 1748 in Cropredy.
 

2. Thomas, christened 12 February 1748/9 in Cropredy.
 

3. Joanna, christened 30 July 1749 in Cropredy.
 
 

SOURCE: Bishop's Transcripts, Cropredy Parish, FHS# 95235; Administration dated August 1749, naming wife Hanna or Anna Giles as beneficiary, Banbury; Cropredy parish register on CD.
 
 

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS AND SARAH GILES

Thomas Giles was christened 21 June 1668, the son of Thomas Giles and Elizabeth Sharman. Thomas and Sarah Giles of Great Bourton were married in about 1690. Thomas, yeoman, died and was buried 19 Jan 1703 in Cropredy, leaving an inventory. 

An Inventory of ye Goods & Chattels of Tho: Gill of great Borton in
ye County of Oxon yeoman made & prized by Tho: Hall, Rich: Humfris &
Will: Borton ye 25th of Jan: 1705.

		li   s  d
Imprimis	his waring apparrel & mony in his purse	5   0 0
Item	ye wheat crop in ye field	33   0 0
Item	ye horses & ye horse harnness & pannels horse tyes & other implements	38   0 0
	belonging to ye teem
Item	nine Cows & two calves	20   0 0
Item	waggons Carts ploughs & Harrows	12   0 0
Item	Wheat threshed & unthreshed	6 10 0
Item	Pease in ye Rick	3 10 0
Item	a Rick of Hay	3   5 0
Item	Barly in ye Barn	9   0 0
Item	Malt in ye Garner	2   0 0
Item	Hovelling Cowracks Horse troaf & pig troves	2 15 0
Item	Muck in ye yard	4 10 0
Item	a store Pig	0 10 0
Item	a fan ten bags a strike & cieves	1   0 0
Item	a Cistern a hair Cloth & a try	0 16 0
Item	in ye Chamber over ye Parlor two joyn beds w'th ye bedding a hang=	3   5 0
	=ing press a drawer & a Chair
Item	in ye Cheese Chamber Cheese & Cheesboards & Cheesrack	1 10 0
Item	in ye Parlor a table & seven Chairs	1   2 0
Item	in ye Cellar seven barrels with ye stells salting troaf & shelves & other	2 10 0
	od things
Item	a dozen pair of sheets & one dozen of napkins & three table Clothes	3 10 0
Item	in ye Hall Chamber a join bed & bedding a table & six chairs	6 12 6
	a pair of handirons fire shovel & bellows & tongs & two boxes
Item	in ye kitchin Chamber two truckle beds with ye bedding belonging	1 10 0
	to them two coffers three boxes & a trunck
Item	in ye Chamber over ye entry a join bed & bedding belonging to it	4   2 6
	a Chest a hanging press a trunk one box & a stool
Item	in ye mans Garret a reel & three bottles & a bed & bedding	0 10 0
Item	in ye hall two tables three stools six chairs a clock a spinning wheel & a	3 12 0
	great bible
Item	in ye inner kitchin puter & brass & other goods	5 10 0
Item	in ye outward kitchin ye brewing vessel & other goods	4   8 0
Item	ye Hurdles & other lumber	0 10 0
		180   8 0

Richard Humfris
William Borton
Thomas Hall




      The mark of Sarah Gill/Giles on Thomas Giles' administration

Sarah died in about 1727, and left a will proven 27 June 1727, leaving her estate to her son Thomas, daughter Elizabeth, and her "youngest daughter Susannah". The family is called Gill in the will, but matches the names of the Giles children born in Cropredy.

Thomas and Sarah had the following children:
 

1. Elizabeth, christened 21 March 1695 in Cropredy.
 

2. Susannah, christened 12 August 1696 in Cropredy.
 

*3. Thomas, christened 25 March 1702 in Cropredy, married 1) Ann Neal 13 April 1742, and 2) Anne Drake 10 Feb 1745 in Cropredy, buried 30 May 1748 in Cropredy.
 
 

SOURCE: Bishop's Transcripts, Cropredy Parish, FHS# 95235; Will of Sarah Gill (Giles), widow, proven 27 June 1727; monumental inscription, Cropredy churchyard; Cropredy parish register on CD; inventory of Thomas Gill, 1705.
 
 

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS GILES
AND ELIZABETH SHARMAN

Thomas Giles or Gill was christened 30 June 1632 in Cropredy, the son of Thomas Gill and Elizabeth Harris. He married Elizabeth Sharman 29 December 1663 in Cropredy. Elizabeth Sharman (Sherman) was born in about 1635 of Cropredy, the daughter of George and Audrey Sherman.

A History of the County of Oxford mentions Thomas Gill: in a section on Great and Little Bourton "A third house of similar type and date is Spittel's Farm at the opposite end of the village. It too is built on the two-unit plan, with central entrance, and good stone dressings to windows and doorway; its original studded oak door survives. There is a kitchen extension on the east, which bears the date 'W.J. 1787' (for William Jeffs). The descent of the farm attached to the house suggests that it, or its predecessor, was the residence of John or Thomas Gill, who were assessed respectively on four and two hearths for the tax of 1665" Another reference in the same history states: "Thomas Gill the younger bought 1½ yardland of meadow in 1656 and 1658; (Thomas Gill of Great Bourton disposed of a substantial personal estate in his will dated 1659. The latter's elder son, another Thomas, founded a school in Great Bourton."

Thomas and Elizabeth had the following children:
 

1. Sarah, christened 14 October 1665 in Cropredy.
 

*2. Thomas, christened 21 June 1668 in Cropredy; married Sarah in about 1690; buried 19 January 1703 in Cropredy.
 

3. Dorcas, christened 3 February 1672 in Cropredy.
 

4. Priscilla, christened 8 August 1675 in Cropredy.
 
 

SOURCE: Bishop's Transcripts, Cropredy Parish, FHS# 95235; monumental inscription, Cropredy churchyard; IGI; Oxfordshire Marriage Transcripts, J.S.W. Gibson; Cropredy parish register on CD; A History of the County of Oxford, vol. 10.
 
 

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS GYLL
AND ELIZABETH HARRIS

Thomas Giles was christened 20 September 1589 in Cropredy, the son of William Gyll and Elizabeth Gubbyn. He married  Elizabeth Harris 23 July 1610 in Wardington. He is shown as a yeoman farmer in Great Bourton, and a gentleman on his will. Elizabeth may be the daughter of Thomas Harris of Warmington, who married Alice Puddell 2 November 1588 in Wardington.

Thomas is found in tithe records of the time: "Thomas his son paid a colt penny in 1616, 18 and 19."  He also paid a tithe calf in 1619: "Not long before Thomas [Holloway] died he wrote down all the Bourton tithe calves he had had for 1619 and noted that Thomas Plant, James bachler, Thomas hytchman, Rychard gardner and Thomas gill had all paid a tithe calf, which he had sold at 6s and 8d each." 

Thomas is also mentioned in land transactions, as recorded in A History of the County of Oxford: "[Sir Anthony} Cope acquired other land in 1613 and in 1614 sold a house and 2¾ yardlands to Thomas Gill, another Great Bourton husbandman."

Thomas died and was buried 11 February 1659 in Cropredy. He left a will proven 18 June 1662, naming loving wife Elizabeth, eldest son Thomas, son John, daughters Elizabeth and Sarah, and loving brother Richard.
 

"The third day of Ffebruary 1659, I Thomas Gill of Greate Bourton in the County of Oxon, gent. do herein make my last will and testament revoking all formerly made by me in manner and forme following: First, I bequeath my Soule to God that gave it and my body to His Earth to be decently buried in Cropredy churchyard between the south and chancell doors of the church. And my estate I give and bequeath as followeth: First I give and bequeath all my lands and tenements in Greate and Little Borton to my loveing brother Richard Gill and Thomas my Eldest Sonne upon trust and confidence that if my loveing Wife Elizabeth Gill shall have the benefit of the third parte thereof during her natural life, and if my sonne John do take to wife Ann Checkly of Greate Bourton aforesaid that then he shall only receive the rest of the benefitt thereof during his natural life. But if he marry any other person with their consente and my Wive’s or of any two or of the survivors of them that then they shall settle the same uppon my said sonne John and his heirs forever. Alsoe I I give to the poore of Greate Borton aforesaid twenty shillings and to the poore of Little Bourton tenn shillings to bee distributed as my executor and the overseers of the said poore shall think meete. Also I give to my loving wife twenty pounds. Also I give to my said wife and two daughters a cowe and six sheepe or seven pound a piece in money at their election. Also to my loveing  Brother Richard Gill five pounds whome I desire to see thro my will performed and to give the best advise he can to my wife and children when occassion shall require. Also I give to my Brother and Sister Robins twenty shillings a piece to buy them mourning rings. Also I give to my Daughter Elizabeth one hundred pounds to be paid at the birth of her first child, but if she dye without issue, I do give and bequeath the same unto my Wife and the rest of my children to be equally devided amongst them. Also I give to my Daughter Sarah fifty pounds to be paid at the birth of her first child, but if she dye without issue I do give the same unto my wife and the rest of my children to be equally devided amongst them. Also I do give and bequeath my bedds, bedding chest, trunkes, cupboard , goods, chaires, stooles, formes, brewing vessels, dairy vessels, barrells, pewter, brasse, linnen and all such household stuffe to my wife, sonne John and two daughters equally to be devided amongst them. Also my will is that my wife and daughter Sarah shall have twenty for themselves and servants  to inhabitt in my house as they shall think meete . Also I do give unto my servants halfe a crown a piece. Also I give unto my eldest sonne Thomas tenn pounds to buy him mourning and I desire him to give to my sonne John the table formes, chaires, stoolles and other things which my father gave him by his will. All the rest of goods, cattell, chattels, rights and whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Gill, who I make to be executor of this my last will and testament. In witness thereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale the day and yeare aforesaid."
 

Elizabeth was buried 9 April 1664 in Cropredy.
 

Thomas and Elizabeth had the following children:
 

1. Marye, christened 14 July 1610 in Cropredy.
 

2. Hester, christened 22 June 1623 in Cropredy; died 17 June 1627.
 

*3. Thomas, christened 30 June 1632 in Cropredy; married Elizabeth Sharman 29 December 1663 in Cropredy.
 

4. John, christened 2 February in Cropredy; married Susannah in about 1664 in Cropredy.
 

5. Elizabeth, christened 21 August 1636 in Cropredy.
 

6. Sara, christened 31 August 1641.
 
 
 

SOURCE: Cropredy Parish Registers; IGI; “The Town of Cropredy”, Pamela Keegan, www.mewslade.freeserve.co.uk; Cropredy parish register on CD; will of Thomas Gyll 1662.
 
 

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
WILLIAM GYLL AND
ELIZABETH GUBBYN

William Gyll married Elizabeth Gubbin 16 June 1555 in Cropredy. William is mentioned in A History of the County of Oxford: "Richard Gill had had the highest assessment in Bourton for the 1523 subsidy, and Thomas and William Gill had been copyholders on the episcopal manor in 1552, when William was tenant of Walkers ground. The Gills were soon styling themselves 'gentlemen'."  William is most likely the son of John Gyll of Cropredy, buried 20 April 1545 in Cropredy. Elizabeth is most likely the daughter of Thomas Gubbyn of Cropredy.

William died and was buried 26 September 1604, leaving a will: "In 1605 William Gill left two mares and a gelding and four pair of horse gears valued at £5-10s, but no colts. These helped to farm about 1.25 yardlands (They had 5 beasts). Thomas his son paid a colt penny in 1616, 18 and 19, but no inventory survives for his 1634 will [MS.Wills Pec. 39/3/5]." He left a bequest to his daughter, Margaret: "In 1605 William Gill of Bourton left 20 shillings a year to bring up his daughter Margaret. Presumably the girl also contributed to her upkeep [MS.Will Pec. 39/3/5]." (The Town of Cropredy, Keegan) 

In the name of God Amen the tenth day of September 1604 I William Gyll of Great Bourton in the parishe of Cropredie and in the countie of Oxford, husbandman, sicke in bodie but perfect in memory thanks be to God, doe ordeyne and make this my last will and testament in manor and forme following: ffirst, bequeathing my soule unto Almightie God my creator having full assurance by fruits to have pardon and forgiveness of all my sinnes by the passion blessing of Jesus’ gift, and my bodie to be buried in the churchyard of Cropredie. I give amonge the poore in Bourton xyd to buy bread and to be distributed amonge them. I give to the repaire of the church of Cropredie xyd. I doe will and my mind is that Elizabeth my wife shall have the comedies and profitt in regard of her honestie and bringing up of my two children at her charges until my sonne Thomas Gyll doe accomplish the age of twentie one yeares both at keeping her selfe sole and unmarried . But if she marrie before my said sonne come to the age aforesaid, them my will is that my said wife shall have but the thyrd onelie of my land according to the custome in the countie and the other two parts to remaine to the benefit of my sonne Thomas allowing xxd a yeare  torwards the bringing up of my daughter Margarett Gyll provided my wife keepe her selfe sole and unmarried until the time that my sonne cometh to xxi yeares of age aforesaid, that then notwithstanding my sonne Thomas shall take to his selfe the one halfe of this my living and the other halfe to remaine to my wife for and during so long time and she keeping her selfe sole and unmarried and not longer provided that my wife during her widowhood att no time comitt and share in cutting down no trees or tree being ok, elm and willow or thorne growing in and upon anie part of my land. Item concerning my goodes, chattels or cattels of what nature of kind soever they be, I give them wholly betwixt Elizabeth my wife my sonne Thomas and Margarett my daughter equally to be divided amongst them by  even and equal portions desiring my wife to pay to the support of my daughter what shee reasonable may doe. I give this my tenement and yard land with all commodities and parte thereunto belonging wholly to be and belonge to my sonne Thomas Gyll and to his heyres forever. And I make Elizabeth my wife my executrix of this my will. And my overseers I desire to be Thomas Holloway, vicar of Cropredie, Thomas B…  and Thomas Wallis.

William and Elizabeth had the following children:
 

*1. Thomas, christened 20 September 1589 in Cropredy; married Elizabeth Harris 23 July 1610 in Wardington, Oxfordshire; died in 26 February 1634; buried in Cropredy. Thomas left a will proven 1659, naming wife Elizabeth, eldest son Thomas, son John, daughters Elizabeth and Sarah, brother Richard.
 

2. Richard, born in about 1590 of Cropredy; not listed in father's will of 1604.
 

3. Elizabeth, christened 24 September 1592 in Cropredy; not listed in father's will of 1604.
 

4. Margaret, born between 1591 and 1605 of Cropredy; minor child in father's will of 1605; married Thomas Hall 3 February 1613 in Cropredy.
 
 
 

SOURCE: IGI; “The Town of Cropredy”, Pamela Keegan, www.mewslade.freeserve.co.uk; Cropredy parish register on CD; A History of the County of Oxford, vol. 10.
 
 

THE GYLL FAMILY
OF CROPREDY

No christening record exists for William Gyll, as his birth (about 1525) predates the parish registers. He may be the son of John Gyll, who was buried 20 April 1545 in Cropredy. John was mentioned in a land deed in October 1512: "Roger Lupton and Rich. Skipwith grant to Thos. Ffrench, Rob. Lumbard, Rich. Howse, Hugh Page, Will. Lumbard, Rog. Truste, Rob. Burman, Will. Grene, Tho. Smyth, Tho. Dalton, Will. Newman, Rob. Osborne, Peter Lumbard, John Shereman, John Gubbys, Tho. Hall, John Gyll, Tho. Plant, Will. Walker, Tho. Gobyn, Valentine Jamys, Tho. Colyer, John Jefkyns, Thos. Browne and Tho. Bacheler, of Cropredy, our two tenements in Wardington, two crofts appertaining, and a quarter of a yardland; one tenement and croft between Hugh Tynkok, north, and Rob. Mathew, south; the other tenement and croft between Joan Sabyon, widow, east, and Juliana Collys, west; which tenements lately were Thos. Besonds’, of Wardington." (Historical Notices of Cropredy)

John may be the son of Richard Gill, mentioned in A History of the County of Oxford. Richard paid an assessment in 1523: "By the 16th century, however, the Bourtons were relatively more prosperous, and in 1523 35 people in the two villages were assessed at £4 11s. 8d., more than the total for Wardington and Coton. This was partly due to one man, Richard Gill, who was assessed at 32s. on goods; nine others were assessed at between 2s. and 4s., 23 at less than 2s. but more than the landless labourers' rate of 4d., at which only two were assessed...Richard Gill had had the highest assessment in Bourton for the 1523 subsidy." This Richard would have been born in the late 1400s.

Another early record is found for Thomas Gyll of Cropredy, who left a will written 21 August 1557, and proven 1558. The will mentions his wife Jone, daughters Elzaby (Elizabeth), Avys (Alice), Margerie, and brother William Gyll.

Testamentum Thomae Gyll paroch' de Cropredye

In the name of God Amen the xxj daye of August Anno d'ni 1557 I Thomas Gyll with a parfette memory and sicke in body doo make my wyll in this maner and forme ffyrst I betake my sowle to God all myghtie and to his blessed mother Saynte Marie and to all the holly cumpanye in Heaven my bodye to be buryed in the churche yarde of owr Ladie in the parisshe of Cropredye. I doo gyve unto the hye alter for foregotten tythes iiijd And to the reparac'ons of the same xijd And to the sepulcre light iiijd And to the roodelight iiijd And to the bells xijd And to the sowe Bridge iiijd And to ev'y godchilde ijd apece
And I doo gyve unto Margarett Lynton? the croppe of a quartern lande called Cowpers lande for the space of one yere And I doo gyve unto Elzaby my dawghter my greate brasse potte and my greate spytte and a quartern Lande and my Wyll is that Jone my wyffe shall have the occupying of it so longe as she dothe lyve And I doo gyve unto Elzaby my dawghter my best Iron bounde carte And to Jone my wyffe and Elzaby my dawghter my hole teeme as it is nowe, And I doo make Jone my wyffe and Elzaby my dawghter my full executrices they to bringe my bodye honestly to the grounde perfourmyng my wyll and to paye my detts they to have the resydew of my goods unbequested These goods to be departed betwyxt theym two by the discretion of my overseers and other honest men. And when these goods be departed in even porc'ons then my wyll is that Avys and Margerye my dawghters shall have halffe of my goods with their syster Elzaby And my wyll is that Avys and Margerie my dawghters
shall have ether of theym a colte of three yeres olde bred up betwyxte theym two beyng my executrices. And to Richarde Gyll tymber to make hym a plough with all. And I doo make Wyllyam Gyll my brother Thomas Plantte and Hugh Sabyne my overseers they to have for their Labors iijs iiijd apece. And yf that Avys my dawghter and Margerie her syster be not contente that Elzaby my dawghter shall
have my greate spytte my greate potte and my quartern Lande as they dyd promisse me that they wolde be contente therwith or els they shall have no parte with Elzaby my dawghter and this is my my [sic] wyll that it shalbe ordered These bering wytnesse here-of Richarde Denze John Russell with certen other. Thus Jhesu reste my sowle at his pleasure amen

Thomas and Jone had the following children: Richard, Elizabeth, Margery (christened 13 December 1539), William, Edith, Alice, Em and an unnamed son buried 9 February 1556. Jone died and was buried in 1559. (The Town of Cropredy)

William Gill of Cropredy left a will written 17 August 1557, mentioning wife Elizabeth, daughter Gilian, brother Thomas, and Thomas' daughters Elizabeth and Margerie. William was mentioned in a survey of Cropredy in 1552: "The Survey was made by the King’s General Surveyor, Mich. Camswell, Esq…on the oath of the King’s tenants of the manor of Cropredy, John Kynton, John Saven, Rich. Robyns, Thomas House, Rich. Gybbes, Will. Gylle, Will. Barnesley, John Hartlet, Will. Bayley, Edw. Brytwell, John Longe, and John Readshawe." (Historical Notices of the Parish of Cropredy) 

Another John Gill left a will written in 1559, mentioning daughters Elizabeth, Marjerie, Alice, and Em, sons Thomas and Richard. William Gill is one of the overseers for the will.

It is possible that Thomas and William were brothers to the John who died in 1545, and that Richard may be their father: "Richard Gill had had the highest assessment in Bourton for the 1523 subsidy, and Thomas and William Gill had been copyholders on the episcopal manor in 1552, when William was tenant of Walkers ground." A History of the County of Oxford:

SOURCES: Cropredy parish register on CD; A History of the County of Oxford, vol. 10; “The Town of Cropredy”, Pamela Keegan; will of William Gill, 1557; Thomas Gyll, 1558, wills on http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk.

If you have any additional information about this family, please contact me at alice@boydhouse.com.
 
 

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