Cropredy parish register in January 1557, showing church wardens:
"Richard Robenns, John Elkenton, John Claridge, & Nicholas Gardnar, church wardens"
FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
NICHOLAS AND ELIZABETH GARDNER
Nicholas Gardner was
born in about 1535 of Little Bourton in Cropredy, the son of
Thomas and Ellyn Gardner. He married Elizabeth. Nicholas was a
churchwarden in Cropredy in 1557: "Nicholys Gardner,
church warden".
Nicholas was named as
an overseer in a will for Richard Denzey in 1558: "I make my
overseers Nicholas Gardner and Thomas Sherman and they
are to have 8d apiece for their pains."
He is also mentioned
in a land deed of 1557: "May 10, 1557 Tho. Smythe, Tho. Gubbyn
and Roger Truste, transfer the property to, apparently for
the most part, younger men: John
Ffrenshe, sen., and Tho. Ffrenshe, his son, John Ffrenshe,
jun., Tho. Howse, and William, his son, his son, Rich.
Lumbard, Will. Page, Tho. Robins, and Rich., his son, John
Gibbes and Will., his son, John, son of Will. Hall, James
Hall, Will. Helkington, Vincent Baylis, John Pryons, Peter Tyms,
John Gubbyn,
Will. Plant, Rob. Mole, John Gibbes, Nich. Gardener,
and John
Bacheler, parishioners of the parish
church of Croprydie." (Historical Notices of the Parish of
Cropredy)
Nicholas was also
mentioned in the will of John Toms in 1558: "It would seem
John Toms in 1558 was worried about one son's
behaviour and to secure his obedience to his future master,
Toms made stern warnings in his will. He may advocate a hard
time for George, but he does not mention whipping him into
submission, instead he used his future inheritance as a more
powerful threat. "I will Nicholas Gardner to have George Tomes
my sone to do him service for the space of vj yeres and to
have with hym ij shepe and a calfe of vij wekes olde, a brasse
pott, a pewter platter, a table and a forme and so the said
Nicholas to be delivered to the sayd George Tomes the value of
the same stuffe againe at the end of vj yeres which is praysed
by certain honest men and if he will not be ruled by his
masters his master shall kepe this stuffe awaye from him and
the sayd George Tomes to have none of hit." His other sone
Thomas was to go to Thomas Gardner for six years. He had two
sheep, "a platter, a kettell" and the same conditions applied,
but a little less fierce being: "upon his masters gentillnes
and favor." He then added "I bequeath to Thomas ij borrdes to
make him a table." (The Town of Cropredy)
Nicholas was named as
a overseer for the will of John Sherman, his son-in-law William
Sherman's father, in 1574. Elizabeth was a witness for the same
will: "my overseers I make Nicholas
Gardener Thomas Plante and Thomas
Densye they to have for their paines xijd
apiece: These beinge psent with the said John Sharman at
Lyttle Bourton aforesayde viz: Thomas Plante Elizabethe
Gardner and Elizabeth
Densie beinge witnesses unto thes psent".
Nicholas is also mentioned in the will of his uncle George Gardner
of Great Bourton in 1591:
In
the name of God Amen the eight and twentieth daye of Aprill in
the three and thirtithe yere of the raigne of oure soveraigne
Ladie Elizabeth Quene, I George Gardner of Greate Burton in the Countie
of Oxon and in ye parishe of Cropredye, being sicke in bodie
but perfect in memorye thanks be given to God, revoking all
other former willes, do make and ordeyne this my last will and
testamente in manner and forme folowinge, ...
Item,
I give and grante unto
Nicholas Gardner sonne of my Brother Thomas Gardner my
pece of grounde called Hardwicke peece with the appurtenances
thereunto belonging which I bought of Mr. Anthony Cope. To
have and to holde the same piece of grounde called Hardwicke
peere with the appurtenances to the said Nicholas Gardner his
executors, administrators and assignes from the ffeaste of
Sainte Michaell the Archanngell next after my decease unto the
ende and tearme of twentie and one yeres then next and
ymediatlie fullie to be complete and ended for the yerelie
rente of ffower pence, will that my executors by virtue of
this my last will and testament shall seale for the
contynenance of the foresaied tearme of yeres according to the
tenor and effect of this my said last will and testament in
manner and forme above veryted....
Item
I give more unto the said Nicholas Gardner in
wood bourdes and other house stuffe to the value of tenne
poundes or else ten poundes of lawfull money of England at
the choice of the said Nicholas.
Bequests
are also made to:
And
more five quarters of barley wherof I will that William
Gardner his Brother shall pai hym one quarter out of
that halfe yarde land croppe hereafter mentioned, the
abovenamed Thomas Hollway a halfe a quarter and the abovenamed
Thomas Gardner the
other halfe quarter. Item, I give grante and bequeathe unto William Gardner sonne of the saied
Thomas Gardner my Brother in full satisfaction of all
accounts between hym and me.
Item, I give to Thomas Gardner my godsonne and sonne of my Brother Thomas Gardner twentie shillings.
Nicholas died and was
buried in Cropredy 12 February 1611.
He left an inventory:
Nicholas Gardner of Cropredy 1611
An inventory of the goodes of
Niccolas Gardner at the dets taken by William Sharman,
George Wates, Roberd Croley
Item, his apparel xld
Item, the linnon xxxd
Item, the beding cd
Item, in mony xld
Item, the bras pueter and farne xld
Item, more in mony ld
Item caffoldes xld
Item, copary ware, bedes, table,
forms, benches xxd
George Wattes, Robeart Croley,
William Sharman
One of the
appraisers for the inventory was William Sherman, Nicholas'
son-in-law.
Elizabeth died and
was buried 26 May 1615 in Cropredy, leaving a verbal will:
Be it known unto all men by these
p’sente that Elizabeth Gardner late of Little Bourton in the
p’ishe of Cropredy in the Countie of Oxon, widdow did make
& ordayne her last will nuncupative or by word of mouth
the tenth day of November in the yeare of our Lord God 1614
in manner & forme as followeth, first shee bequeathed
her soule into the hands of God Almyghtie who gave it &
and her body she willed to be layed in the pysh church of
Cropedy neere to her seat and, and as for her goods she did
bequeath them all unto Ann Sharman her daughter the wyfe of
William Sharman of Borton aforesaid who she made executor of
this her said last will. In witness hereof George Gardner.
An inventory was also
created for Elizabeth:
A true inventory of all the goods
of Elizabeth Gardner late of Borton in the p’ishe of
Cropredy in the county of Oxon, widow, prised by Thomas
Gardner and James Bachelar of the same towne.
Imprimis, on fether bedd xxd
Item, a mattris & a boulster xd
Item, three pillows xd
Item, two cuverlides and on blanket
xxiid
Item, three gownes and three
peticotes iiid
Item, a warminge pan iiid
Item, two halle xxd
Item, halfe a dozen of napkins vd
Item, three payre of sheetes xxxd
Item her other linen and a tafata
aperne xd
*1. Anne, born
in about 1567 of Cropredy; married William Sherman 27 June 1587 in Cropredy.
2. Alice, christened 25 February 1570/1 in Cropredy.
3. George, christened 5 April 1573 in Cropredy.
4. Thomas, christened 25 March 1575/6 in Cropredy.
FAMILY
GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS AND ELLYN GARDNER
Thomas
Gardner was born in about 1515 of Cropredy. He married Ellyn.
Ellyn of Williamscot died in 1559, leaving a will. Thomas must
have died before 1559. Nicholas and the other children seem to
be young at the time of the will.
Testament of Elena Garnar de Wyllyscott p’och de Wardinton
In the name of God Amen, the xth daye of
Septeber anno Dom 1559, I Ellyn Garnar sicke of bodie
but pfett of remembrance do make my last will and testamet as
foloweth: First I bequeathe my soule to God and my bodie to be
buried in the churche yard of Wardinton. I geve to the hight
aultere iiijd and to the bells iiijd. I geve to Sir Thomas
Hays xiijd. Itm to Thomas Tymcocke ijd. I geve to Nicholas
my sone a brasse panne and iij peces of pewter. I geve
to Thomas my sone a brasse potte and iij peces of
pewter. I geve to Umfrie Tene ij shepe. Item,
I geve to John Garner, Nicholas and Isabell ether of
theym one shepe. I geve to Thomas Garnar my sonne one
heifer. I geve iiij brynded cows at Burton to Alys Foxe.
All the rest of my goodes not bequeathed I geve to Thomas
Foxe whome I make my full executor thes beinge wyttness,
Sir Thomas Hays, prist, John Elkington, and John Thorncraft.
Proven 29 June 1559
Thomas and Ellyn had the following children:
*1. Nicholas,
born in about 1535 of Cropredy; married Elizabeth; mentioned in
mother's will of 1559; mentioned in uncle George Gardner's will
in 1591; buried 12 February 1610/11 in Cropredy.
2. William, born in about 1540 of Cropredy; mentioned in
uncle George Gardner's will in 1591.
3. Thomas, born in about 1545 of Cropedy; mentioned in
mother's will of 1559. mentioned in uncle George Gardner's will
in 1591; married Elizabeth; occupation: yeoman; had children
Josiah, Steven, Timothie, Hannah, Katherine, Mary and Martha;
buried 5 October 1633; left a will dated 27 November 1633.
Thomas occupied the manor farm in Little Bourton: "In
that year (1565) William Mathewe, his wife Catherine,
and their son Thomas sold Little Bourton manor to Thomas
Gardner. Josiah Gardner of London, son of Thomas Gardner of
Little Bourton, deceased (both are described as gentlemen),
dealt with ¼ yardland in Bourton in 1648; and there are later
references to landowners of the name in Bourton." (British
History Online - Great and Little Bourton) He is
also described in The Town of Cropredy: "memo That
Tho gardner of/ lyttell borton sent me a/ fayn payre of gloves
to / whom I send a garnishe/ of gent lasses for a/
handkerchefe. Item sent my sonne clerson a/ dosen of sylke
poynts/ to his wife vjd. Item to my sone gorstelow who/ sent
me a cloke & sent him/ a dosen sylke poyt-." They were
exchanging gifts for the New Year on March the 25th. Silk used
to be for the nobility, but by this time other lesser
gentlemen had items of silk clothing. The Thomas Gardner of
Little Bourton mentioned above lived in the manor farm, though
there was another family of Gardners, sons of Richard." (The
Town of Cropredy, 1570-1640, Keegan)
4. John, mentioned in mother's will of 1559.
5. Isabell, mentioned in mother's will of 1559.
SOURCES: Cropredy
parish register; will of George Gardner of Great Bourton, 1591
on www.findmypast.co.uk; will of Ellyn Garner, 1559,
www.ancestry.co.uk; British History Online - Great and Little
Bourton; The Town
of Cropredy, 1570-1640; Pamela Keegan.
Descendants
of the Gardners of Little
Bourton - both Justinian Southam and Lucy Hunt were
descended from the same
couple:
Justinian through both Thomas and Ellyn Gardner to Nicholas
and Elizabeth
Gardner to their daughter Anne who married William Sherman,
and also from Richard Gardner and Anne Hickman's daughter
Agnes (Anne) who
married Richard Batchelor.
Lucy Hunt was descended from Richard Gardner and Alice
Densie's daughter Dorcas
Gardner who married Thomas Gill.