Detail from the 1641 Will of John Birch

[MattD30]

The attached image is from the middle of the 1640 Will of John Birch. I am hoping someone can help me with the names and relationships in the middle of this piece.

So far I think he names the following people:

Jan (presumably Jane) Spicer, his daughter and the wife of John Spicer.

His daughter Elizabeth Baker, the wife of Edmond Baker

He also names a daughter called Ann who is married to someone called Richard but I am not sure what the surname is, except that it looks like it starts with L (possibly Lawrence?).

Any help would be appreciated.

Matt

[Karen McDonald]

Hi Matt,

I see Edward Baker (not Edmond).

Also, he doesn't actually write that Ann is his daughter, as far as I can see, although she does appear between 2 daughters.

I see Lawrence, same as you.

Karen

[MattD30]

Hi Matt,

I see Edward Baker (not Edmond).

Also, he doesn't actually write that Ann is his daughter, as far as I can see, although she does appear between 2 daughters.

I see Lawrence, same as you.

Karen

Hi Karen

Thanks for that quick reply, I am was just writing up my notes on this Will as this came up.

You are correct that it is Edward Baker, not Edmond, sorry that was a typo on my part.

Looking again I can see that Ann isn't described as his daughter, it has just been a little difficult to  read this as it is wonky writing.

From this extract the daughters named appear to be

Jan [or Jane] - wife of John Spicer
Elizabeth - wife of Edward Baker

and at the end of the extract he mentions a daughter named Mary Birch.

Thanks for the help

Matt

[Karen McDonald]

I'm a bit jealous - we don't have anything like that in our collection...   

Karen

[Bookbox]

I am not sure what the surname is, except that it looks like it starts with L (possibly Lawrence?)

I think it is written Larance.

[MattD30]

I'm a bit jealous - we don't have anything like that in our collection...   

Karen

The Will is held at the Canterbury Cathedral Archives in Canterbury, Kent. Thankfully though for me a lot of the Wills proved in both the Archdeaconry Court and the Consistitory Court have been filmed and can now be viewed online at the Family History Centre in London (within the National Archives).

For me Wills and associated papers are one of the most useful resources for FH research especially as they give you more of an insight into what someone was like. It is always worth looking up Wills and if there are Wills for people who lived in the same area as your ancestor I always say they are worth investigating as they might be relations.

Matt

[Karen McDonald]

Thanks for that, Matt. Sounds like a channel I should spend some time going down.

All the best,
Karen