I have a marriage in Wye between Jacob Silver and Mary Rooke, is there any one who knows of any information regarding whether this Mary is the daughter of Laurence Rooke and Ursula Scott who was
c.1579 in Brabourne.
Crossing my fingers, kind regards, Brenda
Hi,
I really dislike having to break bubbles, but this one I have to. Sorry. Mary Rooke was actually Mary Rucke, the daughter of John Ruck(e) and his second wife, Thomasine nee Forward. Mary was my half-1st cousin, 11 times removed. She is named in the Will of her mother, along with Jacob Sylver. I will add the beginning portion of the Will for you at the bottom of my reply. Mary was also mentioned in the Will of Simon Ruck(e), her half-brother as Marie Silver. I will also post the snippet from that Will for you, too. I descend through her half-brother Jeoffrey Ruck(e). The Ruck surname is spelled in various ways throughout the parishes in which the larger family lived. I've seen it spelled as Wroucke, Rooke, Rook, Ruck, Rucke, Rukke, and in one Will I have the surname is spelled 7 different ways in the space of 5 pages!
John Ruck, Mary's father was born circa 1513 and was buried at Sheldwich on 15 July 1600. His father, also John, was born circa 1485 and died prior to 24 Apr 1542, when probate of his Will was granted. This last John married a Margaret - surname still unknown, even after 30+ years of researching this family. John and Margaret had only 2 sons known, John and his brother William. The family seat was in Boughton-under-Blean. I suspect that the earliest John was the son of a Hamon Rucke for whom there is a Chancery Court File but which I haven't been able to access.
Mary's parents, John and Thomasine had 12 children, 2 of whom died as infants. Mary's father John, by his first marriage to Johan, my ancestress, had 8 children, all of whom survived to adulthood and did marry and have children. So it was quite a ranging family!
Now for the snippets from the Wills:
Anno Domini 1610 October 25th
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, I, THOMASIN RUCKE, of the parish of Preston near Faversham, widow, being sick in body, but of good and perfect memory and remembrance, make this my last Will and Testament, revoking all former Wills.
First, I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping to have salvation through the merits of Christ my Saviour; And my body I commit to the earth until the last day. And for my worldly goods thus I do dispose of them.
First, I give unto the poor people of Sheldwich 3s 4d to be paid to the collectors within 6 months after my death.
Item, I give unto the three children of JACOB SYLVER, to every one of them 6s 8d to be bestowed on them at the discretion of VALENTYNE RUCK* within 6 months after my death.
And the snippet from the Will of Simon Rucke:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, the seventh day of April in the year of our Lord Christ, one thousand six hundred and eight and twenty, I, SIMON RUCKE, the elder, of the parish of Sheldwich in the County of Kent, yeoman, sick in body but whole in mind and of good and perfect remembrance, (God be therefore thanked), do make and ordain my last Will and Testament in manner and form following....
item, I give to my sister MARIE SILVER twenty shillings to be paid her by my Executor within one whole year next after my decease.
The Valentyne Ruck mentioned was Mary's full biological brother.
Enjoy!