George Audley - Wymondley/Hitchin

[Cambridge]

Hello, I'm trying to find out any more information about George Audley who was born in 1538 in Wymondley and died in 1602 in Hitchin. He was my 10x great grandfather.

I'm looking for any potential parents but I seem to have hit a dead end. He was maried to Agnes Rugmer. I have a copy of his will but no details of parents or siblings.

They had four children:
Susanna, born in 1576, died in 1587 aged 11
Avis, born in 1580
Rhoda, born in 1584
Mary, born in 1588


Could anyone possibly help me or suggest where I could try next please?

Thank you so much!

[rosie99]

What document mentioned his place of birth.

[Cambridge]

Ah. And now I’ve looked again, he was born in Hitchin…. Sorry…..

[rosie99]

OK, so what document states he was born in Hitchin 

[Cambridge]

Hello. Hmm well it’s based on him marrying in Hitchin in truth.

His name is also listed as Awdlye, Awdley and Awdly which complicates things!

[rosie99]

There is a tree on Ancestry with this family but no evidence to back up their information. Hitchin Parish registers do not appear to go back far enough to cover a baptism  for George.

[LizzieL]

There are Audley (and variants) baptisms in Hitchin in the 1570s. Children of a Mathew and an Edward, likely to be similar age to George could be his brothers.
Also a Richard s/o George in 1567, but appears to have died when a few days old. Could George have had an earlier marriage before Agnes / Annys in 1572

added
there's a burial of a Marsye (or similar ) Awdly in 1567, just between baptism and burial of baby Richard

[LizzieL]

There's a will of a John Awdley, maltster of Hitchin, probate 1621, in which he refers to something (not sure if it's property) that his brother George had delivered into his hand. Maybe George had given John something during his lifetime rather than in his will. John also mentions his brother Edward. There's a will for Matthew Awdley 1615, as well. Both on National archive web site. Can be downloaded free if you register for free account.

[Cambridge]

Thank you both so much for your help.

I will look at this. I do have George's Will from 1602 and from what I've translated so far (very little) he seemed to leave some to his wife Annys and daughters, and some to members of the Marshall family which I believe were his daughter's in-laws.

I can see a name that looks like Johan Sooy of Godfrey and also an Edward Sooy of Godfrey (that is almost definitely wrong!.

George was a Maltster as well so it would make sense if John inherited that role perhaps.

In fact, I think this section of his will says something about John and employment but I haven't been able to translate it yet!

I guess if George only had daughters, he had little choice but to pass some of his things and job etc over to nephews.

And I guess he could indeed have been married before - thank you for that . I have no way to prove it sadly.

Thank you both so much for these amazing bits of help - I really appreciate it!