John and Joseph Withars/Withers c1690

[Ratty2]

Two brothers: John and Joseph W, both tailors, father John Withars of Birmingham.
Looking for any more complete information of the following people, please. Did any of these children become tailors?
1. Joseph Withars, tailor, b1690 and Rachel Brown had six children: John (1717); Joseph (1718); Sylvia; Lydda (1721); Benjamin (1723); Elizabeth (1725).
2. John Withers, tailor b unknown and unknown spouse, had two children: Thomas (b1702) and Sarah (b unknown)
(The Benjamin b1723 became a butcher and had three wives with children, but I don’t need any more information about him.)

Source: Will of Joseph Withers, tailor 1761; Prob 11/870, National Archives.

[QueenoftheWest]

There are several Withers wills that can be viewed on FindMyPast. From a quick search, I found Joseph's (1718-1774) in which he mentions several relations, including his brother Benjamin and sister Lydia. He was a tailor. Also, Lydia herself had a will (she died a spinster) that mentions loads of cousins, so could prove very useful.

Queenie 

[Ratty2]

With many thanks
David

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
Apprenticeships Birmingham
Benjamin Withers Master tailor took on Edward Dunn son of William of Stoney Lane in 1730 £3
John Withers Tailor took on Samuel Kimberley 1721 £4 and 1722 Humphrey Coley £4 and 1731 John Mills £2
Joseph took on George Hincley son of Edward of Stourbridge for £5 1718

Joseph Withers Will £20 1774 Granted to Benjamin Withers
Taylor Edgbastion St.Mentions his house is owned by Uncle Benjamin Withers  taylor
Brother Benjamin butcher and his heirs and sister Lydia.Made 1761

That Will mentioned for Lydia 1785 £1000
Cousins Benjamin and Robert Withers  £50 10 shillings
Cousin John Southwell £100
Cousins Samuel Withers and sister Elizabeth Fox £20 each
Cousins Guest Withers? and sisters Mary Smith and Bridget Carless £20 each
Mary Withers widow of my late uncle John £10 unless already dead and then to Uncle John's son Benjamin
Cousin Robert Withers junior and Lydia Withers £20
Cousin Mary Simcox widow £52 10 shillings and 5 guineas a year for ten years
Cousin Joan Hardwick of Willenhall £50 and if dead to her daughters
Cousins Isaac  of Birmingham and his brother Richard Pedley of London £50 each
Cousin Elinor Taylor of Wednesbury F20
Friend Joseph Webster 10 guineas
Anne Pallet d of James  a minor £20
Friends Hannah and Sarah Dutton 5 guineas
Cousins Benjamin Mansell and his wife Mary £100 each
Residue to the five daughter of Benjamin and Mary Mansell
Her houses in St Martins Lane etc and seat in Church also go to him.
Made 1784


Will of Mary Withers late wife of Benjamin Gentleman 1777
Charlotte Yenn daughter of niece Sarah wife of Richard poulterer gold ring and jewelry
silver tankards and tea spoons to husbands grandchildren Elizabeth Smith Guest Pitt Withers and Bridget Carless
Sarah Yenn gets more jewelry and her clothers
Benjamin Withers her husband 2 messuages in Moat Lane
Richard Yenn younger and Charlotte Yenn get 2 other houses
pew to Mary Johnson wife of William Johnson
Interest of £180 to husband and the sum to Sarah Yenns children William ,Ann ,Hannah and Sarah.
Elizabeth wife of William Ball yeoman of Worcester £5
£10 to Executors
Mentions Will of late  husband William Hopkins
Made 1776

Sarah Withers 1730 wife of Benjamin Withers Taylor -mostly concerns an Indenture of Release she and Benjamin have signed with a Edward Wilkes yeoman ,John Thompson baker and John Yaranten tanner .
I don't really get.
They married 1725 and she was a Miss Wilkes.

Ciderdrinker

[Ratty2]

Wow
That is so very helpful.
I'm a bit over worked at the moment so will digest it during the week.
But many thanks, that is so very helpful.
David

[Ratty2]

Many thanks, Queen of the West and Ciderdrinker for your help.

I’ve checked out Lydia’s 1785 will and found she had quite a list of cousins:
Robert Withers and brother Benjamin; John Southwell, Samuel Withers and his sister Elizabeth Fox; Guest Withers and his sisters Mary Wilkes, Bridget Carlefs(?). She also listed Mary Withers widow of her late uncle John Withers and his son Benjamin Withers. There was also Robert Withers jnr, Mary Simcox a widow, Joan Hardwick of Willenhall, Staffs, the brothers Isaac Pedley of Brm with Richard Pedley of London, then Eleanor Taylor of Wednesbury, Staffs.
Her friends included Joseph Webster, Ann Pallit the daughter of James Pallit of Brm; then Sarah and Hannah Dutton of West Brom.
I was interested to see she left her house (and her church pew) in St Martins Lane (currently occupied by James Pallit) to her Executor Benjamin Mansell(?). This house features in a descendant’s will, Samuel Withers whose tailoring empire included both Edgbaston street and St Martins Lane, plus another in Worcester St and what became the family home on Smallbrook St. Also fascinating to see that the Bishop of the Diocese was at that time a Smallbroke whose name may be linked to the street.
I didn’t add up her monetary bequests, but it was certainly extensive; she was a rich woman.

I think these were siblings: Benjamin the master tailor, the eldest, then his brothers John and Joseph also tailors, plus Lydia. Perhaps Lydia ran the business looking after the finances. It was a family business.

[Ratty2]

Checking out John Withers.
I see on FindMyPast that there is an Index for him
Withers John; 1681; Lichfield Consistory Court Wills, 1650-1700, Solihull, Warwickshire, England.

Can't find the original document on FindMyPast, nor at National Archives. They refer to the local County council, but still no sign of the original.

Could you please point me in the right direction?
Or at least let me know who he left his estate to?

Thanks
David

   

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
Yes as bit of a cock up here.
The Council website has him as John Withyes
Withyes
Forename(s):
John
Gender:
Male
Place of Residence:
Solihull
County:
Warwickshire
Occupation / Status:
cordwainer
Type of Document Recorded
Will:
No
Letter of Administation:
Yes
Inventory of Goods:
Yes
Additional Information
Repository:
Staffordshire Record Office
Date Recorded:
6 May 1681
In some cases only the month/year or just year is available.
Court:
Lichfield Consistory Court
Reference:
B/C/11

It is just an Inventory and Admin not a Will
His widow Joanna Withers gets the estate. £39 15' 8d
The original on FindMyPast is indexed as
Johanna Wilkes 1681 Solihull  1681 Staffordshire, Dioceses Of Lichfield And Coventry Wills And Probate 1521-1860

Really not a great transcription/index
Hope you can find it from there

Ciderdrinker

[Ratty2]

Thanks ciderdrinker, as you say, not much to go on.
But thanks for checking
David