Richard WEBB

                   NOTE:
        Will of Richard Webb in PAF Notes
        Richard or Ricardi


The will of Richard Webb (Snr.) informs us that he was a "Tacker", which was another term used in the clothing trade, so clearly his son followed his father inthe same business. I believe this adds confirmation to the fact that we have theright family here. The will can be summarised as follows:RICHARD WEBB the elder, of Minchinhampton in the County of Gloucester, tacker... Will proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London on the 4th March 1658/59. Note, during the "Commonwealth" Republican period after the Civil War, under Cromwell, all the"local" Bishop's Probate Courts where wills were normally "proved" were abolished, and all wills had to be sent to the PCC in London. Note too: in case you arenot aware, that under the old calendar, the "Year" in the 17th century actuallyended on March 24th (rather than as today on the 31st Dec... consequently, dates between January and March are usually shown as above - e.g. to show the real year as 1659) .....In the name of God Amen, the 22nd Nov. A.D. 1649I, Richard Webb, the elder of the parish of Minchinhampton in the County of Gloucester, Tacker, being weak of body but in perfect memory thanks be given unto God, do make andordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. Imprimis,I bequeath my soul to Almighty God that gave it and my body to be buried in thechurchyard at Minchinhampton above said. Item, I give my son, JOHN £20., part of the sum of £40. given by my father, WILLIAM WEBB of Holcombe of the parish ofHampton above (i.e. Minchinhampton) paid by his last will and testament to be paid by executor, Nathaniel Webb, his son for the use of my children within fouryears after my decease, by £10. a year at my dispose, the first £10. of the twenty aforesaid that is, I give my son John to be paid him the first year after my decease, the second £10. to be paid him the second year after my decease, otherwise I leave it to my wife's discretion. Item, I give unto RICHARD WEBB, my son £10. to be paid him the second year after my decease.Item, I give unto my son, SAMUEL £10. to be paid him the third year after my decease. I give my son, THOMAS one pair of iron doggs (Note: I believe these were devices of wire for running hounds in pairs)I give unto Elizabeth Welsteed, the daughter of Joseph Welsteed my best bed and best coverlidd (covers) after the decease of my wife. I giveunto ELIZABETH, my wife all the rest of my goods and chattels moveable and immoveable, whom I do appoint and make my sole and whole executrix of this my last will and testament.I ordain and appoint Richard Davis of Naysworth (=Nailsworth)of the parish and county above said, yeoman and Thomas Webb, my son my overseersof this my last will and testament and I do give unto them five shillings to beequally divided amongst them. In witness whereof I have put to my hand and sealthe day and year above written by me Richard WebbWitness hereunto Richard Davis; Thomas Webb;(Second sheet - top) This will was proved at London the 4th March1658 (1659) before the Judges for Probate of wills and granting administrationsfully authorised by the Oath of Elizabeth Webb, relict of the said deceased andsole executrix named in the said will To whom was committed Administration of all and singular the goods and chattels and debts of the said deceased according to the tenor and true intent and meaning of the said will, she being first swornby virtue of A Commission truly to administer the same.----------------------........Not only does it confirm the link between the two Richards in the same "clothing trade", and names all the members of his family, but also provides us withthe name of the previous generation, William Webb (Richard of Rodborough's grandfather.)The only other thing I have not been able to find is the surname of Richard's wife, Elizabeth. The Minchinhampton marriage registers actually indicatesa marriage of a Richard Webb and JANE Elger on the 25th Sept. 1625, but the will clearly shows "your" Richard's wife as Elizabeth. Whether Elizabeth was Richard's second wife
ther this is a different Richard I do not know, but clearly, we may only find out by checking the original Minchinhampton baptisms and burials registers. The family search website suggests that Richard Webb married Elizabeth Peterson in Gloucester c. 1625, but I can find no trace of such a marriage in any of the usualindexes - including Boyd's Marriage Index at the Society of Genealogists Library. I have checked the Painswick and Minchinhampton marriage registers and there is no Richard and Elizabeth listed in either of those two parishes. Obviously, the missing Rodborough registers may have had an answer to this, but there is little we can do about that. Checking further back, the only William Webb I can findin Minchinhampton is this entry:William Webb married Ann Nelmes 2nd March 1578/79.This seems rather early, and it is clear that there were several "Webb" families living in these parishes (i.e. Painswick and Minchinhampton) at the end of the 16th century and early 17th century. However, it is quite feasible that thisis "yours", assuming that William may have had a large family and Richard was one of his younger ones, e.g. Richard (the elder) may have been born in the 1590's. We know from the will that William had a son called Nathaniel Webb for he wasnamed as his executor, (* see below - added post-script) but there must have been others.Change Date: 19 Apr 2006 at 00:31:28