When researching the possible origins of Edward Brantley of Virginia, it seems pertinent to consider the area parallel to the Bristol Channel; Wrington being its southerly outpost, Gloucester its northerly, and Bristol being between – the main area connected to John Seward, who claimed his headright: John Seward, 400 ac., 18 June 1638, upon North side of a S.W. creek setting out of the main creek commonly called Cary’s Neck. Due for trans. of 8 persons including Edward Brantly, Anthony Matthews, Gerson Cromwell. Edward Brantly, 30 Oct. 1669, 675 ac. adj. land of Mr. England and Mr. Tooke (associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672).

Within this confine, we find a “John Brantley brasier”, who was aged about 40, and judged to fit to serve in the county militia with a caliver (a light matchlock weapon). This was of the third order of competence, the first two being a pikeman and a musketeer. John Brantley was described as living in Gloucester, North Ward. (John Smith, Men and Armour, MS. 14, 15, 16).

The search for any Brantley is hindered by the variety of spelling. The Bishop’s transcripts and parish registers of St. Catherine’s, Gloucester, show Brantle and Bryntley as two derivatives.

Yet, what seems most relevant are register entries of St Mary’s, Cheltenham, some 8 miles from Gloucester, which show Robert Brantly (Brentle) “bachelor” marrying Joan Goodriche “spinster”, on 16 October 1589. She may have been the da. of Thomas Goodrich and Joan Davis, who married on 3 February 1559; and she may have also been she who remarried to Gyles Mathews, on 28 November 1603.

Clarity is hindered by the inconsistency of church registry entries, yet what is evident is that the Goodrich family of Cheltenham were substantial leasors of land, and of the order of minor gentry:

Quitclaim. (1) John Goodrich, and William Goodrich, gentlemen, Thomas Butler gentleman and Joyce his wife. (2) John Alisaunder alias Mansell of Chorleton Kyngs, yeoman. 1 messuage and all the lands tenements fields meadows and pastures in Downehatherley and 2 tenements buildings with 2 gardens lying next to them situate in the parish of St. John the Baptist in the City of Gloucester, etc. (Gloucestershire Archives. D3117/190. 1538).

Hawthorne v Goodriche. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Hawthorne, widow. Defendants: Robert Goodriche. Subject of decree: Toft and 1 yardland in Northfield in Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire, of the manor of Cheltenham. (National Arcives, C 78/8/37. 29 Oct. 1552).

Goodriche v Atkyns. Plaintiffs: Eleanor and Ralph Goodriche. Defendants: Rowland Atkyns alias Goodriche. Subject: Messuage and land in the manor of West End Naunton in Cheltenham and Charlton Kings of the settlement of Richard Goodriche, deceased, husband of the said Eleanor and father of the said Ralph. Gloucestershire. (ibid., C 1/1432/24-28. 1556-1558).

Goodrich alias v Hawle. Plaintiffs: Rowland Goodrich alias Rowland Atkyns. Defendants: Henry Hawle. Subject: copyhold held of the manor of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. (ibid., C 1/1432/24-28. 1558-1579).

Merry v Goodrich. Plaintiffs: John Merry. Defendants: Richard Goodrich and Robert Goodrich his son. Subject: To remove a cause. Land holden of the manor of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, respecting which a suit is depending in the court of the said manor. (ibid., C 2/Eliz/M2/16. 1558-1603).

Reynolde v Goodriche. Plaintiffs: Thomas Reynoldes and his wife Jane, and Arthur Bromley and his wife Mary. Defendants: Rowland Goodriche. Subject of decree: Twelve messuages and 740 acres of land and woods in Ham, Neastend and Naunton in parishes of Charlton Kings and Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. (ibid, C 78/31/9. 24 June 1566).

Hawthorne v Goodriche. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Hawthorne, widow. Defendants: Robert Goodriche. Subject of decree: Toft and 1 yardland in Northfield in Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire, of the manor of Cheltenham. (ibid., C 78/8/37. 29 October 1552).

Hawthorne v Goodriche. Plaintiffs: John Hawthorne and John Merrye, both of Charlton Kings, Gloucestershire, yeo. Defendants: Richard Goodriche and Robert Goodriche (Jr.) his son. Subject of decree: Possession of copyhold lands in the parish of Charlton Kings held of the manor of Cheltenham. (ibid., C 78/31/9. 20 June 1601).

Joan Goodriche, the wife of Robert Brantley, as suggested, may have been the daughter of Thomas Goodrich and Joan Davis, and he a younger brother of Robert Goodriche Jr., but what of Robert Brantley?

His surname does not otherwise appear in the registers of St Mary’s, and this suggests that a common practice was being followed: that his wedding was taking place in the parish of his wealthy in-laws. 

This still leaves the question of the origins of his family unresolved, yet the social conventions of the time strongly suggest an answer: It would be highly unlikely that someone marrying into the Goodrich family was not of the Brantleys of Evesham, situated 17 miles from Cheltenham, and of an equal social status, albeit junior members of each family are probably concerned.

The known ancestry of the Evesham Brantleys relatively sparse; commencing with Richard Brantley, bapt. 1551; Serjeant of the Mace for Evesham. He was probably the brother of: 1. Thomas Brantley, who married Christian Burley, in 1587; he the father of Edward Brantley, who died in infancy; 2. William Brantley; 3. (it may be suggested), Robert Brantley, who married Joan Goodrich.

A number of sons of the next generation – John Brantley 1573, William Brantley, 1580, John Brantley, 1581, Thomas Brantley, 1583, sons of Robert; Thomas Brantley, 1591, Richard Brantley, 1592, may have been the father of Edward Brantley of Virginia. (Dates as baptisms).

Robert Brantley, who married Joan Goodrich, would be the most obvious of candidates, given later connections in Virginia:

1. George Moore (brother of Thomas Moore*), m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, a London vintner. George Moore (son of John Moore, mariner and merchant of Bristol), stated to be “age 78 years” when he made his will in 1710 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54).

Sister to George and Thomas was Katherine Moore, who married (2) Robert Flake (a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants). By her first husband, she had issue:

Joyce, who married (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. Francis (F. E.) England, George Cripps. William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Dryver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor, to collect from William Hoodson in Nansemond. 29 June 1667. (Bodie, vol. 2, p. 550). Francis England was probably closely related to John England: Surrender of lease – John England of Bristol, merchant to John Seymour. (Bristol Archives, 8017/24. 20 April 1676).

1.1. Eleanor Moore, married Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on 30 August 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642. In the Will of John Oliver, written 19 April 1652, he wrote, “I do appoint my loving friends James Piland and Robert Bird”.
1.1.1. James Piland. On 28 April 1720, he, Benjamin Hodges, and Roger Ingram witnessed the will of Robert Lancaster. James Piland, and James Wilson were appointed executors of the will of Hester Brantley, who was their second-cousin once removed, and sister of Elizabeth Joyner. James Piland, Arthur Wills, and James Wilson appraised the estate of John Brantley, on 26 April 1725.
1.1.1.1. James Piland, married Elizabeth Brantley, da. of Phillip (son of Edward) and Joyce (Lewis) Brantley; the da. of Rebecca George (da. of John) and Thomas Lewis. John and Nicholas George of Virginia were very probably of the Gorges of Portbury, Somerset, a junior line of those of Wraxall. Nicholas George was the father-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2. Ann Moore, married Thomas White. The estates of Ann Moore and her husband Thomas White were appraised between 22 March 1741 and 26 July 1742 by Thomas Day, John Goodrich, and Edward Brantley. (Chapman, Wills, p. 142). Edward Brantley was security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

*February 1692: Thomas Moore and Thomas Thorpe. sworn by Capt. John Goodrich to appraise the estate of Richard Towle. (D.B 1, p. 133). John Goodrich was an overseer of the Will of Francis England; a witness being Richard Bennett (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Security later given by Richard Sharpe. (R. 9 June 1677). George Bechinoe’s Will was witnessed by Robert Kae, an overseer of the Will of John Goodrich Jr. George Moore administered the estate of George Bechinoe.

1 John Goodrich, 1616-1698, by deposition. April 18 1679, Joyce Cripps: Leg. Husb. George cripps the lands and tenements given me by my former husband, Francis England, to the son of Francis England … Goddaughters, Elizabeth Hayes, Joyce Butler, and Joyce Wombwell … my three Godsons, James Bennett, Nicholas Davis, and William Phillips, my mother Flake. My husband Extr. R. 9 June 1679. Wit: John Gutridge (Goodrich), Rebecca Davis, Will Evans. (W&D B. 2, P. 202).
1.1. Capt. John Goodrich, 13 January 1695: Legatees: Son George land adjoining Thomas Proud and Thomas Thorpe, son John the land on which Thomas Drew now lives, land bought of Gilbert Adams to my two aforesaid sons, daus. Honour, Constancy and Mary, da. Elizabeth the land given her by her grandfather in law George Cripps. Wife Extx. Overseers: my brother Robert Kae and Mr. James Day. R. June 9, 1696.(W&D B. 2, p. 369). John Goodrich m. Anne Bechinoe, da. of Edward Bechinoe; an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, who died in 1677. June 9, 1679: Edward Bechinoe Estate. Mary Bechinoe, Richard Bennett.
1.1.1. John Goodrich Jr. The Newport Parish, IOW Co., Vestry Book, 12 February 1727, shows John Goodrich as a neighbour of Edward and James Brantley.

SEWARD

1. Bartholomew Seward.
1.1. William Seward. Bond in £6 by John Woode of Bristol, merchant, and John Cutt of Burnett, Somerset (17 mls fr. Wrington), gentleman, to William Lavington of Bristol, merchant, to be void if Wood and Cutt, their heirs, administrators, executors or assigns, pay £3 to Lavington, his heirs, administrators, executors or assigns, by 29 September 1594 at Lavington’s house in the Backe in Bristol. Signed by Wood and Cutte, and witness William, son of Bartholomew Seward. (WARD 2/54A/184/8).
1.1.1. Robert Seward, evidenced here; 1. Hierome Ham and Nicholas Meredith, gents. Ald. Abel Kitchin, Christopher Whitson, Henry Yate, John Northall, Abel Kitchin jun. Thomas Farman, Robert Kitchin, Robert Seward, William Yeomans, William Heaminge, Richard Jones (of Wrington and Chew Magna), Thomas Whittorne, Humfry Read, William Lymell, James Birkin, William Brinsdon, Toby Patch, Gabriel Deeme, Luke Hodges (cousin of the Wedmore Hodges), Edward Gerrish, Thomas Turner, Henry Gibbes, jun., Henry Yate, jun., John Kitchin, Henry Northall, William Yeaman. Parish lands of Christchurch; details given. (Bristol Archives, P/Xch/F/1. 18 Dec. 1626).
1.1.1.1. John Seaward, evidenced here: 400 ac. IOW Co.; 18 June 1638. Upon Warresquioke River. Beginning at a pynie pint by a little gutt running into the woods right over against the land of Nathaniell Floyd and near his former pattent. “Francis Hobbs’now wife Mary was former wife of Nathaniel Floyd deceased”. Francis Hobbs’ da. was the wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Francis Hobbs. Leg.- Alice Davis; cousin John Davis (the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, owed him money); cousin Margaret Harris the da. of John Harris. Ex., brother John Harris. R. 9 June 1688. Samuel Davis, sold this plot to John Bond, whose family, as the Fulghams, were of Pitminster, Somerset, and tenants of the Symes. John Seward was a headright of John Moone, in Warrasquinoake, in 1635. John Moone was kin of the Fulghams, Anthony Fulgham’s brother, Thomas, having married Mary (Moone) Green, half-sister of Sarah Moone, wife of John Pitt, of Bristol.

1. Thomas Pitt of Blandford Forum, North Dorset, m. Priscilla.
1.1. William Pitt, b. 1578, Bristol (encompasses North Somerset and South Gloucestershire); d. 25 Oct. 1624, in Bristol, Will pr. 3 Feb. 1625. I give my son William my best Turkey ring, which was my great grandfather’s, Mr. Roger Cookes. My second ring with pearl I give to son Robert. My signet ring I give my son Henry, and my ruby ring to my son Thomas. My books to son William, Sons to have their portion at one and twenty and daus. at twenty or marriage. Brother-in-law Richard Davis 20s for a ring and sister Mary Davis a double Harry gold sovereign of gold. William Pitt married Mary Owen, da. of Robert Owen, of Bristol, Merchant. His Will was probated 16 Feb. 1615 (8 Cope), mentioning “My cousin Rice Davies, esq. My brother in law William Pitt, overseer”. His da., Mary, m. Richard Davis esq, of Tickenham. Rice Davies m., thirdly, Mary Pitt, widow of Robert Owen. His first wife was Dorothy, da. of Maurice Rodney, Esq., and sister of Sir George Rodney; thus, his family were of familial association with the Hodges of Wedmore; from which stock came Hodges Council of Virginia.
1.1.1. William Pitt, held land in Redcliffe Street, Bistol.
1.1.2. Henry Pitt. He was Captain Henry Pitt, of Pagan Creek, who m. (2) Ann, widow of Robert Watson. His son, Thomas, m. Col. Athur Smith’s da., Mary. (see as follows).
1.1.3. Col. Robert Pitt, d. bef. 9 Jan. 1674, IOW. He was Captain of ‘the Thunder’, a merchant ship out of Bristol, and a Colonel in the Virginia Militia.
1.1.3.1. John Pitt, married Olive, da. of John Hardy and Alice Bennett, and relict of Giles Driver (of Bristol), a headright of Thomas Harris, who died in 1672, as stated.

It was not that John Seward was strictly of Bristol, Gloucestershire, as his Will indicates. The border between Gloucestershire and Somerset was not the firm concept that it is now, and his farm in Butcombe, Somerset, leased from Edward Bampfield, was only 11 miles from Bristol. He bequested lands in Barrington (as it correctly reads); northwest of Petherton, 17 miles from Wiveliscombe, and 23 miles from Wrington. His wife was bequested “other lands bought in that county from Thomas Parsyvall”. This bequest certainly included lands in Hemington: “Seward, John, immigrant, came to Virginia from Bristol, England, before 1635. He was a merchant and had grants of land in Isle of Wight county, one of which was called “New Hemington.” (Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography). Hemington is 4 miles fom Mells/Nunney, and was the domain of the the Bampfields. It was there that Ann Harris (da. of William), bapt. 14 Dec. 1645, married William Persons (born 1649), on 20 Sept. 1674.

John Seward, “Merchant being bound to Sea on a Voyage of Bristol”, died in 1651 (PROB 11/216/686: Will of John Seward, Merchant being bound to Sea on a Voyage of Bristol, Gloucestershire). Francis Yeomans of Bristol, gent., and Walter Stephens of Bristol, mercer, were named overseers, and receive 40s. apiece.

Walter Stephens witnessed the following marriage settlement by deed: 1. Henry Pitt (aforementioned), merchant. 2. Thomas Dale of Wrington, Somerset, gent., Walter Stephens, mercer, John Price and William Shute, gent. Premises: One messuage in Redcliffe Street, St. Thomas One garden near St.Thomas’ Lane, St. Thomas One messuage in Redcliffe Street, Redcliffe. Consideration: Marriage, already solemnised between Henry Pitt and Margaret, da. of Thomas Dale and £450 dowry. (Bristol Archives, 9 June 1635).

It is very probable that John Seward was of a family which straddled the Gloucestershire/Somerset border, as was the case of many of his fellow Bristol mariners, an example being Francis Derrick, the purchaser of Sergeant John Harris’s land, who held land in Somerset, near Wedmore.

The following probates may be of relevance to the wider family of John Seward: PROB 11/203/38: Will of John Seward, Gentleman of Kingston Seymour, Somerset. 7 January 1648. PROB 11/245/378: Will of John Seward, Gentleman of Kilmington, Somerset. 22 May 1655.

As given, John Seward claimed the headright of Edward Brantley.

BECHINOE

1. George Bechinoe.
1.1. Conyers Bechinoe: Bechinoe v Eckly. Plaintiffs: Conyers Bechinoe and others. Defendants: John Eckly and others. Place or subject: property in Henbury, Bristol etc, Gloucestershire. (C 7/540/16m 1678) PROB 11/359/166: Will of John Eckly, Apothecary of Bristol, Gloucestershire 6 Feb. 1679. Dennis Hollister of the City of Bristol, grocer, 1 September 1675, with a codicil bearing date 6 July 1676, proved 21 July 1676: To son, “my corner house and shop which I bought of Richard Jones, in the parish called Mary Part in Bristol (from whence the Pilands) … To my da. Lydia Jordan, wife of Thomas Jordan, my new house lately built at Frampton Cotterel … next to my grandda., Bridget Jordan, my da. Lydia’s eldest da., and a portion to my grandda. Lydia Jordan … my da. Phebe Hollister half of my Inn called the Whitehart, in Broad Street, one fourth part of which was my wife’s inheritance and one fourth I lately bought of Anne Yeomans deceased, and one other fourth part I lately bought of Edmond French, son and heir of Elizabeth French also deceased, and the other fourth part I lately bought of Henry Rowe and Judith his wife, which said Judith, Elizabeth, Ann and my wife were the daus. and coheirs of Edmond Popley, merchant deceased. Witnesses I. Chauncy, John Eckly, Rich. Hawksworth. Richard Jones:

William Hancock m. Elizabeth Spencer, da. of Nicholas Spencer, and sister of Robert Spencer, who m. Elazabeth White da. of Captain John White of Surry Co. His widow remarried to Captain William Corker. William Hancock’s son and namesake m. Elizabeth Spencer, having issue: John Hancock, who m. Jane Holt. da. of Randall Holt Jr. and Elizabeth Hansford, da. of John Hansford of York Co. and Elizaeth Jones, da. of Richard Jones. John Hansford; his will written in 1654, noted that Robert Jones was the tutor of his children and leaves him a legacy of 500 lbs. of tobacco.

The will of Elizabeth Hansord was record in February, 1677: I give & bequeath unto my sonne Wiliam Hansford 7 his heirs forever that seat of land now in the possession of William Coman scituate & lying & beingin Bruton Parish being my right & due as being the surviving child of Mr. Richard Jones my father dec’d.

Elizabeth Jones, wife of Richard, had obtained Power of Attorny over her husbands estate when he briefly left Virginia. She was to be assisted by George Light (Lyde), her husbands friend. After Richard’s death, in 1660, Light claimed that his estate owed him £8 for the building of a Tobacco House. On 23 August, 1660, Henry Andrews, of London, Merchant, gave Letter of Attorney to George Light to recover from Elizabeth Jones, widow and executrix of Richard Jones, late of Virginia, decd. Witnessed in London by Robert Spencer.

William Lyde (Light), m. Elizabeth Jones, da. of “Richard Jones Esq., of Stowey, Co. Somerset”(Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, ref. 212B/709. 7 Aug. 1669).
Richard Jones Esq. of Stowey in Chew Magna ; born 1605 and Joyce Woodward, had issue, baptised at Stowey:
Thomas Jones, 1 Jan. 1627.
William Jones, 5 Jul. 1630.
Richard Jones, 3 Apr 1634.
Elizabeth Jones 29 Sept. 1636.
Richard Jones, 8 Mar. 1637. His younger sibling was not deceased, but may have been ill.
Susanna Jones 28 Mar. 1639.
Samuel Jones, 22 Jun. 1640.
John Jones, 7 Apr. 1642.

1.2. Edward Bechinoe, d. 9 June 1679, m. Mary.
1.2.1. George Bechinoe, d. aft. 10 Aug. 1700.
1.2.1.1. Edward Bechinoe.
1.2.2. Anne ‘Alice’ Bechinoe, d. 1712, m. (1) Robert Kæ, (2) John Goodrich Jr., b. 9 April 1653, d. 9 June 1695.
1.2.2.1. Elizabeth Goodrich, d. 1737, m. Francis Wrenn.
1.2.2.2. Honour Goodrich, d. 1760, m. (1) James Wilson, (2) Thomas Pierce.
1.2.2.3. Constance Goodrich, d. 1752, m. (1) Benjamin Hodges, (2) John Harrison.
1.2.2.4. Mary Goodrich, m. George Riddick, d. 7 April 1727.

HARRIS

1. William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke, 31 Aug. 1562, in Wiveliscombe; kin of a family of Forte.
1.1. Richard Harris, m. (8 Oct. 1594), Eleanor Bennet, sister of (1) Thomas Bennett, who had issue: (1) Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe, father of Alice Bennett, who m. John Hardy. Nugent, C&P vol. 1, p. 569; their da., Lucy, m. Hodges Council; her sister m. Richard Jackson, their da., Mary Jackson, m. Capt. George Hardy, appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677. (2) Richard Bennett, bapt. 6 Aug. 1609, Governor of Virginia. (2) Edward Bennett.
1.1.1. William Harris, bapt. 28 Jan. 1595. He may have been the William Harris, headright of John Moone in IOW, in 1637 – the Fulgham connection.
1.1.2. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, 20 Nov. 1623, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, probably he who d. in Virginia in 1672. Thomas Harris was the cousin of Richard Bennett, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’). Mr. Charles Barham Ex., Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tuke overseers, were officers of the will of William Ridley, who was probably the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife. Thomas Harris, Will recorded 13 Nov. 1672. Security: John Newman and Edward Brantley. Thomas Harris was also the nephew of Edward Bennett. Christopher Reynolds Sr. emigrated to Virginia as an indentured servant of Mr. Edward Bennett. Bk. 1, pp. 46-8, “Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my son Christopher Reynolds Jr. all my land on the southerly side of the Freshest swamp that Richard Jordan (his son-in-law who m. da. Elizabeth Reynolds) now liveth upon”.
1.1.2.1. John Harris. William Groves, appraisal by John Harris, Edward Brantley, Elias Fort and Edward Grantham; recorded 9 Feb. 1678. (B. 2, p. 172). John Harris m. a da. of Francis Hobbs, who sold Edward Brantley 675 ac. adj. Thomas Tuke, in 1669.
1.1.2.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Probably he bapt. 31 Dec. 1637, in Cheddar (the domain of the Lancasters, who also held land in Wiveliscombe), ‘son of Thomas’.
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1730: Thomas Harris 290 ac. IOW, on the Maherin River and both sides of Herbert’s Branch adj. Edward Brantley (son of Phillip and Joyce Lewis), and William Simmons line, 24 March 1725. Edward Brantley, John Thorpe, and Thomas Purcell appraisers. Edward Brantley’s son, John, m. the widow of Thomas Harris, Hannah Judkins.
1.1.2.2.2. Robert Harris.
1.1.2.2.2.1. John Harris, d. 1772 in Southampton Co., m. Avis White.
1.1.3. Richard Harris.
1.1.3.1. John Harris, bapt. 18 Feb. 1624; probably d. 1687, Virginia, m. Unity. He was the second-cousin of Richard Bennett, Governor of Virginia, whose first wife, Anne, was Charles Barham’s sister.
1.1.2.1. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710.
1.1.2.2. John Harris. On 9 Nov. 1708, Samuel Lancaster was granted the administration of the estate of John Harris, his brother-in-law
1.1.4. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek; 26 October 1646, James Tooke to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease.
1.1.4.1. Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, Wedmore (juxta Cheddar), ‘son of Robert’; he who probably d. in 1677, in Virginia.

RIDLEY

1. John Ridley, Iron Acton, gent., W., and Margery Machin, Ham.
1.1. Thomas Ridley. John Harvey, clerk v. Thomas Ridley: Rectory and parish of Iron Acton, in the county of Gloucester. Tithes.: Gloucester 19 Chas 2. (Bristol Archives, E 134/19Chas2/East26). Marriage settlement. 1 Elizabeth (relict of Thomas) Ridley of Iron Acton, Glos, widow. 2 Thomas Smith of Yate, Glos, gent. 3 Alexander Tomes of Wickwarr, gent and John Neale of Yate, yeoman … several closes of meadow or pasture … etc. … all in Wickwarr in tenure of Elizabeth Ridley formerly purchased by John Tomes late father of Elizabeth Ridley from James Woolworth als Webb and wife Christian and bequeathed to Elizabeth Ridley by will of John Tomes; to use of Elizabeth Ridley for life; then to use of Thomas Smith for life, then to their issue, in default of which, to right heirs of Elizabeth Ridley. (Bristol Archives, P/HTS/I/4/g 1677. 2-3 Nov. 1677).
1.2. John Ridley, Will probated 26 Apr 1699.

William Machin married Elizabeth Ridley, at Winterbourne, Somerset, the parish of John Seward’s wife.

MERRICK

Will of William Merrick, merchant, of Bristol. Provides for annuity of £70 for wife Sarah to bring her jointure to £150 p.a., as previously agreed. Lands, mess., ten., plantations, negro slaves, etc., in Barbodoes and England to son, Thomas Merrick.
House, etc., in St. Michaels Hill, Bristol, to wife, Sarah. No note of Probate. ( Bristol Archives, JER/WA/30/6. 29 Oct. 1684).

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