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There were SMITHERS in Worplesdon from at least
1587 to 1659 when the last member of the family, Thomas SMITHERS (notThomas SMITHERS-8),
married to Eleanor, sold the 18 acres of land with orchard and cottage left
to him by his father. He received £60
and left the parish probably for St Botolph Bishopsgate in After ten years without any record of Smithers in
the parish, Thomas–8 baptised ten children at Worplesdon between 1679 and
1701. It is not known however whether he was related to the earlier Smither
family or whether he was a newcomer to the parish. He was married to Thomas was buried at Worplesdon in 1708 and Elizabeth in 1731. |
C=Christened
|
age DATE RS EW |
EVENT |
|
? 1650 ? 1675 25 20 |
Thomas born? Thomas & Elizabeth
married? son Thomas baptised at
Worplesdon dau Elizabeth C at
Worplesdon twins Mary and Ann C at
Worplesdon dau Ann buried at
Worplesdon dau Mary buried at
Worplesdon son William C at
Worplesdon son James C at
Worplesdon son John C at Worplesdon son James C at
Worplesdon son Richard C at
Worplesdon dau Mary C at Worplesdon Thomas buried at
Worplesdon |
b=born m=married
d=died
C=Christened B=Buried
Thomas baptised his first son Thomas at Worplesdon in 1679 so he was probably born about 1650. There is no suitable baptism at Worplesdon, though SMITHERS were present there from at least 16C.
The last record of a SMITHER in the parish before 1679 was the death of Thomas SMITHER in 1659. He had previously arranged that his land a and premises called Little Pidle would pass to his eldest son Thomas (see manorial record nelow). Thomas and his wife Elinor promptly sold the land for £60 (see foot of fine below) and seem to have left the parish as no SMITHERS were recorded in the parish in the 1662 and 1664 hearth tax. Thomas and Eleanor possibly moved to Bishopsgate in London, as parents with these names baptised children there from 1645 to 1662. However their son named Thomas died there in 1644.
A family tree for the SMITHERS of Worplesdon in the 16/17C incorporating the London St Botolph’s Bishopsgate family has been constructed (see SMITHERS-TW)
SMITHERS is a common
Only three possible Thomas baptisms near Worplesdon are known:
C
C
C
The Bramley family can be discounted since the 1687 will of William of Bramley refers to his grandson James, son of Thomas, but Thomas of Worplesdon’s son James not born until 1694. The son of William and Ann looks promising as Thomas of Worplesdon used these names for his chidren. However, unless this was a late baptism, he would have been only 16 when he baptised his first child at Worplesdon, which seems very unlikely. If Thomas son of Thomas and Jone moved to Worplesdon he would have baptised children from aged 43 to 65 and died aged 72. These are possible ages but it has not been possible to prove or disprove this origin of Thomas-8.
A 16/17C
SMITHERS tree TG has been constructed for the
Thomas & Elizabeth baptised children between 1679 and 1701, so their marriage was probably about 1675. No suitable marriage has been identified.
Thomas Smither married Elizabeth Goddard at Hascombe in 1667 but this gives an unlikely 12 year delay before the baptism of their first born in Worplesdon
Thomas
SMITH and Elizabeth GIBBS
m15Apr1678 at Merstham,
from Worplesdon register:
C
C
C 2Apr1686 Mary twin d Thomas SMITHARD; B 14May1687 Mary d of Thomas SMITHER
C
C
C
C
C
C
there are possible burials of Thomas & Elizabeth at Worplesdon with no suitable alternatives, but no confirmation that these are correct:
B
B 23May1731
Worplesdon
Manor 1653-1662 ref:G97/6/2 (Guildford Muniment Room)
Court
Baron 20Dec1653; no SMITHER on jury
Court Baron
24Jul1656, jury: John MARTYN, Wm OAKELY, Wm CLIFTON, Henry BAKER, Richard
NAKER, Henry MARTYN, Abraham ESTEED, Thomas COX, Richard HUNTINGFORD, Edward
HEATHER, Stevn SMYTH, Thomas LOVELAND, Richard HAREWOOD, John GYLES, Robt
KINGE;
Thomas
SMITHER the elder one of the customary tenants of the manor did on 1Jun1655
surrender to the lord by the acceptance of Robt KINGE and John GYLES two
customary tenants of the manor all the part of a messuage or cottage and one
parcel of land with the app. commonly called Little Pidle to the use of the
said Thomas SMETHER the elder for his life and after his decease to the use of
Thomas SMETHER the younger, son of the said Thomas SMETHER, and his heirs. The said Thomas the elder and Thomas the
younger being present in court desired admission to the premises to whom the
lord did grant the premises; fine 5/- both admitted
Cout Baron
Court
Baron 20Jul1659: no SMITHER on jury
Court
Baron
Foot of
Fine ref:TNA CO/25/2/602/1658H
Final
agreement made in court of Common Bench Westminster, 8 days of Purification of
Mary 1658. Thomas SMYTH gent plaintiff,
Thomas SMITHER and Elenor his wif deforc. 1 messuage, 1 garden, 1 orchard, 8 acres land, 4a meadow,
6a pasture, common of pasture for all manner of cattle, common of turbary with app in Worplesdon remised and
quitclaimed from the said Thomas Smither & Elenor....Thomas Smith hath given
£60 sterling to Thomas Smyther & Elenor.
On
reverse: 1st 12Feb1658, 2nd 2May1659, 3rd 7June1659, 4th 26Oct1659