Richard must have been a pillar of the Wivelsfield community, a churchwarden in 1609, and a juror on the manorial courts of Houndean (1609-1642), Keymer (1605-1617) and Portslade (1627-1641). He even presided over the Court of Houndean for one meeting in 1609 and was a reeve of that manor at the time of the enclosure of Chailey common, when each copyholder agreed to pay a fine of 6d for each acre held. Sometime before this, he had appeared at the Cuckfield manor court, as a juror in 1597 and on 30 Sep 1601, and continued to attend infrequently in this capacity until at least 1612. This regular attendance at local Manor Courts certainly appears to give the lie to the assumption that people of the time did not move far from their home village. Certainly, roads were not good, especially in the winter, but this did not mean that people did not travel at all. To attend Court at Portslade, for example, Richard Dumbrell would have travelled more than twelve miles, negotiating the South Downs on the way.
Back at home as the churchwarden at Wivelsfield, Richard was in trouble with the church council for failing to repair the churchyard fence in October 1609, and the churchyard itself was in a poor state at this time, by Richard's own admission. 'Our churchyarde is in default', he said at one meeting, 'but who is to repaye it we cannot sureley tell'. The other churchwarden at the time was Edmund Attree, owner of Great Otehall and Lord of the Manor. In 1612, Richard was granted the right to cart away from his land three loads of straw, for which he paid 12 pence, presumably towards the upkeep of the parish roads.
Richard's wife Mary died in Wivelsfield at the beginning of August 1636, and he remarried just a year later. His new wife, whom he wed in Keymer church, on 31 Aug 1637 was Margaret Blunden, a widow of the parish. Born Margaret Virgo, of a family very prolific in this part of mid-Sussex, she had married George Blunden at Keymer in February 1628. By now, Richard could have been around sixty-five. His new wife may also have been past child-bearing years and there were no children from the marriage. A further example of Richard's respectability in the community is that he asked John Godley, a local landholder and tailor in the City of London, to stand surety at his wedding to Margaret Blunden. The following year, when John Godley himself was married, Richard Dumbrell reciprocated the favour. 3
-------------------------------
Copy of court roll, manor of Houndean, 16 Apr 1604. 4
Admission of Richard Dumbrell as youngest son and heir on the second proclamation of the death of his father John Dumbrell, of a messuage and yard called Hantye in Wivelsfield.
Stewards: John Rowe the elder and Herbert Springett
-------------------------------
In Nov 1604 Richard Dumbryll was the sole executor and residuary legatee of his mother’s Will.
-------------------------------
In Aug 1612 Richard Dumbrell of Wivelsfield was named in the Will of his father-in-law John Aridge of Iford, yeoman, as the husband of John’s daughter Mary. Richard Dumbrell was also one of those who appraised the value of John Aridge’s goods and chattels.
-------------------------------
Abstract of the Will of Richard Dumbrell the Elder of the Parish of Wivelsfield in the County of Sussex, Yeoman, written 23 Mar 1647, proved 12 Jun 1649. 5
(Names of family members are underlined.)
Gives and bequeaths to the poor of the parish of Wivelsfield 6 shillings 8 pence.
Gives and bequeaths 1 shilling to his son John Dumbrell.
Gives and bequeaths 1 shilling to his son Francis Dumbrell.
Gives and bequeaths 20 shillings to the three children of his daughter Annes (Agnes), to be equally divided between them.
All the rest of his goods, chattels and cattle he gives and bequeaths to his son Richard Dumbrell whom he appoints sole executor of his last will and testament.
Requests that his friends Edmond Attree and Anthony Alexander be overseers of his last will and testament, paying them 5 shillings each for their efforts.
Witnesses: John Attree, Harbert Morley
Research Notes: