William Richmond als. Webb purchased Lydiard Manor in 1576. William Webb(e) was a Roman Catholic and was fined £20 for harbouring a priest in 1581. In 1610 the house was ransacked in the search for arms. There was a chapel in the roof over the drawing room and two secret rooms beyond which could hide two men. Priests could escape to the woods where there were two small cottages. 2
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"By indenture dated 31 October 44 Eliz [1602] between William WEBB and John ESCOURTE of Tetbury and Edmund MASKELYNE* of Pyrton in consideration of a marriage to be had between Ambrose WEBB naturall son of the said William and Emma ESCOURTE one of the daughters of George ESCOURTE of Tetbury and of 100 marks, William WEBB granted to John and Edmund in trust meadow and pasture ground in Lyddiard Millicent called the Hydes, of 20 acres and meadows or pasture ground called the Great or Further Lye..." 3
* William's nephew (son of his sister Jane).
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Will of William Webb of Lydiard Millicent, Gent., written 8 Feb 1609/10, proved 27 Apr 1610 4.
Abstract:
- wills that his body be buried in the chancell of the parish church of Lydiard Millicent
- Item: gives and bequeaths to the mother church Sarisbury twelve pence
- Item: gives and bequeaths to the poor people of Lydiard Millicent twelve shillings
- Item: gives and bequeaths forty shillings to the reparations of the parish church of Lydiard Millicent — ten shillings a year until the forty shillings is paid, the first payment to begin from and immediately after his decease
- Item: gives and bequeaths to the parish church of Pirton three shillings and four pence
- Item: gives and bequeaths to every one of his godchildren who asks his executors twelve pence each
- Item: gives and bequeaths to every one of his poor tenants holding of him a lease within the parish of Lydiard Millicent their first half year's rent which shall be due the next half year after his decease so as their year's rent does not exceed three shillings per annum
- Item: gives and bequeaths twenty shillings each to Margaret Webb, Bridget Webb, Ann Webb and Dorothie Webb, daughters of his son Gyles Webb
- Item: gives and bequeaths three score pounds to his daughter Katherine Lockesmith
- Item: gives and bequeaths twenty shillings each to William Lockesmith and Elianor Lockesmith, son and daughter of his said daughter Catherine Lockesmith
- Item: gives and bequeaths twenty pounds to Susanna Lockesmith daughter of his said daughter Catherine Lockesmith
- Item: gives and bequeaths twenty shillings each to William Webb and Henry Webb sons of his son Ambros Webb
- Item: gives and bequeaths twenty shillings each to William Boothe and Anne Boothe son and daughter of his daughter Mary Boothe
- Item: gives and bequeaths twenty shillings each to Anthoney Hungerford and John Hungerford sons of his daughter Jane Hungerford
- Item: gives and bequeaths to William Webb the son of his son John Webb the wintering and summering twenty sheep in his pasture grounds of Lydiard Millicent so long as he shall be unmarried.
- Item: wills and ordains that his sons Robert Webb and Bennett Webb as well the said William Webb the son of his son John Webb shall have a chamber and lodging within his mansion house wherein he currently dwells in Lydiard Millicent, so long as they shall remain single and unmarried, and also shall have sufficient and necessary fire wood to use in the said house so long as they are unmarried, to be delivered to them at the house from time to time as they shall have occasion to use the same.
- Item: wills that his said son Robert Webb and William Webb the son of his said son John Webb shall have the keeping of all his woods and coppisses [copses] in Bradon during their natural lives, and to have the selling of all the underwood and thorns there to the use of his heirs, and for their pains to see that no spoil be made of the woods and thorns he gives to each of them one load of wood yearly with other usual fees.
- Item: gives and bequeaths to Gyles Webb his son all his lands, tenements, rents, hereditaments, services, woods, underwood and wastes and hereditaments whatsoever whereof he now stands seised and possessed of in Lydiard Millicent, Shawe and Bradon in the county of Wiltes, to have and to hold the same during the natural life of Gyles, only to the purpose of bringing up his children. And after the decease of his said son Gyles Webb he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to the heirs male of Gyles lawfully begotten or to be begotten for ever. And for default of such issue he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to his said son Ambrose Webb to have and to hold during his natural life for the bringing up of his children. And after the decease of his said son Ambrose Webb, if his said son Gyles shall happen to have no male heir, then he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to the heirs male of Ambrose lawfully begotten or to be begotten for ever. And for default of such issue he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to William Webb the son of the said John Webb to have and to hold for his natural life. After the decease of the said William Webb, if Gyles and Ambrose happen to have no male heirs, then he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to the heirs male of William Webb etc. And for default of such issue he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to the heirs male of the said Robert Webb if Gyles, Ambrose and William have no male heirs. And if Robert has no male heirs, then he gives and bequeaths all and singular the said premisses to the heirs male of the said Bennett Webb. He also wills that none of the heirs male shall at any time hereafter bargain, sell or demise above three years all or any part or parcel of the said premisses to any person or persons so long as there is any male heir of his said sons or sons' sons...
- All the rest of his goods and chattels not given or bequeathed, his debts, legacies and funeral expenses discharged, he gives and bequeaths to Christopher Webb the son of his said son Gyles Webb and to the said William Webb the son of his son John Webb, making and ordaining Christopher Webb and William Webb the executors of his last will and testament. He makes and appoints his sons in law William Locksmith and Thomas Booth gent to be the overseers of his last will and testament and give to each of them twenty shillings for their pains.
- Witnesses: Robert Rowles, Bennett Webb, William Gomond, John Turner, Ambrose Clarke als. Tyler, William Locksmith Junior, John Holland.
Research Notes: