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Dackombe
Daccom Dackham etc genealogy
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10 November 2008 |
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Dr Geoffrey Mann |
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9 Robert DACKOMBE 1644-1724 |
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?1m Jane c1665 2m Mary WYKE c1680 |
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There are fifteen known separate references to a Robert Dackombe of London
living between 1640 and 1724. There
is no proof that they all refer to the same man, but none of the references
preclude that possibility, ie they all fit the life of one man. The name is quite uncommon, so at present
it seems safer to assume that there was only one man of this name,
rather than invent two or more of them.
The following account of Robert’s life therefore includes all the
known references assuming they all refer to one man. Robert was born in Edmonton about 1644, the son of John and Mary Dackombe, and the grandson of Sir John Dackombe, former chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Robert’s father died in the same year that he was born. At the age of 23 Robert married Jane, and at least three sons were born, two of them baptised at St Benet in the City of London, newly rebuilt after the great fire. In 1673, Robert joined a troop of the Guards, perhaps as a part-time activity as there is no record of any further military connection. Jane died after the last child was born about 1678 though no record has been found. Robert married Mary Wyke about 1680. Mary came from a wealthy family and had inherited property worth £1000 when she was 21, but her mother left her only £50 in her will of 1681 calling her “unfortunate and undutiful”. Two children were baptised at St Andrew Holborn while Robert and Mary were living at Dean St, Fetter Lane. Two more were baptised at nearby St Bride’s, Fleet St. Robert’s fortunes seem to deteriorate; he was named a gentleman at the baptism of his son in 1685, but in a tax assessment of 1695 he was listed in the general population, living with his wife in Plough Yard, Holborn. There were very many people living in Plough Yard at this time. He had previously filed a lawsuit in1668 to gain his grandfather’s estate at Edmonton, but this was unsuccessful. He became involved in further Chancery proceedings concerning the rightful ownership of property in Denbighshire, occupied by his wife’s nephew. He travelled to Denbigh on at least one occasion; this was in 1718 when he was 76 and he was accused of helping his nephew’s right to the title by breaking in to a store-room through a window by ladder and burning vital documents. Robert died at the age of 82 and was buried in St Bride’s Fleet St. |
C = Christened
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age DATE RD MW |
EVENT |
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c1644 c1644 9May1665 21 c1665 21 c1666 22 5Nov1668 24 1Jun1673 29 25Feb1674 30 21Oct1677 33 c1678 34 c1680 36 26? 20Jny1681 37 27 4May1682 38 28 24Jun1684 40 30 11Jny1685 41 31 21Mar1688 44 34 28Feb1689 45 35 1695 51 41 1718 74 64 16Jny1724 80 70 20Feb1727 73 |
Robert born, son of John & Mary, grandson of Lady Melior of
Edmonton father John died John Dackomb of Tottenham, admon to son Robert of Tottenham ? married Jane ? son Robert born filed (unsuccessful) suite to
gain grandfather’s estate at Edmonton joined Guards and signed a Sacramental Certificate at St Martin in the
Fields son Solomon C at St Benet, London
son Henry C at St Benet London ?? Jane died married Mary WYKE Mary’s mother’s will refers to her daughter Mary DACKOMBE dau Mary C at Holborn St Andrew; Robert and Mary in Fetter Lane son Robert died at sea son Robert C at Holborn St Andrew, Robert, gent, in Dean St, Fetter
Lane dau Mary C at St Bride’s Fleet St son John C at St Bride's Fleet St Robert & Mary living in Plough Yard, Holborn Robert answered chancery suit; usual abode London, went to Marchwiel
Jun1718 Robert buried at St Bride’s Fleet St ?Mary buried at St
Bride’s Fleet St |
b=born m=married d=died
C=Christened B=Buried
Robert married about 1680 (certainly between 1670 and 1681) and died in 1724; assuming a marriage age of 20 or more and a burial age less than 90, he would have been born between 1634 and 1661. He may have been married previously c1665, in which case he was born between 1634 and1644.
At present no suitable baptism of Robert has been found. However on 8Jul1644 Lady Melior DACKOMBE of Edmonton in MDX made her will leaving most of her household goods to her “little grandchild” Robert DACKOMBE.
A chancery
suite by Robert Dackombe grandson of Melior (see below) states that he was
“not above 4 years old” when Melior died.
Melior was buried 16Jny 1646/7, so Robert was probably born between
Jan1642 and Jan1643.
Melior’s will of 1644 indicates that Robert’s father, John,
had already died, but on
9May1665 admon of John Dackombe late of Tottenham High Cross MDX, esquire was
granted to his son Robert Dackombe.
If this record refers to the descendants of Melior, then it appears that
Robert Dackombe was granted admon of his father’s estate shortly after reaching
the age of 21. This is probably
because he wanted to file the chancery suite referred to above that aimed to
claim his grandfather’s estate at Edmonton; he would need to show that he was
his father’s heir.
At present no records have been found to prove or disprove that this Robert, grandson of Lady Melior, was Robert-9 the father of John-8, but circumstantial evidence suggests that he was:
Further research is continuing, but for the present it will be assumed that this is the correct origin of Robert. Other possible origins under investigation include the following:
C
27Jny1640+ Robert s Richard DACKEOM or DACKEOUR at Piddlehinton DOR, preceded
by:
m 27Mar1640
Richard DACCOM & Dorothy CLAVERING at Piddlehinton, DOR
There
are no further records of this family in the Piddlehinton registers, so the
fate of this Robert is not known.
Robert of Glasely in Salop; died in 1621, and
his will shows he was survived only by two daughters Jane and Mary
Robert, vicar of Horton, Dorset. Beneficiary of will of brother George of
London 1629; d1648, admon to wife Dorothy; no known descendants
Robert of Corfe Castle, DOR, b1608, gent in
1642 protestation return; d1663 (inventory); no known descendants
Lady
Melior’s husband, Sir John Dackombe, had two brothers, Nicholas and William,
both of whom lived in London in 17th C. William DACKOMBE married Thomasine BOWBER on 13Nov1611 at
Buckland St Mary, Somerset, and later a widow Selina BASKETT. He was of Dewlish in Dorset in 1619, but was
put in the Fleet prison for debt around 1625 and died there in 1634. This is too early to be the father of
Robert, but it is known from his admon that he had a son Nicholas and it must
be possible that he had other children old enough to have fathered Robert
Sir John’s other brother, Nicholas, married
c1610 and died in 1639 which is also before the required time-frame for Robert;
however he had at least two sons who survived long enough to have had a child
Robert: Nicholas b1617 and William, born between c1610 and 1625.
Thus both William and Nicholas had sons named
Nicholas; one of these died a bachelor in 1655 at Holt in Leicestershire (where
William/Nicholas’ niece Alice Nevil/Smith lived) but nothing is known of the
other Nicholas
It is also possible that both Nicholas and
William had sons named William. Some
records are known relating to a William Dackombe:
B 30May1631 Thomas s
William & Suzanne DICKHAM at St Martin in the Fields
m 24Jun1632 William DECKHAM of
St_Mary_Magdalens_in_Carnsbee_St & Elizabeth PERRY otp by banns; at
Allhallows Lombard St
C
4Mar???? Elizab d Wm DAKUM at Saint Martin-Vintry, [IGI has 1625
but original is on an undated page, in a bundle first half 17th C]
C 22Dec1639 Sara d Willi DECKHAM at Saint Olave, Southwark, LND;
Jul1641 poll tax: William DACKOMBE a member of Leathersellers Company at
Horseydowne
17Jul1684 William DACKOMBE of St Giles in the Fields made his will; no
descendants or relatives named; beneficiaries all in
Northants
[Boyd has a marriage 1670 William DACHAM m
Elizabeth WAGHAM at St Botolph Aldersgate but inspection of original register
shows that the surname was clearly LATHAM not DACHAM]
The William who married Elizabeth PERRY,
probably had the two daughters Elizabeth and Sara and is probably the
leatherseller since Horseydowne was in or near the parish of St Olave. So this
William is not likely to be the William of St Giles who appears to have no
descendants. William & Elizabeth
could have had a son named Robert, but no such baptism is known
B 13Nov1630 William DECKHAM Esquyor, prisoner
in the Fleete
Selina Daccombe wid of Dawlish DOR; admon
25Apr1633 to son Thomas Baskett esq of Holwell DOR
[in latin] 3Dec1634 Nicholas DACKOMBE natural
and legitimate son of William DACKOMBE of St Brigitte London[St Brides Fleet
St] £7-1-4 in margin
C
2Dec1624 John s Nicholas DECKHAM
B
3Apr1626 John DEAKHAM s Nicholas
C
8Oct1627 Anne d Nicholas DEAKHAM
B
9Dec1627 Salyna DEAKHAM puella
B
6Jun1638 Nickholas DEEKCOMBE
B 25May1639 Mrs Millyard DEEKCOMBE
Nicholas Dackombe wdr of Sheen SRY parish of
Richmond; admon 27Nov1640 to son William Dackombe
John DACKOMBE-8 was baptised at St Bride’s Fleet St in February 1688/9, son of Robert &
Mary. Earlier baptisms to Robert and
Mary are known at St Bride’s and at Holborn St Andrew, but no preceding
marriage has been found
From the will of Mary BROUGHTON of Marchwiel Hall made in 20Jny1680/1, it is known that she was formerly married to Aquila WYKE and that she had a daughter Mary WYKE born about 1658 who married a DACKOMBE; Chancery documents show that this DACKOMBE was named Robert. The unusual forename Aquila was used by the descendants of John Dackombe-8, so there is little doubt that Robert-9 married Mary WYKE (daughter of Aquila) even though no record of the marriage has been found. Descendants of Robert & Mary named Robert and Mary are known baptised in 1682 and 1684. Assuming these are among their first children, a marriage about 1680 is expected which fits well with Mary WYKE’s birth date (between 1652 and 1656) giving a marriage age between 24 and 28. The marriage must have taken place after 1670 (age18) and before Jny 1680/1 (date of will), very possibly at St Mary le Strand where marriage records are missing between 1670 and 1780.
m c1680 Robert
DACKOMBE & Mary WYKE (at St Mary le Strand?)
the
marriage has not been found in the IGI nor in the whole Boyd’s index searching
both for variants of DACKOMBE and WYKE
[IGI has Mary WEEKES of Clerkenwell m 16Mar1680, no husband named. This marriage was found in the marriage
licences issued by the Vicar General; husband was Joseph WALKER and the m to
take place at St Bartholomew the Great]
the
marriage was not found in the following London city churches (includes all
those outside Boyd’s index) using original registers or indexed transcripts: All Hallows London Wall; Fleet
Prison (very few c1680 and difficult to read on film; not found in existing
transcripts); Holy Trinity Minories; St Alban Wood St (ref: Webb 106); St
Alphage London Wall; St Andrew Holborn; St Andrew Undershaft; St Andrew
Wardrobe; St Ann & St Agnes; St Ann Blackfriars; St Bartholomew the Great;
St Bartholomew the Less (ref: Challen 52); St Botolph Aldgate; St Dunstan East
(HS 84/5); St Gabriel Fenchurch (Webb 16 and 40); St James Garlickhithe; St
Mary Aldermanbury; St Mary at Hill (Challen 27); St Mary Somerset; St Michael
Cornhill; St Michael Queenhithe (Challen 27); St Olave Silver St (GL); St
Sepulchre (GL); St Stephen Coleman St (Challen 25); St Swithin London Stone
(Challen 31);Temple Church St Mary
not checked: All Hallows Barking (incumbent); St
Martin Pomeroy (PRO RG4/4436)
The following Middlesex parishes were also searched,
unless included in Boyd: Chelsea St Luke
(microfilm); Clerkenwell St James (Boyd, HS); Edmonton (Webb15,
microfilm); Enfield (Phillimore); Freiern Barnet (transcript; microfilm); Hackney St John (Boyd); Holborn St
Andrew (film); Hornsey (microfilm); Islington St Mary (microfilm);
Shoreditch St Leonard (microfilm); St Clement Danes
(WL microfilm); St Giles in the Fields (microfilm); St Margaret Westminster
(printed and original on film – very clear writing); St Martin in the Fields
(HS25; Boyd); St Mary le Strand (transcript; Boyd; microfilm – but marriages
missing May 1669- May 1680); St Marylebone (Boyd); St.Pancras (microfilm); St
Paul Covent Garden (Boyd; HS); Stoke Newington St Mary (Boyd); Tottenham All
Hallows (Phillimore; Webb15; microfilm); Westminster Abbey (HS10); Whitechapel
St Mary (microfilm)
not checked:
Savoy, St John the Baptist (Queen’s chapel) CMB
commence 1680 (incumbent)
St Ann Soho (m registers commenced 1686)
also checked East Barnet and Totteridge in Herts;
Walthamstow and Waltham Holy Cross in Essex
also checked Marchwiel, Gresford, Wrexham, Bangor on
Dee, Ruabon, Holt, Hope, Treuddyn, Nercwys, Mold in Denbigh
the marriage was not found in the Dorset marriage
index (100% coverage), nor in the Hayes index of North Wales
The North London parishes were checked because of
John-8’s connection with Tottenham and Edmonton. The Denbigh parishes were checked because Mary Wyke’s mother
owned property at Marchwiel and John-8 was married nearby; Dorset was checked
because this is the origin of the Dackombe family
the following marriage llicence indexes/calendars
have been searched:
Faculty Office (BRS 33); Vicar General (HS23, 30,
34); Bishop of London (BRS 66); Dean & Chapter of Westminster, missing
1679-1688 (HS23); Archdeacon of London 1666-1691 (GL); Dean & Chapter of St
Paul bonds 1670-1823 (GL)
Mary WYKE’s family were at Westminster, and
Robert & Mary lived in Holborn after marriage. The marriage would thus be expected in London, but the above
exhaustive searches have not found it.
The period is well after the restoration and most parish records are
well preserved. One exception is the
parish of St Mary le Strand which is lacking the crucial period 1670 to
1680. The parish is between
Westminster, the home of Mary, and Holborn, where they lived. It is also close to St Martin in the Fields
where it is likely that Robert lived.
It is possible that the marriage took place in this parish
Mary’s mother referred to her daughter as
“ungrateful and undutiful”. Perhaps
then the marriage was a clandestine one.
It was not found at Holy Trinity Minories, or at the Fleet prison, but
there are very few records of the Fleet preserved from the required period
Mary’s brother Edward married in Norwich and
settled in nearby Hethersett. This was
almost certainly the home of his bride; nevertheless the Norwich parishes will
be searched for Robert’s marriage. The
Norfolk marriage index for this period is unfortunately not available for
searching at present
C 4May1682 Mary d Robert & Mary DUCKHAM in
Fetter Lane
C
11Jny1684 Robert s Robert & Mary DACKOMBE gent at – Rushes in Deane St in
Fetter Lane
C
21Mar1687 Mary d Robert & Mary DACKOMBE
C
28Feb1688+John s d Robert & Mary DACKOMB
There are
however earlier London baptisms to a Robert Dackombe:
C
25Feb1674 Solomon s Robt & Jane DACOMBE
C
21Oct1677 Henry s Robt & Jane DEACOMB
also an
admon showing that a Robert Dackombe had a son Robert born before 1666:
Robert
Dackombe jun. ad 24Jun1684 to father Robert Dackombe sen.
NOTES:
not sure of month; Latin text contains: unp. sup. allo mar (died at sea?)
If Robert
jun were a son of Robert & Jane and died aged 18 he would have been born
c1666, giving a possible marriage date for Robert & Jane around 1664. It is conceivable therefore that these
records relate to the same Robert above, giving an age of about 20 at first
marriage to Jane and requiring the death of Jane between 1677 (birth of Henry)
and 1680 (remarriage). Such a burial
was not found at St Benet. [Jane BLACKBORN was buried there 6Oct1677; film of
the original register was seen and the writing is clear; the possibility of
mistranscription cannot be completely excluded however and the date would fit a
death from childbirth, but there was a baptism of Jane BLACKBURN at St Martin in
the Fields in 1637] The burial was not found in neighbouring parishes St Peter,
St Andrew Wardrobe, St Ann Blackfriars, St Gregory by St Paul, St Mary
Somerset, St Mary Mounthaw, St Nicholas Cole Abbey.
A Solomon
DEACOMB was buried at Worcester in 1739 and his wife Mary was buried there in
1745. The unusual name identifies this
burial with some confidence. The
marriage of Solomon and Mary has not been found, but Mary made a will in which
her closest named relatives were her niece Hannah FISH of London and her nephew
Edward OWEN; it seems likely therefore that they left no children.
A marriage
licence was issued by the Vicar General in 1698 for a marriage of Henry
DACKCOMBE to Elizabeth STROUD that may refer to the Henry C 1677, but no
further details are yet known
The
absence of overlap in the records of Robert & Jane and Robert & Mary
suggests that they all refer to the same Robert, who married firstly Jane c1664
and then Mary WYKE c1680. It may be
significant that Robert and Mary baptised a son named Robert just after the
death of Robert, son of the first marriage; it may also be significant that
Robert & Jane were married about the same time that Robert obtained
administration of his father’s estate – giving him the means to support a marriage.
Robert DACKOMBE answered a chancery bill on
9Feb1718; he was mentioned in a bill dated 1724 but it is not clear whether he
was then living; he was not a defendant in a bill of 1736, and a bill dated
1738 noted that he was now deceased.
A probable burial has been found at St
Bride’s Fleet St:
B
16Jny1723/4 Robert DASCOMB Lg aff
the
initials Lg[?] appear after almost every burial – possibly “lower ground”
indicating the place of burial; “aff”
refers to burial in woollen
The original register was examined on film
and the writing is clear; little doubt about the spelling, though the “s” is
little more than a line. However it was
considered unlikely to be an old “c” as no other “c” was found written in this
manner. However, bearing in mind the
uncommon surname, the correct forename, the parish in which Robert baptised two
children, and the date falling within the known limits, there is very little
doubt that this is the correct burial.
No burial of Robert was found in Holborn St Andrew or in any Denbigh
parishes near Marchwiel.
a possible burial of Mary was also found at St Bride’s:
B 20Feb1726/7 Martha DASCOMBE
again the writing in the original was clear but the forename Martha and a repetition of the surname as Dascombe throws the above assumption into doubt. Dascombe is found primarily in Devon, and it is possible that these burials refer to a different couple altogether, Robert and Martha Dascombe. However there is no reference to either of these people in the IGI and no other reference has yet been found.
The date gives a reasonable age of 73 at death for Mary, and at present it will be assumed that the register has a double error, Martha for Mary and Dascombe for Dackombe but further research is needed.
not found in the following:
PRO index 1700-1750 and
on-line search
Metropolitan Archives:
Consistory Court of London, and Archdeaconry of MDX 1609-1759
Guildhall: Commissary Court
of London, Archdeaconry of London, Deanery of the Arches, Court of Husting,
Peculiar of Dean & Chapter of St Paul
Westminster: Peculiar of
Dean & Chapter of Westminster (printed by AM Burke)
not examined: Peculiar of
St Katharine by the Tower
not found in the National Library of Wales probate database
Dame
Melior DACKOMBE, in the County of MDX, widow, the late wife of Sir John DACOMBE
knight deceased, to be buried at the discretion of my executrix. Concerning my temporal estate which God hath
left me being but small, to my little grandchild Robert DACKOMBE £20 which is
now owing me for rent at Wormeswell in the parish of Motcombe DOR, six standing
beds, six feather beds, six bolsters, six pillows, six rugs or coverlettes, two
silk twilts, a pair of fustian blankets, four green cloth carpets whereof one
is a short one, four drawing tables, six certcubbords, two great trunks (one of
them marked with JD) six leather chairs, one elbow chair covered with velvet
and two low stools covered with velvet, ten high stools suitable to the six
leather chairs, two low turkey work stools, one long velvet window cushion,
three damask tablecloths, three damask towels, twenty one damask napkins, two
longer drap tablecloths, four drap towels, a dozen drap napkins, one pair of
holland sheets, two pair of holland pillow beares, five curtains and valance
for a bed of blue ppertaine and hangings for a chamber of stript stuff, and
this being the best and principal of all my household goods now left me, I
having been lately robbed and my house broken {margin insert: two several times
and then I am not now able to leave or give so much as otherwise I might have
done}. And if the said Robert Dackombe
die before the age of twenty one, then my household goods be equally divided
amongst my grandchildren of the female sort, I mean my daughter Dacombs
daughters, that is to say, to my executrix {margin insert: her sisters} and her
daughters or as many of them shall be living at the death of said Robert
Dackombe. If my daughter Mary DACKOMBE
the late wife of John Dackombe Esquire my only son, the mother of said Robert
my grandchild, be desirous of keeping the said goods, my will is that she give
sufficient security to restore the said goods or the value thereof to Robert at
the time aforesaid. But if my daughter
Mary Dackombe refuse to give sufficient security then my executors shall give
sufficient security. I make my loving
grandchild Melior BOONE and Edward BOONE her husband my executors, and I give
to them all my goods not before bequeathed, my debts and burial discharged and
whatsoever is left I give to the said Melior my most loving grandchild. 8 July 1644, 20 King Charles. Signed and sealed in presence of John
DEE{?}, Richard BILLADGE, {margin insert: the mark of} Dorothie DACOMBE. Proved London 16 January 1645 by Edward and
Melior BOONE
John Dackombe late of Tottenham
High Cross MDX gent; admon 9May1665 to son Robert Dackombe
5Nov1668
Orator Robert Dackombe of London esq…that John Dackombe knt grandfather of
orator was in his lifetime the time of his death seised of the mansion house
with rent---name of Pimmes in Edmonton;
and on or about 20Jny1617 made his last will--- Melior his wife---Pimmes
aforesaid for her life and after her decease to Sir Thos Savage, William and
Nicholas Dackombe his brothers, Henry Smith, Edward Orenge and Edward Nicholas
his executors until his son John Dackombe, father of orator, should attain
21----and the reversion thereof to John Dackombe and his heirs. John Dackombe died in the lifetime of the
said Melior and the reversion of the lands did by right descend to your orator
being his son and heir, but when Melior died (your
orator being then not above 4 years old) William Earl of Salisbury, Thos
Cole and Judith his wife and John Jolliff of Edmonton confederating together
with some other persons unknown to your orator got possession of the
house---and your orator’s witnesses which could prove the premises---are either
dead or beyond the seas in parts remote and unknown to your orator
No
reply from Salisbury
Answer of Thomas Cole, Judith his wife and John Jolliffe---they know nothing of Sir John --- Earle leased Pimmes to Peter Tryon of Harringworth Northants gent late husband of the defendant Judith Cole – indenture dated 6Mar1645 for £1000 and £100 pa [John Jolliffe is a tenant of Thos Cole]
We Thomas Lamplugh minister of the parish church of St Martin in the Fields MDX and John Wilton church warden do certificate that Robert DACKOMBE gent one of his Majes Guard [sic] under the command of the Hon Sir Phillip Howard upon Sunday 1st June inst did in the church aforementioned receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper wit: 1Jun1673 Tho Lamplugh vic, John Wilton church warden
Richard EVERARD of St Martin in the Fields and Mr Phillip GIBBONS of same make oath that they know Robert DACKOMBE and did see him receive the Sacrament . . .
These certificates were required on entering government service, so probably Robert had only recently joined the Guards
Found from
index of London inhabitants without the walls, based on the marriage tax
returns; no other Dackombe in the index
Parish
of St Andrew Holborn, Plough Yard
Robert
Dackombe assessed at 4s for burials, 2s
for births, not assessed for marriages
Mary,
his wife assessed at 4s for burials,
not assessed for births or marriages
This
assessment is the amount that would be due were the taxpayer to be responsible
for a burial or baptism etc. Esquires
and gentlemen, or reputed esquires or gentleman were assessed at £1-4s for
burials, £1-2s for baptisms; common people were assessed at 4s for burials, 2s
for baptisms.
This
assessment shows that Robert and his wife were alive in 1695 and living in
Plough Lane along with a very long list of others; he was no longer claiming to
be a gentleman, and as Mary was not assessed for baptisms, she would have been
beyond childbearing age.
(same complaint in C11 2010/6 but this gives more detail)
Bill of complaint by orator Edward Broughton
an infant of 8 yrs by Mary Broughton his mother of Hatton Garden, St Andrew
Holborn MDX 1718. Defendants include Aquila Wyke gent, Mary Dackomb housekeeper
to the said Wyke, John Dackomb and Robert Dackomb cousins German {first
cousins} to the said Wyke. Later refers
to defendant Margaret Dackom.
Orator's grandfather seised of Marchwiel
Hall, had one child by Alice his wife, the orator's father Edward Broughton.
Sir Edward committed under custody of Mary after the death of Edward Wyke her
first husband, later his second wife. Settlement of estate on Mary the second
wife was made to protect the estate when orator's father was 3 or 4 years old.
Mary endeavoured to send him to Virginia, but his friends got him to Jamaica
from where he did not return till within these 10 years and died a few years
after. He attained a considerable estate in Jamaica. He found Broughton, the son by the second marriage in occupation,
but did not know his rights or of the deed of settlement in favour of issue of
first wife. Mary Broughton the second wife of Sir Edward by will dated 1680
devised the premises to Mr Edward Broughton (called Sir Edward Broughton) her
son by your orator's grandfather, and in default to Aquila Wyke, the
defendant's uncle, and in default to Edward Wyke the defendant's father. All
these have died, and premises have come to defendant Aquila Wyke.
Replies from several of the defendants.
9Feb1718. The answers of Robert
Dackombe, John Dackombe and Margaret his wife, John
and Sarah Hughes, five of the defendants.
Robert Dackombe says that a little
after the death of Sir Edward Broughton lately deceased, this defendant whose
usual habitation was in London, went to Marchwiel Hall about the end of June
last and shortly after came Aquila Wyke one of the defendants who was then in
possession of Marchwiel Hall. Aquila feared that Thomas Lloyd for the
complainant would seize the Hall knowing where the title deeds were. On the
advice of John Puleston another defendant, this defendant confesses they got in
through a window of the room where the deeds were. They were read by Wyke and
Puleston and put in a box and Wyke kept the key to secure them from Lloyd. He
did not give the deeds to this defendant or to Margaret Dackombe. Denies they
were burnt. But he believes some loose letters (before the interment of the
said Sir Edward) were burnt in the kitchen fire, but this was some time before
this defendant came into the country. [ie from London]. Margt Dackombe also denies having any of the
deeds or key to the box or that they were burnt. She did have a deed brought to
Mr Wyke by Richard Cooke cobbler and Thomas Bulkly shoemaker, but had long
since delivered it Mr Wyke. She does not know what was in it. Both deny any knowledge of any settlement
made by Sir Edward Broughton the elder upon Alice Honeywoode alias Broughton.
Robt Dackombe, John Dackombe,
Margtt Dackombe all signed. John and
Sarah Hughes made their marks.
Defendant Foulkes rector of Marchwiel, asks
to be dismissed from the suit. He had the keys to the room where the deeds were
put. He had heard that Wyke and other defendants had broken in and burnt some.
He did not give them the key.
A long reply by defendant Wykes confirms
getting in the window etc with Robert Dackombe. No other Dackombe references
found
25Jan1724 Oratrices Mary Broughton of St
Andrew Holborn, widow ... and administrator of Edward Broughton deceased,
Theodosia Broughton spr & Mary Strudwick (wife of Henry Strudwick gent) by
your said oratrix Mary Broughton her mother, Theodosia and Mary Strudwick being
sisters and coheirs of said Edward Broughton deceased. Refers to previous bill
of complaint in 1718 by said Edward Broughton, now deceased, against Aquila
Wyke esq, Thomas Lloyd esq, Humfrey Foulkes clerk, Thomas Meredith esq, George
Carlton, Mary Dackomb, Robert Dackomb, John Dackomb, John Puleston, John G--, John F-- and Sarah his wife.
Previous bill set forth that said Edward
Broughton was the only son and heir of Edward Broughton esq who was the only
son of Sir Edward Broughton of Marchwiel Hall by Alice his first wife. Sir Edward was seised of Marchwiel Hall
&c worth £600pa, and on his marriage to Alice (the daughter of Sir Robert
Honeywoode) he conveyed the property to Sir Robert and Thomas Tyrrell for the
use of himself and his heirs by Alice. The exact terms of the deed could not be
stated because the deed has been concealed by the defendants. Sir Edward and
Alice died many years since and the said Edward's father became entitled to the
estate. He was in Jamaica, and said Edward was an infant at the time of Sir
Edward's death. Defendants took advantage to conceal the settlement and Wyke
gained possession. Said Edward's father died 4 years since and said Edward is
now entitled to estate.
Defendants to previous bill claimed that
after the death of Alice, Sir Edward married Mary Wyke and by Indenture of
lease and release (in which they pretend Tyrrell and Honeywoode joined), Sir
Edward conveyed the property to William Knightley and John Mills in trust for
the said Mary. Mills died, and Knightley by deed dated 2Jan1668 conveyed the
premises to the said Mary and her heirs. By her will of 1680 Mary devised the
same to Edward Broughton, her son by Sir Edward; and in default of such issue
to Aquila Wyke the defendant's uncle and his heirs; and in default of such
issue to Edward Wyke, the defendant's father and his heirs. Edward and Aquila
Wyke being dead, the defendant had gained the title at - sessions of the Co.of
Denbigh
The previous bill set forth that Sir Edward
was a Colonel in Charles I army and rendered himself obnoxious to Cromwell and
was imprisoned at the Gatehouse prison of Westminster in the custody of said
Mary Wyke. Any conveyance to Knightley and Mills was to protect the estate from
the usurping powers and for no other purpose.
Being sensible of this, Knightley and Mills executed a deed to
Honeywoode and Tyrrell that they should reconvey the premises to the issue of
the first wife, and that the settlement to the 2nd wife was void. Complainant's father was then 3 or 4 yrs
old. Knowing all this, Mary endeavoured to send the complainant's father to
Virginia that he might never return. His friends perceived her intention and
sent him to Jamaica where he remained till 10 yrs ago having obtained a great
estate. On his return, he found the son
of the second marriage in possession, and being infirm and unsure of his rights
he declined to suit for the premises and died soon after, leaving the
complainant an infant.
The previous bill also set forth that the
deeds were carelessly kept by the second wife. One parchment was cut by a
tailor for measures. The conveyance from Knightley and Mills was found in July
1718 by Richard Cooke near place Giverne in Wrexham in Mr Morgan's house who
had been an attorney for the second wife. It was read by Thomas Bulkley and
Edward Edwards and brought to defendant Wyke who gave Cooke a shilling and
charged to keep it secret. It was then shown to def Puleston who read it to
Wyke at Marchwiel Hall; it declared the second settlement void and made to
cover the estate from the usurping powers and not for the real benefit of the
second marriage. Wyke gave it to Mary Dackomb or other defendants or they were
destroyed. And the previous bill also set forth that Broughton, the son of the
second marriage, died 11Jun1718 and on that day Wyke (who had lived some time
with him) sent Robert Worrel for defendant Lloyd to come to Marchwiel to search
for a will. They were met by def. Foulkes and finding no will, the writings
were put in a locked room and the key kept by Foulkes as an indifferent person.
Defendants Wyke and Robert Dackomb entered by a window or some unfair means and put the writings on a fire
in the kitchen. Defendant Carlton conveyed a box of writings to London or some
other place and secreted them. The complainant was in possession of some part
of the premises until Wyke ejected him knowing the he could not defend himself
without the writings. The tenants refused to pay their rents so the premises
were in danger of being lost unless some care was taken by this court.
Defendants answered the complaint 10Jun 5th
year of his now maj reign [5GeorgeI=1719] Judgement given. The said complainant
died an infant.
Henry Strudwick, eldest son & heir of Mary STRUDWICK the surviving daughter of Edward BROUGHTON late of Hatton Garden MDX only son of Sir Edward BROUGHTON late of Markwiel [sic] Hall, Baronett…..mentions property at Marchwiel, Iscoed, 3 water mills etc….[same complaint as before]. Orators grandfather died 1713; orator’s grandmother continued to permit Edward BROUGHTYON to enjoy Marchwiel till his death in 1718, a bachelor and intestate….Aquila WYKE grandson of Aquila WYKE took possession…defendants Aquilla WYKE, Thomas MEREDITH his council, Margaret DACKOMBE, Wyke’s housekeeper
Bill
of Complaint by Henry STRUDWICK esq an
infant of Scotland Yard, Whitehall, aged about 20 by Charles LUTWICK esq his
next friend [lawyer].
reiterates
the same complaint as before: Orator’s [great] grandfather Sir Edward BROUGHTON
of Marchwiel Hall sometimes called Colonel BROUGHTON seised of Marchwiel Hall
in occupation of Margaret BROUGHTON widow, his mother Dame Frances BROUGHTON
…….3 water corn mills at Teefords in Alinbury, Flint……other in Chester Denbigh
& Flint of value £700pa. About
1650, Colonel BROUGHTON married Alice HONEYWOOD daughter of Robert of Pett,
Kent [near Hastings] Bart….by deed dated 7Aug1650 assigned above premises in
tenure of Margaret BROWN [sic] widow and …[long list of other premises with
tenants]… to Robt HONEYWOOD & Thos DARREL in trust …. also £800 raised for
4 sisters of Edward BROUGHTON and £140pa for life to Alice, and after decease
of Edward BROUGHTON and Alice to his heirs male and for want of such issue to
the use of Richard, his brother
Ind[?]
tripartite dated 25Jul1654, Elizabeth, Ann, Margaret and Dorothy BROUGHTON,
daughters of Sir Edward BROUGHTON and sisters of said Edward ….during the lives
of Margaret BROUGHTON his grandmother and Dame Frances his mother…
Three
years after making the last mentioned deed of 1654, your orator’s great
grandfather, Colonel BROUGHTON had issue by Alice, your orators grandfather,
Edward BROUGHTON late of Hatton Garden and some short time after, Alice died
leaving your or’s grandfather and infant of very tender years. And the said Colonel BROUGHTON afterwards
Sir Edward BROUGHTON having been a colonel under Charles I was committed to the
prison gatehouse at Westminster where Mary WYKE widow of Acquilla WYKE being
then keeper of the prison “who being a very artful woman, insinuated and
encouraged said Colonel BROUGHTON so far as to contract an intimate
acquaintance with her”…she prevailed upon him to intermarry…to preserve the
estate before that time settled as aforesaid from the usurped power [Cromwell]
she prevailed upon him to make some deed of settlement upon the said Mary his
second wife who was afterwards called Lady BROUGHTON pretending that the
consideration of marriage would protect the estate from falling into the hands
of the usurped power…dated 1660
After
the restoration the said Colonel BROUGHTON took upon himself the title of a Baronet
and was killed in 1665 in the Dutch Wars, leaving Edward BROUGHTON by his first
marriage about 8 years old, your complainant’s grandfather. No care being taken of him by Mary, Lady
CRAVEN or some other relative fitted him out and sent him to Jamaica where he
got eventually an estate of £40,000, returned to England 1690 and was here
naturalized as true and lawful son born at the Hague in Holland, went back to
Jamaica, returned 9 or 10 years later and married your orators grandmother,
daughter of Mr. Anthony CRAVEN; had a son Edward died an infant, and two
daughters Mary & Theodosia who died single and without issue. Mary married Henry STRUDWICK esq and had
children Henry (complainant) and two younger brothers.
Second
wife Mary had one child by BROUGHTON – Edward, who took title of a Baronet
though in truth he was neither male nor female, though this was kept secret
until the time of his death. The Edward
from Jamaica knew he could have no issue and let him stay at Marchwiel. He was very easy on that account for that he
had an estate sufficient to maintain himself and family and as it was
impossible for the said Edward BROUGHTON to beget children by reason of his
infirmity…. the estate must descend to your orator’s grandfather, but he died 5
years before his half-brother who died 11Jun1718
But
Aquila WYKE entered the estate before the funeral of said Edward BROUGHTON.
Your orator’s great uncle Mr LLOYD and the defendant WYKE came to an agreement
that the deeds be kept in a certain place or chamber called the Gatehouse at
Marchwiel Hall. Mr. Lloyd went home to
Overton; Wyke with assistance from Robert DACKOMBE since deceased, with a ladder etc [reiteration of destruction of
documents] ….custody of Margt DACKOMBE widow, Wyke’s housekeeper. Defendant has sold or mortgaged property and
cut down trees. By deed of 1654, Mary
should have paid £300 each to sisters of Sir Edward BROUGHTON: Ann, Margt and
Dorothy BROUGHTON; they brought an exchequer bill, judgment given Oct1669; she
to mortgage estate for £1000. Seeks now
an injunction to stop further waste of the estate
Defendants;
Aquilla WYKE, Meredith his counsel, Margaret DACKOMBE widow. Robert DACKOMBE not now a defendant
By
way of lease (6April) and release (7April) dated 1660 between Colonel BROUGHTON
Sir Robt HONEYWOOD & Thos DARRELL of the 1st part, Mary WYKE
widow of the 2nd part, and Wm KNIGHTLEY and John MILLS of the 3rd
part, in consideration of a marriage intended between Colonel BROUGHTON and
Mary WYKE [for benefit] of Mary WYKE and her issue
and
on the death of her son Edward BROUGHTON, Aquilla WYKE took possession and has
been there for 19 years or thereabouts
Edward
and Aquila WYKE sons of Aquila WYKE, Mary’s first husband, entered the
premises. Mary died 1694 and Aquila
died without issue. Edward died with
issue – the defendant his eldest son
…”nor
is it reasonable to suggest that Colonel BROUGHTON should make such settlement
to convey away all his real estate to such a person as she was, she being no
more than keeper of the gatehouse, and then only in consideration of the said
marriage when she at the same time had no good or sufficient estate of her own
so as to deserve or require such settlement”
…Mary
WYKE later BROUGHTON being possessed of the whole of the estate and not having paid
to the sisters £300 apiece, they brought a bill at Westminster against Dame
MARY for payment date 25Oct1669
Reply of Acquilla WYKE
lengthy
reply reiterating much as before; Robert Honeywood of Pett, Kent; William
KNIGHTLEY of Egham Surrey. Mary WYKE
had two sons by her 1st marriage, Edward and Acquila; relates the
will of Mary; Aquilla died without
issue in the lifetime of Sir Edward BROUGHTON.
Henry Strudwick does not have the deed mentioned