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Short Histories of Families Attached to Our Direct Smiths
1400s & 1500s
I. Smythe Family
By: Jerry A. Smith,
Smith Family Researcher
___________________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
1.
2.
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II. Brounker
Family
The Brounker Family remains difficult to say the least, as our attachment
to them dates back to the early 1500s. I have found another connection
to the family, but it was not until the 1900s. The furthest
back I can find is the father of our connection Joan. We first learned
of Joan in the inquisition post mortem of the will of Richard Smyth as she
was mentioned as the wife of Richard’s son, John Smythe. Joan was
born the daughter of Robert William Thomas Brounker and Ursula Ann Gouldinge,
in 1500 at Melksham, Wiltshire, England (just south of Corsham) and died
about 1560 in Wiltshire, England. Robert Brounker was born about 1465
in Wiltshire, England and died in Jan 1537 in England. Joan’s mother,
Ursula, was born about 1470 in England. John Smythe and Joan Brounker
had four children that I am aware of: John Smythe (b. 1521), Thomas
Smythe (b. 1522), Henry Smythe (b. 1523), and Elizabeth Smythe (b. 1524).
Our Smith Linage continues through Thomas Smythe and can be followed in the
Smith Family history. Robert and Ursula, however, had at least one
more child that I am aware of, Henry Brounker. As times were then (although
they still are today for some people), to better one’s family, you tried
to marry off your children into higher class families or those with more
status and money. The Smith’s and the Brounker’s were no different
and managed quite well. As a matter of fact, the Brounker’s managed
even better, but lost the name in the process as best as I can tell.
Henry (b. abt. 1510) married Ursula Yate (b. abt. 1520). They had a
daughter, Susan Brounker, who was born about 1553 in Wiltshire, England.
Susan married a Henry Gifford (b. abt. 1550) and they had a daughter, Anne
Gifford, who was born in 1574 in Hampshire, England.
Now Anne married a Mr. John Portman (b. abt. 1570) in 1595. They
had two children: Anne Portman (b. 1611) and Joan Portman (b. abt.
1629). Anne Portman’s parents arranged a marriage for her into the
Seymour Family with Edward Seymour (b. 1610). The Seymour’s in the
year 1500 were next in line to the throne as Sir Edward Seymour (b. 1500)
was the 1st Duke of Somerset and he also held the title of 1st Earl of Hereford.
As there was a change in command at the throne, he lost his Duke title but
still remained important to the land. His first son, Edward (d. 1593)
became the Sheriff of Devon. This part of the family worked back up
through the ranks as they were knights of the crown and soon increased to
Barons and Lords again while taking our Brounker blood with them in 1630.
Edward’s (b. 1500) second son, Edward (b. 1537 / d. 1621) retained the title
of Earl of Hereford and just two generations later regained the tile of
Duke of Somerset. Without going through all the marriages and
children, the Seymour’s with the first son linage (and now with the Brounker
Blood) arranged a marriage in 1786 between Hugh Seymour and Anne Waldegrave.
This time the Baron’s and Lords married the daughter of an Earl. As
an Earl / Count / or Countess are 4th in line to the crown, the Seymour’s
have managed to marry into royalty. Now in 1854 as one Seymour Countess
Adelaide Seymour married another Earl Frederick Spencer the fate of royalty
was sealed. And if any one keeps up with the Royalty of today, they
would know that Spencer was the maiden name of the famous Princess Dianna.
That is correct. The Brounker Family made it. Robert Brounker
is Princess Dianna’s 12th Great Grandfather. She married Prince of
Wales, Charles Phillip Arthur George Windsor, the son of the Current Queen
of England. But wait there is more. Didn’t we have another connection
to the queen? The current Queen of England’s mother, Queen Elizabeth
Bowes-Lyon, is among our relations. We can trace the Queen Mother’s
linage back to the Warner and Townley Families of which are connected to
the Smith Family in the early 1600s. But you can read more on that
topic under the respective families below. A good site to follow the
lineage from Robert to Princess Dianna is : http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jamesdow/s040/f027077.htm
.
Now back to Edward’s (b. 1500) second son’s linage who regained the title
of Duke of Somerset. He married a Ms. Frances Devereaux (b. 1590
/ d. 1674). Frances is the daughter of Robert Devereaux, the 2nd Earl
of Essex, of whom we will talk more about in the Blount Family section.
Robert had a sister named Penelope who first married a Robert Rich, 1st
Earl of Warwick. Several of our Smith family were knighted by this
Earl of Warwick. While Robert and Penelope were married she had an
affair (openly to the public – and had children) with Charles Blount, 1st
Earl of Devonshire. Charles is our Sarah Blount’s uncle of which we
will get to in the 1600s. Sarah married our Sir Thomas Smythe.
So not only are the Smith’s connected with marriage of John Smythe to Joan
Brounker to the Brounker family who in a few generations married into the
Seymour family, by another strange twist of fate, marriages took place which
connected us with the Blount, Devereaux and Rich royal families who are also
married to the Smiths. I will mention this again later, but one more
connection here is through Sir Robert Rich and Penelope’s daughter Lady Isabelle
Rich. She married our Sir John Smith (b. 1580). John was the
brother of our Christopher Smith (b. 1591) and the son of Sir Thomas Smythe
(b. 1558). Ok that is enough for now on the Brounker Family and its
connections.
By: Jerry A. Smith,
Smith Family Researcher
___________________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
1. Website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jamesdow/s040/f027077.htm
2. Inquisition Post Mortem of the Will of Richard Smyth on the
21 Henry VIII, No. 21 in London. from Kerns, Gloria: Genealogist, Smith
Family Researcher ([email protected] )
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III. Judde Family
The Judde Family were not of great notability until the early and mid
1500s, yet they held their own in the community. The family name can
be currently traced back to the 1300s, beginning with Ralph Judde who was
born about 1300. A few of the sources to verify this are listed at
the end. I apologize for not finding out more, but the records for
the Judde Family are only populus with the most famous of the family name,
Andrew Judde. Before we get there, let’s just go though the line from
Ralph. Ralph begat a son, Thomas Judde, about 1330. Thomas begat
Thomas Judde, Jr. about 1360. Thomas Jr. (II) begat Thomas Judde (III)
about 1389. Thomas Judde (III) is believed to have been in the battle
of Agincourt around Oct. 1415, under Sir John Grey. Thomas Judde (III)
begat a son of whom is unnamed around 1420. Then the Unnamed Judde
begat a son, John Judde in 1454. When John was 27, in 1481, the Cardinal
Bourchier, Archbishop to Canterbury, appointed a John Judde ‘for the term
of his life, a park keeper of our park of Knolle in the Parish of Sevenoaks
and Keeper of the wild beasts therein’. After 1485, his name
was found on a list made in the reign of Henry VII of the “Gentils [Gentlemen]
of Kent”. Next we found that he held some land near Bidborough, Kent
Co. in England. This is close to where our Smiths are. He resided
in Tonbridge, Kent and when he died it was said that there was much land
to be divided between his three sons (Thomas, Unnamed, and Andrew).
Recorded in the will dated Feb 1493 in Tunbridge, Kent (29 Dogett 1492/3)
was the following: Thomas, the oldest, naturally inherited the
family home as the will stated “'my messuage set and edified at Tunbridge
and all the lands thereunto belonging with all their appurtenances called
Barden and House lands” It was curious that there were two Bardens
[large house] close together, for the second son [who was unnamed] receive
the property called “Barden next to Speldhurst” just down the road.
It also he bequeathed to Andrew, “two silver goblets and certain lands and
tenements near the village of Speldhurst”. Then the will further said,
“[to leave] 20 marks for a secular priest to sing masses for 2 yrs
in the church of Penshurst for his soul, and all true Christian souls, and
ten marks for one year's masses at Speldhurst, where the Rector was one
of his executors. Buried circa Sep 1493 parish cemetery, Tonbridge,
Kent, at least, he requested burial there, to the right of his father. Probate
in Sep 1493 Prerogative Court, Canterbury, Kent, Ref. 29 Dogett. Properties
in Tunbridge.”
But before we get too much further, I want to discuss the unnamed brother.
I have received from another genealogist who just happens to be a “Judde”
from the UK, a portrait that is shown here and was painted in 1560 as shown
on the table in the middle. To some it looks like 1460, but none
of these individuals were born till after 1500. This portrait is
of the unnamed brother, who now has a name, William. This Portrait
is of William Judde and his wife, Joan Cromwell. The Cromwell’s are
also mentioned in our Richard Smyth’s Will. We know all this not only
because it hangs in the Dulwich Art Gallery in South East London today but
if we notice in the upper left hand corner of the picture is a small coat
of arms. Upon closer observation, this is the Judde Coat of Arms.
In the upper right corner is the coat of arms belonging to the Cromwell’s.
The skull on the table not only represents death, but mortality, eternity,
and repentance. We know they were of the Catholic faith as Joan is
carrying a small pray book used by the Catholics. The inscription
on the table reads: “The world of God hath Knit not Twayne – and Death shall
not divide again”. And the inscription on the table at the bottom
reads, “Live to die and die to live – eternally”. And at the top by
the single candle it reads, “Thus consumeth over time”. During the
1500s, death was all too common with the lack of medical knowledge and therefore
was not as tragic as we see it today. The inscriptions all point to
the fact that death was a natural part of life and was one to be welcomed
as you were to go to a better place. I am assuming that William and
Joan has only one son (lying on the table and represented by the single candle)
and had the portrait painted to remember him by. Ok that is enough
of the Art lessons.
Now John’s youngest son, Andrew is the one our lineage goes through.
Andrew was born about 1492. When he was 17, in 1509 he was given
to apprentice to John Buknell for a period of 8 years. When you were
an apprentice back then, you were taken in as a son with no pay, just room
and board. You didn’t live with your family. Your job was to
learn as much as possible. John Buknell was a Skinner and Merchant
of the Staple of Calais. On the 23rd of March 1517, we found the first
evidence of Andrew as a Merchant of the Staple which meant that he was released
from his apprenticeship just a little early, by paying the duty for a cargo
of wool shipped to Calais. From this point on, Andrew was recorded
frequently. He would have most certainly known our John Smythe as
he too was a Merchant. In the year 1520, Andrew capitalized on his
training and became a full member of the “Skinner’ Company” Guild in London.
He paid 4 Shillings (entry monies) to join the Fraternity of the Assumption
of our Lady in London. He was high on their list of important members
by 1524. In 1522 – 1523, he belonged to another Guild, the Fraternity
of Corpus Christi. It was found in the account books of the Skinners
Guild that Andrew paid 20 Shillings to become one of the “New Brethren”.
We next find Andrew on the will as a co-executor of his future father-in-law
along with Mr. Mirfyn’s own son. In 1533, he became a Master of Skinners
and was so for 5 more times. This must have been a high honor.
The Skinners was a Guild or group of Merchants for a specific commodity,
say Cloth or Steel. He was elected the head of their group six times.
He also was one of the co-founders of the Muscovy Company, that his grandson,
Sir Thomas Smythe, was in charge of later. In 1534, Andrew married
a Ms. Mary Mirfyn, the daughter of the man he was co-executor with her brother.
Apparently a good friend of the family, Mary was married to Andrew at the
age of 17. Mary was born in 1516, while Andrew was 42 at the time
of marriage. Together they had 5 children: Alice (b. 1535),
Elizabeth (b. 1537), Andrew (b. 1539), Thomas (b. 1541), and John (b. 1542).
Mary died for reasons unknown in 1542. Andrew remarried about 1542
to a lady named Agnes.
In 1547, Andrew became the Treasurer of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The same as Sir Thomas Smythe, our direct ancestor. Andrew was first
though. To be able to do all this, Andrew was believed to be one
of the richest and most prominent of all over seas Merchants in the early
Tudor period. As the Lord Mayor of London is elected by the members
of all the Guilds, it would be safe to say the Andrew was liked by most
everyone when he was elected in 1550 to be the Lord Mayor of London.
As Mayor he was to deal with issues of Famine and Inflation. It is
assumed that Agnes, his second wife, died for on 7 Feb 1551, he married
a third time to Ms. Mary Mathews. It is believe they had one daughter,
but I know not any information. In 1553, now Sir Andrew Judd (e) was
the main benefactor in the establishment of the Tonbridge School.
It is recorded: “Sir Andrew Jud, skinner, mayor 1551, erected one notable
free school at Tunbridge in Kent, and alms houses nigh St. Helen's church
in London, and left to the Skinners lands to the value of 60 pounds 3 shillings
and 8 pence the year; for the which they be bound to pay 20 pounds to the
schoolmaster, 8 pounds to the usher, yearly, for ever, and four shollings
the week to the six alms people, and 25 shillings and 4 pence the year in
coals for ever”. It was a free school with the Skinners’ Company as
its trustees. The school still exists today giving its praise to Andrew
as its founder. The school’s website says this about him: “Tonbridge
School was founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judde, under Letters Patent of
King Edward VI. The Charter ordained that the Governors of the school after
the death of the Founder were to be the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one
of the oldest City Livery Companies. Sir Andrew, himself a distinguished
member of this Company, left property in the City of London and in the parish
of St Pancras as an endowment for the school. The income from these estates
is at the disposal of the Governors for the general benefit of the Foundation.
The memory of Sir Andrew Judde and other benefactors is honoured in an annual
Commemoration Service, held on Skinners' Day at the very end of the Summer
Term. The school occupies an extensive site of about 150 acres on the northern
edge of the town of Tonbridge, and is largely self-contained within that
site. Since the foundation the school has been rebuilt twice on the original
site. There are approximately 750 boys in the school, aged between
13 and 18, of whom about 430 are boarders and 320 are day-boys. Tonbridge
is therefore predominantly a boarding school, and the general pattern and
philosophy of school organization and practice - the arrangement of the school
day and the school week, the range of extra-curricular activities, the high
teacher/pupil ratio (about 1:8), the extent of pastoral care - are those
of a full boarding school, enjoyed, of course, by boarders and day boys alike.”
That same year, Andrew is found an Alderman who signed to verify the
last will and testament of none other than King Edward VI. (See
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/EdwardWill.htm ). Of what
significance I know not, but it was recorded in Sep. 1555 as well that Sir
Andrew presented the King with a purse containing a thousand marks of gold.
This is “mucho” money in those days. He was giving the king money.
The only King in 1555 was the consort [soon to be husband] of Queen Mary
(Bloody Mary), Philippe of Spain at the Staple Inn. During Mary's
reign Sir Andrew Judd's protestant sympathies brought him into conflict
with Stephen Gardiner but he appears to have retained Mary's trust. (See
H. S. Vere-Hodge, Sir Andrew Judde (privately printed, Tonbridge School,
1953 – which is also found in Foxes Book of Martyrs as per the following
website: http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/foxe/apparatus/person_glossaryJ.html.
I wish I knew the whole story here, but I don’t and will have to move on.
In 1556, Andrew was recorded in the Skinners Hall as being one of two who
donated money to construct the ceiling of the Skinner Hall. As a
reward, both men had their coat of arms carved into the wall of the Hall
itself. Between the years of 1556 and 1558, Sir Andrew was purchasing
properties at Ashford. This estate was eventually passed on to his
daughter Alice and so on to her son, Sir Thomas Smythe [our ancestor],
who inturn also became a benefactor to the Tonbridge school as his grandfather
was. Between 1557 and 1558, he was made Surveyor General of all the
London Hospitals.
Andrew died on 4 Sep 1558 and was buried at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate,
London [see Probate Mar 1558 - 1605 Prerogative Court, Canterbury, Kent,
Ref. 58 Noodes, 54 Welles ("De bonis non adm.") grants, March 1558-9 &
Aug 1605. Properties in St. Helene, London and Eshetisford, Kent, "etc."].
Notice the picture here. This is the tomb of Andrew Judd as a memorial
kept at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London today. As Andrew knew he
was about to die, he composed his last will and testament on 2 Sep 1558
as follows:
SIR ANDREW JUDDE, Knight and Alderman of the Cittie
of London, 2 September 1558 (5 & 6 P & M). To be buried in the
parish church of Sainte Helene nigh Bishopsgate in London as right vnto
the place there whereas the bodie of Agnes my late wife lieth buryed as
couvenient may be. My executors shall cause a Tombe or Monument wt a memorial
of me to be erected and set apon my grave.
To Dame Mary Judde my welbeloved wif in satisfaction of dower she may
claim, my mannors of Eshetesford [Ashford] otherwise called Asheford and
Esture in Kent which saide manors be of yerely value of £73 and al that
my mannor of Barden in Countie of Hertford of yerelie value of £40 and
my lands &e in the Towne, parish and feelds of Barons in the countie
of Surr[y] of yerelie value of £28. To hold same to her for life and
after death of said Dame Mary the mannor of Asheford, Esture and Bardon
to John Judde my heire apparent and for lacke of yssue to Richard Judde
my sonne and for lack of heires to my right heir.
To the said John Judde my sonne my messuage and lands in the parish of
Spenshur ats Spelhurst in Kent, called Codds, of yerelie value of £5
and my lands &e in Bidborough I purchased of William Vmble of yerelie
value of £4. 10. Also my mannor of Downe in Kent and al other my lands
in Downe and Corodame in Kent of yerelie value of £10.
And where I, the saide Sr. Andrewe Judde have builded and erected a free
grammer scole at Tonbridge in Kent, to have contynuance for euer, for the
maynteaunce and contynuaunce wherof I geve will and bequeath vnto the Maister
and Wardeynes of the fraternitie of Corpus Christi of the crafte or misterye
of Skynners of the Cittie of London all that my cloase of pasture with
thappurtenances called the Sandhilles sett on the blacke (sic) side of
Holbourne in the parish eof Sainct Pancras being of the yerelie value of
£13. 6. 8. and my messuage in tholde Swanne Alley in Tames Strete in
parishe of Saint Laurance Poultney in London of yerelie value of £6.
3. 4. and my messuage in parish of Alhalllowes in Gracechurch Strete now
in the tenure or occupacion of William Judde, skynner, [and other property,
detailed, in London]. The said Maister and Wardeyns shall yerelie content
and paye to the scole maister of my saide free grammer scole at Tunbridge
for his stipend and wages £20 at four termes in the yere. To the Vssher
of the saide scole £8. Item I will that the saide Mr. and Wardeynes
for the tyme being shall oncs in the yere for euermore ride to visite the
saide scole and there to see and consider whither the scole maister and Vssher
of the saide scole doo their dueties towards the scolars in teaching of them
of vertue of lernyng and whither the scollars doo of their partes vse themselfes
vertuose and studiouse and whither they doo observe and kepe thordres and
rules of my saide free scole or not. And I will that the foresaid maister
and wardeyns in their said visitacion shall take ordre that if any of the
rules and ordres in my said free scole shall fortune to be broken either
by the Maister or Vsshier or by any of the scolers, that then the same may
be furthewith refourmed and amended according to ther good discreacions and
as my speciall trust and confidence is in them. And I will that the saide
Mr. and Wardeynes shall yerelie have for their labours and paynes therein
to be taken and for their expences in that behaulf 40s. yerelie.
[Bequest to six poore almes men in my almes houses within the cloase
of Sainte Helens to euery of them 8d. weeklie and 35s. uppon coales yerelie].
And the overplus therof (i.e. of rents &e.) remayning I will shalbe to
thuse and behoulf of the said Companye of Skynnars to ordre and dispoase
at their willes and pleasures.
Executors: Dame Mary my wif and John Judde my sonne and heir.
Witnesses: John Southcote, Germyn Cyoll, William Hagar.
Proved 15 October 1558 by Mr. Thomas Willett notary public for John Judde.
(P.C.C. 58 Noodes)
All in all, the Judde Family up until this point was looking good.
With a long history, the family did well with the pinnacle at Sir Andrew.
Sir Andrew’s best accomplishments were becoming Lord Mayor of London 1550-1551,
Mayor of the Staple of Calais, six times Master of the Skinners Company,
and Founder of Tonbridge School 1553. His daughter Alice married
our Thomas “Customer” Smythe. To continue with the line, you can pick
it up with the Smith Family History.
By: Jerry A. Smith,
Smith Family Researcher
___________________________________________________________________________________
Resources:
1. Purton, Rev. R.C., “In Transactions of the Shopshire Archaeological
Society #51, pp. 127 – 138.
2. Lambarde, Fane, “In Archæologia Cantinaz” – transactions
of the Kent Archaeological Society, Vo. III, 1913.
3. Hope, Valerie, “My Lord Mayor: 800 Years of London’s Mayorality”,
1989.
4. Lewisham: Lewisham Antiquarian Society, “Calender of Wills relating
to the County of Kent proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1384
– 1559”, 1890.
5. Wriothesley, Charles, “A Chronicle of England during the Reigns
of the Tudors, from 1485 to 1559”, Camden Society.
6. Website: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/AndrewJudde.htm
7. Website for Will: http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Libr/Wills/Bk52/page%2015.htm
8. Website for Tonbridge School: http://www.skinnershall.co.uk/tons.htm
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