|
This is a family group sheet, based on the will - written 30 December 1646 - proved at Lichfield, 6 March 1646/7 - of John BAXTER, Husbandman, of Caldwell. Unfortunately - but, interestingly! - this takes us back to the period of the English Civil War, when the country was in turmoil and many Church records were destroyed.
John's will identifies his wife as Elizabeth and his children as Thomas BAXTER, whom he named as co-Executor with Elizabeth - and "my two Dawters".
His son, Thomas, having been appointed as an Executor, was obviously old enough to assume responsibility. While the two unknown "dawters" had not yet arrived at their "severall" ages of twenty-two by 1646 - which I translate as meaning their "individual" ages - there is nothing to indicate the order of their birth. Thomas may well have been chosen as Executor, simply by being a son. For the sake of this family grouping, I am assuming Thomas to have been the oldest child. However, is he this Thomas?
Bearing the then current Civil War in mind, it is exceedingly interesting to read the condition that John BAXTER required of his two dawters to "take the advise (sic) of my said wife and my Landlord Callingwood SANDERS and his Sonne Thomas SANDERS". In addition, Callingwood SANDERS and Daniel, another of his sons, were two of the witnesses to the Will.
Collingwood Sanders, (1578—1653) was Lord of Caldwell and Ireton and his son, Thomas SANDERS (1610-1695), was none other than Colonel Sir Thomas SANDERS, of Cromwell's Parliamentarian Army. There can be little doubt of the loyalties of the BAXTER family of Caldwell!
|
