Marriage record for Edward Smith and Ann Hunt in South Leigh:
"Edwardus Smyth et Anna Hunt connubio iamti fuerent quarto die Octobris Anno Dom 1618"
Edward Smith and Ann Hunt were married the fourth day of October in the year of our Lord 1618.
Ann Hunt was the daughter of Elizabeth Hunt, and the sister of Elizabeth Hunt who married Thomas Smith in South Leigh. Ann died and was buried 5 November 1635.
Edward was listed as a clerk, and often acted as a witness on wills in South Leigh. Edward was a witness for the will of Alice Buttle, widow of South Leigh, in 1620.
Edward was appointed an overseer in the will of Anne Smith, spinster of South Leigh in 1629. He and Thomas Smith were witnesses for the will. Both Edward Smith and Thomas Smith were listed as overseers on the will of Thomas Smith senior in 1630. Edward was also a witness for the same will. Edward and Thomas served as appraisers for Thomas Smith senior's inventory.
Edward was the curate or minister of South Leigh from 1630 to 1660.
In 1631 Thomas Munchin, a shepherd, left a legacy for Edward: "I give and bequeath to Edward Smith clarke one sheepe."
Both Edward Smith and Thomas Smith were mentioned in the will of Elizabeth Hunt, widow of South Leigh in 1637:
"Item I give unto Anne Smyth my daughter the wife of Edward Smith xijd. Item I give unto William Huntt my sonne xijd. Item I give unto Elizabeth Smith my daughter the wife of Thomas Smith xijd."
It seems that Edward Smith and Thomas Smith married sisters.
The signature of Edward Smith on a will
Edward married again to Julian Sexton, in about 1636. Julian was christened 27 July 1617 in South Leigh, the daughter of William and Betterice Sexton.
Julian died and was buried 29 May 1649 in South Leigh.
Burial record for Julian Smith in South Leigh:
"Julian the wife of Edwd. Smith was buried May ye 29 according to ye sd Act"
Edward was later listed as curate in South Leigh in the parish register.
Beginning at ye yeare of our Lord 1653
began by mee John Druett chosen register
for Sowthley. Mr Edward Smith being
then curate. And John Phipps and Will
Collier churchwardens, and Will George
constable.
The church where Edward was curate was St. James the Great. It contains some amazing 15th-century wall paintings. The paintings were uncovered in the late 1800s when the vicar had the whitewash removed, revealing the paintings.
St. Michael and Mary weighing souls
The jaws of hell welcoming sinners
Carvings of heads in the church
The jaws of hell welcoming sinners
Carvings of heads in the church
South Leigh parish register entry: "1653 - collected the 31st of Julie 1653 for the towne of Marleberry, in the Chappell of Southleigh 8s 2d
Thomas Ayres, Richard Parme, Assistants Edward Smith, Minister"
Burial record for Edward Smith in South Leigh:
"Mr Edward Smith minister was buried the 5th day of June 1660"
Edward left a will, written in 1657, and proven 2 May 1660 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Edward Smith 1657, PCC
In the name of God Amen the fowerth day of September in the yere of our Lord God 1657 I Edward Smith of Southleigh in the County of Oxon: clerke being of whole mynd and of good and perfect remembrance laud and prayse be given to Almighty God my maker and Redeemer and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Southleigh. And after my ffunerall expences performed I will and bequeath to my daughter Anne Lowe seven pounds of good and lawfull money of England to be paid by my executor here following named unto the said Anne my daughter within six weekes next after my decease. Item I will and bequeath unto my sonne Edward twenty pounds of good and lawfull money of England to be paid unto my said sonne Edward when hee shall come to and accomplish the lawfull age of one and twenty yeres. Item I will and bequeath unto my daughter Mary twenty pounds of good & lawfull money of England to be paid unto the said Mary my daughter when shee shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeres or else be married. Item I bequeath and will unto my sonne Thomas twenty pounds of good and lawfull money of England to be paid unto my sonne Thomas when he shall accomplish the lawfull age of one and twenty yeres. Item I will and bequeath unto my daughter Julian twenty pounds of good and lawfull money of England to be paid unto my said daughter Julian when shee shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeres of else be married. And if it fortune that any of my said children Edward Mary Thomas or Julyan do decease before they accomplish the age of one and twenty yeres or be married that then I will and bequeath that his or her porcon soe deceaseing to the other of them then surviveing equally to devided amongst them. And I will and bequeath unto my sonne Stephen Smyth all the rest of my goods and chattels moveable and immoveable whatsoever. And of this my present testament I make and ordaine the said Stephen Smyth my sonne my whole and sole executor. And for the execution of the same I make and ordayne Richard Shepheard overseer and bequeath unto him tenne shillings. And I utterly revoke and adnull all and every other former testaments wills legacies bequests executors and overseers by me in everywise before this tyme made named willed and bequeathed. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seale unto theis presents the day and yere first above written. Edward Smyth
Sealed and signed in the presence of the marke of Joane Hasell, John Hasell Anne Hasell
Edward and Ann had the following children:
1. Stephen, christened 28 January 1619 in South Leigh; married Abigall; died 14 August 1678 in South Leigh; buried 16 August 1678 in South Leigh. Stephen left a will: "In the name of God Amen this twelve day of August 1678 I Stephen Smith of Southly in the County of Oxford yeaman be week in body but of perfect memory doe mak this my last will & testament. I commit my soul to God which gave it & my body to ye earth: & my worldly goods which God hath lent me as followeth: Imprimis I give to my sister Ann Harriss ten shillings to be payd her six months after my decease. Item I give to my sister Julian Smith ten shillings to by payd her six months after my decease. Item I give to my brother Thomas Smith thirty pounds to be payd him six months after my decease by my executrix. Item I give to Jo. Smith husband of my sister Julian ye revertion of a ground caled Ward Wood in Southly after ye decease of my wife Abigall Smith & ye surviveing life of Tho. Alder. Item I nominate & appoint Abigall Smith my wife my sole executrix of all my goods & cattles moveable & immoveable & to perform all things according to this my last will. In witness whereof I have sett my hand & seal ye day & year above mentioned.
2. Ann, christened 2 January 1622 in South Leigh; married Mr. Lowe; married John Harris, widower in 1673 in Witney, Oxfordshire; buried June 1690 in South Leigh.
Edward and Julian had the following children:
3. Edward, christened 20 August 1637 in South Leigh.
4. Mary, christened 20 December 1638 in South Leigh.
5. Thomas, christened 26 August 1640 in South Leigh.
*6. Julian, christened 1 September 1642 in South Leigh; married John Smith.
SOURCES: South Leigh parish register;
will of Edward Smith of South Leigh, 1657, Prerogative
Court of Canterbury; will of Stephen Smith of South Leigh,
1678; will of Elizabeth Hunt widow of South Leigh, 1637;
will of Anne Smith spinster of South Leigh, 1629; will of
Thomas Smith senior of South Leigh, 1630; will of Thomas
Munchin, shepherd of South Leigh, 1631; Oxfordshire
Marriage Bonds, www.findmypast.com; South Leigh parish
registers on CD, including List of Incumbents of South
Leigh, F.R.L Goadby, Oxfordshire Family History Society.