Trow on the Severn

Burial record for John Barnsley in Ribbesford: "18. John Barnsly"

Burial record for Elizabeth Barnsley in Ribbesford: "27. Elizabeth Barnsley - wid."

Rxtracts from the Ribbesfore parish register



Ribbesford churchyard

In addition to John Barnsley, two other Barnsleys were found having children after the devastation of the plague - Laurence and his wife Mary, and Thomas, a waterman.

SOURCES: Ribbesford parish register; A History of Bewdley, by John Richard Burton;Will of Humfridi Barnesley trowman of Ribbesford, 1587, Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

Humfrey Barnesley was born in about 1550 of Ribbesford, Worcestershire. He was a trowman (boatman) on the Severn River. Humphrey married Johane. Humfrey had a brother Thomas Barnesley.

Humfrey died in about 1587, leaving a will. The will was probated 18 December 1587.

Will of Humfridi Barnesley of Ribbesford, 1587

Will of Humfridi Barnesley, trowman of Ribbesford, 1587

In the name of God Amen the xxvith day of October in nyne and twentieth yeare of the reigne of our sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Quene of England France and Ireland Defender of the faithe &c. I Humfrey Barnesley of the parishe of Ribbesford in the countie of Worc and dioces of Hereff trowman being sicke in body but God be thanked of good and perfect memory doe ordeyne and make my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First I geve and bequeath my soule to my Lord God my Creator and to Jesus Christ his sonne my readeamer of my bodye to the Earth. Item I geve and bequeath unto the poore in the Towne of Beawdley five shillings. Item I geve and bequeath unto my three daughters Elizabeth Agnes and Margaret tenne poundes of good and lawfull money of England videlt to eache of them three poundes six shillings and eight pence to by payed unto them at the daye of their marriage or at the full age of one and twenty yeares. And yf it happen that any of my sayd daughters to dye or decese befor the daye of their marriage or the age of xxi yeares aforesaid then my will is that her parte so dyeing to be equallie devided and to remayne to them that then shalbe living. Item I give and bequeath unto Johane my wife the lease of my house wherein I now dwell, to have unto her for and during her natural lief. And after her decease I will that the same shall remayne to my sayd three daughters equally to be devided amongst them in manner and forme as thaforesaid money is to be devided and ordered. Item I geve and bequeath unto my twoe sonnes John and Thomas my second best trowe being the older saving one together with all thinges to her at this present belonging. And theye upon the receipt thereof to paye unto my sayd wife the somme of forty shillings of good and lawfull money of England. Item I geve and bequeath unto Richard Barnesley my sonne the somme of forty shillinges of good and lawfull money of England. Item I geve and bequeath unto Humfrey Barnesley my sonne in money three poundes six shillinges and eight pence. Item geve and bequeath to my brother Thomas Barnesley in money twentye shillinges. And I doe also forgive him all such debtes as he doth owe unto me. All the rest of my goodes & chattels as well moveable as unmoveable whatsoever I geve and bequeath unto my sayd wief and her I doe ordeyne and make the sole executrix of this my last will and testament. And I doe ordeyne and appointe my true friendes John Milward of Beawdley and Thomas Palmer of Highley my overseers to see this my last will and testament in every respecte to be performed. And I geve and bequeath to eyther of them for a token of my good will and their paynes taking herein six shillinges eight pence a peece. Theis being witnesses Richard Petyngall, Richard Fennys and John Langley.

Johane died of the plague 31 October 1604 in Ribbesford.

Burial record for Johane Barnesley in Ribbesford:
31. Joane Barnsley an ould widdowe de peste" (an old widow of the plague)

Humfrey and Johane had the following children:

1. John, born in about 1570 of Ribbesford; occupation - trowman.

2. Thomas, of Lax Lane; married Alice; had children Thomas (1584), Jacob (1586), Richard (1590), Margaret (1591), Elizabethe (1593, died 1600), Robart (1595), William (1596, died 1604), Mary (1596), Humfrey (1598), Joane (1600, died 1604), James (1601), and Margery (died 1604).

3. Richard, married Anne Trondell in 1586, had children Allen (1587, died 1597), Anne (1589, died 1604), Richard (1591, died 1604), John (died 1593), Joanne (1594, died 1595), Humfrey (1596), Mary (1598), and a daughter, called syster in the parish record (died 1603). Richard and Anne both died in 1604; Richard was buried 3 October 1604 in Ribbesford. 

4. Humfrey, buried 9 November 1587 in Ribbesford,

5. Elizabeth

6. Agnes, (Anne) married Thomas Starkey 15 July 1591 in Ribbesford.

7. Margaret, christened 25 October 1577 in Ribbesford; married Robert Engles 4 May 1602 in Ribbesford.

8. Em, christened 18 January 1579 in Ribbesford; buried 8 February 1579 in Ribbesford.

SOURCES: Will of Humfridi Barnesley trowman of Ribbesford, 1587, Prerogative Court of Canterbury; Ribbesford parish register.

Other Barnsleys in Ribbesford were:

• Henry married Sara Bethell in 1584, had children Ales (1589, died 1604), Elizabethe (1590), Joyse (1595), John (1598, died 1604), Robarte (1601, died 1601), Margery (died 1604), Margaret (died 1604), and Marie (died 1604). Henry died by 1604, and Sara died in 1604.