FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
JOHN SMITH AND
MARGARET ADDAMS

John Smith was born in about 1560 of Wombourn, Staffordshire, the son of John Smyth and Anne. John married Margaret Addams 27 June 1582 in Wombourn, and his occupation was yeoman.

In A History of Staffordshire, it is mentioned that "John Smith had 130 sheep and lambs worth £53 in 1638". He also  had a windmill: "There was a windmill in Blakeley field south of Wombourne in 1612; it was held by John Smith and was known as Hills mill in 1635. It was evidently rebuilt on the same or a nearby site west of Green Hill by Edward Smith before 1655." In 1637 "John Smith of Womborne" was a churchwarden.

John died and was buried 29 June 1638 in Wombourn.

John left a will, written 18 April 1638, and proven 11 September 1638. In his will he is shown as "John Smyth the yonger of Womborn". The will names:

• Elizabeth, Sara, Richard, Margaret, Thomas, Ithiel (male, named for the vicar and their landlord Ithiel Smart), and Anne Smyth, "my naturall sons and daughters", not yet of full age.
• "My daughter Mary ye wife of John Watson"
• "My son John"
• "My loving wife Margaret Smyth" (who is named as the sole executor)
• "John Smyth ye elder and Anne his wife, my mother and father"

In the name of God Amen the eighteengh daie of April in Anno Dom 1638, I John Smyth the yonger of Womborne in the County of Staff, gent, being weake in bodye but of a sound mind a pfect memory (thanks be to God) do make and ordaine this my last psent testament and last will in mannr and forme following (that is to saie), first I commend my soule into the mercifull hande of Almightie God my maker and Redeemer hopeing assuredlie by the infinite mercies and mediaton of Jesus Christ my only Saviour to be made an inheritor of everlasting life. And my bodie to be buried in Christian burial. And as concerning my worldly goods what God in his mercie and wisedome hath bestowed upon me & dispose of them in manner and forme following (that is to saye) my ffinal expences being discharged and my debts paid, I doe hereby give and bequeath unto Elizabeth, Edward, Sara, Richard,, Margaret, Thomas, Ithiel, and Anne Smyth my naturall sonnes and daughters  ffortie pounds a peece, to be given unto them respectively as they shall accomplish their respective ages of twentie five yeares. And if it shall soe please God that any of my said children shall decease before they shall accomplishe their said ages or age of twentie five yeares than an such case happening my will is that the person or persons of him, her or them soe deceaseing shall e and remaine to the rest of my children to bee equallie devided amongst them. Item I give unto my daughter Mary & wife of John Walson eight pounds to be paid unto her when one yeare next after my decease. Item, I give unto Margaret Watson daughter of the saide John and Margaret his wife eight pounds. Item I give unto my sonne John Smyth twentie pounds. Item I will and devise unto my loving wife Margaret Smyth all my lande and tenements with the appurtances situate lying and being in the parish of Wombourne aforesaid being in mortgage unto Ithiell Smart. For the paymt of a certain some of money for and during the terms of eight yeares next ensuing after my decease and she shall continue a widdowe and doe duly paie yearly unto the said Mr. Smarte the rent charged upon the said lande and tenements, and doe allow duely payment unto John Smyth the elder and Anne his wife my ffather and mother their annuities during their naturall lives and the life of the survivor of them for thei mainenace and livelehoods. And I doe make and ordaine my saide wife soe executor of this my last will and testament desireing her truly to performe the same in all things according to my true intent and meaning unto whom I give and bequeathe all the remainder of goods, cattels and chattells (heire loomes excepted) which shall remaine after my debts and legacies be paid and discharged for and towarde bhe pferment of herself and my children. And I doe appointe John Bradeley of Nether Penn, and William Perry of Broughton my loving faithfull ffreinde overseers of this my will and testament desireing them to be dutiful and ____ unto my executrix concerning the overseeing of my estate unto whom I bequeath ten shillings a peece. In wittnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale the daie and yeare abovesaide.

John Smith

Wittnesses to this will and testament

Edward Smith

John Watson

John Smith's signature on his will

Margaret Smith's signature on an administration

John and Margaret had the following children:

*1. Elnor, christened 17 April 1588 in Wombourn; married Richard Meredith 19 February 1609 in Wombourn; not named in father's will, must have died between the birth of her last child in 1621 and her father's will in 1638.

2. Edward, christened 6 November 1589 in Wombourn; buried 13 December 1589 in Wombourn.

3. Elizabeth, christened 11 November 1590 in Wombourn.

4. Edward, christened 2 September 1592 in Wombourn.

5. Katherine, christened 13 September 1594 in Wombourn.

6. Elizabeth, christened 18 November 1596 in Wombourn; mentioned in father's will of 1638.

7. Richard, christened 14 September 1598 in Wombourn; mentioned in father's will of 1638.

8. Margaret, christened 29 March 1600 in Wombourn; mentioned in father's will of 1638. 

9. Robert, christened 6 August 1602 in Wombourn.

10. Mary, mentioned in father's will as the wife of John Watson.

11. John, mentioned in father's will of 1638.

12. Sara, mentioned in father's will of 1638.

13. Thomas, mentioned in father's will of 1638.

14. Ithiel (male), mentioned in father's will of 1638, probably named for the vicar, Ithiel Smart.

15. Anne, mentioned in father's will of 1638.

 

SOURCES: Wombourn parish register on www.findmypast.com; www.familysearch.org; will of John Smith, junior on www.findmypast.co.uk; A History of Staffordshire.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
JOHN AND ANNE SMYTH

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
ROBERT SMYTH AND
MARGARETT WOODHOUSE

Robert Smyth was born in about 1520 of Wombourn. He married Margarett Woodhouse. Margaret was born in about 1520 of Wombourn, the daughter of Walter and Joan Woodhouse.

Robert died and was buried 16 February 1592/3, leaving a will written 6 February 1592, and proven 9 April 1593.

Margaret died and was buried 19 May 1594 in Wombourn.

Robert's will mentions:

• "Margarett my wellbeloved wyffe"
• "Alce Mannsell my daughter"
• "Katherine Hirman my daughter" and her husband John
• "Anne Tomkys my daughter"
• "John Smyth ye sonne of John my sonne"
• "Margery Lawe my daughter"
• "Robart Smyth my sonne"
• "Margarett my daughter"
• "Richard Pratt my sonne in law"
• "Humfrey Smyth my brother"

In the name of God Amen Anno Domini 1592 the 19 day of Ffebruary, I Robart Smythe of Womborne of the dioces of Coventry & Lichfield, sicke in bodye but whole & perfecte in memorye praysed  be to God, doe make and ordeyne this my laste will & testament in manner and forme followinge, that is to saye, firste I geve and beueth my soule to Almightye God my only Savioure and redeemer and my bodye to be decently buryed in the churche of Womborne when God shall apoynte the time at the discretion of my executors. Item my will is that my ffunerall expenses beinge discharged and my detts payde further of my whole goodes. I geve and bequeathe to Margarett my welbeloved wife thirteen pounds and my beste bedde with all the ffurniture that there unto belongeth and the ___ during hir lyfe. Item I geve and bequethe to Alice Mannsell my daughter and to every one of hir children cid apiece unto of age lease that Robart Mannsell did signe imtp after ffoure years next yet to come. Item I geve & bequeath to Katherine Hirmans my daughter xxx & the second standing bedde and to Richard Shawe xxxd unto of a certen annuytye that John Hirmans hir husband payeth me yerely and to John Shawe one shipe. Item I geve and bequeath to Anne Tomkys my daughter one shipe and to Robart Sherwyn one shipe and to the two yonger children of John Sherwyn eyther of them xx apiece and John Sherwyn did owe me. Item I geve and beueth to John Smyth the sonne of John my sonne the lease of the heyes during the yeares yet to come and my best brasse pott and greate broohe. Item I geve and bequeath to Margery Lawe my daughter halfe all sure money as hir husbande doth owe me. Item I geve and bequeath to Robart Smyth my sonne xxx. Item I geve & bequeath to Margarett my daughter one shipe and to the three yonger children of John my sonne every of them a shipe. Item I geve and bequeath to every child that I have a silver spoone. Item I geve & bequeath to FFranncis Kempe xld & to Margarett Hodgette one shipe all the rest of my goods unbequethed. I geve and bequeath to be bestowed by the discretion of my overseers detts that are owinge unto me are these – John Button of Pen xxx. Thomas Shinglar xxx. Henry Smyth xxx to pay xx yearely for ffoure yeares. Symon Sturmy xxx. John Masse xxx, Mr Edward Hall of Sedgley xxx John Marsh of Over Gornall xxx, Henry Michell Naylor xxx, Humfrey Burnett xxx Thomas Simson xxx, Antony Hawkyns xxx, Richard Lawe xxx Henry Smyth xxx, William Smyth xxx, Dabie Jonnes xxx, Robart Mannsell xxx John Hirmans xxx. Detts that I doe owe to Richard Pratt my sonne in law xx. Item I make & ordeyne John Smyth my sonne and Robert Smyth my sonne my whole executors of this my laste will and testament to see it trewly pformed. Item I make my overseers Edward Woodhouse and Humfrey Smyth my brother, these being witnesses Humfrey Aston, clerk, Edward Woodhouse, John Hirmans, John Smyth & Robart Smyth with others.

Robert and Margarett had the following children:

1. Elynor, mentioned in grandmother's will of 1562.

2. Alice; married Robert Mannsell in January 1570 in Wombourn.

3. Katherine, married John Hirmans

4. Anne, married Mr. Tomkys

*5. John, born about 1540; married Anne.

6. Margery, married Richard Lawe 16 February 1589 in Wombourn.

7. Robart, occupation: yeoman; married Alice Hotchkin in 1587 in Wombourn; had a son, John (1592); will proven 12 May 1601.

8. Margarett

Robert also mentions his brother Humfrey Smyth his brother in his will. Humfrey had children Edward (1570), John (1572), John (1573), Richard (1574) and Elizabeth (1574).

SOURCES: Will of Robert Smyth on www.findmypast.co.uk

Other earlier Smiths in Wombourn were:

• William, who married Agnes in 1580, and had children: Anne (1595), John and William.
• William, who left a will dated 28 July 1581, naming wife Jone, son William, daughters Elnor and Jone, brother Henry Smith, son-in-law John Caddye, and having Homfrey Smith, millner, as an overseer for the will, and Robert Smith of Wombourn as one of the appraisers for his inventory.
  
• Henry Smith was buried 18 May 1596 in Wombourn.
• Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Smith "of Orton", christened 31 July 1574 in Wombourn.
• Richard Smith "of Orton" was buryed 24 February 1576 in Wombourn.
• Guy Smith was buried 6 February 1587 in Wombourn; left a will probated 25 June 1588 and inventory which lists Robert Smyth the elder as owing a debt to him.
• Robert Smyth of Wombourn left a will written 4 February 1522 and probated 2 May 1522. This may be one of Robert Smith of 1520's ancestors, likely a grandfather. Since Robert Smyth in the will had a son old enough to have his own house, then Robert must have been born in the late 1400s. He lists his wife Agnes, son Thomas, and daughters Alice and Maude in the will.
• Thomas Smith was buried 4 March 1583 in Wombourn. Thomas is mentioned in his father Robert's will of 1522, and was likely born about 1500. It is possible that he is Robert and Humfrey's father.
  

Robert was mentioned in a land transaction in 1488-9: “John Dudley of Sedgley demises to Robert Smith of Wombourne the moiety of those lands (called Caldwalls) which John Kendale, vicar of Wombourne and John Cooke of Overton late held by demise of John Dudley, Esq., his father” (Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Volume 10)

SOURCE: Will of Robert Smythe, 1522, on findmypast.co.uk; Wombourn parish register; will of William Smith, 1581; will of Joan Wodhows, 1562.