21
CHAPTER THREE
--------------------------
In the course of the investigations into the direct family line (Chapter 2) several collateral Stoodley families came to light. These are shown below. Where known the linkage with the main line is denoted by a bold letter symbol both in the main tree and the subsidiary.
Descendants from John Stoodley the elder born about 1522
Y
John (the elder in 1582) b 1522
|
Y
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in 1545 Sub Roll)
Holds land in 1594?) m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> d >1582 (after 1594?)
???? ????
|________________
|
John (Jnr in 1569 Muster Roll & 1594 Sub Roll; the elder in 1602) b <1553 m 1594S >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Agnes HILLIER d ????
________ |_______
| |
Edward b 1600
Joseph b ???? m 1624 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Margery Dinham d 1671B d 1679 of Marshwood (W8) (W 13)
|
|
James tythingman of Mwd 1657 Hearth Tax 1664; Court Roll 1679
|
|________________________
|
Jacob bp1644M
B = Broadwindsor; S = Stoke Abbott; M = Marshwood.
A deed (D3) dated 1625 confirms the marriage of John Stoodley and his wife Agnes who wed in 1594. It refers to their “son & heir” Edward whose baptism not found but has been estimated as being about 1600. It also mentions also Margery, daughter of Richard
Dingham. Later Edward married Margery Dingham although no parish record has yet been found.
In 1641 Edward appeared in the Protestation return for Marshwood. In a lease
(L22) dated 1649 Edward, “yeoman of Marshwood” appeared as a mortgagee on a property called “Courtwood” in Broadwindsor. Witnesses included a Joseph (?his brother) and Giles.
He appeared again in 1657 in further lease (L23) when he was a witness to another mortgage transaction concerning “Courtwood”.
Edward was included in the 1662 Hearth Tax records for Marshwood and between
1651 & 1670 he appeared in the Manor court on an irregular basis. (Chapter10)
Edward drew up his will (W8) on 15th January 1670. He was a yeoman of
Marshwood. He mentions his brother Joseph, whose baptism has not been found, and a
Daniel, most likely to be the one baptised 1633 in Marshwood, son of Joseph, in other words his nephew. Edward & Margery probably had no family for he mentions no descendants but
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

22 left bequests to nine named, but to us unknown, people. His wife Margery inherited the residue of his estate.
He was buried 9th April 1671 in Broadwindsor and recorded in the register as “of
Monkw ood”
Edward’s widow Margery drew up her will (W13) in September 1678. She was “of
Monkwood in Marshwood” There is no record of her burial but probate was granted 18th
February 1678. She left bequests to a number of people, not apparently descendants but likely to be nieces & nephews. Her sole executrix was Grace, wife of John Wills; maybe her sister.
Margery’s property was not specified in her will. However it was clearly delineated in a deed (D4) of May 1679. By this James Stoodley of Marshwood yeoman, whose place in the Stoodley genealogy is considered below, transferred “for a consideration” the following property “formerly in the possession of Margery Stoodley, decd.” to Mary Colmer (also
Phelps) and Johan Colmer (also Phelps) both spinsters.
Broad close, Middle close, Great Fursey close, and Little Fursey close and part of a close called the Outer close in Marshwood
Also Lower Munckwoods lying in Stoke Abbott.
By a deed (D8) raised on 15th August 1742 Joan Smith (née Colmer) had died & her nephew sold her property that was “formerly in possession of Margery Stoodley decd.” It comprised:-
Broad Close, Middle Close, Great Fursey Close, and Little Fursey Close and part of the
Outer Close next adjoining the Middle Close in Marshwood and part of Lower Munckwoods in Stoke Abbott
A deed (D2) of 1602 refers to this same property, to wit:-
Lower Munckwoods in Stoke Abbott amounting to 22 acres.
Broad close; middle close, great furze close and little furze close amounting to about 17 acres
Halfendeal of the oat close adjoining the middle close together in Marshwood
Other small plots including one at little Wodiett and it was assigned to “John Stoodley the elder”.
So Edward Stoodley & Margery, née Dingham, inherited property given to John the elder in 1602.
The James Stoodley of Marshwood, mentioned above, who disposed of Margery
Stoodley’s property was a person of some standing. He was appointed Tythingman in 1657
(Chapter 10) and was included in the Marshwood Hearth Tax for 1664. He was mentioned in Marshwood Manor Court in 1679 (Chap 10) where he was fined, together with his son
Jacob for “not appearing”. He was buried in Broadwindsor on 19th October 1679, some four months after he had disposed of Margery Stoodley’s property.
His son Jacob was baptised in 1644 in Marshwood. Again no mother’s name was recorded. In 1676 he appeared in the Marshwood Court book as a freeholder. His wife was buried in 1710 & he was buried 1722, both in Marshwood.
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

23
Descendants of John Stoodley baptised 1566 in Broadwindsor
Z
John bp 1566
|
Z
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| m 1582B >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Maria d ????
________________|________________________________
????
|
John
|
Ann
| |
Tristram(Andrew) Alice bp1583B bp1584B bp1586B
|
|
Joan
|
Catherine bp1593B bp1595B bp1597B m1?1609B
|
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jane m21630B >>>>>>> Alice
_______________________ |________________________
| | | | | | |
Tristram Dorothy Emma Jane Matthew John Agnes bp1609B bp1610B bp1613B bp1616B bp1618B bp1620B bp1621B
|_______
|
|
|
Buke
Langley
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| d1661 of Bdw (W5)
________________________ |_________________
| | | | | |
Alice Samuel Mary Xtian Ruth Nathaniel bp1630B bp1632B bp1635B bp1636B bp1638B bp1642B
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|________________________
| m ???? >>>>>
________________________________________ | d 1689B of Bdw (W16)
Joan ????
| |
Matthew Mary
| |
Agatha John
|
Eliz’th
|
Tristram bp1653B bp1655B bp1658B bp1661B bp1663B bp1669B d 1695B
| d 1689 B of Bdw (W15)
| m 1698B >>>>>>> Mary Notton
|_______
|
Mary
| nine children
|
|
|
| b 1684
(W17) m 1636M >>>>>>> Elizabeth TURNER d 1677 of Monkwood (W11)
|
|________________________________________________
|
Joan
| | |
Tristram Eliz’th Alice
|
Mary
| |
Thomas Dorothy bp1638M bp1640M bp1643M bp1646M bp1659M b?? d 1673 b?? of Monkwood (W9)
(daughters sold lands in 1680 assigned in 1602 to Tristram S & his son John the younger)
B = Broadwindsor; M = Marshwood;
A John Stoodley married in Broadwindsor on 2nd May 1582. The original record of the event was presumably written on paper for the record which now exists was clearly copied at a later stage in compliance with the requirements of the 1598 Act that parish records should be recorded on parchment.
Unfortunately the scribe saw fit not to enter the wife’s surname, only her Christian name which was Maria. This reluctance to include information about the wife & mother
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

24 extended to the baptisms of their children but it is reasonable to conclude that the six children baptised between 1583 & 1597 were theirs. The person transcribing the original registers su ffered the same problems as those who transcribe today; he didn’t always get it right.
One of their children was Tristram baptised in 1586 which the scribe read as “Andrew” This is most likely an error for Andrew is not a name that occurs in the Stoodleys but Tristram most certainly does. And at that time.
Of their children Alice married Thomas Mantell in 1626 in Broadwindsor. Mantell is a name which recurs on various documents pertaining to the early Stoodleys. Catherine married William Gibbes in 1617. Ann died young in 1584, christened one day & buried the next.
Tristram(586) (Andrew) married twice, first wife to Jane Buke in 1609 by whom he had seven children, the eldest being Tristram and the youngest being Agnes baptised in
1621. No record has been found of the death of his wife. However in 1630 Tristram married again, this time to Alice Langley by whom he had a further six children. Christian &
Ruth died as babies.
Confirmation of his two families can be found in his will (W5) drawn up on 5th April
1661 & proved on 17th March 1661. The Old Style calendar of those days started on 25th
March. He describes himself as a yeoman. He left small amounts to his sons Tristram(609)
& Matthew(618) & daughters Emma & Jane from his first marriage. The children from his second marriage fared better. To Samuel he left £20 & his coverlet looms whilst Nathaniel, aged 19 years, received half his house, garden & shop & a “pair of woollen looms”. So he had a second string to his bow, he was also a weaver.
His daughters Mary & Alice received money & furniture.
The executor of his will was a Jonathan Stoodley with no reference to any relationship. This might possibly be the Jonathan, son of John & Tomasin baptised in 1634 in Broadwindsor. Tristram did have a brother John (583) and so Jonathan would be his nephew. Jonathan also appears in the 1662 Hearth Tax for Broadwindsor. A witness of
Tristram’s will was “Giles Stoodley gent”. This would be his first cousin Giles(598), son of his uncle Giles(570)
The eldest son of Tristram(586) was Tristram(609). He married Elizabeth Turner in
1636 in Marshwood. Likely therefore that his wife’s family came from Marshwood. They had a family of seven children including four daughters. Rather sadly their son Thomas whose baptism has not been found, died in 1672. He was young and unmarried but left a will
(W9) proved in 1673. He was a yeoman’ specifically of Monkwood in Marshwood. His will enables his family to be positively identified. Thus he refers to his grandfather Thomas
Turner, his four sisters, his aunt Emme Heighcock (Hitchcock) and his father Tristram. He does not mention his brother Tristram(640) for he had died in 1668, five years previously.
Mos t unusually he left certain “grounds” to his father Tristram “after the decease of my grandfather Thomas Turner during the life of Thomas Hellier”.
Tristram(609) drew up a will(W11) in December 1676 which was proved in April 1677.
He was a yeoman of Monkwood in Marshwood. He mentions his sisters Emme & Joan and his daughter Joan Cox. His daughters Dorothy, Alice & Mary he made his executors. He also included a codicil to the effect that after his death his five(!) daughters should agree together to sell his lands and divide the proceeds between them.
His wishes were granted in 1680 as shown by a deed of 1680 (D6) By this his property in Marshwood and Stoke Abbott was sold by his four married daughters, Joan Cox,
Elizabeth Cox, Dorothy Hext & Mary Crow and the proceeds divided between their husbands!
There was no mention of Alice.
It is a pity that these lands were not fully described. It is however quite likely they
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

25 were those allocated in 1602 to “Tristram(530)” and his son & heir “John the younger”
Matthew(618) Stoodley was another of the sons of Tristram(586). His marriage is not recorded but it must have occurred about 1652 for in the baptismal register there is a
Matthew being baptised in 1653, son of Matthew & Joan. He appears in the Broadwindsor
Hearth Tax in 1662. He was buried 3rd September 1689.
By his will (W16) drawn up in 1685 he was a yeoman of Broadwindsor. He left:-
To sons John & Tristram his “long lease at Broadwindsor”.
To Tristram
“half lease of Lewson Hill, Hill Close, Furzey Close & Knap close, gardens & house with contents”
To John
“part of the long lease at Over Downe Way & Nether Downe Way” & the residue.
Probate was granted 24th November 1689 to “Matthew Stoodley, coverlet maker of
Powerstock
Unfortunately his son John died only two months later on 5th November 1689 without himself making a will. Some chaos must have resulted. Powers of Administration (W15) were granted on 20th November 1689 to his brother Matthew(653), coverlet maker of
Powerstock who was bound together with James Rider, rug maker of Broadwindsor and
Tristram Stoodley, coverlet maker of Broadwindsor. This latter Tristram(669) was also his brother.
Matthew(653) married Margery Cooper in Powerstock on 26th May 1684. Shortly afterwards they had a daughter Mary. Tragedy then struck this unfortunate family once again for Matthew died, intestate, and was buried on 26th July 1695, only six years later to be followed one month later on August 29th by his wife Margery. One suspects that the cause was one of the virulent diseases of the time, cholera or smallpox spring to mind. This left an orphan daughter Mary just eleven years old.
Mary, presumably an only child, then inherited all the goods & chattels of her father & mother. Being only eleven years old a guardian was officially appointed to look after her welfare & her property until she reached 21 years of age. This was her uncle Tristram(669) who was unmarried at the time. Indeed it was not until 22nd March 1698 that he married
Mary Notton in Broadwindsor. They then went on to have nine children. What became of young Mary is not known but one does have a nasty feeling that the death & burial recorded in the Broadwindsor Register in 1699 just might be her.
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

26
Descendants of Benjamin Stoodley baptised 1638 in Broadwindsor
U
Benjamin bp1638B
U m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ???? d 1707B (W19)
________________|_________________________________________
| | | | | | |
Benj. bp1668B bp1669B
|
|
Giles
Oxford)
(to Wadham Coll
Edith Ann Xtian Cath. John bp1670B bp1671B bp1673B bp1676B bp1677B d 1696B | | m ???? | d 1681B
|
| m ???? m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ???? d ????
|
Benj. bp1700B m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Charity ???? d 1747B (W27)
|________________
| |
Benjamin bp1732B
Charity bp1744B B = Broadwindsor.
1) In 1734 Benjamin Stoodley was occupying (Chap 10 PT/19/108) closes called
“Conygars” following his father before him. As mentioned in Chapter 2 under Giles(598) the
Constance & Mary earlier occupied this property, the daughters of Giles(623) Stoodley.
Benjamin(668) Stoodley would have been their first cousin all being descended from children of Giles(598) Stoodley.
2) By his will (W19) Benjamin(638), styling himself “gentleman” of Broadwindsor, had three daughters who were married; Abbott, Busson and another with a child Hugh Gundrey.
This last was Edith who had died in 1696. She was mentioned on a memorial tablet in
Broadwindsor parish church. Abbott & Busson may be “pet” names for no such names are included in the baptisms in the parish register. Perhaps they were Christian & Catherine one of whom must have married Hugh Paull as he is mentioned in the same will. Another daughter Ann received a legacy of £360 & furniture which her uncle Thomas (642) & brotherin-law Hugh Paull were designated to provide. She was probably still a spinster. The daughters were probably married within the period 1690-1710 but no record has been found in the registers.
3) By Will (W18) Benjamin’s mother Christian who died in 1700 bequeathed her grandchildren, Benjamin, Giles, Ann, Christian & Catherine Stoodley a silver spoon apiece.
These are the children of Benjamin and clearly were born before 1700. Edith John certainly was buried in 1681.
4) Giles(669) went to Wadham College Oxford. He matriculated in 1685 aged 16; gained a BA in 1688 & an MA in 1691. (per Fosters Alumni, chapter 10)
5) In 1692 Benjamin(638) was involved in a land deal (L24) concerning Hursey Common
& Hursey Down with a William Hext of Childhay. William Hext was probably leasing the land from Benjamin who styled himself “gentleman”. The document was witnessed by Benjamin
Jun. his son.
6) When Benjamin(700) died in 1747 he occupied a house called “Bickerstaffe”, whereabouts unknown. His son, also Benjamin was only 15 years but named as executor.
Benjamin Snr. appointed a John Newberry , “now of Park”, to act as trustee. So by this time
“Park” was not occupied by the Stoodleys.
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

27
Descendants of Giles Stoodley born 1672
T
Giles b 1672
|
T
| m 1704S >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Frances Bruabt d 1746U
________________________ |________________________
| | | |
Frances bp1705U
Giles bp1706U d 1744U
Elizabeth bp1708U
Thomas bp1709U d 1744U
Giles(672) was a brother of Thomas (667) both being sons of Thomas(642) Their grandfather Giles(598) by his will of 1666 (W6) had left a large amount of property in various parishes including “Wall in Stoke Abbott” & “all my estate in Burstock”. His son Thomas(642) lived at Wall as shown by the inventory of 1721 (W23) which describes him as “gent. late of
Wall. Not unreasonably one might expect some other descendant to live in Burstock.
A survey of Burstock in 1737(Chapter 10) mentions Thomas aged 70 (so born 1667)
& Giles aged 65 (so born 1672) as being the “lives” on a tenement with 17 acres. In addition a lease dated 1725 (L27) mentions Giles, yeoman of Burstock, son of Thomas.
In 1704 Giles Stoodley married Frances Bruabt in Stoke Abbott. They had four children, all baptised in Burstock where Giles no doubt lived. They were Frances, 1705;
Giles, 1706; Elizabeth, 1708 & Thomas, 1709
Tragedy struck the family as shown by the entries in the Burstock burial register.
1741 December 4th, Frances
1744 June 1st, Thomas
1744 February 3rd, Giles Jnr.
1746 January 7th, Giles Snr.
(note that prior to 1751 the calendar year started on 25th March, so June 1st preceded February 3rd)
In the space of three years it looks as though three of their children died,
Frances(705), Thomas(709) and Giles(706) 8:07 PMhey were followed only two years later by Giles(672) Snr. One might suspect something nasty, cholera or smallpox. The administration of the estate of Thomas(709) was granted (W25) to his brother Giles on 30th
July 1744 who presumably had just time to sort things out before dying himself.
Descendants of Arthur Stoodley born date unknown married 1616 in Crewkerne
He married Alice White in Crewkerne in 1616. and they had a daughter Joan who was buried in 1632 in Burstock. He appeared in the Burstock Protestation Roll in 1641
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

28
Descendants of Coron Stoodley, born date unknown, married 1602 Crewkerne
No connection with the main tree (fig 1) has been found.
Coron b ???? m 1602K >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> d ????
________|________________________
| | |
Edith bp1615M
Tristram bp1620M
B = Broadwindsor; K = Crewkerne
Joan bp1625M
Alice Downham
Coron was another Stoodley “of Marshwood”. The relative rarity of his Christian name does come as a welcome change and bolsters the confidence that he married Alice
Downham in Crewkerne in 1602. The first record of any of their children comes in 1615 in
Marshwood but it is most likely that there were others unrecorded. The Marshwood registers only commence in 1614. They were; Edith, 1615; Tristram, 1620 & Joan, 1625.
He appeared in the Marshwood Protestation Roll in 1641 and was a customary tenant
(copyholder) in Marshwood before 1651 (Chapter 10)
Descendants of John Stoodley, born date unknown, married Thomasine prior to 1634
No connection with the main tree (fig 1) has been found.
John b ???? m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thomasine d ????
________|________________________
| | | | |
Jonathan John Bernard Richard William bp1634B bp1635B bp1636B bp1638B bp1641B
|
| m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> d 1673B (W10)
________________|________________________
| |
Eliz’th John
| |
Richard Joana
|
Henry
|
Joan bp1664B bp1665B bp1667B bp1669B bp1671B bp1673B
Elizabeth ????
B = Broadwindsor
????
John Stoodley had married a Thomasine by 1633 for they were having children baptised in Broadwindsor from 1634. She died in 1685 in Broadwindsor. They had five sons one of whom, Richard, baptised 1638. He married an Elizabeth before 1664 for they went on to have six children. Richard (638) appears in the records several times.
In 1667, as a yeoman of Childhay he agreed to lease (Chap 11 S&D Vol. 11 p352) the following property to one Henry Browne; “two closes of land in Childhay amounting to 13 a cres” and a house garden & orchard etc. amounting to 50 acres, in Childhay, Hurst
(Hursey?) and Broadwindsor.
He drew up a will (W10) on 18th April 1673 and he was buried on 15th May the same year. Probate was granted 1674.
He did his best for to make provision for his young family. John & Richard were each to be paid £10 when aged 14y then bound apprentices. After the death of his wife, which did not occur until 1685 John was to pay his brother Richard & his as yet unborn sister (Joan) £20
His daughter Elizabeth, only 10 years old received just 12 pence. Presumably she was expected to marry!
Descendants of Walter Stoodley born date unknown married prior to 1627
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner

29
No connection with the main tree (fig1) has been found.
Walter b ???? m<1627 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Joan d 1633M
|________________________________
|
Aves
|
Walter
|
John
|
Charles bp1627M bp1629M
| bp1630M bp1633M m ???? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> d ????
________|
|
` Ann bp1655W
M = Marshwood; W = Whitchurch Canonicorum
????
????
In Stoke Abbott in 1606 Walter Stoodley married Philip Bagg. The name Philip in the 16C was female, latinised to Philipa in the registers. (ref. Simple Latin by McLaughlin
FFHS 1986) There is no record of any children. In 1624 in Whitchurch a Phillip Stoodley died, probably the wife of Walter. If so he married again before 1627 in Marshwood to a
Joan, surname unknown. They had at least four children. If this theory is correct then
Walter must have been born by about 1580 to marry in 1606.
In the deed (D2) of 1602 a Walter Stoodley was living in house & grounds in Little
Woodyette in Marshwood. It was part of the property assigned to Tristram Stoodley. This could well be Walter (580)
Walter Stowdleigh died intestate in 1633, a “yeoman of Marshwood”. The
Administration of his estate was granted to his widow Joan (W3) Possibly she died 1658 in
Marshwood.
Of his children Walter baptised 1629 in Marshwood appeared in the Marshwood
Hearth Tax 1664. He became a Freeholder in Marshwood and was recorded so in the Court
Rolls of 1656 as a “non-attender” (Chapter 11) He was a tythingman in 1659 (ibid.) and present at court in 1672 (ibid.)
Another son John was baptised 1630 in Marshwood. He died 1669, yeoman of
Marshwood and left a nuncupative will (W7) He bequeathed the bulk of his property to his sister-in-law Joan Salter whose precise relationship has not been established.
A third son Charles, baptised 1633 in Marshwood became a tythingman of
Marshwood in 1659 (Chapter 11
Also
Arthur Stoodley. m Alice White 1616 in Crewkerne
Burstock Protestation Roll 1641
Had issue
Joanna bur 1632 @ Burstock
© 2001 Gordon and Barbara Faulkner