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RIDLEYS OF WILLIMOTESWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND.
Anne Boleyne, mother of Queen Elizabeth, by whom he (Ridley) had is-
sue one son and two daughters, of whom hereafter. He died Jan. 23, 1628,
and was buried in St. Bennett's Church, near Paul's wharf, London. He
is said to have had a son Thomas, who was father of Gloster Ridley, D. D.,
but he makes no mention of a son in his will, and I have no good proof
that Gloster was his descendant.
COPY OF THE WILL OF SIR THOMAS RIDLEY, KNT.
"In the name of God, amen. I Thomas Ridley, Knight, Doctor of the Civill lawe,
being of perfect health and sound memorie, thanckes be to Allmightie God. Consid-
ering notwithstanding the uncertainty of this life and my greate age, and therefore
desirous to sett in order mine estate wherewith it hath pleased God to indowe me in
this life, before I goe out of this transitorie life, doe ordaine and make this my last
will and testament in manner and forme following, the eleventh daie of October, in
the yeare of our lord god one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight. first and
principally I bequeath my sowle unto the handes of the blessed Trinitie, the ffather,
the sonne, and the holighost, hoping assuredly to be saved and clensed from all my
sinnes and imperfections by the innocent death and passion of my sweet saviour
Jesus Christ, by whose meritts alone I trust to be delivered and acquitted from
eternall death and damnation, and to be made fellow heire with him and partaker
of all the ioyes in Heaven, with all his blessed angells and saintes in glory. And as
touching my bodie I will the same shall be buried in full hope of my resurrection to
the ioyes eternall, with as small charges as convenientlie maybe, in such church as
I shall happen to decease, Knowing that costlie funeralls are rather a shew to such
as live than anie comfort to the deceased. ffirst, for my fee simple lands which
is my mannor of Babridge in the parish of Owslebury, and certain other parishes
thereto adioyning in the Countie of South'n, I give and bequeath the same to my
dearly beloved wife Dame Margarett Ridley during her life. And after her decease
according as it is alreadie devised by me, in one Indenture Tripertite bearing date the
twentieth day of May one thousand six hundred and nineteen betweene myself and
the parties therein named, to which Indenture for more certainetie I referr my selfe.
ffor my personall estate which god of his goodness hath bestowed on me, I have al-
readie disposed of the most of it, partly uppon my deare daughter Anne Ridley, now
Dame Anne Bosevile, the wife of Sr Edward Bosevile, Knight, my deare sonne-in-
lawe, for her marriage portion with him. And partly uppon my deare daughter Eliz-
abeth Ridley for her marriage portion with such an husband as it shall please god
to provide for her, if happilie shee doe marrie, or otherwise to be at her dispose as
it doth and maie appear by such instruments in writeing as I have heretofore made
to either of them under my hand and seale before competent witnesses in full satis-
faction or clayme of anie further portion of my goods. Charging my said daugh-
ter, Elizabeth (although I nothing doubt of her dutifull affection toward her moth-
er), that shee bee advised by her deare Mother both in her marriage and in all other
courses of her life besides. But as concerning my lease of Poyle farme in the parish
of Hanwell, in the Countie of Midd', I give the same wholy to my loving wife Dame
Margarett Ridley. All the rest of my goodes and chattells, plate, household stuffe,
leases, debts, and all other my rights whatsoever and by whatsoever other name
they be called, not before bequeathed to either of my loveing and dearly beloved
daughters aforenamed, my funeralls first discharged, I wholy give to my loveing
and best beloved wife, Dame Margarett Ridley, whom I make my full and sole ex-
ecutrix of this my last will and testament. ffor my servants I leave them to the
discretion of my executrix aforesaid. ffor Overseers of this my last will I name
the right wor'll my very worthy Kind ffriend, Sr Morrice Abbot, Knight, Governor
of the East India Company, and my very loving and Kind freind and cosen, George
Allington, Esq., hartilie desireing them to be assistants to my wife in anie thing
she shall desire their advice concerning this my last will and testament. And to
accept in remembrance of my love towards them and theirs, again towards me to
each of them a peece.
THOMAS RIDLEY.
"Signed, sealed and subscribed, published and delivered for his last will and tes-
tament by the said Sr Thomas Ridley, in the presence of us.
"GILBERT DETHICKE, EDWARD PHILLIPPS, THOMAS WILLYMS, RICHARD WEBB."
The above will was proved Feb. 26, 1628-9, in the Prerogative Court
