Peter Brown Family History

William Blundell (c1577) & Agnes 

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General History

William Blundell & Agnes were one of my 12th generation ancestors.

Key Dates:

William Blundell was born in about 1577 possibly in Worth, Sussex. He was the son of John Blundell & Joan Swane . He was mentioned in his father's 'Will' (as youngest son) and inherited "Lower Gibbs"- see Archives. He married Agnes. William was a "Sheathmaker" (someone who made scabbards for swords). William left a 'Will' dated 9th January 1608 and he was buried on 4th February 1608 in Worth, Sussex.

 

Children Returns to 'Top of Page'

William & Agnes had two known children.

Elizabeth Joan
  1. Elizabeth Blundell was baptised on 20th February 1604 in Worth, Sussex. She was mentioned in her father's 'Will' of 1607 as under 16 and only surviving daughter. She married John Faulconer. Details of John Faulconer & Elizabeth Blundell are shown separately as they are direct ancestors.
  2. Joan Blundell (Joane) was baptised on 1st March 1607 in Worth, Sussex and she was possibly buried there on 5th May 1607 (as not mentioned in her father's 'Will' of 1607).

Personal History Returns to 'Top of Page'

Willam Blundell:

John Blundell enfoeoffed Little/Lower Gibs a Ven [Gibbshaven] to his son William, evoking the inheritance custom of Borough English whereby the youngest son was the heir to his father’s lands and tenements.

A record, dated 19th April 1600, refers to a court case that John Gage, as lord of the manor of Hedgecourt, brought against William Blundell for trespass concerning the tenure of land called ‘Little Gibbs[Lower Gibs a Ven] otherwise Fennes in Worth’.  The piece of land abuts Gibbshaven which was held by the manor of Hedgecourt and Gage must have thought that William Blundell’s ‘Little Gibbs’ was also part of his manor. At the time of sale to John Blundell  [Lower] Gibbs affen consisted of a cottage, 4 acres of land, 3 acres of meadow, 6 acres of pasture and 1 acre of wood.   It was proved that William Blundell held ‘the lands called [Lower] Gibbes affen in Worth containing by estimation 12 acres holden of Thomas Challenger of Linfield [Lindfield], as of his manor of Walstead’ at a rent of 4d. Hence in April 1600 the court found against John Gage and in favour of William Blundell as the true owner of the ‘cottage and approximately 13 acres called [Lower] Gibbes affen in Worth’.

Verification & Concerns Returns to 'Top of Page'

  1. There were numerous differant spellings of "Blundell" in the parish registers e.g. Blundell, Blundel, Blundle, Blunden, Blundon
Documents Returns to 'Top of Page'

Archives:

  1. Extract from part of a document about Michaelmas Farm, Lower Gibbs & Blundell's issued by Felbridge & District History Group.
Sources Returns to 'Top of Page'
  1. Sussex Record Society -  East Grinstead Parish Registers 1558-1661:
  2. Sussex Parish Registers – Cuckfield, East Grinstead, Fletching, Worth
  3. Sussex Record Society – Marriage Licenses at Lewes 1586-1642,1670-1732, 1772-1837 (Volumes 1, 6, 25,26)
  4. Lewes Will Microfilm
  5. Sussex Family History Group-Sussex Marriage Index CD
  6. Sussex Family History Group - Baptism & Burial records
  7. Surrey Marriage Index CD
  8. Surrey Burial Index CD
  9. IGI (International Genealogical Index: Latter-day Saints) - batches of parish records: see Links-Research Web sites