Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas BEARD (c1550-1627)

and Susanna (c1550-1626)

Thomas Beard was my 10x Great Grandfather.  He married before 1574 and possibly to Susanna.

Thomas was the son of John Beard (c1512-1563) and Agnes (?-1585).  He was buried at St. Margaret's parish church in Rottingdean, Sussex on 24 December 1627.  He left a will which was dated 6 March 1622 and proved on 19 January 1627/8 at Lewes.  [I will order a copy of this document when next at the ESRO.]  He was then a yeoman of Rottingdean. 

In 1601 Thomas was a churchwarden in Rottingdean, at which time he made his X mark in the parish register.

A Susanna Beard  was buried on 1 April 1626 in Rottingdean.  Might she have been the wife of Thomas?  No further details were noted in the burial register.  A Joan Beard was buried in Rottingdean on 12 October 1626 and again no further details were recorded in the burial register.

Thomas Beard had the following known children:

1. Rychard Beard was baptised on 3 July 1574 at Chiltington, although his baptism was recorded in the Rottingdean parish registers.  He may have left a will which proved on 15 November 1648.

   Rychard may have married Ann Wheler by licence on 20 September 1604 in Lindfield, Sussex.

   Richard may have had the following daughters:

   1. Elizabeth Beard was mentioned in the 1651 will of Jeremy Beard.  She married Thomas Cottingham by licence on 31 May 1642 at St. John sub Castro in Lewes.  She was a spinster of Rottingdean and he a yeoman of Fletching.

   2. Ann Beard was mentioned in the 1651 will of Jeremy Beard.  She married Anthony Nash by licence on 11 August 1635 in Rottingdean.  She was then a spinster of Rottingdean and he a yeoman of Yapton.  Surety for their licence was provided by Anthony and Richard Beard.

   3. George Beard was baptised on 22 May 1614 in Rottingdean.

   4. Nicholas Beard was baptised on 2 April 1616 in Rottingdean.  He may have married and had the following daughter:

      1. Sara Beard

   5. John Beard was buried on 22 September 1619 in Rottingdean.

2. John Beard was baptised on 18 April 1576 in Rottingdean.

   John may have married Katerine Hayler on 17 June 1599 in Rottingdean.

   John Beard the elder was a Rottingdean churchwarden in 1603, at which time he made his mark.

   Mary wife of John Beard was buried on 25 June 1615 in Rottingdean.

   John may have had the following children, although I think I have muddled 2 families headed by a John:

   1. John Beard was baptised in April 1600 in Rottingdean.

   2. Thomas Beard was baptised on 14 June 1605 in Rottingdean.

   3. John Beard was baptised on 1 March 1608/9 in Rottingdean.

   4. Henry Beard was baptised on 19 March 1608/9 in Rottingdean and buried there on 20 March 1608/9.  The burial register noted that he was the son of John Beard the elder.

   5. Richard Beard was baptised on 16 February 1611 in Rottingdean.  The baptism register records that his father was John Beard, junior.

   6. Elizabeth Beard was baptised on 25 August 1616 in Rotttingdean and buried there on 10 September 1616.

   7. Robert Beard was baptised on 24 August 1617 in Rottingdean.  He may have married and had the following children:

      1. Jeremy Beard

      2. Susanna Beard

   8. Dynnis Beard (or Dionis) was baptised on 4 April 1619 in Rottingdean.  He married Mary Chatfielde in 1644 in Woodmancote, Sussex.

   9. Thomas Beard was baptised on 8 June 1621 in Rottingdean.

   10. Joan Beard was baptised on 25 April 1622 in Rottingdean.

3. Thomas Beard was baptised on 1 June 1578 in Rottingdean.  He may have been mentioned in his brother's 1651 will as deceased.

   As Thomas Barde he may have married Marie Howell on 18 July 1603 in Rottingdean.  But there was also a Thomas Beard who was baptised on 24 March 1576/7 in Rottingdean, the son of John Beard.

   They may have had the following children:

   1. Thomas Beard was buried on 29 June 1621 in Rottingdean.  [The transcript of the Rottingdean registers also notes that a Thomas Beard was buried in June 1621 and the following entry on 29 June is that of Thomas son of Thomas Beard.]

   2. John Beard

   3. Susan Beard

   4. Thomas Beard

   5. Richard Beard

4. Josue Beard (son) was baptised on 13 March 1579/80 in Rottingdean and buried there on 15 March 1579/80.  [I wonder if this was Jesus or Joseph or Joshua or a daughter named Joyce?]

5. Susanna Beard, my 9x Great Grandmother, was baptised on 27 May 1582 in Rottingdean.  She married William Bookes in 1607.  (They have their own page.)

6. Mary Beard was baptised on 21 February 1583/4 in Rottingdean.

   Mary married James Gunne on 21 May 1605 in Rottingdean.

   James and Mary had the following children:

   1. Thomas Gunne was baptised on 22 June 1606 in Rottingdean.

   2. Beatrice Gunne was baptised on 7 January 1609/10 in Rottingdean.

   Then as Mary Gunn widow, she married William Keale on 29 April 1616.

   William and Mary may have had the following children:

   1. Jeremy Keale was mentioned in the 1651 will of Jeremy Beard.

   2. a daughter

   3. a daughter

7. Jeremy Beard was baptised on 22 September 1588 in Rottingdean.  He left a will which was proved on 31 March 1652 (click here to read my transcript).  Jeremy married Elizabeth, possibly Elizabeth Beard on 30 April 1639 in Chailey, Sussex.  Jeremy mentioned his wife in his will, but no children of their own.

8. George Beard was baptised on 2 May 1591 in Rottingdean.  He was a churchwarden of Rottingdean in 1620.  He left a will which was proved on 30 September 1645, at which time he was described as George Beard, senior.

   George probably married Agnes Alse on 25 November 1616 in Beddingham, Sussex.

   Ann wife of George Beard was buried on 24 September 1621 in Rottingdean.

   A marriage licence was issued by the Archdeaconry of Lewes on 15 May 1624 to George Beard a yeoman of Rottingdean and Ann Gibbons a widow of Lancing, Sussex.  Surety for the licence was provided by George himself and John Stempe a clerk of Ovingdean.

   Ann was buried on 29 January 1626/7 in Rottingdean.

   Another marriage licence was issued on 23 June 1627 to George Beard yeoman of Rottingdean and Jane Robertes a spinster of Old Shoreham.  Surety was provided by George and John Robertes a yeoman of Beeding.

   George had the following children:

   1. Susanna Beard was baptised on 14 December 1617 in Rottingdean.

   2. Thomas Beard was baptised on 19 September 1619 in Rottingdean and buried there on 13 November 1619.

   3. Ann Beard was baptised on 5 November 1620 in Rottingdean.

   4. Jane Beard was baptised on 15 April 1628 in Rottingdean.

   5. Elizabeth Beard was buried on 17 September 1631 in Rottingdean.  [I have taken this date from a transcript of the Rottingdean parish registers.  It is not clear if it is a baptism or a burial, although other entries either side appear to be burials.]

   6. George Beard was baptised on 23 January 1637/8 in Rottingdean.  He was mentioned in his Uncle Jeremy's will.

   7. Mary Beard was baptised on 18 August 1639 in Rottingdean.

Agnes Beard widow of Rottingdean left a will which was proved on 13 March 1584/5.  [I will order her will when next at the ESRO.]

BEARD