Ancestors of Mandy Willard

William BOKES (c1575-1620)

and Susanna BEARD (1582-1617)

William Bookes and his third wife Susanna Bearde were my 9x Great Grandparents.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They married on 9 June 1606 at the parish church of St. Margaret's in Rottingdean, Sussex.  William had previously married Joan, possibly Joan Chatfield, sometime before 1599.  He then married for a second time to Margaret before or about 1604.  His fourth marriage was by licence as William Bokes to Margaret Maye on 11 December 1617 at All Saints in Lewes.  Their licence was issued on 10 December 1617 by the Archdeaconry of Lewes which recorded that he was a yeoman of Barcombe and she a widow of Lewes.  Surety for their licence was provided by William himself and William Holingdale a yeoman of the parish of All Saints, Lewes.

William Bokes's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  He may have been the son of John Bokes (c1540-1606), if so then he was probably born sometime between 1571 and 1580.  William was mentioned in the 1605 will of John and was left a legacy of £5.  He was buried on 11 July 1620 in the churchyard of St. Mary's parish church in Barcombe, Sussex.  He left a will dated 16 May 1620 in which he mentioned his wife Margeret, brother-in-law George Beard, Robert Carew, Robert Whitpayne, all his children, the following who he appointed joint executors Edward Chauntler of Laughton yeoman, Richard Faulkner of Laughton yeoman, Richard Beard of Rottingdean yeoman, and George Beard of Rottingdean yeoman and the following who he appointed as overseers, Thomas Beard of Rottingdean yeoman and William Hollingdale of Lewes yeoman.

Joan's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She was buried on 4 February 1600/1 in Barcombe.

Margaret's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me.  She was buried on 10 March 1605/6 in Barcombe and it was noted in the burial register that she was the wife of William Bokes at Crosse.  (Crosse was where most people of the parish lived.)

Susanna Beard was baptised on 27 May 1582 in Rottingdean.  She was the daughter of Thomas Beard (c1550-1627).  She was buried on 8 January 1616/7 or 8 June 1617 in Barcombe.  The burial register recorded that she was the wife of William Box.

Margaret's date and place of birth/baptism are unknown, to me, nor have I found her previous marriage.  She may have left a will which was proved on 16 September 1641 at Lewes.  [I will order a copy when next at the ESRO.]

William Bokes and Joan had 1 known child: 

1. Ann Bookes was baptised on 9 September 1599 in Barcombe.  She was mentioned in her father's will as his eldest daughter, by which she received a legacy of £28.  Her father also mentioned that her grandfather was Nicholas Chatfield and that she was to receive a 40 shilling legacy left by him.  (A Nicholas Chatfield was buried on 16 October 1613 in Ardingly, Sussex.)

William Bokes and Margaret had 1 known child:

1. George Bookes was baptised on 25 July 1605 in Barcombe and buried there on 13 October 1605.  The baptism register recorded his surname as Bookes, whilst in the burial register he was Boxe.

William Bokes and Susanna Beard had 6 known children:

1. Mary Boxe was baptised on 21 June 1607 in Barcombe.  Only her father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  She was mentioned in her father's will as his second daughter and was left a legacy of £40 to paid when she reached 21 years.

2. Wylliam Boxe was baptised on 12 March 1608/9 in Barcombe.  Only his father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  He was mentioned in his father's will as the eldest son, and was left a legacy of £50 to be paid when he reached the age of 21.  He was also mentioned in his Uncle Jeremy Beard's will of 1651, by which William's children were left 20 shillings a piece.

   William had the following known son:

   1. Francis Box was born about 1640 in Tonbridge, Kent.  He died before 7 August 1679.

      Francis married Ann, possibly Ann Snashall.

      Francis and Ann had the following children:

      1. William Box was born about 1664.  He married Mercy Fanne in 1702 in Wadhurst, Sussex.

      2. John Box was born in 1666 in Pembury, Kent.

      3. Thomas Box was born about 1669 and died in 1746.  Thomas married Elizabeth or Margaret Boane on 4 July 1699.  They had 9 known children.

      4. Mary Box died before 1679 and was not mentioned in her father's will.

      5. Ann Box was baptised on 21 September 1671.  She married William Fann on 10 February 1700/1.

3. Faukner Boxe was born and baptised on 26 November 1611 in Barcombe.  Only his father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  He was mentioned in his father's will as the second son and was left a legacy of £50 when he reached the age of 21.  [His forename was unusual, might Faukner have been the maiden name of one of his grandmothers?  A Jeone Falkner the wedowe of John Falkner was buried in Barcombe on 6 March 1583.]

4. Susanne Boxe was baptised on 1 August 1613 in Barcombe.  Only her father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  She was mentioned in her father's will as his third daughter and was left a legacy of £40 to be paid when she reached the age of 21.

5. George Box, my 8x Great Grandfather, was baptised on 16 April 1615 in Barcombe.  Only his father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  He married twice, firstly to Joanne and then to Jane Longley in 1642.  (They have their own page.)

6. Alice Box was baptised on 25 August 1616 in Barcombe.  Only her father's name was recorded in the baptism register.  She was mentioned in her father's will as his youngest daughter.  She was left a legacy of £40 to be paid when she reached the age of 21 years.

The A2A database records that amongst the Beard family of Rottingdean Archives held at the East Sussex record office, the following has been noted:

Bond dated 29 November 1607 (should have been 1617, confirmed by an ESRO archivist),

BRD/14/1 "a) William Boxe of Barcombe, yeoman to b) Robert Whitepayne of Hurstpierpoint, yeoman and Robert Carew of Lewes.  a) is to allow Margaret Maye, widow, his prospective wife rights of disposal of the household stuff which she is possessed of."

BRD/14/2 (same date) "a) William Boxe of Barcomeb, yeoman, to b) Jeremy Berd of Rottingdean, yeoman and George Berd of Rottingdean, yeoman.  a) is to indemnify b) for having become his sureties to b) in a bond of even date obliging a) on his death to leave Margaret Maie £100."

A Robert Whitpaine married Mary Luxford on 7 January 1616/7 in Hurstpierpoint.

A William Hollingdale married Margery Neath on 17 September 1587 in Westmeston.

A William Hollingdale married Margaret Verell by banns on 22 September 1618 at All Saints, Lewes.

Sarah Bokes widow of Barcombe left a will, which was proved on 8 December 1624 at Lewes.

BEARD          BOX