Richard Bradbury

circa 1545 - 1581

Richard was probably born in the early-mid 1540s in Youlgreave⁽¹⁾, the son of George and Anne. His father died soon afterwards, probably around May/June 1546 ⁽²⁾.

His mother remarried within a year, to George Allen of Stanton Woodhouse ⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾. George had a number of younger half-siblings via his stepfather. Two of these were George Allen and Anthony Allen ⁽¹²⁾, but I can't be certain about the others ⁽⁵⁾. His mother died in 1559 ⁽⁶⁾. I can only speculate that he continued to live with his stepfather ⁽⁷⁾, at least for a few more years.

By 1571 he was married, and seemingly living back in Youlgreave, but the identity of his wife is not known. His son Francis was born that year ⁽⁸⁾. His son Richard (birthdate unknown) died in 1574 ⁽⁹⁾, and his youngest son Thomas was born in 1578 ⁽¹⁰⁾.

• Francis has his own page.
• Richard was probably born in Youlgreave. He died whilst still a young child, in 1574.
• Thomas was born in 1578. He was still alive in 1581, but nothing more is known of him.

1. No record of his birth or baptism survive, but his father died young in 1546, when (as far as I can tell) he only had the one son, so George can't have been born too long beforehand. His mother remarried a man born in either 1519 or 1526 (from his father's IPM), and had quite a few more children, putting her probable date of birth around the early 1520s, further pointing to Richard's probable birth date as stated. He is believed to have been born in Youlgreave as his father inherited the family lands there in 1541.
2. The Probate Act Book for the Diocese of Lichfield (Ref: B/C/10i/4 folio 44 @ Lichfield Record Office) contains as entry dated 14th June 1546, concerning the estate of George Bradbury of Youlgreave. Anne his widow is asked to submit an inventory by July next. The actual probate documents have not survived.
3. The Probate Act Book for the Diocese of Lichfield (Ref B/C/10i/4 folio 62b @ Lichfield Record Office) contains as entry dated 13th May 1547, concerning the estate of George Bradbery of Youlgreave. Administration was granted to Anne his widow, and George Alen her husband. The actual probate documents have not survived.
4. Pedigree of the Gilbert family of Yolgreave in the visitations of 1569 and 1611 (as published in "The Genealogist (New Series)" Volumes 7 & 8).
5. See his mother's page for details.
6. Parish Register of All Saints, Youlgreave [Transcript by Val Neal] lists the burial of Anne Allen, wife of George, on 6th March 1559.
7. He obviously remained close to his half brothers as he granted them custody of his young children in his will. However its also possible that his uncle Robert was still alive, and that George may have gone to live with him. Robert lived at the ancestral family home of Meadow Place (where George was possibly born).
8. Parish Register of All Saints, Youlgreave includes the entry:
   [1571] Francys Bradbury y^e sonne of Rychard Brad: bapt June xxiii^o
9. Parish Register of All Saints, Youlgreave includes the entry:
   [1574] Rychard Bradbury y^e sonne of Rychard buried August xi^o
10. Parish Register of All Saints, Youlgreave [Transcript by Val Neal] lists the baptism of Thomas Bradbury, son of Richard, on 2nd January 1578.
11. As she was seemingly dead by the time he wrote his will.
12. Will of Richard Bradbury (ref: B/C/11/Richard Bradbury, Youlgreave, 1581 @ Lichfield Record Office) reads:
    In the name of God Amen they tenth daye of Aprill And in
    xxiiii^th yeare of they raigne of our sovaryine Ladie
    Elizabeth by they grace of god of England France &
    Ireland [.....] defender of the they fayth [..] wytneseth
    that I Richard Bradbury of the parish of Yolgreve in
    they countye of Darbie sore syck in bodie yet thanks
    be unto allmightie god of perfitt witte & memorie
    dreading death to approach & drawe nere & they tyme
    thereof is uncertin: do make this my last will and
    testament in maner and forme folowing fyrst I gyve &
    bequethe my soule to almightie god my maker and
    redimor trusting that by they merits of christs passion
    they sonne my soule to be saved Also I will that my
    body be buried in the parish church of Yolgreve before
    they pulpit: Also I will that my detts be payde of my
    wholle goods and my funerall expences discharged according
    to they lawes of this realme And that then they residue
    _^^{of my goods} to remayne and gooe to my younger sonne Thomas
    Bradbury And he & they to be in they custodie of my
    Brother George Alen of they Woodhouse until he come
    to they full age of xxi yeares. Also I most hertely
    desier my wellbeloved brother in lawe Anthony
    Alen to have they governmant of my sonne and heire
    Francis Bradbury and to be allowed for his bringing upp
    att they discrescion and [seygte] of Mr Francis Gilbert
    and my brother George Alin; Also I ordayne
    constitute and make my forsaid brother George Alin my
    trewe and lawfull executor to see that this my last
    will & testament be performed: And Mr Francis Gilbert
    & my brother Anthony Alin to _^^be my supervisors of this
    my last will and testament: These wytneses
    Richard Knyfton vicar: Ric Alin. George Eliot. [Henry?]
    hartill [... .... ....]
    
13. Parish Register of All Saints, Youlgreave includes the entry:
    [April 1581] Richard Bradbury yeoman buried xiii^o die