Robert Bradbury

circa 1495 - 1541

Robert was probably born around 1495 ⁽¹⁾ in Youlgreave ⁽²⁾. He may be the same Robert Bradbury who appeared in court in 1508/09 charged with assault ⁽³⁾. He married Agneta Miller in about 1514/15 ⁽⁴⁾⁽⁵⁾, and they had at least four children - George, Robert, William and Josephine(?) ⁽⁸⁾.

In 1518 he was described as being "a man of great power and substance" ⁽⁶⁾.

His wife died young, probably in or just before 1523 ⁽⁴⁾.

Prior to the disolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, he held lands in Youlgreave, probably at Meadow Place (aka Meadow Pleck) ^(8)(10), under the Abbey of Leicester. After the disolution, he held it under the King ⁽¹⁰⁾, but even so he does not seem to have been classed as a "tennant-in-chief", as no IPM has been found for him.

In around 1538, he was sued for a debt of £70, owed to the late Sir Thomas Cockayne of Ashbourne ⁽⁷⁾.

He wrote his will in March 1541 ⁽⁸⁾, and died sometime over the next few months ⁽⁹⁾. His inventory showed that owned a considerable amount of livestock ⁽⁹⁾, indicating that he was still a wealthy man.

• George has his own page.
• Robert was probably born around the turn of the 16th century in Youlgreave. Following the death of his older brother George in about 1546 (and the remarriage of his sister-in-law about 1547), he probably took over the family lands at Meadow Place, where he was living in 1552. Nothing more is known of him, but as there are no unaccounted for Bradburys living in Youlgreave after this time, it seems likely that he didn't have any (surviving) children.
• William was probably born around the turn of the 16th century in Youlgreave. He was still alive in 1541, but nothing more is known of him.
• Josephine (if thats what "Joes" is short for?) was probably born around the turn of the 16th century in Youlgreave. She was still alive in 1541, but nothing more is known of her.

1. • Robert was married in about 1514/15 ⁽⁴⁾.
   • His son George was the eldest child surviving at the time Robert wrote his will, so its likely that he was born when Robert was around 20-25. George is believed to have been born somewhere around 1515-1520.
2. There were Bradburys living in Youlgreave from at least the early 15th century, so he was almost certainly descended from them. An article entitled "Early Youlgreave Families" in "The Transactions of the Hunter Archaeological Society", Volume 5, pp 243-245, claims that a Richard Bradbury held the same land that Robert held under the Abbey of Leicester, in 1431, thus showing descent from him. However it cites the work of Arthur Carrington for this claim, but the pedigree in Sheffield Archives drawn up from his notes (ref MD 2068.3), though mentioning Richard in 1431, does not mention any land held under the Abbey of Leicester, so this needs confirmation.
3. The Feudal History of the County of Derby, by John Pym Yeatman, Volume 3, Secion 6, page 390, lists those present in a court held in Youlgreave in 24 Henry VII [1508/09], including "Robt Bradbury for assault".
4. The Feudal History of the County of Derby, by John Pym Yeatman, Volume 3, Secion 6, page 409, quotes from a court roll from 7th May 15 Henry VIII [1523] :
   Robt. Bradbury, of Yolgreve, surrendered a mess. and 15a. in Prestcliff, late Thos. Hodkinson, Thos. Cokayne, Kt., George Vernon, Esq., Otiwell Needham, ..... Miller, jun., enfeoffed the said Robt. Bradbury that he should make a feoffment of the said lands to the use of himself and Agneta his late wife, and daughter of John Miller of Dale, in tail and in default of issue to his own right heirs, according to terms of a marriage settlement of the 6 Hy. VIII [1514/15].
5. A pedigree of the Bradbury family of Youlgreave, drawn up from the notes of Arthur Carrington, held in Sheffield Archives (ref MD 2068.3), with which I generally agree, claims that Robert's wife in 1518 was Clemence, the daughter of Roger Smithley or Smedley, and that his wife in 1523 was Agnes, daughter of John Miller of Dale. No reference is given for his claim concerning Clemence, and Yeatman's transcript of the court roll certainly appears to show that he married Agnes/Agneta around 1514/15, and that she was dead in May 1523. My thoughts may well change if further evidence comes to light. I still to have to examine the original court roll of 1523 to confirm Yeatman's transcript.
6. A pedigree of the Bradbury family of Youlgreave, drawn up from the notes of Arthur Carrington, held in Sheffield Archives (ref MD 2068.3) includes the following note :
   "Kenwardine v Robert Bradbury"
   Robert Bradbury of Yolegrave being a man of great power and substance ... said the land in question should go to his children ... when the vicar come in to be sworn as a witness, the said Robert B. come afore him and rebukyd the Vicar saying he was a great Leyre & maynten his adwasyne (advowson)
   The identical quote is given in "The Transactions of the Hunter Archaeological Society", Volume 5, pp 243-245, in an article entitled "Early Youlgreave Families", but this also dates it as 1518.
   This is undoubtably from a document now held in the National Archives, with the following catalogue entry:
   REQ 2/3/301 Richard Kenwardyne of Youlgreave, Derbyshire v Robert Bradbury: a messuage and lands in the lordship of Youlgreave. 1518 Apr 22-151. I have not had chance to examine the original yet.
7. Document ref C 1/961/27, in The National Archives. Catalogue entry reads:
   Barbara, late the wife of Thomas COKAYN (Cokyn), knight, and Vincent Law, executors of the said Sir Thomas, v. Robert BRADBURY of Youlgreave.: Debt.: DERBY. 1538-1544
   My transcription of it (so far deciphered!) reads:
   To the Ryght honorable [Sir] Thomas [..ndler] knyght Lord
   [..ndley] of Walden ye Lord [Chancelor] of England
   [Humbly ....... .....] your Right honorable Lordship [.... ........ & Lord... Dayn ..........................]
   [.. .........] of ye last wyll of [.. ...... .......... Cok ..] Knight deceased [but ...s...d ...............]
   [..... ..] Robert Bradbury of Yolgreve [in the] Countie of Derby was [indetteyd] to the seyd Sir Thomas [............]
   decease in the sume of Lxx ^li of good lawfull money of England [whyche] sume of money ye seyd [O.....] sins the [Death]
   of the sayd Sir Thomas Cokayn [.....] testator they gave of you tymes demanded the seyd Robert Bradbury to [............]
   unto them whyche to do the seyd Robert Bradbury hath at all tymes refused [.. ... ....] And for so [m..........]
   seyd Oraters have no especyalte or other wryttyng of the seyd Robert Bradbury to compell hym to pay to them ye
   seyd sumes of money the same [yo..] Orators know not what good remedy or [recovery] they [shuld ..... for ... ....]
   By [con..se] of the comen law In consyderacon whereof [.......] praise your Right honorable [......] to [.............]
   wrytt of subpena [......] the seyd the seyd Robert Bradbury comandyng & [I.......] hym by [....] of the [.....]
   at & certeyn day & under & certaeyn payn in the same wrytt to be [h.......] personally to [.................]
   in hys court of [chancery] then [if] there to [......] to the praisser & [..] ther to be [.....d ...........]
   [..... ..] wryht [equyte] & good consciens & [your said] Orators shall pay to almyhty God for the [posession] of
   your Ryht honorable Lordship long to [Jud...]
   Note: Thomas Cockayne of Ashbourne's will was dated 4/4/1537, and proved 25/4/1537
8. Will of Robert Bradbury (ref: B/C/11/Robert Bradbury, Youlgreave, 1541 @ Lichfield Record Office) reads:
   In the nayme of god amen in the yer of our lord god a thousand fyve hundred & xl the xxiii daye of
   March I Robert Bradbery of Yollowgreve of holl mynd and gud remembrance make my testament and last wyll
   in this manner & forme fowloyng Firste I beqwethe my soule to allmyghte god to ayr lady saynt mary
   and to all the compeny in heven my body to be berytt in the chyrche of Yollowgreve in sayntt peter where
   It[em] I beqwethe to mayster vycar for my mortuary as the lawe wyll. It[em] to the sayd vycar to pray for
   me iii^s iiii^d It[em] to sayntt Cead of Lychefeld vi^d It[em] to the reparacyons of Yollowgreve churche iii^s iiii^d
   It[em] I beqwethe to George Bradbery my son all my [purchett] lands in Yollowgreve and in the towne and
   fyldys of the same with my tacke whyche I hayd of the abbott & conventt of Leycester nowe beyng in the
   kyngs holdyng It[em] to the sayd George for hys heyr lomys vi silver sponys of my best my beste pott
   my best fedur bad with a bolster ii pelows ii coverlets ii payr of shets the beste gyrdyll yt was my
   wyffs the best payr of beds yt was my wyffs a payr of [taclye hokys] my best panne my beste candyll
   styke my best [burd] with ii trestyls my best wayn my best ploghe my best harow a payr of blanketts
   a spytt with a payr of gawbartes a brasyn mortar a [stepe fatte] in the barne & a grett wayder. Item I be
   qwethe to Sir Crystofer Noth xii^d to pray for me Item to Joes [Rypston] xx^s Item to Agnes Bradbery ye
   wyffe of Ryc Bradbery iii^s iiii^d Item I wyll my gods be devydyd in iii parts when I am broght home &
   my detts payd and George my son to have my iii partt & the other ii parts to remayne to Robt Bradbery
   my son Wyllm Bradbery my son & Joes Bradbery my doghter Item I gyff unto Nycolas Stone Nycolas
   Halows Ryc Halows Ryc Halle Elyzabeth Bradbery & Emmott Torre my [servands] evrie of them xii^d
   Item I wyll that George Bradbery my son have all my [tymber] and to gyff unto his ii bredren
   & hys syster xl^s Item I beqweth to Robt Cobbe for his labors xx^s Item I orden constitute & make
   my trewe and lawfull executor George Bradbery my son to dyspose for the helth of my soule and
   all crysten soules as he wyll ownsring to god Item I hertely desyr myster James Fouljambe to be
   my supervysor and he to have for hys paynes xl^s Thes wyttenys Syr Hugh [Heype] priest
   Syr Crystofer Northe Wyllm Bradbery with other [moo]
   Item I wyll yt my doghter Joes Bradbery shall have viii^li x^s more then my sonnes Wyllm & Robt
   have to ther partes.
9. Inventory of Robert Bradbury (ref: B/C/11/Robert Bradbury, Youlgreave, 1541 @ Lichfield Record Office) reads:
   The Inventory of Roberte Bradbury of Yolgreve
   of all & synguler goods beyng the said Roberte at the
   tyme of the departyng praysed by James Roose Rycharde
   Kylhare Humfrey Marshall and Roger Marshall the
   xiiii daye of July anno dni [millimo quinqen^mo] xli^mo
   

   Fyrst a brandyd oxe & his plowe	iiili vs
   Item two browne oxen	lis viiid
   Item a blacke oxe & a fynchyd	xlviiis viiid
   Item a brandyd fat oxe	xxvis viiid
   Item ix kye after xvis viiid a cowe	viili xs
   Item ii C [weydres] after iis vid a [weydre]	xxxli
   Item xx [weydres]	xlvis viiid
   Item viiixx hewes after iis a peece	xvili
   Item iii scowre hewes after xxxiiis iiiid a scowre	vli
   Item iiii fat [weydres] after iis vid a peece	xs
   Item vii [weydres]	xs
   Item xiiii hewes	xxxs
   Item iiiixx lambes after xviiid a lambe	vili
   Item iiii swyne	xvis
   Item a sowe & v pyggs	vis
   Item a greye horse	xxvis viiid
   Item an olde horse	iiis iiiid
   Item a mare	xiis
   Item ii towells	xxd
   Item iiii yards of new lynyn cloth	xvid
   Item iiii yards of harden cloth	xiid
   Item xvi yardes [.. ..] of harden cloth	iiis iiiid
   Item a father bedde & ii matresses	xlis
   Item x blanketts	xiiis iiiid
   Item xv payre of shets	xxviis iiiid
   Item xxiiii coverletts	xlviiis iiiid
   Item ii bolsters	xxd
   Item ii pyllowes	viiid
   Item vi sylver spones	xxxs
   Item vi sylver spoones	xxvis viiid
   Item vi sylver spones	xviiis
   Item vi chandelers	viiis iiiid
   Item ii chaffyng dysshes	iiis iiiid
   Item a salte seller	xiid
   Item a [voydre]	iis
   Item iiii pewter platters	iiiis
   Item vi olde platters	iis iiiid
   Item iiii pewter dysshes	xvid
   Item iiii [s....ers]	xd
   Item a basyn & a boll of pewter	xiid
   Item vi [comtersetts]	xxd
   Item iiii potts	xxs
   Item x panns	xxxviis
   Item ii payre of cawberds iii spytts iiii brandyrons
   ii payre of tongs & a payre of bellowes	xs vid
   Item a [baxstone] & a [cressett]	xd
   Item tubbes lomes kytts malet & other [cheen gayre]	viiiis iiiid
   Item ii [dykes]	vis
   Item ii [kymnells]	iis
   Item iii bords	xvid
   Item ii fatts	xs
   Item ii forms & ii trestels	xiis
   Item Corne in the barne	xiiiis
   Item Corne on the fylde	xliiis
   Item x yoks	iiiis
   Item vii yron teams ii payre clavys & a payre lynks	viis iiiid
   Item ii hacks a [hedgyng] byll a fallyng axe a [flesshe]
   axe iiii [..... hoks] iii [nawkers] a rake [wymble] ii
   spads v sythes ii plowghes with ye [gayre ..to] belongyng
   ii yron wedges & ii yron [cro..s]	xs viiiid
   Item a wayne with yron bande wheles & a nother with
   bare wheles & ii wayne ropes	xxvs
   Item vi capons viii henns & a cocke	iiis
   Item iii harrowes	iiiis iiiid
   Item a cheare	iiiid
   [... Totalis]     ciiili xixs iid

10. A pedigree of the Bradbury family of Youlgreave, drawn up from the notes of Arthur Carrington, held in Sheffield Archives (ref MD 2068.3) claims that :
    "On 23rd June 1552, The Crown granted to Sir W Cavendish, Youlgreave Rectory and manor of Meadow Pleck (nearby) with a messuage with two yards of land in Youlgreave, in tenure of Robert Bradbury, along with other property sequestered from Leicester Monasteries temp reformation" The source is not given.