Elizabeth Bridger

Renshaw (p. 68) notes that Elizabeth was “assessed to the Hearth Tax in Thakeham on eight hearths in 1664 and 1665.” In her 1682 will she is described as “of Steyning”.

Events

Date of Baptism: 22 May 1616.

Place of Baptism: Warminghurst, Sussex, England.

Renshaw (p. 63) gives the date and place.

Date of Death: 1682.

Place of Death: unknown.

Her will was dated 4 October 1682 and proved 14 December 1682.

Date of Burial: unknown.

Place of Burial: unknown.

Renshaw (p. 68) notes that her burial is not recorded in either Thakeham or Steyning.

Relationships

Father: Henry Bridger (1584/5 - 1657).

The 1634 Visitation of Sussex (p. 156) gives Elizabeth’s father as “Henery Bridger of Wormingherst.” (Presumably, Henry Bridger himself was the informant.)

Mother: Jane Ravenscroft.

The 1634 Visitation of Sussex (p. 156) gives Elizabeth’s mother as “Jane eldest d. of John Ravenscrofte of Horsham.”

Spouse: John Byne (1603 - 1658). Married 10 July (or 1 August) 1634, Ashurst, Sussex, England.

Renshaw (p. 63) gives this marriage, noting the discrepancy between the parish register (10 July) and the bishop’s transcripts (1 August). Presumably the parish register is correct.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Renshaw (pp. 66-67) gives information.)

Jane Byne (baptized 19 May 1635 at Ashurst, Sussex - unknown) married Stephen Greenwell.

Elizabeth Byne (baptized 2 August 1636 at Ashurst - died an infant)

Aboara Byne (baptized 31 July 1637 at Ashurt)

Mary Byne (baptized 6 December 1638 at Ashurst - buried 4 July 1657 at Thakeham)

Honour Byne (baptized 25 January 1639/40 at Ashurst - died early)

Frances Byne (baptized 29 April 1641 at Ashurst - buried 2 December 1656 at Thakeham)

Elizabeth Byne (baptized 16 April 1643 at Thakeham - unknown) married Henry Smalley 26 December 1671 at St Mary, Harrow.

Henry Byne (baptized 6 September 1646 at Thakeham - September 1688) married Elizabeth Scrase.

Edmund Byne (baptized 21 September 1647 at Thakeham - before September 1688)

John Byne (baptized 30 June 1649 at Thakeham - before September 1688)

William Byne (baptized 28 January 1651 at Thakeham - buried 5 November 1710) married Sarah Pengry 20 January 1673, London, England (Saint Dunstan in the East).

Adria Byne (baptized 4 November 1655 at Thakeham - unknown) married someone surnamed Lee, and someone surnamed Elliott.

Evidence

A transcription of Elizabeth's will:

In the name of God Amen the Fourth Day of October in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty and two I Elizabeth Byne of Steyning in the county of Sussex Widdow being in perfect memory praised bee Almightie God Doe make and ordaine this my last Will and testament in manner and forme following First I comitt my Soule into the hands of Almighty God beleeveing remission of all my Sinns and everlasting life by the passion death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour and my body to the Earth of bee decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named Item I give to the poore of the parish (wherein it shall please God I shall dye twenty shillings to bee disposed amongst them at my funerall Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Henry Byne a twenty shilling peece of Gold Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Byne the wife of my said sonne Henry my Ruby Ring Item I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Frances the daughter of my Said Sonne Henry a twenty shilling peece of gold Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonne John Byne tenne pounds of lawfull money of England to bee paid him within three monethes after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Jane Greenwell tenne pounds of lawfull money of Engld to bee paid to her within three monethes after my decease and the interest of twenty pounds of like lawfull money of England to bee paid to her till her Sonne William Greenwell comes to the age of Fifteen yeares and then the said Twenty pounds to bee paid towards the putting out of the said William Greenwell in Apprentice But if the said William Greenwell shall happen to dye before hee atteine the said Age of Fifteene yeares and that Jane his said Mother survive him then within one moneth after the decease of her said sonne the said twenty pounds to bee pute to her. Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Jane Greenwell my red wrought bedd my greate shelf of drawers my greate Wedding Ring my greate bible and my lookeing glasse and one halfe of my wearing Apparell Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Adrea Lee widdow twenty pounds of lawfull money of England to bee paid to her within three moneths after my decease as also my diamond ring my little Chest of drawers my Sweete Bagg and the other halfe of my wearing Apparrell Item I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Adrea Smalley Five poundes of lawfull money of England to bee paid to her within three monethes after my decease as also her greate Grandmother the Ladie Bynes wedding Ring And as to the rest and residue of my goods my will and meaning is that my Executor shall sell them and after hee hath paid my debts legacies and funerall Charges shall divide the mony that shall bee made be the Sale thereof into Five parts one fifth part whereof shall bee given to my Sonne Edmund Byne another to my Sonn John Byne another to my daughter Jane Greenwell another to my Daughter Adrea and the other to bee and remain to my Sonne William Byne whom I make my sole Executor of this my last Will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare above written Elizabeth Byne Sealed and Published in the presence of Bernard Chatfeild Mary Chatfeild Mary Pelham

[proved 14 December 1682]

[Renshaw notes a “sweet bag” was placed among linen to perfume it.]

References

Will of Elizabeth Byne, Widow of Steyning, Sussex (14 December 1682), in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/371/531.

W. Bruce Bannerman (ed.), The Visitations of the County of Sussex, made and taken in the years 1530 by Thomas Benolte, Clarenceux king of arms, and 1633-4 by John Philipot, Somerset herald, and George Owen, York herald, for Sir John Burroughs, Garter, and Sir Richard St. George, Clarenceux (London: Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1905). The Bridger pedigree is on page 156, citing Harl. 1562, fo. 136a.

Walter Charles Renshaw, Searches in the History of the Family of Byne or Bine of Sussex (London: Chiswick Press, 1913).