Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: between 12 March 1635/6 and 8 May 1636.
Place of Death: unknown.
The dates are when John’s will was made, probably in Rowley Regis, and when it was proved in London.
Relationships
Father: Thomas Russell.
Mother: Margaret.
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Joan Chambers alias Ireland.
See the Commentary section.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Thomas Russell married Margery, the widow of Thomas Grove 16 May 1643 in Rowley Regis.
Margaret Russell married William Steward 16 January 1624/5 in Rowley Regis.
Christian Russell married Edward Kempston 2 November 1626 in Rowley Regis.
Alice Russell married Mr Dabbs.
Richard Russell (baptized 4 September 1603 in Rowley Regis)
Christopher Russell (baptized 9 October 1605 in Rowley Regis) married Jane Granger 4 August 1624 in Rowley Regis.
Joan Russell (baptized 5 June 1608 in Rowley Regis)
Felice Russell (baptized 24 June 1610 in Rowley Regis - buried 21 July 1610 in Rowley Regis)
Margery Russell (baptized 9 August 1611 in Rowley Regis)
William Russell (baptized 28 June 1613 in Rowley Regis) married Anne.
Mary Russell (baptized 18 May 1617 in Rowley Regis) married Thomas Willets 30 May 1639 in Clent, Worcestershire.
John Russell (baptized 8 June 1622 in Rowley Regis)
Evidence
John’s will:
In the name of God Amen The Twelfe day of March Anno D’ni, one thousand sixe hundred Thirtie Five. I John Russell of the parrish of Rowley Regis in the County of Stafforde yeoman being sicke in body, yet in perfect Remembrance thankes be to God therefore for the settinge in order of my worldly Estate, and meanes that God hath bestowed upon mee forsakinge all former willes, and Testaments doe make this my Last Will, and Testament as followeth vizt, I give and bequeath my Soule to Almightie God my Creator stedfastlie beleevinge to be saved by the onelie meritts of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my Bodie to the Earth from whence it is. Item I give graunt and bequeath unto Richard Russell my sonne my house, and land now in the occupation of Peter Smyth called Hottons, To have and to hold the said house and Land to my said sonne Richard, and his heires forever, and more I give to my said sonne Richard the somme of Threescore Pounds which I lately delivered unto him to make him a stocke to occupie withall. Item I give graunt and bequeath unto William Russell my sonne my house at halesowen wherein John Jones now dwelleth, togeither with the Backside Barnes Buildings and other Casements with thappurtenances. Also I give to my said sonne William Russell my house att Dudley togeither with the Backside and other Close of Land with thapppurtenances, neere Russells hall, To have and to hould the said Twoe houses, and other the premisses with their appurtenances unto my said sonne William Russell, and his heires forever, and more to the said William the somme of Threescore Pounds of current money which I haue delivered to him for stocke before the makinge hereof, More I give my said sonne William all that my close or pasture of Land called by the name of Kemphause, To hould to him, and his heires forever, More I give my sayd sonne William Russell one Parcell of Land taken out of a Pasture called Brads soe long as the said Lease endureth. Item I give graunt, and bequeath to John Russell my sonne to explane this guifte, whereas my said sonne John Russell oweth unto mee Threescore, and Sixe Pounds my will is he shall thereof paye thereof to Richard Russell my sonne Fortie Pounds, and to Christopher Russell my sonne Tenn Pounds of lawfull money, The rest of the said Threescore and Six Pounds by this Guifte I give to my said sonne John Russell. Item I give, and bequeath unto Joane Russell my daughter to the valuable worth of One hundred pounds of Currant money, To be paid unto her within one yeare next after my decease. Item I give bequeath unto Mary Russell my daughter the Like valuable worth of one hundred Pounds to be paid unto her within the space of Two yeares next after my decease. Item I give and bequeve unto Margarett Steward my daughter the somme of Twentie shillings of Currant money of England. Item I give, and bequeath unto Christian Kempston wife of Edward Kempston, and my daughter the som’e of Five Pounds of like money. Item I give and bequeath unto Alice my daughter wife to M:r Dabbs the som’e twenty shillings of like money. Item I give and bequeath unto Margerie Turton the somme of twenty shillings of Currant money. Item I give, and bequeath unto the use of the Poore of Rowley Regis the somme of Five Pounds in Currant money, the use of the money to be yearely paid unto them yearely untill the stocke may convenientlie bee paid out for the more certaine benefitt of the said Poore. Item I give and bequeath unto Joane my wife; and my will is, That shee shall holde the Farme called Darbyes Farme duringe the terme of her naturall life, All the rest of my goods moveable, Chattells, and Cattell, my debts being first paid Legacies performed and by Body brought honestly to the ground I give graunt, and bequeve unto Joane my wife, and Thomas Russell my Eldest sonne, to bee equally devided betwixt them, And I hereby make the said Joane my wife; and Thomas my sonne my Joynt Executors to see this my Last will & Testament truely performed p[er]formed [sic] and fullfilled, as my trust is they will. John Russell his marke. Witnes hereunto. Nicholas Straine his marke. William Westwood
Debts oweing unto me the said John Russell without specialty././.
John Lowe Junior – xxxix li vij s.
Jeffery Dudley – xv s.
Thomas Wylletts – ij li ij s.
John Wylletts – xv s.
Wm Fernall – xxxx s.
George Colborne – viij s.
Mr. Browne – x s.
Mr. Gylbert Warley – x x vj d././././
[Proved 8 May 1636]
Commentary
John’s parentage:
Probably two John’s were born in Rowley Regis in the period: one was baptized 1 November 1573, father Robert, and the other’s baptism does not appear in the register, but he is named in his father Thomas’s 1615 will. It is not surprising that the baptism of the second Thomas does not appear in the register, as there are significant gaps.
I think it is more likely that the John Russell of this page was the son of Thomas, as Thomas’s 1615 will shows that Thomas’s son John was still alive in 1615, and the John of this page named his eldest son Thomas and what was probably his eldest daughter Margaret (Margaret was also the name of Thomas’s wife.)
John’s wife:
John names his wife Joan in his will. In her 1615 will, Alice Ireland named her daughter Joan and Joan’s husband John Russell. Other evidence indicates that this John Russell and Joan married about 1595, which is consistent with them being the couple of this page. Joan Russell is also named in the 1612 will of Alice Ireland’s sister Anne Darby.
References
Transcriptions of the registers of Rowley Regis on FreeReg.org.uk.
Will of John Russell of Rowley Regis. Proved 1636 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Alice Ireland. Proved 1615/6 in the Consistory Court of Worcester.
Will of Ann Darbye of Halesowen. Proved 1613 in the Consistory Court of Worcester.