Richard Skidmore (abt. 1530 - 1609)

Born about 1530 in Westerleigh, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Grove (Hollister) Skidmore — married about 1564 in England

Died 16 Oct 1609 at about age 79 in Westerleigh, Gloucestershire, England

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Biography

In the great muster of the county taken in August 1608 (and printed in 1902 as Men and Armour for Gloucestershire in 1608) Richard Skidmore is not listed with the able bodied men between 16 and 60, but is noted at the end as being “Unable in body but hath one musket furnished.”^[1] Considering that James Skidmore, Richard's son, was aged 50 to 60 on this same list, Richard was likely close to 70 years or more.

Richard married Mary Hollister.^{[citation needed]} Their children were mentioned in his own 1609 will, and the 1598 will of his son John (the Elder).^[2] He had (order uncertain):

1. John (the Elder), d. 1598
2. William
3. Agnes
4. James
5. John the Younger
6. Joyce, m. Christopher Cornock

Richard was named an overseer in the 1599 will of Christopher Hollister of Maieshill, Westerlie. Agnes, Joyce, and Mary Skydmore were all named in his will, though the relationship was not specified (his will did specify brothers, sisters and brother-in-laws).^[3]

Richard had his will drawn up on 29 Aug 1609.^[4] He described himself as a yeoman of Westerleigh, Gloucestershire and made bequests to:

• son William
• daughter Agnes
• servant Mary Skidmore
• son James and his children (not named)
• son John
• daughter Joyce, the wife of Christopher Cornock
• wife Mary

Richard died 16 Oct 1609.^{[citation needed]} His will was probated on 30 Nov 1609.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Smith, John, comp. Men and Armour for Gloucestershire in 1608. (London: Henry Sotheran and Co., 1902), p. 212.
2. ↑ Consistory Court of the dioceses of Cloucester. Original Wills, 1598, no. 88 "John Skidmore" (Ancestry.com). Digital images of microfilm. Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Wills and Inventories, 1541-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK.
3. ↑ Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Wallop Quire Numbers 1-38, "Will of Christopher Hollister, Bachelor of Westerleigh, Gloucestershire", pp. 88b-89a. Ref. no. PROB 11/95/82 (nationalarchives.gov.uk or ancestry.com).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Dorset Quire Numbers 57-120, "Will of Richard Skydmore, Yeoman of Westerleigh, Gloucestershire", pp. 384b-385a. Ref. no. PROB 11/114/571 (nationalarchives.gov.uk or Ancestry Record 5111 #958490).

• Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Will Registers. The National Archives, Kew, England. Digital images of microfilm. Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.