Relations of William Busby of Great Tew who died 1513

Question

Hello,

I am researching William Busby who died in 1513. There is a brass to him and his wife Agnes in St Michael's Church in Great Tew. In some trees she is listed as Agnes Fox but I can't find anything to prove this.

I think he was a merchant (due to his purse on the engraving but likely not a wool merchant as he is not stood on a sheep). 

He may be related to John Busby of Burford who is buried under marble with his first wife in St Katherine's Chapel of Burford church 1530 (his grave now obscured by the Tanfield tomb), he was a member of the merchant guild and was a burgess of the town. Strange that he wasn't buried in the Merchant chapel, he disappeared from the Burford records in about 1528 but was one of the wealthiest residence of the town but has the least documentation!  In the 1550's a Richard Busby held property in the town but is described at Richard Busby of Islington.

An overseer to John's will was Richard Busby of Great Tew. William was the father or grandfather of Richard Busby of Great Tew (according to Victoria Counties History of Great Tew on British History Online) who left an extensive will in 1539. Richard left legacies to member(s) of the Fox and Rymell families (and more) as well as to his wife Johanne, children and grandchildren. Richard had property in King's Sutton to his grandchildren and maiden aunts (?) and in Uxbridge as well as Great Tew and.

His daughters were married to Raffe Pebworth of Barford St Michael and Robert Meese/Mose (of either Steeple Barton/Rousham or Over Worton). Meese and Pebworth (and various iterations of these names) are names mentioned in several Busby wills linking families together across East Illsey, Compton (not sure which one), Gaggington, Steeple Barton, Middle Barton, Over Worton, Radford, Enstone and Over Norton.  

I also think William might have been related to Robert Busby who left a will in 1542 at Chipping/Over Norton. 

As well as trying to find out how the late 1400/ early 1500 families are connected I am also trying to find out how the family is connected to the Oxfordshire wool trade or other merchant guilds along with their connections to Kinds Sutton, Uxbridge and the Staple of Calais. I just wondered whether in your research of you might have come across anything regarding William Busby of Great Tew (Mitchel Tew/ Tew Magna) 1513 please? 

I have tried to research the court rolls for Great Tew to find any land dealings for William or any land that may have come to him via marriage but couldn't find any Busby references, only mentions in the 1470s of the Rainsfords (who also have brasses in the church and were Lords of the Manor), Rymall and Fox families (namely William Fox and through quit claims I think he was William Fox of Steeple Barton and brother of Richard Fox of Deddington). 

If anyone has any suggestions of specific archives I could research I would be very grateful as am not sure what to access to find out more about him. I live near Oxford and can access the history centre and some of the college libraries.

Best wishes, Emma

Answer 1

I suppose you've probably seen this site?http://wills.oxfordshirefhs.org.uk/windex.html

Transcriptions/abstracts of wills, earliest about 1530.

You might not have seen this:
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40_Indices.html

These are indexes of cases in Common Pleas, ca. 1350-1600. There are more than 100 indexes, for each term done so far (four terms per year). Rather than search each one separately, you can use Google. For example:

site:http://aalt.law.uh.edu/indices/cp40indices/ "busby, robert"
site:http://aalt.law.uh.edu/indices/cp40indices/ "busby, richard"
site:http://aalt.law.uh.edu/indices/cp40indices/ "busby, john"

(Copy and Google the whole line)

These produce these results (and others):

1531 Busby, Robert, of Chepyng Norton, Oxon, yeoman
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40no1068/CP40no1068Def.htm


1524 Busby, Richard, of Magna Tewe, Oxon, husbandman
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40no1042/CP40no1042Act.htm

1533 Busby, John, of Burford, Oxon, woolman, executors of; (Pymme, Thomas; Elizabeth his wife)
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Indices/CP40Indices/CP40no1076/CP40no1076Def.pdf

Also:
https://waalt.uh.edu/index.php/Main_Page
Search:
"of magna tewe" or "of parva tewe"

This will give results for Raynford, Walkstede, Cousyn and other surnames in Great Tewe.
 

Comments

Dear Vance,

I had not seen the cases in Common Pleas website before, this is fantastic, thank you ever so much for your help.

It has helped to place people at other dates in their location and also gives me an idea of the type of trade they are in.

I really appreciate your help and time in providing the links too.

Best wishes Emma