Bennet Averell (abt. 1520 - 1572)

Born about 1520 in England

Descendants

Died 1572 at about age 52 in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England

Biography

Bennet Averell was born before 1532 (death of his father). He was buried in Sawbridgeworth, Herts, on 18 April 1572.^[1] Bennet was the son of William Averell.

Bennet probably married (1) to a woman whose name is not known. He married (2) in Thorley, Hertforshire, 13 April 1551, Agnes ____ "[surname left blank],"^[2] She married again, in Sawbridgeworth, 13 April 1573, William Spenser. Agnes (_____) (Wall) Spenser was buried in Sawbridgewoth, 12 February 1594/5, "the wyfe of Will[ia]m Spenser."^[3]

Benedict or Bennet Averell was born in about 1520, the son of William and Agnes. In 1544 Barthomew Averell, William Averell, Henry Averell, Benedict (or Bennet) Averell and John Tredgold were plaintiffs for trespass in the court of Kings Bench. They alleged that Robert Carre and Robert Whorelevan had broken into their enclosure at Hatfeld Brodok, Essex.^[4]

In 1562 there was a land conveyance by final concord. Henry Averell and Benedict Averell : Willam Averell. Two messuages and lands in Stondon, Herts.^[5]

William, Henry, Bartholomew, and Bennet Averell were brothers, and John Tredgold was their brother in law.

The will of Bartholomew Averell of Southminster, Essex, was proved 29 June 1562. He mentioned his three brothers Bennet, William, and Henry; Mary the daughter of Bennet and goddaughter of Bartholomew; his sister Eleanor Tredgold, wife Felice, and daughters Grace, Elizabeth, and Mary.^[6]

In the will of Agnes Averell of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, widow, 1551, she mentioned John Tryggold and his children. The executors were to be Harry Averell and Bennet Averell.^[7]

In 1571 Benedict Averell was a defendant in Common Pleas for entry sur disseisin of property in Great Hadham and Little Hadham, Herts. Entry sur disseisin was the usual preliminary for a property transfer by a legal fiction called Common Recovery.^[8]

Bartholomew (and presumably also his brothers) was the son of William. In 1544-51 (TNA date estimate) Bartholomew, son of William AVERELL, yeoman, was a defendant in the court of Chancery.^[9]

The will of Bennet Averell of Sabridgeworth was made 11 April 1572 and proved 18 November 1572. He mentioned his daughters Anne and Mary Wall, son in law Nicholas Wall, and wife Agnes.^[10]

Family

Child of Bennet Averell, probably by a first wife, whose name is not known,

1. Mary Averell, probably born before 1551, died between 12 May 1613 (date of will) and 13 Juy 1613 (date will proved);^[11] married (1) in Sawbridge, Hertfordshire, England, 27 September 1568, Nicholas Wall,^[12] died in Feering, Essex, 16 December 1591; ^[13] married (2) at Feering, Essex, 28 July 1592, William Witham,^[14] died between 13 November 1592 (date of will) and the end of that year;^[15] married (3) at Feering, 24 July 1593, John Gaywood.^[16]

Child of Bennet Averell and his wife, Agnes ____

1. Anne Averell, born say 1553, died after 20 October 1624, (date of daughter Elizabeth's marriage license); married at Sawbridgeworth, 1 May 1572, Robert Sibthorpe, who left a will dated 20 January [1621/2].^[17] This couple was originally of Thorley, Hertfordshire, where the children's baptisms were recorded. After 1608, they removed to Little Hallingbury, Essex.

Research Notes

Were Mary and Anne sisters or half-sisters? Fiske (2005) did not know the girls' bith/baptismal dates and did not attribute a mother or mothers to Bennet's child list. Given Mary's marriage date (1568), the author suspected the she was born before the date of Bennet's marriage to Agnes ____ (1551). Anne married later (1572), and Fiske gave her birth as "say 1553."

Sawbridgeworth Parish Registers. FHL film 991395 is a restricted film. See the catalog entry.

Thorley Parish Registers. FHL film 1042206 is a restricted film. See the catalog entry.

Sources

1. ↑ Citing "Sawbridgeworth, Herts., parish registers [FHL film #991,395]," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 213-214 (Bennet^C Averell); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
2. ↑ Citing "Sawbridgeworth, Herts., Parish Registers [FHL film #991,295]," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 213-214 (Bennet^C Averell); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
3. ↑ William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 213-214 (Bennet^C Averell); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
4. ↑ http://aalt.law.uh.edu/aalt1/H8/KB27no1130/bKB27no1130dorses/IMG_0422.htm
5. ↑ https://archive.org/details/hertsgenealogis01briggoog/page/n317/mode/2up?view=theater
6. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/853547:5111?tid=&pid=&queryId=49ebd8c74dc67537c33288c9377cfaf1&_phsrc=sVO3897&_phstart=successSource
7. ↑ https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk/result_details.aspx?ThisRecordsOffSet=2&id=481587
8. ↑ http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Eliz/CP40no1295/bCP40no1295dorses/IMG_1642.htm
9. ↑ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7499323
10. ↑ https://archive.org/details/hertsgenealogist01brig/page/n753/mode/2up?view=theater
11. ↑ Citing "ERO, Archdeaconry of Colchester, D/ACW 6/243," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 113-116 (Nicholas^B Wall), in particular, 114; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
12. ↑ Citing "Sawbridgeworth, Herts., parish registers [FHL film #991,395]," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 113 (Nicholas^B Wall); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
13. ↑ Referring to the date of his death given in an inquest, 3 October 1592, and citing "Chancery, Inquisition Post Mortem, National Archives Ref: C 142/233/50," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 for 111, 112-116 (Nicholas^B Wall) at 112; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
14. ↑ Citing "Feering, Essex, parish registers [ERO, Ref: D/P 231/1/1]," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 for 111, 112-116 (Nicholas^B Wall) at 113; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
15. ↑ Referring to the will of William Witham of Feering and citing "Emmison, Essex Wills, vol. 6:165-66," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 for 111, 112-116 (Nicholas^B Wall) at 113; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
16. ↑ Citing "Feering, Essex, parish registers [ERO, Ref: D/P 231/1/1]," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 for 111, 112-116 (Nicholas^B Wall) at 113; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
17. ↑ Citing "ERO, Commissary Court, Essex and Hertfordshire Jurisdiction: D/ABW 50/254," William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 213-214 (Bennet^C Averell); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.

• William Wyman Fiske, "The Wall Family of Essex," The American Genealogist, 80 (2005):1-10, 102-116, 201-216 at 213-214 (Bennet^C Averell); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.