Richard Aylett (bef. 1618 - bef. 1686)

Born before 15 Mar 1618 in Boreham, Essex, England

Ancestors

Died before 2 Aug 1686 at about age 68 in Rivenhall, Essex, England

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Biography

Richard was the son of Jeremy Aylett and Frances Freshwater and the last of the Aylett family to hold Durwards (or Dorewards) Hall in Rivenhall/Kelvedon^[1]. He was baptised in Boreham on 15 Mar 1617/8, where his family appear to have been living at that time.

He appears in the Visitation of Essex 1664-68 ^[2] and this is evidence for his marriage and children.

A land record from 1657 just after his father's death shows that he used the coat of arms associated with this overall Aylett family. ^[3]

Marriage and children

Morant ^[1] gives details of his marriage to Margaret Bancroft, 'daughter and co-heir to Tho. Bancroft of Santonhouse in Norfolk'. It was this marriage that embroiled his father in a long-running lawsuit with Katherine Pettus who claimed that Thomas Bancroft, as executor of the will of the deceased father of her by then also dead husband William, had been left property allocated to paying legacies to his family and then not paid them while holding on to the property. It seems probable that some of this resource went into Margaret's dowry, though there is no evidence of it in Richard's 1685 will.

Children

Morant ^[1] gives the names of four children, a son and three daughters. Three other children were baptised at Rivenhall but probably all died before adulthood.

1. Richard bap 13 Apr 1642 bur 15 Apr 1642 both in Rivenhall
2. Margaret bap 12 Oct 1643 d bef 1685
3. Frances bap 26 Feb 1649/50 Rivenhall d af 1686 m John Tendring 6 Apr 1665 Rivenhall
4. Thomas b 1653 bur 11 Jan 1680/81 RIvenhall
5. Elizabeth abt 1655 mar Sir Robert Tabor 17 Feb 1678/9 St Matthew Friday St, London d aft 1686
6. Hestor/Esther b aft 1657 mar John Hedger 2 Feb 1677/8 Kelvedon
7. Susan bap 6 Aug 1657 bur 5 Apr 1658 both Rivenhall

There is a big gap between Margaret and Frances; Richard could have been absent fighting in the civil war or given the gaps in the PR at Rivenhall in this period, there could have been births of one or more children who did not survive.

A later law suit by Richard's grandson gives an overview of his descendants. ^[4]

Career

He entered Lincoln’s Inn 10 Nov 1638 and was called to the bar Nov 20 1645; his uncle Edward Freshwater was already a member there.^[5]

As a young man he was heavily involved in the Parliamentary side of the civil war during the earlier 1640s ^[6] probably along with his brother. At this point he was married and two children had been born, though both may have died very young, so this may be one reason why he did not as it seems join the New Model Army in 1645. 1645 is also when he was called to the Bar at Lincolns Inn Fields.

It's noticeable that, unlike earlier members of his family, there is not very much evidence of an involvement in Essex Administration, such as membership of Juries or acting as a JP, at leat until the mid 1670s^[7]. It's possible there were some politics at play after the Restoration in 1660 given his adherence to parliament and even more so, his father's adherence.

Death and will

He died in 1686 and was buried in Rivenhall 2 Aug 1686^[8].

His will was made 19th November 1685 and proved 30 September 1686 ^[9]. The will is focused on disposing of Durwards; there is also a messuage Crabbes in Kelevedon,and a farm Rochesters in Little Leigh and some property in Shalford. Dowries are known to have shot up for the gentry and aristocracy in this period, and Richard had three daughters. Frances was given property in Boreham and Hatfield Peveral on marriage ^[10] to John Tendring, and further dowries would have been needed for the marriage of Hester to John Hedger in 1677/8 and Elizabeth to Sir Robert Tabor in 1678/9.

Meanwhile Richard's male heir, Thomas, died in 1680/81 ^[11] before he could marry and bring in a dowry.

Richard leaves Durwards to his wife Margaret for her life (she died in early 1693/4). Interestingly it is also inhabited by Thomas Darcy gent and John Blewitt, who might be paying rent though this is not stated.

After this there is a series depending on whether the legatees survive or not: first it goes to daughter Frances, married to John Tendring, and her children; after that half of it goes to daughter Elizabeth, now the widow of Sir Robert Tabor her children, but if not, then to two grandchildren, Mary and Frances Hedger (children of daughter Hester, who is not mentioned so has probably died); and if not this then to John Aylett, son of Thomas Aylett of Braintree, clothier, his cousin. There are also legacies of 20 pounds a year to Elizabeth Tabor, Alice Tendring (daughter of Frances) and his Hedger grandchildren.

Margaret is the executrix and she is to be supported by John Tendring and interestingly Henry Ayloffe, a son of Sir Benjamin Ayloffe, cited by his father as a friend in his will.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "History and Antiquities of the County of Essex" by Philip Morant in 1978; isbn#0715813013 & 9780715813010; v2 p3 p148 Dorewards Hall accessed 21 sep 2021
2. ↑ A visitation of the county of Essex by Bysshe, Edward, Sir, 1615?-1679. cn; Howard, Joseph Jackson, 1827-1902 ed; England. College of Arms p10 Visitation of Essex 1664 accessed 2 Oct 2023
3. ↑ Essex Records Office D/DHt T105/6 2 Nov.1657 accessed 4 Oct 2023

   Richard Aylet of Rivenhall,gent

   Thomas Laurie of Market Hamborough Leics.,Clerk

   `Bishops' and 'Aylwins: North Farmbridge

   (Arm.Sig.seal, az.a fesse ambattled between 3 unicorns' heads erased arg., crined and armed or)

4. ↑ UK National Archives E 134/2Geo2/Mich15 William Tendring, Esq. v. John London, Esq accessed 15 April 2024

   William Tendring, Esq. v. John London, Esq.: Messuages, farms, and lands in the parishes of Ravenhill and Kelvedon, or in one of them (Essex), belonging to plaintiff, called by the names of Wm. Attwoods or Woodhams alias Wm. Attwoods, or Crabbs Farm and Dorward's Hall Farm. Metes and bounds. Survey. Touching a contract or agreement for purchase by defendant, and the last will and testament of Margaret Aylett (plaintiff's grandmother), &c., &c. [The names and possessions of Richard Aylett, heretofore of Dorward's Hall (Essex), gentleman, and his wife Margaret (plaintiff's grandfather and grandmother), Frances Aylett (daughter of Richard) who was married to John Tendring (plaintiff's father), Jeremiah Aylett (plaintiff's great grandfather), Edwd. Emery, John Collins, Elizth. Aylett and Hester Aylett (daughters of Richard), John Hedges (who married Hester Aylett), Frances (daughter of John and Hester Hedges), the wife of John Bennett, of the parish of St. Dunstan-in-the-West, London, Marmaduke Rawdon, Esq., mortgagee of part of the premises, Lady Talbor, and John Gooday, are mentioned.] [See also 2 Geo. 2., East., No. 14.]: London; Essex.

   Date: 2 Geo 2

5. ↑ Admissions Register VOL 1 1420-1799 by The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn [1] accessed 4 oct 2023

   ‘Richard Aylett, son and heir app. of Jeremy A., of Devranci’ - seems likely 'Devranci' is a mis-hearing or mis-transcribing of Durwards. See also Records of the Honourable society of Lincoln's Inn The Black books vol 2

6. ↑ The Cromwell Association Online Directory of Parliamentarian Army Officers. Accessed 2 Oct 2023. Originally published by British History Online, 2017.

   Richard Aylett

   In spring 1645 lieutenant in the regiment of foot in the earl of Essex’s Army commanded successively by Colonels James Holborne and William Davies. Unlike Davies himself and a few of his other officers, he did not transfer to the New Model Army.

   References: Wanklyn, New Model Army, 1. 149.

   Armies: Earl of Essex

7. ↑ Essex Records office T/A 418/178/22 Calendar of Essex Assize File [Ass 35/115/3 Assizes held at Chelmsford 3 August 1674] accessed 4 Oct 2023  :Richard Aylett of Rivenhall Gent is a juror for Witham
8. ↑ Essex : Rivenhall : St Mary and All Saints : Parish Register : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5d5fa066f493fd1428a40d6e : viewed 4 Oct 2023) burial Richard Aylet 02 Aug 1686
9. ↑ Essex records Office D/ABW 72/59 Will of Richard Aylett of Dorwards Hall in Rivenhall, gentleman accessed 5 Oct 2023
10. ↑ Essex Records Office T/B 608/1 SUMMARY OF DEEDS OF THE TENDRING FAMILY accessed 9 Oct 2023

    marriage settlement of John Tendring, son of Thomas Tendring gentleman of Brent Hall, Boreham, and Frances Aylett, daughter of Richard Aylett gentleman of Rivenhall, 1665; lease and release to John and Frances Tendring of property in Boreham and Hatfield Peverel, including the Cock Inn, Boreham, 1669.

11. ↑ Essex : Rivenhall : St Mary and All Saints : Parish Register : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5d5fa062f493fd1428a40cc5 : viewed 9 Oct 2023) burial Thomas Aylott 11 Jan 1680/81