Agnes (Unknown) Milton (abt. 1505 - bef. 1561)

Born about 1505 in Oxfordshire, England [uncertain]

Wife of Henry Milton — married about 1528 in Oxfordshire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 14 Jun 1561 before about age 56 in Stanton, St John, Oxfordshire, England

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Biography

Agnes (Unknown) Milton was born in Oxfordshire, England.

This is the profile for Agnes, the wife of Henry Milton of Stanton St. Johns, Oxfordshire.

Only Known Records

The only records that have been found that relate to this profile's Agnes Milton are:

• The 25 November 1558 will of Henry Milton of Stanton St. John, Oxfordshire, in which Henry bequeathed "Agnes my wife a gelding, a grey mare, two kye, and all my household stuff; whom I make my executrix." The will was proved on 5 March 1558/9, when administration was granted to his widow.^[1]
• Agnes' 9 March 1560/1 will, which was proved on 14 June 1561.^[1]

Maiden Name; Parentage

Agnes' maiden name and parentage are unknown. Some online genealogies say that she was the daughter of Thomas Edson and Julian (Bustard) Edson of Adderbury, Oxfordshire. However, (1) no supporting evidence for that theory has been found and (2) as discussed in Thomas Edson's profile, there is no evidence that he had a daughter named Agnes.

Date and Place of Birth

Agnes' date and place of birth are uncertain. Based on their son Richard's estimated date of birth (1520-1540), Agnes was probably born sometime in 1485-1520, with about 1505 being a reasonable midpoint estimate. Since the only records relating to Agnes show her as a resident of Stanton St. John, Oxfordshire, it is reasonably likely that she was born in or near Stanton St. John.

Marriage and Children

The date and place of Agnes' marriage to Henry Milton are uncertain. Based on their son Richard's estimated date of birth (1520-1540), Agnes and Henry were probably married sometime in 1515-1540, with about 1528 being a reasonable midpoint estimate. Since the only records relating to Henry and Agnes show them as a residents of Stanton St. John, Oxfordshire, it is reasonably likely that they were married in or near Stanton St. John.

Agnes and Henry had the following children:

• Richard, b. probably sometime in 1520-1540 in Stanton St. John, m. probably in 1561-1562 _______ (Haughton) Jeffrey, d. sometime after 1601 probably in Stanton St. John. (See discussion and sources in Richard's profile.)
• Isabel/Elizabeth, m. possibly William Howse of Beckley.

Based on the fact that husband Henry's will included bequests to Rowland Mylton and Alys Mylton, they were probably related to Henry. In a 1859 edition of The Life of Milton, David Masson stated that Rowland and Alys were probably younger children of Henry and Agnes;^[2] however, by the time of the 1881 edition, Masson's position had shifted somewhat and he stated that, while Rowland and Alys "may" have been their children, they may also have just been relatives.^[1] The fact that, unlike Richard and Isabel, Rowland and Alice are not described as son and daughter in Henry's will and are not mentioned at all in Agnes' will, suggests that were were not Henry's and Agnes' children.

Will; Death; Estate

Agnes made her will on 9 March 1560/1. In her will, she described herself as "Agnes Mylton of Stanton St. John's in the county of Oxon, widow." She made bequests to her daughter Elisabeth, son Richard, and son William Howse and appointed son Richard and daughter Elisabeth as her executors.^[1][3] (While in a 1859 edition of The Life of Milton, David Masson inferred that "son" William Howse had married daughter Isabel or the Alice mentioned in Henry Milton's will and that "daughter" Elizabeth was son Richard's wife,^[2] by the 1881 edition, Masson had apparently changed his mind and concluded that William Howse was possibly a son of Agnes' from a prior marriage or otherwise unaccounted for and that Elizabeth was a variant spelling of the daughter Isabel mentioned in Henry's will.^[1]) Set forth below is the full text of the will:

In the name of God, Amen. The 9th of March A.D. 1560, I, Agnes Mylton of Stanton St. John's in the county Oxon, widow, sick of body, but whole and perfect of remembrance, laud and praise be given to Almighty God, do ordain and make this my last will, and present testament containing therein my last will, in manner and form following. First I bequeathe my soul to Almight God and to all the Celestial Company of Heaven, and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Stanton at the belfry end. Item, I bequeathe to my daughter Elsabeth my two kyen, one of them in the keeping of Charles Issard of the same Stanton and the other in the keeping of my son William Howse of Beckley. I bequeathe also to the same Elsabeth 11 pair of sheets, 3 meat cloths, and a towel. I give to my said daughter 8 platters, 2 saucers, a bason, 3 pans, a kettle, a skillet, 2 pots and two winnowing sheets. Item, I will also to the same Elsabeth 5 of my smocks, two of my best candlsticks, and the wheel. Furthermore, I give and bequeathe to my son Richard a pot, a pan, a skillet, 2 candlesticks and a winnowing sheet. Item, I give to my son Richard half a quarter of the 14 bushels of barley which he oweth me; and 2 bushels of the same barley I give to my William Howse; and all the rest of hit I will shall be stowed for me as my son Richard and my daughter Elsabeth think best. Also I give my son Richard all such debts as he oweth me not being named. All the rest of my goods, both movable and unmovable, my debts paid and will fulfilled, I give and bequeathe to my son Richard and my daughter Elsabeth; whom I make my full executors of this my last will and testament. Witness whereof Percyvall Gaye, John Stacey, and Agnes Clarke, with other moe.^[1][3]

Agnes' will was proved on 14 June 1561, which means that Agnes died sometime between 9 March 1560/1 and 14 June 1561. Administration of her estate was granted to son Richard and daughter Elsabeth. The goods of her estate were inventoried at £7.4.4.^[1][3]

^{[3] [2] [1]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Masson, David. The Life of John Milton: Narrated in Connection with the Political, Ecclesiastical, and Literary History of His Time. Vol. I. 1608-1639. New and Revised Edition. MacMillan and Co., 1881. pp. 14-16. Link to page at hathitrust.org.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Masson, David. The Life of John Milton: Narrated in Connection with the Political, Ecclesiastical, and Literary History of His Time. Vol. I. 1608-1639. MacMillan and Co., 1859. p. 16. Link to page at archive.org.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} "Oxfordshire Wills Index, 1516-1857. FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 18 September 2022). Agnes Milton probate in 1561. Residence Stanton St John, Oxfordshire, England.