Richard Pitt (abt. 1530 - abt. 1622)

Born about 1530 in Radipole, Dorset, England [uncertain]

Husband of Margery (Bailey) Pitt — married 1564 in Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England

Descendants

Died about 1622 at about age 92 in Cricket Malherbie, Somerset, England

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Biography

Birth

• Father John Pitt b. c 1500
• Mother Margaret Lawse b. c 1501^[1]
• Richard Pitt was born circa 1530 at Melcombe Regis, Dorsetshire, England.

Marriage

He married Margery Bailey, daughter of John Bailey,^[2] in c. 1564 ^[3] She was buried on 25th of May, 1587 ^[4]

He married Elizabeth Orchard of North Cricket, Somerset on 29th May 1598^[5]

Children

John, son and heir Merchant, Melcombe died 1625-5

Matthew, became MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis

Mary married ___Merish (Morish?)

Judith married ___ Swayne

Margaret married John Bond of Lutton

Edith married ___ Yeo

Grace married James Ashe

Amy married ___Stroud

Career

Richard Pitt was one of a large family of Merchants, trading with the continent through several Dorset ports. Richard lived in Weymouth/Melcombe Regis where he owned property, including wharves. Like many wealthy merchants in these ports he also turned privateer. Richard, together with another Pitt (a William) and his son in law John Bond were owners of the Bark Bond which took several 'prizes' during the years following the Spanish Armada^[6] He was though himself the victim of privateering and in 1592 had an interest with his brother John and brother in law Thomas Barfoot, in two ships captured off Le Harvre, by French privateers . To help them recover the ships, they were given leave to export cloth , duty free to St Malo.^[7]

Retirement to Somerset

Towards the end of his life Richard appears to have retired to the country, to Cricket Malherbie in Somerset. This was the home of his second wife. It also became the home of son Matthew who had his children baptised there. He wrote his will there in 1617 and was buried there.

burial

Cricket Malberbie, Somerset At present there seems to be some discrepancy as to date of death

buried 23 January 1621/2 ^[8]

or

died on 25 May 1622^[9]

Will

Freespace page, transcript His will was written on 21st July 1617, whilst still in good health. He left various properties in Weymouth and Melcombe Regis to John who was his eldest son and to his other son Matthew. He made small bequests of £3 6s 8d to his grandsons, to be used to purchase a piece of plate if they were married or over the age of 21,or when they reached that age. Matthew was appointed executor.

Names from the will.

Richard son of John

Denis Bond son unto my daughter Margaret

Daniel Merrish son of dau Mary

Benjamin son of Matthew

John son of Matthew

Richard Swayne, son of daughter Judith

Richard Yeo, son of daughter Edith

John Ashe son of daughter Grace

Thomas Stroude son of daughter Amy Stroud

also mentioned was 'my brother William' ^[10]

Notes

*Margery Bailey b. c 1534, d. 25 May 1574

• Child Grace Pitt b. c 1566

Sources

1. ↑ Visitation of Somerset 1623 archive books
2. ↑ Vistitation of Somerset
3. ↑ John Hutchins The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset Third edition, corrected, augmented, and improved by William Shipp and James Whitworth Hodson 1861-73 Vol 2. p 480
4. ↑ Hutchins Hist and antiquities
5. ↑ Hutchins Hist and antiquities
6. ↑ KR Andrews, Elizabethan Privateering, 1964 143ff
7. ↑ The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010 John. P. Ferris / Paul Hunneyball BARFOOT, Thomas (-d.1610), of Weymouth, Dorset
8. ↑ Free Reg, Cricket Malherbie, Somerset, transcription of Bishop's Transcript Freereg Search
9. ↑ John Hutchins The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset Third edition, corrected, augmented, and improved by William Shipp and James Whitworth Hodson 1861-73 Vol 2 480
10. ↑ National Archives, Will of Richard Pitt, Merchant of Cricket Malherbie, Somerset PROB 11/139/545 01 June 1622 viewable on ancestry.co.uk

• Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Societies, Vol. IX, p. 52

• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p3758.htm#i112864

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Gordon Simpkinson for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Gordon and others.