Robert Smyth (abt. 1460 - 1513)

Born about 1460 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 1513 at about age 53 in Corsham, Wiltshire, England

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Biography

Robert Smyth was of Corsham, Wiltshire.^[1]

The father of Robert Smyth of Corsham, Wiltshire, is unknown. His mother was Alice (surname unknown).^[1]

His year of birth is unknown and is estimated as c 1460. He had a brother Philip Smyth.^[1]

Robert Smyth married Agnes, surname unknown.^[1]

Children:

• John^[1]
• Philip^[1]
• Robert^[1]

He died in 1513.^[1]

Robert's great great grandson Mathew Smyth of Corsham was an informant at the Visitation of Wiltshire in 1623.^[2] The pedigree recorded by Mathew Smyth was extended in a later edition of the pedigree by G D Squibb^[3], presumably based on the will of Robert Smyth of 1513 (see below). Mathew Smyth was the son of John, who was the son of Robert, who was the son of Philip, who was the son of Robert (died 1513).

Arms

The Visitation of 1623 recorded that Mathew Smyth had presented a 'coate' in an old Seale said to be 210 years old. The Arms were described as:^[2][4]

Azure, an escutcheon argent within an orle of six lions rampant or.

The arms are depicted in "Heraldry in Wiltshire".^[5]

The same arms are recorded on a monument to Robert Smith of Blackland, Wiltshire, who died in 1691^[6], and who was a descendant of Mathew Smyth.

Summary of the Will of Robert Smyth of Corsham 1513

In his will made on 14 Apr 1513 and proved on 07 May 1513^[1] he was recorded as Robert Smyth of Cossham (Corsham), Wiltshire. His will was to be buried in the northern side of the chapel of our Lady at St Bartholomew, Corsham.

He made a bequest to the Cathedral church of Salisbury. He made a bequest to the parish church of St Bartholomew, Corsham, and xii pence to every light in the church. He then made bequests to:

• Agnes his wife, 60 pounds sterling;
• Alice his mother, 20 pounds sterling;
• Robert his son, 10 pounds sterling; and
• Tymchares, 6 pounds 13 shillings 4 pence.

He then stated:

"I will that all the termes of yeres whiche I now have to come aswell of all the lands whiche I occupye by indenture as the mylles whiche I also hold and occupye shall eqally remayn unto John and Philippe my sonnes. The residue of all my goods catalls and dettes whatsoever they bee after my detts paid and my burying made and this my present testament fulfilled I geve and bequethe to the said John and Philippe my sonnes eqally betweene theym".

His sons, John and Philippe were named Executors.

The Witnesses were his brother Philip Smyth and Sir Thomas Mylburne his curate. Probate was granted to John Smyth.

Research Notes

General notes on possible ancestral connections:

• In the will of a John Smyth of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, made on 15 Jul 1495 and proved on 10 August 1495^[7] the Testator made bequests to his sons John and Robert, his wife Alice, and requested burial in the porch of the church of St James Trowbridge. There are obvious parallels with the will of Robert Smyth of 1513. However, as John Smyth did not record a son Phillip in his will then it is presumed that he was not the father of this Robert Smyth of Corsham.
• An Edward le Smyth was returned for Chippenham, Wiltshire, in 7 Edward II [1313-1314].^[8]
• An Edward or Edmund le Smyth was a taxpayer at Lacock, Wiltshire, in 1332.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Will of Robert Smyth of Corsham, Wiltshire. 07 May 1513. PROB 11/17/374. The National Archives, Kew.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Visitation of Wiltshire 1623. Edited by George W Marshall, 1882, p 33 Internet Archive.
3. ↑ Wiltshire Visitation Pedigrees 1623. With additional pedigrees and arms collected by Thomas Lyte of Lyte's Cary, Co. Somerset 1628. The Publications of the Harleian Society. Vol LV and LVI. Edited by GD Squibb. 1954, pp 181-182.
4. ↑ The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year 1830. Volume 100, 13 Dec 1830, pp 487-488 HathiTrust.
5. ↑ Buckeridge, David. Heraldry in Wiltshire. Eight Volumes in One. Published Devizes, Wiltshire, 2000, p 30.
6. ↑ Sir Thomas Phillipps. Monumental Inscriptions of Wiltshire 1822. Wiltshire Record Society Volume 53. Edited by Peter Sherlock. 2000, p 225.
7. ↑ Will of John Smyth. 10 August 1495. PROB 11/10/444. The National Archives, Kew.
8. ↑ Debrett’s Genealogical Peerage of Great Britain and Ireland. Revised and corrected to February 1847 by Henry Collen Esq. Published London, 1847, p 715 Google Books.
9. ↑ The Wiltshire Tax List of 1332. Crowley, D A (Ed.). Wiltshire Record Society. Vol. XLV, 1989, p 100.