She was one of four daughters who together were the co-heiress of Tristeram Storke of Trent and Alice Bingham youngest daughter Robert Bingham of Bingham's Melcombe, Dorset . [1][2]
She appears to have inherited much of the Trent part of her fathers estate which descended to her sons . She was left the household utensils at Trent in her father's will.
She married William Gerard (Jerard) and together they had 3 known children.
Thomas, the heir known as Thomas of Waddon ( Portesham, Dorset)[3]
Julian, married first George Milbourne of Somerset then ____ Pages (Pagys) [4][5][6]
Elizabeth, married Thomas Martyn of Parke Pale.[7]
Mary, died on 18th March 1577 and was buried in the parish church . A Flagstone, amongst other family memorials , bears the inscription
Heere lyeth the body of Mary Gerard,
wife of William Gerard, esq. daughter and co-heyre of Tristeram Storke of Trent, Esq.
Mary's will was written on the 12th Marcy 1577 during her final illness. She asked to be buried in the aisle, known as the Storkes aisle next to her husband who had predeceased her.
She gave 3 shillings to the church in Trent and 3 shillings for the poor box of that church. She gave 12d each to the poore boxes of the parishes of Nethercompton, Mudford and Samford Orcas.
Her daughter Julian Pages received a feather bed and bedding, 3 silver spoons, a silver salt
Mabel and Anne Milbrone, the daughters of Julian Pages were bequeathed one cow and a silver spoon. Seven, unnamed children of Julian received a weather (sheep) each
Her daughter Elizabeth Marten received, a yoke of oxen, a score of weathers, a featherbed together with bolster and pillow, three silver spoons of the best sort, an old pair of silver___ and a iamberke? Elizabeth's children were also to receive a weather each
William, the son of Mary's son Thomas was bequeathed a cow and a silver ale cup. James, also the son of Thomas received a cow and four weathers
The residue of her estate was to go to her son Thomas who was made executor. An inventory was annexed to the orginal will (not present in the scribes copy) Thomas was asked to pass these chatells to his son William (remained to James)
witnesses : Robert Elliott person’lly there Nichlas Adams John Stagge w’th others
Probate was granted to Thomas Gerard 19th June 1585[9]
According to the Rev.Harbin Bates in an article on the Gerard family, her Inquisition post mortem said she died on 28th March (not 18th as transcriptions of her memorial say) and held the Manor of Trent at her death [10]
Sources
↑ Memorial to Tristram Storke, died 1532 Trent Parish Church
↑ 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 volume 4 page 374
↑ Bates, E. H. (Edward Harbin), ed
The particular description of the county of Somerset by Gerard, Thomas, 1592-1634; p. XIX (editor's introduction)
↑ W. Phelps, The History and Antiquities of Somersetshire, 2 vols. (London,
1836) 1, p. 356 Google Books
↑ Will of Mary Gerarde, Widow of Trent, Somerset 1578 National Archives PROB 11/60/356 transcript of Will
↑ Bates Harbin, Rev.E. H, Thomas of Trent his Family and Writings in Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaelogical Society , Vol 35, p 55 ff archive books
Memorial Trent Church
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