Margaret (Unknown) Halsey (abt. 1523 - 1602)

Wife of Thomas Halsey — married about 1543 in Hertfordshire, England

Descendants

Died 13 Jan 1602 at about age 79 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England

Biography

Very little is known about Margaret other than her burial 13 Jan 1601/02 at Hemel Hempstead as the wife of Thomas Halsey. They had 7 known children; see Thomas' record for names and dates.

Margaret's birth about 1523 and marriage about 1543 are both broad estimates. Her will is included in the "English Ancestry" attached source and she appears in Great Gaddesen land transactions in 1574 and 1591.

Margaret wrote her will 4 Jan 1601/02, it was proved 15 Jan 1601/02 and listed children Thomas, Ellin and Alice. Neither Margaret nor Thomas' will listed all of their children.

On 10 May 1591, Margaret Halsey alias Chambers on the surrender of her husband Thomas Halsey alias Chambers, by the hands of John Munn, in the presence of Thomas Welles of Coznor, was admitted to the cottage called Goberdes and two closes of arrable land belonging to the said cottage, containing three acres, and one parcell of land called Wadlokes containing two and one half acres of land in the Manor of Great Gaddesden.31 Also on 10 May 1591, William Halsey was admitted to this same land on the surrender of Margaret Halsey alias Chambers, wife of Thomas Halsey alias Chambers.32

Margaret Halsey, widow, made her will 4 January 1601/2, proved 15 January 1601/2: "... The Fourth day of January... 1601. I Margaret Halsey of the parishe of heme[l Hempstead] in the countie of hertf widow sick in bodie but of good and perfect memorie ..., doe make and ordaine this my last [will] and testament in manner and forme followinge,... Item I doe give and bequeath unto [the] poor people of the parish of hemelhemsted aforesaid Twentie shillings of lawfull money on england, to be paid unto them at ye day of my buriall [.] ... unto Thomas my sonne and my daughter Ellin, all my gownes [and] coates, to be distributed .... Item I doe give unto Thomas my sonne my great brasse pott to be delivered unto him withinthe above day next after my decease. Item I doe give unto Annis Saunters my best bedsted... linen... that is to say a fetherbed, a bolster, two pillowes, one paire of blanketts ... coverlet and amattris. Also I doe give unto the said Annis Saunters my biggest chest save one, and all that is therein, and also a Bason ... two pewter Candlestickes and a brasse pan ... to be delivered unto hir within seaven dayes also next after my decease. Item I doe give unto my daughter Eeles ... cupboard hanging in the shoppe, to be delivered unto hir within seaven dayes also next after my decease. The residue of my goodes and movables unbequeathed my dettes being paid and my fimerall expenses discharged I give and bequeath unto Willm Eeles of Aldenham my sonne in law whom I doe make my sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witnes whereof I the said Margaret have here unto sett my hand the day and yeare abovewritten. ye marke of ye said Margaret Halsey Witness hereunto John Besouth Thomas Halsey Thomas Gladman."34 31 Herts. Rec. Off., File 12745. 52 Herts. Rec. Off., File 12744. 33 Transcribed by R. D. Wheeler from photocopy © by Lines. Archives Off, LCC wills 1594 ii 139v,. 34 Transcribed by R. D. Wheeler from photocopy © by Herts. Rec. Off, File 2 HW 88.

Sources

• The English Ancestry of Thomas Halsey of Southampton, Long Island by Raymond David Wheeler 1994