Middlemore Family Genealogy

Hawkesley Family

51. William Middlemore, of Hawkeslow, esquire, was born about 1558. Upon his marriage his father, John Middlemore, settled Longbridge Farm, in King's Norton, for the benefit of his wife, Marie Badger.  In 1610, one Dive Rotsey, of London, filed a bill against him, claiming the farm, but Middlemore's answer showed that it was bought in 1575, from Dive Rotsey's uncle, John Rotsey. Mary Badger, his wife, was then deceased.

After the death of his second wife, about 1626 or 1627, he took into his service as housekeeper, Grace Becke, of King's Norton, widow, "thinking she would prove a good and faithful servant." But she removed from his house " sundry deeds, charters, etc.," relating to a farm in King's Norton, called Colmers Close, which had been sold to his father, John Middlemore, esquire, by John Rotsey, and this compelled him to bring an action against her in 1631.

Figure 33  Signature of William Middlemore

He was buried as William Middlemore, esquire, at King's Norton, 7 May, 1633-4, but in the Chancery proceedings is said to have died 20 March, 1633-4[7].

Will, 30 September, 1632 : to be buried in King's Norton church, "where my ancestors have been buried, if I depart this world within twentie myles of King's Norton." Legacies to poor of King's Norton, Northfield, Cofton Hackett and Bromesgrove ; to servants ; cousin Grace Middlemore.  Reversion of premises in Dormeston and Kyneton, Worcestershire (leased for twenty-one years 1 February, 19 Jas. I (1622) to Richard Middlemore of Edgebarston, and Richard Brabrooke, of Hertleton, Oxford, on trusts of will), and premises in King's Norton and Northfield conveyed to them, to William Middlemore, his son ; to his son Thomas Middlemore an annuity of £12out of premises in King's Norton devised to his grandson William, eldest son of his son John Middlemore; other premises in King's Norton to his son Richard Middlemore, his youngest son ; lands in Northfield to grandsons Richard and John, third and second sons of his son John Middlemore. To my eldest son John the manor of King's Norton and 100 marks; his goods amongst his sons Richard, William,  and Thomas; £ 5 to "loving cousin" Benedict Scudamore ; £6 to brother [i.e., brother-in-law] Thomas Middlemore, of Wedgebury, and £10 to the children of said brother Thomas Middlemore, of Sussex ; son-in-law Mr. Richard Brabrooke, esquire, husband of his late daughter Marie, £5 for a ring ; my late father Mr. John Middlemore, deceased.  "To . . . Towne, heretofore my surgeon," 30s. Executors Richard Brabrooke and "owne brother " Thomas Middlemore, of Sussex, and cousin Thomas Gatacre, of Shepley, and friend John Tirer the younger.

Codicil, 19 February, 1633. Recites that certain premises in King's Norton and Salford were conveyed to Richard Middlemore, now Richard Braybrooke, in trust to provide portion of £200 for his daughter, who is now dead, and instead charges the premises with amount of £12to his son Thomas, and (subject thereto, and also to raising zoo marks for payment of debts and legacies) devises the premises to his grandson William. Lands in Dormeston and Kyneton, conveyed to Richard Middlemore, of Edgbaston, and Richard Brabrook, of Hertleton, clear for nine years, then to brother Thomas Middlemore, of Hamsett, Sussex, gentleman, for ten years, remainder to himself and heirs male by Margaret his late [second] wife [i.e., his son William Middlemore], and revokes the appointment of Thomas Gatacre.  Proved by Thomas Middlemore, 21 June, 1634.

He married (1) Mary, daughter of John Badger, probably the Mary, wife of Mr. William Middlemore, who was buried at King's Norton, 22 August, 1592 William Middlemore and Mary Badger had issue:

  1. John Middlemore, of whom next.
  2. Mary, deceased in 1632, married Richard Brabrook of Berks, named as executor to his father-in-law William Middlemore.

    He married (2) Margery, daughter of Richard Middlemore, of Edgbaston, esquire (8), and widow of William Braybrooke, of Bridgewalton, Berks, Esq., who died 30 May, 1592, eldest son of James Braybrooke, by whom she had had a son, Richard Braybrooke, who married his mother's stepdaughter, Mary Middlemore: The curious way in which the families of Braybrooke, Badger and Middlemore were connected is shown in Table P.

    She was probably buried at King's Norton, 27 April, 1622, as  "wife of William Middlemore, esquire."

    William Middlemore and his second wife, Margery [Braybrooke] Middlemore had issue:

  3. William Middlemore, eldest son, was of Ipsley, gent. ; he had a farm and lands in Dormeston and Keynton. All these, which came to him under his father's will, 27 January, 1635, being then of Hawkeslow, gent., he granted, for 10s., probably by way of settlement or as trustees, to Richard Lumley, of Hamsett, Sussex, gent., and to Thomas Middle­more, jun., a son of Thomas Middlemore (72), of Hamsett, gent. In the following month he sold for £155 to Peter Warburton, of Hefferton Grange, Cheshire, esquire, a cottage and land in Dormeston.

    He appears to have died a bachelor, 13 May, 164 Will, 13 May, 1643, was proved at Oxford, 19 August, same year ; to be buried beside his father and mother in King's Norton Church[8]. To nephew John Middlemore, second son of brother, John Middlemore, of Hawkslowe, of £300, subject to annuity of £24 to his, testator's, brother Thomas Mydlemore, of Hawkeslowe ; Margaret Mydlemore, eldest daughter of his brother John, £50 and house­hold stuff belonging to him in his brother John's house at Hawkeslowe ; to Elizabeth, Mary, and Bridgett, daughters of John, £50 ; to Thomas, son of the said John, £20 ; to Henry, Robert, Edward, and George, younger sons of John, £10 each; cousin Grace Middlemore, £10; reversion of house and land at Dormeston (in possession of John Howman during life of testator's brother Richard Middlemore), to Richard Middlemore, son of brother John ; gold ring to cousin Mrs. Marie Hemyngham [sic], daughter of Richard Mydlemore, of Edgebaston. Executor, John Atmore of Bordesley.

  4. Thomas Middlemore of Hawkelowe, mentioned in his father's will as annuitant of £12 in 1632 and for £24 in his brother William's will, 1643.  Nothing more known of him.
  5. Richard Middlemore, "youngest son," was "beyond the seas in 1634," and living 1643 and 1666, in which latter year, as Richard Middlemore, of the City of London, gentleman, he filed his bill against Ursula Atmore, widow of John Atmore, executor of his brother William's will, to recover from her papers relating to property in Northfield and Keynton derived from his father and brother. The Northfield property he had conveyed to his brother William in trust, "in the time of the wars, he being in a better condition to secure the same."  Nothing further is known of him.
  6. Mary, married Richard Brayhrooke, who was son of her stepmother, Margery Middlemore of Edgbaston, by that lady's first husband, William Braybrooke.