| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. FHL book 929.273 Sp33 "The Spencers of the Great Migration," by Jack Taif Spencer and Edith Woolley Spencer (Gateway Press, Baltimore; 1997) vol. 1, pp. 55-57:
"Chart II. The Near Relatives of Alice Whitbread who Married Gerard Spencer of Stotfold, Beds. - Parents of the Five Spencer Siblings who Came to New England about 1630:
-Thomas Whitbread (b. ca 1522)
-John (b. ca. 1548 Upper Gravenhurst, Beds. = Eleanor Radcliffe. Children all b. Upper Gravenhurst:
-Elizabeth
-William (ca1573-1640) = Elizabeth ___. Children b. Upper Gravenhurst: Henry (b. 1601) = Eliz. Farnell; William (1602-1602); John (1603-1621); Elizabeth (1605); Henry Whitbread; Thomas (b. 1607) = Joan Carter; Sibyl (b. 1610) = Caesar Lucas; William (b. 1612) = Joan Cooper. [Note that the author continues with another generation or two from children of this family.]
-Henry (b. ca 1576) = Elizabeth Leventhorpe. Children b. Cardington, Beds.: Henry (b. 1605) = Eliz. Whitbread; John (unm.); Elizabeth (b. 1607); Eleanor = Robt. Sheering; Mary; Ann = Samuel Baker; Frances.
-Alice = Gerard Spencer
-Francis (b. 1581)
-John (b. 1584) = Mary Newman. Children b. Elstow, Beds.: Eleanor 9b. 1616) = William Newman; William (1617-ca 1660) = Eliz. Peck; John (b. 1617 - twin); Judith (b. 1619 = Wm. Edwards; Mary (b. 1622), and Thomas (b. 1624).
-Judith (b. 1591) = Richard Poulter"
2. TAG 127[July 1956]:129-142 "The Whitbread Family of Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England," by Clarence Almon Torrey:
"John(2) Whitbread (Thomas-1), born probably about 1548, was a resident of Upper Gravenhurst as early as 1571, and appears to have been the John Whitbred (as the name is written in the parish register) who was buried 28 Nov 1598. Diligent search has failed to bring to light a will or other probate record and no deeds to or from him have been found.
He married Eleanor (or Ellenor as her name appears in the probate record). She was of Elstow in her nuncupative will (given below) which was probated 18 April 1629, and was probably then living with her youngest son John, who had settled in Elstow. But she was the "widow Whitebread" who was buried at Upper Gravenhurst 20 Nov 1628, probably in the churchyard near her husband's grave.
There is reason to believe that Eleanor was related in some way to a promenet Radcliffe family. On 1 Aug 1611, Sir Edward Radcliffe of Elstow, Knt., for 32 pounds, conveyed to John Radwell of Kempaton, ploughwright, a messuage or tenement in Elstowe, giving a covenant of assurance against Dame Isabel Radcliffe, late of Elstowe, deceased, his mother. And the same date, John Whitbred of Elstow, husbandman,for 20 pounds, gave to John Radwell assurance of quiet enjoyment of the same premises against "Elner Whitbread fo Eluestowe," his mother. (Publications for the Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, 4:22-23)
Sir Edward Radcliffe was son of Sir Humphrey Radcliffe, who died 13 Aug 1566, aged 57, by his wife Isabel Hervey, who died 8 May 1594. Eleanor, a generation younger than Isabel, does not appear on the Radcliffe pedigree in the Visitation of Bedfordshire, 1566. Sir Edward presumably was giving assurance against any incumbrance tha tmight have been placed on the property by his mother Isabel, or perhaps against claims of her creditors or heirs, so the property may have an inheritance from the Hervey family. It has not been learned how Eleanor was related to the Radcliffes or Herveys.
"The last will and testmt, or Ellenor Whitebread last of Elstowe deceased uttered by her in her life time and since her death put into writings as followeth. The said Ellenor Whitebread beinge of pfect memorie did in the prsence of William Whitebread and Henrye Whitebread utter her minds touchings the disposing of her worldlie goods as followeth vizt. Imprimis she gave unto Willia' Whitebread her eldest sonne her silver measure and after his decease to his eldest sonne Henery Whitebread and after his decease to his eldest sonne Willia' for to be a standard for ever unto the heire of the Whitebreads. It' she gave unto Willia' Whitebread her godsoone a silver spoone. It' she gave unti Henery Whitebread her godsonne a silver spoone and unto Ellenor Whitebread her goddaughter his sister a silver spoone and a porridg pot. It' she gave unto Willia' Spencer a silver spoone beinge my godsonne. It' she gave unto Ellenor Whitebread her goddaughter unto John Whitebread a silver spoone & a porridgpot. It' she gave unto Ellenor Chapman her godaughter (sic) a porrigpott if ever she do come for it. It' she gave unto John Whitebread her godsonne a silver spoone. It' she gave unto Thomas Spencere xlvj s. viij d. It' she willed her sonne John Whitebread to pay all her debts and to be her Executor." (No signatures or date) Probate: 18th April to Executor named. (Copy of the Will of Ellenor Whitbred of Elstow 1629, Bedord Archdeaconry Court, 1628/9, No. 122.)
The manner in which Eleanor left her silver measure to be a standard forever to the heir of the Whitbreads suggest that she was a woman of great family pride, even though not of great wealth, and accords with the belief that she may have belonged to a family of a somewhat hight social status than her husband's family was in her generation. Her eldest son William by 1639 styled himself a gentelman, and it is possible that some part of his landed property may have been inherited from his mother.
The recorded marriage of Alice Whitbread in 1600 to Gerard Spencer, the known baptisms of her Spencer children, and the fact that two of them, William and Thomas received legacies in Eleanor's will, one of them being her godson, make it certain that Alice belongs in the family of John and Eleanor Whitbread. Furthermore, William Whitbred and Gerrard Spencer sold to John Whitbread 11 messuages, 1 pigeon house, 11gardens, 11 orchards, 200 acres arable, 200 acres meadow, and 60 acres pasture, in Shillington, Over Gravenest, Nether Gravenest, Flitton, Silsoe, Elstoe, Kempston, and Stotfolde, Easter, 9 James I (1611). (Feet of Fines for Beds. P.R.O., CP. 25 (2) 270.)
In listing the children, we have assumed that the Whitbreads baptized at Upper Gravenhurst between 1571 and 1591 belonged to John and Eleanor. However, the register at that period fails to state the parents of children christened, and the assumption may not be entirely correct, since it is possible that Henry Whitbread (No.4 of the First Line) may have lived in this parish during part of that period. Of the children listed below, William, Henry, Alice and John are considered positively proved as belonging to John. The others seem likely. Judith had not long been married when Eleanor made her will and probably had no children by then to be remembered as godchildren; and the name Judith appears in the family in the next generation (see 5, iv, below.) In additon to those listed, a Thomas buried 6 June 1585 and an Ellen buried 11 June 1585 may have been young children of John.
With the above caution, the children, probably all born in Upper Gravenhurst, were:
i. Elizabeth (3), bapt. 28 Sept. 1571; no further record.
ii. William, b: (say ca. 1573); m. Elizabeth (unknown).
iii. Henry, bapt. 9 Jan 1575/6; m. Elizabeth Leventhorpe
iv. Alice, b. (say ca.1578) m. 10 Nov 1600, Gerard Spencer (supra, 27:84). Four ofher sons came to New England and all left decendants.
v. Francis, bapt. 30 Apr 1581; no further record.
vi. John, bapt. 8 Nov 1584; m. Mary Newman
vii. Judith, bapt. 6 June 1591; m. 23 July 1626, Richard Poulter."
3. The Upper Gravenhurst parish records give two burials that some have speculated could be children of John and Eleanor Whitbread. (See TAG 127[July 1956]:129-142 "The Whitbread Family of Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England," by Clarence Almon Torrey. He notes after listing Elizabeth, William, Henry, Alice, Francis, John, and Judith as children of these parents:
"...a Thomas buried 6 June 1585 and an Ellen buried 11 June 1585 may have been young children of John."
When one analyzes the births of the first six children from 1571 to 1583, there is no good gap to fit in births for these children. There is a gap of about 6 years from John bp. 8 Nov. 1584 and Judith bp. 6 Jun 1591, but the burials for both Thomas and Ellen occur in June of 1585, which means they could not have been born since Nov. 1584. Since there is not a good gap for them otherwise, these two are most likely not children. This is bolstered by the common practice of listing a father's name when children die, which did not occur in these two cases. The possibility remains that they could be children of this couple, but it is very speculative at this point.
4. TAG 127[July 1956]:129-142 "The Whitbread Family of Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England," by Clarence Almon Torrey:
"In the TMG(27.84) it is stated that Gerard Spencer married at Upper Gravenhurst, co., Bedford, England, 10 Nov 1600, Alice Whitebread or Whitbred. They were the parents of the four Spencer Brothers who came to New England. The Spencer ancestry, prepared by the Editor is found in the same magazine, beginning at page 79, Volume 27. It was the present writers's purpose to prepare a similar account of the Whitbread ancestry. The result of the investigation is not entirely satisfactory, as some greatly desired records were not found. It is hoped that other Whitbread descendants will seek additional information in English records. Members of the Whitbread family Gravenhurst, co., Bedford, are mentioned in very early records. The records are fagmentary before 1500. After 1500 records of two branches of the family were found. The first shown Thomas was born, presumably, by 1500, and the second Thomas, it is believed, about 1522. Circumstancial evidence indicates that these men were closely related, but how related is left ofr subsequent research of others to determine, if indeed records exist to make positive conclusions possible.
The Second Thomas Whitbread Line:
1. Thomas Whitbread is supposed to have been born about 1522; married, presumably about 1546, a wfie whose name has not been found. They may have serveral children, but the name of only one child is known. Death dates of Thomas and his wife cannot be stated. He may perhaps be the Thomas buried at Upper Gravenhurst 6 June 1585, though this record may refer to a young child of his son John.
No record has been found of this Thomas, who heads the second line, during his lifetime. The authority for his existence is a land transaction in 1639, many years after his death. This important record is as follows:
Conveyance of Wm. Whitbred of Ion alias Ine, Upper Gravenhurst, gent; Henry Whitbread of the same, get (son and heir apparent of Wm.)and Elizabeth his wife; Wm. Carter of Offley, Herts, gent; and John Shepard of Upper Gravenhurst, yeoman; to Wm. Aleyn, citizen & grocer, of London; for 2,200 pounds paid to Wm. and Henry Whitebred; with convenat to levy a fine. A capital house or manor house in the tenure of Wm. and Hen.Whitbred; 4 cottages in Upper Gravenhurst (names of occupants are given). Covenant as to "tytles troubles charges incumbrances and demands whatsoever heretofore donne or wittingly suffered by them the said Wm. Whitbred and Hen. Whitbred or either of them or by John Whitbred deceased father of the sd. Wm. Whitbred or by Thomas Whitbread his deceased grandfather." 8 October 1639. (Whitbread Collection at Bedford Record Office, particulars supplied by Anthony R. Wagner, Richmond Herald.) From this record we learn that Thomas was father of John, who was father of William, who was father of Henry. That this Thomas was a near relative of the older Thomas who heads the First Line, seems ceretain, but it is idle to speculate in the absence of records whether he was a son, nephew or other connection.
Child: 2 - John (2), b. say ca. 1548; m. Eleanor _____."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1548 - 1598 (50 years)
