| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. Anthony Eames emigrated from his home in England to the New World in 1634. His life in New England is well known and documented. Before his emigration he was a yeoman living in Fordington, Dorset. He was the father of seven children, five of whom are known to have been baptised at the parish church of St George. In 1630, he was appointed as one of two constables for the Manor of Fordington.12 He was one of the parish churchwardens in 1622, 1628 and 1632.3 As is frequently the case, almost nothing is known about the family origins of his wife although her Christian name has been established as Margery. In 1635, following her emigration her name was recorded in an admission register to the Charlestown Church.4 Earlier, in England, in 1620, a Margery Eames, kinswoman, received a bequest in the will of Roger Kete of Fordington.5 Beyond this there has been little previous research into her origins. Torrey suggested that her maiden name may have been Pierce or Prisse but presented no evidence for this attribution. In his work on New England marriages, her name is marked with a question mark but nevertheless, the surname has been widely adopted and appears in many family trees. 6 7 Anderson el al state simply that her surname is unknown. They suggest that since neither the couple’s marriage, nor the baptism of their eldest child is to be found in the parish register of St George, Fordington, that Margery may have come from elsewhere.8 This investigation started from the hypothesis that Margery came from Fordington and that as a kinswoman to Roger Kete, she was likely to share a relationship with both Roger Kete and some of the other beneficiaries of his will. Roger Kete’s probable relationship to Margery Eames, has been pieced together 1 Robert Charles Anderson, Sanborn Jr, and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, vol. 11, The Great Migration (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001). 2 Dorset History Centre, Dorchester, England. Quarter Sessions Order Books’ (1637 1625), QSM 1/1,7b. 3 Richard Grosvenor Bartelot, The History of Fordington; a British Battleground, a Roman Suburb, a Royal Manor and a Prebendal Church (Dorchester, England: Henry Ling, 1915), 170– 71. 4 William I Buddlington, ‘Catalogue of Admissions to Full Communion’, in History of the First Church of Charlestown (Boston, 1845), 247. 5 ‘The National Archives, Kew, England. 'Will of Roger Kete or Keete, Gentleman of Fordington', Dorset Prob11/136/90’ 5 July 1620. 6 Clarence A Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Baltimore, USA: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2004). 7 See for example :Isabella Mary Preston, Bassett-Preston Ancestors: A History of the Ancestors in America (Connecticut, USA, 1930), 269. 8 Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, 11 p 392 |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. from several records including a manorial survey, a chancery suit and a tuition bond. These records strongly suggest that Margery Eames was before her marriage a Margery Seager and that she was the niece and the ward of Roger Kete, growing up within his household. Roger Kete, was an attorney and the Town Clerk of the nearby borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis . He lived in Fordington. His sisters, Alice and Florence married Seager brothers. Using evidence from locally probated wills, this paper will also show, that the Eames and Seager families’ lives were further intertwined with Margerie’s cousin, Luce Seager marrying Anthony Eame’s eldest brother John. Further research is needed into the origins of Roger Kete and his sisters. The Fordington Parish Registers The suggestion that the Anthony Eames marriage may have occurred elsewhere since the marriage is not to be found in the Fordington registers is misleading as there are no surviving Fordington parish registers for this early period. The first extant register for St George, Fordington does not start until 1705. What do survive are some fragmentary Bishop’s transcripts dating from 1577. Bishop’s transcripts were copies of the original register and were sent annually to the ecclesiastical authorities. In much of Dorset, including the parishes in neighbouring Dorchester these copies were not required until the 18th Century. Fordington however, came under the auspices of the Bishop of Salisbury and this diocese required them from much earlier. 9 Mark Herber, Ancestral Trails, revised paperback (Great Britain: Society of Genealogists, 2005), 128. 10 The poor condition of these Transcripts means that they are only available to view on microfilm. A copy of this film held by the Dorset History Centre was used for this paper. This film originally came from the Wiltshire Record Office . A copy of the film is also available at the LDS library in Salt Lake City (Film 1279496) marriages also found in Phillimore Dorset Parish Registers, Volume 4 |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. couple’s earlier children occurred during those periods for which we have no copy of the register. The Will of Roger Kete Roger Kete’s will, written on the 15th March 1619, has long been cited as proof that Anthony Eame’s wife was named Margery but the information in the rest of the will seems to have been neglected. The will not only identifies her name but the fact that she was a kinswoman of the testator. There were other kinswomen but no wife or children and no relatives named Kete. Roger Kete styled himself as a gentleman of Fordington. It is quite apparent that he was a relatively well-off member of society, he left feather beds, rugs, coffers and even ‘a greate wine chest’. He carefully divided all his household belongings between the legatees. His bequests, other than to the parish were as follows : To his kinswoman Millicent Turner, the wife of William Turner, a cupboard and £5 To his kinswoman Lucy Seager, daughter of John Seager, a feather bed, bolster, pillows, rug, sheets, blankets, cupboard, pots, desks, coffer. She was also to receive the proceeds of a bond owned to Kete by John Winsor and £10 To Roger Turner, son of Millicent, a house and grounds, Fordington for the period that the lease still had to run. He also received, a bed, bolster, Arras, desk,rug, sheets, pans and crocks together with £5. To his kinswoman Margery Emes, the wife of Anthony Eames, 40 shillings, the best pewter charger, a standing bedstead, a yarn covelet. To Margery’s son Mark, 40 shillings, an underbead, feather bolster. To godson, Thomas Eames, the son of John Eames, 10 shillings. To godson Roger Turner, 10 shillings (to unnamed godchildren 2s 6d each) To Henry Howman the elder, a bason and ewer, brass candlesticks, a chest. To Alice Clark wife of William Clarke, a featherbed, kettle crock. To kinswoman, Virtue, the wife of Henry Howman, a green dish, a sheet of (network?) and 5 marks [a mark was worth 13s 4d]. To all the children of his kinswoman Millicent Turner, Henry Howman and Anthony Eames £4 each to be received at 21 years of age To Henry Howman the elder, money due from a bond towards the payment of the fine payable following Henry’s purchase from Roger of two copyhold tenements. Henry Howman also received a brass pan and crock. To Alice Howman, daughter of Henry, a featherbed, bolster, 40s in money and Roger’s interest in a tenanted burgage in Dorchester To Henry Garrett and his wife, 40s a year towards their maintenance, from the rents of a burgage in All Saints, Dorchester. To Luce and Judith, daughters of Richard Seager, 20 shillings each. To Humfrey Jollife, a greate wyne chest. To William Sperring, a plate trunk chest. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. These latter two gentlemen were made executors and asked to divide the rest of Roger’s possessions between his kinswomen, Luce Seager, Virtue Howman, Margery Eames and Millicent Turner, the bequest to Millicent was to go towards the better education of her son, Roger. An additional codicil was added in April 1620. Henry Howman, Anthony Eames and Robert Seagar were made advisors and each received 20 shillings. To Henry Howman the younger 4 silver spoons with knops To Ann Segar one plain spoon To Roger Turner two spoons with small knops To Henry Howman the elder, tableboards, cupboards, two ceilings. Probate was granted on the 5th July 1620.11 The four women who received his residual estate, were each referred to by Roger Kete as his kinswomen. Three of these women were married; Virtue Howman, the wife of Henry Howman, Margery Eames, the wife of Anthony Eames and Millicent Turner, the wife of William Turner. The fourth woman Luce Seager was unmarried and was the daughter of John Seager. Unfortunately, the marriages of Henry Howman and Millicent Turner, are not to be found in the surviving Fordington BTs nor is the baptism of Luce Seager. However, the Bishop’s transcript for Fordington records the marriage of a John Seager (Zeagar) followed in the same year by the baptism of John Seager’s daughter. 1578, John Zeager & Alice Keate married 7 Julie 1578, Mellisaunte Zeager, the daughter of John was cristened.12 13 The first entry identifies a link between the Seagers and a member of the Kete family. The second identifies a second daughter of John Zeager(Seager) a Mellisaunte suggesting that Luce Seager was also a sister of Mellisaunte. Was this the Millicent, wife of William Turner? The 1607 Manorial Survey of Fordington As part of the estates of the Duchy of Cornwall, the manor was Crown property held either by the reigning Sovereign or by the Prince of Wales. Regular surveys 11 The National Archives, Kew, England. Will of Roger Kete or Keete, Gentleman of Fordington, Dorset Prob11/136/90’. Perogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions; Will Registers, 5 July 1620. Prob11/136/90. 12 R. Grosvenor Rev. Bartelot, ‘Extracts Taken from the Bishop’s Transcripts for St George Fordington’, in Dorchester Parish Registers: Marriages (W Phillimore & Edmund Nevill, 1909). 13 Michael Russell, ‘Baptisms St George Fordington 1577-1599, Transcribed from the Bishop’s Transcripts (LDS Film 1279496)’, accessed 24 June 2019, http://www.opcdorset.org/fordingtondorset/Files/FordingtonBaptisms1577-1599.html. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. were conducted into the conduct of the Manor, its rental income and its tenants. The Survey of 1607 includes a list of 28 jurors, all customary tenants of the Manor holding copyhold tenancies. This list was headed by two ‘gents’ one being Roger Kete. Other tenants include a Richard Seagar and Thomas Eams (spelling as original) The survey describes each tenant’s holding, relating its size and the name of the previous tenant. The entries are written in a formulaic fashion. 14 15 Richard Seagar now tenant for life according to the custom of a halfplace in London Street aforesaid within the West tything wherein there belongeth 27 acres and half in the Common field one acre and half of meadow share and yo (0) and half of an acre of pasture the yearly rent whereof is 16s. Luce Segar deceased the widow and relict of Roger Seager his father deceased last tenant. A second entry for Richard showed him to also be tenant of a Farthinghold, of 18 acres in London Street at a rent of 12s, once again Luce Segar, widow of Roger Seager was the previous tenant. Roger Kete Gent held a farthinghold, the previous tenant was his father Roger Kete. 14 Dorset History Centre, D RGB/LL/737, Richard Grosvenor Bartelot, Transcript, Survey of the Manor of Fordington Taken 7 August 1607 Copied from the Original Survey (TNA LR2/207) , 1913 . A tabulated and summarised copy of the survey is to be found in Bartelot ‘History of Fordington’pp 211-18 (1915) 15 Customary tenants held their land by ‘copy’ named because one copy of the agreement would be held with the manor records, the other half was kept with the manorial court records. A copyholder held a tenancy for two or three named lives. When one of the named lives died, an application to the manor court was made for another life to be entered. This was granted on payment of a fine. The manor also received a small rental. By 1607 rents had replaced the earlier obligations to provide labour or produce to the Lord of the Manor. These obligations were still in effect in some nearby manors in the 1580s. Copyholds were thought to be a secure form of tenure and could be sold or rented to others. Nevertheless the system of tenure was governed not by the law of the land but according to the customs of the manor. This was a common form of tenancy in Dorset and other parts of the South West at the time. Fordington Manor continued to be unenclosed until the last quarter of the 19th century. A halfplace tenancy in the Manor of Fordington was approximately 20-25 acres, a farthinghold 13-15 acres, whole place 55-60 acres. These holdings were not one tract of land but distributed over the unenclosed Fordington Great Field. Much of the farming was done in common, with for example a shepherd and a haywain being employed by the manor. Each holding would allow the pasturage of a number of sheep together with a cow or two and a small number of plough horses. (in later years, it is known that a whole place allowed pasturage for 120 sheep, halfplace and farthingholds allowing proportionately lower numbers) Cotes appear to have been very narrow strips of land (a goad is a Cornish linear measurement) Moule H J Notes on the Manor of Fordington Proceedings of the Dorset History and Antiquarian Field Club Volume XIII, 1892, pp 152 to 162 |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. with the Answer from Roger Keate(Kete) provide details of the intertwined relationship between the two men and that Kete became the legal guardian of six orphaned children. These orphans were both Richard Seagar’s and Roger Keate’s nephews and nieces. Keate took full responsibility for them, bringing them up within his household. As the records are not easily consulted, fairly lengthy transcripts from them have been included.17 The suit concerns the two copyhold tenancies, a ‘Halfplace’ and a ‘Farthinghold’ in Fordington. The appeal was to the Crown as Lord of the Manor. Richard Seagar describing himself as a husbandman sought to persuade the Court that he had been defrauded by his brother in law, Roger Keate (Kete), a clever lawyer. Roger Seagar ye Orators father was seized in his demesne as a freehold by coppie of Court Roll for term of his life according to the custom of the same mannor of land and in two of the customary tenements of the same mannor the one known better by the name Halfe Place and the other a farthinghold and being due possessed dyed thereof seized as tenant for life according to the custom of the mannor. After whose death Luce Seagar wife of the said Roger Seagar entered into the said two tenements and enjoyed the same by the custom of the said manor and enjoyed the same during her life who died a widow about six and twenty years since. And after the decease of the said Luce Seagar your Orator being one of the sons of the said Roger Seagar and Luce was desirous to compound and agree with the then stewards of the same manor for a new estate for himself of and in the said two tenements and for obtain thereof ye said orator desired one Roger Keate of Fordington aforesaid gentleman and attorney at Law and a solicitor of [illegible] and being likewise brother in law to yr said Orator by your Orators marriage with the said Roger Keates sister to solicit for your Orator the then Steward of the same manor and to promise the same tenements to be granted to your Orator for term of his life by copie of court according to the custom of the same manor. Richard’s complaint was that Roger had induced him to give up the profits on the Halfplace in payment for his services And ye oratour shortlie after that repaye to the said Roger Keate all such moneys as he had disbursed out of his purse for procuring of the same grante And because the said Roger Keate did then p’tend that he had taken more paynes in procuring of the same grante therefore ye orator was contented by his agreement between him and the said Roger Keate to p’mitt the said Roger Kete to receave and take the rents yssues and profitts of the best of the said two tenements called the halfe place untill he should be fullie satisfied to his owne content [ ]payment in soliciting the businesse as aforesaid And Accordinglie the said Roger Keate did then w’ch is about five and twenty yeares since enter[ ] into the said tenement called the half place and took the yssues and profitts. And ye oratour shortlie after that repayed to the said Roger Keate all such moneys as he had disbursed out of his purse for procuring of the same grante And because the said Roger Keate did then p’tend that he had taken more paynes in procuring of the same grante therefore ye orator 17 The National Archives, Kew, England. 'Richard Seagar v Roger Kete, Tenements Held of the Manor of Fordington, Dorset' C2/Jas1/S10/36 (1603-1625). |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. was contented by his agreement between him and the said Roger Keate to p’mitt the said Roger Kete to receave and take the rents yssues and profitts of the best of the said two tenements called the halfe place untill he should be fullie satisfied to his owne content [ ]payment in soliciting the businesse as aforesaud And Accordinglie the said Roger Keate did then w’ch is about five and twenty yeares since enter into the said tenement called the half place and took the yssues and profitts Richard claimed he had been persuaded to sign bonds which he did not understand and that these declared that his son Robert would receive the reversion of the tenancy of the Half place because he was the son of Roger Kete’s sister but that the reversion of the tenancy of the Farthinghold would go to the daughter of John and Alice Seager. Alice was another of Roger Kete’s sisters.. the reve’con of the tenement called the half place to be granted to Robert Seager your orators sonne beinge a sone likewise of the said Roger Keates sister ye orators wife And likewise the said Keat procured the rev’con of the said tenenement called the fathinghold to be granted to the daughter of Alice Seager another of the saide Roger Keats sisters and late wife of John Seagar deceased ye orators brother When he broached the subject, wanting to regain the profits from the half place Roger Keate told him that everything was to be for the greater good of his children. soothing your Orator with fayre speeches and p’mises desired ye oratour to p’mitt hym the said Roger Keate to continue the enioyment of the p’misses as alwayes protesting that whatever he had or gayned he wanted in the ende to bestowe ytt on ye orators children and that they should receive from the said Roger Keate a far greater benefitt and prefement than the p’fitte of the same tenement would amount unto soothing your Orator with fayre speeches and p’mises desired ye oratotir to p’mitt hym the said Roger Keate to continue the enioyment of the p’misses as alwayes protesting that whatever he had or gayned he wanted in the the ende bestowe ytt on ye orators children and that they should receive from the said Roger Keate a far greater benefitt and prefement than the p’fitte of the same tenement would amount unto After more than 25 years, of similar rebuffs, Richard claimed that he appealed once again to Roger who explained to him that the bonds allowed Roger to take the profits of both the half place and the farthinghold for the term of Roger’s life. However, Richard had been allowed to continue to keep the farthinghold. Following an altercation between the two men, Roger Kete proved his point. He presented the bonds to the manor court where it appears they were upheld. Richard, stated that he feared he would not only not regain occupancy of the halfplace but that he might lose his home or be arrested for failing to fulfil the terms of the £200 bond. He appealed to the equity court accusing Roger Kete of deception. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. Richard’s complaint certainly gives the impression of a crafty lawyer gaining advantage over his less well educated brother in law. From a genealogical perspective it provides more detail of the familial relationships between the two men. Roger Kete was not only the brother of Richard’s wife Florence, he was also the brother of Alice, the wife of John Seager. Roger Kete’s answer fills in many more details, and his answer provides a different picture. Whereas Richard Seagar emphasised his lack of education, Roger Kete emphasised his age and the length of time since the events. this defendant cannnot call to his remembrance beinge soe longe agoe and this defendant growen in such olde age as he is to the number of three score and tenne yeres or upwards Nevertheless he provides the reader with some dates and several of these can be verified from the Bishop’s transcripts. His opening statements agree with his opponents; the said Roger Seagar the complaynantes father named in the said bill was in his sayde lyfe seyzed by coppie for terme of his lief according to the custom of the saide manor of F’ in the said two tent’s named a half place & a farthinghold & dyed thereof soe seized nere aboute fortye yeares as this defent taketh yt18 The tenancy went then to Luce during her widowhood Thereupon, the said John Seagar the seconde son of the said Roger Seagar deceased maryed wth Alice Kete one of this defend’ts sisters [ B T, marriage 7 July 1578]19 after wch marriage about the two and twentieth yere of the late Queen Elizabeth [1579] the said Luce surrendred her estate of the saide two tent’s & took the same again for herself & to the saide John Seagar her second son & Ralfe Seagar her youngest sonne as this defend’t hath byn informed… … afterward the saide Luce Seagar aboute the foure & thirtieth yere of the late Queene Elizabeth [1591] for the love that shee have to the said John her sonne & for the better sustenatac’on of his children did graunt and lett the saide two tent’s one calle a halfe place & the other a farthing holde unto the saide John until the feast of St Michael Th’archangel then next followinge & from thence for the from yere to yere for & duringe so manye yeres as the said Luce shoulde happen to lyve [ ] under a certeyne yerelie rente & the said Luce her diet & devised covenant & agr’ment betwene them agreed on as by a writinge indented thereof made betwene them w’ch this defen’t hath seene apppereth & that after that both the saide Alice wyfe of the saide John & the saide John also dyed and left six small children behinde them fatherless & motherless and aboute a quarter of a yere after that the said Luce Seagar as this defend’t hath byn informed dyed [buried 18 Fordington Bishop’s Transcript, 1577, Roger Zeager an aged man was buried the xiiijth daie of August A’o D’m 19 Fordington Bishop’s Transcript 1578 John Zeager & Alice Keate married 7 Julie |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. 20 September 1592 Fordington BT] after whose decease the saide Ralfe Seagar entred into the saide tent’s and held the same by the space of a yeare or two as this defend’t thinketh… Here we come to the core issues. Firstly, Luce may have ignored the custom of the manor in overlooking her elder son Richard when taking out the new copy. Secondly, John and Alice Seagar died leaving six orphan children for their relatives to care for. …And there was an agreement betwene the said Ralfe and this defenden’t that the saide Ralfe shoulde purchase the saide tent’s unto two of the saide Johns children for terme of there Lyves and thereuppon the saide Ralfe became bounde to this defend’t in the sume of two hundred pounds by his hande bearing date the seventh daye of June in the yere of the reigne of our sovereigne Ladie Elizabeth the fyve and thirtieth [1592] w’th condic’on to this effect that the saide Ralfe should att his owne coste and charge procure and obteyne accordinge to the custom of the said manor of Fordington all those two customarye tent’s w’th there app’tenancs the one called A halfe place th’other a farthingholde unto Roger Seagar & Margaret Seagar sonne & Daughter of the saide John deceased brother of the saide Ralfe for terme of the lyves of the saide Roger & Margaret successively in Remaynder after the saide Ralfe & upon surrender of the saide Ralfe in the forme of lawe accordinge to the custome Yf the saide Ralfe shoulde halve noe childe of his owne lawfully begotten After Ralfe took over the tenancy, his brother Richard sought to have this right overruled. He asked Roger to prosecute the case in the Manorial court . A civil court had ruled that Ralfe had the right to the tenancy provided it did not contravene the customs of the Manor. According to Roger Kete, who had already made an agreement with Ralfe concerning the children, he agreed to undertake the prosecution on strict conditions concerning welfare of John and Alice’s children. yf the saide tent’s should be recovered for the said complt that hee the sayd defend’t should enioy the saide tent’s & take the yerely p’ffitt thereof or dispose of the same att his will & pleasure duringe his lyfe or to such lyke in effect in good and true meanynge in regarde & for & towards the Better educac’on & sustenac’on and bringing up of the sixe fatherless & motherless children of the saide John Seagar and Alice his wyfe deceassed the saide children beinge also the brothers children of the saide compl’t as they were the systers children of this defend’t Wherupon the saide compl’t assented & [illegible ] desyringe onlye to have one of the saide tents called the halfe place after this defend’ts decease… … And that in the meane season this defendt woulde be so good as to bringe upp the saide children also for yf the saide complt had not yelded unto this defendt that this defend’t shoulde have the saide tenement as aforesaide he this defendant knowinge the suyt & trouble about the same woulde belonge tedious & chargeable Roger’s answer goes on to state that the bond was made covering the two tenancies. Roger also, perhaps to avoid a lengthy dispute agreed to pay a annuity of 53s per annum plus ‘his diet’ to youngest son Ralfe . The suit was won in the Manor Court. Richard gained the nominal tenancy of the two tenements, whilst Roger then took over complete responsibility for John and Alice Seager’s six children. However, Roger had a bond allowing him to take the profits of both tenancies, though he claimed to only take the profits on the larger tenement. Richard continued to occupy the Farthinghold. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. And thereupon this defend’t took upon hym also the educac’on and bringing up of the six fatherless children aforesaid wch this defend’t derely beloveth That this defend’t was hindred w’ch cost [illegible] the value of fyve hundred pounds att least by means he this defend’t in a manor was constryned to keepe by the space of xiiij or xv yeares as he nowe remembreth a greate household to his charge w’ch otherwyse he beinge a single man withoute wyfe might have lived without anye such charge & saved much money in housekeeping & wch he was by such housekeeping enforced to expand besides w’ch this defend’t was intent that the said compl’t uppon his request shoulde have the said Farthinghold for the better sustanac’on & maytenance of himself his wyfe and children whatever sayeth beninge as this defend’t taketh ytt worth eight pounds p’ ann or better The last part of the answer adds no more genealogical information. Roger states that the matter is now closed because through various measures which he deemed, corrupt, Robert the son of Richard had in fact obtained the tenancy and income of the Halfplace. This outline of this somewhat complicated equity case has sought to emphasise the genealogical relationships. Roger and Luce Seager were the parents of Richard, John and Ralfe Seager. Florence and Alice were sisters of Roger Kete. Richard Seagar was married to Florence Kete, the couple had a son named Robert and they had other children20 . John Seager was the husband of Alice Kete. This couple had six children between their marriage in 1578 and their death in about 1592. After their death Roger Kete took responsibility for the children taking them into his household taking sureties from Richard Seagar to provide money for their upkeep Unfortunately, the suit, names only two of the children; Roger and Margaret Seager. There was no Margaret Seager or Roger Seager mentioned in Roger Kete’s will. Two daughters of Richard Seager, Luce and Judith received small bequests of 20s apiece and a Robert Seagar was appointed one of the overseers. Tuition Bond The missing names of the orphaned Seagar children are fortunately recorded in a damaged tuition bond. The date ascribed by the Wiltshire Archives is 1593. 21 20 Florence’s name appears in the Manorial Survey of 1607. Her death is recorded in the Bishop’s transcript 1622, Florence the wyfe of Richard Seagar was buried. 21 ‘Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, Tuition Bond, Probably Fordington, Children Virtue, Millicent, Margaret, Roger, Margery and Luce Segar P5/1593/70’ (1593) |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. This bond comprises a strip of parchment written on both faces, one face in Latin, the other English. Unfortunately the left hand side of each face is now almost completely illegible and only partial lines can be read.22 What is clear however is that one bondsman was Roger Keate, the younger of Fordington. The other signatory appears to be William Bun. The children for whom the tuition bond applied were Millicent Segar, Virtue Segar, Margaret Segar, Roger Segar, Margerie Segar and Luce Segar. Their father, is referred to as the ‘said deceased’ unfortunately the name is missing but these are surely the children of John Seager. Roger Keate took responsibility for bringing the six children up, or causing them to be brought up, and for the costs of their “foode, lodging & apparell” This tuition bond provides the link between the married kinswomen of Roger Kete’s will and his wards. Roger Kete was uncle to Virtue Segar, Margery Segar, Millicent Segar and Luce Segar and took responsibilty for them after their parents’ early death. Although an unmarried man with no children of his own, they had lived within his household for 14 or 15 years. The four kinswomen, the major beneficiaries of Roger Kete were Virtue Howman, Margery Eames, Millicent Turner and Luce Segar. It has already been shown that Mellisaunt and Luce were daughters of a John Seager. It cannot be a coincidence that Margery Eames and Virtue Turner also bear the same Christian names as Roger Kete’s nieces , his wards. One niece, Margaret and the nephew Roger are unaccounted for, it is very possible that either or both had died in the years between the bond and their uncle’s will. William Bunn, the other Bondsman? A William Bunn appears to have been the second man signing the tuition bond, although he did not appear to take the same personal responsibility for the upbringing of the Seager children. A relationship beween the Bunn and Seager families is shown in two wills. In his will of 1567, Richard Bunn wrote Item I do forgive to my Uncle Roger Zegar xvvs of the dett wch he oweth me 22 See Appendix for transcript of legible portion |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. Roger Zeygar was made executor of the will, his wife Lucye Zeygar was one of the witnesses. 23 The will of a William Boonne (Bunn) written in 1580 also refers to Roger Seagar as an Uncle but by then Roger was deceased. It refers to a will. Regrettably this has not been found. Item whereas I receyved fyve poundes of my foresayde syster Margarett given unto her by the last will and testament of my Uncle Roger Zegar deceased my will is that my foresayde syster shall have dylvered unto her in full payment of the foresayde fyve poundes twenty shepe ten yewes and lambes and ten weather shepe and one aker of wheat An overseer of this will was Thomas Eames. The witnesses included Richard Zeagar, R’gr Keate and Thomas Eames.24 These entries raise the possibility that Lucy Seagar (wife of Roger Seagar, father of Richard, John and Agnes & Ralph) may have been from the Bunn family. Richard Seager and his son Robert The wills of Richard Seager and his son Robert show further connections between the Bunn, Seager and Eames families. Richard Seager who died in 1626 made bequests to Thomas, Jone and Ruth the children of John Eames and to the children of Nicholas Ingram 25 26 He made bequests to Roger Seagar, the son of Robert Seager and to his daughters, Luce Eames and Judith Seager. Richard also mentions a sister Agnes Combe. It would appear that his daughter Luce, who was made executrix, had married John, the eldest son of Thomas Eames I doe nominate and appoynt Luce the wife of John Eames of Fordington''' to be executrix of this my last will and testament. His son Robert and son in law Nicholas Ingram were made overseers 23 ‘Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Will of Richard Bunn 1567 P5/2Reg/16B’ (May 1567). 24 ‘Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Will of William Boonne William Bunn, 1580 -1 P5/4Reg/28C’ (13 January 1580). 25 Bishop’s Transcript 1625, Dec 24 Richard Seager was buried 26 Bishop’s Transcript 1619 Nicholas Ingram & Edith Seagar married 22 January |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. The inventory of Richard’s belongings was ‘praised’ by William Bunn and Anthony Eames. 27 When Richard Seager’s son Robert wrote his will in 1658, this was witnessed by William Bunn and Jonathan Eames (Jonathan was the son of John and Lucy Eames)28 29 The will of Henry Howman, husband of Virtue, records a tenement in Weymouth left for their use, after the death of Roger Kete and afterwards for the use of their heirs. This mentions a Thomas Kete, perhaps another of Roger’s relatives. ‘Whereas Roger Kete gent, late of Fordington aforesaid deceased did by his deed indented bearing date the thirteenth day of March in the yeare of Kinge James of England etc the seaventeeth and of Scottland the three and fiftieth for the consider’cons therein men’cond covenant promise and agree to & with Thomas Kete, Humfrey Joliffe gent & William Speringe gent that the said Roger Kete & his heires immediately from & after there sealinge & deliverie of the said deed would stande be seized and be seized of andin the lands tent’s & hereditanm’ts w’th happurtenc[es] that is to say of all these messuages, Burgages houses, buildings, curtellages backsides grounds lands tent’s & hereditam’ts wth their appurtences whatsoever situate lyeing & being in Weymouth within the p’sh of Wyke Regis in the said countie of Dorset on the South side of the High Streete of Waymouth aforesaid […] to the use of the said Roger Kete for terme of his life without impeachm’t of wast And after his decease the remainder thereof to the use of the said Henery Howman and Vertue his wife & of their heires & assignes[…] I give and bequeath unto Henry Howman the younger my sonne[…]’ His wife Virtue was named executrix and Willam Speringe and Henry’s Kinsman Robert Segar were named as overseers. A witness to this will was Mrs Mellisant Turner. 30 31 27 ‘Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, Will and Inventory of Richard Seager of Fordington P5/10Reg/198 and P5/126/44’ (Probate records of the Court of the Dean of Salisbury, 3 May 1626), P5/10Reg/198 and P5/126/44. 28 ‘National Archives, Kew, England. Will of Robert Seager, Husbandman of Fordington, Dorset 1658-9 PROB 11/286/601’ (15 February 1658). 29 'Wiltshire and Swindon Archives Administration and Inventory of John Eames, Fordington P5/1662//39' Administration was granted to Johnathon Emes, natural and lawful son of John Emes deceased. His inventory was appraised by an Edward Eames & Henry Holman, Nov.17 1662 30 'Wiltshire and Swindon Archives. Will and Inventory of Howman, Henry, Senior, Fordington, Dorset P5/14Reg/27B and P5/1641/41’ (Probate records of the Court of the Dean of Salisbury, 4 November 1641), P5/14Reg/27B and P5/1641/41. 31 Henry Howman may have been the son of John Howman, who died before 1588. He was the heir of his grandfather, also a Henry. Henry Howman(snr) from Portland, Dorset died in 1588. [Note:- Link to transcription of his will] He left his overseers to sell and distribute his residual estate between his grandchildren, Henry, Alice and Suzan Howman , children of John Howman deceased and Thomas Cotton, daughter of Henry’s daughter Alice. Henry Howman (jnr) was made sole executor but was a minor. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. These strands of evidence taken together firmly harness this group of Fordington tenant farmers together. The Seagar family was very much part of this community. Roger Kete Less clear are the origins of Roger and his sisters Alice and Florence. Roger’s father was also a Roger, he held a customary tenancy but there are no other Kete’s in Fordington. Moreover Roger Kete was a professional man, rather than a farmer. Roger Keate of Fordington was an attorney and the town clerk of the borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. His career there is well documented in the town records. The records of the borough tell of a man who conducted much of the town’s business travelling around the County and often to London. In 1587, the records show him to have been involved in a disagreement with the Mayor and he was accused of bribery. He was possibly out of office, when in that year, he was admitted to the Middle Temple ‘Roger Keate. Son and heir of ---K., of Fordington. Dorset, gent, specially; no fine at the Treasurer’s wish’ . He appears to have returned to his employment in Weymouth as his expenses as Town Clerk are listed for the year 1607.32 As an attorney he also appeared at the court of common pleas with a clientele mostly from Dorset.33 A fellow local attorney was Humphrey Joliffe to whom he bequeathed his wine chest. Roger was no puritan in this regard, in July 1615, Roger Keyte, gent and Henry Holman [Howman?] of Fordington were bound over to the next sessions ‘for being drunk and abusing the constables and watchmen. 34 In his place, Roger Kete, a friend of the testator and an overseer was granted probate. National Archives, Kew England Prob 11.73/125 Will of Henry Howman 32 Moule, Henry Joseph Descriptive catalogue of the charters, minute books and other documents of the borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis : A.D. 1252 to 1800 : with extracts and some notes pub Weymouth and Portland (England) 33 Robert C Palmer,‘Attorneys of Early Modern England and Wales, Attorney List 1607’, n.d., http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Attorneys/attpages/FullAttorneyList1607.html. 34 The Casebook of Sir Francis Ashley JP Recorder of Dorchester 1614-1615, ed. J H Bettey (Dorset Record Society, 1981), 11. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. Evidence for his career is strong; for his origins, there is no such certainty. There are some indications that he was a member of the armigerous Kete family of Cheselborne.35 A Roger Kete was made one of the overseers of the PCC will of Hugh Kete of Cheselborne in 1590 …Roger Kete the younger my kynnesman and to my cosen Roger Kete for his paynes taken and to be taken I give and bequeathe the somme of tenne pounds 36 This was an extremely wealthy family, Hugh Kete’s Manor of Upway (Upway is half way between Weymouth and Fordington) was disposed of after his death for over £1000. Roger Keate signed as one of the trustees.37 Further evidence that Roger Kete was related to this family comes from a deed of covenant signed to grant a property in Wyke Regis to Henry Howman and his wife Virtue. This was the property mentioned in Henry Howman’s will. The deed was signed by Roger Kete, gent., of Fordington and Thomas Kete, gent., of Cheselbourne.38 According to the Visitation of Dorset, 1623, a Thomas Kete of Cheselbourne was the son of Edward Kete and was living in 1623. The inquisition post mortem of a Thomas Kete of Cheselbourne was held in 1639.39 More research may yet identify the exact connection between Roger Kete and the Cheselborne family 35 Henry St George and Lennard Samson, The Visitation of the County of Dorset, Taken in the Year 1623 eds Paul J Rylands, Frederic Thomas Colby (London, 1885), 61. 36 ‘The National Archives, Kew, England, Will of Huge Kete or Keete of Cheselbourne, Dorset 1589-90 PROB 11/75/161’ (20 February 1589). 37 Dorset History Centre, D Goo.285 4 'Upwey. Indenture between 1) Gabriel White and Stephen White of Charford, County of Southampton, Esquires, to 2) William Keate, Son and Heir of Hugh Keate, Gent, Dec’d, Mary Keate (Sole Executrix of Hugh Keate) and Thomas Jessop, Doctor of Physick, Walter Grove, Gent, and Roger Keate, Gent (Trustees of Hugh Keate’s Last Will) for the Manor or Lordship of Upwey Als Waybayhouse for the Sum of £1,010.’, 16 April 1590. 38 ‘Dorset History Centre, D 174/T/5 Deeds Wyke Regis. Covenant to Grant Property on South Side of the High Street. Parties Concerned: RogRer Kete, Gent., of Fordington, Thomas Kete, Gent., of Cheselbourne, Humferie Jolleiffe, Gent., of Dorchester, William Speringe, Gent., of Dorchester, Henry Howman, Yeoman of Fordington, and Vertue His Wife. (With Counterpart)’ (1620). 39 ‘Dorset History Centre, D Ash, Andrews, Son and Huxtable Solicitors, Dorchester, D Ash/A/E/2 Inquisition Post Mortem on Thos.Keate,Gent,Far, and Lands in Cheselbourne’ (1639). |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com William Speringe, Gent., of Dorchester, Henry Howman, Yeoman of Fordington, and Vertue His Wife. (With Counterpart)’, 1620. Dorset History Centre, D Ash, Andrews, Son and Huxtable Solicitors, Dorchester, D Ash/A/E/2 Inquisition Post Mortem on Thos.Keate,Gent,Far, and Lands in Cheselbourne’, 1639. Dorset History Centre, D Goo.285 4 Title Upwey. Indenture between 1) Gabriel White and Stephen White of Charford, County of Southampton, Esquires, to 2) William Keate, Son and Heir of Hugh Keate, Gent, Dec’d, Mary Keate (Sole Executrix of Hugh Keate) and Thomas Jessop, Doctor of Physick, Walter Grove, Gent, and Roger Keate, Gent (Trustees of Hugh Keate’s Last Will) for the Manor or Lordship of Upwey Als Waybayhouse for the Sum of £1,010.’, 16 April 1590. Dorset History Centre, Quarter Sessions Order Books’, 1637 1625. QSM 1/1,7b. Herber, Mark. Ancestral Trails. Revised paperback. Great Britain: Society of Genealogists, 2005. Palmer, Robert C. ‘Attorneys of Early Modern England and Wales, Attorney List 1607’, n.d. http://aalt.law.uh.edu/Attorneys/attpages/FullAttorneyList1607.html. Preston, Isabella Mary. Bassett-Preston Ancestors : A History of the Ancestors in America. Connecticut, USA, 1930. Rev. Bartelot, R. Grosvenor. ‘Extracts Taken from the Bishop’s Transcripts for St George Fordington’. In Dorchester Parish Registers: Marriages. W Phillimore & Edmund Nevill, 1909. Russell, Michael. ‘Baptisms St George Fordington 1577-1599, Transcribed from the Bishop’s Transcripts (LDS Film 1279496)’. Accessed 24 June 2019. http://www.opcdorset.org/fordingtondorset/Files/FordingtonBaptisms1577 -1599.html. St George, Henry, and Lennard Samson. The Visitation of the County of Dorset, Taken in the Year 1623. London, 1885. The Casebook of Sir Francis Ashley JP Recorder of Dorchester 1614-1615 Ed J H Bettey. Dorset Record Society, 1981. The National Archives, Kew, England. Richard Seagar v Roger Kete, Tenements Held of the Manor of Fordington, Dorset C2/Jas1/S10/36’, 1625 1603. C2/Jas1/S10/36. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. The National Archives, Kew, England. Will of Roger Kete or Keete, Gentleman of Fordington, Dorset Prob11/136/90’. Perogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions; Will Registers, 5 July 1620. Prob11/136/90 |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com The National Archives,Kew, England Will of Robert Seager, Husbandman of Fordington, Dorset 1658-9 PROB 11/286/601’, 15 February 1658. The National Archives,Kew,England, Will of Huge Kete or Keete of Cheselbourne, Dorset 1589-90 PROB 11/75/161’, 20 February 1589. Torrey, Clarence A. New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Baltimore, USA: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2004. Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, Tuition Bond, Probably Fordington, Children Virtue, Millicent, Margaret, Roger, Margery and Luce Segar P5/1593/70’, 1593. Wiltshire and Swindon Archives. Will and Inventory of Howman, Henry, Senior, Fordington, Dorset P5/14Reg/27B and P5/1641/41’. Probate records of the Court of the Dean of Salisbury, 4 November 1641. P5/14Reg/27B and P5/1641/41. Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, Will and Inventory of Richard Seager of Fordington P5/10Reg/198 and P5/126/44’. Probate records of the Court of the Dean of Salisbury, 3 May 1626. P5/10Reg/198 and P5/126/44. Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Will of Richard Bunn 1567 P5/2Reg/16B’, May 1567. Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Will of William Boonne William Bunn,1580-1 P5/4Reg/28C’, 13 January 1580. |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. Appendix 1: Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Wiltshire Wills and Probates; Reference Number: P5/1593/70 1593 Transcript of legible portion: reverse side of maintenance bond. …of Millicent Segar, Virtue Segar, Margaret Segar, Roger Segar, Margerie Segar and Luce… …the said Millicent, Virtue, Margaret, Roger, Margerie & Luce doe well and trulie administer …will thereunto extende & as the lawe shall charge him; Alsoe doe exhibit or cause to be [ ] …Moreover uppon his proper cost & charges doe well & vertuouslie [ ]and bring up or cause …some decent nor [ ] & convenyent foode lodging & apparrell until they & any of them shalbe …children & any of them such part, expe’cons of the goods, cattals & debts of their father the said deceased & all such dayes …likewise uppon his like proper costs & charges doe allwayes & att all tyme hereafter from tyme to tyme defend & save …the [ ] of adm’nstracon of the goods cattals & debts of the said deceased to him the said Roger Keat the younger and for all …upon his said adminstracon when he shalbe thereunto lawfully called & required upon this [pu__] obligacon to be Front side of maintenance bond : Latin. legible parts include ‘ Roger Keate de Fordington in Com. Dorset’ and a William [ ], of [ ]in idem com, yeoman. At the bottom, the signatures of Roger Keate[torn] and William Bun |
| Margery, the wife of Anthony Eames of Fordington and Plymouth Colony. An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com. Appendix 1: Latin  
English  
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre P5/1593/70 Will ( probably of Fordington Children. Millicent, Virtue, Margaret, Roger, Margery and Luce Segar.) Probate Date 1594 |
An Investigation into her family origins. ©Helen M Ford helenford.dorset@gmail.com.
Proposed Pedigree of Margery Seager Eames  
2.2.2 Alice HOWMAN - mard 1618' FStG' - William CLARKE, 2.2.3 Thomas HOWMAN 2.4. Roger SEAGER 2.5. Margery SEAGER - mard c1616 - Anthony EAMES,
4. Ralph SEAGER |
