Weekes Wick Wickes Wicks Wyke Wykes Genealogy |
23 may 2019 |
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Dr Geoffrey Mann |
10 Aquila WYKES 1625 -1659 |
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m Mary KNIGHTLEY 1650 |
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Aquila WYKES was born in 1625 and baptised at St Magaret’s in the City of Westminster. His father Aquila was keeper of the Gatehouse prison there, and at some time in the Commonwealth period (1648-1660), probably after his father’s death in 1655, Aquila succeeded his father in this post. The prison was used for political prisoners, such as Royalists during the Cromwell period.
Aquila acquired various properties around the prison and in 1650 married an heiress, Mary KNIGHTLEY, at St James in Clerkenwell where the Knightley family lived. Four children were born in the following nine years, though the first died young. The baptism of only one child has been found and this was at St Margaret’s.
Aquila died shortly after the birth of his last child at the age of 34. His wife took over the post of keeper of the prison and married one of her Royalist prisoners the following year.
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age DATE AW MK |
EVENT |
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14Apr1625 27Mar1650 25 20 c1652 27 22 22Jun1652 27 22 c1654 29 24 20Jny1757 32 27 c1659 34 29 2Apr1659 34 29 9Apr1659 34 29 c1660 30 |
Aquilla baptised at St Margaret Westminster, son of Aquila and Dorothy married Mary KNIGHTLEY at St James Clerkenwell son Aquilla Knightly born son Aquilla Knightly buried at St Margaret’s Westminster dau Mary born son Edward baptised at St Margaret’s Westminster son Aquilla born made last will buried at St Margaret’s Westminster Mary remarried Sir Edward Broughton |
b=born m=married d=died
C=Christened B=Buried
Aquila married in 1650 so a birth date around 1625 might be expected. He lived in Westminster and there is a suitable baptism there in 1625:
C 14Apr1625 Aquilla s Aquilla WEEKES
There is no other evidence that Aquila was the son of Aquila, but the unusual forename, correct date and parish leaves little room for doubt
Mary WYKE-9 was born c1654 daughter of Aquila and Mary WYKE. There was a suitable marriage at Clerkenwell St James, and the unusual name identifies the marriage with confidence:
from parish register of St James, Clerkenwell
m 27Mar1650 Aquila WYKES & Mary KNIGHTLY [no extra information in register]
no baptisms to Aquila and Mary were found at Clerkenwell, but the following were found at Westminster St Margaret:
C 20Jny1656+Edward s Aquila & Mary WYKES
B 22Jun1652 Aquilla-Knightly WEEKES ch [=child]
the original registers (on film) and the transcript by A M Burk “Memorials of St Margaret’s Church” have been searched but no other baptisms to these parents found. From the wills of Aquila and his wife Mary, however it is known that they had another son Aquilla and a daughter Mary. Edward was the eldest son, so Aquilla must have been born between 1657 (baptism of Edward) and 1660 (father buried in 1659). This leaves no room for Mary who must therefore have been born between 1652 (burial of 1st son) and 1656 (Edward C1657), probably c1654, giving the following likely birth dates:
1652 Aquilla-Knightley
1654 Mary
Jny 1657 Edward
1659 Aquila
the absence of register entries for the baptism of three children other than Edward is puzzling. The registers are exceptionally clear and well written (so good that they must be copies); Aquilla was keeper of the prison in the parish which belonged to the Bishop of London so is not likely to have missed a baptism; the baptisms have not been found elsewhere in the IGI or VRI. Did they leave town because of plague?
B 9Apr1659 Mr Aquila WEEKES
footnote in transcript(A M Burk): Keeper of the Gatehouse Prison, m Mary dau of William KNIGHTLEY of Kingston on Thames who survived him and remarried Sir Edward BROUGHTON of Marchwiel. She was bur in Westminster Abbey 19Mar1695
the second marriage of Mary to Sir Edward took place around 1660 (see KNIGHTLEY files)
abstract from photocopy
2Apr1659Aquila WYKES in the city of Westminster gentleman……. and concerning the disposition of such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with all; First I give devise and bequeath to my loving wife Mary WYKES all that my messuage or tenement together with the stable and coachhouse and a garden now in the occupation of Oliver Lord FitzWilliam in the Broad Sanctuary in the parish of St Margaret in Westminster, adjoining and abutting on the messuage wherein the said Aquila WYKES do now dwell on the west and on the west end of the Abby Church in Westminster aforesaid on the east to have and to hold the to said Mary Wykes my wife until Mary Wykes my daughter shall attain the age of 21 or be married which such shall happen, provided always that my said wife shall well and truly maintain educate and bring up my daughter until 21 or married; and after my daughter shall attain her age of 21 or be married which shall first happen I give unto my daughter Mary Wykes and her heirs the foresaid messuage [etc] to have and to hold unto my said daughter her heirs and assigns for ever provided always nevertheless and upon condition that if my heirs executors or administrators shall well and truly pay unto my said daughter Mary Wykes the full and whole sum of £1000 at 21 or marriage which shall first happen that then and from henceforth this devise and bequest of the said messuage [etc] to my daughter shall be void and it shall be lawful to and for my heirs and assigns into the said messuage [etc] to enter and the same to have hold and enjoy for ever provided also that if my said daughter shall in the lifetime of my wife marry with or be married unto any person or persons without and against the consent and good liking of my wife that then and from henceforth the bequest and bequeath made aforesaid to my daughter shall be utterly void. ITEM I give to my wife during her life all the rest of my messuages land hereditaments wheresoever provided always that my wife shall educate and bring up and cause to be well educated and brought up at school and in learning and also well and sustinencly maintain in meat drink apparel and all other necessary and conveniences both my sons Edward and Aquila Wykes in such manner as shall be fitting for their qualities and condition. An from and after the decease of my wife I give to my youngest son Aquila Wykes and his heirs all my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments in Brewers Yard in parish of St Margaret now or later in occupation of Edward Beattersby or his assigns and also all my messuages and tenements in Pettifrance in St Margaret’s now or late in occupation of Boyd widow or her assigns to have and to hold [etc] from and after the decease of my wife to my son Aquila Wykes and his heirs for ever to the only use and behoof of my son Aquila Wykes. AND my will and meaning is that after the decease of my said wife, all the rest of messuages land tenements [etc] whatsoever wherein I the said Aquila Wykes testator shall die seized, shall remain descend and come[?] to my eldest son Edward Wykes his heirs and assigns for ever. AND all my goods ----- and personal effects whatsoever (my debts and funeral charges being paid and satisfied) I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Wykes whom I ordain to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have…set my hand and seal the day and year above written. A.Wykes. Published subscribed and sealed in the presence of Robert KNIGHTLEY Tho CHAMPION Thomas HOARD[?] Lenor: Thompson
proved 25May1659 by Mary Wykes relict and sole executrix
Summary:
wife: Mary WYKES sole executrix everything left to her during her life, except a house, stable, coachhouse and garden, next to the Abbey and next to Aquila’s own house; this property (occupied by Lord Oliver FitzWilliam) to go to daughter Mary when she reaches 21 or marries. She must educate and maintain daughter Mary and sons Edward and Aquila
daughter: Mary WYKES; bequeathed the house described above when she is 21 or marries UNLESS:
1) the executor or administrators pay her £1000 (worth about £100,000 in today’s money) at 21 or marriage in stead of the property
2) she marries against the liking or consent of her mother, then the bequest is void
youngest son: Aquila; bequeathed after the death of his mother:
1) houses and land in Brewers Yard, Westminster occupied by Edward Beattersby
2) houses and land in Pettifrance, Westminster occupied by widow Boyd
eldest son: Edward WYKES; bequeathed all the rest after the death of his mother
signed 2Apr1659; proved 25May1659;
20Jny1680, Dame Mary BROUGHTON of Marchwiel alias Conqueress Hall in the County of Denbigh widow…Imprimis I give unto my son Edward Broughton all my house and tenement with the appurtenances in the market place in Kingston upon Thames in Surrey now or late in tenure of Robert HUNTON or his assigns with all ways watercourses stables gardens orchards stalls or standings; Also I give to my said son Edward all my house and tenement with the appurtenances lying between the gatehouse at Westminster and the Convict prison of the Lord Bishop of London on the east now or late in the occupation of John SCAMDON gent with all stables coach houses [etc] ; I also give to my said son Edward all my rights and interest in the convict prison together with the mansion House and messuage now built upon the said prison wherein the Countess of Tirconnel now dwelleth at the West end of the liberty called Westminster Abbey with all stable coach houses [etc] And I give unto my said son Edward all my other right leasetitle and interest in all my estate personal and real in the County of Middx and City of Westminster and County of Surrey having purchased the same with my own real money or portion or patrimonial estate provided that said Edward Broughton shall pay unto my two other sons Edward and Aquila WYKE four score pounds yearly during their lives, that is to say £40 a year to each son paid quarterly by equal portions Provided that my said son Edward Broughton shall neglect or refuse to pay unto my said two undutiful sons Edward and Aquila Wyke if lawfully demanded of the Said Edward Broughton at his Mansion house at Marshweil als Conqueress Hall them my said devise of the premises in Midx and Westminster to be void and the said houses to go to my said other two sons Edward and Aquila Wyke. Item I give to my son Edward Broughton and to his heirs all my messuage called Marshweil als Conqueress Hall with the barns stables [etc] in the parishes of Marchweil Wrexham Holt and Shocklythe in Counties of Denbigh Flint and Chester and for want of such issue … to my second son Aquila Wyke and the heirs of his body … and for want of such issue then to the use and behoof of my oldest son Edward Wyke and the heirs of his body … and for want of such issue …to my own right heirs for ever Provided always that the said messuages lands [etc] so devised to my three sons shall stand charged with the legacies hereafter mentioned ..paid within one year after my decease Item I give unto my unfortunate undutiful daughter Mary DACOMBE daughter of my first husband Aquila Wyke deceased she having formerly embezzled much of my Estate £50 Item for my waiting woman £10; to every servant at the time of my death 40 shillings; to the poor of the parish whereat I am buried £10; to the preacher that preaches my funeral sermon £10; to my friend Mr Roger JACKSON £100 to whose care I leave the management of my estate for the benefit of my children according to my disposition Item I give to my son Edward Broughton all the residue of my goods chattels leases bonds [etc] he paying my debts and my legacies And I appoint my said son Edward Broughton and my said loving friend Roger JACKSON my sole executors. Signed in the presence of Thomas CRUE John RICHARDSON Daniel BROWNE
Proved 1Mar1694 by Sir Edward Broughton Bt
c’wealth: Aquila WYKES junior, petition against, from the almsmen of Westminster; 18398
c’wealth: Aquila WYKES junior, petition of his father against, to show his title to the keepership of the prison and to his father’s estate; 18201/2
1659 : Mary WYKES widow of Aquila WYKES, keeper of the Gate House prison; petition to the Governors of Westminster College; 18185
1659 : Mary WYKE, keeper of the Gate House Prison, order of the College Governors to the City Bailiff on the complaint of; 43657
c’wealth: Mary WYKES, widow of Aquila WYKE junior, petition as lessee of the gatehouse prison against the officers of Westminster College; 18204/5
5Oct1661: lease to Sir Edward Broughton of the gatehouse prison for 40 years at £5 pa
7Feb1672/3: patent to be keeper of the Gatehouse prison granted to William DYKE (register XIX f 199b or 6)