Notes for Thomas Mildenhall

Notes for Thomas Mildenhall

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Thomas lived near Marridge Hill and Mildenhall, England.

The Mendenhalls came from the County of Wiltshire, England, where the ancestors of the American brances apparently lived in or near Marridge Hill, near the borough of Mildenhall, which was the earlier name of the family. In the late 1800's Mildenhall a county place of ten to a dozen thatched roofed houses.

During the contests of The House of York and Lancaster, that deluged England, the inhabitants of Wiltshire were conspicuously on Henries side and a great number of them were slain at the battle of Tewkesburg fought in 1471. Ten years prior, 1461, the battle of Towton in Yorkshire was fought, where the Lancastrians were defeated and by order of Edward IV slain. 38,000 people died and the lives of 80 princes and nearly all the ancient nobility were killed. Much of the nobility resided in Wiltshire.

No one knows what the Wiltshire Mildenhalls went through. Perhaps the manor of Mildenhall was confiscated, the principles slain and the minor branches and their decendants left. The estate and Marridge Hill might have been a remnant of the ancient family holdings. For some centuries there have been families of the name of Mildenhall residing in the towns and villages of Wiltshire, chiefly tradesmen, farmers and inn-keepers and which it is presumed were descendants of the ancient stock.

The following is the will of Thomas Mendenhall (written Mildenhall) From Wills and Administrations at Somerset House, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Vol. 371, cottle Vol. 3, 1682, folio 135. Special note: In the probate paragraph the date appeared to be 24 Nov 1708. Pages were stained in places. All names have been typed in capital letters so they may be easily located. Submitted by Dan McEver, transcribed at Salt Lake City.

"30 June 1682 Thomas Mildenhall of Maridge in parish of Ramsbury, Wilts, yeo, being aged and weak in body, etc. To eldest son THOMAS MILDENHALL of West Hundred in the county of Berkshire all manner of Thenth and Tythes of what sort soever being and growing out of that messuage and tenement with the appurtenances hereunto belonging which I now dwell in and is in my possession which I lately purchased of Henry Powle Esq and others; Item, I give and devise unto my sonne JOHN MILDENHALL and his heirs forever the ffee simple of all that cottage and . . gardens in Maridge purchased of Thomas Stockbridge and one close of land or pasture by 5A or thereabouts be it more or less lying in Marridge heath which I lately purchased of Nathaniel Stoneham, also all that close of arrable pasture fround heretofore parcell of grat Rashlett Coppice in parish of Ramsbury . . 7A and halfe and all the tenths and tithes the said 7A and half of arable or pasture ground for and towards his better preferment in marriage and for his marriage portion. And upon this condition never the less that he the said JOHN MILDENHALL shall and will pay or cause to be paid to his brother BENJAMIN MILDENHALL the summe of (pound symbol)40 lawful money of England at such time as the said premises before given shall come be in his now possession. All which premises by me given unto my said sonne JOHN I lately purchased of said Henry Powle Esq and others. Items I give and devise unto my son STEPHEN MILDENHALL all that messuage or tenement and two . . of arrable land in Rov.ly Heath in parish of Chilton Folliott, Wilts, 30A with the appurtenances during the time of the lease thereof to me granted by John Parker & wf Jane, upon condition neverthelsess that he the said STEPHEN MILDENHALL his execrs and assignes shall and will yearly and every year pay unto his bro MOSES MILDENHALL (pound symbol)5 p annum out of the said premises where he the said STEPHEN shall come to enjoy the same dureing the remainder or terme of the said lease. I give and bequeath to my dau MARY (pound symbol)4 score one year decease. To dau MARGERY wf of Thomas Martin of Bedwin Magna 40 shillings. To dau JOANE wf of John Spier one shilling. And my will and meaning is that the said messuages lands tenements and premises herein before by me given and bequeathed to my said sonnes JOHN and STEPHEN shall remain and be in the possession of my now WF JOANE MILDENHALL during her natural life. And my will and meaning further is that in case there shall happen to be any losse or damage in recoverie or getting in of my debts and estate which shall be due and owing at the time of my decease, that my executors hereinafter named and such of my children and legatees aforesaid shall be his hers or their equal part and portion in the lott thereof out of thier respective legacies and portions as to my overseers hereinafter named shall think meete and convenient. Item I gie and devise unto my son MOSES the inheritance of that house and land in possession of Thomas Ellaway in or around the parish of Marridge aforesaid and which I lately purchased of Nichoals George of Whittenndish together with all the writings of the same premises which I order shall be delivered to my said son MOSES in a weeks time after my decease if he demands them. Rest to wife who is sole executor. I do give to each of them for their care herein 5 shillings.

From the family records of Kurt Otto Shelle, Jr:

His family moved to America to continue their Quaker beliefs and changed their name for an unknown reason to Mendenhall from Mildenhall. The town of Mildenhall still exists in England and can still be found on maps.