Notes for Richard Atkins

These are research notes for possible parents and relatives of Jane Atkins, spouse of Thomas French. So far, we have found two plausible sets of parents for Jane Atkins, spouse of Thomas French:

1) Jane the daughter of Richard Adkins and Elenor Midleton was baptized on December 23 at Bugbrooke:

1635 Richard Adkyns and Ellenor Midleton were married on October 4 at Northampton, St Peter, Northamptonshire, England. [1]

1638 Jane Adkins, daughter of Richard and Elanor Adkins, was baptized on December 23 at Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, England. [2]

1639 The estate of Richard Adkins of Heyford was administered on September 18 in the Archdeaconry Court of Northampton. [3] [4]

Adkins, Richard, of Heyford in par. of Bugbrooke gr. 28 Sept. 1639 to ~

2) Jane daughter of William Adkins and Amye Danbie was baptized on August 1, 1641 at Cold Higham:

1636 William Adkins and Amie Danbie were married on August xxij at Northampton, All Saints church. [5]

1637 William Adkyns, son of William Adkyns and Amye, was baptised the iiij day of September at Cold Higham, Northamptonshire, England. [6]

1637 William Adkyns the son of William Adkyns & Amye was buried the vij of September at Cold Higham. [7]

1638 William Adkyns the son of William Adkyns and Amy was baptised the second day of September. [8]

1641 Jane Adkins, daughter of William and Amye Adkins, was baptized on August 1 at Cold Higham, Northamptonshire, England. [9]

1653 John Adkins, son of William and Ame Adkins, was buried on December 4 at Cold Higham, Northamptonshire, England. [10]

Jane Adkins, daughter of Richard and Elenor, was closer in age to Thomas French, than was Jane, daughter of William and Amye Adkins. Thomas French and Jane Atkins were of Heyford when they were married. Jane Atkins, daughter of Richard and Elenor, was baptized at Bugbrooke parish. Richard Adkins was of Heyford in the parish of Bugbrooke when his estate was administered. Bugbrooke parish is closer to Nether Heyford parish than is Cold Higham parish. Based on this modest evidence, we currently show Richard Atkins and Elenor Midleton as the parents of Jane Atkins, spouse of Thomas French. We seek further evidence concerning the parents of Jane Atkins.

Richard Adkins, spouse of Elenor Midleton, of Bugbrooke, was apparently a different person from Richard Adkins, steeple-builder and freemason (notes below). Richard Adkins, steeple-builder, had spouse Joane, when he died in 1638. Richard Adkins, steeple-builder, was apparently not Richard, son of William Adkins and Joane who was baptized in 1608. Richard Adkins, steeple-builder, and Joanne Gibbons were married in 1617, too early for Richard baptized in 1608. Richard Adkins, steeple-builder, was already well-established as a mason in 1624, too early to have been baptized in 1608.

1617 "Richard Adkins et Joanne Gybbes nupt. fuer. vi(?) die" of November in All Saints Northampton, Northamptonshire. [11]

1622 Ann Atkyns, daughter of Richard and Jona Atkyns, was baptised the same day [v th] of October at Northampton, St Sepulchre, Northamtopnshire, England.[12]

1624 Susana Adkins, daughter of Richard and Joane Adkins, was baptised one the xxiiij^th of October at Northampton, St Sepulchre, Northamtopnshire, England.[13]

1627 Frances Adkins, the daughter of Richard and Jone Adkins, was baptised one the xxviij th day of January 1626/27 at Northampton, St Sepulchre, Northamtopnshire, England. [14]

1628 Richard Atkins had tenure of a mine of stone in Northampton, mentioned in a deed dated June 10. [15]

Frances martin of Lyons Inn,London,gentleman,to Thomas Pilkington of Northampton,gentleman,of- A parcel of ground called the Stone Pitts,in the tenure of Richard Atkins and William Dawes,lying within the bounds of Northampton,Abington and Kingsthorpe together with all the Stone pits or mines of stone,and the lands appurtenant thereto(which were formerly held with a certain messuage in Northstreete in the parish of St.Sepulchre,Northampton,know as 'Knowles his Farme or Knowles his Farmehouse or Rands his Farme or Rands his Farme house' (Signature of 'Fra Martin'.Non-armorial seal) Note: William Dawes, mason, rebuilt St.Giles Church Tower, 1613.

1632 Richard Atkins, mason, was commissioned to rebuild the steeple of the church at Higham Ferrers. [16] [17] [18]

Higham Ferrers, a town which gives name to a hundred, is situated on a rocky elevation, abounding with springs. It is about half a mile distant from the north-eastern bank of the Nen, and is a place of considerable note and antiquity.

Northward of the church is a spot called the Castle Yard, the site of a castle which is supposed to have been erected by one of the Ferrers family; …

The church (see Plate I.), a handsome structure, consists of a nave, chancel, and aisles to the south and north. Those of the chancel are divided from it by screens, decorated with carving. On each side the chancel are ten stalls; under the first, on the right is a carved head of Archbishop Chichele; and on the first to the left, an angel bearing a shield, impaling the arms of Chichele with those of the See of Canterbury. On the rest are carved various fanciful and emblematic devices. At the west end of the nave, on a handsome embattled tower, is raised a finely-proportioned hexagonal spire, with crockets running up the angles. The greater part of the present spire is not two centuries old; for, the old spire and part of the tower falling down, the re-edification was begun in 1632, by subscription, to which Archbishop Laud appears to have been a liberal contributor. In that year articles of agreement were drawn up between the Corporation and Richard Atkins, mason, of Higham Ferrers, by which the latter engaged, in consideration of receiving £135, to rebuild the steeple, then raised as far as the bell floor, so that the said steeple should be from the ground to the battlements 71 feet; and thence to the top of the spire, 99 feet in height. This is attached to the tower by flying buttresses at the angles.

Over the west window of the tower are two stones commemorating the rebuilding of the tower with the inscription [19]:

The 20th of April 1631. This steeple was begun to be builded. … succeeding in November Anno Dom. 1632, this steeple was finished. … Rich. Atkins of Northamp. the workman.

The spire of the Highams Ferrers Church was described by Simon Jenkins in England's Thousand Best Churches as "one of the finest in a county famous for spires" [20]

1634 Richard Adkins managed the clock at Saint Sepulchre, perhaps when King Charles visited. [21]

The following details are supplied by the parish books, with reference to the church clock: [page 182]

To Richard Adkins, for taking downe and setting up the dyall.

[perhaps at this event] This was one of the occasions when King Charles and his queen made a state progress from Holdenby Palace through Northampton. It was on this occasion, towards the end of July, that the Corporation presented their Majesties with two pieces of plate to the value of £60. The presentation took place at their entering the town by the north gate, close to St. Sepulchre's church. [page 179]

1610 Map showing Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. St Sepulchres is on the north side of the town, near the middle.

from David Rumsey Historical Map Collection [22]

1638 Richard Adkins, freemason, was buried on March 16, 1637/38, at All Saints, Northampton, Northamptonshire. [23]

1638 The estate of Richard Adkins of Northampton was administered on March 31 in the Archdeaconry Court of Northampton with administration granted to his widow Joan. [24] [25]

Adkins, Richard, of Northampton. 31 Martij 1638. Testamentum Richi Adkins de villa North'ton probat. fuit, Adⁿ que commissa fuit Joannae, vid.
Invent. 15£ 8s. 6d.

No trace of the above can be found. Richard Adkins, freemason, was buried 16 March 1637/38 at All Saints, Northampton.

There was a different (not the freemason) William Atkins, perhaps with wife Alice, at Bugbrooke.

1558 William Atkins was baptised the xxxj th of August at Bugbrooke. [26]

1604 Alice Atkins wyfe unto William Atkins was buryed the same day [April 15], 1604. [27]

1607 William Adkins buried on May 6 at Bugbrooke. [28]

There was a different (not the freemason) William Atkins, with wife Agnes, at Cold Higham.

1588 John Atkins, son of William and Agnis, was baptised on June ? at Cold Higham. [29]

1597 William Atkins, son of William and Agnes, was baptised on October 1 at Guilsborough. [30]

1604 Agnis Adkyns the wife of Willm Adkyns was buried the xxi day of December at Cold Higham. [31]

Research Notes:

1555-56 An account of payments made by the Exchequer and the Duchy of Lancaster to member of suppressed monastaries, chantry priests, and incumbents, in 2 & 3 Phil. and Mary (1555-6) of Northamptonshire records: "Marston Trussell, S. Mary. Willielmi Atkins" [32]

1569 William Atkins and Agnes Street were married at Stowe Nine Churches. [33] They may have had the following children:

Ellen Atkins: Baptism 17 Nov 1580, Cold Higham, William and Ann. [34]

James Atkins: Baptism 11 Nov 1577, Cold Higham, William and Ann. [35]

Jane Atkins: Baptism 26 Dec 1583, Cold Higham, William. [36]

John Atkins: Baptism 5 Jun 1588, Cold Higham, William and Aynis. [37]

Footnotes:

[1] Northamptonshire Record Office, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[2] Northamptonshire Record Office, 53P/1, Bugbrooke Parish Register 1556-1671, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[3] Archdeaconry Court of Northampton:Wills, Administrations and inventories, and accounts, [URL].

[4] extracted by Henry Isham Longden; edited by Lucy Drucker [and] Clare Baggott, Administrations in the Archdeaconry of Northampton 1546-1676 (1947), 2, [URL].

[5] Northamptonshire Record Office, 223p/1, Northampton All Saints Parish Register, 1559-1722, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[6] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[7] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[8] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[9] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[10] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[11] Northamptonshire Record Office, 223p/1, Northampton All Saints Parish Register, 1559-1722, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[12] Northamptonshire Record Office, 241p/1, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Register, 1566-1723, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[13] Northamptonshire Record Office, 241p/1, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Register, 1566-1723, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[14] Northamptonshire Record Office, 241p/1, Northampton St Sepulchre Parish Register, 1566-1723, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[15] Northampton Record Office, Reference NPL/092, [URL].

[16] George Laurence Gomme, ed., Gentleman's Magazine Library: English Topography, Part VIII. (Norfolk - Northamptonshire = Northumberland), 182, [URL].

[17] John Britton, A Topographical and Historical Description of the County of Northampton (1809), 182, [URL].

[18] The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 85, Part 1; (May, 1815), 393, includes images, [URL].

[19] John Henry Parker, Architectural notices of the churches of the archdeaconry of Northampton. Deaneries of Higham Ferrers and Haddon., 6, [URL].

[20] Wikipedia article about St_Mary%27s_Church,_Higham_Ferrers, content subject to change, [Wikipedia].

[21] John Charles Cox, R. M. Serjeantson, A History of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Northampton, [URL].

[22] David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, John Speed, Northampton-Shire (London: Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, 1610), [Rumsey Map].

[23] Northamptonshire Record Office, 223p/1, Northampton All Saints Parish Register, 1559-1722, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[24] Archdeaconry Court of Northampton:Wills, Administrations and inventories, and accounts, [URL].

[25] extracted by Henry Isham Longden; edited by Lucy Drucker [and] Clare Baggott, Administrations in the Archdeaconry of Northampton 1546-1676 (1947), 2, [URL].

[26] Northamptonshire Record Office, 53P/1, Bugbrooke Parish Register 1556-1671, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[27] Northamptonshire Record Office, 53P/1, Bugbrooke Parish Register 1556-1671, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[28] Northamptonshire Record Office, 53P/1, Bugbrooke Parish Register 1556-1671, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[29] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[30] Northamptonshire Record Office, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, Guilsborough, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[31] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[32] Northamptonshire Notes and Queries: An Illustrated Quarterly Volume 1, 22, and 106, [URL].

[33] Northamptonshire Record Office, 305P/13, Stowe Nine Churches Parish Registers, 1558-1730, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage].

[34] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[35] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[36] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[37] Northamptonshire Record Office, 73P/1, Cold Higham Churches Parish Registers, 1556-1683, Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1558-1812, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].