Origins of the Mortimers of Preshute
A Mortimer family lived in Preshute, Wiltshire from the early 17th through to the 18th century. Although the parish of Preshute is adjacent to Avebury, the story of the Mortimers in Preshute begins 8 miles south, in Milton Lilbourne near Pewsey. Rather confusingly, Mortimers lived in Fyfield, in Preshute, and Fyfield near Pewsey.
James Mortimer of Milton Lilbourne (c.1534-1587)
James Mortimer was born about 1534. His father was perhaps named John Mortimer, as James chose to name two of his sons John. The name of his wife is unknown; he may have married c.1559. James Mortimer was assessed on the value of £6 in goods in the 1576 lay subsidy in Milton Lilbourne, and paid 10s. in the tax. In his will dated 1587, James Mortimer mentioned his eldest son John, to whom he gave guardianship of his younger sons John and William; also his daughter Haliday, daughters Elizabeth and Jane Edington, the three children of John Holiday, son’s wife Dorothy, and her daughter Joan.
1. Elizabeth c.1560, perhaps m. Edward Edington, d.1603 Ludgershall
2. John Mortimer of Fyfield in Milton (c.1562-1627), m.1. Elizabeth, bur. 23 May 1606, they had four children. He m.2. Elizabeth Hamlin, 26 Mar 1610, Milton Lilbourne. He made his will, dated 10 Mar 1626/7 as John Mortimer the elder of Milton, yeoman, and mentioned his son John, all goods at his living in Fyfield; daughter Joan Winter, with residue to son George Mortimer, sole exor. He appointed his brother John Mortimer of Clatford overseer. Elizabeth his widow, died in 1642, Fyfield. Her will is silent on John Mortimer’s children by his previous marriage.
John Mortimer and Elizabeth his first wife had issue:
i. Edith? c.1599- of Milton Lilbourne, m. Robert Annotes, 11 Oct 1619 Salisbury St Edmund.
ii. Joan c.1600-aft. 1662, m. Jeffrey Winter (c.1600-1662) 17 Jul 1622 Salisbury St Edmund. Jeffrey Winter died in 1662, leaving a will appointing his wife Joan exor.
iii. John Mortimer II 1603, bapt. 9 Nov 1603 Milton Lilbourne, perhaps the same John Mortimer m. Elizabeth Parsons, 13 Feb 1636/7 Preshute, they had a daughter Susan (c.1637- ). His will was dated 7 Mar 1662/3 at Overton, which mentioned Elizabeth his widow was bur. 19 Aug 1665, Overton.
1. Susan Mortimer (c.1637-1686), m. Robert Powell (c.1636- ), they had children Elizabeth, Susanna and Joan, mentioned in the will of Jno Mortimer (1663). She was bur. 14 Nov 1686 Sherston Magna.
iv. George Mortimer c.1605- , m. Edith Mortimer (1610 – ) 20 Apr 1634 Preshute. George Mortimer the elder was presumably the same George Mortimer of Milton, mentioned in the will of John Mortimer of Overton, 1663, with a son, Edward Mortimer. Their family is outlined further below.
3. Jane c.1563- , m. _ Edington.
4. a daughter (unnamed) who presumably married John Haliday. John Holiday married Joan Banning in 1604 Milton Lilbourne, who may have been the same John, or a son of the same name.
* William Mortimer of Clatford (c.1605-1672) was perhaps the brother of John Mortimer of Overton (c.1603-1663); he was bur. 15 Jan 1671/2 Preshute.
5. John Mortimer of Clatford (c.1572-1657)
6. William Mortimer (c.1575- ) mentioned as a younger son in his father’s will, when he was still a minor. He perhaps was father of the following Richard Mortimer:
i. Richard Mortimer of Fyfield in Overton near Marlborough (c.1605-1670)
John Mortimer of Clatford in Preshute (c.1572-1657)
John was the younger son of James Mortimer of Milton Lilbourne (c.1534-1587). John lived in Clatford, as evidenced by the will of his older brother, John Mortimer of Fyfield in Milton (c.1562-1627). No parish register entries for his family exist prior to 1606, and there is no will for John Mortimer, so the resulting pedigree is a result of some estimation. He was presumably the same John Mortimer who witnessed the inventory taken of the goods of the late John Dymer of Fyfield in Overton, 10 Oct 1615. John was also named overseer in the will of his brother John Mortimer, 10 Mar 1626/7. John Mortimer married Joan; she predeceased him and was bur. 7 Jul 1639, Preshute. John was bur. 14 Apr 1657, in Preshute. John Mortimer and Joan his wife had the following issue:
1. Richard Mortimer of Preshute (c.1596-c.1645), as follows.
2. Edith c.1605-1606, bur. 23 Jul 1606 Preshute
3. George Mortimer of Clatford, the elder (1608-1673), bapt. 16 Aug 1608 Preshute, m.1. Eleanor Benger 12 May 1636, recorded at both Preshute and Manningford; Eleanor his wife died the following year, she was bur. 12 Mar 1636/7; George Mortimer m.2. Priscilla Maundrill (1631- ) 23 Jun 1657; George Mortimer senior of Clatford was bur. 10 Jul 1673 Preshute. George Mortimer and Priscilla his wife had two daughters:
i. Priscilla 1658-1663, bapt. 12 Dec 1658, bur. 4 Feb 1662/3 Preshute.
ii. Joanna 1660- , b. 31 May 1660, bapt. 12 Jun 1660 Preshute.
4. Edith (1610- ), bapt. 19 Apr 1610 Preshute, m. George Mortimer of Milton Lilbourne, 20 Apr 1634, Preshute.
5. Bartholomew Mortimer of Thatcham, husbandman (1613- ), ancestor of the Mortimers of Thatcham.
6. Edward Mortimer of Manton (1613-1674), bapt. 21 Feb 1612/3 Preshute, the same day as his brother Bartholomew – they were presumably twins. He married Mary, c.1646, they had issue. Edward Mortimer was died 18 Dec 1674, and he was bur. 21 Dec 1674, Preshute. Inventory of his goods was taken 30 Dec 1674, witnessed by George Mortimer, of Preshute, perhaps his nephew (George Mortimer senior having died the previous year).
i. Mary bapt. 16 Oct 1648, Preshute, may have m. Robert Smart of Chiseldon (c.1648-1696) 3 Jan 1675/6 Ogbourne St Andrew. Administration of estate of his estate was granted to his brother in law, John Mortimer of Manton, yeo.
ii. John Mortimer of Manton, yeoman, (c.1651-1719) perhaps the same John Mortimer m. Margaret Nalder, 12 Nov 1682 Preshute, they had the following issue. John Mortimer of Manton was appointed in the will of John Mortimer of Berwick Bassett, 1713. John outlived most of his children, including Edward (d.1713). John Mortimer presumably remarried to Elizabeth Liddiard in 1701, and was bur. in 1719, Preshute.
1. John Mortimer II 1683
2. Edward 1684-1688, bapt. 12 Oct 1684, bur. 14 Feb 1687/8, presumably twin of Margaret
3. Margaret 1684, bapt. 12 Oct 1684 Preshute, presumably twin of Edward
4. Margaret 1687-1687, bapt. 16 Feb 1686/7, bur. 21 Mar 1686/7 Preshute
5. Edward 1689-1713, b. 2 Jan 1688/9, bapt. 7 Jan 1688/9, bur. 30 Jun 1713, Preshute.
6. Thomas 1692-1692, bapt. 6 Nov 1692, bur. 5 Dec 1692 Preshute
iii. Thomas Mortimer, b. 21 Nov 1657, bapt. 18 Dec 1657, bur. 2 Oct 1658, Preshute
iv. Alice b. 19 Jul 1660, bapt. 28 Jul 1660, m. Nicholas Leyland, 19 Oct 1685 Preshute.
Richard Mortimer of Preshute (c.1596-c.1645)
Richard was presumably the eldest son of the above John and Joan Mortimer. He m. Ann Holiday, 29 Nov 1619, Preshute. She was perhaps related to the John Holiday, son in law of James Mortimer of Milton Lilbourne. Their children perhaps included John Mortimer of Manton, George Mortimer of Clatford and William Mortimer of Lyneham, yeomen, who all featured in a deed dated 1668.
1. John Mortimer of Manton the elder (c.1623-1694), m. Joan; had issue:
i. John Mortimer II 1653-aft.1694, b. 9 Dec 1653, bapt. 1 Jan 1653/4
ii. Mary bapt. 24 Aug 1657, bur. 24 Jan 1693/4 Preshute, daughter of John Mortimer the elder.
iii. Edith 1660- , b. 26 Jan 1659/60, bapt. 2 Feb 1659/60 Preshute
iv. Richard Mortimer of Manton (1662-1701), living in 1694 at the time of his father’s will. He was b. 13 May 1662, bapt. 10 Jun 1662, Preshute, m. Elizabeth Abethal 11 Nov 1694, Stanton St Bernard. He was bur. 3 Jan 1700/1 Preshute. They had issue:
1. Elizabeth b. 19 Sep 1695, bapt. 22 Sep 1695
2. Edward Mortimer 1697-1699, bapt. 6 Jun 1697, Upavon, bur. 30 Apr 1699, Preshute
v. George Mortimer 1664- b. 13 Nov 1664, bapt. 18 Nov 1664 Preshute, as George, son of John and Edith Mortimer [this is presumably a clerical mistake upon entry in the original register – there are no other recorded children of John and Edith, and no further records of this Edith] George presumably died before 1694; he was not mentioned in his father John Mortimer’s will.
vi. Joanna 1667-1667, bapt. 20 Feb 1666/7, bur. 22 Feb 1666/7 Preshute, the youngest child of John and Joan Mortimer.
2. Mary 1625-1625, bapt. 3 Apr and bur. 11 Apr 1625, Preshute.
3. Ann 1626, bapt. 11 Feb 1625/6 Preshute
4. George Mortimer of Clatford the younger (c.1630-1711), m. Mary (c.1630-1710), whose surname is unknown. He was presumably the same George Mortimer who witnessed the grant of administration of the estate of Edward Mortimer of Manton (1612-1674) to Mary, his widow, though George was born too early (c.1630) to be their son. He was bur. 11 Oct 1711, and Mary his wife was bur. 15 Sep 1710, Preshute. George and Mary Mortimer had issue:
i. Mary? Mortimer (c.1652- ), m. James Mortimer 26 Apr 1675, Preshute. Both resided at Clatford.
ii. Richard 1654-1654, b. 19 Sep 1654, bapt. the same day, and bur. the following day, at Preshute. Perhaps named after his grandfather.
iii. Edith (1657- ), b. 15 Jul 1657, bapt. 22 Jul 1657, Preshute.
iv. Susanna (1659- ), b. 22 Sep 1659, bapt. 28 Oct 1659, Preshute, m. Jonathan Austin, 1682 Froxfield, Wiltshire
v. George Mortimer (1661- ) b. 22 Sep 1661, bapt. 14 Jan 1661/2 Preshute
vi. John Mortimer (1664-1714?), b. 12 Jul 1664, bapt. 16 Jul 1664 Preshute; perhaps m. Sarah Perry, 13 Nov 1698, Preshute, who was bur. in 1714, Preshute; they had issue:
1. George Mortimer 1699-1753
2. Hannah 1713-1714
vii. Elizabeth (1667- ), b. 22 Mar 1666/7 Preshute
viii. Richard Mortimer (1669- ), bapt. 26 Oct 1669 Preshute
ix. James Mortimer (1671- ), bapt. 3 Oct 1671 Preshute
5. William Mortimer of Lyneham (c.1633-1709)
George Mortimer of Milton Lilbourne (c.1605-1691)
George Mortimer was a son of John Mortimer the elder, of Milton Lilbourne (c.1562-1627); he married his cousin, Edith Mortimer, 20 Apr 1634, Preshute. He was presumably the same George Mortimer of Milton, mentioned in the will of John Mortimer of Overton in 1663. George and Edith had the following issue:
1. George Mortimer (1635-1684), bapt. 26 Mar 1635, Milton Lilbourne; presumably the same George Mortimer m. Dorothy c.1670. George Mortimer of Lacock and James Mortimer of Clatford were appointed trustees in the will of John Holliday, yeoman of Milton Lilbourne, 29 Jun 1679. Such an appointment hints at a close family connection, and George and James may have been appointed as brothers in law. There is no marriage record for John Holliday and Edith his wife; she may have been a daughter of George and Edith Mortimer. George Mortimer of Lacock was bur. 3 Jul 1684, Lacock. Dorothy his widow was bur. 26 Feb 1718/9. They had issue:
i. John Mortimer of Lacock (1673- ), bapt. 10 Jun 1673, Lacock, m. Sarah c.1699 – whose surname is unknown – she was bur. 6 Jul 1729, Lacock. They had issue:
1. Sarah bapt. 14 Mar 1699/1700 Lacock
2. Mary 1701-1711, bapt. 25 Nov 1701, bur. 3 May 1711, Lacock
3. Betty c.1703-1704, bur. 1 Dec 1704
4. Elizabeth 1705, bapt. 3 May 1705, Lacock
5. Dorothy 1708-1711, bapt. 28 Oct 1711, bur. 2 Dec 1711, Lacock
6. George Mortimer of Chippenham, apothecary (1716-1748), bapt. 28 Aug 1716, Lacock, m. Jane Sadlington (1719-1776), 11 Feb 1739/40 Kingston St Michael. George was bur. 2 May 1748, Chippenham St Andrew. They had issue:
i. John Mortimer (1742- ), bapt. 1 Aug 1742, Chippenham, was appr. to a surgeon, 2 Jun 1759, Royal Wootton Bassett.
ii. Sarah (1744- ), bapt. 7 Sep 1744 Chippenham
iii. Elizabeth (1746- ), bapt. 3 Dec 1746, Chippenham
2. George Mortimer, bapt. 2 Nov 1675 Lacock, may have lived in East Kennett.
3. Sarah bapt. 29 Mar 1678 Lacock, presumably m. William Meriwether, 1 Jun 1701 Corsham
4. Edward Mortimer (1681-1738), bapt. 8 Feb 1680/1 Lacock, m. Elizabeth (c.1705-1760), died intestate in 1738, admon. of his estate was granted to his widow; they had no issue.
5. Jane (1684- ), bapt. 19 Feb 1683/4, m. Edward Ponting 24 Sep 1708 Lacock
2. Edward Mortimer (c.1638-aft.1663), mentioned as a son of George Mortimer of Milton and kinsman in the will of John of Overton. He was presumably named after his uncle, Edward Mortimer of Manton (1613-1674). There does not seem to be any further mention of Edward Mortimer in parish records. It would be important to make a distinction between this Edward, and the Edward Mortimer of Trowbridge, b. 1636, Fyfield.
3. Edith? (c.1640-1711), may have been a daughter of George and Edith, as mentioned above. She married John Holliday, yeoman of Milton Lilbourne (c.1638-1679), who appointed George Mortimer of Lacock and James Mortimer of Clatford as trustees in his will. Their eldest daughter was Edith (c.1664-aft.1704). She was bur. 28 Apr 1711, Milton Lilbourne, a widow.
4. Thomas Mortimer of Fyfield in Milton (c.1645-1692), for whom decisive evidence of parentage is elusive, but who may fit into the lineage here, as son of George of Milton. He married Jane Portlock, 27 Jul 1671, Pewsey. He made a will in 1692, mentioning his wife and children. He was bur. 20 Mar 1691/2; Jane his wife was bur. 6 Oct 1702, Milton Lilbourne.
i. Jeremy Mortimer (c.1672-1717), bur. 26 Nov 1717; m. Ann; they had one daughter:
1. Susanna (1692-1735), bapt. 28 Aug 1692, m. George Crook 11 Oct 1713, bur. 21 Dec 1735 Milton Lilbourne.
ii. Mary c.1673-
iii. Elizabeth c.1676-
5. James Mortimer of Clatford (c.1649-aft.1692), m. Mary Mortimer, 26 Apr 1675, both were of Clatford. She was presumably the daughter of either George Mortimer (c.1630-1711) or William Mortimer (?-1672) of Clatford. He was appointed a trustee in the will of John Holliday alongside George Mortimer of Lacock. James and Mary Mortimer had issue:
i. James 1676-1676, bapt. 30 Jan 1675/6, bur. 1 Feb 1675/6 Preshute
ii. George 1677-1677, bapt. 27 Apr 1677, bur. 29 Apr 1677 Preshute; presumably so named after George Mortimer of Clatford
iii. George Mortimer, bapt. 2 Apr 1678
iv. Mary bapt. 21 Jul 1680
v. Elizabeth bapt. 18 Sep 1682
vi. Hannah 1686-1727, bapt. _ Feb 1685/6, bur. 8 Sep 1727, Preshute
vii. Jan bapt. 8 Jul 1688
viii. Susanna 1688-1689, bapt. 24 Aug 1688, bur. 28 Aug 1689
ix. Frances 1692, bapt. 28 Feb 1691/2 Preshute
William Mortimer of Lyneham (c.1635-1709)
The first record of William Mortimer is a deed dated 1668. William Mortimer of Lyneham, John Mortimer of Manton, and George Mortimer of Clatford were all parties to the deed, showing a close family connection between the individuals. George may have been either George Mortimer the elder (1608-1673) or younger (c.1630-1711), but John was presumably John the elder of Manton (c.1623-1694), as John the younger was born c.1650s and would have been a minor.
William married Mary Lanfere, 6 Feb 1664/5 at Lyneham. He was a parish overseer at Lyneham in 1701. William made his will in 1709, as William Mortimer, gent., and named his wife Mary, sons William and Richard, daughters Susanna and Mary, and son in law Benjamin Paine. Mary his wife died in 1713, and was bur. 24 Sep 1713, Lyneham. They had the following issue:
1. Mary 1673, b. 30 Jan 1673, bapt. 6 Feb 1672/3 Preshute, m. Benjamin Pain
2. William Mortimer of Manton, (c.1678-1730)
3. Richard Mortimer of Lyneham (1680-c.1740), bapt. 6 Feb 1679/80 Lyneham, m. Sarah c.1702 (1681-1748). He died before his son Henry in 1745. Richard and Sarah Mortimer had issue:
i. Sarah (1703-1703), bapt. 24 Mar 1702/3 bur. 27 Nov 1703
ii. Henry Lanfere Mortimer (1704-1745), bapt. 3 Oct 1704, bur. 16 Mar 1744/5 Lyneham
iii. John (1705-1710), bapt. 5 Dec 1705
iv. Richard (c.1715-1716) bur. 20 Aug 1716, Lyneham
v. Susanna (1720- ), bapt. 7 May 1720 Lyneham
vi. (Margaret 1722- ), bapt. 15 Feb 1721/2
vii. James Mortimer (1725- ), bapt. 16 May 1725 – perhaps same as James Mortimer of Harrow (c.1725-1814), m. Hannah Parson 1758
4. Susanna 1682-1717, bapt. 25 Jun 1682 Lyneham, never married, will proved 1717.
5. James 1684-1684, bapt. 21 Dec 1684, bur. shortly afterwards.
William Mortimer of Manton (c.1678-1730), yeoman
William was presumably the son of William Mortimer of Lyneham and Mary his wife. No baptism record can be found, though his sister Mary was bapt. in Preshute. William m. Margaret Popejoy, 1 Nov 1709, Preshute. William Mortimer made his will in 1730, and named his sons Nathaniel and Edward Mortimer. He was bur. 30 Apr 1730, at Preshute, as Mr William Mortimer, showing he was a gentleman farmer. William and Margaret Mortimer had the following issue:
1. William Mortimer 1710-bef.1730, bapt. 27 Aug 1710 Preshute, d. before 1730
2. Nathaniel Mortimer 1712-1751, bapt. 8 Jun 1712, bur. 12 Dec 1751 Preshute, no issue.
3. Susanna 1716
4. John 1720-bef.1730, bapt. 1 Feb 1719/20, d. before 1730
5. Edward Mortimer (1722- ), bapt. 10 May 1722 Preshute, mentioned in his father’s will, 1730
6. Thomas 1728-1730, bapt. 11 Sep 1728, bur. 1730, named only as a child of William Mortimer in the parish register.
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