A brief history
Trowbridge is a small market town on the western edge of Wiltshire, situated on the river Biss, a tributary of the Avon. The Mortimer family of Trowbridge came from humble origins to become the most prosperous people in the town. Trowbridge history is closely interwoven with the development of the cloth industry, and it was in clothing trade that the Mortimers made their fortune. It may seem surprising then that these Mortimers originally came from Fyfield, near Marlborough, 21 miles away. They were presumably related to other Mortimer families in Wiltshire.
Richard Mortimer of Fyfield in Overton (c.1605-1670)
Richard was born about 1605, perhaps the son of William Mortimer (c.1575- ). m. Susanna Benger 26 Apr 1630, Wilsford near Pewsey. He died intestate in 1670, administration of his estate was granted to his widow They had issue:
1. Edward Mortimer of Trowbridge (1636-1704)
2. Susanna Mortimer of Ogbourne (c.1640- ), m. Anthony Elton of Yatesbury 20 May 1661, Preshute.
3. John Mortimer of Fyfield in Overton (c.1642-1678), m. Ruth Pile 31 Jul 1670, Amesbury, presumably the same John Mortimer witnessed the grant of administration of the estate of Richard Mortimer, 27 Aug 1670. His will was dated 2 Feb 1677/8; to daughter Mary, all goods, who is sole exor. He appointed his brothers in law Richard Pile and John Pile as overseers. His will was proved 3 Oct 1678. Ruth his widow died in 1692; her will mentioned daughters Mary and Ruth. John and Ruth Mortimer had four daughters, two who survived to adulthood:
i. Mary 1671-1673, bapt. 29 Jul 1671 Amesbury, bur. 31 Jul 1673 Fyfield in Overton
ii. Margaret 1673-1673, bapt. 24 Jul 1673 Fyfield, d. abt 1673
iii. Mary 1675- , bapt. 15 Dec 1675 Durnford Magna, was made sole exor. in the will of her father, 2 Feb 1677/8, despite her infancy.
iv. Ruth 1678-1764, bapt. 8 Feb 1677/8 Fyfield, m. Nicholas Temple (1681-1744) 14 Aug 1704 Trowbridge; had a son, John Temple b. 1706, m. Eleanor Mortimer (1701-1783) 26 Oct 1738 Trowbridge.
4. Eleanor c.1644- mentioned in the will of her grandmother, Margaret Benger (c.1585-1661).
Edward Mortimer of Trowbridge (1636-1704)
Edward Mortimer was the first of the family to settle in Trowbridge. He was presumably a younger son, and he was born into a typical farming family who had lived as husbandmen and yeomen farmers for generations. He was born in 1636, the son of Richard Mortimer and Susanna nee Benger (who married in 26 Apr 1630), and he was baptised 13 Jan 1635/6. Edward probably had as many as four brothers, named William (presumably the eldest), John, George, and Thomas. Edward was presumably apprenticed in Trowbridge, and learnt the skill of cloth work, eventually becoming a master clothier himself. In 1665, his brother William Mortimer died in Fyfield, Edward Mortimer of Trowbridge was concerned in the trust for maintaining William’s infant son John.
It was perhaps about the mid 1660s that Edward married Katherine Houlton; they had six children. By the time Edward died in 1704, Trowbridge, he had built up quite some property, he made a will describing his occupation as that of gentleman, providing for his wife Katherine, son John, and grandson Edward, who would all succeed him in the cloth trade. His will also mentioned his daughter Ann Shepherd, and son John’s three daughters, Katherine, Ann and Jane. He had a son Edward, but his will made no mention of himperhaps he had already been provided for. His widow, Katherine, featured in a 1714 document assigning the mortgage of the house lately built at Trowbridge. Edward and Katherine had the following issue:
1. Katherine c.1666-1667, bur. 20 Aug 1667 Trowbridge
2. Joan 1667, bapt. 2 Apr 1667, m. Samuel Watts 17 Dec 1686 at Canterbury, Kent
3. John Mortimer c.1668-1715
4. Ann 1669, bapt. 27 Aug 1669, married _ Shepherd [Note. the Shepherd family were prominent in Frome and the surrounding area]
5. Katherine 1670, bapt. 27 Sep 1670
6. Edward Mortimer II 1678-c.1718, who is detailed further below.
John Mortimer of Trowbridge (1669-1715)
John was born in 1669, the eldest son of Edward and Katherine Mortimer. He was bapt. 29 May 1669, Trowbridge. He married twice, firstly Katherine (maiden name unknown), about 1689, and they had four children. John Mortimer married secondly, Sarah Hayward, 4 Nov 1697 Devizes, Wiltshire. He was bur. 16 Sep 1715, Trowbridge. Sarah his widow was bur. 1 Jun 1750, Trowbridge.
Children of John Mortimer and Katherine:
1. Edward Mortimer Esq (1690-1744), bap. 2 Sep 1690 Trowbridge, m.1. Ann Smith, 27 Feb 1711/2 Frome St John, had issue a daughter Ann. Edward Mortimer m.2. Ann Dampier, 1 Jan 1716/7, at Tintinhull, Somerset, they had three children.
i. Ann 1712-1799, b. 12 Dec 1712 Trowbridge, died unm. 1799, Clifton, Bristol, bur. 22 Jan 1799 Clifton; her will was proved in 1799.
ii. Mary 1718- , bap. 3 Sep 1718 Trowbridge, m. Isaac Elton 20 Feb 1734/5 Trowbridge. They had one son, Edward Elton of Greenway b.1742. Isaac Elton died in 1776.
iii. Edward 1719 (d. young), bur. 25 Aug 1720.
iv. Edward Mortimer Esq c. 1720-1755, born about 1720, son of Edward Mortimer, gent. Matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1736, aged 16; m.1. Anne Gibbs, 23 Aug 1744 Trowbridge. Anne his wife died about 1750, Edward m.2. Hannah Deadman, 13 Jun 1753, Wingfield, Wiltshire. Edward died in 1755, and was bur. 26 Feb 1755, Trowbridge. In his will he mentioned his brother in law Isaac Elton, and uncles Nathaniel and Joseph Mortimer. Hannah his widow m.2. James Concannen, 6 Sep 1756.
2. Katherine 1692- , bapt. 18 Mar 1691/2, m. Edward Coles 28 May 1713 Corsham.
3. Ann c. 1693-1757, no bapt. record, lived in Trowbridge, her will was dated 1757, and mentioned sister Katherine Coles, and Ann dau of late brother Edward Mortimer Esq.
4. Jane 1695- , bapt. 18 Aug 1695
Children of John Mortimer and Sarah Hayward:
5. Sarah b. 25 Mar 1698, m. Benjamin Horlock (1699-1731); one son, Isaac Horlock b.1728
6. Elizabeth b. 30 Jul 1699
7. Eleanor 1701-1783, b. 28 Jul 1701 Trowbridge, m. John Temple 26 Oct 1738 Trowbridge. Her will was dated 24 Nov 1781, Trowbridge, in which she mentioned Joseph son of her brother Joseph Mortimer. She died before 1783 when her will was proved.
8. John Mortimer 1704-1738, bapt. 16 Jan 1703/4, he was apprenticed to his uncle, Edward Mortimer, clothier, 5 Feb 1717/8 at Trowbridge. John died without issue and was bur. 16 Feb 1737/8.
9. Nathaniel Mortimer 1706-aft.1755, bapt. 26 Feb 1705/6, was apprenticed to John Jacobs, apothecary of Bristol, 8 Feb 1719/20, he trained as an apothecary and thereafter lived in Bristol. Nathaniel Mortimer m. Esther Taylor, 20 Feb 1727/8 Bristol St Nicholas. He was mentioned as uncle in the will of his nephew Edward Mortimer Esq in 1755. He had no known issue.
10. Samuel Mortimer of Devizes 1708-1739, bap. 19 Aug 1708 Trowbridge, apprenticed to Robert Cloper, a wool stapler of Devizes, 4 Feb 1722/3, evidently learning the trade. Samuel Mortimer m.1. Elizabeth Still, 26 Sep 1729, Devizes, they had issue two sons, John b. 1730 and Samuel c.1733. Samuel m.2. Susanna, c.1736, they had one daughter, Susanna Mary Mortimer b.1739. Samuel Mortimer’s will was dated 1739, when he was described as a wool comber. He mentioned his mother Sarah and property in Trowbridge, also his late wife Elizabeth and current wife Susanna. He was presumably bur. in Devizes.
i. John Mortimer of Trowbridge 1730- b. 2 Sep 1730 Devizes, apprenticed 5 Jun 1744 to Jeffrey Everett of Tytherington, wool comber, and learnt the trade. John Mortimer m.1. Elizabeth Culverhouse 25 Jul 1752 Trowbridge. Elizabeth his wife was bur. 14 Jul 1760 North Bradley. John m.2. Elizabeth Vine 14 Sep 1762 Trowbridge. Elizabeth died in 1766, administration of her assets was granted to John Mortimer her husband. John Mortimer’s family were mentioned in the will of Joseph Mortimer.
Issue of John Mortimer and Elizabeth Culverhouse:
1. Edward Mortimer of Westbury c.1753-1815, born about 1753, m.1. Elizabeth Batten (1751-1784), 11 Oct 1777 North Bradley, they had one son, Henry Batten Mortimer bapt. 22 May 1778, Westbury, Wiltshire. Elizabeth was bur. 2 Jul 1784 North Bradley, in the register named as Elizabeth wife of Edward Mortimer of Westbury. He was mentioned as a clothier at Westbury in 1780. Edward m.2. Maria Cockle, 15 Apr 1790, Dilton, Wiltshire. He was bur. 22 Aug 1815, Corsley, aged 63. Maria his widow was bur. 22 Jan 1828, Corsley, her will was proved 22 Jun 1828, in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
2. Elizabeth (c.1757? )
Issue of John Mortimer and Elizabeth Vine:
3. Sarah c.1763
4. Samuel Mortimer c.1764
5. John Mortimer c.1765
6. Joseph Mortimer c.1766
11. Joseph Mortimer Esq 1710-1776, b. 21 Sep 1710 Trowbridge, m. Ann Smith 27 Jul 1731 Trowbridge, was a clothier and gentleman landowner. Joseph Mortimer and Ann his wife had the following issue:
i. Joseph 1733-1733, b. 26 Apr 1733, bur. 30 Dec 1733 Trowbridge
ii. Ann 1735, b. 14 Oct 1735, m. James Dowding 25 Aug 1760
iii. Mary 1738-39, b. 13 Jun 1738, bur. 1 Feb 1739/40
iv. Joseph Mortimer 1741-1789, b. 10 Feb 1740/1, m. Frances Greene 30 Jun 1767 Trowbridge, they had the following issue. Joseph died in 1789, Trowbridge; Frances his widow died in 1799.
1. Frances 1768, b. 11 Apr 1768, bapt. 31 Oct 1769, Trowbridge, m. John Jones 23 Apr 1792, Clifton.
2. Joseph Mortimer 1769, b. 7 Aug 1769, bapt. 31 Oct 1769, on the same day as sister Frances; died before 1776 when Joseph Mortimer was born.
3. Anna Maria 1772-1848, b. 23 Apr 1742, bapt. 21 Oct 1780 Trowbridge, m. John Whittaker (1771-1831) 4 May 1796 Trowbridge. She was bur. 3 Oct 1848 Westbury, Wiltshire.
4. Lucia 1774-1820, b. 16 Sep 1774, bapt. 21 Oct 1780, Trowbridge, died before 1820, when her will was proved.
5. Joseph Mortimer Esq 1776-1833, b. 3 Jul 1776, bapt. 21 Oct 1780, Trowbridge, m. Caroline Elizabeth Bedingfeld (1779-1848) 30 Jan 1800, St George, Hanover Square, London. He died in 1833 aged 57 and was bur. 5 Sep 1833 at All Souls, Kensal Green. His widow died in 1848, and was buried 15 Jun 1848 in the same parish.
6. Edward Mortimer Esq 1779- b. 14 Dec 1779, bapt. 21 Oct 1780, Trowbridge, had a distinguished military career; served in the 20th Dragoon Guards, 1804-1809, and the Life Guards from 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars. He m. Agatha Rosa Papallardo, 12 Jul 1814 St Marylebone, London. It is unknown whether they had children.
7. Harriet 1782-aft.1841, b.22 Aug 1782, bapt. 27 Sep 1785 Trowbridge, never married.
v. Elizabeth 1747, b. 21 Apr 1747 Trowbridge
vi. Edward 1747-1749, b. 21 Apr 1747, bur. 18 Jan 1748/9 Trowbridge
vii. Edward Horlock Mortimer 1750-1803, m. Elizabeth Bythesea 29 Jan 1784, they had the following issue. Edward Mortimer was bur. 26 Dec 1803; Elizabeth his wife died in 1826 aged 63, and was bur. 21 Nov 1826, Trowbridge.
1. Edward Horlock Mortimer Esq 1786-1857, b. 18 Apr 1786, bapt. 11 Jan 1787 Trowbridge, matric. Brasenose College, Oxford 17 Apr 1804, aged 18, m. Frances Lardner 1809 Harpford, Devon. Lived in Clifton, Bristol in 1841, Marylebone, London in 1851, died 15 Nov 1857, Kensal Green, London. Edward Horlock Mortimer and Frances had issue, including: Edward Horlock Mortimer 1809-1866.
3. Thomas Bythesea Mortimer Esq 1787-1836, b. 1 Sep 1787, bapt. 30 Sep 1787 Trowbridge, was bur. 21 Jul 1836 at Bangor, Caernarvonshire.
2. Joseph Mortimer Esq 1788-1861, b. 28 Sep 1788, bapt. 22 Mar 1791 resident at Melcombe Regis, 1841, 1851, as a gentleman. Joseph Mortimer died 11 Mar 1861, bur. 18 Mar 1861 Wyke Regis. His will was proved 2 May 1861.
4. Octavia Mortimer 1796-1864 b. 23 Jun 1796, bapt. 23 Oct 1796, died unm. in 1864, aged 68, was bur. 30 Jul 1684 Leckhampton, Gloucestershire.
Edward Mortimer II of Trowbridge (1678-c.1718)
Edward was the younger son of Edward Mortimer and Katherine his wife, and was bapt. 26 Feb 1677/8 Trowbridge. Edward m. Eleanor Axford, 7 Nov 1699, Earl Stoke, Wiltshire. He was occupied as a clothier at Trowbridge, and his nephew John Mortimer became his apprentice in 1718. However, he died shortly after this date, as noted in the apprenticeship record of his son William, in 1719. Edward obviously helped find his sons careers, and all three of them were apprenticed. Eleanor his widow died in 1752, and was bur. 10 Jun 1752, Earl Stoke, she appointed son Joseph as the executor of her will. Edward and Eleanor had the following issue:
1. Eleanor 1701- b. 16 Sep 1701 Trowbridge, m. William Still, 6 Jun 1721, Devizes.
2. Edward Mortimer (III) 1703-1756, bapt. 26 Aug 1703 Trowbridge, apprenticed to John Ball, clothier of Bristol, 22 Jul 1716. Presumably the same Edward Mortimer m. Ann Wood, 31 Jul 1753 Bristol St Mary Redcliffe, and was listed as Mayor’s Officer in 1754, Bristol St James. Edward Mortimer was bur. 24 Nov 1756, as registered in the records of the Baptist Meeting in Bristol. There is no burial entry for his wife Ann Mortimer.
3. William Mortimer of Devizes 1705-c.1762, bapt. 16 Oct 1705, Trowbridge. William, son of Edward Mortimer deceased was apprenticed to Peter Clark of Devizes, baker, 23 May 1719. William Mortimer and Sarah Adlam were married 7 Jan 1731/2 Devizes, and they had four children. He became a master baker in Devizes, as shown in apprenticeship records dating from 1728, 1744, 1750 and 1757. His will was proved in 1762. Sarah, his widow, was bur. 5 Dec 1764, Devizes.
i. John 1733-1740, bap. 4 Jan 1733/4, bur. 3 Aug 1740 Devizes.
ii. Ann c.1737-1801, b. about 1737, married Samuel Adlam 13 May 1759, Devizes, was bur. 10 Aug 1801, Devizes. Samuel Adlam was bur. 18 May 1811, same parish.
iii. William Mortimer II c.1740-1769, born about 1740, whose baptism appears to be missing; he died without issue; made his will, 18 Mar 1769, as William Mortimer of Devizes, currently residing in Bath. The will mentions his sisters Sarah Mortimer and Ann, wife of Samuel Adlam. He was bur. 24 Mar 1769, Devizes.
iv. Sarah 1749-1781, bapt. 15 Feb 1748/9 Devizes, after a gap of 14 years from the baptism of her elder brother John in 1734. Sarah m. William Salmon, 24 Jun 1773, Devizes.
4. Joseph Mortimer of Earl Stoke (1707-1753), bap. 10 Sep 1707 Trowbridge, a contemporary of his cousin, John Mortimer Esq (1710-1776). He was apprenticed 9 Jan 1723/4 to Richard Smith, wool stapler of Devizes. Mr Joseph Mortimer and Mrs Elizabeth White were m. 16 Sep 1735, Heytesbury. They had six sons and four daughters. Joseph evidently became a wool stapler at East Coulston, Wiltshire, as detailed in an apprenticeship record dating from 1737. He died intestate in 1753; administration of his estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth. Joseph and Elizabeth Mortimer had the following issue:
i. Joseph Mortimer b. 26 Nov 1736, East Coulston
ii. Hannah, b. 1 Jan 1737/8 East Coulston, m. Henry Jennings 6 Jul 1765, Bath St James.
iii. Benjamin Mortimer b. 29 Jun 1739, appr. 9 May 1752 to Joseph White of Devizes, barber.
iv. William Mortimer, bapt. 1741 Earl Stoke, bur. 1 Feb 1813, Walcot, aged 74, m. Mary d. 1778 Walcot, issue:
1. Jebbey 1766
2. William 1772-1776
3. William Mortimer 1777-1846, lived in Bristol.
v. Mary bapt. 25 Nov 1743 Earl Stoke, m. Richard Warren, 19 Dec 1769, Bath Abbey.
vi. Elizabeth b. abt 1747, bapt. 31 Jul 1758 Earl Stoke, m. Charles Wheeler, 16 Jul 1780, Bath Abbey.
vii. John Mortimer b. abt 1749, bapt. 26 Jul 1757, Earl Stoke
viii. Peter Mortimer c.1751-1823, b. abt 1751, bapt. 26 Jul 1757, Earl Stoke, m.1. Jane Burton 11 Feb 1774, St Mary le Bow, London. Jane was bur. 27 Nov 1782, St George Hanover Square. Peter m.2. Ann Selfe, 8 Apr 1784, Trowbridge. He was bur. 8 Mar 1823, All Hallows, Barking By the Tower, aged 71. Peter and Jane Mortimer had issue:
1. William Mortimer bapt. 11 Jun 1775 St George Hanover Square,
2. John Mortimer b. 22 Aug 1776, bapt. 21 Oct 1776
3. Mary b. 23 Aug 1776, bapt. 21 Oct 1776, m. James Golden 15 Feb 1802
4. Elizabeth b. 19 Dec 1777
ix. Edward Mortimer of Bristol (c.1754-1844), born about 1754, bapt. 26 Jul 1757 Earl Stoke, was apprenticed 26 Aug 1771 to James Norton of Bristol, stationer and bookbinder. Edward clearly finished his training and became a stationer, later an accountant, as listed in the Bristol trade directories. He resided in Bristol Castle precinct. Edward Mortimer m. Mary Martin 29 Jul 1790, Bristol St James, and they had seven children. Edward was mentioned as brother in the will of Peter Mortimer, 1821. He was bur. 11 Dec 1844, Bristol Temple, apparently aged 90. His wife Mary perhaps died in 1806, was bur. in Bristol Temple parish. They had the following children:
1. Mary 1792-aft.1861, b. in Castle precinct, bapt. 25 Mar 1792 Bristol St James, m. Joseph Barnard (1803-1855) 25 Dec 1823 Bedminster; they had five children. She resided in Southwark, Surrey in 1861 as a widow, died sometime after that date.
2. Ann 1793, bapt. 14 Jul 1793 Bristol St Philip and St Jacob, m. Cornelius Quinlan (1789-1840) 3 Oct 1819, Bristol St Philip and St Jacob, with no known children.
3. Edward Blanning 1794, bapt. 21 Sep 1794 Bristol St Philip and St Jacob, of whom nothing further is known.
4. Sarah 1797, bapt. 9 Jul 1797 Bristol St Philip and St Jacob, m. Charles Parker 30 Oct 1817 Bristol St John the Baptist.
5. Richard Mortimer of Keynsham 1797-1880, bapt. 9 Jul 1797 Bristol St Philip and St Jacob, m. Mary Thorn (1800-1853) 20 Nov 1821, Bristol Temple, had issue four children. He was occupied as a brass manufacturer at at Keynsham, five miles south east of Bristol, where they lived until 1871. He died in 1880, Mary his wife died in 1853
i. Edward Nelson Mortimer 1823-aft.1891, bapt. 16 Feb 1823 Bristol St Philip and St Jacob
ii. John Mortimer 1825-aft.1871 bapt. 25 Dec 1825, m. Mary Ann Smith 29 Dec 1851 Bristol St Mary Redcliffe.
iii. Thomas c.1827-1831, bur. 25 Mar 1831 Bristol Temple, of Keynsham ps., presumably a son of Richard and Mary.
iv. Sarah c.1829-1901, never married.
6. John Martin Mortimer 1799-1864, bapt. 20 Jan 1799, emigrated to New York, d. 18 Feb 1864, Kings, New York.
7. Susanna 1801-1843, bapt. 11 Jan 1801, lived in Bristol Castle precint, had a daughter, Sarah Susanna never married, and was bur. 2 Dec 1843 Bristol Temple.
i. Sarah Mortimer (1821-1886), who m. Henry Augustus Rumley (1823- )
x. Eleanor c.1755-1809, bapt. 26 Jul 1757, witnessed the marriage of her sister Elizabeth White Mortimer in 1780, m. James Bullock (c.1751-1809) 17 Feb 1791, Bath St Michael. They had no children. She was bur. 24 Sep 1809, Batheaston, Somerset.
5. Mary b. 28 Nov 1708, Trowbridge, youngest child of Edward and Eleanor. Sarah m. Thomas Britten 8 Oct 1734, Devizes.
