Discussion:
St. Leger Codd and Pett/ Pitt
(too old to reply)
r***@yahoo.com
2017-06-02 20:42:47 UTC
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Can anyone explain the following tangle?

The link below, a book which does not seem particularly well-sourced, gives four marriages for the Virginia/ Maryland colonist St. Leger Codd:

(1) 18 May 1667, to Beatrice Pitt, daughter of Anne Pitt [no children]

(2) ca. 1668, to Mrs. Anne (Mottrom) (Wright) Fox [sons James Codd and Berkeley Codd]

(3) 1671, to Mrs. Anne (Bennett) Bland [son St. Leger Codd, daughter Beatrice and Sarah Codd]

(4) Mrs. Anna (Hynson) (Randall) Wickes

https://books.google.com/books?id=OsgZEobJlLgC&pg=PA122&dq=%22st+leger+codd%22+beatrix&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwin1OvT8p_UAhXB3SYKHQWQBmIQ6AEIIjAA#v=onepage&q=%22st%20leger%20codd%22%20beatrix&f=false

_The Ancestor_, vol. 10 (1904), pp. 161-63, shows a William Pett (not Pitt), with a second wife, Anne Garbrand, by whom he had a youngest daughter, Beatrix Pett:

https://archive.org/stream/ancestorquarterl10unse#page/162/mode/2up

Of the daughter Beatrix Pett, the article says, "She married one ... Codd, of the Kentish family of that name. Her brother William Pett, in his will of 1692, speaks of her as a widow deceased, and names her children James Codd, and Beatrix wife of Robert Thornton."

Also discussed in _Ancestor_ is Peter Pett of London, sibling of Beatrix and William above, whose will of April 1680 names his kinswoman Elizabeth Codd, daughter of St. Leger Codd.

Various sources do claim that St. Leger Codd of Virginia had children called James Codd and Beatrice Codd, though I don't find an Elizabeth ascribed to him.

At any rate, the husband of Beatrice Codd must really have been RICHARD Thornton, per this London-area marriage record from 1689:

https://books.google.com/books?id=bjIEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA42&dq=%22beatrice+codd%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1r8Sv-p_UAhWGNiYKHT9QBKgQ6AEILzAC#v=onepage&q=%22beatrice%20codd%22&f=false

This Beatrice/Beatrix must be the Beatrix Thornton of St. James Clerkenwell, Middx., living in 1717 as the widow and executrix of Richard Thornton, late citizen and apothecary of London:

https://books.google.com/books?id=eOUIAQAAIAAJ&q=%22widow+and+executrix+of+richard+thornton%22&dq=%22widow+and+executrix+of+richard+thornton%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHjsmVgKDUAhXF7SYKHfYeCHYQ6AEIKDAA

The _Ancestor_ article does show the mother of Beatrice Pett, married ... Codd, as an Anne (Garbrand) Pett, which shows a similarity to the claimed marriage of St. Leger Codd in the book first mentioned (1667 to "Beatrice Pitt, daughter of Anne Pitt").

If Beatrice Pett/ Pitt died a widow, doesn't that mean she would have been the LAST wife of St. Leger Codd?

More standard accounts of St. Leger Codd seem to omit the Pitt/Pett marriage.

https://books.google.com/books?id=jlc_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA375&dq=%22st+leger+codd%22+beatrix&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwin1OvT8p_UAhXB3SYKHQWQBmIQ6AEIMTAD#v=onepage&q=%22st%20leger%20codd%22%20beatrix&f=false
r***@yahoo.com
2017-06-02 21:39:37 UTC
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This marriage license tells more:

June 11 [1689.] Richard Thornton, of All Hallows, Lumbard Street, London, Cit. & Apothecary, Bach[elo]r, abt 23, & Mrs Beatrix Codd, of the same, Sp[inste]r, above 21, with consent of her uncle, Mr William Pett, her parents beyond seas; at St Dyonis Backchurch, Lond.

https://books.google.com/books?id=AH0_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA108&dq=%22richard+thornton%22+apothecary&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjmmK3hjqDUAhUKRCYKHQLYATQQ6AEILDAB#v=onepage&q=%22richard%20thornton%22%20apothecary&f=false
Nathan Murphy
2017-06-03 20:28:53 UTC
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St. Leger Codd, bp. Lenham, Kent, 23 Nov 1638,[1] m. (1) St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey, 23 Oct 1660, Beatrix Pett.[2] Dorman states St. Leger Codd had m. Ann (Mottrom) Wright Fox by 11 May 1670. He provides an excellent account of Codd’s Virginia and Maryland wives.[3]

Children of St. Leger Codd by Beatrix Pett (order unknown; baptisms haven’t been found):

i. James Codd, Gentleman, of Wateringbury, Kent and St Mary Whitechapel, Middlesex. Legatee in the will of [his uncle] William Pett, 1692.[4] Legatee in father’s will, 1706.[14] The parish register of St Mary Whitechapel records that on 23 Nov 1715, 'James Codd, a man bur[ied] at Lumbard Street.'[5] James Codd of the Parish of St Mary Matfellon al[ia]s White Chappel in the County of Middx Gentleman, left a will dated 29 Oct 1715, proved 5 May 1716. He mentions lands in Wateringbury, Kent, and left everything to his niece Jane Thornton of London St Botolph Bishopsgate, spinster, whom he appointed sole executrix.[6] He mentions no children in his will.

ii. Elizabeth Codd, legatee in will of [her uncle] Peter Pett, 1680.[11] Perhaps d. by 1692, not a legatee in will of [her uncle] William Pett, 1692.[4] She is not a legatee in her father’s will, 1706.[14] No further information.

iii. Beatrix Codd, b. by 1668 (age above 21 in 1689), d. living 2 Jul 1717, St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex,[12] m. London St Dionis Backchurch, 18 Jun 1689 (Vicar General licence dated 11 Jun 1689), Richard Thornton.[7][8] Richard Thornton, Citizen and Apothecary of London, of London All Hallows Lombard Street, b. c1666 (age about 23 in 1689). Legatee in will of [her uncle] William Pett, 1692.[4] Richard Thornton, wife Beatrix, and daughters Jane and Mary taxed in 1695.[13] Legatee in father’s will, 1706.[14] The will of "Richard Thornton of parish of Allhallows Lombard Street London Apothecary" is dated 1 Feb 1704[/5], and was proved 18 Nov 1708. He appoints his wife Beatrix Thornton executrix and mentions sons and daughters who are under age 21 (but not by name).[9] Issue, all bp. London All Hallows Lombard Street:[10] (1) Jane bp. 16 Jul 1691, universal legatee in will of James Codd, 1715,[6] (2) Mary bp. 22 Aug 1693, (3) Ann bp. 7 Oct 1694, (4) Richard bp. 11 Oct 1695, (5) Thomas bp. 9 Dec 1696, (6) Mary bp. 10 Apr 1698, and (7) Elizabeth bp. 6 Aug 1699.

Credit: John Brandon.

Notes:
1) The marriage to Beatrix Pett occurred in 1660, rather than 1667.
2) References to Beatrix Codd in 1692 will of William Pett refer to her as deceased, but do not call her a widow in the portion that is legible on Ancestry (much of the will is unreadable).
3) In APP, James Codd is assigned to St. Leger Codd’s second wife Anne, but because he is called a kinsman in his uncle William Pett’s will, he is probably a son by Codd’s first wife Beatrix. James continued association with his sister Beatrix (Codd) Thornton’s daughter Jane Thornton.
4. Apothecary Company apprenticeship bindings and freedom admissions do not begin until 1694 at FHL. Court minutes go back to 1661.
5. Percival Boyd created three family group records for William Codd that mention his son St Leger Codd (see below). He also created a record of the family of Richard Thornton, all available on findmypast.co.uk.
6. For the Pett family, see H. Farnham Burke and Oswald Barron, ‘The Builders of the Navy: A Genealogy of the Family of Pett,” The Ancestor 10 (1904):147-178. Beatrix is mentioned at p. 163.
7. There are no Codd(e) taxpayers in these www.british-history.ac.uk collections: (1) London Hearth Tax: City of London, 1662; (2) London Hearth Tax: Westminster 1664; (3) London Hearth Tax: City of London and Westminster, 1666.

Sources:
[1] Lenham, Kent, bishop’s transcripts, FHL Microfilm 1736839, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNVZ-CRH).
[2] St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey, parish registers, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1624/31280_199007-00283).
[3] John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5, 3 vols. (4th ed., Baltimore, 2007), 3:107-109; citing Lancaster County, Virginia Order Book 1666-1680:147 and Charles Arthur Hoppin, ‘Some Descendants of Richard Wright, Gentleman, of London, England, and Northumberland, Virginia, 1655,’ Tyler’s Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine 1 (1919-1920), 127-130 (https://archive.org/stream/tylersquarterly00tylegoog#page/n144/mode/2up).
[4] Will of William Pett, Prerogative Court of Canterbury [PCC] 230 Fane (1692) folios 279-281, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310610-00753/978030).
[5] St Mary Whitechapel, Middlesex, parish registers, Ancestry.
[6] Will of James Codd, PCC 94 Fox (1716) folios 52-53, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310755-00422/1000863).
[7] London St Dionis Backchurch, parish registers, Ancestry.
[8] George J. Armytage, Allegations for Marriage Licences Issued by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury July 1687 to June 1694, Harleian Soc. Pubs. 31 (London, 1890), 108 (https://books.google.com/books?id=AH0_AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA108). Found by John Brandon.
[9] Will of Richard Thornton, PCC 274 Barrett (1708) folios 101-103, Ancestry.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310726-00106/754610
[10] London All Hallows Lombard Street, parish registers, Ancestry.
[11] Will of Peter Pett, PCC 50 Bath (1680) folio 394, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310575-00258/704599).
[12] John M. L. Booker and Stephen Freeth, The Wiston Archives: A Catalogue (1975), 2:179. Found by John Brandon. (https://books.google.com/books?id=eOUIAQAAIAAJ&q=%22widow+and+executrix+of+richard+thornton%22&dq=%22widow+and+executrix+of+richard+thornton%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHjsmVgKDUAhXF7SYKHfYeCHYQ6AEIKDAA)
[13] London Inhabitants Within the Walls, London Record Soc. Pubs. 2 (London, 1966), pp. 285-299 (http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol2/pp285-299).
[14] Will of St Leger Codd, dated 9 Sep 1706, proved 9 Feb 1707[/8], Maryland Prerogative Court, Vol. 12, p. 195, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9068/007737516_00324).


Abstracts:

Will of William Pett Citizen and Apothecary of London
Will dated:16 Jun 1692
Will proved:2 Dec 1692 by oaths of Richard Hoare and Richard Edmondson executors
Requests burial at Coxton in the County of Kent as neare (to my late Father Mother and Brother who lye interred there) as may bee
Capitall Messuage called Hewett house and severall Lands in parishes of Willesborough and Ashford al[ia]s Eshensford in the County of Kent, by indenture 23 Apr 1669, by fine and recovery, to the use of mee the said William Pett and Elizabeth my then wife (since deceased) and the heirs of our two bodies
Two children by my late wife: Marriott Pett and Elizabeth Gell; in case they shall happen to dye without lawfull issue then and in such case I doe give devise and bequeath the said Messuages Lands and Tenements with thappurtenances unto my Cosen James Codd sonn of my late Sister Beatrix Codd deceased and to the heires of his body lawfully to bee begotten and for want of such issue to Beatrix Thornton wife of Richard Thornton and sister to the said James Codd, and to the heires of her body lawfully begotten or to bee begotten and for want of such issue then to remaine to my right heires for ever
Whereas the aforesaid parish of Allhallowes Lumbard streete doth owe and is indebted unto mee £100 ...

Note: Many others named, along with lands. Much of the will is illegible on Ancestry. He didn’t say his sister was a widow in the portion I read.
PCC 230 Fane (1692) folios 279-281 https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310610-00753/978030

Will of Peter Pett Cittizen and Mercer of London Being sicke and weake in body
Will dated: 1 Apr 1680
Will proved: 9 Apr 1680 by oath of brother William Pett
Wife: Jane Pett £600
Kinswoman Elizabeth Codd daughter of St Leger Codd the sum[m]e of Fifty poundes
Sister: Mary Bettenham £50
Nephew: Marriott Pett and niece Elizabeth Pett son and daughter of my Brother William Pett £50 each
Brother: William Pett £100, residuary legatee, executor
Friends and chapmen: John Freind of Canterbury, Thomas Marsden Junr., Samuell Fox of Rochester, Thomas Piper of Canterbury, and Edmond Harris of Canterbury 20s. each for rings
Witnesses: Ro: Edmondson, Roger Thrupp[?], John Wing Scr[ivener]
PCC 50 Bath (1680) folio 394 https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310575-00258/704599

Will of Richard Thornton of parish of Allhallows Lombard Street London Apothecary
Will dated: 1 Feb 1704[/5]
Will proved: 18 Nov 1708 by oath of relict Beatrix Thornton; power reserved to Richard Rider, Peter Pett Esq., and St. Nicholas Watts the other executors when they demand it
Desires to be privately interred without Funerall pomp in the parish Church of Alhalows where I now dwell
Bequest 40s. to poor of Allhallows Lombard Street Parish
Executors: 20s. each for remembrance rings to Richard Ryder of London Skinner, Peter Pett of London Esqr., and St. Nicholas Watts of London Merchant
Wife: Beatrix Thornton, executrix
He has children who are under age 21 (not named)
Witnesses: John Emes, Jno Hammerse, Henry Ellis, Samll. Stable
PCC 274 Barrett (1708) folios 101-103, Ancestry.
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310726-00106/754610

Will of St Leger Codd of Cecill County in ye Province of Maryland
Will dated: 9 Sep 1706
Will proved: 9 Feb 1707[/8] by oaths of witnesses Henry Anderson and Thos Simson; oath of Lothland Orchatt; Tho: Smyth renounced executorship
[Relevant bequests:]
Impr[imi]s I Give and bequeath to my Son James Codd all my Lands in the parishes of wateringbury Lenham & witchlin in the County of Kent in old England to him & his heirs Lawfully begotten forever and for want of such heirs my will is yt [that] all ye aforementioned Lands be Equilly devided between my two Sonns Berkley Codd and St Leger Codd & their heirs forever
...
4ly I Give to my Daughter Beatrix five pounds Ster[ling] & to my Daughter mary Perdison five shill[ings].
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9068/007737516_00324?pid=405124

Will of James Codd of the Parish of St Mary Matfellon al[ia]s White Chappel in the County of Middx Gentleman
Will dated: 29 Oct 1715
Will proved: 5 May 1716 by oath of Jane Thornton executrix
Has advanced £750 to Sir Thomas Style of Wateringbury, Kent, Barr[one]t; Style hath by Indentured of bargain Sale and demise 17 Jun 8 Anne, farm let to the said James Codd by the name of James Codd of Wateringbury, Gentleman, various lands [locations not specified]. Codd leaves these lands to his beloved niece Jane Thornton of the Parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate London Spinster, whom he appoints sole executrix.
Trustees: Friends John Trowt of White Chappel Gentleman and Roger Osmond of the same Distiller, for their pains, two Guineas apiece
Witnesses: Thomas Houmpharson Barber Tobias Harbrough Joyner John Coverly Serv[an]t to Mr Trowt Scr[ivener] all of White Chappell
PCC 94 Fox (1716) folios 52-53, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/5111/40611_310755-00422/1000863

Boyd’s Marriage Index
1660 Saint Leger Codd m. Beatrc Pett at Bermondsey St Mary Magdalen, Surrey

St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey (Southwark Borough), Surrey
1660 Oct 23 St Leger Codde and Beatrix Pett marryed
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1624/31280_199007-00283

London St Dionis Backchurch, Ancestry
1689 Jun 18 Richard Thornton of St Alhollowes Lombard Streett London and Beatrice Codd of ye same Parish were Maried ye Eighteenth day of June by Mr Blackall Lecherer
https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1624/31281_A101467-00062/6472453

London All Hallows Lombard Street, Ancestry
1691 Jul 16 Jane the Daughter of Richard & Beatrix Thornton was Baptized
1693 Aug 22 Mary the Daughter of Richard & Beatrix Thornton was Baptized
1694 Oct 07 Ann the Daufter of Richard & Beatrix Thornton was Baptized
1695 Oct 11 Richard the Sonn of Richard & Beatrix Thornton was Baptized
1696 Dec 09 Thomas the Sonn of Richard & Beatrix Thornton Baptized
1698 Apr 10 Mary the Daughter of Richard & Beatrix Thornton was born & Baptized
1699 Aug 06 Elizabeth the Daughter of Richard & Betrix Thornton was Baptized

Percival Boyd, Inhabitants of London, findmypast.co.uk

St Leger Codd S[on] & h[eir] bapt. Lenham, 23 Aug. 1638 mar. 18 May 1667 Beatrice da. of Anne Pett of Millsborough.

St Leger Codd, of Wateringbury etc. bp. 1638 Nov 23, adm. To Gray’s Inn 9 May 1656 m. Beatrice daur of Amy Pitt of Millsborough 18 May 1667, aet. 18. Source: MSS. Chart Ped. by J. Harvey Bloom

St Leger Codd, of Wateringbury & Barbadoes, s[on] & h[eir] bapt. Lenham 23 Aug 1638, adm. To Gray’s Inn 1656, m. 18 May 1667 Beatrice d. of Anne Pett of Hillsborough, then aet. 18.
His brother Anthony Codd, of St Martin in Fields ? Draper conveyed lands in Nettlested to James Codd. Source: MS. Chart Ped. by J. Harvey Bloom

[Question (NWM): Is this James Codd the son of St Leger Codd?]

Nathan
Nathan Murphy
2017-06-03 21:53:23 UTC
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Post by Nathan Murphy
iii. Beatrix Codd, b. by 1668 (age above 21 in 1689), d. living 2 Jul 1717, St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex,[12] m. London St Dionis Backchurch, 18 Jun 1689 (Vicar General licence dated 11 Jun 1689), Richard Thornton.[7][8] Richard Thornton, Citizen and Apothecary of London, of London All Hallows Lombard Street, b. c1666 (age about 23 in 1689).
London, England, Land Tax Records, 1692-1932, Ancestry

1692 Dec 25, Bishopsgate Within Ward, The First Division, Bell yard
Richard Thornton & Will[ia]m Marriott, lands: 2.8.0, 100 each, stock: 0.6.0 each

1693 Mar 25, Bishopsgate Within Ward, The First Division, Bell-yard
Richard Thornton & Will[ia]m Marriott p[ar]tners, lands: 2.8.0, 100, stock: 0.6.0 [Marriott:] 100, stock: 0.6.0

1693 Jun 24, Bishopsgate Ward Within, The First Division, Bell-yard
Richard Thornton & William Marriott, lands: 2.8.0, stock: 0.6.0 each

1693 Sep 29, Bishopsgate Ward Within, The First Division, Bell yard
Richard Thornton & William Marriott, lands: 2.8.0, stock: 0.6.0 each

1703 Mar 25, Bishopsgate Within Ward, Allhallowes Precinct
Richard Thornton, rents: 10.0.0 (p. 5)

1703, Bishopsgate Within Ward, Second Division of the parish of St Botolph Bishopsgate, North Side of Rose And Crowne Court
John Philips, Catherine Roberts, and Rich[ard] Thornton, rents: 0.16.0 (p. 14)

1705, Bishopsgate Within Ward, Bell yard
Richard Thornton, personal estate: 0.18.0, rent: 0.10.0 (p. 5)

1706, Bishopsgate Within Ward, Bell yard
Richard Thornton, personal estate: 0.18.0, rent: 0.10.0
& Mrs Hopkins Lodg[e]r, personal estate 0.12.0 (f. 6)

1707, Bishopsgate Within Ward, Bell yard
Richard Thornton, personal estate: 0.18.0, rent: 0.10.0 (p. 6)

1708, Bishopsgate Within Ward, Bell Yard
Richard Thornton, personal estate: 0, rents: 0.10.0 (p. 5)

1709, Bishopsgate Within Ward, North Side of Angell Ally
Richard Thornton, lands: 1.4.0 (p. 7)

1710, Bishopsgate Within Ward, North Side of Angell Allye
Richard Thornton, lands: 1.4.0 (p. 7)

1711, Bishopsgate Within Ward, North Side of the Ally
Richard Thornton, lands: 1.4.0 (p. 7)


Nathan
r***@yahoo.com
2017-06-04 00:03:30 UTC
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Thanks, Nathan ... great work!

Percival Boyd's research explains where the initial source got the reference to Beatrix "Pitt" as a first wife for St. Leger Codd, though I wonder where he got the precise "18 May 1667" marriage date, when it was actually in the month of October seven years previous.

It's good to have such detailed info on the first wife of St Leger Codd.
Nathan Murphy
2017-06-04 18:40:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by r***@yahoo.com
Thanks, Nathan ... great work!
Percival Boyd's research explains where the initial source got the reference to Beatrix "Pitt" as a first wife for St. Leger Codd, though I wonder where he got the precise "18 May 1667" marriage date, when it was actually in the month of October seven years previous.
It's good to have such detailed info on the first wife of St Leger Codd.
You've discovered an addition to Royal Ancestry and Adventurers of Purse and Person.

Best,

Nathan
Michael Cayley
2019-05-02 19:59:19 UTC
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Having just come across this extremely helpful discussion - thank you in particular to Nathan Murphy - as I was researching in connection with a Wikitree profile of St Leger Codd senior, I thought it might be helpful to some others to summarise the changes it points to from the information in Douglas Richardson's Magna Carta Ancestry. (I do not have access to Richardson's slightly later Royal Ancestry volumes).

1. St Leger Codd married Beatrice Pett, sister of William at St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, Surrey on 23 October 1660. This was his first marriage, before those listed in Magna Carta Ancestry.

2. They had at least three children:
- James, shown by Richardson as son of Anne Mottrom, who is mentioned by his uncle William Pett in his Will as son of his late sister Beatrice, and who inherited his father's properties in Kent, England, while his brothers St Leger Jr and Berkley were bequeathed the properties in Virginia.
- Beatrice, who married Richard Thornton in London in 1689 and who is referred to in William Pett’s will and described as James’s sister. She was alive in 1717.
- Elizabeth, mentioned in the will of Peter Pett as his kinswoman and daughter of St Leger Codd.

3. Magna Carta Ancestry lists a Beatrice as daughter of St Leger Codd Sr and a later wife Anne Bennett. St Leger’s Will mentions only one daughter called Beatrice without naming the mother. If he had two daughters called Beatrice, one by Beatrice Pett and the other by Anne Bennett, it is odd that his Will does not specify the mother. So Magna Carta Ancestry is likely to be mistaken in its identification of the mother.
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