1-Aldred BYCCOMBE, son of Althred BYCKOMBE, was born est 1560 and died before 2 February 1611 in Old Cleeve, Somerset, England.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Aldred BYCCOMBE's birthdate is unknown, and it is thought he was born about 1560, based upon his marriage date. However, he may have been born almost twenty years earlier, and married late in life, because he is mentioned in a property lease dated in April 1562. Another possibility regarding this lease, is that his father may have died and the lease was newly made in the names of his children. Aldred was a resident of Old Cleve in Somerset, and a clothier which was a trade that was continued by his son Aldred, and possibly for a short time by his son William. In April of 1562, Aldred Byckham held a lease (with Isott Byckham and William Byckham) for eleven acres in St. Decumans, Somerset, England, from John Trevelyan. This property was known as Hasley Meadow or Haselake, and had previously belonged to a John Englysshe. By 1581, Aldred was paying the Tudor Subsidies for his lands in the Hundred of Williton Fremanors, in Old Cleeve, Somerset. Aldred later paid Lay Subsidies in Old Cleeve, Somerset, in 1596. Aldred named his brother William, his wife Ellen, and his children in his will dated 21 July 1610. These were (in order of being named) Charity, Mary, Joane, William, Aldred, and Anne Lanham. Mary, Joan, and William were under the age of twenty-one at the time their father's will was written, and Anne was deceased. Aldred left a legacy to Anne's daughter Isott Lanham. One legacy that is of importance in following Aldred Byccombe's line is that of the silver salt and silver spoons. They appear in the wills of his sons and grandsons. According to the probate of his will, Aldred died before 2 February 1611, probably in Old Cleeve, Somerset, England. His name has also been recorded in various records as Aldred BICCOMBE, and Aldred BYCKHAM.  Will of Aldred Byccombe dated 21 July 1610, proved 2 February 1611. 

Aldred married Ellen CRIDLAND on 15 June 1580 in Spaxton, Somerset, England.^{1 2} Ellen CRIDLAND died before 20 June 1646 in Old Cleeve, Somerset, England. They had six children: Anne, Aldred, Charity, Mary, Joane , and William .

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Based upon the date of her marriage to Aldred Byccombe, Ellen Cridland was probably born between 1560 and 1565, and may have been quite a bit younger than her husband. She not only served as the executrix of her husband's will, but also served as the executrix of her son William's will. In her own will, she mentioned property that had been left to her by her son William, and bequeathed the same to her remaining son Aldred. One was a property called Soerchalfelax that was located in the parish of Spaxton, and the other was the property called Easelake in the parish of St Decumans. This was the property that Ellen's husband Aldred Byccombe had held by lease in 1562. As well as other relatives, Ellen also named in her will, her sister Anne Ashe, her daughter Charity Slocombe, her daughter Joane Studdier and husband John Studdier, her son Aldred, and Aldred's daughter Ellen.  Will of Ellen Bickham dated 24 June 1642, proved 20 June 1646. 

2-Anne BICKHAM was born est 1582 and died before 21 July 1610.

Anne married Richard LENHAM before 21 July 1610. They had one child: Isott .

3-Isott LENHAM was born before 21 July 1610.

• Note by Carlene Morrison:
Isott Lenham is mentioned in her grandfather Aldred Byccombe's will dated 21 July 1610, her uncle William Bickham's will dated 2 March 1626, and her aunt Charity Slocombe's will dated 21 November 1642. Her grandfather left her twenty shillings, and her uncle left her a pair of gloves valued at ten shillings. She is mentioned in her aunt's will as kinswoman Isoll Oatford.

2-Aldred BICKHAM was born est 1584 and died before 24 May 1652.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Aldred Bickham was undoubtly the eldest son, and possibly the eldest child. His father, for whom he was named, stated in his will that his wife Ellen should have the custody of all household goods and plate during her life, and after that time a "good part thereof" was to go to his son Aldred, "who is to succeede in the house and not be removed." Aldred also was to receive the silver salt and silver spoons that were a family heirloom. Not only was Aldred named in his father's will, he was also named as one of the overseers in the will of his brother-in-law Philip Slocombe, was an overseer and a witness to his brother William's will, was named as an overseer in his father-in-law Richard Slocombe's will, was sole executor of his mother's will, and named in his sister Charity's will. Aldred was a clothier by trade, as his father had been, and was bequeathed the drying rack from his brother William that William had received from their father. Aldred paid lay subsidies on his land in Old Cleve in 1624, and left various properties to his sons in his will. To his son Aldred, he left a meadow called Kensford Mead and Turks Close which had a coppice woods for the term he had left in them. To his son William he left all the lands, not given to his son Aldred, that were held by a lease from George Luttrell Esquire of Dunstan Castle. These were three closes called the Groves, and three closes called the Long Close, with a reversion of one acre that was then in the possession of William Strong. This one acre was part of a field called Five Acres and was in the parish of St. Decumans. This may have been part of the original property called Haselake or Haseley Meadow that was originally leased from John Trevelyan in 1562. William was also to receive a house and garden in Watchet, then in the possession of Attowill Porter, for the term of years left. And finally, Aldred left to his son Hugh the grounds called Chalflockes in Spaxton, on which there was an earthen fort. Aldred referred to these as the Overlands. Aldred left no land to his eldest son, Richard, and it is thought as Richard was already married with a child of his own, he had probably received his share prior to his marriage. Aldred did "leave unto Richard Bickham my First sonne a silver salt guilded with gold and six silver spoons according to my grandfathers will to remayn forever to the oldest sonne of his line and blood." This is the second mention of the silver salt and silver spoons. The first was when Aldred Byccombe willed them to this Aldred Bickham, his son. Aldred also made a bequest to his brother-in-law, Hugh Slocombe, of twenty shillings yearly for the term of his life. This twenty shillings was to come from the income of the lands that Aldred had bequeathed to his sons Aldred and William, each son to pay ten shillings per year.  Will of Aldred Bickham dated 27 February 1651, proved 24 May 1652. 

Aldred married Joan SLOCOMBE , daughter of Richard SLOCOMBE and Dorothie , on 2 June 1619 in St. Decumans, Somerset, England. Joan was born est 1599 and died before 7 February 1652. They had nine children: Richard, Ellen, Aldred, Johan, Anne, William, Hugh, Mary , and Isott .

• Note by Carlene Morrison:
Joan Slocombe was named in her father's will, dated 23 May 1638, as being the wife of Aldred Bickham. Her father, Richard Slocombe, left twelve pence to each of her children, and also named her husband as one of the overseers of his will. It is thought that Joan must have died prior to the time that her husband wrote his will, because he did not mention his wife, however, he did leave a legacy to his brother-in-law Hugh Slocombe.  Will of Richard Slocombe, dated 23 May 1638, and proved 10 February 1641. 

3-Richard BICKHAM was born about 1621 and died before 7 July 1660.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Richard Bickham was named in his father's will as the first born son. Therefore, he was to receive "a silver salt guilded with gold and six silver spoons according to my grandfathers will to reamayn forever to the oldest sonne of his line and blood." Richard's father Aldred also left a legacy to Richard's wife Tamasin, and their son Aldred. Richard's father did not leave any land or property to him in his will. This was probably due to the fact that Richard was already married with a son of his own, and his father had surely given land to him prior to or at the time of his marriage. Richard certainly did hold land, because he left a legacy of all of it to his son in his own will. These properties consisted of (1) the freehold messuage and tenement with buildings, garden and appurtenances that were located on East Street in Taunton. This property had been purchased from Thomas Lodingrum. (2) And the copyhold lands held of the Manor of Taunton Deane that were on or near Silver Street within the parish of Taunton St. Magdalene. This property had been lately purchased from a Mr West. When mentioning these lands, Richard made two or three references to the custom of the manor, or the Manor of Taunton Deane. This manor belonged to the Bishop of Winchester for many centuries and was unique in having its own form of comprehensive land registration. The area covered included (among others) the parts of Taunton St Mary outside the borough, and those parts of Taunton St James which had not formed part of the estate of Taunton Priory. A like system of registration was applied to the Priory Manor. All owners of property held of the manor were required to register any transaction or change of tenancy involving them with the manor's officers at Taunton Castle. Richard was also a clothier, following in the trade and footsteps of his father and grandfather. No wonder current day individuals believe that the Richard Bickham of Burlington, New Jersey, in 1698, who was a weaver, was a descendant of the Aldred Byccombe family. That has yet to be proved. Richard also continued the family legacy by stating in his will that his son Aldred should have and enjoy "my silver gilt salt and halfe a doezen of plaine silver spoones marked with the letters A.B" during his lifetime and then they were to go to his oldest son. It is with this statement that we can confirm that Aldred Byccombe's father probably had the initials A. B. as well. Richard further stated that if his son should die without issue, then this family legacy should go to his own brother and then to that brother's oldest son. Richard also named his brother Aldred in his will, and his sisters, but did not mention his brothers, William and Hugh.  Will of Richard Bickham dated 16 June 1660, proved 7 July 1660. 

Richard married Thamasin TURNER on 22 September 1645 in St. Mary Magdalen, Taunton, Somerset, England. Thamasin TURNER died after 7 July 1660. They had one child: Aldred .

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
How many ways are there to spell the given name of Thamasin? For Thamasin Turner, it has been written as Thamasyn, Thomazine, and probably a number of other ways. Thamasin was the way her name was written in her father-in-law's will. Aldred Bickham gave unto his "daughter in law Thamasin my sonne Richards wife" twenty shillings in gold. Her name was written as Thamasyn in her husband Richard's will, and in the probate statement for his will, she is listed as Thomazine. No matter how it is written, it is a lovely name.

4-Aldred BICKHAM was born in 1650 ³ and died before 11 March 1709. ⁴ Another name for Aldred was Aldred BICKHAM , Alderman of Taunton.⁵

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Aldred Bickham was born in 1650, and was named the following year in his grandfather's will. Grandfather Aldred Bickham left to his grandson five pounds, and also named him as the son of his son Richard Bickham. When Aldred's father Richard Bickham wrote his will ten years later, he passed on the bequest that had been made by Aldred's grandfather. This amount had been invested and was to be turned over to Aldred when he reached the age of twenty-one. Aldred also received from his father the legacy of the silver salt and silver spoons, in addition to six of Richard's best silver bowls. Upon Aldred's death, if he died without leaving a son, the legacy of the silver salt and silver spoons were to be bequeathed to a Bickham, a brother of Aldred's father Richard. It appears that we have lost sight of the silver salt and silver spoons at this point and need further research to determine what actually happened to them. Aldred also received land and property from his father. He was bequeathed a freehold messuage and tenement, with buildings and garden, that were in the town of Taunton. This property had lately been purchased from Thomas Lodgingrum, and was located on East Street. He also received the copyhold lands that his father held of the Manor of Taunton Deane. These lands were on or near Silver Street in the parish of Taunton St. Magdalene, and had been purchased from a Mr. West. Aldred was to pay his mother fifteen pounds yearly out of the income from these lands. It is unknow if Aldred followed in the family trade of clothier. He did become an alderman of Taunton. Aldred was living in Taunton St. Mary at the time he wrote his will. (All we currently have is an abstract.) He named his wife Elisabeth, and his daughter Elisabeth who was the wife of John Southerton, a serge maker. He also mentioned Bickham Escott and Aldred Escott, sons of Richard Escott of Escott Farm in Carhampton. There was a sketch of a shield with Aldred's will. The shield was divided into four quarters by a crossed band, and each quarter contained a bird. Difficult to determine how it really looked from the sketch.

• Recorded will abstract of original wills; Taunton, Somerset Records Office. Research by Wendy Angove of Wales, copy provided by Judy Lynn Slocum. The will abstract for Aldred Bickham preceded that of Elisabeth Bickham, on page 192 from a book of hand-written abstracts. "Aldred Bickham of Taunton St Mary Gent Jany 2, 1709 my wife Elisabeth B - my d Elisabeth wife of John Southerton of Taunton, serge maker. Bickham Escott & Aldred Escott, sons of Richard Escott of Escott Farm in Carhampton. by Elisabeth Bickham Relict March 11 1709. [Shows the sketch of a crest.]

Aldred married Elisabeth BOWEN . Elisabeth BOWEN died before 10 June 1714. They had one child: Elisabeth .

• Recorded will abstract of original wills; Taunton, Somerset Records Office. Research by Wendy Angove of Wales, copy provided by Judy Lynn Slocum. The will abstract for Elisabeth followed that of Aldred Bickham, on page 192 from a book of hand-written abstracts. "Elisabeth Bickham of Taunton, Widow May 26 1713 Nicholas Jacoby my B in Law. My sister in law Mary wife of my Brother Henry Bowen - he is the exr June 10 1714"

5-Elisabeth BICKHAM .

Elisabeth married John SOUTHERTON on 12 July 1709 in St. Mary Magdalen, Taunton, Somerset, England.⁶

3-Ellen BICKHAM was born in 1623 and died on 2 August 1717.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Ellen Bickham was named for her paternal grandmother, and was bequeathed the elder Ellen's best crock and one of her best brass pans. She was also named in her father's will as Ellen Escott, and was bequeathed his shaving cup that was ribboned with silver and guilded with gold. Her husband Richard Escott was called son-in-law and named as one of the overseers of her father's will. Her father also left a legacy of five pounds each to her two daughters, Mary and Johan. Ellen was again named in her brother Aldred's will, and her husband was named as Richard Escott of Escott in Carhampton, and also made one of the overseer's of her brother's will.

Ellen married Richard ESCOTT , son of Hugh ESCOTT and Mary FORD , in 1649. Richard was born in 1622 and died on 5 August 1673. Another name for Richard was Richard ESCOTT of Escott Farm, Carhampton. They had two children: Mary and Johan .

• Note by Carlene Morrison:
Additional information regarding the Escott family may be found online at a site established by Richard Vernon Wilson. The URL is http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hills/family/

4-Mary ESCOTT was born before 7 February 1652.

4-Johan ESCOTT was born before 7 February 1652.

3-Aldred BICKHAM was born before 1626 and died before 26 June 1671.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Aldred Bickham was first mentioned in his uncle William Bickham's will, dated 2 March 1626. William bequeathed to "Aldred Bickham Jun" the sum of 23 shillings 1 pence, and a silver spoon. Aldred was also named in his father's will and was bequeathed property, as well as being named executor. The younger Aldred was to receive a meadow called Kensford Mead, and Turks Close, with a little coppice woods, for the term of years remaining. These appear to have been held by a lease from George Luttrell Esquire of Dunstan Castle. Aldred was also named as one of the overseers of his older brother Richard's will, and was to receive property in the event of the death of Richard's wife and son. Aldred was a clothier, as was his father and grandfather before him. The trade of clothier seems to have followed right along with the name of Aldred. When Aldred Bickham wrote his own will, he bequeathed to his son Hugh all the goods that belonged to the clothing trade, such as looms, racks, sheets, proofs, and all other materials belonging. Aldred named his wife Mary, and his two children Hugh and Mary, in his will. He did not mention his brother William in his will, however, he did name his brother Hugh and all of his sisters. He also named his uncle, Hugh Slocombe, and continued a legacy to Hugh that had first been given by his father, Aldred Bickham.  Will of Aldred Bickham dated 20 October 1670, proved 26 June 1671. 

Aldred married Mary BICKHAM , daughter of Hugh BICKHAM and Mary , about 1653. Mary was born est 1638 and died before 2 February 1672. They had two children: Hugh and Mary .

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Mary Bickham's birthdate is presently unknown, but it is known that she was the youngest daughter of Hugh Bickham and his wife Mary. Based upon the estimated ages of her siblings, she was probably born circa 1638 and married at the age of fifteen. Her surname did not change upon marriage to Aldred Bickham. Mary Bickham's will is quite revealing if one takes into consideration the wills of her husband's family, and currently available publications that mention a few of her siblings. Her family was from Bridgewater in Somerset, and she lived with her husband in Old Cleeve, also in Somerset. She left a legacy to the parish church in both locations. The legacies that she and her husband left to their two children are discussed in their respective abstracts. Mary left a legacy of ten pounds in gold to her sister Katherine Bickham, and a piece of gold with a value of twenty shillings to each of her brothers William Bickham and Richard Bickham, and a like piece of gold to her sister Margaret Atkins. Other legacies were only to take place if her two children should die before reaching the age of twenty-one. In that event, one hundred twenty pounds was to go to her brother Richard Bickham of Bristol to be divided among his children, and the other five hundred and twenty pounds was to go to her sister Margaret Atkins, now the wife of Alexander Atkins of Bridgewater, to be divided among her children from both husbands. Margaret's first husband was named in Mary Bickham's will as Francis Tucker. Mary Bickham's father, Hugh Bickham, his two sons William Bickham and Richard Bickham of Bristol, his daughter Margaret Tucker wife of Francis Tucker, are all mentioned in the "Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire" by Noyes, Libby, and Davis.  Will of Mary Bickham dated 8 December 1761, proved 29 February 1672. 

4-Hugh BICKHAM was born after 1650.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Hugh Bickham was under age at the time his father, Aldred Bickham, wrote his will in October 1670. Hugh was to receive five hundred pounds to be invested until he reached the age of twenty-one. He was also to receive all the goods that belong to the clothing trade, however, it is uncertain if Hugh actually followed this family occupation. In addition Hugh was to receive Aldred's clock, chest, desk, one silver tankard, six silver spoons, and a bedstead plus the items which belonged to it. All of these things Hugh was to receive at age twenty-one. He was also to receive Aldred's rings, and any estate left to his mother upon her death. A few months later, 8 December 1671, Hugh's mother wrote her will. She left to her son the sum of five hundred pounds, to be paid unto him when he reached the age of twenty-one. This was the original bequest from his father. Mary also gave Hugh twenty pounds more to be paid at the time the other items were given to him. She continued to give and bequeath to Hugh all the clothing tools and other materials belonging to the clothing trade. She also left the clock, chest and desk, silver tankard, one bed, bedstead and all things there unto belonging, six silver spoons, and a chest. All of these items were originally left to Hugh by his father, and Hugh's mother confirmed this in her will. Hugh's mother had stated in her will that her son and daughter be brought up, educated and maintained by her executors. She then named her brother Richard Bickham (of Bristol), Alexander Atkins of Bridgewater (her brother-in-law) and Stephen Landslark of Nynehead as the executors of her will. These three men would have had responsibility of the two children - Hugh Bickham and Mary Bickham.

4-Mary BICKHAM was born after 1650.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Mary Bickham was also under age at the time her father, Aldred Bickham, wrote his will. Mary was to have five hundred pounds placed in trust for her with his overseers until she reached the age of twenty-one. A few months later, this bequest was mentioned again in her mother's will. The older Mary Bickham bequeathed to her daughter Mary the five hundred pounds left by Mary's father, and an additional twenty pounds. Again, this sum was to be given to Mary at the age of twenty-one. A number of household items were also left to the young Mary and included a silver cup, a silver dish, four silver spoons, a silver bowl, two feather beds and bolsters, a rug, two blankets, four feather pillows, a pair of curtains with fringe, two pair of fine sheets, a spruce chest, and all of her mother's best wearing apparel.

3-Johan BICKHAM was born before 1630.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Johan Bickham was named in her father's will and left a legacy of two hundred pounds. Nothing was said about her being under the age of twenty-one, so she must have been born before 1630. Johan was also named in her brother Richard's will. This legacy was an amount of one hundred pounds that was to be paid to her within a year of the death of Richard's wife and son Aldred. Johan was left a sum of twenty shillings by her brother Aldred in his will dated October 1870. It appeared that Johan was still unmarried at that time.

3-Anne BICKHAM was born before 1630.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Anne Bickham was also not mentioned as being under the age of twenty-one in her father's will, an indication that she was also born prior to 1630. Her father left her two hundred pounds as he did her other sisters. When Anne's brother Richard wrote his will, he requested that his brother Aldred pay "unto my sister Anne Dymont" fifty pounds. This amount was to be paid within a year after the death of Richard's wife and his son Aldred. Thus we learn that Anne has married prior to June of 1660, however nothing more is known about her husband other than his surname of Dymont. Ellen's brother Aldred left her sixteen shillings in gold in his will.

3-William BICKHAM was born after 1630.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
William was named in his father's will and left a bequest of land and property. This consisted of a portion of the lands Aldred had held by lease from George Luttrell Esquire of Dunstan Castle. There were three closes called the Groves, and three closes called the Long Close. A close was an enclosure, usually an enclosed field near a farmhouse. William was also to have the reversion of an acre of land, then in the possession of William Strong, that was lying in a field called Five Acres in the parish of St. Decumans, and a house and garden within the borough of Watchet then in the possession of Attowill Porter. William was also to receive one hundred fifty pounds when he reached the age of twenty-one. William Bickham was not mentioned in the will of his brother Richard, nor in that of his brother Aldred, and it is thought that he may have died prior to the time Richard's will was written. Two different wills have been located that may belong to William, however, a firm identity has not been made at this time.

3-Hugh BICKHAM was born after 1630 and died after 20 October 1670.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Hugh Bickham was also named in his father's will, and mentioned as being under the age of twenty-one. He was bequeathed a sum of two hundred pounds, and the term of years and estate that Aldred held in grounds called Chaflockes. This ground and earthen fort was in the parish of Spaxton, and was the property that Aldred had received from his mother Ellen. It was the same property that came to her through the administration of her son William's estate. Hugh was not mentioned in his brother Richard's will, however his brother Aldred left him his best horse or mare with the saddle and bridle. Further research is required into the life of Hugh Bickham, especially as the name is one that appears in the United States a century later.

3-Mary BICKHAM was born after 1630.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Mary Bickham was born after 1630 and was mentioned in her father's will as being under the age of twenty-one. Aldred left his daughter Mary two hundred pounds, fifty of which was placed in the care of the widow Harris of St. Decumans. It is thought that due to Mary's young age and her mother no longer living, that she may have been residing in the widow's household. Mary's brother Richard left her the sum of one hundred pounds in his will, and her brother Aldred left her twenty shillings in gold.

3-Isott BICKHAM was born after 1630.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Isott Bickham is also named in her father's will as being under the age of twenty-one. His bequest to her was also two hundred pounds, fifty pounds being placed in the hands of Lewes Edwards, a gentleman of Carhampton. Isott may have been living in the Edwards household due to her young age and her mother no longer living. Isott was also mentioned in her brother Richard's will and bequeathed the sum of one hundred pounds. She was also bequeathed twenty shillings in gold by her brother Aldred.

2-Charity BICKHAM was born est 1586 and died before 26 January 1643.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Charity Bickham's age has been estimated based upon the marriage date of her parents, however, this would place her age at about 35 at the time of her own marriage. It is known that she was over the age of twenty-one when her father wrote his will, 21 July 1610, as he names three of his other children as not yet being twenty-one. Charity was married only four years before the death of her husband. He had mentioned their son Giles and an unborn child, however, no evidence has been found that this infant survived. Charity was named in her mother's will as Charity Slocombe, and received twenty pounds plus a number of household items. Her own will was dated 21 November 1642 and proved 21 January 1643. While she named her son Giles Slocombe as executor, and also left legacies to other family members, she made no mention of any other children, a daughter-in-law, or grandchildren.

• The Will of Charity Slocombe, of the parish of Old Cleeve, in the county of Somerset, widow, is dated November 21, 1642. She devises 20 shillings to the poor of Old Cleeve, and 20 shillings to the poor of Gothurst. To her brother, Aldred Bickham, her sister, Joane Studdier, and her kinswoman, Isoll Oatford, she gives a piece of gold to each. She devises small legacies to Richard Bickham and John Staddier, the younger. To Isoll Bickham she gives a hood and safe gard and petecoat and wascoat, and one handkerchief with a broad lase. To her kinswoman, Mary Wills, of Envier, widow, she gives her best cloake. To Mary Gey, she gives her best hatt her ould petecoat and one doulis smock and a blew apron and an under coat of gingerline. She also gives legacies to Anne Sully, the daughter of Thomas Sully, and to Mary Willis. To each of her god children she gives two shillings, and gives ten shillings to be distributed amongst her brother Aldred Bickham's servants, that is twelve pence to each. The whole resudue she gives to her son, Giles Slocombe, whom she appoints her sole executor. This will was proved January 26, 1643.
This information was provided by Judy Lynn Slocum, and is from Dr. Charles Slocum's first book published in 1980.

Charity married Philip SLOCOMBE on 20 November 1621 in Old Cleeve, Somerset, England.⁷ Philip was born est 1596 and died before 2 July 1625. They had one child: Giles .

• Will Transcription by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. ⁸
Philip Slocombe's will was dated 18 February 1634, and proved 2 July 1625.

In the name of God Amen the eighteenth daie of Februarie Anno Domini 1624 I Philip Slocombe of Gotehurst in the countie of Somersett yeoman beinge sicke of bodie but in perfecte minde and memorie praised be god doe make this my laste will and testamente in manner and forme followinge First I bequeath my Soule to All mighty god my maker and redeemer and my bodie I committ to the earth from whence it came It[em] I give to the cathedrall church of welles Foure pence, It[em] I give to my sonne Gyles Slocombe three poundes, It[em] I give unto my childe that my wife now goes with if it live and survive Eight Poundes to be putt to intreast for them by my overseers hereafter named from the tyme of my death untill they come to the Age of one and twenty yeares It[em] my will is that if either of these my children doe dye before he or shee doe attaine to the Age of one and Twenty yeares then the moneyes before given shall remaine to the survivor of them. The rest of my goods and estate whether in chattelles money debtes or plate or whatsoever, not herein before given nor bequeathed my debtes paid and my funerall discharged I give and bequeathe unto Charitie my wife whome I make and ordaine my whole Executrix And I ordane and appointe Richard Linham Aldred Bickham John Studdier and William Bickham my brothers in lawe to be my overseers to see this my laste will and testament performed. In wittness hereof I have sett my hand in the presence of John Studdier Signum Thome Sully William Bickham.

3-Giles SLOCOMBE was christened on 28 September 1623 in Old Cleeve, County Somerset, England.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Giles Slocombe was named as the son of Philip and Charity Slocombe in his christening record, however it is uncertain when he was born. He (and an unborn child) were named in his father's will 18 February 1624. Giles was also named in his maternal grandmother's will 24 June 1642, and named as executor in his mother's will 21 June 1642. He was the executory of his mother's will which was proved 21 January 1643 when he was at least twenty years of age. Giles' mother was from Old Cleeve in Somerset, and his father was a yeoman of Gotehurst, also in Somerset. Giles also owned property in Gotehurst and is mentioned in a lease dated 10 April 1656. This property was a "messuage, thirty acres of land, meadow and pasture, and the appurtenances in Andersfeild in Gotehurst then late in the tenure of Giles Slocombe". This certainly leads one to believe that Giles was in the Somerset area until he was at least thirty years of age, and perhaps older.

2-Mary BICKHAM was born after 1589 and died before 2 March 1626. Another name for Mary was Marie BICKHAM.

2-Joane BICKHAM was born after 1589.

Joane married John STUDDIER before 18 February 1624. They had two children: William and John .

3-William STUDDIER was born before 2 March 1627.

3-John STUDDIER, Jr.

2-William BICKHAM was born after 1589 and died before 12 June 1627.

• Abstract by Carlene Morrison. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
William Bickham was undoubtly named for his uncle William Byccombe, brother of his father Aldred Byccombe. He was not yet twenty-one when his father wrote his will in 1610 but may have been learning the clothing trade, because his father left him "the newe racke standing in the meadow" and a pair of tucker's shears as part of his legacy. A rack was probably equipment associated with the clothing trade, perhaps a drying rack of some sort. William left this rack to his brother Aldred in his own will. William did not marry and was still a bachelor and living in Old Cleve when he wrote his will. He named members of his family and other individuals, and named his mother Ellen as executrix of his will. Family members named were his brother Aldred Bickham, his brother-in-law John Studdier, Philip Slocombe (also a brother-in-law), Isott Lanham who was his neice, and Aldred Bickham Jr. and William Studdier who were his nephews. William also mentioned other of his brother's and sisters' children, however their names were not given. William was in his 30s at the time of his death.  Will of William Bickham dated 2 March 1626, proved 12 June 1627.