George was a yeoman, a word which describes a free tenant who was allowed to sit on juries and vote in county elections. In Elizabethan times he was a free man who owned his own farm and worked with his hands but was not a hired labourer but neither was he seen as a gentleman. A gentleman would employ someone else to do the work rather than do the work himself. The yeoman, to be a success, was a hard worker and a 'yeoman worker' was one prepared to put in hard toil.
SUGGESTED FAMILIES
The appearance of these different surname spellings within the family means we must look further afield for his place of birth. The first question to ask ourselves is - were there any other families living in Wiltshire with the surname of Baster at about this time? Not just Baster either for the surname could have been Basten or Bastor, or even Bastard, since this was the name given when the estate of his son Joseph was administered in 1750. It was also the name his son, also Joseph (1698-1758), used on several occasions.
In the area around Shalbourne where he lived, the variety of surname spellings also draws attention to another family, who were using a very similar name to that of Baster and were living in Kintbury in the early part of the 17th century. This family used the surnames of Buster, Bastin, Baston and Basston and appear to have originated in Wanborough, Wiltshire, to the south of Reading, and about 20 miles to the east of Kintbury. Despite there appearing to be no connection between the two families, the similarity of the names cannot be ignored and makes them a serious contender when searching for George‘s family.
|
The MPs for Great Bedwyn, which included Shalbourne, were Sir Walter Smith and Richard Hardinge, both of whom were Royalists. Hardinge was the Groom to the Bedchamber to the then Prince of Wales (later Charles 2nd) and we can take it that both MPs expected the local population to support their views when Charles 1st raised the royal standard at Nottingham in August 1642.
However Wiltshire actively supported the parliamentary cause, displaying a spirit of violent anti-Catholicism, and when attempts were made to raise a party for the king it met with vigorous resistance from the inhabitants
Twice in George's early childhood, perhaps while he was still an infant, the Civil War came to this quiet little area of Wiltshire. The first battle occurred in 1643 at Wash Common, Newbury, 12 miles from Shalbourne followed the next year, by another about the same distance away.
The war, when it came to Wiltshire, badly affected the people who lived in this quiet little county for when the army arrived the people were faced with the harsh reality of war, which soon engaged them as much as the soldiers.
Armies on the march scoured the countryside for miles around in the search for food, and when quartered in a small village all the local food and stores were requisitioned. Often the army commander did not have the means to pay for what had been taken and the people were left without even the means to buy food.
As with most wars, when battles and skirmishes began, people packed up what they could carry and left, hoping to find somewhere safe to stay, perhaps a distant relative or friend but whether they were home or not the army still plundered the fields. Trees were chopped down, firewood and farm animals stolen and, when food could not be found, homes broken into and ransacked. By the time the army had moved on the fields were empty and local people, who in normal times subsisted on a poor diet of bread and pottage (a thick soup or stew made by boiling vegetables, grains, and, if available, meat or fish), were without the wherewithal to buy food and were soon starving. Fortunately, by the end of 1644, the war machine had moved elsewhere.
Wiltshire suffered greatly during the Civil War, changing hands several times, and twice - between September 1643 and October 1644 - battles took place within the twelve mile area mentioned earlier. It is important that we should consider these events which affected the area around Shalbourne for we know there is no trace of George’s baptism in it or any of the nearby parishes.
In September 1643, when George was still a very young child, if not an infant, Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex - the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army - arrived in the area. He was on his way to London having come from the twenty-six day siege of Gloucester. On the 18th he was attacked by Prince Rupert's cavalry in rearguard action and was driven into Aldbourne village, (part way between Swindon and Hungerford) before being forced to retreat and quarter his army at Hungerford.
Two days later, on 20th September, the First Battle of Newbury occurred, at Wash Common to the south of the town, fifteen or so miles from Aldbourne. The Royalists arriving on the field first which allowed the king to quarter his army in the Newbury. Essex’s army however, which had been marching for many days and had little food, arrived late and were quartered in open fields and Roundway Hill. The weather was miserable, turbulent and rainy and the men were soaked during the night, but next morning the strong winds soon dried their clothing.
The battle, which began at six in the morning and fought over twelve hours, ended in stalemate with the Royalists eventually withdrawing from the field at night and leaving it to the Parliamentarians. Much to the relief of the locals, the war then continued on elsewhere - but not before the retreating armies had taken almost every means of sustenance from the area.
On 10th April 1644 the war returned when the king reviewed his nine thousand strong army at Aldbourne Chace. On 26th May Essex took Abingdon in Berkshire, and again the armies moved away from the Wiltshire/Berkshire area, to fight battles elsewhere.
Two months later, 10th June, Essex arrived again and stayed in Hungerford for a night before embarking on the unsuccessful and humiliating Lostwithiel campaign. Later the same year, in October, Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester quartered in the town and in the following month king Charles' forces arrived on their way to Abingdon.
In August the Royalist MP Hardinge for Great Bedwyne, and a friend of the Earl of Essex, became the bearer of a message from Charles (later Charles 2nd), Prince of Wales to Essex but the mission did not succeed.
Once more the two armies started to move towards Wiltshire and Berkshire. On 5th October, Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, who by then would have preferred a negotiated peace, quartered his men in Hungerford, moving to Salisbury a few days later. A little above four miles to the north of which is Woodford.
By the 15th the king was advancing on that city, by which time Manchester was in Reading and then he moved into Hampshire as other Parliamentary forces were moving into Andover, which they were forced to quit on the 18th. They then joined Manchester at Basingstoke, and in turn were joined on the 20th by Essex.
The king reached Kingsclere, about 13 miles east from Shalbourne, by the 21st and the following day was again at Newbury while the Parliamentary force reached Thatcham by the 25th and the following day the two armies were facing each other.
Two day later the Second Battle of Newbury took place at Speenhamland, close by to Newbury. By then Essex was ill and was not able to attend, and despite the London Trained Bands apparently going into battle singing psalms, this time the Royalists were successful but with a serious loss of men and material.
From this it will be seen that the whole area in a 12 mile radius around Shalbourne was affected by these events which took place at the time we are searching for George’s birth.
|
Have we found it at the nearby Aldbourne Chase, where the skirmish between Prince Rupert and the Earl of Essex took place in September 1643 just before the First Battle of Newbury.
I feel a possible contender for the paterfamilias comes from the following family.
Woodford village is a little to the north of Salisbury (about 30 miles to the south west of Shalbourne) and on the river Avon. A Robert Bastarde of Woodford had four children: Elizabeth Basterd born c1591 who married a Robert Blake in 1611 at Woodford; Walter Bastarde bap 1596; Dorothie Bastard bap 1599; Alice Bastard bap 1602 who married Laurance Martin at Woodford in 1630.
The above Walter (senior) and Edith had several children. His eldest daughter, Katherine Bastard, eldest son, Walter Baster, and daughter Mary were baptised at Woodford in 1628, 1631 and 1634 respectively.
The market town of Aldbourne is eleven miles north of Shalbourne, and on the Swindon road. The town at one time had considerable trade including it being a centre for fustian weaving, a heavy mixture of cotton and linen, and it is worth noting here that George and his son were weavers.
Were Walter and Edith his parents? No marriage has been found for them and it is entirely possible that he is the same Walter of Woodford. Additonally, and even more important to us, Walter and Edith had another son, George Bastond baptised at Adlbourne on 31 January 1640, and just a few years after the Civil War came to the area.
Of course it is entirely possible that George’s family came from elsewhere, but until someone suggests an alternative, this baptism is the one I would favour as being for our George.
|
Judging by the success of his sons and grandsons he was a capable man who could probably turn his hand to deal with most problems which came his way especially those which concerned his family and home. He probably also had a little land in cultivation, perhaps a small farm, and made his own ale. He attended church every Sunday, and the rest of the time kept himself out of trouble. He was obviously a trusted man because he was called upon to help take inventories and, fortunately for us, following his death an Inventory was taken of his modest, at least by today's standards, estate.
As a yeoman he was a well respected and trusted member of the community and as such was expected to undertake certain community duties. As an instance he was one of the bondsman in the settling the debts of John Barns of Hungerford who died in 1691 owing money to the drinkhouse. Life was certainly less complicated in those days, with most country folk working on the land for poor pay, and in consequence they had few material possessions.
Nine years later, on 25 April 1669, Allees King of Childrey, Berkshire, at Shalbourne church and they settling down in the village, baptising their two sons, George in about 1670 and Joseph in 1672, and then raised them in the same village.
George was well thought of in Shalbourne and trusted and he had friends in Hungerford, Kintbury, Inkpen as well as in Shalbourne, and obviously knew everyone in his own village. He was well acquainted with the Rumball, Cooper and Addams families, and when John Barns died in 1691 George, along with Richard Cooper, took an inventory of the man's goods, which were precious little and consisted of 3 plow harnesses and 3 pair of cart harnesses, which they sold to pay off the man's debts at the drinkhouse!
Extracts from 3 Wills/Inventories in which he was involved
and what they tell us about him
George Bastor (1) was a yeoman of Shalborne [estimated birth circa 1643] and had a son George (2) who was described as George Baster a weaver of Ham. George (1) was the second Bond and his son George (2) the first Bond.
Regarding kinship, it is worth noting the words: "Thomas Clements, yeoman of Inkpen, George Baster of Ham and John Bance, cooper of Inkpen, are next of kin" - this means they had some blood relationship to each other and to Edward Balt of Hungerford.
Re: Thomas Clements had married Frances Miles on 1 June 1653 at Inkpen. Amongst their children was Thomas Clements bap 1 Sep 1654 at Inkpen who married Elizabeth King on 25 July 1688 at Inkpen. George (1) Baster's wife was Alice King who would have been born about 1649 - and the two women were probably related to each other.
Re: John Bance: John (1) Bance of Inkpen, the cooper of Inkpen, baptised a son, John (2), on 3 Feb 1692 at Inkpen. There is no mention of his wife.
Extract 1: Abstract of Wills at Hungerford, Wilts: Edward Balt of Hungerford (Deanery of Sarum). Bond comm. Estate of Edward Balt of Hungerford 1) Bond 27 December 1702 nos. Thomas (X) Clements de Inkpen yeoman, Georgiu Baster de Ham, Wilts, weaver, Johem Bance de Inkpen, cooper, Lugau Sheppard de Ham, Berks, baker, William Trayborne de Hungerford, Berks, weaver (all sign). Thomas Clements, George Baster and John Bance are next of kin and take oath before Joseph Wells 27 December 1702 (Edward Balt, Intestate) (next bond is George Bastor, senior of Shalborne 22 June 1702, son is George Baston of Ham, weaver) (Ham was once in Wiltshire. Now in Berkshire.) (No:10583) (NOTE: Two spellings of Baster in one document.) (George 1 and George 2.)
Extract 2: Extract 2: Abstract of Wills at Hungerford: John Banks of Shalbourne, inventory bond. Inventory of goods of John Barns of Shalbourne (Deceased 18 February 1691) bargained and sold to Richard Cooper and John Cheepman to pay his debts in the drinkhouse. 3 plow harnesses, 3 pair of cart harnesses. John Cooper, Thomas Pocock, Robert Tuck exhibited 27 May 1692 by Richard Cooper creditor dct defunct; bond: presentes nos Richum Cooper de Shalbourne et Georgius Baster, ibd yeoman et Johem Cooper de eadem yeoman in £200. 27 May 1692. The above Richard Cooper principal creditor of John Barns late of Shalbourne intestate. (No:7488)
Extract 3: Abstract of Wills at Hungerford: 1692 Thomas Rumball of Shalbourne, taylor, 25 Feb 1691 to John Alexander and Elizabeth his wife to Clement Rumball son of my brother John Rumball to John Waters and Frances his wife to Frances Waters daughter of John Waters residue to John Rumball son of my brother John Rumball, deceased, who is sole executor (makes mark). Witnesses: George Baster, John Cooper, Edmund Addams. Probate 23 June? 1692.
Inventory of George's estate after his death
George lived in a small rented cottage in Shalbourne, Wiltshire which comprised a kitchen, hall, cellar and two upper chambers, one over the kitchen and the other over the hall, and it seems likely that he slept in the one over the kitchen since this would be warmer.
Surprisingly his wearing apparel and money in his pocket were valued at £2. Little today but compared to its value now, would be worth about £160. The same high valueof £2 was placed on the firewood he had stored, suggesting he may have been a localsupplier.
The simplicity of his life can be seen from the contents of his home which were valued at £5 15 shillings (today worth about £504).
In his kitchen were 4 pewter plates, 1 pewter flagon, a brass candlestick, 2 kettle pots, one brass kettle, one brass pan, a warming pan, a skillet, 3pair of old spoons, 1 pair of hand irons, 1 grid iron, 1 spit, 1 frying pan, 1 pair of tongs, a fire shovel, pot hooks, an iron candlestick, an old table, two jointed stools, a dresser board, an old form, shelving, 2 each of earthen mugs, platters and dishes, a wooden ladle and one dozen trenchers. Value £2. 12.00d
In the hall was 1 table board of 2 yards of old wainscot, 3 shelves and 2 forms worth 8 shillings.
In the cellar were 1 hogshead, 1 barrel, 1 tub on a stand, 1 kiver tub, 1 well bucket and chain, 1 bucking tub (like a dolly tub for laundry). Value 9-. From the appearance of the kiver tub, which was used as a cooler when brewing, we can see he was probably our earliest known brewer.
In the chamber over the kitchen were a chaff bed (said to be one of the most comfortable beds available to man), a bolster and other linen value 6/- and in the chamber over the hall were 1 feather bed, an oak bolster, 2 feather pillows, 1 bolster, curtains and valences on strings, 2 blankets, 2 bolster cases, 2 pillow cases, 2 old table cloths and all other linen. £2.
The total value of his estate was £51.15.3d. (today £4400). Additionally ‘three old card whoolers and similar’ were listed and valued at £41. 15.03d (today £3500). This large outlay suggests he was a weaver as was his son George, the weaver of Ham.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment