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Facts and Events
Mary Smith's origins have yet to be established. Her first confirmed sighting is on 10th April 1706 when she married a butcher named George Walby at Ardeley in Hertfordshire. Although they married in Ardeley, neither of them were living there at the time of their marriage: George was from Aston, whilst Mary was living in the nearby small town of Stevenage.
After their marriage Mary and George settled in George's native Aston, where they had three sons baptised between 1709 and 1713. George died in 1715 aged just 36. Mary survived him by 41 years but never remarried.
Mary's sons George and Benjamin both married in autumn 1740. George and his wife stayed in Aston, and Mary's first grandchild was baptised at Aston in November 1740.
Mary's son William died in 1753, aged 41. He had never married, and Mary administered his estate. She was described at that time as being a butcher herself. Mary wrote her will in January 1755. It names both her surviving sons, George and Benjamin.
Mary was buried at Aston on 18th October 1756. Her burial does not say how old she was, but it was over fifty years since she had married. She had lived to see at least seven grandchildren born in her lifetime.
References
- ↑ Church of England. Aston Parish registers, 1558-1980. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).
1756
Mary Walby - widow - Oct[obe]r 18
- Hertfordshire, England. Huntingdon (Hitchin) Archdeaconry Wills. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies)
146HW68.
In the Name of God Amen I Mary Walby of Aston in the County of Hertford Widow Do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in form & manner following that is to say First I Recom[m]end my Soul to Almighty God hoping for the Pardon of all my Sins thro[ugh] the merits of Jesus Christ my Body to be Decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executor herein named And as to my Worldly goods I give & dispose of them as followeth vizt. First I give & Bequeath unto my son Benjamin Walby Five Pounds of Lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid to him by my Executor herein after named within Six years next after my Decease All the rest of my Estate Real & Personal Book Debts Notes of Hand Household goods, Stock and Effects of what kindsoever or wheresoever I give & Bequeath to my Son George Walby (my Funeral charges & just debts being first paid & Satisfyed) And do make & appoint him the said George Walby Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament in Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this Twentieth day of January 1755.
Mary Walby
This Will was Sign[e]d Sealed & delivered in the Presence of us who have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses to to the same at the request of Mary Walby the Testatrix
Jno. Barnwell
John Rice
John Pallett
Proved &c at Shephall 22 Dec[embe]r 1756 before the Rev[eren]d John Barnwell Cl[erk?] Master of Arts Surrogate of the Worshipfull Timothy Neve Doctor in Divinity Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon &c by the Oath of the Ex[ecu]tor &c To whom was Granted Ad[ministra]c[i]on &c being first Sworn &c Saving &c
Dec[embe]r 22d 1756 George Walby the Eldest Son & Sole Executor of this the last Will & Testament of Mary Walby (lately deceased) hath Sworn to execute & perform the same According to Law &c before
Jno. Barnwell
Surrogate
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