Person:Francis Dingley (5)

Francis Dingley was baptised on 29th March 1713 at Cropthorne in Worcestershire, son of Elizabeth Dingley, formerly Woodward, and her husband Samuel Dingley.

On 18th September 1740, aged 27, Francis married Ann Loxley at Eckington, about five miles south-west of Cropthorne, although they were both described as living at Cropthorne at the time of their marriage.

Francis and Ann went on to have nine children at Cropthorne between their marriage and 1758, although two died young.

Francis's father died in 1757. It is not clear when his mother died - there were burials of people called Elizabeth Dingley at Cropthorne in both 1753 and 1761 either (or neither) of which may be her. Ann's father died in 1758, and Francis acted as one of his executors.

Ann died on 1st December 1761, aged 45.

Francis's eldest daughter, Mary, married in 1769, and his first known grandchild was born the following year.

Francis remarried on 1st October 1772 at Cropthorne to Mary Burrows.

In 1783 Francis wrote his own will, in which he described himself as a gentleman of Charlton in the parish of Cropthorne. He left a house and land at Charlton to his eldest son Samuel, and varying amounts of money for his other children, noting that some of his married daughters had already received their marriage portion, and also noting that he had "already well provided" for his son Edward. He had also secured an income for his wife Mary for the rest of her life by selling a piece of copyhold land in exchange for an annuity of £54 17s 6d for their lifetimes - enough to live very comfortably on.

Francis died on 17th September 1786, aged 73. He was buried five days later at Cropthorne, and is commemorated with a large wall plaque inside St Michael's church there. Mary survived him.

1. ↑ Cropthorne, Worcestershire: Parish Register Transcript.

   1713. Christenings / Mar[ch] 29. Francis Son of Mr Samuel Dingley and Elizabeth his wife was baptized.

   This baptism has been linked to the Francis Dingley who married Ann Loxley on the basis that it is in the same parish in which he lived as an adult and at about the time implied by the age quoted on his marriage record. The fact that his father is described as "Mr Samuel Dingley" also indicates a similar status to that Francis had as an adult, describing himself as a gentleman.

2. ↑ England. Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991. (FamilySearch, Ancestry.com).

   bur. 22 Sep 1786, Cropthorne, Worcestershire: Francis Dingley

3. ↑ Cropthorne Monumental Inscriptions (Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry).

   Wall tablet:
   To the memory of / FRANCIS DINGLEY / He died September 17th 1786 aged 67 years [1718/9] / Also ANN wife of FRANCIS DINGLEY / she died December 1st 1761 aged 46 years [1714/15] / And also of ANN daughter of / WILLIAM and ANN DINGLEY / she died in infancy / Also WILLIAM DINGLEY / he died December 9th 1820 / aged 71 years [1748/9] / Also ANN wife of WILLIAM DINGLEY / she died September 30th 1823 / aged 78 years [1744/5].

4.   Will transcript.

   This is the last Will and Testament of me Francis Dingley of Charlton in the Parish of Cropthorn and County of Worcester Gentleman I give and bequeath unto my son William Dingley the sum of Three hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain Unto my daughter Elizabeth now the wife of Mr William Mannington who has received her Marriage Portion the sum of ten pounds of like money, unto my daughter Mary Loxley whose husband has also received her Marriage Portion the sum of twenty pounds of like money and unto my son Edward Dingley for whom I have already well provided I give and bequeath the sum of thirty pounds I give devise and bequeath unto my son Samuel Dingley and his heirs forever all that messuage garden and orchard with the appurtenances in Charlton aforesaid and other my real Estate there which lately belonged to Mr John Munslow I also give and bequeath unto my dear wife Mary five guineas and all that annuity or yearly rent charge of fifty four pounds seventeen shillings and six pence secured to me my Executors Administrators and Assigns for the lives of me and my said Wife and the longer liver of us by Messieurs Thomas Beesley Timothy Bevington Richard Lockett and William Lilley or some or one of them and issuable out of a Copyhold Estate in Charlton aforesaid which these or some of them lately purchased of me To hold the said annuity or yearly rent charge unto my said wife for all the Interest I shall have therein at the time of my death and I confirm to her for her Widowhood the Widows Estate which she shall be entitled unto if she survive me in the Messuage wherein I now dwell with the Garden Orchard Buildings and Piece of Meadow Ground in Cropthorn Meadow being the unsold part of my said Copyhold Estate with their and every of their appurtenances And I also give and bequeath unto my said dear Wife during her natural life the use of all such Household Goods and Furniture as belonged to her before we were married All the rest and residue of my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath unto my said sons William Dingley and Samuel Dingley their Executors Administrators and Assigns equally to be divided between them share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants Lastly I nominate and appoint my sons William Dingley and Samuel Dingley Executors of this my Will and Testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the the seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and eighty three
   Francis Dingley
   Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator Francis Dingley as for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his sight and at his request have subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto
   Cha Welch
   John H Griffiths
   Cha Welch Jnr
   
   The Executors above named appeared and were sworn in common form of Law and also that the personal Estate of the deceased at the time of his death did not amount to One thousand pounds Before me
   Edward Taylor Surrogate