Person:Jeremiah Puddephatt (7)

Jeremiah Puddephatt's origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 22nd October 1694 when he married Mary Smith at Great Gaddesden in Hertfordshire. Between 1696 and 1716 Jeremiah and Mary had ten children baptised in the neighbouring parish of Hemel Hempstead.

At least three of Jeremiah and Mary's ten children died young. From at least 1708 onwards the family was described as living at Wood Farm to the north of the town, close to the border with Great Gaddesden (the boundary was changed in the 1930s to put Wood Farm into Great Gaddesden parish). Jeremiah was described variously as a farmer, husbandman and yeoman.

At least two of Jeremiah's sons were sent away to be apprentices: Joseph in 1720 to train as a carpenter in Caddington and Samuel in 1732 to train as an apothecary in St Albans.

Mary died in 1737, being buried Hemel Hempstead on 28th June 1737. Jeremiah outlived her by nearly twelve years.

1. ↑ Church of England. Hemel Hempstead Parish Registers, 1558-1949. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   Burials 1749 / May 11 / Jeremiah Puddephatt. Farmer.

2.   Hertfordshire, England. Huntingdon (Hitchin) Archdeaconry Wills. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies)
   106HW72.

   Summary
   Will written: 7 Nov 1743
   Will proved: 12 May 1749 at Bovingdon by Jeremiah Puddephatt the executor
   Testator: Jeremiah Puddephat [he signs 'Puddephatt'] the elder of the Wood otherwise the Hill Farm, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
   Bequests ("having made a Surrender within the Manor of Hemelhempsted with the Members to the use of this my Will"):
   * 2 copyhold tenements or dwellings etc. at Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead in occupation of George Feary and John Child Miller - to son Jeremiah for his life, then to grandson Jeremiah (son of son Jeremiah)
   * 2 copyhold messuages or tenements etc. in town of Hemel Hempstead in occupation of John Fisher and William Varney "whereunto I have been heretofore Admitted Tenant upon one or more Conditional Surrender made by Henry Rolph" - to son Jeremiah provided he pays:
   * £50 to son Joseph within 6 months of decease - if Joseph dies before legacy paid then to Joseph's children share and share alike
   * £20 to daughter Anne Puddephatt within 6 months of decease - if she dies without issue before legacy paid then retained by executor
   * £20 to daughter Mary Godwin within 6 months of decease - if she dies before legacy paid then to her daughter Mary Godwin, now an infant
   * Residue of estate "moneys leases cattle stock and implements in husbandry and all rest of Goods Chattles and personal estate" to son Jeremiah
   Executor: son Jeremiah
   Overseers: testator's cousins John Puddephatt of Bennetts End and Bennett Puddephatt of Hemelhempstead - to each of whom a gold ring of 1 guinea value
   Witnesses:
   John Puddephatt
   Bennett Puddephatt
   W. Ginger
   Wm Cox, Clerk to Mr Ginger