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Facts and Events
Lydia Walby was baptised on 13th December 1747 at Aston in Hertfordshire, daughter of Dorcas Walby formerly Chapman and her husband George Walby, a butcher.
By 1764, Lydia had moved about ten miles south of Aston to the town of Hatfield, where she lived with her father's cousin, William Walby, who was also a butcher. William owned several properties, including Aston End Farm in Aston, which he left to Lydia in his will. William was buried at Hatfield in March 1764.
On 13th November 1766, aged 18, Lydia married a baker named Samuel Stroud. They were married at St Saviour's Church in Southwark on the southern edge of London.
Samuel and Lydia went on to have two children baptised in London (at the church of St Sepulchre Holborn) in 1767 and 1770. In 1769 Samuel took on Lydia's younger brother John as an apprentice. At this time Samuel was described as a citizen and baker of London. Some time between 1770 and 1771 the family left London and returned to Hatfield, where they went on to have a further twelve children baptised between 1771 and 1788, although it would appear that at least three of their fourteen children died young.
Back in Aston, Lydia's father died in 1776. His will does not mention Lydia, although her husband Samuel was one of the executors. Perhaps her father felt that having inherited the farm at Aston End in 1764 she was already well provided for.
Samuel died in 1792, being buried at Hatfield on 11th January. He was said to be 55 years old. Lydia survived him by seven years. She wrote her will on 24th November 1799. She left some money she had invested to her elder children, and also a pair of silver spoons to her brother John. Much of the remainder of her estate she left for her three youngest children, with some property left to her niece Martha Walby (her late brother William's daughter) in trust to look after the three youngest children.
Lydia died shortly after writing her will. She was buried at Hatfield on 26th December 1799, aged 52. Her mother outlived her.
References
- ↑ Church of England. Aston Parish registers, 1558-1980. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).
1747: Lydia Daughter of George & Dorcas Walby Dec[embe]r 13
- Church of England. Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and Ancestry.com (comp.). England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858 [database]. (Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, 2013)
PROB11; Piece 1343.
In the Name of God Amen I Lydia Stoude of the Parish of Hatfield in the County of Hertford being of sound mind and memory blessed be God for the same do hereby make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form Following First and principally I resign my Soul in to the hands of Almighty God my Creator trusting for pardon and remission of my Sins in the merits of my blessed Redeemer and through him to be made partaken of a joyful Resurrection my Body I Commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors and for such worldly Goods as it has pleased God to bestow upon me I dispose of them as follows all my Stock in trade household Goods horses and Carts and all other Effects upon the premises I inhabit at the time of my decease I direct to be sold and the money arising from the Sale to defray my just Debts and Funeral Expences and if any reside remains or Book Debts I bequeath it to be equally divided amongst my three Youngest Children Edward Stroude Hanah Stroude and Joseph Stroude their heirs and Assigns for ever and if at the time of my Decease I possess One hundred and fifteen Pounds Stock in the 5 per Cent in the Bank of England I give and bequeath it as follows I give to my Son W[illia]m Stroude his heirs and assigns Five pounds to my Son George Stroude his heirs and assigns 5 pounds Stocks to my Daughter Dorcas Stroude Five Pounds Stock to her and her heirs and assigns to my Son Benjamin Stroude his heirs and assigns Five pounds Stock to my Son John Stroude his heirs and assigns Five pounds Stock to my Son Jacob Stroude his heirs and assigns Five pounds Stock to my Son Samuel Stroude his heirs and assigns Five Pounds Stock and to Martha Walby all the residue and remainder of my money in the Stock in Trust for my three youngest Children Edward Stroude Hanah Stroude and Joseph Stroude their heirs and assigns with the interest due thereupon to be equally divided between the said three Children share and share alike about 20 stock each and the Interest of two years due upon the whole and all my wearing apparel Linen Plate China Books Picture of all sorts and kind soever I give to my Youngest Daughter Hannah Stroude except two Pair of Sheets 2 Pair of Pillow Cases and 2 Damask Table Cloth which I give to my Daughter Dorcas Stroude and if I Possess at the time of my Decease one paid of Silver Table Spoons I give them for a remembrance to my Brother John Walby and to my Son Edward Stroude in remembrance of his Father the Framed Print of W[illia]m Beckford Esq[uire] and I Constitute and Appoint Richard Colbourne and Martha Walbey Trustees and Executors to this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness thereof I the said Lydia Stroude have set my hand and Seal to this my Last Will and Testament Contained in One sheet of paper the 24th Day of November in the year of Our Lord 1799 Lydia Stroude (LS) Sealed Published and declared by the said Lydia Stroude the Testatrix to be her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed and attested [blank] her presence
?rison
Willetts
M[art?]ha Walbey
26th May 1800
Appeared Personally Edward Searson of Hatfield in the County of Herts Gentleman and Ann Willetts of St Albans in the same County Widow and made Oath that they knew and were well Acquainted with Lydia Stroude late of Hatfield aforesaid Widow deceased for several years before and to the time of her death which happened in December last and further made Oath that they are two of the subscribing Witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said deceased hereunto annexed bearing date the 24 day of November in the year of Our Lord 1799 and that they were present on the aforesaid day and Saw the said deceased Subscribe her Name thereto and they at the same time Subscribed their Names as Witnesses in the Presence of the said Testatrix and they the appears further say that immediately after Subscribing their Names as aforesaid together with Martha Walby the other Name Subscribed as Witnesses thereunto but who is an Executrix the Wife of Edward Searson one of the appearers held the said Will to the fire in order to dry the Ink when by accident Scorched that part where the said Names are Subscribed and which has since fallen to peices [sic] as now appears thereon - Edward Searson - Ann Willetts Same Day the said Edward Searson and Ann Willetts were duly Sworn to the truth of this affidavit Before me C. Coote Surrogate - Pr[?] [?]y Christian Not[ar]y Public
This Will was proved at London the twenty Eighth day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred before the Worshipful Charles Coote Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Martha Walby Spinster one of the Executrixes named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattles [sic] and Credits of the said decease [sic] having been first Sworn duly to Administer Power reserved of making the like grant to Richard Colbourne the other Executor when he shall apply for the same
- ↑ Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. Parish Registers (Hertfordshire Archives, Hertford).
Buried 1799 / December 26. Lydia Stroud a Widow
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