Person:Thomas Spire (5)

Thomas Spire’s origins have yet to be established. His first confirmed sighting is on 18th May 1703, when he married Sarah Hughes at the church of St John the Baptist in the city of Gloucester. Although they married in Gloucester, both were recorded as being residents of Ashton under Hill, a village some eighteen miles north-east of Gloucester.

Thomas and Sarah settled in Ashton under Hill after their marriage, where they had a son and a daughter called Thomas and Elizabeth baptised on the same day in May 1704. As it was only just over a year after their marriage it seems reasonably likely that the children were twins. Sadly both children died as babies a few weeks after their baptism; they were buried on the same day in June 1704.

Eighteen months after their children’s deaths, Thomas’s wife Sarah also died. They had been married for less than three years.

Two years later, Thomas remarried. His second wife was Ann Dyer and they married on 25th May 1708 at Wormington, about four miles east of Ashton under Hill.

After their marriage they returned to Ashton under Hill, where they had three children between 1709 and 1712, although their eldest son, another Thomas, died when he was two years old and their youngest daughter, Ann, died as a baby. Only their second child, Robert, survived to adulthood.

Robert married in 1731, and Thomas’s first grandchild was born the following year, although she died as a baby. Another three grandsons, Thomas, William and Charles, followed between 1733 and 1738.

In 1746 Thomas wrote his will, in which he described himself as a weaver of Ashton under Hill. He left all his property to his wife Ann for her lifetime, but stipulated that some parts of the estate were to be passed to others after her death. These included a house in Ashton under Hill which was let to a Richard Print and Benjamin Dyer (possibly a relative of Ann’s), which was to be given to his grandson Charles, and a piece of land called Ganderton’s Close at Elmley Castle in Worcestershire, which was to be given to his grandson Thomas.

Thomas also owned four looms, being a weaver. After Ann’s death the woollen loom and the new loom were to be given to their grandson Thomas, and the other two looms to their son Robert. The gears and slays used with the looms were to be split equally between Robert and Thomas, with the will stipulating that Robert should choose first.

Thomas’s will also mentions various household goods, including his bed, bestead curtains, bolster, pillows, coverlids, sheets, a great chest in his bedroom and his “biggest brass kettle”. Thomas appointed his wife Ann to be executrix of the will, and advised her to consult his good friends Thomas Harris of Evesham and John Baldwyn of Ashton under Hill.

Thomas died in 1748, being buried at Ashton under Hill on 20th October 1748. His burial record does not say how old he was, although it was over 45 years since his first marriage. Ann survived him by just over four years.

1. ↑ Bishop's Transcript, in Ashton under Hill, Gloucestershire: Parish Registers (Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester).

   Transcript of all the Christenings, Weddings & Burials in Ashton Underhill in the year 1748 / Buried / Thomas Spires October 20th

2.   Gloucestershire Wills and Inventories 1541-1858 (Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester).

   In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Spire of Ashton-Underhill in the County of Gloucester Weaver being in perfect Health & of Sound Intellect but contemplating the uncertain Enjoyment of either & the Certainty of Death do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner following, Vizt. I give & devise unto Ann my beloved Wife All that my Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances, situate in Ashton-Underhill aforesaid, & in the Occupation of Benjamin Dyer & Richard Print, for & during the Term of her natural Life & from & immediately after her decease I devise the same to my Grandson Charles Spire & his Heirs for ever. I likewise give to my said Wife my Close or inclosed Ground called Ganderton’s Close in Elmley Castle in Worcestershire to hold to her for her Life & after her decease I give the same Close with the Appurtenances to my Grandson Thomas Spire & his Heirs for ever. To my Wife I also give for her Life the Use of my four Looms, my Geers & Slays thereunto belonging, the Bed whereon I usually lye with the Bedstead Curtains, Boulster, Pillows Coverlids & two pairs of Sheets thereunto belonging, as also my Great, best Chest in the Room where the Bed stands, & my biggest Brass Kettle, & after the Decease of my said Wife I give & bequeath the above Particulars in the following Manner, to wit, The Woolen Loom & the new Loom I give to my Grandson Thomas Spire & the other two Looms I bequeath to my Son Robert Spire; To which said last-named Son & Grandson I also give the said Geers & Slays to be equally divided between them by chusing, my Son to have the first Choice; & the said Bed, Bedstead Curtains, Boulster, Pillows, Coverlids, Sheets, Chest & Kettle I give to my said Grandson Thomas. All the Rest Residue & Remainder of my personal as well as Real Estate not hereby disposed of I give & devise unto my said loving Wife Ann & her Heirs Executors & Administrators for ever & do appoint her sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament, desiring that she w[oul]d consult my good Friends Mr. Thomas Harris of Evesham in Worcestershire & Mr. John Baldwyn of Ashton-Underhill aforesaid in all Things relating to the Execution thereof. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this second Day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & forty six
   Signed sealed published & declared by the Testator to be his last Will & Testament in the presence of us who in his sight & at his Request have subscribed our names as Witnesses}
   Marg[are]t Welch
   Cha[rles] Welch
   Paul Ashmore
   Tho[mas] Spires (seal)