Person:William Squire (1)

Robin Bush found a records dated 10 Apr 1554, drawn up at the time of his (Rev William Squire, rector of Charlton Mackrell) being deprived of his benefice. By this William "Squyer", rector of Charlton Mackrell, was described as aged 52 (i.e. born c1501-2), as having married Alice Skarlett three years before (c1550-1551) and was ordered to be deprived of his parish (D/D/Vc 66, f.10). The implication is that he continued to live with Alice (whose identity is now revealed for the first time) and produce children since, if he had agreed to separate from her, he would probably have continued as rector. Squire may possibly be identified with a William Squyer/Squyre recorded as a minister at Wellington, Somerset in 1524 and 1532 (Somerset Record Society, vol. 55 nos 937, 948), but he was evidently not a graduate and it is unlikely that his ancestry can be traced further.

Robin Bush also found more information on two brothers of Henry Squire, Edith's father, William and Andrew Squire. On 16 Jul 1611 evidence was given in the Consistory Court case by William Squyor of Charlton Mackrell, farmer, aged about 60 (born c. 1551), where he lived from birth (Ref: D/D/Cd 44). Another case on 23 Jun 1613 evidence was give by Andrew Squier of Kingweston, blacksmith, where he had lived for 5 years, before that at Fiffett (i.e. Fivehead) for 12 years, aged about 60 (born c 1553), born at Charlton Mackrell. These two individuals were clearly the uncles of edith Squire, wife of Henry Adams, the emigrant of 1638.

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The Reverend William Squire, born in probably 1502, was rector of Charlton Mackrell, Somersetshire, as early as 1545, as appears by the will of the Reverend George Levermore, vicar of Charlton Adam, dated September 21, 1545, proved December 11, 1545. In his will the Reverend Levermore left goods to “William Squyre, parson of Charleton Macarell.” During the reign of “Bloody Mary” (1553-1558) a list was made of all the married clergy in England, and they were ordered to divorce their wives to conform to the Roman Catholic law of clerical celibacy. Regarding this, a record about William was made April 10, 1554. In it he was described as aged fifty-two and as having married Alice Skarlett three years before. At the annual ecclesiastical visitation of Charlton Mackrell in 1554, the church wardens presented that “William Squyer was marryed and doth mynister ageyne, not separated.” Because he refused to give up his wife his rectorship was taken from him. No records have been found about what thereafter happened to him, but he apparently remained in Charlton Mackrell. A record of son William, dated July 16, 1611, furnishes the information that he was then of Charlton Mackrell, a farmer, aged about sixty years, and that he had lived in the parish since birth. A record about son Andrew, dated June 23, 1613, tells that he was then aged about sixty and had been born at Charlton Mackrell. He was a blacksmith residing in Kingweston and had lived there for five years; before that his home had been in Fivehead for twelve years. In January 1614, son Henry was a blacksmith in Kingweston. He had previously lived at Charlton Mackrell and in adjoining Charlton Adam.