the curate's line

Bridget Skinner- Ratleiffe

Bridget Skinner was the daughter of Humfrey Ratleiffe a cooper from Northampton and not
Sir Humphery Ratcliffe of Elstow. Humfrey's will makes it absolutly certain as it contains:-
'Also I do give unto Bridgett Skinner my daughter the wife of Edmund Skinner of Pitsford'

As yet no dates have been found  for Bridget's birth, marriage or for Humfrey Ratleiffe's.

Christian wife of Humfery Ratliffe buried, 6 Oct 1610
Hunfery Ratley buried, 15 Dec 1612
Holy Sepulchre, Northampton.


Will of Humfery Ratleiffe of Northampton, cooper, made 18 Feb 1611.

Of good and perfect memory ….... and prayse be unto Allmighty God do make constitute
and order this my last will and testament in manner and forme following
First I bequeath my soul unto allmightye God my maker and unto Jesus Christ my redeemer
and unto the holy ghost my ?saviour? Trusting to be saved only by the merits of Jesus Christ
and my bodye to be buried in the church of St Sepulchre in the towne of Northampton
Also I give unto my three sons Simon Ratleiffe, Thomas Ratleiffe and John Ratleiffe 12d a
piece
Also I do give unto Bridgett Skinner my daughter the wife of Edmund Skinner of Pitsford in
the county of Northampton, clerk, the table in the parlour and the forme therewith used,
the middle brasse pott, that one bedstaed which stood in the little chamber and the fether
bedde boulster, too pillows one coverlett and one blankett which was belonginge and used
to the said bed in the lifetime of my wife
Also I give unto my grandchild Agnes Foster the bedsteade and the bed with the furniture
thereunto belonging in the parlour next the street
All the residue of my goods and chattles whatsoever I give unto William Foster my sonne in
law whom I make sole executor of this my last will and testament
In witness whereof I put my hand the day and date able written


X the mark of Humfery Ratliffe
Witnessed by John Ratleiffe

Proved 22 Mar 1612/13
Goods worth ?22 13s 8d

Ref: Northamptonshire Will 2nd series Book R page 99, Humphrey Ratliffe of Northampton, cooper, 1612. MW40

 

Children:

Simon Ratleiffe
Thomas Ratleiffe
John Ratleiffe
Bridget Ratleiffe married Edmund Skinner
Rachael Ratleiffe married William Foster 14 June 1596 by licence.
At Pisford, both of the parish of St Sepulchre in the town of Northampton.
NRO Ref: 269p/102

At this time Edmund was rector at Pisford, so was conducting the service for Bridget's sister.

Rachael is also the 'sister Foster' that Bridget names in her Will.

William buried 5 Dec 1630
Rachael buried 8 Mar 1644/5, widow.
At Holy Sepulchre

 

Humfrey Ratleiffe. Freedom of the town.

At an Assembly holden in the Guildhall of the said towne of Northampton the thirde day of Septermber in the yeare of our Lorde 1593 and in the fyve and thirthith yeare of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God of England France and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith etc Before Lawrence Ball maior of the said towne of Northampton John Bryan, Thomas Craswell, John Kirtland, Thomas Humfrey, John Hulledd and Thomas Cowper late maiors of the said towne
Stephen Larke of the said town of Northampton haberdasher was elected and chosen to be one of the bailiffs of the said towne in the roome and place of William Samwell late one of the sargeants deceased

At Assembly holden the daye and yeare above written in the Guildhall aforesaid before the said Maior and Aldermen the four and twentie comburgesses and the eight and fortie commoners of the Comon Counsell of the same towne then and there assembled it was agreed upon as followeth, viz:

Imprimis it is agreed that one Humfrey Ratleiffe a cowper shall have his freedom of this
towne for foure pounds of lawfull English money to be payde to Mr Maior to the use of the
towne at his making free

Humfridus Ratleiffe cowper paid his £4 on 15 September 1593

NRO: Assembly Book of the Borough Council 3/1 Page 467

It's possible he bought his position as a freeman because he hadn't earn it by serving his apprenticeship there, as he appears not to be in the apprenticeship register. So he maybe from out of the county.

 

Research into Bridget and Humfrey Ratleiffe carried out by S. Comont professional genealogist of Northampton. See links page for Sue's web site.

 

Extract from the Will of Humfery Ratleiffe of Northampton, cooper, made 18 Feb 1611.

"Also I do give unto Bridgett Skinner my daughter the wife of Edmund Skinner of Pitsford in
the county of Northampton, clerk, the table in the parlour and the forme therewith used,
the middle brasse pott, that one bedstaed which stood in the little chamber and the fether
bedde boulster, too pillows one coverlett and one blankett which was belonginge and used
to the said bed in the lifetime of my wife"

Ref:Northamptonshire Will 2nd series Book R page 99, Humphrey Ratliffe of Northampton, cooper, 1612. MW40

Edmund Skinner

Edmund was the son of Thomas, b 1510, d 1575, and Elizabeth (.....of Newdigate) of Ledbury, in Herefordshire. Thomas was a son of Stephen Skinner, b 1474, d 1544 (1). Edmund gained a B.A. degree at Oxford (2), becoming a subdeacon on 13 Feb 1576, deacon on 26 Sep 1574 and priest on 25 Sep 1575, ordained by the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. On March 2nd, 1582-3, he succeeded Edmund Lytler, as Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, Northampton, and four years later, 2nd March 1587-8, he became Vicar of St. Giles, Northampton. There is no record of his Institution, but he was Inducted 16th March 1582-3. (Peterborough Induction Book). (3)

He appeared at the Bishop's Visitations of 1591 and 1594, as Vicar of both churches.
On June 22nd 1603, he was licenced by Thomas, Bishop of Peterborough, as a Preacher.

On 6 Aug 1594 the Bishop of Lambeth instituted him as rector of Pitsford, he resigned
St. Sepulchre's on becoming Vicar of Pitsford, and quitted St. Giles' in 1596.

He married Bridgett, daughter of Humfrey Ratleiffe, she died 17 Jan and was buried
18 Jan 1629-30 at Pitsford.

 

1. "Skinner of Strangford End.," Burke's Landed Gentry 1969, p. 562.
2. Fosters Alumni Oxonienses., vol iv, pg 1361.
3. A History of the Church of St Giles Northampton, Serjeantson. R.M. Rev. M.A., F.S.A. 1911.
     W. Mark & Co., Ltd., Northampton. Pgs 40-1, 87-8, 283-4, 286-7.  

Note:

I've deleted the information I took from other Skinner sites for the ancestors of Edmund Skinner.

If their research into his line is as reliable as the information about Bridget's father, i.e. as being Sir Humphrey Ratcliffe of Elstow etc or the Hon Humphery Ratcliffe of Warwickshire, then it's veracity can't be relied on.

I've left Edmund's father as Thomas for the moment.
 

 
Edmund's entry in Foster's Alumni Oxonienes:-

Skinner, Edmund; B.A. supd.13 Feb 1575-6; perhaps rector Pisford, Northants 1594;
(s.Thomas of Ledbury, co. Hereford);  father of Robert 1606. See Ath.iv 842;  & Foster's Index Ecclesiasticus.

 

How Edmund came to St Giles, Northampton.

John Foster, who was vicar 1584-1587, does not appear to have been a credit to his cloth. A few weeks after his institution he was presented in the Archdeacon's Court (18 June,1584), "for makinge dyvers unlawful marriages at Lychbarrow while he was there."

During his four years of office at St. Giles', he entirely neglected the keeping of the parish register, which is a blank from 1584-1587. The living was sequestrated in 1587, and Edmund Skinner, Vicar of St. Sepulchre's, was put in charge of the parish. From 1587-1590, Skinner is sometimes spoken of as Vicar, and at other times as Sequestrator of St. Giles. (3, ibid)

Edmund Skinner, was also summoned before the Archdeacon in 1589, for a curious breach of the marriage laws. The churchwardens of St. Giles', presented him for marrying one Hills and his wife "uppon Mondaie beinge the xiijth of Januarie, during a forbidden season." (3, ibid)

In those days marriages were illegal from Advent Sunday till eight days after Epiphany, and Skinner celebrated the marriage in question one day too soon. He was dismissed by the Archdeacon with a caution.

 
Will of Edmund Skinner, Rector of Pitsford, dated 27 Oct 1625, proved 9 Jun 1628.

Burial in chancel of Pitsford and 10s towards buying a sanctus bell for the steeple of Pitsford. To be paid to the churchwardens when the parishioners there will agree and consent to the buying of such a bell. To son Edmund the house in which he now dwells and land purchased of T. Lovell to enter thereon at death of my wife, Bridget.
To daughter Phillip Skinner £80 at marriage. To children of Mr Robert Skinner, Katherine Bett and Rachel Warren (sic) 10s each. To my grandchildren 6s 8d each. Rest to wife Bridget, executrix. Estate worth £222 14s 4d.

Ref: A Calendar of Wills relating to Northampton & Rutland, page 112. Book AV.358