William CARDROWE (d.1592). Little is known about William except that he was a successful merchant who lived and was buried in the Parish of Cerne Abbas in 1592. We do know from surviving documents in the Municipal Records of Dorchester⁽¹⁾ that on 7th September 1557, just two years prior to Elizabeth I being crowned Queen of England, he purchased a messuage or tenement situated on the south side of High West Street in St Peters Parish in Dorchester. For an ambitious merchant Dorchester is ideal as it sits at a major crossroads controlling the distribution of goods landed from the continent at Weymouth. To the west lies the main coach route to Exeter and eastwards the road to Wareham. Roads to the north led to Yeovil and Sherborne whilst north east lay Blandford with its access to Salisbury and onto London. The strategic importance of it's position was recognised by the Romans who fortified the town and over the years many merchants had settled there. In 1557 when William bought his house in St Peters Parish it was a busy market town which had changed very little by the time John Speed drew his map of Dorchester in the year 1611.

William's name next appears in 1566 in another Court case, this time as the plaintiff. It is clear from a decree issued in Chancery on 10th May 1566⁽²⁾ that William Cardroe a merchant of Cerne in Dorset had bought three closes of land, meadow and pasture, called 'Rodehill' in the parish of Minterne, and of a copse or " springe of woode," with the ground and soil thereof, about 4 acres, in the parish of Hermitage for £100 from Richard Stampforde a yeoman of Cerne. He paid him £56. 13s. 4d of that sum, but the rest to be paid thereafter, and promised to make to William a good and sufficient estate in the premises in fee simple. This Stampforde eventually refused to do and also demised the premises to a George GOULD and his son Simon for a 99 year lease. The suit also states that Simon Gould 'has since cut down the hedges, quicksetts and woods growing about the estate'. The Court found against Stampford who was ordered on the 28th Nov 1565 to convey the premises to William in fee simple, discharged of the lease made to George Gould and his son. A commission was also to be appointed to examine into and assess the waste and spoil done by the defendant and his assigns, which was alleged to have been great, the defendant to satisfy the plaintiff for the same.

Clearly there were still problems which were not resolved until Trinity term 1569 when the Municipal Records of Dorchester show :-. The suit between William Cardrow (the plaintiff) and Richard Stampford and Joane his wife (deforciants) who acknowledge that six acres of land and ten acres of meadow and seven acres of wood at Minterne and Hermitage are the right of William. And for this acknowledgement he gave them £40. This judgement was quite important as these lands subsequently descend to his grandson.

William wrote his Will⁽³⁾ on 24th October 1588 (transcribed below) from which it appears that he was already sick. He asks to be buried in the Parish Church at Cerne Abbas but the burial registers for St Mary the Virgin Church have not survived for this period so we cannot be sure exactly when he was interred there. My best guess is that it was not long after he wrote his will, possibly in 1589. The Will also makes it clear that he has already made sufficient provisions "In land and living" for his son and heir Henry CARDOWE, and therefore only leaves him a gold ring. He appoints Robert MASON and Anne his wife my daughter as executor and executrix of his will but this does not appear to have been proved before the Probate Court as there is also a letter of Administration dated 14th August 1591 (Ref 185) which appears in the PCC Administration records awarding administration of the estate of William CARDROWE of Cerne Abbas to Henry CARDROWE his son. There is a further LA attached to Henry's will (unfortunately written in Latin) dated the 6th June 1592 when administration is handed over by the court to his son Henry CARDROWE. The reason for this is probably because they had both died. Certainly Henry's will makes it clear that his sister Anne MASON is deceased by 1592 and bequests are to her children .

The Will of William CARDROE Merchant of Cerne Abbas
Dated 24th October 1588 : Proved 6th June 1592. PROB 11/80
For so much as the life of man is uncertain and nothing more sure than that by death each man shall end his life, the hour and time whereof being uncertain it is better exercised in meditating on the mercy of God than worldly affairs I therefore William CARDOWE of Cerne Abbas in the County of Dorset being sick of body and yet thanks be to God of good and perfect memory do make my last will and testament this 24th day of October in the thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith and the year 1588 in manner and form following.

First : I bequeath my soul to Almighty God assuredly thinking to be saved by the death and passion of Jesus Christ and to partake of the joys of heaven prepared for Gods elect of which number I faithfully believe myself to be,

My Body : I Will to be buried in the chancel of the parish church of Cerne in christian like manner. And as touching my worldly goods and chattels my Will is as follows:-

I Give : To the Cathedral Church of Bristol twelve pence; To the Parish Church of Cerne six shillings and eight pence;

Item : To the poor of Cerne thirty three shillings four pence to be bestowed at the discretion of my Overseers;

Item : To the poor men's box of St Andrews Milbourne three shillings and four pence;

Item : I give to the poor hospital of Wareham whereof I hold certain lands twenty shillings;

Item : I give to the vicar of Cerne Abbas for tithes unpaid six shillings & eight pence;

Item : I give to John FFOKE clerk of the parish Church of Cerne a russet gown lined with fox fur;

Item : I give to William FFOKE my godson three shillings and four pence;

Item : To Thomas BRIDGES son of Hugh BRIDGES three shillings and four pence; And

Item : To William MORES son of Leonard MORRES three shillings and four pence;

Item : To the poor of Melcombe three shillings and four pence, And

Item : To the poor of the Parish of St Peters in Dorchester three shillings and four pence;

Item : My will is that my executor shall pay unto Christofer MAYHO my kinsman eleven pounds eight shillings and four pence; And to Thomas MAYHO ten pounds fifteen shillings and four pence being their portions left them by their father and mother as appears in a letter of administration recorded in the Archdeacons Court of Dorset or in a Will thereunto annexed; And further I do give unto the same Christopher MAYHO and Thomas MAYHO to either of them so much as shall make up their portions before mentioned to twenty pounds each, and for it my son HENRY already has had by land and living is to have from me a sufficient portion I do only give him a ring of gold to the value of twenty shillings.

Item : I will my executor shall pay to Anne MAYHO twenty shillings remaining unpaid of her portion; And to Alice THRNYE such portion as ought to redounde unto her by her fathers Will other than such part as has been already paid.

Item : I give to the five children of William PINDER forty pounds to be equally divided between them and to be paid at their ages of one and twenty years or at days of their several marriages by my executors, if any of them die that part to be divided among the rest of them surviving; And I forgive William PINDER forty pounds which he oweth me.

Item : I give to John PINGE and Elinor PINGE twenty pounds to each of them ten pounds; And my desire is that Robert MASON my executor shall bring them up and deliver their portions at their ages of one and twenty years and if either of them die the portion of that child to remain to the other

Item : I Will that there should be paid to Elizabeth SAVAGE, Jone and Dorothy SAVAGE to every of them one hundred marks which is due to them besides one silver goblet parcel guilt one silver salt double guilt and one dozen of silver spoons which remain in the hands of Henry CARDROWE to their use.

Item : I give to Elizabeth SAVAGE six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to be paid at the day of her marriage

Item : I give to the three children of my daughter Jone [Joan] WATS ten pounds to each of them three pounds six shillings and eight pence to be paid at their full ages of one and twenty years, And

Item : The Residue of all my goods and chattels not before bequeathed I give and bequeath to to Robert MASON and Anne his wife my daughter which Robert MASON and Anne I ordain and make my executors, And I do revoke all other Wills before by me made And my Overseers I make John MATHEWE Gentleman John HAYTOR and William ALLAMBRIGE and to each of them for their pains I give ten shillings.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written. Also I give to John VIALL my servant twenty shillings, Witnesses hereunto specially required John MATHEW, John HAYTOR and John MOFLEY

Henry CARDROWE (d.1592). Son and heir of William CARDROE of Cerne Abbas. Henry wrote his Will on 11th September 1592, only a few months after being awarded administration of his father's will saying 'he had been visited by sickness' and died soon thereafter as his Will was proved in London on the 14th November 1592. I have transcribed his extensive Will below which is particularly helpful as it confirms that he is a mercer trading in Dorchester and that his wife's name was Elizabeth ADYN (deceased before Mar 1603/4) . He also makes provision for 4 surviving sons and 2 daughters whom he names as :- Henry; John; Matthew, Robert, Frances and Julian.

Henry's Children:

We know from their age given when they entered university that Henry his eldest son and heir was born in 1585, and Matthew in 1588. Unlike Henry and Matthew for some reason he makes no provision for sending John, his 2nd son probably born in 1586/7, (or Robert) to University but leaves John land at Hermitage and Great Mintern. Robert his last son was born after Matthew about 1590 and is surprisingly only to inherit like his siblings £100 at date of his marriage or when he reaches the age 24. He is a residual legatee after his elder brothers but unlikely to inherit so it is strange that there are no provisions for his future or for that of his unborn sibling being carried by his mother.

Although not impossible it is a tight fit for both Frances and Julian to be born before Henry died, especially as his wife was already pregnant again when he wrote his will on 11th September 1592. I think this is because, as was common practice at this date, he lists his children in order of birth but boys first and then the girls. Girls were of little consequence and his will (which refers to them later in his will as 'his maid children' rather than giving their names) reduces them to a basic education followed by needlework and learning the virginal, but there is a very brief mention of Frances when he refers to his funeral and states "my wife's gown and hood to be of the best black cloth and my daughter Frances gown and hood to be very good [i.e. quality cloth]". By linking her with her mother and making no reference to Julian I think this may well indicate that Frances was born early and held in higher status within the family and obviously old enough to walk at his funeral and wear a cloak. The boys being born close together she may well have been their first child. Clearly speculation, but it's possible relevance is in calculating a likely date for his marriage to Elizabeth ADYN which may have been earlier than 1584 the year before Henry's birth and perhaps during circa 1581/2 with Frances 1583/4 (i.e. 8/9) thus leaving more room for Robert and Julian's births before his death. Julian would not need a cloak being still a baby.

Information about any of his children is scant, even Henry and Matthew's university records are basic but there is a marriage entry at Holy Trinity Church in Dorchester (Frances parish) for a "Benjamin GOOLD [GOULD] who married a Frances CARDROW there on 09-Oct 1638. If this is her, then her age is likely to have been around 56 when she married well past child bearing age. There are no children baptised at Holy Trinity but Benjamin seems to have lived in St Peters Parish where records have not survived prior to 1653. Frances Gould the wife of Benjamin GOULD, recorded as a Magistrate of Dorchester, was buried at St Peters church on 1st Feb 1677/8 which would make her 95 years old at death?. Certainly Frances if she did marry would only have married into a prestigious family as Henry CARDROE was a very wealthy and controlling man. Apart from her age at marriage my other hesitation is that Benjamin after Frances death remarried to Blanch Walrond at Turners Puddle in Dorset on 21st Jan 1678. Benjamin was buried at St Peters on 29 Mar 1682 leaving a will. This does seem to confirm that he had no children by either marriage]

We do know that his son and heir Henry CARDROE Junior (b. 1585) was aged 7 when his father died in 1592. His father made provision for his welfare and specifically stated that he "was to be brought up at school to learning and knowledge of the Latin tongue here at the best schools in the County for a season And afterwards to be put to Oxford or Cambridge and there to remain until the said Henry proceed Master of Arts" and take Divinity. One of the best schools in Dorset at this time was the Free School in Dorchester which specifically prepared students for University in Latin etc. Students often started there at the age of seven or eight. It seems likely therefore that he would have been taught initially at Dorchester under the master Henry Harris and later from 1595 by the Rev Robert Cheek. We know that he matriculated at Trinity College Oxford on 30th Oct 1601 aged 16 and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree on 5th July 1604. His university records also states that both his parentrs were dead before March 1603/4. There is no mention of any Masters degree and I suspect that it was at this point, or soon after, that he had to return to Dorchester and begin preparation to take over his fathers estate when he became 24. There is no indication that Henry CARDROE ever became a priest in the Church of England Database and I have found no other references to him.

His third son Matthew CARDROE (b.1588) was also expected to study for University get a BA and go onto the Inns of Court to becaome a Barrister. He matriculated at Trinity College on 22nd Nov 1605 when aged 17 but no other details. There is an entry for a Matthew CARDROE being admitted sizar to Queens College Cambridge which is a University teaching Law from which graduates can go onto the Inns of Court, but again no other details. His father left him property in Melcombe Regis and Wyke Regis.

The property in Mintern and Hermitage goes to his 2nd son John Cardrowe.

Henry asks in his Will to be buried in the cancel of the church at Cerne Abbas 'near unto the place my father and other of my kindred be buried'. The Will provides for the House in which they live in Dorchester to go to his wife Elizabeth for life and then descend to his eldest son Henry.

The Will of Henry CARDROE Mercer of Dorchester
Dated 11 Sep 1592 : Proved 14 Nov 1592. PROB 11/83


In the Name of God Amen The eleventh day of September in the year of Our Lord God according to the computation of the Church of England Five Hundred & Ninety Two I Henry CARDROE of Dorchester within the Diocese of Bristol in the County of Dorset, Mercer, being visited with sickness of body but perfect and whole in mind and remembrance (Thanks be given unto to Almighty God) do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in such manner and form as hereafter is expressed and declared.

First and Especially: I commend my soul unto the mercy of Almighty God my heavenly father who hath redeemed the same by the only merits death and passion of his son Jesus Christ And my body I commit unto Christian burial And the same to be buried in the Chancel of the church of Cerne Abbas near unto the place where my father and other of my kin have been laid.

Item I give: unto the Vicar of the same church in discharge of all tithes due unto him and for my burial there twenty shillings.

Item I give: unto the poor people of the Alms House of Cerne to every of them five shillings and a black gown. The money to be paid and the gowns to be worn at my burial

Item I give: and bequeath unto the said poor people of the said Alms House twenty shillings a year during the term of five years. And my Will is that the first payment of the said five years shall begin the second usual quarter day next after my decease. And from thence forth to be paid quarterly by even portions during the continuance of five years then next after following

Item I give: and bequeath to be distributed at the time of my burial amongst the residue of the poor people of Cerne aforesaid where most need is twenty shillings.

Item I give: and bequeath unto Richard TUMBERVILLE of Cerne a coat of black cloth, and to his wife I give a gown of the same cloth. And they to wear the same at my burial.

Item I give: and bequeath unto the Spittell House⁽⁴⁾ near Bridport twenty shillings to be paid within one month next after my decease to the hands of the woman that is chief of the house and attending the same poor people to the use of the poor people there.

Item I Freely Forgive : unto Mr JOHNSON of Dorchester⁽⁵⁾ all such debts as he oweth me in full recompense as well for tithes negligently forgotten or omitted as because he shall preach at the place and time of my burial.

Item I give: and bequeath to every of the ten poor people in the Alms House of Dorchester a gown of black cotton to be delivered within 14 days next after my decease. And further I give and bequeath unto the said Alms House every year during the space of five years next after my decease one good wayneload or cartload of softwood, a hundred of wood faggots and two hundred of furze faggots. And All the same to be brought home and delivered to the same house at the most convenient and needful times at the charges of my executors. And I give also to the ten poor people in the same Alms House to every man a shirt and to every woman a smock of 16 pence and all at the least [//] . yearly during five years next after my decease

Item I give: and bequeath unto the residue of the most needy poor people in Dorchester thirty shillings to be distributed by my executors within eight days next after my decease in every parish ten shillings.⁽⁶⁾

Item I give: and bequeath unto Elizabeth PYNDER my sister five pounds and a black gown cloth of the value of forty shillings to be paid and delivered her within one month next after my decease.

Item I give: and bequeath unto every one of my said sisters children five pounds each to be paid unto them severally at the several days of their marriage, But my further will is and I do hereby ordain and appoint that all the said several sums of five pounds so by me given and bequeathed to my said sisters children shall be wholly delivered by my executors unto my said sister to be paid by her unto her children at the times of their several marriages So As my said sister shall put sufficient sureties to become bound unto my executors as well for the payment thereof to her said children at the times before limited, as for the repayment of all such parts or portions thereof my executors to the use of the performance of this my present testament as shall happen to be and remain in her hands after the decease of any of her children that shall decease unmarried and should have been paid to the said children if they had fortuned to be married before their decease And the same to be repaid within 3 months next after the decease of any of the said children And my meaning and will is that my said sister shall have the said children's parts of money delivered unto her at any time whatsoever she shall give such surety for the same as is before mentioned

Item I give: and bequeath unto Elizabeth SAVAGE and Dorothy SAVAGE two of my sister Johane's children to every of them five pounds to be paid unto them severally at their several days of marriage if they shall not marry against the good liking of my executors or such of them as shall be living.

Item I give: and bequeath unto Johane BLACHFORD the wife of Thomas BLACHFORD a silver bowl guilt of the value of fifty shillings , to be delivered her within three months of next after my decease.

Item I give: and bequeath unto each of John WATE['s] children that he had by my sister his late wife deceased forty shillings each to be paid unto them severally at their several days of marriages

Item I give: and bequeath unto my son Henry one hundred pounds to be paid at his day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my son John one hundred pounds to be paid at his day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my son Mathew one hundred pounds to be paid at his day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my son Robert one hundred pounds to be paid at his day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my daughter Frances one hundred pounds to be paid at her day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my daughter Julian one hundred pounds to be paid at his day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

Item I give: and bequeath unto the child that my wife goeth with, if it please God to give it life, one hundred pounds to be paid at its day of marriage or the age of four and twenty years if he happen to not marry before.

And: if any of my said children fortune to decease before marriage or before they accomplish such age as aforesaid /That then my will is that all the parts or portions of such as shall decease shall wholly remain to the rest of my said children that shall then be living/ And if none of them shall then be living then the same shall remain wholly to my wife if she then shall be living / And if she then be deceased then the same to remain wholly to my children's children that then shall be living/ And if none of them shall be living then the same to remain wholly to my sister Elizabeth PYNDER and to her children and [//] to all the rest of my sisters children that shall then be living to be equally divided between them. And if none of them shall then be living the same to remain wholly to and amongst all my sisters children that shall then be living, And if none of them shall then be living then the whole to remain to my executors.

Item I give: unto Elizabeth my wife my house in Dorchester wherein I now dwell with all and singular the appurtenances for so long time as she shall remain unmarried/ And upon condition also that she shall not take nor have any dower or widows estate of in or to any of my Lands Tenements or hereditaments or of any my customary or copyhold Lands or Tenements whereof I now am or at any time before this have been seized possessed of/ And I do also Will ordain and appoint that all the plate bedsteads beds and furniture for beds tables boards chests cupboards settles sheets tablecloths and other napery crocks pans kettles and all such other house household stuff implements and utensils as shall be in my said house at the time of my decease and all such other implements and household stuff as by this my present testament shall appoint to remain in the said house And all manner of wares and merchandises whatsoever Always excepted I shall wholly remain and be in the possession and occupation of my said wife in and with this my said house during also the time that she shall remain sole and unmarried. / provided always and upon this condition that my said wife shall put in sufficient sureties to my executors that she shall do no voluntary waste in upon or about any of the said houses herein to her given and appointed / And that she shall also yield up and redeliver and leave in the same house at the time of her marriage or if she shall fortune not to marry, then at the time of her decease all the said plate goods household stuff implements and utensils and things so appointed to remain in her possession as aforesaid to the use of such person or persons unto whom I shall appoint the same unto this my present testament/ And also that in the meantime the same nor any part thereof be not embezze4led, removed wasted left spent consumed or otherwise employed altered or bestowed other than in according to my true meaning herein mentioned and declared or meant or intended to be mentioned or declared, saving only such waste or decay thereof as shall be waste of the use and occupation thereof in all good and convenient for sort.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my said wife the sum of threescore pounds by the year yearly during all such time as she shall remain sole and unmarried, to be paid her by my executors out of such stock as I shall leave with them by fifteen pounds by the quarter but the quarters payment to be always paid at the beginning of the quarter before hands , and for the first quarter next after my decease my will is that she shall be paid weekly 23 shillings and 4 pence by the week. / And that my further will is that my said wife shall therewith sustain and bring up my said children in good sort and as is behovable as well with meat drink clothing and lodging as in learning in the best sort in schools here in the County. And to my said wife I also give and bequeath my own riding gelding and two of my best kine.

Item I give: my said house here in Dorchester with all and singular the appurtenances immediately after the marriage of my said wife or immediately after her decease if she die sole and unmarried unto my said son Henry for term of his life the remainder thereof after his decease unto the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten , And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to my son John and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten , And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to my said son Mathew and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten , And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to Robert and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten , And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the said child that my wife goes with if it be a man child and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten , And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the right heirs of me the said Henry the father for ever provided always and upon this condition that if any of my said sons or their issue or heirs to whom any estate or remainder is herein limited of the premises as is afore declared shall let exchange alter give grant demise dispose or otherwise charge [//] or encumber the said premises or any part thereof whereby the estates and remainders thereof herein limited and expressed shall or may let hurt debarred or overthrown contrary to my true meaning herein mentioned or meant or intended to be expressed and mentioned/ That then the estate or estates remainder or remainders of all such as shall so do shall utterly cease determine and be void. / And that then and thenceforth the other in remainder next shall and may enter into the said premises and shall stand and be sealed thereof in such and the same estate as is herein to him limited as though the same person by whom such act shall be committed as aforesaid contrary to my said meaning were naturally dead.

Item My Will: and mind is that my executors shall receive and take to the use of the performance of this my testament all the whole profits and revenues coming growing or arising of in upon or out of all my Lands Tenements and copyholds whatsoever until my children to whom the same be herein severally given limited or appointed or to whom my said copyholders are bought shall accomplish their several ages of four and twenty years or shall be severally married, if any of them shall fortune to be married before the said age of four and twenty years

Item I give: and bequeath all my Lands tenements and hereditaments Hermitage and Great Minterne with all and singular the appurtenances unto my said son John after he shall accomplish the age of four and twenty years or shall be married , if he fortune to be married before the said age for term of his life and to the wife he shall have at the time of his decease for and during the term of her life/ And after that I give the same Lands and premises in Hermitage and Mintern unto Mathew my said son, after he shall accomplish the age of four and twenty years or shall be married , if he fortune to be married before the said age for term of his life and to such wife he shall have at the time of his decease for and during the term of her life/ And after that I give the same Lands and premises in Hermitage and Mintern unto Robert immediately after he shall accomplish the age of four and twenty years or shall be married, if he fortune to be married before the said age for term of his life and to the wife he shall have at the time of his decease for and during the term of her life/ And after that I give all the same Lands and premises in Hermitage and Mintern unto that child that my wife now goeth with if it be a man child (after he shall accomplish the age of four and twenty years or be married, if he fortune to be married before the said age) for term of his life and to such wife he shall have at the time of his decease for and during the term of her life/ And after that then I give all the said Lands and premises in Hermitage and Mintern unto Henry my eldest son at and after the like time and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten./ And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the heirs male of the body of the said John my son lawfully begotten/ And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the heirs male of the body of the said Mathew my son lawfully begotten. / And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the heirs male of the body of the said Robert my son lawfully begotten. / And for default of such issue the remainder thereof to the heirs male lawfully begotten of the body of the child that my wife now goeth with if it be a man child. / And for want of such issue the reminder thereof to the right heirs of me the said Henry the father forever with by and under the same provisos and conditions as is before limited and set down for and touching the Lands Premises in Dorchester/ Provided also that all such person and persons to whom any estate is herein limited for life or in or to the said Lands and premises in Hermitage and Great Minterne Shall (before they or any of them severally enter into the possession or take any profits thereof) put in hand to my executors or such of them as shall then be living or to the executors of the two last survivors of them that they shall not commit now do any voluntary waste or spoil in or upon any of the said Lands and Premises / And until further Bond shall be put in as aforesaid my said executors to receive and take profits thereof from time to time to the use of the performance of this my present testament according to my meaning.

Item My Will: and mind is that Mr NORMAN of Melcombe Regis shall have and hold my house that he now dwelleth in there [//] for twelve years for his own habitation and dwelling therein only if he shall so long like to continue and dwell therein for the yearly rent of forty six shillings eight pence and payment of the chief rents and other duties and doing the reparations thereof in covering and also in timbering if any shall happen to decay and doing no waste therein

Item My Will: and mind is and I do grant my copyhold and customary Lands and Tenements in Wyke Regis to Edmond CHONNE for the term of five years next after my decease, yielding therefore yearly to my executors to the use of the performance of this my present testament the sum of forty three shillings and four pence and paying and doing the chief rents duties and services for the same and putting in surety to do no waste.

Item I do grant: give and bequeath my said copyhold or customary Lands and Tenements in Wyke Regis unto my son Matthew (immediately after that he shall accomplish the age of four and twenty years for the term of forty years then next following according to a lease thereof made or meant to be made by me to the said Matthew

Item I give all my Lands and Tenements in Melcombe Regis with all and singular all the appurtenances unto my said son Mathew and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten/ And for want of such issue the remainder thereof to my son Henry and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten/ And for want of such issue the remainder thereof to my son John and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten/ And for want of such issue the remainder thereof to my son Robert and to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten/ And for want of such issue the remainder thereof to the said child that my wife now goeth with if it be a man child, and to the heirs male of that man child lawfully begotten / And for the want of such issue the remainder thereof to the right heirs of me the said Henry the father for ever with by and under such and the same provisos and conditions as are before limited for and touching the Lands in Dorchester.

Item I give my Lands and Tenements in Blandford Fox called the Greyhound with all and singular the appurtenances unto John PYNGE the son of William PYNGE and Margaret his wife my sister deceased and to the heirs of the body of the said John lawfully begotten./ And for want of such issue the remainder thereof to Elynor PYNGE sister to the said John and to the heirs male of the body of the said Elinor lawfully begotten/ And for the want of such issue to the right heirs of me the said Henry the father for ever. Provided always that the said John and Elinor nor their heirs nor any of them shall alter give grant bargain sell or otherwise alter encumber or dispose of the said Lands and Premises in Blandford nor any part thereof otherwise than is herein approved other than only to make leases for three lives or one and twenty years in possession or under and that such leases be not made without impeachment of waste which if they be the the same to be void. / Provided always that if the executors of William CARDROE my father deceased or any of them or their executors or assigns do not or shall not within three months next after my decease either pay or put in sufficient sureties to my said executors to pay to the use of the children of my sister Johane SAVAGE deceased the sum of one hundred and two pounds or thereabouts with such use for the forbearing thereof (and at such time as shall be thought reasonable by my executors) sithence? (belonging to) the 28th year of the Queen Majesty's Reign that now is, That then my said gift grant and benefit to be made of the said lands and premises at Blandford Fox as is aforesaid to be utterly void and of non effect as though no mention at all had been herein mentioned, anything before mentioned to the contrary thereof not withstanding in any ways. / And that then I give and bequeath the said Lands and Premises in Blandford Fox as aforesaid to my said son Henry and his heirs for ever. / And my further will and mind is that if the executors of my said father deceased their executors or assigns nor any of them do not pay or put in such sureties to pay the said money to the use of the children of my late sister Johane SAVAGE as aforesaid whereby my said gift of the Lands and premises at Blandford Fox so made to the said John PYNGE and Elinor as aforesaid shall become and be void. / That then my executors shall pay unto them the sum of one hundred and two pounds or thereabouts with reasonable use for the forbearing them of sithence? (belonging to) the 28th year of the Queen Majesty's Reign that now is/ and my Will is also that my said executors recover and receive of the executors of the said William [//] CARDROE my father deceased to the use of my said sister Johane SAVAGE children the sum of two and twenty pounds or thereabouts part of one hundred and two pounds which remained in my said fathers hands with such use also as is reasonable as well for that some time now remaining unpaid as for residue thereof already paid according to the time that it hath been forborne

Item I do will: and ordain that my Servant George RANDALL shall have my dwelling house in Cerne Abbas or Phillippes house there which he shall like best of and the stable that doth belong to the one if he shall make choice of the other for the term of ten years next after my decease for the yearly rent of forty shillings and paying the Queen's rents and doing the duties and services and repairing the same in covering and doing no waste therein/ And I do give and bequeath to the said George in recompense of his service one cloak of serge cloth and fashion and to be made and furred in like sort as the cloaks which I shall herein give and appoint to my Executors

Item I give: and bequeath to the said George one jerkin [sleeveless jacket] of French russet [red] frysadowe [frisade or frieze cloth] , three new dowlas shirts, a new pair of boots and spurs, two pairs of new shoes, three shirt ruff bands of holland of four shillings a yard and 20 nobles in money to be paid and delivered unto him within one month after my decease

Item I do further will: and appoint that if the said George shall deal use and continue in the trade which he hath brought up under me in and shall also dwell and continue in one of my said houses in Cerne aforesaid that then my executors shall deliver unto him the sum of forty pounds in ready money for a stock and my worst bedstead at Cerne a featherbed a bolster a pillow a pair of blankets two pair of sheets and a coverlett such are good, all which money and stuff are to be used by the said George by the space of seven years next after the receipt thereof without paying anything for the use thereof so as he put in good surety to my executors for the repayment and redeeming thereof to the use and performance of this my present testament at the end of the said seven years. / And the same money and stuff to be delivered unto the said George as soon as he shall put in such surety as aforesaid. /And if the said George RANDALL shall fortune to marry with Elinor NOTLEY my woman servant that then I give unto the said George the same twenty pounds to be paid unto him at the day of his marriage with the said Elinor.

Item my will: and my mind is that my executors shall in all convenient speed make ready my house in Cerne [Abbas] called Phillipps house and new build the same with two lofts over it convenient windows and to now alter the kitchen that is now there and convert part of it to a buttery and the rest to some other necessary room because there is already a convenient kitchen already, And that my said executors shall erect and build up within one year next after my decease in and upon my tenement in Acreman Street in Cerne one barn of the whole length of the fore part of the ground there and in the one end thereof to make a convenient room to [put] the rudder beasts in./ And if it please God to call me out of this mortal life before the buildings about this house wherein I dwell be finished That then my will and my mind is that the said executors shall finish the same accordingly and to build the fore part of the house next the street of height and order agreeable to the rest now be gone [there]. / And the hall and the chamber over the hall to be fair sealed and the two chambers now over the old buildings next next to the street to be made into one and in like manner to be fair sealed and in every of the said chambers I will and appoint to be provided and placed by my executors a fair table board with stools thereunto convenient a fait standing bedstead a truggle bedstead with beds there unto, fair furnished with sheets and table cloths convenient,/ All which being so placed and set there to remain in such sort and to such uses as I have before appointed the residue of my household stuff in this my said house, / And the residue of the same rooms and buildings to be made convenient and decent as to my executors shall thought meet./ And I will also that within four months next after my decease my said executors make a pair of convenient [//] stairs to go from the hall and so up out of the kitchen to the two rooms over the same with a grate for pewter vessel to be set on in the most convenient place in the hither new cellar with a convenient door to go to the other new cellar. / And that all the kitchen and backside shall be paved with hewn pavings and to laid of such height that the gutter may run conveniently into the street.

Item and further I will: and appoint that my house in Melcombe Regis shall be new build in six years next after my decease by my executors and to make a hall and buttery a kitchen and a seller in the lower rooms two lofts over the same with two chambers in every loft with windows and chimneys decent convenient and strong with stone work . / And that all manner of charges that shall be employed or bestowed by my executors about any buildings herein by me appointed shall be of my stock that I shall leave in the hands of my executors.

Item Where: one William SWAFFILL oweth me ten pounds, my will is that the same shall be forborne unto him for six months next after my decease. So he put in bond with Surety within one month next after my dece4ase being thereunto required for the payment thereof at the end of six months without paying anything for the use thereof./ And upon such new bond to be put in the old bond which I have of his to be delivered to him to be cancelled. /And yet my will is nevertheless that such moneys as I owe unto him for carriages since my last accompt with him made as appeareth by my book of remembrances shall be paid unto him at such time as he shall enter into a new bond for the payment of the said ten pounds as aforesaid.

Item in Respect: that Roger KETE shall give advice from time to time to my executors for matters concerning this my testament I give and bequeath unto him a cloak of cloth of the value of three pounds of as such cloth as he shall best like and furring for the collar and down through before with velvet of the best pile or wrought velvet which he will think best or with lining for the same throughout of the best serge that may be bought.

Item I give: unto William THWAYTS Citizen and fishmonger in Bread street in London one silver bowl double guilt of the value of five pounds, and to be engraved on the side thereof 'The Gift of Henry CARDROE deceased'. / And to the said William THWAYTS son I give and bequeath a chain of gold to the value of forty shillings which bowl and chain shall be delivered within two months next after my decease.

Item I do will: and appoint that my executors shall lend and deliver unto Walter SCOTT of Dorchester one hundred pounds for two years next after my decease for the sum of eight pounds by the year for the hundred. / And unto Edward COLLIER one hundred pounds for one year for eight pounds for the same hundred/ And to my cousin Thomas BLATCHFORD one hundred pounds for seven years for twenty nobles by the year for the hundred. / So as they do severally put in hand with sufficient sureties to my executors for the repayment of the said several sums according to the use of the performance of this my present testament.

Item my further will: and mind is that my sons Henry, and Mathew shall be brought up at school to the learning and knowledge of the Latin tongue here at the best schools in the County for a season. And afterwards to be put to Oxford or Cambridge and there to remain until the said Henry proceed Master of Arts and the said Matthew Bachelor under some good tutors thence, and Henry to study Divinity / And after Mathew has proceeded to Bachelor of Arts then he to go from there to the Inns of Court. /And I give and bequeath to be paid unto the said Henry & Mathew for their maintenance so long as they shall continue at any university and to be pupils or scholars there the sum of twenty marks each a year / And after that they shall proceed Bachelors or Maters of Arts Then I give to each of them for their said maintenance twenty pounds yearly so long as they or either of them shall be and remain so in the same houses. / And to the said Mathew I give twenty pounds pounds a year after that he shall go from house and continue a student at the Inns of Court for his maintenance there until he shall be called to the bar and three years after. / And all other charges also that shall grow and be for admittance or proceedings in any degree either in university or Inns of Court I will and appoint also to be paid by my executors./ And my son Henry shall study Divinity as my desire is he should become a preacher. Then I give and bequeath [//] the said Henry the sum of four hundred pounds to be employed and bestowed by my executors or such of them as shall be living or the executors of the two last survivors of them in some spiritual living or spiritual promotion as may be thought best for him to maintain his calling. ./ And I also give and bequeath unto the said Henry my son one hundred pounds more to be paid him within one month next after he shall have and possess such spiritual living and promotion as aforesaid.

Item I give: unto John ADYN the elder, John ADYN the younger, Mathusalah ADYN, Thomas BLATCHFORD and my Servant George RANDALL to each of them a black cloak of the value of fifty shillings./ And to my Servant John DAYE I give and bequeath a a black cloak of the value of forty shillings.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my maid servant Margerie and Elinor to each of them a black gown of the value of forty shillings which cloaks and gowns shall be delivered before my burial and then to be worn.

Item my will: and mind is that my Servant John DAYE shall have double apparel for all parts of his body meet and convenient before his departure./ And that the said George my Servant shall remain here in the house until such time as all my wares shall be appraised for that he knowing the prices thereof and shall declare the same that it may be appraised at the best value and also for the collecting up of my debts which I would wish to be without suit at law as much as conveniently may be. And/ the charges of the said George to be bound by my executors And also I will and appoint that my said Servant George shall have his charges paid by my executors at such time as as he shall travel forth and back to and from the Seaside of intent to go see a brother that he hath./ And I will that my Servant John DAYE shall likewise remain here in the house until my wares shall be appraised and to use his best help thereunto which if they the said George and John refuse thus to do then to lessen the benefit of all my gifts and legacies herein to them by me given and bequeathed. / Also I will that George RANDALL go to London there to see what debts I owe and thereupon to receive money of my executors to satisfy the same and therewith to make payment thereof accordingly and thereupon to receive general acquittances, the charges whereof to be born by my executors.

Item I give: and bequeath unto Robert MASON the younger the son of Robert MASON the elder and of Anne his wife my sister deceased one silver bowl double guilt of the value of fifty shillings to be delivered unto him at the day of his marriage and to be engraved on the side "the gift of Henry CARDROWE his uncle deceased".

Item All: such plate, napery, household stuff implements utensils and other things as I have in and by this this my present testament limited and appointed to remain in this my house where in I now dwell, in the use custody and occupation of my said wife during such time as she shall remain sole and unmarried as before expressed I give and and bequeath the same wholly unto my son Henry immediately after the decease of my said wife if she shall not marry. / And if she shall marry , then immediately after her marriage, if the said Henry my son be living. / And if he shall then be deceased then I give and bequeath the same wholly to him that shall be next heir to this my dwelling house and shall enjoy the same by force and virtue of this my present testament

Item my Will: and mind is that my executors shall get and procure leases from the town of Dorchester for the life of my son Henry of those three standings which I now hold. The same to be procured at six shillings yearly rent according to the order of the Town. / And the profits thereof to be to the use of the performance of this my last Will and Testament until the said Henry shall accomplish the age of four and twenty years

Item my further Will: and mind is that all my children shall from time to time be ruled and ordered by my executors that they may better live in the knowledge and fear of God and in due obedience and orderly behaviour. / And that my maid children shall be virtuously brought up here in the County in learning needlework and afterwards to be kept at London to learn further therein to play on virginals or such like laudable exercises at the charges of my executors.

Item I give: and bequeath unto the children of John ADYN the elder, John ADYN the younger, Mathusalah ADYN, and Andrew UPSALL to each of them a silver spoon of the value of six shillings eight pence each.

Item I give: and bequeath unto Katherine [//] ADYN my wife's mother a black gown cloth of the value of three pounds with a lining of fine baize? to the same to the same in recompense of such diet as I and my wife had with her and for using of her shops by a certain season.

Item I give: and bequeath unto my auntie [Blank] HOOPERS of piddletown [puddletown] a black gown of the value of forty shillings

Item my further will: and mind is that my wife and all my children shall have garments of black to be worn at my burial such as is convenient at the charges of my executors. /And my wife's gown and hood to be of the best black cloth and my daughter Frances gown and hood to be very good, my son Henry to have a doublet and breeches of black silk kashe and black worsted stockings. / And that my executors shall cause a hearse to be set up over me and to be covered with black cotton there to stand a month after my burial./ And the same cloth then to be made into four gowns to be given to these four poor men William LYLE; John FOOKE parish Clerk; Roger BASSETT and John THORNE the elder./ And further I will that a fine tombstone be laid over me and to be engraved thereupon in brass my name and date of burial. /And I also will and appoint that eight gowns of black cotton be made and given to eight men that carry me to my burial whereof four are to be from Cerne and Four from Dorchester.

Item I also will: that my executors to make a dinner after my burial at Cerne for them themselves the preacher and such other of my friends as shall be at my burial. / And also such as shall bear me to church and for beadman and such other poor people as shall be thought good by my executors

Item my will: and mind is that all my goods wares chattels and merchandise whatsoever (other than such as I have in this present testament appointed to remaining this my dwelling house and given and bequeathed shall be sold to the best value with all convenient speed/ And the money thereof made and all other money and debts whatsoever with all profits of my Lands Tenements and copyholds for the time that I have appointed the same shall be put out upon good securities after the rate of nine pounds by the year for the hundred./ And the same to be employed from time to time to the best benefit towards the payments and satisfying of the bequests lagacies and payments herein by me appointed and bequeathed. /And after a full discharge and payment made thereof and the full performance of this my present testament according to my very true meaning/ Then the residue that shall then remain of all my goods chattels debts money and other things as well moveable as unmovable whatsoever I do give and bequeath unto all my children which shall then be living/ And if none of my children shall be then living then I give and bequeath the same wholly to unto my said wife if she shall be then living / And if she she shall then be dead/ Then I give and bequeath the same wholly unto my children's children any shall be then living/ And if none shall be then living / Then I give and bequeath the same wholly unto my sister Elizabeth PYNDER and to her children and to all my other sisters children that shall be then living to be equally divided betwixt them , / And if none of them shall be then living / Then I give and bequeath the same wholly to all my sisters children that shall be living/ And if none of them shall be living , Then I give and bequeath the same wholly unto my executors

Item Whereas I have granted an estate unto Richard MABER of Hermitage of two copses one called Rodehill in the parish of Great Minterne and one in Hermitage for the term of one and twenty years for the yearly rent of three pounds / And there is a draft of a lease thereof made in paper with certain covenants and agreements therein contained my will is that my executors shall make a lease thereof to the said MABER according to that draught / So as he put me a bond with sufficient security for the payment of the rent and performance of the covenants accordingly.

Item that in respect: of Sergeant HARRIS and Sergeant GLANVILLE shall give council to my executors in matters touching this my testament I will and appoint that the said Sergeant HARRIS shall have the chamber over the hall with a fair bed and truckle bed therein furnished during the time of the assizes at such times as he shall come to this assizes paying nothing for the same / And that likewise the said Sergeant GLANVILLE shall have the chamber next over that for the like time at his coming in this circuit furnished in like sort paying for the same thirteen shillings four pence [//} at every assizes / And that Mr CRAGGE my Lord Chief Justice man , and Mr SUTTON, Mr BARRON Gentlemen shall have likewise the upper cockloft with a bed and trucklebed therein at the time of their coming into this circuit paying nothing for the same / And

Item I do ordain: and make my very good friends Richard COLLIER Gentleman, Henry COLLYER Gentleman, John GREENE and John ADYN the elder of Dorchester to be my executors in trust for the performance of this my Last Will and Testament / And to each of them towards their pains to be taken herein I give and bequeath a Gold Ring of the value of three pounds each of such fashion as they shall think best, and to be engraved on the inside "the gift of Henry CARDROE deceased".". And I also give to each of my said executors a cloak of fifteen shillings a yard of such colour and fashion as they shall think think meets of themselves with velvet / And I do also give the making of them/ And to the said Henry COLLYER I freely forgive one obligation which I have of his with all debt therein contained/ Provided always that if any of my executors shall refuse to deal accordingly to my trust herein to them reposed Then he or they so refusing to loose all the legacies herein to them given and bequeathed

These being witnesses: Thomas NORMAN; Roger KETE, Thomas NORMAN Testme Rogero KETE

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MEMORANDUM: that after the making of the said testament in manner and form before declared the said Henry CARDROE did further declare his will to be and did give and bequeath and appoint that the said Elizabeth his wife should have pasture and hay for one gelding and two kyne in and upon his tenements and grounds in Cerne yearly for so long time as the said henry or any of his children should have anything to do on it with the same tenements or grounds / And that his said executors should take order with his said children when they should come to the age of one and twenty years for the accomplishing thereof accordingly Thomas NORMAN; Test me Rogero KETE

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PROBATE: Proved at London 14th November 1592

There is a further entry at the PCC PROB 11/83 dated 19th Feb 1593 concerting the written Testament of Henry CARDRO of Dorchester in the diocese of Bristol. Unfortunately it is written in Latin which I can't read properly so it needs a proper transcription. It certainly refers to Elizabeth CARDRO relict of the deceased and the executors named in the will but I am not sure of it's purpose.

John CARDROE (1586/7 - 1632) Again information is scarce as I have not been able to locate his marriage or a Will. I think we can be sure with the relatively unusual surname and location that he is of the same family, and it seems highly likely that this is Henry CARDROE's (d.1592) second son who for some reason was not judged suitable to go to University. John probably married about 1603, when he would still only have been about 17 years old, and lived in Holy Trinity Parish as parish registers survive and they show the baptism of eight children there between 1604 and 1612. He then moved to Bridport where three more children were baptised in St Mary's Church between 1614 and 1617, before returning to Dorchester as Judith his youngest daughter was buried there in 1623.

One reason for the early marriage may have been that when his father died in 1592 he left him £100 which he was to receive on date of marriage or when he was aged 24 which would not have been until 1610. He also left him the his lands at Hermitage and Mintern. This means that at marriage despite his young age he would have had capital to start a business, so perhaps he used the lands left to him to grow vegetables as he appears to have become a grocer as Charter 710 in the Municipal Records of Dorchester records a General Release granted by a John CARDOW of Dorchester, a grocer, who releases Thomas FOXALL a grocer of London of all actions dated 23rd March 1611/2. John was buried at Holy Trinity on 28th Aug 1632 followed by his wife descrobed only as 'Widow Cardroe' on 1st Dec 1642.

1. Henry CARDROWE Bap Holy Trinity Church Dorchester 8th Jan 1604 and buried there 18 Jan 1604/5

2. John CARDROWE Bap HT 27 Jan 1605;

3. James CARDROWE Bap HT 20 Mar 1607

4. Richard CARDROWE Bap HT 5 Jun 1609

5. Henry CARDROE Bap HT 5 Jun 1609

6. Thomas CARDROWE Bap HT 4 Aug 1610 and buried there 5 Aug 1610

7. Martha CARDROWE Bap HT 25 Sep 1611

8. Hanna CARDROWE Bap HT 12 Oct 1612

9. Sarah CARDROWE Bap St Mary's Church Bridport 21 Apr 1614

10. Marie CARDROWE Bap St Mary's Church Bridport 1616

11.Judith CARDROWE Bap St Mary's Church Bridport 09 June 1617, Buried Holy Trinity Church Dorchester 20 Apr 1623