When Ambrose Goddard married Sarah Williams it involved a lot of legal man hours and a very large document.
The Marriage Settlement dated 12 August 1776 reads like a tour of eighteenth century Swindon with some very familiar place names, even now more than 240 years later.
Ambrose Goddard released in trust to his kinsman Ambrose Awdry and Charles Penruddocke, Wiltshire neighbour and political colleague, the manors of Over Swindon and Nether Swindon and parcels of land called Walcot, Tismead and Oakus grounds. Also included were messuages (house and land) in Wanborough and Stanton, Westlecott Farm in Wroughton and the tolls of markets and fairs in Swindon.
Sarah's father, the Rev. Thomas Williams was no slouch in the property stakes either and in an accompanying document released properties in Carmarthenshire in trust to Owen Brigslock.
Ambrose and Sarah married at St James's, Westminster on August 17, 1776. Sarah was 26 years old and Ambrose 45. The couple had three sons and seven daughters and the marriage appears to have been a successful one according to a memorial in the Chancel at Holy Rood Church:
'They lived nearly forty years in the adjoining mansion happy in the love of each other, and in promoting the happiness of all around them though severely tried by the loss of many of a numerous family.'
Ambrose died aged 87 in 1815 and Sarah died in 1818.
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Image published courtesy of Duncan and Mandy Ball
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The Marriage Settlement dated 12 August 1776 reads like a tour of eighteenth century Swindon with some very familiar place names, even now more than 240 years later.
Ambrose Goddard released in trust to his kinsman Ambrose Awdry and Charles Penruddocke, Wiltshire neighbour and political colleague, the manors of Over Swindon and Nether Swindon and parcels of land called Walcot, Tismead and Oakus grounds. Also included were messuages (house and land) in Wanborough and Stanton, Westlecott Farm in Wroughton and the tolls of markets and fairs in Swindon.
Sarah's father, the Rev. Thomas Williams was no slouch in the property stakes either and in an accompanying document released properties in Carmarthenshire in trust to Owen Brigslock.
Ambrose and Sarah married at St James's, Westminster on August 17, 1776. Sarah was 26 years old and Ambrose 45. The couple had three sons and seven daughters and the marriage appears to have been a successful one according to a memorial in the Chancel at Holy Rood Church:
'They lived nearly forty years in the adjoining mansion happy in the love of each other, and in promoting the happiness of all around them though severely tried by the loss of many of a numerous family.'
Ambrose died aged 87 in 1815 and Sarah died in 1818.
Image published courtesy of Duncan and Mandy Ball
