Biography of William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley 1663-1741
Paternal Family Tree: Berkeley
William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley were married.
On 14 Feb 1659 Henry Rich (age 17) and [his mother] Christiana Riccard Baroness Berkeley (age 21) were married. He the son of Robert Rich 5th Earl Warwick 2nd Earl Holland (age 40) and Elizabeth Ingram Countess Holland (age 36).
After 1663 William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley was born to John Berkeley 1st Baron Berkeley (age 61) and Christiana Riccard Baroness Berkeley (age 25).
Before 1665 [his father] John Berkeley 1st Baron Berkeley (age 62) and [his mother] Christiana Riccard Baroness Berkeley (age 26) were married. The difference in their ages was 36 years.
On 23 Jul 1672 [his grandfather] Andrew Riccard (age 68) made his will:
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Andrewe Riccard Cittizen and Merchant of London aged Threescore and Nyne yeares or thereabouts Praysed Be God of sound and perfect memory Calling to mind the frailty of all mankind my owne age And bodily infirmities Doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament (written in my own hand), in manner and forme following (That is to say)
First and principally I give upp and Resign my soule into the hands of Allmighty God my Creator that gave me the same Trusting in the meritts of my Alsufficient Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and renouncing and disclayming any meritt or worthiness of my owne) I say I humbly trust to be saved and to enjoy everlasting Bliss and happiness with the Saints and Angells To all Eternity.
And for my Body and earthly part I Comitt it to the earth whereof it was made To be decently buried and without much Pompe or any ostentation att the direction of my Executix hereafter named.
ITEM I give and bequeath unto my ffaithfull and beloved wife Susanna One full Third part of my Personall Estate according to the Lawdable Custome of the Citty of London my debts being paid and ffunerall Charges deducted.
ITEM I hereby give to my said deare and loveing wife one halfe part of all my Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever And all the Rents and profitts of the said halfe part during her naturall life.
ITEM I give and bequeath to my said Loveing wife All my householdstuff, my Coach and Coach horses And one hundred ounces of Plate such as she shall think fitt to take.
ITEM I give to my said wife and Consort the lease of my house in Marke Lane [Map] she paying the Rent of one hundred pounds per Annum to the Landlord.
ITEM I give and bequeath to my Brother Jn. Riccard of Portsham in the County of Dorset one halfe part of the Rents and proffitts of the ffarmes of Portesham Ashton and Steepleton over and above my wife's halfe part bequeathed to her as before And my said brother to have and enjoy the said halfe parte of the Rents and proffitts of the said ffarmes and tenements the Second Third and ffourth yeare after my decease for the better support of himselfe and education of his children and no longer
ITEM I give and bequeath unto my only daughter [his mother] Christian Lady Berkeley (age 34) one hundred pounds in full of her Childs part any other Consideracon whatsover In regard she had a faire part and potion out of my Estate to preferre and advance her in marriage And for some other reasons not fitt to be in this place menconed
ITEM I give and hereby will and order and by these presents bequeath unto my Second Grandsonne and Godsonne [his brother] John Berkeley (age 9) All the Residue and remainder of all my Reall Estate scituate lying and being in the Parishes of Portsham Steepleton and Winterborne St Martins in the County of Dorsett To have and to hold the said ffarmes lands and tenements to him and his heires for ever And in case he shall happen to dye before he attaine to the age of twenty one yeares or without issue of his body lawfully begotten Then I give and bequeath the said ffarmes lands and tenements to my Third Grandson, Maurice Bentley1And if he chance to dye before he attaine to the age of of Twenty one yeares or without issue lawfully begotten Then and in that case I give the said ffarmes Lands and tenements to William Bentley1 my youngest grandson and his heires forever.
ITEM I hereby give bequeath and will my only granddaughter [his sister] Anne Berkeley (age 7) to advance her and preferre herin marriage to a sober and prudent Gentleman such as my Executrix shall approve of if she be alive And this her portion of ffoure thousand pounds with the interest thereof I hereby order to be paid her att the day of her marriage or when she attaines to the age of Twenty one yeares And in case it shall please God she dye before she marry or attaine Twenty one yeares before paid this and in that case I will the said ffoure thousand pounds and all the proffitts and interest thereof to be paid to my surviving Grandchildren by even and equall shares and proportions att such tyme as they shall attain to Twenty one yeares of age
ITEM I give and bequeath to my neece Mary Riccard now in house with me towards a Marriage Portion two hundred pounds to be paid her by my Executrix att her daye of marriage.
ITEM I give and bequeath to each of my servants that have been with me one whole yeare or more ffive pounds a peece.
ITEM I give to the poore of the parish of St Olaves Hartstreet [Map] wherin I have long lived ffifty pounds within one yeare after my death.
ITEM I hereby give and bequeath to Mr Danll Mills Rector of the said parish ffifty pounds.
ITEM I give and bequeath to the poore of St Thomas Hospitall in Southwark to be disposed of for their Reliefe as the President and Governors of that hospitall shall judge meete one hundred Pounds to be paid within one yeare after my death.
ITEM I give to the poore of the Company of Drapers one hundred pounds to be paid them within one yeare after my death And to be disposed of for aforesaid Poore their most advantage and in such manner as the Master Wardens and Assistants shall judge meete.
ITEM I give to the East India Company ffor their poore at Poplar one hundred pounds And to be paid said Company for the use of these poore within one yeare after my decease And to be added to Almshouse Stocke.
ITEM I herby give and bequeath unto ffrancis Riccard, my nephew and servant one hundred pounds to be paid him Two yeares after my death.
ITEM I hereby give bequeath and will my only granddaughter Anne Berkeley to advance her and preferre herin marriage to a sober and prudent Gentleman such as my Executrix shall approve of if she be alive And this her portion of ffoure thousand pounds with the interest thereof I hereby order to be paid her att the day of her marriage or when she attaines to the age of Twenty one yeares And in case it shall please God she dye before she marry or attaine Twenty one yeares before paid this and in that case I will the said ffoure thousand pounds and all the proffitts and interest thereof to be paid to my surviving Grandchildren by even and equall shares and proportions att such tyme as they shall attain to Twenty one yeares of age
ITEM I give and hereby bequeath to my ffive Grandchildren [his brother] Charles, John, Morris1, William (age 9) and Anne Berkely all the residue and remainder of my estate to be equally divided betweene them To each one ffifth part To be paid them by my Executrix or to such Trustees as their ffather [his father] Lord John Berkeley (age 70) and my Executrix shall agree upon or in case of death or absence of the Lord Berkeley to such trustees as my said Executrix and my daughter Berkeley shall agree upon.
And that as soone as my Estate come into the particulars whereof appeare by an estimate hereto Annexed, in default of Books of accompt which may not appeare soe Regulah as may be expected And in Case of Death the Survivors of them to enjoy it
ITEM I hereby nominate and appointe my deare and loving wife to be my sole executrix and give her power and Authority to see this my Last Will and Testament faithfully and duly executed I will and make void All former wills whatsoever
In witness whereof I have hereto sett my hand and seale This Twenty Third day of July 1672 In London Amen
[Andr: Riccard is inserted into the LH margin]
Signed Sealed published and declared, in the presence of [NO NAMES WERE INSERTED]
Note 1. TT. Not clear whether these refers to Berkeley rather than Bentley. William Berkeley was a son of Christiana and John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton. Andrew Riccard appears to have had only one child Christiana who only had issue with her third husband John Berkeley. Maurice, or Morris, possibly a child between John and William. Christiana's husband John's father was [his grandfather] Maurice Berkeley.
On 27 Feb 1697 [his brother] John Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley (age 34) died. His brother William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 34) succeeded 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton in Cornwall. Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley by marriage Baroness Berkeley of Stratton in Cornwall.
On 16 May 1697 [his son] John Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley was born to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 34) and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley.
Around 1699 [his son] Captain William Berkeley was born to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 35) and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley.
On 21 Jun 1701 [his son] Charles Berkeley of Bruton Abbey was born to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 38) and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley.
On 05 Apr 1703 [his daughter] Frances Berkeley Baroness Byron was born to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 40) and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley.
In 1710 William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 46) was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
In 1710 William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 46) was appointed Privy Council.
On 03 Dec 1720 [his son-in-law] William Byron 4th Baron Byron (age 50) and [his daughter] Frances Berkeley Baroness Byron (age 17) were married. She by marriage Baroness Byron of Rochdale in Lancashire. His third marriage. Arranged by her father William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 57) who described the age difference as being "disproportionate". The difference in their ages was 33 years.
After 1741. All Saints Church, Maiden Bradley [Map]. Monument to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 78).
On 24 Mar 1741 William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley (age 78) died at Bruton, Somerset. His son [his son] John Berkeley 5th Baron Berkeley (age 43) succeeded 5th Baron Berkeley of Stratton in Cornwall.
[his daughter] Barbara Berkeley was born to William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley and Frances Temple Baroness Berkeley.
Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 10 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 18 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Berkeley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Coningsby
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coningsby
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Ferriby
Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Berkeley 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Lora Berkeley Countess Ormonde 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Blount 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Keble
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Keble Baroness Mountjoy
GrandFather: Maurice Berkeley 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Lygon of Madresfield Court
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Lygon 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Beauchamp 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Lygon 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Lygon 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Denys
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Denys
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Denys 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Berkeley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Meade 3rd Baroness Berkeley
Father: John Berkeley 1st Baron Berkeley 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Killigrew
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Killigrew
GrandMother: Elizabeth Killigrew
Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Saunders
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margery Saunders
William Berkeley 4th Baron Berkeley 10 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Walter Riccard
GrandFather: Andrew Riccard
Mother: Christiana Riccard Baroness Berkeley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Father Hawkins
GrandMother: Catherine Hawkins