Broad Family of Box Mick Broad December 2025
The Broad family attended Box Church and many were buried here (courtesy Carol Payne)
My fascination with my Broad family tree began when I was scanning all my dad’s photographs into files on my computer during those long days of the Covid lockdown. I suddenly realised that I didn’t know who these people were and the stories they could tell. So, I dug out an old a copy of a family tree made in the 1980s and 90s by my father and one of his cousins who spent time trawling through graveyards and records in County Offices. This traced my family to Oare and Wilcot in Wiltshire and I started filling in the gaps using the available data online. This took me back to three William Broads of Box. Subject to the usual caveat about assumptions I have made, here is the family story in Box, starting with these Williams.
Direct Box Family: Three Williams
The first William, spelt William Brode, was baptised on 15 August 1553 at St Thomas à Becket Church, Box. I got his name from his son’s baptismal entry which says, William the son of William and his wife. The only burial record I can find for William Brode is at Twerton on 25 August 1593. As Twerton is a district of Bath, I think it’s reasonable to assume that they are the same person. I have not yet found a marriage for this William Broad but I did find one in Bitton, Gloucester, to Elizabeth Holbine, but this is tenuous at best. I also found Thomas Brode who married Johana Purboy in Box on 10 Sept 1593 and I am assuming, for the time being, that this is William’s brother. There is also a reference to Richard Broad around this time who is possibly Thomas’s son.
The second William, son of the first, was baptised at Box on 1 August 1582 and he married Alice Davis in the same village on 11 July 1613. Alice appears to have spent her whole life in Box as she was baptised there on 24 December 1590 and buried there on 22 November 1634. Her baptism entry tells us that her father was John Davis. Probably, William also spent all his life in Box as he was buried on 15 December 1667.
The third William, the grandson of the original, was baptised on 9 April 1615 and he married Alice Brimfield twenty years later in August 1635. The family moved after this date and the next record is a baptismal record for their daughter, Susana, at Great Bedwyn in 1654. On this entry William’s wife is named as Annis, possibly second wife. Susana later married John Ivey at Great Bedwyn and was buried there. William was burial on 26 Oct 1674 at Great Bedwyn.
The first William, spelt William Brode, was baptised on 15 August 1553 at St Thomas à Becket Church, Box. I got his name from his son’s baptismal entry which says, William the son of William and his wife. The only burial record I can find for William Brode is at Twerton on 25 August 1593. As Twerton is a district of Bath, I think it’s reasonable to assume that they are the same person. I have not yet found a marriage for this William Broad but I did find one in Bitton, Gloucester, to Elizabeth Holbine, but this is tenuous at best. I also found Thomas Brode who married Johana Purboy in Box on 10 Sept 1593 and I am assuming, for the time being, that this is William’s brother. There is also a reference to Richard Broad around this time who is possibly Thomas’s son.
The second William, son of the first, was baptised at Box on 1 August 1582 and he married Alice Davis in the same village on 11 July 1613. Alice appears to have spent her whole life in Box as she was baptised there on 24 December 1590 and buried there on 22 November 1634. Her baptism entry tells us that her father was John Davis. Probably, William also spent all his life in Box as he was buried on 15 December 1667.
The third William, the grandson of the original, was baptised on 9 April 1615 and he married Alice Brimfield twenty years later in August 1635. The family moved after this date and the next record is a baptismal record for their daughter, Susana, at Great Bedwyn in 1654. On this entry William’s wife is named as Annis, possibly second wife. Susana later married John Ivey at Great Bedwyn and was buried there. William was burial on 26 Oct 1674 at Great Bedwyn.
The Bear Inn is first referenced in 1614 (photo courtesy Hugh Sawyer)
I wondered if I could find out more to validate the research and, when attending a family get together near Bath, I was able to enjoy a delightful tour of Box. This gave me a feel for the central area in the Tudor and Stuart periods, which my ancestors would have known although it isn’t certain where they lived in the village. When I returned home, I began to research further, which led me to collaborating with a very distant cousin. Our new research suggests that the youngest William may have been a yeoman farmer when he died in Great Bedwyn. We have unearthed what looks like his will, which is extremely hard to read, and parts may even be in Latin. When we have a translation, I hope that I am a little further to being able to say that he moved from Box to take up a living as a yeoman farmer on the Savernake Estate in Great Bedwyn.
Wider Family at Wadswick
I also discovered about a branch of the Broad family (not my direct line), which settled at Wadswick, an outlying hamlet of Box. This branch repeats many of the same first names (Richard, Thomas and William) but I cannot be certain of the connection.
Richard Broad was recorded as a yeoman farmer at Wadswick in a Quarter Sessions Record for 1563. He died in 1598 and was buried in Box Church.[1] Yeoman farmers were aspiring rural property holders deemed to be a social rank above common labourers and but below the landed gentry.
I also discovered about a branch of the Broad family (not my direct line), which settled at Wadswick, an outlying hamlet of Box. This branch repeats many of the same first names (Richard, Thomas and William) but I cannot be certain of the connection.
Richard Broad was recorded as a yeoman farmer at Wadswick in a Quarter Sessions Record for 1563. He died in 1598 and was buried in Box Church.[1] Yeoman farmers were aspiring rural property holders deemed to be a social rank above common labourers and but below the landed gentry.
The Hazelbury / Wadswick area in the 1626 Allen map is full of small farms (courtesy Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre)
The Wadswick branch of the family was quite extensive at this time. In 1632 Thomas Broade of Wadswick was mentioned in the papers of the Goddard family (landlords in the Rudloe/Wadswick area). He appears to be the same man who was sufficiently wealthy to make a will on 9 February 1632 (proved at Chippenham on 29 April 1633).[2] Thomas’ will bequeathed the remaining term of lease of the house from Sir Edward Hungerford to his wife Jane Broad. If she married the lease was to go to his son, Richard Broad, for the rest of Jane's life. Richard was to pay another son, William, 40 shillings annually, and to pay another son, John Broad, £4 after two years. After Jane's death the testator's bed and bedstead and the furniture belonging to it were to go to his son, Thomas Broad. The bed, bedstead and all the furniture belonging to it in the loft over the chamber to his son John. The best brass pan to his son Richard. The next best brass pan to his son John. The best brass pot to his son Thomas. His wife Jane was to have use of the said beds, bedsteads, pans and pots during her life. To his daughter, Agnes wife of Mathew [?K]inton he left 1 shilling. The residue to Jane Broad, who was also appointed executor, along with John Taylor, father-in-law, and John Cottle, overseers. The witnesses were Thomas Broad, John Taylor, and Richard Williams, all of whom made their mark and John Cottle who signed his name. Interestingly, Thomas’ will indicated that he had diversified from husbandry with a substantial amount of weaver’s yarn. He was also an appraiser of other people’s clothing stock.[3]
Some members of the wider family turned to quarrying and Cornelius & Thomas Broad were recorded as rough masons (quarrymen) in 1686.[4] We can identify these people in the will of Thomas Broad, rough mason, dated 29 April 1693.[5] He left all his lands, tenements, chattels &c in Box and “Haslebury” to his wife Mary for her and their children's maintenance provided she remain single; if she should marry, or at her decease, the estate to be divided equally between the children. Should the child which Mary is now carrying be male, he should inherit after Mary's death. Should his wife Mary and children die before the children reach age 21, the estate to be divided equally between the testator's brothers Richard and Cornelius. Residue to Mary, appointed exec, brothers Richard and Cornelius overseers. Witnessed by Thomas Broad, Cornelius Broad and Jane West, who all made their mark, and John Somner who signed his name.
His brother, Richard, appears to have died a year later, described as Richard Broad of Wadswick in Haslebury, yeoman, 18 April 1694 (probate 31 October 1694).[6], He was a wealthy man with bonds, bills, money and debts due to him of £80. His house was well stocked with chattels including fire tongs, two frying pans and eleven pewter dishes. He brewed his own wine and had a Siltsone (Stilton cheese) in the Buttery. He also had 2 pigs and 3 cows in the outhouse and garden. Richard appeared to be self-sufficient at his home. He bequeathed £20 to his son-in-law Henry Rogers, with the residue to his wife Anne Broad and daughter Margaret Broad, His executor was Richard Broad and the will was witnessed by Richard Kington senior, William Morly and John Somner, all of whom signed their names. A full transcription of his will is given below.
Some members of the wider family turned to quarrying and Cornelius & Thomas Broad were recorded as rough masons (quarrymen) in 1686.[4] We can identify these people in the will of Thomas Broad, rough mason, dated 29 April 1693.[5] He left all his lands, tenements, chattels &c in Box and “Haslebury” to his wife Mary for her and their children's maintenance provided she remain single; if she should marry, or at her decease, the estate to be divided equally between the children. Should the child which Mary is now carrying be male, he should inherit after Mary's death. Should his wife Mary and children die before the children reach age 21, the estate to be divided equally between the testator's brothers Richard and Cornelius. Residue to Mary, appointed exec, brothers Richard and Cornelius overseers. Witnessed by Thomas Broad, Cornelius Broad and Jane West, who all made their mark, and John Somner who signed his name.
His brother, Richard, appears to have died a year later, described as Richard Broad of Wadswick in Haslebury, yeoman, 18 April 1694 (probate 31 October 1694).[6], He was a wealthy man with bonds, bills, money and debts due to him of £80. His house was well stocked with chattels including fire tongs, two frying pans and eleven pewter dishes. He brewed his own wine and had a Siltsone (Stilton cheese) in the Buttery. He also had 2 pigs and 3 cows in the outhouse and garden. Richard appeared to be self-sufficient at his home. He bequeathed £20 to his son-in-law Henry Rogers, with the residue to his wife Anne Broad and daughter Margaret Broad, His executor was Richard Broad and the will was witnessed by Richard Kington senior, William Morly and John Somner, all of whom signed their names. A full transcription of his will is given below.
| richard_broad_inventory_1694.docx |
Conclusion
Nearly all my later family from 1700 to 1850 were involved in agricultural work. In times of agricultural depression opportunities declined which could explain why some of the William Broads moved to Great Bedwyn to work on the Savernake Estate. However, some memory may have been recorded with a quarry called Broads Quarry in 1788.[7] It looks like I will be frustrated in my attempts to go back further as there are no records that I can find to identify William’s father, but we now have much more detail about my ancestors in Box.
My family had many of the same issues as we do: finding work in times of depression, moving home to explore new opportunities, and how to leave property fairly for the benefit of your spouse and across different children. But we can see how few possessions they had and how precious those items were. Rather than think of them as modern like us, their lives may have better resembled those of refugees in wartime.
Nearly all my later family from 1700 to 1850 were involved in agricultural work. In times of agricultural depression opportunities declined which could explain why some of the William Broads moved to Great Bedwyn to work on the Savernake Estate. However, some memory may have been recorded with a quarry called Broads Quarry in 1788.[7] It looks like I will be frustrated in my attempts to go back further as there are no records that I can find to identify William’s father, but we now have much more detail about my ancestors in Box.
My family had many of the same issues as we do: finding work in times of depression, moving home to explore new opportunities, and how to leave property fairly for the benefit of your spouse and across different children. But we can see how few possessions they had and how precious those items were. Rather than think of them as modern like us, their lives may have better resembled those of refugees in wartime.
References
[1] WRO/A1/150/1
[2] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, P3/B/350ii
[3] I am indebted to Jonathan Parkhouse for sharing his research into 17th century wills
[4] See Tudor Local Government - Box People and Places
[5] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, P3/B/905ii and P1/B/668 marked a copy of this will (identical wording, different hand, and endorsed A true Copie of Thomas Broads will
[6] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, P3/B/924i
[7] See Jane Wiltshire - Box People and Places
[1] WRO/A1/150/1
[2] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, P3/B/350ii
[3] I am indebted to Jonathan Parkhouse for sharing his research into 17th century wills
[4] See Tudor Local Government - Box People and Places
[5] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, P3/B/905ii and P1/B/668 marked a copy of this will (identical wording, different hand, and endorsed A true Copie of Thomas Broads will
[6] Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, P3/B/924i
[7] See Jane Wiltshire - Box People and Places