The Bettertons of Fairford (and thereabouts) - some historical and genealogical information

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The Betterton surname is not very common and it looks as though many of us have our distant roots in Fairford (Gloucestershire), England and its environs. This is an attractive historical Cotswold town.

For more about Fairford see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairford 

Uncle Jack Betterton did quite a bit of research and visited the Gloucestershire archives. He copied out a number of ancient Betterton Wills which I have reproduced on this Blog, under the label "Wills" These transcripts provide a fascinating insight into the lives of ordinary Cotswold folk from the 16th Century onwards.

Most of the Bettertons who made these wills wanted to be buried in the graveyard of St Mary's (Fairford Church).

St. Mary's church dates from around 1497 when it was rebuilt by John and Edmund Thame. It has a unique (only example in the British Isles), almost complete set of original stained glass windows, reputedly by Barnard Flower, master glass painter to Henry VII. The arrow marks a plaque set up in memory of a certain Charles Betterton who died in 1755.



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Will of Alice Betterton, widow, of Fairford Dated 10 February 1617 - GRO 120

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To be buried in Fairford. To my daughter Ann Thatcher £3 and my wearing hat. To my son Thomas Jeffries 2s6d To my son William Jeffries 2s6d To my son John Jeffries 2 sheep To my daughter Ann Jeffries 40 sh. To Ann Watkins junior & Elnor Watkins, the daughters of Thomas Watkins, £ 13 to be equally divided To Katherine Watkins 1 sheep. To Alse Betterton, my son's wife, my best hat. To my son Edmond 1 great pan of brass and 2 sheep. To my son Christopher 1 feather bed and 2 sheep. To Elizabeth my daughter 1 sheep. To Alse Hodges my daughter 1 cauldron, 1 pot and 1 posnet. To my daughter Ann Betterton 1 sheep. To the 5 children of Edmond Betterton viz Thomas, Ann, Elizabeth, Katherine & Elnor 5sh. To William Hodges the younger 1 sheep. To Henry Potton's children £12 each. To Walter Charer's children 2sh each. To Alse Potton my second gown. To Margarete Gowth my worser gown and my worse petticoat. To Ann and Elnor, daughters of Thomas Watkins £13 each All the residue to ...
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