Thomas Ley

Male Abt 1667 - 1743  (~ 76 years)


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  • Name Thomas Ley 
    • Hypothesis.
    Born Abt 1667  East Putford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • No surviving baptism - Baptism records for East Putford are fragmentary for this time period.
    Gender Male 
    Occupation Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    yeoman 
    _UID 2AB4B5C1E8A7D3479332C147BA9373E56FF4 
    Died Oct 1743  Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 7 Oct 1743  Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I597  Victoria Boutilier's Genealogy Pages
    Last Modified 15 Mar 2023 

    Father Stephen Ley,   b. Abt 1620, East Putford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. May 1686, East Putford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 66 years) 
    Mother Grace Smyth,   b. 1628, Great Torrington, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 13 May 1651  Frithelstock, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F226  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margarett Mill,   b. 28 Nov 1671, East Putford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Apr 1731, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years) 
    Married 23 Feb 1692  East Putford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Margaret Mill was the stepdaughter of her husband Thomas Ley's older brother Stephen Ley.
    Notes 
    • (The marriage date would be 23 February 1693 by our reckoning)
    Children 
    +1. Thomas Ley,   b. 1693, East Putford, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    +2. Margaret Ley,   b. 1695, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Stephen Ley,   b. 1697, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. James Ley,   b. 1699, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    +5. Grace Ley,   b. Oct 1700, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jan 1774, Frithelstock, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 73 years)
     6. Mary Ley,   b. 1701, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Elizabeth Ley,   b. 1703, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jan 1704, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
     8. John Ley,   b. 1705, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Alexander Ley,   b. 1708, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Between 1777 and 1779, Main-à-Dieu, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     10. Hugh Ley,   b. 1709, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Apr 1731, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 22 years)
    +11. Dorothy Ley,   b. Feb 1710, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jan 1795, Frithelstock, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 84 years)
     12. William Ley,   b. 1713, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     13. Jeremiah Ley,   b. 1714, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Sep 1760, Monkleigh, Devon, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 46 years)
    Last Modified 26 Aug 2022 
    Family ID F110  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Qualification "Mr" in the Monkleigh parish registers. Buried as Thomas Ley Sen.


      Thomas Ley left a will in Archdeaconry Court of Barnstaple (date 3 Feb 1743 [1744]).


      [no title] 956 M/T47 1723
      These documents are held at North Devon Record Office
      Contents
      Release
      1. Hon. Richard Annesley of Bideford esq. and Anne his wife
      2. Thomas Down of Bideford gent., Charles Cutliffe of Bideford, gent., and John Graham of Bideford, mercer
      3. Thomas Ley of Monkleigh, yeoman
      Premises: the tithe of corn and grain arising from the barton of Annery
      Consideration: £42
      ["barton of Annery" = the manor lands of Monkleigh; Anne Prust Annesley was the granddaughter of Thomas Ley and Elizabeth Vigures; Mary (Ley) Prust m. 1706 Thomas Downe at Monkleigh - see notes on Ley family in Monkleigh below]

      The following deeds refer to a property called "Orchard" which came into the possession of Stephen Ley Jr. at his marriage and in which this Thomas Ley (who is not the significantly younger son of Stephen Ley Jr. by that name) had some sort of interest - by being the brother of Stephen Ley Jr., by marrying Stephen Ley Jr's stepdaughter Margaret Mill, or both.

      Devon Record Office Z16/1/28/4 26 September 1672 24 Charles II
      These documents are held at Devon Record Office
      Former reference: DD. 47273
      Contents: East Putford, Bargain and sale
      (1) John Gifford of Halsbury, esq., and John Vigures of the Middle Temple, London, esq.
      (2) Stephen Ley the younger of Eastputford in Buckland Brewer, gent.
      Tenement with appurtenances called Orchard in the possession of (2)
      Consideration: £100

      Devon Record Office Z16/1/28/12 20 March 1730
      These documents are held at Devon Record Office
      Former reference: DD. 47282
      Contents: East Putford, Case and opinion
      On the title of Adam Flexman to fields or parcels of land called Orchards under the will of Stephen Ley

      Devon Record Office Z16/1/1/63a-b 13 April 1730 3 George II
      These documents are held at Devon Record Office
      Former reference: DD. 47102; 47103
      Contents
      Buckland Brewer: East Putford,
      Final concord both indentures
      Abraham Barnfield, querent [buyer]
      James Flexman, Mary his wife, Thomas Ley and Adam Flexman, clerk, deforciants [sellers]
      30 acres of land, 20 acres of pasture and 30 acres of furze and heath with appurtenances in Eastputford, Buckland and Orchard.
      Consideration: £60

      Devon Record Office Z16/1/28/13 19 and 20 June 1730 4 George II
      These documents are held at Devon Record Office
      Former reference: DD. 47283
      Contents: East Putford, Lease and release:
      (1) James Flexman of Wear Gifford, gent., and Mary his wife
      (2) Thomas Ley of Munckleigh, yeoman, and Adam Flexman of St. Giles [-in-the-Wood?], clerk
      (3) Abraham Barnfield of East Putford, gent.
      Tenement and closes called Orchard
      Consideration: £260
      www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a

      note- James Flexman married Mrs. (a social class qualification not necessarily indication of widowhood) Mary Ley 5 April 1711 at Weare Giffard; children baptized at Weare Giffard included Stephen (1715), Adam (1717), Margaret (1719), John (1724), and Susanna (1722)

      [no title] QS/21/1731/10 1731
      COUNTY OF DEVON - QUARTER SESSIONS-Sacrament Certificates
      (Located at Devon Record Office QS/21/1731/10 1731)
      Adam Flexman, clerk; (at St Giles)
      www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a

      Why did Thomas Ley, move to Monkleigh after his marriage?

      The spelling "Ley" appears to be used specifically in Monkleigh to refer to a particular family and is here distinguishable from the name "Lee," "Lea" and "Leigh," but this distinction is not maintained outside of Monkleigh's clerks. Thomas Ley was not born in Monkleigh. There are NO "LEY" baptisms in Monkleigh 1660-1669. There are a few "LEE" baptisms, but no Thomas. If Thomas Ley was baptized in East Putford chapel, these registers survive in fragments only, before the 1670's, although some events were recorded at the parent church, Buckland Brewer.

      The Leys in Monkleigh derive from the Ley family in East Putford.

      Notes on LEY family in Monkleigh
      Thomas Ley (1637 PCC admon widower) and Elizabeth Bridgman (died 1633)
      Their children included:
      Alexander Ley 1616 (Rev.Monkleigh) will 1669 m. Agnes Andrew (will 1683)* "s. Thomas, of Monkleigh, Devon, pleb. Gloucester Hall, matric. 12 Dec., 1634, aged 18; B.A. 26 May, 1638, vicar of Monkleigh 1648-73; father of Alexander, and of John 1661. See Foster's Index Eccl. [30]" alumni oxon
      https://archives.parliament.uk/collections/getrecord/GB61_HL_PO_JO_10_1_258
      Held At:
      Parliamentary Archives: GB-061
      Catalogue Reference:
      HL/PO/JO/10/1/258
      Date:
      13 Apr 1648 - 17 Apr 1648
      Level:
      File
      Description:
      This record contains:
      13 April 1648 -- Draft ordinance appointing Thomas Maydwell, philazer of the Court of Common Pleas for the counties of Southampton and Wilts. Lords Journals, X. 188.
      13 April 1648 -- Draft order for Lord Inchiquin's son to be sent to the Tower, etc. Lords Journals, X. 188.
      13 April 1648 -- Application for an order for Dr. Aylett to institute and induct Alexander Ley to the vicarage of Monkleigh, Devon. Lords Journals, X. 188.
      Annexed:
      1 Certificate of parishioners and inhabitants of Monkleigh.
      2 Certificate of neighbouring ministers as to Ley's fitness for the cure.
      3 Certificate of neighbours that they have never heard any complaint against Ley.
      4 Copy of petition of Alexander Ley, minister and preacher of God's word at Frithelstock.
      13 April 1648 -- Draft ordinance appointing Judges of the Admiralty Court. Lords Journals, X. 188. In extenso.
      Alexander Ley, clerk, was in Frithelstock at the time of the Protestation Returns. Protestation Returns for Monkleigh link: https://archives.parliament.uk/collections/getrecord/GB61_HL_PO_JO_10_1_84_17
      (has only William Lee, Nicolas Lee, adjacent)

      Thomas Ley b. 1618 "s. Thomas "Leigh," of Monkleigh, Devon, pleb. Gloucester Hall, matric. 8 April, 1636, aged 17; B.A. 12 Dec., 1639." alumni oxon

      John Ley b. 1621

      Elizabeth Ley b. 1626

      Hugh Ley b. 1633 (married Julian Nash in 1656)
      George son of Hugh and Julian, bap. Tawstock 1657
      Elizabeth Ley, 1660 Tawstock, bap. daughter of Hugh.
      Mary Ley, bap. Tawstock
      Hugh Ley, bap. 18 Apr 1666 Tawstock
      Hugh and Julian Ley died/buried at Tawstock.

      (+ possibly others)

      Rev. Alexander Ley & Agnes were married in 1639 and had:
      1. Thomas Ley b. 1640 m. 1669, Elizabeth Vigures
      *Thomas Ley & Elizabeth Vigures had (bap. at Monkleigh):
      **Alexander Ley 1670-1670
      **Mary Ley 1672; married John Prust of Annery at Monkleigh in 1690.
      **John Ley 1674-1675
      Thomas Ley gentl. bur. Monkleigh, 1675; Devon Wills Index, will probated in Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple. Widow Elizabeth remarried, at Monkleigh, Thomas Braddon.

      2. John Ley b. 1643 "Ley, John s. Alexander, of Monkleigh, Devon, minister. Oriel Coll., matric. 14 Nov., 1661, aged 17; B.A. 1664, M.A. 1667, rector of Langridge, Somerset, 1664, and of Hambledon, Bucks, 1664, vicar of Monkleigh, Devon, 1669; brother of Alexander 1668. See Foster's Index Eccl. [5]" alumni oxon
      Buried at Monkleigh 10 Sep 1673.
      John Ley, Vicar of Monkleigh, 1673 admon Principal Registry of Exeter, Devon Wills Index 1163-1999 (his mother Agnes admx)


      3. Marie Ley b. 1647 m. Mr. John Yeo 1664; John Yeo d. 1690 bur Monkleigh; will abstracted by O.M. Moger. Two of their children, John Yeo, Rebecca Yeo died young, leaving wills that mention Mary Ley, daughter of Thomas 1640 Ley, and the five children of Alexander and Mary (Holland) Ley, William, Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, John (those born at the time of writing.) https://www.yeosociety.com/yeoroots/early%20origins.htm#robed

      4. Alexander Ley Rev. 1649 will 1712, m. Mary Holland (she d. 1704) "Ley, Alexander s. Al(exander), of Monkleigh, Devon, pleb. Exeter Coll., matric. 4 Dec., 1668, aged 19; B.A. 1672, vicar of Monkleigh 1673; brother of John 1661. See Foster's Index Eccl." alumni oxon
      Alexander Ley and Mary Holland had:
      **William Ley 1680 m. 5 Apr 1703 Jane Heyman, at Monkleigh
      Jane (Heyman) Ley, bur. 15 Mar 1708 (1709), Monkleigh.
      William Ley, m. 15(?) Mar 1709 (1710), Jane Potter, at Monkleigh.
      "Mrs. Ley, who lived at Torrington, a sister of Matthew Potter and aunt of Sir Joshua [Reynolds,] took his elder sister, Mary Reynolds, to live with her after her husband's death. This led to her marriage in 1740 with John Palmer of Torrington" A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A.
      **Thomas Ley 1682 -1691
      **Mary Ley 1683 - 1703
      **Elizabeth Ley 1685
      **John Ley 1688 (possibly the John Ley d. 1713 bur. Monkleigh Devon Wills Index will probated at Court of the Archdeaconry of Barnstaple) Wm Moyse of Great Torrington and Susannah the widow of John Ley late of "Monkley" deceased were married July 2nd 1715, Frithelstock.
      **Alexander Ley 1691-1692
      **Alexander Ley 1694-1707