Richard had brothers, one died an infant, the others all left wills which describe their relationship to each other and give the father's name as William. An important fact are the Manors, especially Rowses and the area called Queens, which are passed down the generations in Bassingbourn. Ricard and Alice's on, William who married Beatrix left Rowses to his brother Nicholas. These and Castle Manor belonged to the older family of Waryn of Bassingbourn who were known as De Bassingbourn.
Here is the Will of Anthony who was Richard's brother
THE WILL OF ANTHONY WALLER OF KNEESWORTH
MADE 6 DECEMBER 1556/7. PROBATE 22 JAN. 1556/7
In the name of God this sixth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and fiftieth and in the third and fourth years of the reign of our sovereign Lord and Lady Philip & Mary by the grace of god, King and Queen of England, both equally France & Ireland, Defenders of the faith etc., etc.
I Anthony Waller of Kneesworth in the County of Cambridge, , yeoman, being of whole and perfect memory, only thanks being unto almighty God, do herewith ordaine and make this my last will and testamany in manner and form following: First, I bequeath my soul to almighty God my creator, redeemer and my saviour, also to the mission of the most holy and glorious Lady Saint Mary, mother of my Lord redeemer and king immaculate, And also to the holy company of heaven by whose wishes etc., etc. Also I bequeath my body to be buried in the churchyard of Bassingbourn amongst my friends.
Also I bequeath and give to Margery Waller my wife a hundred pounds of good lawfull money of England. (Four quarters malte?) the best cows and other cows I bought of our
Baronett, halfe the hens and half the ducks, two hoggs, equally to be chosen, a dozen of (lambs?) a dozen (sheep?) equally to be chosen in like manner as the aforesaid. Three
candlesticks out of half a dozen, I give a pair of chests, one with (catches?) so they should (rest?) She to have the first choice of them all. I give to the said Margery my wife the best bed that She can choose and all that appertains thereof, two of the best hutches and all the whole (h)apiery before (whatsoever?) they be situated before granted, our chasing dish, the best brass pot of all, the (lead?) as yet standing readyhanged, the best cettle of all and the third, the best chair of all and all the couches. I give to the said Margery half the brewing (brasses?) equally to be divided out and
I give and bequeath to Jeramy Waller my youngest son, William Waller, Johan Waller, Thomas Waller and Elyn Waller all the remainder of my said goods not bequeathed part and portion by originally amongst them all indifferently to be divided so fairly the youngermost equates, by the judgement of my father William Waller, William Good, William Burmand and William Waller my brother untill such time they shall come and approach the age of twentie years. And my very mind and will is that Margery my wife shall have the custody and keeping of Jeramy Waller and his stake and his part shall be kept and also maintained out of my goods by the space of twentie years and no more And if it happened that the said Margery my wife
to marry I will that she putteth in such care to the childÕs ease untill such time that he commeth to the age of twentie years. And the lands to be made to my father William Waller and all the other my friends as is above specified jointly and severally.
And also I will that Johan my daughter shall have her stake. And also Elyn when they shall come to the age of (twentie?) years without any further delays And if it happen that any of my
said children to decease before they come of age, I will that the youngest of them and of any of them equally part and portion like to be divided amongst them fair by my father and other my friends above specified to be divided amongst the other children immediately after the deceased so departed out of this world. And if it happen that Margery my wife to be with child in the making henceforth, I will that the said child shall have a good portion of the children's share at the age above divided and their mother to nurse it and bring it up until such time it be (two?) years old and want any proffit or gains to pertain for the same. And after that time I will that the same child with the stake shall be divided to when so ever my father and other my friends before named shall think good. I will that William my father shall have William Waller my son and his stake untill his
coming of age. I will that William Burman(d?) sall have custody of Johan Waller my daughter and her stake until she cometh of age. I will that William Good the elder shall have Thomas Waller and his stake and the custody of him until he cometh of age as above specified. I will that William Waller my brother shall have Elyn and her stake as is specified above. I give and bequeath to William Waller my eldist son my coppyholds in
Bassingbourn which I purchased of Robert Pynk with all and sundry equipmenting thereunto belonging and in any way appertaining to him and his heirs forward when he shall come to the age of twentie years. And the produce therefrom during his minority
I will the said William Waller my brother shall have in the mean time to care for the said son so guarding (abridged here) & dividing the rent thereof until twentie years. And if it happen that William my son should decease before the above age I will that Thomas Waller my son shall have the same coppyholds to him and his heirs forward in like manner and form as William his brother had. And William Waller his uncle to umpire the same. And for decease of essence of his body to the right heirs of my other son Anthony Waller and their heirs for ever. The residue of my goods not bequeathed, my debts and my funeral done I will them to be divided indifferently amongst all my said children. And all my said children I do ordain and every one of them to be my exsecutors I give to Thomas Sharman my servant 13(shillings?) and a ewe immediatly to be
discharged after my death. In witness whereof to this present testament I have put my hand the day and the year specified above in the presents of Thomas Cewster gent. Wm. Barman, William Good, William Waller the younger, Edward Clarke, with others more.
I will to John Waller Xl(?). I will to Margery Waller Xl(?),
I will to Margery Switt XXÕ(?),
I will to all my God children XIII(?) apiece , all my servants within my house XIII(?) apiece.
I will to William Good the elder XI(?),
I will to William Burman XII(?),
I will to William Waller my brother XI(?), And all these sums last specified are to be paid within one year next of my decease.
MADE PROBATE 22ND JANUARY 1556/7.
You may know of Antonia Waller's book, Chequered Wallers, it's online. I think there are a few questions about her theories but she does provide some good background information. It seems the Claybury line goes from Sir Lawrence and Isabel Leigh while, according to her, the Bassingbourn line goes from his brother Richard, who she has as the father of William, who was the father of this Richard and his brothers in Bassingbourn.
As you know, the Cooke grant of Arms for the Wallers in 1572 gives William as the head of the pedigree but Cooke was notorious for false grants in exchange for money, even in his lifetime. He made 500 new Grants and not all were legitimate, apparently. I believe we will find the Waller alias Warren line will join up with the Bassingbourn Waryn family, who are not as illustrious as the Poynton ones. Due to the continuation of their possession of the manors in Bassingbourn from the 1200s to this period and the mention of these properties in the wills
