Brinsmeads in the North of England

A significant line of Brinsmeads lived in the northern part of Lincolnshire and the southern part of Yorkshire, either side of the Humber River.  Records show Brinsmeads in the area from as early as 1588 and as late as 1781.  The most significant settlement appears to have been in the village of Messingham, Lincolnshire.   Other sightings are in the Lincolnshire villages of Scawby, Bottesford, Horncastle, Bonby, Hibaldstow and Scotter.

We know that one Brinsmead family left the Lincolnshire area and moved to London where they were practicing Quakers.  Their story is on a different page.

Messingham, Lincolnshire

We have recorded several generations of Brinsmeads living in the parish of Messingham.  We are still working to organize them into a tree, partly with the help of the wills below. We will add the results to this section once complete. A search of the graveyard, pictured to the left, revealed no obvious Brinsmead gravestones.

Lincolnshire Wills

Will of Garret Brinsmade - 1619

In the name of God, Amen: the first day of May AD 1619.  Be it known unto all men by these presents that I, Garret Brinsmade, of Messingham in the County of Lincoln, Blacksmith do make this last will and testament.  First I command my soul to Almighty God my creator and to ........... and my body to be burried in the graveyard at Messingham. First I give to Hellen my wife my goods during her natural life, my property excepted.

Will of Hellen Brinsmead - 1637

In the name of God, Amen: the first day of December, 1637, I Hellen Brinsmead of Messingham County of Lincoln, being frail in body but of good and powerful memory (blessed be to God) I make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

First and principally I bequeath my soul unto the hands of Almighty God my maker and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Messingham.

I give unto my daughter Mary Warwick and unto my daughter Katherine Cooke or either of them in solva pointe. I give to my son Thomas Brinsmade 30 shillings to be paid in one whole year after my death. Then I give unto my grandchild William Brinsmead the house ......... All other ........ there to belonging to him and is .............. foreever so that ........... then said William Brinsmead my grandchild shall pay unto Mary Warwick my said daughter 40 shillings within one whoe year of my death and to my daughter Suzanne Brinsmead 40 shillings within two years after my death.  But if the said Brinsmead my grandchild shall fail to pay the aid 40 shillings to Mary Warwick ......... 40 shillings to Suzannah Brinsmade as aforesaid then my will is that Mary Warwick my daughter shall have the rent and benefit of my said house during the term of six years after my death and that my daughter Suzannah shall have the rent and benefit of the said house another six years after the former six years have expired and then to remain to the said Brinsmead and his heirs forever the rest of my goods unbequeathed my debts and ....... paid and funeral ......... discharged. I give to Suzannah Brinsmade my daughter who I make sole exeutrix of this my last will and testament and if the said Suzannah shall die before ......... married, all those goods which remaining .......... to be divided equally between my children then living.

Signed by Hellen Brinsmade by her mark,and witnesssed by Jarrot Bxoulborn and Thomas Brinsmade.

Will of William Brinsmade - died 1683

William Brinsmade left a will that included the following information.  He was a blacksmith.  He left his daughter Katherine £40, one of her mother's tunics and one third of all his pewter, brass, linens and bedding along with her other two sisters.  His daughter Mary received £40 and a tunic once 18.  He gave all his wearing apparrel to his brother Garett Brinsmade and gave Garett's son Garett four pairs of ewes and lambs.

Will of Thomas Brinsmade - died 1776

In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Brinsmade of Ashby in the County of Lincoln, Miller, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, praise be God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following.

First I command my soul into the hands of Almighty God its creator through the alone merits of my Lord and crucified saviore Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon of all my sins and transgressions and as to my temporal, where with it has pleased God to bless me, I give and dispose thereof as followeth.

And first I give and bequeath to my loving wife Ann Brinsmead the sum of four pounds a year for and during the term of her natural life to be paid her quarterly by four equal payments in every year by my executor here and after named. Also I give to my said wife Ann the furniture of the two parlors my house in Ashby where I now live.  Also I give to my said wife the use of my said two rooms for and during the term of her natural life. 

Also, I give and devise to my son William Brinsmade and his heirs forever all my lands, tenaments and heriditements whatsoever in Ashby aforesaid in the said County of Lincoln.

Also, I give and devise to my son in law James Holland the mill and the other millfield and all my land at Messingham in the aforesaid county. The said James Holland to pay to my said wife Ann Brinsmade the sum of three pounds per year from and during the term of her natural life to be paid her quarterly by four quarterly payments in every year by my said son in law James Holland. And the said James Holland to pay to my son William Brinsmead the sum of twenty pounds of good and lawful money in twelve months and one day after my decease. 

Also I give to my son in law Edmond Edlington one shilling and to his son Thomas Edlington the sum of one pound and one shilling to be paid to him when he shall attain the full age of one and twenty years. 

And lastly all the rest and residue of my goods, chattles, boat and personal estate whatsoever I bequeath to my son William Brinsmade who I make my executor of my last will and testament he paying my debts, legacies and funeral expenses.

And I do herby revoke all former and other wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the 2nd day of September in the year of our Lord 1775.

Witnessed by George Cooper, Suzannah Coopper and Oliver Bainforth.

The will was probated on March 22, 1776 in the Archdeaconry of Stow.