(430) Baskerville of Richardson, Winterbourne Bassett

Baskerville of Richardson

This family traced its descent from Simon Baskerville (d. 1552?), whose now lost monument in Winterbourne Bassett church stated that he was the son of Sir Walter Baskerville, kt., of Eardisley (Herefs). He married Elizabeth, the widow of William Hutchins, owner of the Richardson estate in Winterbourne Bassett (Wilts), whose infant son by her first marriage, Thomas Hutchins (d. 1607), inherited the estate. Simon and Elizabeth produced at least three further sons, who grew up alongside their half-brother at Richardson, and they were evidently close. When Simon's eldest son, William Baskerville of Wanborough, died in 1604, Thomas Hutchins was one of his legatees, and Thomas, who had no children, settled the Richardson estate and an adjoining property in Berwick Bassett on his half-nephew, Thomas Baskerville (1575-1621). Thomas added to this property by buying the manorial estate in Winterbourne Bassett in 1614, creating a compact property that descended to his son Francis Baskerville (b. 1615) and grandson Thomas Baskerville (c.1640-1717). It was probably Thomas who was responsible for layout formal grounds around the manor house of Richardson, perhaps about the time when he was High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1698-99.

Thomas Baskerville, who married Mary Jones from Hanham (Glos) near Bristol, produced twelve sons (of whom probably only six survived to maturity) and no daughters. The eldest surviving son, Richard Baskerville (1665-1739) was educated at Oxford and served his turn as High Sheriff in 1736, but at some point he moved from Richardson to the city of Salisbury, which may indicate a need for financial retrenchment. He and his wife produced three surviving children: a son and two daughters. Unfortunately, it would seem that the son, Thomas Baskerville (c.1700-59), fell out with his parents and inherited only the entailed estate. Perhaps as a result, he got into financial difficulties, and in 1754 he was obliged to sell the Richardson estate to Henry Fox (d. 1774), later Lord Holland. Fox had no use for the house at Richardson, and it eventually fell into disrepair and had been pulled down by the mid 19th century: no visual record of it has been traced.

Poulton House, Marlborough

Thomas' will gives some clues to his personality and lifestyle, and suggest that he was not an easy man. He was separated from his third wife and left most of his personal estate to his mistress and his two children by her. His surviving entailed property passed to his son, Thomas Baskerville (1735-1817), an army officer who served with distinction in the Seven Years' War and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He retired from the army sometime after 1782 and settled on his Wiltshire property. Since there was no longer a house of any consequence on his lands, he rented Poulton House on the outskirts of Marlborough from the Earl of Ailesbury, and lived there until his death. He was twice married, but had no issue, so he bequeathed his properties to his first cousin twice removed, Thomas Baskerville Mynors (1790-1864) , who took the name Baskerville in 1818. After Mynors Baskerville inherited further property at Aberedw and Clyro, however, the Wiltshire estate became peripheral to his landed interests, and was largely sold by his son in the later 19th century.

Richardson, Winterbourne Bassett, Wiltshire

An estate of some 460 acres around a small settlement close to the boundary with Berwick Bassett parish, which shrank from 31 taxpayers in 1377 to a manor house and one farmstead by the mid 16th century; the earthworks of the lost village are still evident in a field east of the present buildings. In the late 17th and early 18th century the manor house was a substantial building set in formal gardens, while the surrounding landscape included a number of small plantations and a drive connecting the house directly to the Swindon-Avebury road (now the A4361). After the property was sold to Lord Holland in 1754, however, the house fell out of gentry use and was eventually demolished and replaced by a number of cottages. No illustration of the house has yet come to light.

Descent: Thomas Hutchins (d. 1607) settled the estate on himself for life, with reversion to Thomas Baskerville (1575-1621); to son, Francis Baskerville (b. 1615; d. by 1685); to son, Thomas Baskerville (c.1640-1717); to son, Richard Baskerville (1665-1739); to son, Thomas Baskerville (c.1700-59), who sold 1754 to Henry Fox (d. 1774), 1st Baron Holland...

Baskerville of Richardson, Winterbourne Bassett

Baskerville, Simon (d. 1602). Said to have been the son of Sir Walter Baskerville (d. 1505), kt. of Eardisley (Herefs) and and his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Henry ap Melo ap Harry, of Poston (Herefs). He married Elizabeth, daughter of [forename unknown] Brand and widow of William Hutchins of Richardson, and had issue:

(1) William Baskerville (d. 1604) of Wanborough (Wilts); subscribed towards the defence of England at the time of the Spanish Armada, 1588; married Jennifer Hutchins (d. 1615) and had issue one son (who died in infancy) and two daughters; died 29 September 1604 and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett; will proved in the PCC, 22 June 1605;

(2) Thomas Baskerville; married and had issue one son (who died without issue);

(3) George Baskerville (fl. 1573-78) (q.v.).

He lived at Winterbourne Basset (Wilts).

He was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, perhaps in 1552; he was formerly commemorated by a monument there, now lost, which is variously recorded as giving his date of death as 1552 and 1602; the former seems more likely. His wife's date of death is unknown.

Baskerville, George (fl. 1573-78). Youngest son of Simon Baskerville (d. 1552?) of Winterbourne Bassett (Wilts) and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of [forename unknown] Brand and widow of William Hutchins of Richardson (Wilts). He married Eleanor Quarrel or Quarles (d. c.1605) of Buckland? (Glos), and had issue:

(1) Simon Baskerville (b. 1573), baptised 25 August 1573; went to sea about 1588 and died without issue;

(2) Thomas Baskerville (1575-1621) (q.v.);

(3) Anne Baskerville (1578-c.1644), baptised at Tewkesbury, 25 September 1578; married, 18 May 1601 at St Clement Danes, London, Edward Holmes (d. by 1620); died about 1644.

He lived at Tewkesbury (Glos).

His date of death is unknown. His wife died c.1605.

Baskerville, Thomas (1575-1621). Second son of George Baskerville of Tewkesbury and his wife Eleanor Quarrel or Quarles of Buckland? (Glos), baptised at Tewkesbury, 14 November 1575. JP for Wiltshire. He married* Joan Lor[de?] (d. 1642?), and had issue:

(1) Jenever [Jennifer] Baskerville (c.1600-39); married, about January 1617/8, John Grubbe (c.1590-1649) of Potterne (Wilts), and had issue at least three sons and one daughter; buried at Potterne, 9 August 1639;

(2) Catherine Baskerville (fl. 1622); married, 17 December 1622 at Potterne, Henry Grubbe (d.1630) of Devizes (Wilts), but had no issue;

(3) Thomas Baskerville; died young in the lifetime of his father;

(4) William Baskerville; died young in the lifetime of his father;

(5) Mary Baskerville; married William Riven.

(6) Francis Baskerville (b. 1615) (q.v.);

(7) Elizabeth Baskerville (d. 1650); under 18 in 1620; married, 1633 (bond 19 February), John Lambe (b. c.1611), son of Sir John Lambe (d. 1665) of Stourton (Wilts); buried at Stourton, 31 May 1650;

(8) Anne Baskerville (d. 1681); under 18 in 1620; married John Polwhele MP (1606-77) of Polwhele and Treworgan Manor, St. Erme (Cornw), son of Thomas Polwhele of Polwhele, and had issue six sons and three daughters; will proved 1681.

He inherited the Richardson estate at Winterbourne Bassett and a further estate at Berwick Bassett which subsequently descended with the Richardson property from Thomas Hutchins (d. 1607), who was his half-uncle. In 1614 he added to this estate by purchasing the manor of Winterbourne Bassett.

He died on or about 14 January 1621; his will was proved 7 May 1621. His widow was living in 1631 (when she was said to be 44 but must have been rather older); she is said to have died 16 January 1642.

* Some sources give a date of 1604 for this marriage but it must have been earlier.

Baskerville, Francis (b. 1615). Only surviving son of Thomas Baskerville of Richardston (Wilts) and his wife Joan Lor(de?), born 1615. MP for Marlborough, 1640. He was a ward of the Crown and was granted livery of his lands, 1637. He married, 2 April 1635 at Broad Hinton (Wilts), Margaret (1622-96), second daughter of Sir John Glanville of Broad Hinton, and had issue:

(1) Walter Baskerville (b. 1636), born and baptised 1 November 1636; educated at Lincoln's Inn (admitted 1653/4); died without issue in the lifetime of his father and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett;

(2) Thomas Baskerville (c.1640-1717) (q.v.);

(3) Francis Baskerville (c.1646-1723) of Little Somerford (Wilts); married, before 1693, Mary [surname unknown] (c.1654-1709) and had issue two sons and three daughters; buried at Little Somerford, 4 July 1723; 

(4) John Baskerville (fl. 1690);

(5) Winifred Baskerville (d. 1708); married, 16 September 1675 at Devizes, Alexander Ker (fl. 1708) and had issue; buried at Hungerford, 27 April 1708;

(6) Mary Baskerville (fl. 1690);

(7) Elizabeth Baskerville (fl. 1690);

(8) A daughter; died before 1690.

He inherited the Richardson estate from his father in 1621 and came of age in 1636.

He died before 1685. His wife died 28 March 1696 and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, where she is commemorated by a monument; her will was proved at Salisbury, 1696.

Baskerville, Thomas (c.1640-1717). Second, but eldest surviving, son of Francis Baskerville (b. 1615) and his wife Margaret, second daughter of Sir John Glanville of Broad Hinton (Wilts), born about 1640. High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1698-99. He married, 1662/3 (bond 17 December; settlement 1663), Mary (c.1643-1724), daughter of Richard Jones of Hanham (Glos), and had issue:

(1) John Baskerville; mentioned on his father's monument; probably died young before 1679;

(2) Richard Baskerville (1665-1739) (q.v.);

(3) Francis Baskerville (b. 1668), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 25 September 1668; 

(4) Walter Baskerville (1670-73), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 10 April 1670; died young and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, 20 August 1673;

(5) Thomas Baskerville; died in infancy;

(6) Thomas Baskerville;

(7) Septimus Baskerville (1673-76), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 25 June 1673; died young and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, 27 February 1675/6;

(8) Simon Baskerville (b. 1675), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 1 April 1675; lived at Trowbridge; married, 31 July 1705 at Upton Noble (Som,), Elizabeth Broadrip, and had issue one son; died before 1723;

(9) William Baskerville (1678-1754), possibly to be identified with the unnamed child of these parents born 23 January and baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 8 February 1677/8; married, 1699 (bond 27 March), Elizabeth (1681-1751), daughter of Edward Tapp of Marlborough (Wilts), and had issue two sons and five daughters; buried at Berwick Bassett (Wilts), 30 December 1754; his will was proved at Salisbury, 6 July 1768;

(10) John Baskerville (1679-1761), baptised at Marlborough, 18 November 1679; clothier in Salisbury; married 1st, 23 June 1709 at St Edmund, Salisbury, Mary Harris (1686?-1731), but apparently had no issue; married 2nd, 13 August 1750 at St Edmund, Salisbury, Hannah Whitehart (1715-89), but again had no issue; buried at St Edmund, Salisbury, 13 February 1761; will proved 8 April 1761;

(11) George Baskerville (1681-1755), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett 2 December 1681; youngest surviving son in 1723; married, c.1703, Elizabeth [surname unknown] and had issue six sons and three daughters; died 20 May 1755;

(12) Walter Baskerville (b. 1684), baptised at Winterbourne Basset, 4 September 1684; probably died young and certainly before 1723.

He inherited the Richardson estate from his father before 1685.

He was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, 12 February 1716/7, where he was commemorated by a monument. His widow was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, 3 March 1724, where she was also commemorated by a monument; her will was proved in Salisbury, 10 March 1724/5.

Baskerville, Richard (1665-1739). Second, but eldest surviving son of Thomas Baskerville and his wife Mary, daughter of Richard Jones of Hanham (Glos), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 27 December 1665. Educated at Exeter College, Oxford (matriculated 1685). High Sheriff of Wiltshire, 1736. He married, 13 April 1699 at Wembdon (Som.), Jane (1667-1746), daughter of Sir William Gore, kt., of Barrow Court (Som.) and widow of Richard Rayner, and had issue:

(1) Thomas Baskerville (c.1700-59) (q.v.);

(2) Meliora Baskerville (1701-73), baptised at Clyffe Pypard (Wilts), 10 December 1701; married, 1726 (settlement 23 August), Thomas Baskerville (d. 1740) of Aberedw Court, and had issue one son and two daughters; buried at Aberedw, 14 February 1773; administration of goods granted at Brecon, 1775;

(3) Jane Baskerville (d. c.1755); married, after 1731, Thomas Reading (1709-93) of Salisbury (Wilts), solicitor, but died without issue between 1752 and 1758;

(4) Walter Baskerville; died in infancy and is mentioned on his father's monument;

(5) Richard Baskerville; died in infancy and is mentioned on his father's monument.

He inherited the Richardson estate from his father in 1717, but lived latterly at Salisbury.

He died 13/14 September and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, 20 September 1739, where he is commemorated by a monument; his will was proved in the PCC, 18 December 1740. His widow was buried at Barrow Gurney (Som.), 10 December 1746; her will was proved in the PCC, 31 March 1747.

Baskerville, Thomas (c.1700-59). Only surviving son of Richard Baskerville (1665-1739) and his wife Jane, daughter of Sir William Gore, kt., of Barrow Court (Som.) and widow of Richard Rayner, born about 1700. He evidently fell out with his parents as he was not a beneficiary under either of their wills (and even his children were excluded from his father's will) and he appears to have inherited only the entailed estate; this may explain why he got into financial difficulties and was obliged to sell the Richardson estate. He married 1st, 15 March 1715/6 at St Edmund, Salisbury, Prudence (b. 1697), daughter of Thomas Holmes of Salisbury; 2nd, 16 May 1728 at Broad Hinton (Wilts), his cousin, Mary (b. 1713), daughter of George Baskerville of Winterbourne Bassett (Wilts), and 3rd, 3 December 1737 at Laverstock (Wilts), Mrs. Jane Trevor (d. 1772?), widow, from whom he was evidently later separated, and had issue:

(1.1) Hannibal Baskerville (1724-59?), baptised at St Edmund, Salisbury, 27 May 1724; married, 1749 in Horsham (Sussex), Lydia, and was buried at Horsham, 24 February 1759;

(1.2) John Baskerville (fl. 1761); living in 1761;

(2.1) Meliora Baskerville (1733-73), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 30 April 1733; lived in Marlborough (Wilts); died unmarried and was buried at Winterbourne Bassett, 17 February 1773;

(2.2) Lt-Col. Thomas Baskerville (1735-1817) (q.v.).

He also had a long-term mistress, "my faithful friend, Ann Peck, who hath long lived with me", by whom he had issue:

(X1) John Peck;

(X2) Sophia Peck.

He inherited the Richardson estate from his father in 1739, but sold it in 1754 to Henry Fox (d. 1774), later 1st Baron Holland. He lived subsequently at Salisbury (Wilts), but ended his days with his mistress in Southwark (Surrey).

He was buried at St George, Southwark, 10 November 1759; by his will proved in the PCC, 6 November 1759, he left his widow and son only a shilling; his legitimate daughter received one quarter of his estate and his mistress and his two illegitimate children received the remainder. His first wife died before 1728. His second wife died before 1737. His widow may be the Jane Baskerville buried at St Martin, Salisbury, 6 May 1772.

Baskerville, Lt-Col. Thomas (1735-1817). Only surviving son of Thomas Baskerville (c.1700-59) and his second wife Mary, daughter of George Baskerville of Winterbourne Basset (Wilts), baptised at Winterbourne Bassett, 18 July 1735. An officer in the 50th and later the 65th Foot (Ensign, 1757; Lt., 1760; Capt., 1768; Maj., 1776; Lt-Col., 1782), who served with distinction in Germany in the Seven Years War. JP for Wiltshire. He married 1st, c.1764, Anne (d. 1768), only daughter of Rev. James O'Neill of Kilbarron (Donegal) and 2nd, September 1772, Jane (d. 1809), youngest daughter of Thomas Bishop of Kinsale, but had no issue.

He lived at Poulton House, Mildenhall. At his death, his property and that purchased by his trustees at Aldbourne, Manton in Preshute and Marlborough (Wilts) passed to his kinsman Thomas Baskerville Mynors-Baskerville (q.v.).

He died aged 85 on 4 May and was buried at Mildenhall, 13 May 1817; his will was proved 19 June 1817. His first wife died in 1768. His second wife died 23 January 1809.

Principal sources

Burke's Landed Gentry, 1850, i, pp. 63-64; Burke's Landed Gentry, 1952, p. 125; VCH Wiltshire, vol. 12, 1983, pp. 184-92.

Location of archives

Baskerville of Richardson: deeds and family papers, 1276-early 19th cent. [Wiltshire & Swindon Archives, 799]

Coat of arms

Baskerville of Richardson: Argent, a chevron gules between three hurts.

Can you help?

• Can anyone supply an image of the house at Richardson before it was pulled down in the late 18th or early 19th century?
• Does anyone know what happened to John and Sophia Peck, the illegitimate children of Thomas Baskerville and Ann Peck?
• I should be most grateful if anyone can provide photographs or portraits of people whose names appear in bold above, and who are not already illustrated.
• Any additions or corrections to the account given above will be gratefully received and incorporated.

Revision and acknowledgements

This post was first published 15 September 2020 and was updated 14 October 2021 and 17 April 2024. I am grateful to Steve Hunt for a correction.