Bridget Dryden, wife of Rev. Francis Marbury and Rev. Thomas Newman
Douglas Richardson
It has been alleged by some here in the newsgroup that women in the
colonial period in England and America did not employ their maiden
names after marriage, except under special conditions. However, I've
maintained that women, particularly of a good background, could and
did use their maiden names, much as women of high rank did in the
earlier medieval period.
Recently I came across yet another example of a colonial period woman
using her maiden name after marriage. The lady in question is Bridget
Dryden, mother of the famous Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson and her sister,
Katherine (Marbury) Scott. Bridget Dryden has quite distinguished
ancestry, she descending at least three times from King Edward I of
England by way of the baronial Talbot, Ferrers, Despenser, and
Stafford families.
Bridget Dryden married (1st) [Rev.] Francis Marbury, Gent. (died 12
Feb. 1610/11), clerk, curate and schoolmaster in Alford, Lincolnshire,
Rector of St. Martin’s Vintry, London, 1605–11, Rector of St. Pancras,
Soper Lane; London, 1608–10, Vicar of St. Pancras, London, 1608–10,
and Rector of St. Margaret’s, New Fish Street, London, 1610–1611.
Following Rev. Marbury's death, Bridget married (2nd) about Dec. 1620
(date of indenture before marriage) [Rev.] Thomas Newman, B.D., Rector
of Berkhampstead St. Peter, Hertfordshire, chief Burgess and Mayor of
Berkhampstead, 1631.
While still the wife of Rev. Newman, Bridget Dryden left a will dated
12 Feb. 1644[/45], in which she styled herself as follows:
"I Brigide Dryden somes tyme here to fore the wife of Francys Marburye
of St. Martyns in the Vintage Clerke and now the wife of Thomas
Newman, Berkhamsted St. Peter in the bounds of Hertford Clerke ..."
END OF QUOTE.
Snippet views of transcripts of this will, one version the actual
spelling, the other version modernized, can be viewed at the following
weblinks:
1. Notes and Queries (1929):
http://books.google.com/books?id=WmoEAAAAYAAJ&q=Bridget+Newman+1644&dq=Bridget+Newman+1644&hl=en&ei=wUYNTZfeGI72tgOVvq21Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAzgK
2. English ancestry of Anne Marbury Hutchinson and Katherine Marbury
Scott (1936):
http://books.google.com/books?ei=EUYOTZqKMIHQsAOHmYXVCg&ct=result&id=F8E1AAAAMAAJ&dq=according+to+a+threefold+indenture+agreed+upon+and+made+between&q=sometime+heretofor
Interested parties will likely enjoy reading information regarding
Bridget Dryden's second husband, [Rev.] Thomas Newman, a staunch
Anglican, in the following source:
Sumner Chilton Powell, Puritan Village (1970): 28–29, 34. This source
may be viewed at the following weblink:
http://books.google.com/books?id=QGKKpf8hgxAC&pg=PA28
The rectory of Berkhampstead St. Peter was sequestered from Rev.
Thomas Newman by Parliament in 1645, by reason of his delinquency.
For details of this matter, see the following sources:
Urwick, Nonconformity in Herts (1884): 373–376, available at the
following weblink:
http://books.google.com/books?id=fKBhAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA373
Matthews, Walker Revised (1948): 202 (biog. of Thomas Newman).
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Douglas Richardson
As a followup to my earlier post, I should mention that there are two
records relating to Bridget Dryden and her 2nd husband, Rev. Thomas
Newman, in the online A2A Catalogue (www.a2a.org.uk/search/
index.asp). The first record below implies Bridget Dryden and her 2nd
husband, Thomas Newman, were married in 1642. However, in her will
already cited, she indicates that their marriage actually took place
about December 1620.
The second record below proves that Rev. Thomas Newman was still
living at Berkhampstead, Hertford as late as 5 December 1647. The two
individuals who joined him in this conveyance, Thomas and Robert
Newman, were presumably his adult sons by a wife other than Bridget
Dryden.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Northamptonshire Record Office
Dryden (Canons Ashby) Collection
D (CA)/518 Date: 1642
Contents:
Bond in £200 between Thomas Newman and John Dryden & Anthony Marbury
about goods (inventory annexed) and money payable to Bridget Marbury
on her marriage to T. Newman
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Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies
Title deeds and papers of the Duncombe family, 1534-1895
Bargain & Sale DE/B664/29479 Date: 5th December 1647
Contents:
1 Thomas Newman of Gt Berkhampstead, clerk, Thomas Newman of same
place, yeoman, Robert Newman of same place, yeoman.
2 Richard Wood the younger of Whelply Hill.
£95 Meadow at Gossams End