Table 1
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Jane,,1703,Robberts ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Mary,,1705, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Thomas,,1712, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Nicholas,,1728,Robberts ,SD
Burstow,Parish Registers,Marriage,RISBRIDGER( RESBRIDGER),Jeffrey,,1769,see also RUSBRIDGE,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Ned,,1778,Sawyers ,SD
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,James,,1781,,SNI
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Johnson,,1782,Saunders ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,George,,1783, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Amy,,1786,Robberts ,SD
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Thomas,,1786,,SNI
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Thomas,,1787, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,James,,1788, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Sarah,,1791, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Sarah,,1797,Smyth ,SD
Burstow,Parish Registers,Marriage,RISBRIDGER( RESBRIDGER),Driver,,1799,see also RUSBRIDGE,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,James,,1803, ,SD
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Benjamin,,1805,,SNI
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Elizabeth,,1805, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Sarah,,1805,Resbridger Risbridge ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Ann,,1808, ,SD
Lambeth St Mary,Parish register,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Johnson,,1808,,SNI
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Mary,,1808,Resbridger Risbridge ,SD
Croydon,1811 census,census,RISBRIDGER,Hannah,Widow,1811,,SNI
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,James,,1813, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,George,,1815, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Thomas Holder,,1817,Smyth ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,James,,1820,Robberts ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Thomas,,1821, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Emily,,1823, ,SD
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Rebecca,,1823,,SNI
,Surrey Quarter Sessions,Account of convicts,RISBRIDGER,Robert,Prisoner,1823,,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Sarah,,1823,Resbridger Risbridge ,SD
Burstow,Parish Registers,Marriage,RISBRIDGER( RESBRIDGER),Isaac,,1823,see also RUSBRIDGE,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,William,,1824, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Elizabeth,,1827,Robberts ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Job,,1828, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,William,,1831, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Jane,,1833,Resbridger Risbridge ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Marianne,,1833, ,SD
Burstow,Parish Registers,Marriage,RUSBRIDGE,Mary,,1835,see also RISBRIDGER,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,William,,1836,Saunders ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Caroline,,1837, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,William,,1837,Resbridger Risbridge ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Baptism,RISBRIDGER,Eliza,,1838, ,SD
Betchworth,Parish Registers,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Mary,,1840,Ruffey ,SD
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Mary,,1841,,SNI
Mitcham St Peter & St Paul,Parish Register,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Doury,,1868,,SNI
Lowfield Heath St. Michael,Parish Register,Burial,RISBRIDGER,Sophia,,1873,,SNI
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Mary Ann,,1886,,SNI
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,John,,1891,,SNI
Caterham St. Mary & St. Lawrence,Parish Registers,burial,RUSBRIDGE,William,,1904,45 yrs,SNI
Hampshire/Surrey,Police records,Joined Hants police,RISBRIDGE,Sidney,,1907,24 years old,SNI
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Fanny,,1925,,SNI
Betchworth St. Michael,Monumental Inscriptions,death,RISBRIDGER,Harry Frank,,1925,,SNI
Surrey Strays,,"1851 Census HO 107/2255. f.89. p.7. Bolton by Bowland,West Riding Yorks. near Clitheroe, Lancs.",RISBRIDGE,Henry,"head, married, 40, Ag. Lab Charlwood, SRY. head,Monibent.",,,SNI
,ESFHS Journal,,RISBRIDGER,?,,,,SNI
Surrey Strays,,"2 Mar 1777 Marriage by Licence,  Ifield, SSX.",RISBRIDGER,Benjamin,"of Charlwood, SRY. to Mary Humphrey, o.t.p.",,,SNI
"Merton Park, St Mary",Monumental Inscription,,RISBRIDGER,Elizabeth M ,,,22,SD
Surrey Strays,Parish Registers.,"8 Feb 1715/16.at Rusper, SSX.",RISBRIDGER,Robert,"also Mary baptised 27 1717 children of Edward & Mary of Newdigate, SRY.",,,SNI
Nutfield St. Peter & St. Paul,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,Charles,,,,SNI
Redhill St. John the Evangelist,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,Emma,,,,SNI
Newdigate St. Peter,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,Phoebe,,,,SNI
Newdigate St. Peter,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,Robert Bilcliffe,,,,SNI
Newdigate St. Peter,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,Thomas,,,,SNI
Nutfield St. Peter & St. Paul,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,Walter,,,,SNI
Horne St. Mary,,MI,RUSBRIDGE,William,,,,SNI

The Risbridger Story
Page 1
The Risbridger Story
High up on the west wall of the nave in the Old Parish Church at Albury, Surrey
there is a large marble tablet, the Risbridger Monument, which records:-
Near this place are intombed the body of Angel Risbridger, widow of William Risbridger, late
of Cooks Place in this Parish, Gentleman, deceased, who departed this life the 4th November
1734, in the 85th year of her age. Also the body of William Risbridger Gentleman their eldest
son, who died possessed thereof on the 12th day of April 1757, in the 74th year of his age.
Which place thro many ages has been the residence of his ancestors.
Also the body of John Risbridger the only brother of the said William Risbridger who died
5th August 1757, aged 64 years.
Apart from the arresting phrase,
Which place thro many ages has been the residence of his ancestors.
there is nothing in the monument’s bald recital of names and dates to suggest there might
be some story behind its erection. There is such a story however, and an unusual one. It is
about a supply of water to the John Evelyn Gardens which form part of the grounds of the
Albury Park mansion standing close to the Old Church. The story is one of litigation,
spanning more than half a century, between two families.
Cooks Place, referred to in the monument, still forms part of today’s scene, being a
fifteenth century house lying less that a quarter of a mile west of the Old Church, and
known now as Cookes Place.
This house and the previous house on the same site, together with various fields, had for
centuries comprised an enclave of freehold land within the manorial lands of Albury. Even
in respect of freehold land it was not uncommon for some free rent to be paid; the free rent
for Cookes Place, payable to the Lord of the Manor, was six broad arrows with barbed
heads called Broad Arrow Heads, worth and so received one shilling and eight
pence; and this rental of twenty pence was paid for hundreds of years. There had been
Cooks at Albury back in the thirteenth century; and late in the fourteenth century a
Christine Cook married a John Risbridger. Thus it was that “Cooks Place” passed into the
hands of the Risbridger family, and it so remained up to the end of this story.
The last few generations of the Risbridgers of Cookes Place had all been christened
William. It will cause less confusion therefore if the call the William Risbridger who died in
1757 “William R”, and if we call his father “Father R”, and his grandfather “Grandfather R”.
The present story really began in about 1655, a hundred years or so before the Risbridger
monument was installed in what was then the parish
Page 2
The Risbridger Story
church of Albury. John Evelyn, the diarist, noted on 10th August 1655 “I went to Alburie to
visit Mr. Howard which had begun to build, and alter the gardens much”. This Mr. Howard
was a Mr. Henry Howard later Earl of Arundel and Sixth Duke of Norfolk, who two years
earlier had bought the manor house and estate at Albury from his elder brother Thomas,
grandson of the fourth Duke. In 1655 Howard was a young man of 27 who had spent much
of his life abroad. The Albury estate which he had taken over was heavily mortgaged, but
he had embarked with enthusiasm on his responsibilities and opportunities as a
landowner. He repaid to the Duncombe family the outstanding mortgage moneys, he
continued the enlargement of the manor house which his brother had already put in hand,
and he brought in his neighbour John Evelyn to help with the landscaping of the gardens.
Evelyn’s garden design at Albury Park included provision for two parallel terraces along
the hillside, opposite the mansion and well above the level of the Tillingbourne stream,
each terrace about 400 yards in length. At the back of the upper terrace a broad and high
tunnel (or “crypta”) was to be driven 160 yards through the adjoining sandstone hill. At the
centre of the upper terrace a semi-circular basin with a fountain was planned. On a southfacing slope below the two terraces, there were to be vineyards planted. And, as a
dominant feature, the Tillingbourne stream was to be widened to form two canals each 200
yards and 80 feet wide.
All these improvement were carried out over the next fifteen to twenty years; but before the
Half Moon Pond and the fountain could be usefully contructed, and before the vineyards
could be safely planted, there was a crucial difficulty to be overcome, namely the lack of
any water supply for filling the pond and priming the fountain and irrigating the vines.
Water was available, in ample volume and at sufficiently high contour, less than half a mile
away at the Sherbourne ponds, which were owned by Henry Howard as part of his
manorial lands and which were served by a strong spring. Intervening between the
Sherbourne and Howard’s planned new garden, however, there lay certain fields which
were in Risbridger ownership being part of the lands held with Cookes Place, as shown on
the plan at the end of this Paper. The owner of Cookes Place in 1655 was Grandfather R.,
and it would appear that he proved unresponsive when invited to give permission for a
watercourse to be constructed across the Cookes Place fields in order to help in the
creation of a pleasure garden for the manor house. At any rate no progress was made to
this end dring Grandfather R’s lifetime. He died in 1661, leaving a widow Joan and a
young son, aged 9. Withi a very short time Henry Howard had persuaded widow Joan to
lease him a strip of the Risbridger land in order that water could be brought from
Sherbourne Pond (now called the Silent Pool), to the upper level of the Albury Park
gardens.
A stiplulation was made by widow Joan, however, that the lease should run

Page 3
The Risbridger Story
from 1662 for 11 years only, so that when her son came of age the grant would not be
binding on him. Having secured this lease Howard proceeded to construct his watercourse
as marked on the attached plan. The line taken had to be a tortuous one because of the
necessity to follow very closely the contours of the land. Much of the watercourse remains
to this day, but it is now a dry channel.
By 1670 the contstruction of the Albury Park garden was well-advanced. John Evelyn’s
diary for 23rd September 1670 records: “to Alburie to see how that garden proceeded,
which I found exactly done according to the Designs and Plot I had made, with the Crypts
through the mountains in the park … the canals were now digging, & vineyards planted.“
So far, so good.
But three years later, in 1673, Father R came of age. The lease of the watercourse
therefore elapsed, and it was never renewed. Father R was firmly of the opinion that from
1673 onwards the owner of the mansion no longer had any title to the strip of land forming
the bed of the watercourse. To make his viewpoint quite clear he began to interrupt the
flow of water from time to time. On such occasions Henry Howard would make a request
for the supply to be restored, and would pay some suitable acknowledgment therefor
which, though of small value, was accepted by Father R as sufficient evidence of his own
right to stop the water whenever he wished. It would seem that Howard and Father R.
were on reasonably good terms, or at least that Father R. did not wish to cause
unneccesary anxiety to a neighbour who already had other troubles. It is recorded that
Henry Howard had fallen into a deep melancholy on the death of his first wife.
Four years after Father R. had come of age, Howard succeeded as sixth Duke of Norfolk
on the death of his elder brother; and in the following year, 1678, he married his mistress
Jane, daughter of Robert Bickerton gentleman of the wine-cellar to Charles II. The duke
and his second wife moved thereafter to Arundel where he died in 1684. Two years before
his death the Duke of Norfolk had sold his Albury estate to the Hon. Heneage Finch. For
the next thirteen years from 1682, during Father R.’s lifetime, although there may well
have been friction between him and the new owner of the manor house, there was no
open confrontation. Finch was wont to carry out any necessary repairs to the watercourse,
and Father R. continued to draw water therefrom for supplying a cistern in his house and
for watering his higher fields and for filling a horsepond.
In 1696, however, Father R. died and (as had happened with his own father,) he left a
widow and a young son. The widow was called Angel, née Burningham, and her son was
our William R., then aged 10. Angel Risbridger, who is commemorated in the tablet in the
Old Church, was a strong-minded lady who had evidently nursed her own opinion about
the rights and wrongs of this

Page 4
The Risbridger Story
water matter. On her husband’s death she lost no time in cutting off the supply of water to
the pond and fountain and the vineyard in the John Evelyn Gardens. Finch took swift legal
action. In Trinity Term 1696 he exhibited a Bill in the Chancery Court claiming his right and
title for the enjoyment of the watercourse, and asking for an injunction to prevent any
interruption of the water supply. On behalf of the infant William R., an Answer to this bill
was filed by his uncle Henry Birningham . In due course, in April 1698, a joint Commission 1
was appointed and many witnesses were examined on both sides. The case was then
brought to a hearing on 20th May 1699 before the Lord Chancellor, Lord Somers, who
ordered that there should be a trial at law as to whether there had been any agreement for
the making or continuing of the watercourse. This decision did not suit Finch at all, he
succesfully petitioned the then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal for a re-hearing. The
rehearing took place in the High Court of Chancery on 24th November 1700, and
judgement was given in his favour, but the injunction granted him was not to biding on “the
infant, after his age of 21 years, in case he shall within six months after such age show
good cause to the contrary”.
The official report of the Finch v Risbridger case, covering this 1696-1700 litigation, is
commendably brief. In full it reads as follows:
“The Bill was to quiet the plaintiff in the enjoyment of a watercourse to his house
and garden, through the ground of the defendant. It appeared upon the proof that
there had been a long enjoyment of this watercourse, particularly by the Earl of
Arundel and after him by the Duke of Norfolk, and that the plaintiff had scoured and
repaired it when there was occasion, and that the Duke was in the quiet enjoyment
of it when he sold it to the plaintiff.
For the defendant it was insisted that the Earl of Arundel in 1662, took a long lease
on the lands, now the defendant’s, and that while he held those lands as lessees
he made the watercourse in question; and that after the expiration of the lease he
was many times denied liberty to scour or amend the watercourse, and several
witnesses deposed to that effect; and the defendant insisted it was only upon
sufferance and not founded on any agreement or consideration.
This cause being first heard before the Lord Chancellor Somers, he directed an
issue to be tried at law, whether there was any agreement made between any of
the owners of the plaintiff’s estates respectively, for the making or continuing of the
watercourse in question.
Upon a rehearing before the Lord Keeper Wright, he decreed for the plaintiff,
declaring a quiet enjoyment was the best evidence of right, and would presume on
agreement, and the proof ought to come on the other side to show the special
licence, or that it was to be restrained or limited in point of time.”
It is strange indeed that what could have been a vital document, the original lease for 11
years from 1662, was never at any time produced; the presumption must be that Joan
http://docplayer.net/39936435-Watch-clock-bulletin-index.html mentions FREDERICK HENRY 1
BIRNINGHAM CASE MAKER'S MRK & DATA so maybe another clock maker in the family?
Page 5
The Risbridger Story
Risbridger’s agreement with Henry Howard had been on a verbal basis only. Be this as it
may, widow Angel and her brother did not lie down under the judgement of Lord Keeper
Wright. Within a month, on 13th December 1700, Henry Burningham on behalf of William
R, entered a Caveat to prevent the signing and enrolling of the decree, and he exhibited a
Bill in Chancery running to some 10,000 words seeking leave to re-open the whole issue.
The Answer thereto by Heneage Finch, sworn on 14th May 1701, ran to some 5,000
words. The case came up for hearing afresh on 7th July 1701, when the Lord Keeper ruled
that the former Decree should stand confirmed. Nothing more could now be done by the
Risbridger family until William R. came of age five years later. Within the stipulated six
months he then duly presented his petition to the Lord Chancellor, but it was unsuccessful,
and the ruling was again made that the previous decree should stand. A direction was
given, however, that the said watercourse should be kept within the bounds of three or four
feet and that Finch should be obliged at seasonable times upon request to scour it and
amend the banks, and that William R. should at seasonable times enjoy the benefit of the
water for watering his grounds as previously.
That was the end of this first stage of this litigation, with nothing gained by the Risbridger
family, and considerable expense incurred. It is difficult not to feel that the Risbridgers had
started at some disadvantage. They were up against a formidable opponent in Heneage
Finch, who was a national figure. In 1678 he had been appointed solicitor-general to
Charles II, albeit he had been subsequently removed from that position by James II in
1686. In 1688, six years after his purchase of the Albury Estate, Finch had achieved fame
by successfully pleading as leading counsel on the side of the seven bishops whom James
II was suing for the publication of a seditious libel, namely a petition against a Declaration
of Indulgence for Catholics which James had commanded to be read in all churches. The
outcome of that was to prove a mortal blow to James’s desired restoration of Catholicism
in this country. For a period from 1673 Finch had also himself been Lord Chancellor. It is
hardly surprising therefore that, given any scintilla of doubt about the merits of the
Risbridger case, the Chancery Court (which is the Lord Chancellor’s own court), should
have come down in favour of Finch.
Time went on. In 1714 Heneage Finch was advanced in the peerage, taking the title of
Earl of Aylesford. In 1719 he died and the Dowager Countess of Aylesford became the
Lady of the Manor of Albury. On the Risbridger side, the redoubtable Angel Risbridger died
in 1734 at the age of 84. Then in 1743 Lady Aylesford died, and her son the Earl of
Aylesford came into possession.
There had been a period of comparative calm since 1707, but after 1743 litigation flared
again, sparked off this time by Lord Aylesford and relating to a different watercourse.
Page 6
The Risbridger Story
Running southwards from the lower Sherbourne pond there had always been and there
still is a running stream, the Sherbourne Watercourse, as shown on the attached plan. This
watercourse served the lower-lying fields held with Cookes Place, and it had been granted
in the fifteenth century to a John Risbridger by the then Lord of the Manor Sir John
Norbury. The Deed of Grant, dated 10th October 1480, records that Sir John did “give,
grant and confirm to one John Risbridger, son and heir of Henry Risbridger …… one small
watercourse in breadth four feet, rendering to the Lord of the Manor one red rose on the
feast of St John the Baptist if demanded”. It appears that between the upper and lower
ponds at Sherbourne there used to be a board which was readily raised or lowered to
regulate the flow of water. But in 1745 this board was replaced by a penstock, or sluicegate, which Lord Aylesford kept locked, thus cutting off the supply to the lower pond and to
the Sherbourne watercourse; incidentally also causing the water from the upper pond to
run to waste, and inviting retaliatory action on the Howard watercourse.
In 1746 William R. filed in Bill in the Court of Chancery, to which the Earl put in an Answer.
The Earl afterwards filed a Cross-Bill, to which William R. put in his Answer. Legal
proceedings dragged on for another three years without coming to a hearing. Not only was
this litigation lengthy, it was also very costly. By 1749 William R. decided that he had had
enough. This was understandable o his part because he had reached the age of 65; he
was still a bachelor; there was no succeeding generation to follow him at Cookes place;
and he had responsibility for a younger unmarried brother John, then aged 56, who was an
invalid.
What happened was that in October 1749 William R. in consideration of the sum of
£3,000, sold to Lord Aylesford his freehold properties, and at the same time also
surrendered to the Earl about 30 acres of land which he had been holdig as Copyhold
Tenant of the Manor. As part of the bargain it was agreed:-
“ …. that all proceedings be stayed in the two causes now dep[ending on the Court of
Chancery in one of which the said William Risbridger is plaintiff and the said Heneage Earl
of Alesford defendant and in the other the said Heneage Earl of Aylesford is plaintiff and
the said William Risbridger defendant and each party to pay his own costs and for that
purpose either party shall at the request of the other consent that the several Bills filed in
the said cause may be dismissed without costs”.
It was on this basis that the litigation which had started in 1696 was concluded in 1749.
But the story would not be complete if the Paper ended here.
In 1754 William R. made his will. Money was left in trust for his brother John, the interest
on which was to be applied:
Page 7
The Risbridger Story
”for the better support and maintenance of my brother, it being my will that the utmost care
be taken of his […] and that he may not be removed to any place but his own house or
where he slall like best. And if a person extraordinary to attend his constantly be
necessary, that such person is provided to take care of him there and that no expense be
spared that may be conducive to his happiness and quiet”.
Under the Will a substantial sum of £400 was to be placed at interest to bring in twelve
pounds and twelve shillings for perpetuating William R’s usual charities. The manner in
which this total annual sum was to be distributed is arved on the monument in the Old
Church, viz:-
1L. 1s. to the Minister of Albury, for preaching a sermon on the first of May in every year.
1s. to the Clerk for performing his office.
15s. to 30 such poor people thereof as shall not have received alms thereof, as will
attend that service equally.
15s. to be that day laid out in a dinner for such poor people.
5L. annually to be paid out in bread, and equally distributed in the said Parish Church,
on every Sunday, immediately after the Divine Service and Sermon, amongst such
poor people of this Parish as shall not have received alms thereof.
5L. yearly to be applied to putting to School poor men’s sons of this Parish.
In April 1757 William R. died. It will be recollected that the Risbridger Monument, after
referring to “Angel Risbridger, widow of William Risbridger, late of Cooks Place,” goes on
to say:
“Also the body of William Risbridger, Gentleman their eldest son, who died possessed
thereof - - -. Which place thro’ many ages had been the residence of his ancestors.”
Whilst the closing phrase above is arresting; the opening phrase is something of a riddle
because William R. had sold his freehold lands to the Earl of Aylesford eight years
previously. In order to discover the answer to this riddle it is necessary to look at a
document which had been entered into between William R. and Lord Aylesford earlier in
1749, entitled Articles of Agreement for Purchase. In addition to setting out the
arrangements which have already been described, this earlier Deed of 20th June 1749
contains two unusual provisions. One relates to Cookes Place, and it runs:-
“EXCEPT and to be reserved out of such conveyance unto the said William Risbridger - - -
for and during the term of his natural life ALL the said messuage or tenement called Cooks
Place in the occupation of the said William Risbridger with all the gardens thereto
belonging - - - the Hogstys, the vine by the Hogstys, the horsepond to keep the fish in and
take out at his free will and pleasure by drawing the pond or otherwise, the lead cistern
and pipes and sufficient water to run thereto, the fourteen apple trees standing nearest the
said pond etc., etc, - - - “.
It is in the light of the above provision that the declaration in the monument, that William
Risbridger had “died possessed of Cooks Place” is seen
Page 8
The Risbridger Story
to be poignantly accurate.
The second unusual provision in this Deed of 1749, and a strange clause indeed to find
among “Articles of Purchase”, has a similar poignancy.
It runs:-
“WITH liberty for him the said William Risbridger and his brother John Risbridger to be
buried in the same vault in Albury Church where their mother was buried.”
The year 1757 marks the end of the story. William R. had died in the April. His invalid
younger brother was to die in the August. And meanwhile, in June of that same year, there
was to come the death of the new owner of Cookes Place, the second Earl of Aylesford.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
(by R. Charles Walmsley, F.R.I.C.S.)
The compiler of this Paper acknowledges, with gratitude, assistance derived from many sources,
and in particular from:-
1. Typescript entitled “The Risbridger Family of Cookes Place, Albury”, undated and unsigned
but undoubtedly attributed to the late Miss O.M. Heath. Held by Mr. Ernest Risbridger of
Albury.
2. Manuscripts left by the late Miss O.M.Heath. Held in the library of the Surrey Archaelogical
Society, Guildford. (Box 93/1).
3. The Dictionary of National Biography. 22 vols. O.U.P.
4. “The Diary of John Evelyn”. Edited by E.S. de Beer. (O.U.P. 1959)
5. Bills and Answers relating to the Finch v Risbridger litigation 1696-1701. Held in the Public
Record Office, London. (Bundle C9. 163/87).
6. The judgement in the case of Finch v Risbridger. High Court of Chancery, 24 November
1700. Held in the library of Lincoln’s Inn. (Vernon\’s Reports 1828. Vol. II. p 390).
7. Plan of the Manor of Albury, drawn by Abr. Walter and dated 1701. Held in the Estates
Office, Albury.
8. Articles of Agreement of Purchase of freehold lands at Albury by the Rt. Hon. Heneage Earl
of Aylesford from Wm. Risbridger, 20 June 1749. Also Deed of Surrender of Copyhold lands
by Wm. Risbridger to the said Earl, 6 October 1749. Held in the muniment room, Syon
House. (Bundle D.XXII. 1. C(2)).
___________________________
The drawing of the Old Parish Church of Albury on the front of this paper is by Mr. John L. Baker
and is now in the ownership of Dr. Maurice Burton.
Page 9
The Risbridger Story
Page 10

John Risbridger 1660 - Damaris Chenell 1660

Thomas Risbridger 1687-1736 - Mary Morlan 1689-

James Risbridger 1719-1769 - Mary Lawrence -1838

Mary Risbridger 1749-1832 Edward Risbridger 1765-1838 - Philly Charlwood 1769-1810

Database of Poor Law records for West Sussex
Poor Law Record
Reference Number: Par/116/32/2/27, 28
Parish: Kirdford
Order type: Removal order
Date: 30 Apr 1774
Type Name Marital Status Age Occupation Comment Foreign Parish Foreign Parish 2
Subject William RISBRIDGER married Rusper
Child John RISBRIDGER 6y
Child Thomas RISBRIDGER 3y
Child William RISBRIDGER 9y

Charlwood

John Sharp of Gatwick Esq.
Thomas Sanders Gent

Yeomen:
George Constable
Jno Nightingale
Edward Flint
Nathan Chandler
John Risbridger

Dear Mr Ris,
Just a few hasty 
notes & the family tree.
I believe there is a Risbridger buried in the centre aisle of a church in Shere. He was the
 Lord of the Manor. My sister in law Jean Risbridger
 would be pleased to talk to
 you of other information she has. Suggest you ring her one
 mid morning.

Kind regards,
Leo

Email Barry Risbridger to Annie Risbridger 24/09/2017

Hi Annie,

Dad built The Central Garage, as it was called, in the early thirties.

It was situated at the bottom of Brighton Road where the Ford Garage now stands.

The council refused planning permission initially as there were six types of shifting sand at the bottom of the hill. Redhill was built on faggots by the railway companies in the 1800’s and has always been tricky.

Apparently Dad found an American civil engineer who designed a large concrete “float” on which the garage was built. The council could not argue the calculations and concept so it was given permission.

I remember seeing a photo of the garage which had three or four Risbridger pumps, a Morris repair shop and an agency for Ocean Insurance Co.

Dad told me that uncles Jack and Ted ran the garage but it proved to be loss-making, particularly the servicing part.

I don't know when it closed or to whom it was sold.

Risbridger pumps were also installed at Nutfield Service Station and the last ones I can recall were at Wray Park Garage well into the 60’s.

The pumps were also used at many RAF fighter stations in the south as part of the Risbridger work 90 strong workforce installed fuel tanks in bunkers as a separate arm of the factory.

In one of the pictures that Celia recently emailed us, fourth from the left is Freddie Edwards, who assembled and serviced the meters and pumps. The story is that he drained off some of the 100 octane RAF fuel left in meters sent back for repair. He put some of this fuel in his old Indian motorbike. After work he rode up the hill in Stychens Lane (School Lane in those days) and promptly blew the cylinder head of the engine!

You know that the factory was turned over by the War Ministry into munitions production notably brass fuse housings for 4” mortar bombs. The steel forged bomb casings and flights were machined at the Redland Tile factory at the bottom of Redstone Hollow. Dad was a production manager at that factory as well as running his Risbridgers and being a volunteer ambulance driver with Pauline, my big Sis. The war ministry apparently limited the total company profit to £6,000 per annum, any excess being given to the ministry.

It is ironic that most of the fuse housings were machined on lovely compact, lever operated, capstan lath[es] made by a German company called Hille which Dad bought before the war,. Dad had them copied and produced quite a number which were distributed through the Sussex industries Group, set up by the War Ministry to coordinate production. Gerry will remember the[m] well as he adapted them for several specialised applications which were used for many years.

Sorry I, I have run out of time now as we leave for Spain tomorrow morning.

Hope this helps give it to Gerry to read as he may be able to add content.

Love

Basil

Email from Barry Risbridger to his niece Annie 23 September 2017

Hi Annie

I remember Dad telling me the following.

Dad volunteered to join the RNAS after helping to pull down an observer balloon drifting over fields in Bletchingley at the beginning of the 14/18 war. The officer on board said he should join up, which he did!

He was employed servicing and refuelling dirigibles (like the R101 airship) at Cardington. You would be surprised how many were built at this time.

The engines used 100 octane fuel which was dispensed and filtered through chamois leather filters. The fuel was stored in tanks in which the petrol was floated over a layer of water. This was a very efficient way of natural particulate filtration as it all floated to the bottom of the water. It was known as the Hydraulic Fuel Storage System perfected by a man named Bywater, a civilian working for the War Ministry. Dad did buy the Company name and rights after the war but it was not viable in civilian life. We had the float valves in the stores for years afterwards.

Apparently, Dad, during this time, also volunteered to be a wing gunner on Vickers Vimy bombers, but his CEO would not let him go. They were strapped horizontally to a wing with a Lewis gun and some spare magazines. None of Dad’s friends who were accepted, survived.

After the war, Mr Bywater contacted Dad and offered him the job of converting the new Wayne petrol pumps from Ohio being imported into Britain up to Board of Trade standards and repainting into petrol company colours and logos. A new factory (large shed) was constructed in two weeks flat in Grandad’s garden as the pumps were on their way over the Atlantic. That shed formed part of the factory in Bletchingley and was only demolished some 10 years ago after approx 83 years of continuous production!

After a number of years Dad realised that they could design and produce their own petrol pump. This they did and it was in production for many years. The pump had the unique feature of being ausable in a power cut as it could be hand operated with a Morris car starting handle which drove a bicycle sprocket and chain which powered the cast-iron rotary pump. It could deliver 6 galls per minute manually!

This is as far as I got last night, will send more on Sunday.

Very Happy Birthday

Basil

Article in the Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper, 26/08/1988

PATROLLING PRECISION FORMER MEMBER OF HER MAJESTY'S MOUNTED PATROL RIDES HERD IN FORT LAUDERDALE.

RENEE KRAUSE, Staff Writer, SUN-SENTINEL

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Ian Risbridger stands in the middle of the corral, a cigarette dangling from his left hand, barking instructions at the mounted police officers circling him.

"Watch the horses' length!" "Move up!" "That's better. And walk. Walk them. Don't let them go to sleep."

The five officers in the Fort Lauderdale Mounted Patrol circle Risbridger once more. He stares at each rider. He yells instructions to those not riding properly.

And barks again. "Canter!" Then a minute later, "Post to the trot!"

It's non-stop exercise for the officers when Risbridger is around. The man who served in Her Majesty's Mounted Patrol in London for four years has been volunteering his expertise to the Fort Lauderdale patrol for almost four years.

"I get more fun out of it than they do because I love yelling at people," Risbridger says jokingly.

Actually, Risbridger says he loves working with the people and the horses. He can't help it.

In 1948, he said, he was the champion junior jumper in England. Then he worked as a mounted patrol officer in London. And after moving to Broward County 15 years ago, he owned a 40-horse stable in Pompano Beach.

Now, at 56, he owns a Rolls Royce repair shop, but only one horse. He gets to work with many, however, when he volunteers his time at least once a week to train the Fort Lauderdale officers.

Sometimes, as was the case about 2 1/2 years ago when almost an entire new group of officers entered the unit, Risbridger works with the officers on Saturdays, too.

He takes little credit for the group's accomplishments. "I'm only as good at those people make me. I can yell and scream, but I'm only as good as their dedication allows me to be."

Mary Lou Hall has been with the mounted patrol for two years. "He's been coming once a week and more on his own time for the love of horses and concern for the community," she said. "He's like our drill sergeant."

Last Wednesday, the police department gave Risbridger a plaque to thank him for his service. Instead of practice, the group and Chief Joe Gerwens took Risbridger out to dinner.

When Risbridger is not yelling orders, he is putting the group through exercises meant to establish trust between the horses and the officers.

The officers play catch with large orange balls while on horseback. And sometimes they play hockey, using broomsticks. "All of sudden," Risbridger says of the games, "they're not falling off the horses when they make sharp turns."

On Wednesday, Risbridger watched as the officers took the horses through an obstacle course of bales of hay, lengths of metal pipes, wooden boards and tires. The course is supposed to recreate the challenges the horses face when working the streets of Fort Lauderdale.

Then Risbridger sent Hall, who was injured a month ago during a game on horseback, into a police car. He ordered the officers to ride their horses around the car, inches away from the vehicle, and motioned to Hall to turn on the siren.

The horses, Risbridger explained, need to learn to remain calm around the commonplace sounds in police work. The next one is gunfire. Not only do the horses need to get used to the blast, but the officers need practice jumping off the horse and using it as a shield should their lives be in danger, Risbridger said.

"I'd rather a horse get killed than an officer," he said.

As the officers rode around the obstacle course again, Risbridger wound up his instructions with a warning: "When I fire the gun, the last person off the horse rides without a saddle for the rest of the day."

Risbridger fired a blank and Sgt. Joe Ryan was the last one off his horse, Harry. Ryan was not penalized, however. Risbridger said he was in a good mood.

"I love it," Risbridger says of his work with the officers and the horses. "It's just a feeling you have and you can't explain it."

Editorial

Family industry

One of the feathers in Bletchingley’s cap Is worn so modestly that the tourists who gaze at the old houses, and the motorists who whizz through our picture postcard village, may not even know it exists. But tucked away down Stychens Lane, behind the notice W & J Risbridger, engineers and contractors, lies a success story well worth the telling.

It all started when William Arthur Risbridger went into the R.E.C. in the 1914-18 war and became interested in the storage of petrol, and the dispensing of it to airships. Back in Bletchingley, in the early 20s he started a small workshop and found foundry in his garden, making valves and costings, and doing general car repairs.

In 1927 he extended the building so that he could modify some imported American petrol pumps to make them acceptable to the British Board of Trade and in 1933 he designed and patented a flow-meter which was the basis for the first electric kerbside petrol pumps. Until 1939 he and his brother John were busy producing not only pumps but hose valves, nozzles, filters, check valves, all the complex bits and pieces designed to ensure that petrol reached the tanks of the rapidly multiplying motorcars in clean condition.

In the Second World War the factory went over to munitions, working around the clock in three
8-hour shifts to produce fuse caps, filters, and parts of mortar bombs; there are still some Bletchingley ladies who remember the days when they were part of this essential labour force.

William died in 1969, but the business goes from strength to strength in the hands of his three sons, Gerry - Company Chairman and Managing Director, John - Office manager and Company Secretary, and Barry - Design and Aircraft Ground Equipment, “though you can't categorise in a small firm like ours; you do what needs doing”.

They still make retail petroleum trade products and patent new designs such as a cunning swivel joining hose to nozzle for minimum wear. And for the last ten years and exciting and growing side of their production has been the highly sophisticated aircraft ground equipment which they sell to the Ministry of Defence and the Canadian Air Force, as well as to civil airlines at home and abroad.

Aircraft need many different strange fluids besides oil and petroleum to be pumped into them, and the company developed its first hand-pump for this purpose in response to an enquiry from an oil company needing to dispense a particularly expensive oil in an ultra-clean manner. Their latest pumps and couplings are as beautiful as they are precision-made. With intricate filters which refine to 3 µm absolute.

I was shown around the factory by Gerry Risbridger, who joined his father in 1954 after a five year engineering apprenticeship in Birmingham, but has been “wandering around getting in the way” since the age of 10, and has the immense advantage of being able to do every job himself.

The total workforce is about twenty, all local; the furthest anyone has to come is from Lingfield, “Five minutes from Whitepost”, says Alf Kettle, who sets, operates and repairs the three automatic machines. I watched, fascinated, as one of these made an aluminium component for spraying air-conditioning systems (one of the many contract machining jobs which the company does beside its home products).

On the manual capstan lathes, Colin Busby was carrying out the first operation on the cylinders of the dispensing guns: Christopher List was finishing off bodies for a check-valve cast in gunmetal: Jim Belton, “only been with us a month or two”, was producing a little cap for a hose nozzle. Training is on the job.

Operating a semi-automatic designed for threading a component was centre-lathe turner Roy Marshall, who has been with the firm ever since he came out of the Navy in 1945. “And never regretted it. I've had the happiest working life. It's such a friendly atmosphere, like a family, we've never had a days strike, never a day off for lack of work even in the park as we always worked full time”. Good workmanship and good management relations, in his view, produce results to be proud of. “I reckon the stuff we turn out from here is as good as anything from the highest powered firm in the land!”

The twenty-six per cent growth rate, the lively export side, and the healthy annual turnover certainly point this way. What is the secret of their success? “Efficiency” is John’s answer, “Attention to detail”, Gerry believes, “which you tend to lose in a larger company”. But the last word goes to Glenys Richards, who has been with them since 1941 and does the bookkeeping, payroll, typing, and filing all with immaculate care. “It's the pleasantness”, she says, “and the way we all get on with one another. It's almost a perfect little business”.

This document was not known to exist until 2019, when Tim Richardson finally managed to contact Cyril's daughter Ann. She had kept all her father's research documents in her loft in the hope that one day someone would take an interest.


The annotated transcription is in the Books and Publications section of the Risbridger Collection Library.

FOR OFFICIAL USE

(750) 111 (5)

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT. 1904

NOTICE OF EXAMINATION OF PATTERN No. 750

SUBMITTED BY W & J RISBRIDGER, BLETCHINGLEY
REDHILL, SURREY

The Board of trade have examined and tested, with reference to the material of which and the principle on which it is constructed, a pattern of a liquid flow meter fitted with an upward sloping swing arm of the form shown herein, which has been submitted to the Department under the provisions of Section 6 of the above mentioned Act, and have issued a Certificate number 650, dated the 4th August 1933, that the pattern is not such as to facilitate the perpetration of fraud when used for the measurement of petrol and other liquids of low viscosity.

Board of Trade,
Standards Department,
Old Palace Yard,
Westminster, SW1
May, 1934.

53-9999
Crown Copyright Reserved [P.T.O.

ist Electric British made Petrol Pump

Cost £52-10-0

RISBRIDGER - Doris Jane (Dorie) Risbridger, passed away Thursday evening, March 12, 1998 in Madison, CT. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Lawrence Risbridger in 1973. She is survived by her sons, Earl Lawrence Risbridger, Jr. (Carole) of Kentwood, Robert Snell Risbridger (Bonny) of Madison, CT, Jeffrey Mark Risbridger (Susan) of Cherryfield, ME, Gregory Eric Risbridger (Eileen) of Traverse City; and 14 grandchildren. At Dorie's request, cremation has taken place and interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City, MI.

C W Risbridger
HASTINGS - C.W.Risbridger, 75, of Route 1, Cedar, died Sunday at his home. He was born Aug 2 1890 in Hastings, a son of Mr and Mrs Byron Risbridger. He had owned and operated the Happy Hours Resort at Lake Leelanau for 18 years, and prior to that had worked as an assistant manager of the Prudential Life Ins Co. office in Kalamazoo for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, Bertha; two sons, Frank of Plainswell and Earl of Lansing and six grandchildren.

MICHIGAN OBITUARIES 1820-2006

RISBRIDGER, Frank B
Plainwell

Frank’s life began March 12, 1916 in Hastings, Michigan, the son of the late C.W.and Bertha (Olner) Risbridger, and he had lived in this area most of his life. He had attended schools in Lancing and Jackson, and was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. Frank had worked as a bicycle delivery boy for the Ihling brothers during the depression, and worked on his brother in law’s farm during WW2, driving truck and farming. On June 27, 1938 he married Kathryn Richmond, and they have recently celebrated 60 years of marriage, they had a close loving relationship. Frank had retired from Dykema Office Supply after 30 years of service, retiring early so he and Kate could travel. Kate proceeded Frank in death on July 13, 1998. Frank was a very active life member and longtime treasurer of the Gun River Conservation Club. He and Kate also enjoyed square dancing and had vacationed at the Kirkwood Lodge, MO, for 25 years. They had enjoyed the house they built on “B” Avenue 45 years ago, and in recent years had wintered in the Rio Grande Valley at Pharr, Texas, where they had many friends, and where Frank was a member of the board of directors of the park where they lived. Frank's family includes his two children and their spouses, Sara and Ron Pierce of Kalamazoo, and Gary and Anita Risbridger of Plymouth, Michigan; five grandchildren, Susana Pierce (Chris Rehan), Jennifer Pierce, Joel (Angela) Pierce, Kathryn Risbridger, Gordon Risbridger; and four nephews. Frank died Friday, July 24, 1998 in Plainwell and was preceded in death by his brother, Earl Risbridger.

RISBRIDGER, Kathryn
Plainwell
Kathryn's life began July 25, 1915, in Gun Plain Township, the daughter of the late Earnest and Sarah (Merlau) Richmond. Kate had been a resident of this area all her life, and had graduated from Plainwell High School and Parsons Business School. On June 27, 1938, she married Frank Risbridger, and they had recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. Kate and Frank have resided in the home they built in "B" Avenue for 45 years, where Kate greatly enjoyed her flower garden and watching the birds. She and Frank were also very active life members of the Gun River Conservation Club and had participated in square dancing together. Kate was also active in the Sew Simple Sewing Club, Plainwell Quilting Club, and had been instrumental in the restoration of the Woodside Pioneer Cemetery Iron Fence on Miller Road. Kate started a quilting club in Pharr, Texas where she and Frank had spent the winters. Her family, in addition to her husband, includes her two children and their spouses, Sara and Ron Pierce of Kalamazoo, Gary and Anika Risbridger of Plymouth, MI; a sister, Alice Raymond of Texas; 5 grandchildren, Susana Pierce (Chris Rehan), Jennifer Pierce, Joel (Angela) Pierce, Kathryn Risbridger, Gordon Risbridger, and many nieces and nephews. Kate died Monday, July 13,1998 at her home in Cooper Township under the loving care of her family. She was preceded in death by her sisters and brothers, Leta Mayers, Carl Richmond, Cecil Sterbenz, and Lucy Shinivar. Because of Frank's fragile health, memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gran Funeral Home, Plainwell Chapel.

RIS D19-263 / 4 / 5

Three pages of handwritten notes by HJR (Henry Risbridger) - possibly suggestions to Cyril Risbridger for further research.

Lashford R - Mary Arnold
m 17.12.1780 Charlwood

Sarah [keee] = Ann John Henry Mary [Molle] [Keziel] Emery (with dates)

[inthoma] with [Zna] letter to Mrs [Gera] Risbridger [Pierce] 25/[8]/[6]9

1973
Mrs Raymond Risbridger, 60 Roslyn Street, Tobore North Island N.Z.
her husband died 197[0] ages 56: went to N.Z. when 1[2] in 1936.
Raymond - Raymond - George ‘Antidote to Venom’

1976
George Ernest Risbridger, 44 Buccaneer Bay Road, Cranville New South Wales 2230 Australia
[remen] acquantance with [Morra/Mavis] (above) 64 (Nov 77)

1977
Mrs Alice Goodman (nee) Risbridger 60 Roddington Drive, Willowdale, Ontario [M1K2J]
March 1977 [Shows] possible relationship of Mavis - George - Alice





Trace family of Robert and Ann (Humphrey) from 1780-1830 ? Reigate
Sarah 25.3.1781 Benjamin 13.4.1783 Ann 1.8.1790

Trace birth of Mary ?1749 and Ann ? 1754 Humphrey ? at Charlwood and then link them to the Humphreys of Betchworth.

Visit and photograph church at [Ludgershol] - Coombes and search parish registers held at the church. Record Office at Winchester.
[Vernham] Dean for [Smerts]
[Hargenslen] for [Noyse] marriage of Robert & Hannah Lede? 1760
Weyhill “ “ b. 1730 d. 1798 also trace birth of Robert & ancestors.

Charlwood
Robert = Sarah Senders = Ann Humphreys
1755 1758 1754
9.2.1776 m 9.2.1776 15.5.1780
15.6.1831 7.8.1776 19.5.1834
Mary Sarah Ben Ann
14.7.1776 25.3.1781 13.4.1783 1.8.1790



Copies of H.J.R

In Vol VIII Pl 11 of the Surrey Archaological Society Collection 1883 is an article called Shere and its Rectors by Grenville Leveson-Cower, Esq F.S.A.
“ From these Wills I pass to one of a humble individual, a yeoman of the place, John Risbridger, which i came across by accident, being attracted by the name which I knew to be a Surrey one”.

In 1973, Mrs Raymond Risbridger on a visit to London from new Zealand referred to a book, ‘Antidote to Venom’ which, she said, was about the Risbridgers. Brother Arthur borrowed the book from the Library: it had no reference to the family, and had a disclaimer that it referred to any known person.

1n 1979, Mrs Jean van der Brock nee Risbridger quoting her father - “one of our ancestors eloped with a vicar’s daughter, and another or it could have been the same one married a Howard of the Duke of Norfolk’s family” [Thomas R certainly married Elizabeth Benson daughter of the vicar of Betchworth]

In a recent letter Sara Risbridger Pierce of Kalamazoo Michigan USA seeks information of her relative George who “immigrated here to Michigan sometime between 1855 and 1865. The family story was that he was kicked out of England for marrying into the aristocracy” …
“I think he had a brother that was named William and came to the US with him.” I have traced the birth and baptisms in Charlwood, William 1818: George 1823. I also have traced the marriage two other of this family in Ewell, Henry 1847 [14.11.1857 in margin]
and Drury 1848.

In a list of Risbridger marriages sent me in 1977 the last tantalising entry is:-
1841 ⅗ Geo Isaac Risbridger and Eliza Ewell.
[ Isaac was father of Henry, William, George, Drury and others ]
I must get a copy of the marriage certificates.

Clock goes back

AN EIGHTEENTH century clock made by Dorking family has returned to the fold after a sale at Crow's Auction Gallery, Dorking.

The oak longcase clock was made by William Risbridger and was bought for £1,500 by a member of the family on Wednesday.

Their ancestors originally came to the country from Holland in the 13th century.

The family now has an enginerring company that produces petrol pumps.







This cutting was in the possession of W&J Risbridger and was published in the Dorking Advertiser on 9th April 1992. Cyril Risbridger was given a copy when he went to visit the family in Bletchingley. Cyril wrote a note: "My research does not support this statement. We have documentary proof of family ancestry to 1098 in England"

D19-244 - RISBRIDGER COLLECTION - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPH from the Cyril Risbridger Papers, dated 1 Dec 1991

Photograph believed taken at 71 Harvist Road, Kilburn London NW6
on the occasion of the Marriage of Harold Fordham and Florence Amelia Risbridger, 22nd June 1913

KEY TO PHOTOGRAPH

3 Emery John Risbridger (my Father)
6 Emery John Risbridger (my Grandfather)
9 Charles F Fordham (Father of Harold)
17 Harold James Fordham (Bridegroom)
18 Florence Amelia Risbridger (Bride)
19 Eva May (Risbridger)
21 Charles Bilbey
22 Edith Ellen Bilbey (Risbridger)
24 Young Eva Risbridger (2 years)
25 Ron Bilbey (Died in Prisoner of War Camp Crete 1942)
26 Charles Emery Bilbey
28 Nellie Elizabeth Risbridger (Later Burrows)

… were blocks of four, 1-8 North and 1-8 South and were demolished except nos 7&8 N&S by the Council because they were unfit for human habitation.

The item for which the company is best known locally as the adaptation of the American Wayne petrol pump. Risbridgers made the first electric British made petrol pump (of bronze) Mr Smayles (once of Sydenham) made hand pumps for the Wayne Tank & Pump Co (the 367) in the US.

They were shipped here in packing cases (the lumber from which was so good that it still forms the framework in the company’s offices).

They were patented after the Board of Trade approved the adaptation in 1934 (William was made AM (McE as a result) certificate with Risbridgers.

The first pumps were hand driven. A glass container was filled and gravity took it into the vehicle. (NO518). The company was involved with fuel installations in WWII though William drew from WWI experience (tank cleaning and quick filling of airships at 500 galls/min).

The factory had been expanded on to the land south of Stychens Cottages when the Wayne pumps were being shipped in in large numbers.
So when war came and women were employed for the first time (? 2 shifts of 40 or 3 shifts of 30) they were able to adapt quickly to make filter housings. fuse caps [illeg] and parts for the Spitfire. In all they employed some 400 people (H & V in Deptford, they had taken over Goodwins and the factory here).

Little stories:
- newspaper cutting of car “racing furiously down Windmill [Hill].”
- Dad’s 1930 rover made of cork and canvas and hood made up about 1930.
- Gibbs the policeman of Barfields.
- Charlie Brown in bungalow beside factory (brother was hairdresser).
- John Allen (China) Mother in top house by Ch. Hse.
- Orchard and pigs - dads [illeg] strap when they let them out!
- who shot himself in stomach in Lyons (not killed) was it Matt [Guil’s] adopted son knobby?

Pumps in Wray Park Garage - S. Nutfield have remain of swing [arm]. [Mavercotts] had gone (15 yrs ago)
I saw one with two glass containers labelled Hammond at Cooks Garage Northwood 26312 beside Giltcharm Prop Gr 30/4/94. Risbridgers want one of their own.

A write-up of a chat with Gerry, Jean, Annie and Bill, all Risbridgers on 30th of April 1994. William, Gerry's brother is opting out.

W and J Risbridger Ltd was formally started in 1926 by William (Bill) and Jack (John) in 1926. Brother Ted also worked in the factory at Stychens Lane but did not get involved in the management (drove van).

William (Gerry and Bill's father) left school at 12 and did menial work muck spreading and butchering prior to the Great War. His introduction to the business of petrol storage came about by chance. An observation balloon trailing a rope was in need of assistance and young Bill was the first of a group to grab it. He was befriended by the crewman on board and persuaded to enlist in the RNAS. Training on the first Ark Royal amongst others meant studying in the type of work that he was later to develop with his brother.( I.e. metres, valves.)

As a young man he worked near his home at the garage beside the Red Lion where he built bicycles (not the wheels) and used to cycle to Woolwich Arsenal to work as a brass finisher. He was always interested in brass and it was he who had the brass eagle on the lectern in St Mary's made. He did the wiring to the battery shop on the Castle Estate, the first place in the village to have electricity. Later the firm used to charge all the accumulators in the village for 6d time. Making bunsen burners in their hundreds with a 5 inch treddle lathe (chason lathe) acquired from Woolwich Arsenal helped this self-taught man along the road to success.

The family history can probably be traced back to a William Risbridger who held demesne lands of Shere on lease from henry VIII and the Manor of Shere was bought by another William in 1609. There are also clockmakers in the family (Barry and Gerry each have one and Ted’s son in US also).

The modern family was born and bred in this village and they once owned five of the 16 Stychens Cottages to the north of the factory (3/6 a month) because they had long gardens. There were...

Esther Mary Risbridger
Mr and Mrs M J Risbridger 28 William Road Guildford Surrey GU1 4QZ
19th December 2013 Re: Miss Esther Mary Risbridger 16th September 1895 - 4th May 1995
Esther was the only daughter of Solomon and Susan Risbridger (née Smart).
Interestingly two brothers married two sisters and my own grandfather Jabez Risbridger married Sylvia Smart. (apparently there were eight sisters. Sylvia told my mother “We were once eight smart girls!” playing a pun on their surname!)
Esther is buried at Stoke New Cemetery (K249). The inscription on the gravestone reads:
ESTHER MARY RISBRIDGER Milliner
Died 4th May 1995 aged 99 years BLESSED ARE THE DEAD
 WHICH DIE IN THE LORD
The Risbridger family is a local name and has been found in the Surrey Sussex border for a number of centuries.
I called her Aunty Esther but in reality she was a cousin of my father.
I understand from my mother that she was educated in the Young Ladies Academy at Sandfield and later had an apprenticeship with Miss West who had a milliners shop in North Street. interestingly on one occasion a cow or bullock being driven to the Abbatoir at the bottom of the town ended up in the shop!
Miss Ross Bridger was a trained milliner and furrier and opened her own business at 26 Church Road. Miss Bartlett (also had worked at Miss West’s shop) became her assistant. Aunty Esther repaired customers fur coats and hats, made and sold hats. One well-to-do client (Mum points out that this customer used to arrive in a horse and trap) used to have a new jacket made for her every year and Miss Risbridger would make her a matching hat with the same material. I remember seeing one of these new hats in progress, everything had to be so correct and the little stitches struck me as being so neat and precise.Then the lining had to be made and everything had to be the right size. My Aunt had a head shaped block of smooth wood on which the hat was built. The equipment was adjustable and could also be used to stretch I had a small amount to get the perfect fit.
The shop
As a child the shop had many fascinations. I liked to open the shop door. As you pushed the door open a little metal plate on the door pinged a metal lever which then sprang back and dinked the manual doorbell (not the most harmonious of noises but distinct and guaranteed to bring my Aunty to the shop expectant of a customer). The two main walls had the two largest mirrors I had ever seen. The chest of drawers had a deep large spacious drawers that would have made great hiding places. These drawers were homes to numerous hats and more hats of different colours shapes and sizes. The little wooden till in the corner had a handle on the side (that a little boy would long to turn) that my Aunt turned when she had made a sale and out popped the little drawer with the ring of a bell. Hats were displayed on dozens of wooden hat stands. Some were very short, others seemed very tall and others were at almost any height in between but these were all arranged with precision, like a band of soldiers, not one out of step. The hats were displayed on the chest of drawers, in the shop window and in a cluster by the door, free standing. These stands and hats were not to be knocked by little boys. On the mantelpiece stood my aunt’s pincushion. It was made of a horse’s hoof with a velvet cushion on the top, into which the pins are pushed. In front of the fireplace was a fire screen, which displayed pressed leaves and rustic flowers between glass - pleasing to the eye. Also the much spoken of ‘kissing’ what it is called a courting chair!
Every Saturday the hats were taken out of the window ready for the Lord's Day. On Monday the shop window was dressed again with great care and precision. The shop windows had to be kept very clean and my brothers and I would be commandeered to clean and wipe down the windows. This job could not be skimped and if my Aunty could see the slightest smear we had to get up and rub the glass until the smear was gone. (The final rub down was with tissue paper!)
Hats fade with sunlight so when the sun came up the blinds had to be put out to shade the shop window. Tissue paper was draped over the hats not sheltered by the blinds.
We are all so used to ‘modern’ conveniences but my aunt’s house had no bathroom, no hot water, no central heating, no washing machine, no refrigerator or freezer, no telephone no vacuum cleaner (Hoover), no radio, no television, no computers (unheard of in those days!). Just one outside toilet with no heat and in cold weather one had to light a little oil lamp or use a night light candle just to keep a small amount of heat there to stop the water pipes from freezing. This outdoor toilet was a real novelty to me (I had never seen the likes anywhere else until I went to Singleton Open Air Museum a few years back!) as it was of the bench top type with a hole above the pan.
The kitchen
The kitchen had a big stone sink with one cold tap (the only tap in the whole house and incidentally when the neighbours ran the tap the pressure was extremely poor, but that was the way it was). In the corner was a coal-fired copper, which in her parents’ days was used for the washing on wash day. At Christmas the Christmas pudding was steamed in hot water in this copper.
Thursday evening was bath night. The tin bath was put out on the hard stone floor of the kitchen and water board up on the gas stove. My aunt had a stand up strip bath in the tin bath as used to be the way in former generations (certainly energy and water efficient). My aunt was not for change and although relatives tried to persuade her of the advantages of an indoor bathroom and toilet she resolutely refused. Aunt Esther did not like water! “Oh, paddling in the sea that's different” In old-age, in Farnham Road hospital
bath time was a stormy/memorable experience according to the nurses. It took five of them to bath my aunt and they all got soaked!
The only heat in the kitchen was from the gas cooker and a paraffin heater. In winter months Aunty Esther would bend down and fill the heater up every day with paraffin from a metal tin before lighting the wick with a naked flame. The paraffin was purchased at the garage just round the corner. (The garage at one point run by Mr Bristow is long gone. It was demolished to make way for the extension of York Road which now runs right down to the Woodbridge Road. Formerly drivers travelling down York Road had to swing round and down or right and left into Church Road before exiting into Woodbridge Road.) Despite fierce opposition Aunty Esther has prevailed upon to have a high-level electric plug wired to the kitchen and from that time forward she appreciated an electric fire to warm her kitchen and her advancing years.
The Cellar
The cellar was the most interesting room for a young boy. Here the coal came tumbling down the shoot when the coal man came with his big lorry and black sacks of coal. These were empty down the coal-hole just outside of the front door. The main heat in the house was the coal fire in the living room. As boys we seemed forever shovelling coal into buckets and carrying it up the cellar stairs to the living room. The cellar also had a small larder area where milk and butter and meet etc kept cool. In the winter months two great old gnarled Fuchsia plants lived in buckets here to protect them from the frost. Every spring after all frosts were over these same plants were carried up into and planted out in the garden. Nobody had heard of slug pellets but my aunt regularly ate half grapefruit for breakfast and so the empty skins were placed upside down in the garden. The slug used to hide in them and could then be simply dispatched. While on pest control - Moth balls were used widely by my aunt to keep clothes clothes and carpet moths at bay in shop and house.
The other use of the cellar was the careful storage of garden grown Bramley apples. These were picked and handled as carefully as any of the prize hats in the shop and lined out on shelves and pieces of wood and in a good harvest year almost lasted round to the next harvest. Aunt believed in an apple a day and had a baked apple almost every day of her life for dinner!
My aunt was a determined lady and was described as not playing second fiddle to anyone. (Mother suggested that this was Aunt Esther’s quote that The Risbridgers are all the same they don't play second fiddle to anyone!)
Sunday it was a special day for the worship of Almighty God and a time of refreshment and recuperation from the toils of the past week. Saturday was a day for preparation for the Lord's day so that Sunday could be kept free from unnecessary work. Meat and potatoes were cooked on Saturday and a cold salad with meat and potatoes was the normal Sunday lunch with cold cold stewed fruit or pie. On Saturday evening my aunt came to our house to help with the shoe cleaning. This was about 8 o'clock in the evening and we cleaned all the shoes, at least one pair for every member of the family. The little chapel in the Bars: Bethel chapel was an important part of her life. At 18 or 19 she became a member of the Church. Confessing her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and her alone hope for heaven. She was baptised by total immersion on the 19th of May 1914.
Holidays didn't seem very important but occasionally my Aunt would go away and stay with a friend but her feather mattress had to go with her if she ever stayed away. Sleep was important and this feather mattress was snug and warm and loved. With little heating in the house it offered great protection from the cold and was reliable and dependable
Andrew Sparbos May 1882. Miss Risbridger’s establishment
you're just sank into it and with a ‘stone’ (glazed clay) hot water bottle what more should one want from a bed but solid warmth.
Retirement didn't seem very important and my mum remembers her selling the last hat at aged 90 - it was a large brimmed hat with a chiffon scarf that you could tie under the chin for a customer who needed to keep sheltered from the sun. It sold for a discounted price of £5 (mint condition £20) as it had somewhat faded due to too much exposure to the sun in the shop window.
My aunt was addicted to Jelly Babies and peppermints these mints were a little smaller than a 5 new pence coin and she already always had a ready supply. Good behaviour and help were often rewarded with this currency along with 6d sterling (a tanner, 6p old money).
Who needed a weather forecast? My Aunt had a large banjo barometer in the hallway and a little tap would indicate to change or otherwise of the Mercury air pressure and indicate the weather to expect
Opening hours
Wednesday was always early closing and all the little stores in the town observed this.
I understand that my aunt and her parents often used this midweek break for a little recreation a walk around the park with time for a little quiet to reflect and prepare for the midweek meeting at the chapel. It seems that our forebears enjoyed a slower pace of life without all the modern so-called time saving devices and all the rush and business and clamour of computers and radios and TVs and traffic in abundance.
(Mother interjects here to say that these walks were after Aunty Esther's mother had died and were with Esther and her father. Mother also states that these walks were more like marches - brisk, purposeful and determined. Esther’s father was very fit for his age, stepping it out. He was well known, wore a bowler hat on his head and was of upright posture. He was of sturdy constitution and in the little chapel turned down the heaters as soon as the temperature reaches 60°F!).
My aunt was of that generation that wasted nothing. When the hats arrived in boxes carefully packed in tissue paper: the string was not cut all the knots were untidy and the string Cathy stored for future use the tissue paper it was all reused and all boxes stored away for further use. Occasionally my aunt would take us on the bus to One Tree Hill (Wednesday afternoon school holidays?) and at Merrow Downs we would run and chase around and Aunt Esther had made a ball for us using her string wrapped round around to make a ball covered with a square of material tied around it.
Memorable quote: she said “it is the little things in life that count.” (Mum said that, she was that was a saying Aunty Esther's mother used to use) Obviously had to down from generation to generation, like mother like daughter.

D19-124

PHONE CALL TO BILL 10-12-89
BILL AND MAY ADA COUSINS THRU MARRIAGE
When meeting IKE at Willesden he met Edith (dad’s sister) and she nearly fainted as she took him for one of her sons who was killed in the war.
Bill has a brother Henry who is blind now and 85
Isaac’s wife’s name was Anna

5 Dec 1989

Mr W Risbridger
10 Glebe Drive
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands

Dear Bill,
I hope that these few lines find you well and in the best of spirits.
Please find enclosed a marriage certificate of William Risbridger and Mary Ann Brodie, who I believe are your Great Grandparents. Hall Place where they lived is adjacent to Paddington Green and cloes to St Marys Church where they were married.
You will recall that one of the previous marriage certificates I sent you, was of my Great Grandfather, where William was the best man, and Campbell Street is next to Hall Place. Now I thought that William and my great grandfather were brothers but their fathers have different christian names. I would like to hear your views on this Bill.

I am also enclosing a Birth certificate of a Henry Emmery Ede, a boy born to a Ann Risbridger, but no father is named. Richmond Street is a turning off the Edgeware Road and about 100 yards from Hall Place.
What are your views on this.

Well Bill, that’s all for now, I hope you dont mind me contacting you on these matters, and I am very grateful for your help.

Have a nice Christmas, all here send their best wishes
Good luck and God Bless,
Yours sincerely
Cyril

William Risbridger --- Mary Anne Brodie
Carpenter


S Cold George S Cold Henry Isaac Emery John Phyliss
Bricklayer | / Emma |
| Emery John
George William William 77 DAD
Mays Husband Henry 85 6 children
97 3 daughters

D19-123

May 13, 1989
Mother’s Day

Dear Cyril
Thank you so much for the list of names – births and marriages.
George showed up on th 1850 US census as being less than 1 year. He was 27 and was married to {Labina Eyre].
His brother William evidently came late because he doesn’t show up until 1860. He has (at that time) 4 children, 2 born in England – George b. +- 1848, Mary b. +- 1850. 2 children were born in Ohio + 2 more in Mich. He has been rathre easy to trace – it’s Geirge (the other G) that’s hard to find.
Is there any way you could track when he sailed for the States + the port of entry? It would be 1849 probably.He may or may not be married at that time.
My daughters and I are coming to visit England June 11th thru the 24th. We have been studying tour books for things to see + do. Judging by the namesI’ve been reading, it would seem that …
… the settlers in Mich, used all the English names they could think of in settling Barry co. Tried to recreate England.
In our area we have a large concentration of Dutch. In fact to the northewest, about 50 miles, is Holland. This time of year we have a tulip festival.
Kalamazoo is the 4th largest bedding p[lant grower in the US. There are greenhouses everywhere. In Kalamazoo in the summer we have “flowerfest” - the city is “decked out” in beautiful gardens.

Hope to hear from you soon
Sincerely
[Lara / Dora]

1st WAR

GRANDFATHER EMERY JOHN
HIS BROTHERS GEORGE To SUTTON COLDFIELD
HENRY - To
EMMA -- ISAAC -- WILLESDEN
SISTER PHYLISS --- SOUTHAMPTON
BILL STEVEDORE

* MANS FATHER IN LAW GEORGE RISB
E BILL'S GRANDFATHER
BILL'S BROTHER HENRY 85

EDITH FAINTED THOUGHT BILL

Copy of letter from May Risbridger
44 Riland Road
Sutton Coldfield
W. Mid

dated 25-1-89

Dear Mr Richardson,

Thank you for your letter received 23rd. I will give you all the information I can, but when one gets over 97 years memory not so good. Yes there was an Emery Richardson my husband’s uncle, he lived in Kilburn London. He had 3 brothers and one sister, names Emery, George, Henry and Ike.
George my father in law and Henry lived in Sutton Coldfield. Ike they called him lived in Middlesex. Sister Phylis lived in Southampton. Emery had two sons and two daughters also living in London, names George, Henry (Emery John) Phylis (Florence) and Edith.
My husbands father and [Manny] (Henry) in Sutton Coldfield.
My husband died 16 years ago. We have three daughters. If there is anything I can help with I will do so.
Kind Regards
May Risbridger
Wife of the late George William

Our ref: Surrey Heritage/RD/1770/19

12th June 2019

Dear Mr Richardson
IDENTIFYING LOCATION OF ‘RUSBRIDGE’ ON GOUGH MAP

Thank you for your e-mail of 7th June.

I have found a reference to a hamlet called ‘Ridgebridge Hill’ in the publication ‘Place-names of Surrey’, by J. Gover (1934). This hamlet is part of the old hundred ‘Blackheath’, just outside of Shamley Green, near Guildford, which seems to tally nicely
with the map image you have sent. The following is transcribed from this book:

Ridgebridge Hill is la Risbrigge 1259 Ass, ate Rysrug’ 1332 SR (p), la Rysbryg 1350 AD ii, Rysbrygge Hyll 1524 SR, Rysebridgehill 1548 LRMB, Rusbryggehill c.1550 Onslow, Ridgebridge 1765 R. ‘Bridge or causeway made of brushwood or the like.’
The map copy you have seems to imply that ‘Rusbridge’ is the name of the actual bridge, quite clearly drawn over the river; and, as the meaning of the name confirms, it is likely this was the case at this time. However, we see that by 1765, and the publication of the Rocque map (mentioned above) that the name had become ‘Ridgebridge’ and refers to a small area of land rather than the bridge itself.

The 1974 Ordnance Survey map (TQ0241-TQ0341) shows a connecting road, running from Rooks Hill (towards Bramley) to Ridgebridge Hill. The road crosses Run Common and the water course running through Ridgebridge Hill, as shown on your map copy.

Although the road is not named on the OS map, Google Maps confirms its current name of Run Common Road.

I hope this information is helpful to your research. You are welcome to visit us and it’s free to do so.

Yours sincerely
Rose Dear

for Public Services and Engagement Manager
SURREY HISTORY CENTRE
130 GOLDSWORTH ROAD
WOKING
GU21 6ND

Tel: 01483 518737
Fax: 01483 518738
E-mail: shs@surreycc.gov.uk

Corinna, Lady Hamilton of Dalzell, D.L.
Betchworth House, Betchworth, Surrey RH3 7AE
Telephone 01737 843324
Email: corinnalhod@btinternet.com

May 20, 2019

Dear Mr Richardson,

Thankyou for your letter and enquiries about the Risbridger family.

I gather you visited the Hamilton Room and spoke to Jane Le Cluse, the Archivist and looked at papers in the Meg Ryan room.

Snower Hill farm (lot 4) was part of the Betchworth Estate bought by my husband's forbear Henry Goulburn in 1816. In the original sale document Benjamin Risbridger is named as renting various lots.

Gadbrook Lane was also called Risbridge Lane and is now known as Wellhouse Lane.

Of course there is Rice Bridge which crosses over the river Mole.

My son, Robert has now inherited the Betchworth estate and he and his family live in the main part of Betchworth House.

We look forward to hearing the results of your research.

Yours sincerely,

[signed] Corinna Hamilton

Chicago July 4th - 1853
Dear Brother,
After a long delay I write to you a few lines and hope you will forgive me for not writing to you before i should have wrote to you before but i have been rather unsettled in moving from house to houes lately so I could not tell you where to Direct your letter to me but I think i am settled again for a few months but rent is very high this summer and so is everything sele most tradesmen have struck for higher wages this summer and most of them have got it but not not so much as they wanted i have 5 dollars 25 cents per week i continue at Blacksmithing since i wrote i have worked at different places first at a paper factory then at a the plough works next at a carriage shop and now at a Boiler maker it is a first rate place my employer is a scotch man and he works every day with shiirt sleeves up and hat off though he has 20 men to work for him but i find the best places to work are where the employer works hisself
before i came to Chicago i was told it was a very dirty unhealthy place but i do not find it so though last summer hundreds died with the cholera and so they did in other towns but thuis year i have heard no talk of it Chicago is almost level with the lake and when it rains much of the streets are flooded with mud because the water cannot get away fast enough but in a hour or 2 after the rain it is as clean as ever so i cannot call it a dirty place i only wish that i had a home of my own here and you to but I dont know that ever i shall but here is men that have been as bad on and off than i am and now they own houses and land and i do not see why i should not though i have had many trials and troubles to go through...

0

Portrait and biographical album of Mecosta County, Mich. Containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of Michigan and of the presidents of the United States: also containing a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time.

Published by Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL, 1883
Judith Anne Weeks Ancell
April 6 2013
Page 182 – 183
RISBRIDGER – George
George Risbridger, farmer, sec. 1, Deerfield Tp., P. O. Altona, was born in England May 19, 1823. His parents Isaac and Ann (Ridley) Risbridger, were natives of England and lived and died in their native country.

Mr. Risbridger had his contest to make in the world single-handed and alone, and his early life in his native land passed as a farmer. He came to America in 1850 when 27 years of age, reaching New York in the month of May. He went thence to Portage Co., Ohio and was there engaged for three years in the manufacture of potash and pearl-ash. He next came Kalamazoo Co., Mich, removing a year later to Barry County. There he bought 80 acres of unimproved land, built a house and cleared 70 acres, setting out an orchard of 150 trees. After a residence of 15 years he sold his place and bought 200 acres of well improved land in Bedford, Calhoun County, where he resided 13 years. Again disposing of his place, he came to Mecosta County and bought 40 acres of partially improved land, where he has since resided.

Mr Risbridger was married March 2 1850 in England to Sabina, daughter of George and Hannah Eager, also natives of England. She was born Dec 30, 1832, and died in Deerfield, July 12, 1883, leavinjg seven of ten children born of her marriage to Mr Risbridger. Following is a record of their births: George I., Dec 30. 1854; Hannah M., Oct 24, 1857; Byron P., Aug 29, 1859; Ida O., Dec 4, 1863; Francis H., Oct. 23, 1865; Charles I., Dec 2, 1867; Mary S., Feb 2, 1869; Fanny, born March 19., 1851, died Sep 4 1853; Henry, born Nov. 23, 1852, died Sept 10, 1853; Wm W., born Aug 1, 1861, died Oct 27, 1863.

Mr Risbridger has been actively interested in educatoinal matters for many years. He is a voracious reader; conversant with the affairs of the day and, mindful of all the circumstances which surrounded and baffled his ambitions in his native land, has ever been ready to lend his aid and influence to all reformatory measures which promised to correct popular evids and improve social grades. In politics he acts independently; is a prohibitionist in principle and believes in the education of the masses as a safe-guard of the best interests of the future. He early identified himself with the Grange movement, and himself and wife, who co-operated with him in his views and efforts, were charter members of Bedford Grange, No 65, P. of H., located in Calhoun County. They were also charter members of Pomona Grange, P. of H., in Calhoun County, and Mr. R is still active in its interests. He was one of the founders of a cooperative store in Battle Creek and is one of its stockholders. Both himself and wife were zealous members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been class leader eight years.


M E Church Methodist Episcopal Church ? Wesleyan ?
P of H = Patrons of Husbandry

No transcription

Frank Risbridger, 85, is chairman of the Canterbury branch of the Normandy Veterans Association. In the run-up to this year’s War and Peace Show he told Peter Cook about his part in the campaign.
When they backed their 45-ton Churchill tanks on to the landing craft at Gosport, the men of the 9th Royal Tank Regiment had no idea where they were going.
Frank Risbridger remembers four days stormbound offshore, leaving men utterly seasick. Nothing in their months of training at Eastwell Park, on the Caterbury to Ashford Road, had prepared them for this. As they drove off the ship into six feet of water, using periscopes to find their way on to Sword beach, the tankies were relieved to find little opposition. All that changed on June 26, 1944, when they came to the tiny Normandy village of Cheux, into the fury of Operation Epsom. “We went in with 1,000 Gordon Highlanders to flush the Germans out” said Frank. “When we came out of the village there were only 125 of them left. “My tank was hit by an 88mm shell. The crew jumped out into a cornfield but the lanyard of my holster snagged on the compass and I couldn’t free it. “Petrol in the tank was alight and had set fire to my trouser leg. It was pretty desperate. Eventually I managed to pull myself free and jumped to safety. Six seconds later the tank blew up. I was six seconds that made the difference between war grave and survival.” Two of Frank’s best pals were not so lucky. Shells had ripped into their tanks and taken off their legs. Despite the best efforts of the medics, they died. Today David Gotobed and Roy Painter are buried in the war cemetary at Bayeux. For Frank the war went on and he within 24 hours he was found a new tank. Soon he was to be involved in another historic Normandy event, Operation Jupiter, the battle for Hill 112. “You look at that hill today and wonder what the fuss was all about”, he said, “But on one day during the battle, the Germans and the British between them had 400 tanks knocked out. Hill 112 was strategically vital. Rommel had said: ‘Whoever holds Hill 112 commands Normandy’. “It took us 30 days and a lot of lives to win the battle. Our tanks were up and down that hill 29 times.” Fortunately Frank escaped serious injury as the 9th RTR progressed on through France and into Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany itself. Every year, about this time, Frank, of Rectory Lane, Barham, travels back to Normandy, to place a flower and a British Legion Cross on his friends’ graves. And a beautiful friendship has grown up as a result of this. A ocal man, Jean Marc Lesueur, took his details from a label on the cross, and made contact. Now he takes care of the graves and makes sure there are always flowers there. He has good reason. His mother, Suzanne Lesueur, had been in the midst of the destruction of Caen by allied bombers just after D-Day. To this day Mm Lesueur tends the graves of five infantrymen who lost their lives in the liberation of Caen. Now Frank is mounting a campaign to raise £10,000 to take 25 Normandy veterans back to France next year for the 65th anniversary of D-Day. For many it could be their last chance to see the battlefields where their comrades died.

COOK AND RISBRIDGER OF ALBURY, SURREY
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MANUSCRIPT NOTES OF MISS OLIVE MARY HEATH
(Ref. 8261/1/9/3 - Surrey History Centre, Woking)
By Phillipa E. Brooker 4/5/2014

Introduction

Miss Heath (1879-1959) was the daughter of Captain Edward Heath onetime minister at the Catholic Apostolic Church in Albury. She was a dedicated local historian who lived at Albury House, and wrote copious notes on the lives of Albury residents and the village's history and was also secretary of the Executive Committee of the Surrey Archaeological, Society 1930-31. (Ref. 8261/9/3-SHC).
(The transcribed notes are in numerical order in the sequence they were written in ink and pencil transmitted by SHC on 3/4/2014. Cook and Risbridger have been put into two separate sections).
The Victoria County History, Surrey, Volume 3 (1911) contains information on the manors of the village of Albury in Surrey i.e. Albury Manor and Weston Manor (known in 17th and 18th centuries as Weston Gomshall) situated about the village of Albury. There was a second Weston Manor near the parsonage house in Albury but lying in a detached part of Shere (Weston in Shere).
The records of the Duke of Northumberland's Surrey Manors (Ref. 1322-SHC) including Albury and Weston are held at SHC. Below is an extract from the introduction to the collection:
“The manor and hamlet of Weston lay to the west of the manor and village of Albury and included at least part of the outlying portion of Shere parish close to Postford. It lost its separate identity in the 19th c. when Henry Drummond decided to build the new Catholic Apostolic parish church for Albury at Weston Street leaving the old church and a few cottages within the grounds of Albury Park. Although there is no indication of this on the Weston rolls, from Albury court and rent rolls it appears that this manor was, from at least 1525, held of the manor of Albury by military service for a heriot of a 'mounter' (horse, saddle and bridle)”.


PART I - COOK
Folio 1 Cooks
Ralph Cook (?first neighbour)
Walter Cook
16 Edward I (1288)
Assize roll 895


Folio 2 "Note by O.M.H.” Cook
There was a Walter and a Ralph Cook living in Albury in 1288 (see my "oddments” from Assize Rolls “Rose of Rubelare” Roll 895).
If this Ralph Cook should be the same person as the Ralph Cook referred to in the lists of the detached piece of Shere Parish in Albury Parish, then he was contemporary with Thomas Weston, William Weston and Percy Cook mentioned in the list. As there were so many Thomas Weston and William Weston this may not help much in the dating of the list.
(Assize Rolls are at The National Archives in Kew)

Folio 3 Cook BMDs from Albury parish register (1561-1591)

Folio 4 Fragment on locations
Cookes Parrocks 17d. p.a.
Cookes Place quit rent 12d.
1584 Lands called Cookes 20d.
Folio 9 Fragment on ownership of Cokes Parrocks
Weston Manor.
Cokes Parrocks 17d. rent p.a. brass pot heriot
Belonged to Ralph Cook
Belonged to Christine wife of John Risbridger. Distrained.
Belonged to Thomas Risbridger 1658.

Folios 10, 11 "Note by O.M.H. 13/11/1954"
So far as I have found out the family of Cook (or Cooke or Cok, or Couk or le Couk) were in Cookes Place till (apparently) 1419 since when the Risbridgers became the owners - Christine Cooke seems to have married John Risbridger and her son John inherited the property. The following items appear in the Court Rolls, Parish Register, Wills, Assize Rolls etc. (After John Risbridger's death Christine married Peter Walfelde).
1255 Robert Cook (Assize Roll 872)
1288 Ralph Cook and Walter Cook (Assize Roll 895)
1332 Peter Cook and William Cook (Taxation Return)
1347 Walter Cook son of Walter of Albury (Patent Roll)
1391 William Cook, Tenant of Weston Manor (Court Roll – Weston)
1399 Walter Cook dead. Heriot 12d. (Court Roll - Albury)
1399 William Cook, Juror (Court Roll -Albury)
1399 William Cook, tenement formerly Fylpot (Court Roll – Albury)
1411 William Cook, land called Heryes [?] (Court Roll - Albury)
1413 William Cook, land and tenement formerly belonging to John atte Risbriger and sometime to Ralph Cook (Court Book - Weston). Note by O.M.H. I think William Cook was John's uncle and acted for him while he was a minor- assuming that John snr was dead and this is John jnr)
1413 Peter Walfelde, land and tenement formally Ralph Coci as in right of his wife Christine formerly wife of John Risbruggere 17d. rent (Court Book - Weston) (Coci = ? Latin for Cook. Verb coquere means to cook. Spanish cocinar, Italian cucinare).
1414 Peter Walfelde claims (for his wife) Cokesparrocks in Weston, formerly Ralph Coci (Court Roll - Weston)
1419 Death of Christine
1421 John Rysbriger son of Christine does homage to William Weston for lands in Weston Gomshall

Folios 12,13 Cooks (faint in places possibly written in pencil)
Albury (Manor Court Rolls)
1399 William Couk
1399 William Coke
1399 William Cook - dead heriot 12d. messuage and tenement seized
1410?William Cocke steward of Albury William Cooke tenant of land formerly Hen. Fylpot ?relieved ?with ?other and repair tenement
1411 William Cookes holds land and tenement called Heryes [?] and repair his tenement
Weston (Manor Court Rolls)
1391 William Cooces
1410 William Coke - trespass
1413 William Coke messuage and land (illeg.) held by Hen. Wynchester. Also distrained (illeg.) a tenement formerly belonging to John atte Risbridge (illeg.) and sometime of Ralph Coci. 17d. rent
1414 Peter Walfelde) does fealty for land of Ralph Coci ?son belonging to his wife pays arrears of rent
1419 Christine (Walfelde) Risbridger who held of the Lord land in Weston called Cokesparrock ..... - dead 17d. p.a. (illeg.) .......Heriot ?one ?oxen distrain
1421 Christine's son John atte Rysbrugge does fealty ?etc to Weston Clandon

Additional references to the Cook Family
Found by Phillipa E. Brooker

Surrey History Centre, Woking
Ref. 1322/7/1 - Manor of Weston (Parish of Albury and Shere) Court Rolls. Introduction to the collection Presentments include:
October 1411. Peter Walfelde, farmer of Albury, for putting eight score sheep on Le Hull 8 February 1416. Johanna widow of William Cook brought in a charter

Surrey Taxation Returns by Surrey Record Society (1923) a book available on line at https//archive/org (Internet Archive Digital Library)
1322 Lay Subsidy (Edward II)
Hundredum de Blackehethe, Villata de Aldebury (pages 28 and 29)
Petro Le Couk ijs.vid. Willielmo Le Couk xxd.

Henry J. Risbridger
From "The Risbridger Family”: In August 1971 Pat and I met Miss Rachel Warren, whose mother was a Bray, a real local character, who had a fund of information on Shere and Albury, she referred to a note written by an old Albury resident, Miss Olive M. Heath,who lived at Cookes Place:
A man named Cooke of Albury mentioned in 1255, his house came to be known as Cookes Place. The male line of the Cookes died out in 1419 and the heiress Christina Cooke married John Risbridger. The Risbridgers lived at Cookes Place till 1745.
Following this up with Miss Margarite Gollancz, Surrey County Archivist, she suggested that information could possibly be verified by consulting the records of the Manor of Albury and deeds held by the Duke of Northumberland's Surrey Estate, adding that a manuscript calendar of these records was held by her office. Having obtained permission from his Grace, through his solicitors, Miss Gollancz kindly sent me copies of documents relating to the Risbridger Family. Before looking at these records it is interesting to reflect on this romance between John and Christina daughter of this family of Cookes, long established at Albury. We can traverse the narrow lanes from Rysbrug via Woodhill and Farley Heath past the site of the old Roman temple to Albury - lovely lanes which I discovered in my cycling days - and, no doubt, the route John took when they settled at Cookes Place toward the end of the fourteenth century. From the earliest days the family were yeomen, owning their own freehold land; it is this ownership of freehold land that gives the reason for the survival of such adequate records. During the time the Risbridgers occupied Cookes Place, the village was grouped around the Green alongside the Tillingbourne stream with the water mill, the church and the manor house at the east end. Cookes Place was a freehold enclave on the outskirts of the village to the west. At that time the road to Shere passed to the south of the church and the manor house, and the road passing Cookes Place to the east all beautifully shown on the plan accompanying Mr. Walmsley's "Risbridger Story”.
From an article in the Newdigate Society Magazine June 1988: .... Christina Cook daughter of Peter Cook....... (no source provided)


Part II - RISBRIDGER

From "The Risbridger Story - being the story behind the Risbridger Monument in the Old Parish church, Albury, Surrey" by R. Charles Walmsley (1976)
Cookes Place is a fifteenth century house lying less than a quarter of a mile west of the Old Church. This house and the previous ones on the same site, together with various fields, had for centuries comprised an enclave of freehold land within the manorial lands of Albury. Even in respect of freehold land it was not uncommon for some "free rent" to be paid. The "free rent" for Cookes Place, payable to the lord of the manor was six broad arrows with barbed heads called Broad Arrow Heads, worth and so received one shilling and eight pence.
The last few generations of the Risbridgers of Cookes Place were all christened William. Around 1655 a dispute arose between the Risbridger family and the lords of Albury Manor relating to a water course to run from Sherbourne Ponds (Silent Pool) across Risbridger land supplying water to Albury Park's new pleasure gardens designed by John Evelyn. The expensive litigation which had started in 1696 was only concluded in 1749 when William Risbridger sold his freehold properties and 30 acres of copyhold land to Lord Aylesford.
Further references: Typescript “The Risbridger Family of Cookes Place, Albury" by Olive M. Heath (updated and unsigned). Held by Mr. Ernest Risbridger of Albury. Ref. Manuscripts left by O.M. Heath held in the Library of the Surrey Archeological Society, Guildford (Box 93/1).

Folio 5 Rentals: Albury (written in pencil)
Cookes (Place) paid a quit rent of 12d.
(See Rental 1589)

Edward Risbridger for Cookes 12.d
“Spooreland 12d.
“Rakeland 2s.6d.
“Bakons 2s.6d.
“Serylands [?] 20d
“ Waterlands 20d
7 William and Mary (1694-95) death of William Risbridger, 4 heriots for Rakelands, Bacons, Serylands [?] and Waterlands (Court Roll, Albury). 3 oxen and a horse (son William 10 years).
1749 surrendered to Lord Aylesford of 2 fields called Watercrofts also a field (illeg.) Smallthorne all of which are known by the name of Rakeland, Bacon, Seryland [?] and Waterlands (copy). (1322/6/51-64-SHC)


Folio 6 Weston Manor
1625 William Risbridger holds Croft and Toft called Le Hasele. Also tenement and land called Cookes, Croft called Rusham and (illeg.) adjoining. (1559 feoffment with counterparts. William Risbridger yeoman to son Edward parcel called Le Heselle alias Haselys with appurtenances moiety of parcel called Speers in common fields called southfield and eastfield all in Albury. 1322/6/51-64-SHC)
1602? Katherine Risbridger who held freely for term of life Cookes - dead since last court. Edward Risbridger heir.
1584
William Risbridger holds freely of the Manor tenement and certain lands called Cookes. Rent 20d. Also held Haselere.

Folio 7 Albury Manor
1693 Same as entry above,
William Risbridger - dead. Held Rakelands, Bacons, Serylands [?], Waterland. 4 separate heriots, 3 oxen and 1 horse. His son William age 10.
October 1749
William Risbridger of Cookes Place surrendered above lands to Lord Aylesford (lands described). (Drafts, papers, letters Manor of Albury William Risbridger conveyance to Lord Aylesford Cooks Place and other lands in Albury and Shere for £3,000. 1322/6/51-64-SHC). “All legal procedures to be stayed". June 1749 another deed allowing William to reside at Cookes Place till his death (Ref. The Risbridger Story).

Folio 8 Weston Manor
1658
Thomas Risbridger who held freely of the Lord of the Manor one tenement etc. called Cookes Parrocks - dead. 17d. p.a. John his son and heir, (at this time William Risbridger was at Cooks Place so are we dealing with two properties?)
1658 William Risbridger held (or holds) of this Manor 2 acres at Smallthorne also lands called Speers and Haseleen.

Folio 14 Letter of Patent, reign of Henry VIII., Vol. I (2076 c Brit Mus (? British Museum – ?now British Library) (done to Vol. 8.)
22 November 1512 To John Risbrigger junior of Albury, Surrey.
Pardon for having killed Walter Parkhurst in self-defence for which he was appealed by Agnes, Parkhurst's Widow. Pat .4. Henry VIII p.2.m.5
Early part of reign of Henry VII grants could be issued as Charters or Letters of patent. After 8 Henry VIII all grants under the great seal issued as letters of patent (Patent Rolls). In highly abbreviated Latin. TNA guide. Curiously John's great-nephew William Risbridger married a Katherine Parkehurst in Shere.

Folio 15. The writing is poor and in pencil, some parts too faint to decipher
19 Edward IV (1480 (from 1746 - litigation)
One Sir John Norbury, Knt. then lord of said Manor of Albury and seized and entitled to said land where said spring (Sherbourne) arose. Did by Deed dated same 10th October give, grant and confirm to one John Risbridger son and heir of Henry Risbridger and that said John and Henry were (the present) plaintiff's ancestors. One small watercourse containing in breadth four feet, rendering to Sir John Norbury one red rose on Feast of St. John the Baptist, if demanded. (Sir John Norbury of Stoke d'Abernon, Surrey (c.1443-1504) held high office, i.e. King's Vice-Marshal, Knight of the Shire for Surrey, Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex. In July 1483 attended the coronation of Richard III. Seems to have worked for both the dynasties of Lancaster and York. - I.S. Rogers).
Earl of Aylesford d. 1719 (illeg.) she died in 1743. (illeg.)
Folio 15. Consists of one line too faint to read

Folio 17. List of Risbridger wills

Folio 18 Pedigree of the Risbridgers of Albury
Henry living 1464 = Agnes
John (the elder) living 1480 d. 1517
John (the younger) living 1480 (probably of age)
1501 John snr and jnr
1505 John
1507 John jnr
1513“
1514 John snr
1516 John snr and jnr. (1516 Albury Court Rolls John Risbridger snr holds Cokes or Risbridgers for a rent of 6 barbed arrows and by military service for a part of knight's fee. Ref. 1322/1/3 introduction SHC).
1517 John, Constable
1517 John snr dead
William living 1522 (probably of age) inherited Cooks 1517 d. 1544. (Son of John d. 1517)
John of full age in 1544 d. 1564 = Katherine d. in 1601 (bur. Shere 1597. H.J. Risbridger states on marriage in 1544 John acquired Palfremans in Shere).
Edward b. 1548 living 1589 (rental), second son = Julian Cockes 1571
William
John b. 1552
William b. 1574 d, 1549 = Joan Johnson 1613 (Son of Edward)
Robert living 1522 (probably of age) (Son of John d. 1517)
Folio 19 Risbridgers of Shere BMDs (see West Surrey Family History Society's cds.)
Folio 20 Weston Roll
1525. John Risbridger senior. 1 croft and 1 toft called Le Haselle in Albury formerly Fillart [?] at Speers and afterwards Peter Rye and certain lands called Cokes - dead. William Risbridger son.
1544. William Rysbridger of Shere who held land called Cokes 20d. p.a. - dead since last Court. Heriot. John Risbridger son and heir of William of full age to be distrained. Also that the said William who held 9 acres of land "apud” Le Smallthorne now John att Rysbrydges by military service and rent 2d. p.a. and scutage etc. ... John to be distrained.
1573. Henry Rysbridger, William Rysbridger and Edward Rysbridger all are sons of John Rysbridger (of Shere) who held by military service 2 acres called Smallthorne in Shere (illeg.) - dead. The said John who held freely with Katherine his wife for the term of life - Le Hasley in Albury, formerly Filliart[?] at Speers and land and tenement Cooks 20 (20d.?) - dead since last Court .... Edward Risbridger son.

Folio 21 From Lawsuit (Title)
26 August 2 Henry VIII (1511). Cooks Place and other land were given to William Risbridger and his heirs by Will of John Risbridger the Elder of Albury my wife Joan” “lands in Albury and Shere. Rest illeg. Probably parts of the will.
15 June Ed. VI (1553). John Risbridger of Romsey bargained and sold (Capital messuage called Peter Cooks) to John Risbridger of Shere (his cousin).
22 March 13 Charles I (1638)
William Risbridger the elder seized of Cooks Place 100 acres of land belonging to it and of a... called Speers and of Staple Lands 60 acres in Shere and other land in Albury and Shere.
16 October 11 James I (1613) Marriage Settlement William Risbridger and Joan Johnson (Ref. G.108//15SHC)

Folio 22 Weston Roll
1573 October John Risbridger (d. 1564) who held by military service 2 acres called Smallthorne lying in Shere- dead. The said John Risbridger who held freely with Katherine his wife for term of his life Le Hasley ..... Cooks 20d. ..... Edward Risbridger second son of John and Katherine is their heir.

Folio 23 Weston Roll
1517. John Risbridger senior who held a tenement called Cooks alias Risbridgers by the rent of six arrows and Knight's service .... and other services at his death .... The same John by his Will devised that Joan his wife should hold the land and premises for the term of her life, with remainder to Robert Risbridger the son of said John and his heirs and for default to John Risbridger son of the said John and his heirs and for default to William Risbridger son of John the father and his heirs and for default to the right heirs of the said John son. (Actually made two wills, in 1511 and 1517 the second one more of a codicil)


Folio 24 Weston Roll 1517
Smitten left to John Risbridger son of John snr and his heirs. Heriot
Tyllyes (as above)
Cooks left to William Risbridger son of John snr
Waterland and Seryland [?] parcels lying near tenement called Cookes left to Robert Risbridger son of John Bacon to William Risbridger who comes and does fealty
Rakelands and Speers to William Risbridger
1522 Robert Risbridgger
1522 William Risbridgger (Roll continues to 1527 but there does not seem to be more about Risbridgers)


Folio 25 Weston Roll
September 1544. William Rysbridger of Shere who held 1 toft and 1 croft of land called Haselle in Aldbury formerly Fillart [?] of Speers and later Rye and one tenement and certain lands called Cookes 20p.a. – dead since last Court by whose death there falls to the lord a heriot two cows and John Risbridger son and heir of William of full age to be distrained. Also held Smallthorne by knights service and 2d rent.

Folio 26 Weston Roll contd.
1507 John Risbridger
1507 John Risbridger jnr.
1507 William Risbridger
1508 John Risbridger
1509 John Risbridger
1510 John Risbridger (“Les Bullens")
1511 idem
1513 idem
1513 John Risbridger snr and John jnr who hold freely tenement and lands called Joyes, Wienns [?], Foxholes, Aldboure [?], Sedhamhill [?], % rent. (illeg.)
1514 John Risbridger snr
1516 John Ribridger snr and jnr
1517 John Risbridger juror - Constable for the Lord King

Folio 27 Risbridgers mentioned in Court Rolls – Weston Court
1391 John atte Rysbrugges
1398 idem
1399 idem
1410 John atte Risbrugge destrained to do homage and fealty for lands etc. "lands late of”
1413 Lands and tenement formerly belonging to John atte Risbrugge and sometime belonging to Ralph Coci 17d. rent p.a.
1413 Peter Walfelde who held the land and tenement formerly belonging to Ralph Coci as in right of his wife Christine and formerly wife of John atte Rysbrgge_17d. p.a. two small crofts etc. called Cockesparrocks

Folio 28, 29 Albury Roll
1399 John atte Risbrugge
1411 (June) Christine already married to Peter Walfelde so her first husband John Risbridger must be dead.
1498 John Risbridger
1499 Robert Risbridger as surety for John Risbridger
1500 John Risbridger
1501 John Risbridger snr
1501 John Risbridger jnr
1501 Robert Risbridger
1502, 1502, 1504, 1505 John Risbridger

1420 Christine formerly wife of John atte Rysbrugge and afterwards of Peter Walfeld - dead. Cokesparrocks – heriot a brass pot 3/4 fealty, relief, ?suit, homage
1421 The sureties of John atte Rysbrugge, son and heir. John atte Rysbrugge destrained.
1421 July. John son of John does homage to William Weston snr for lands and tenement with appurtenance which he held of aforesaid William and did fealty and homage.
1439 John atte Rysbrugger fined 6d. (gap from 1446 to 1525)

Folio 30 Typed list of Risbridger Fields etc. Freeholds - mentions “lands of Earl of Aylesford”

Folios 31, 32 Risbridger Title (The writing on this page is difficult to read looks as though it was in pencil)
1663 William Risbridger - dead. William his son admitted by guardian.
16 June 1694 William Risbridger (bur. 1694 Albury) by his wife devised to her son William his heirs and assigns for any and all his messuage and farms, lands and tenement in Albury. Proved Prerogative Court 17/6/1695. These estates came to William the intestate as only son and heir of his father. First purchase of the Weston by John Risbridger 3 Henry VI (1425)
26 August 2 Henry VIII (1510) Cooks Place and other lands were given to William Risbridger and his heirs by will of John Risbridger elder of Albury.
15 June 7 Edward VI (1553) John Risbridger of Romsey bargained and sold to John Risbridger of Shere 22 March 13th Charles I (1638) William Risbridger the elder comes to stand seized of Cooks Place and 100 acres of land belonging to it and of a ----- called Speers and of Staple. Land being 60 acres in Shere and all his other lands in Albury and Shere etc.
16 October 11th James I (1613) marriage settlement (already cited)


Folios 33,34,35 are notes in someone else's handwriting . Transcript of will of John Risbridger 1562. References to abstract of Lay Subsidies in a "bad state” (the handwriting is minute). Mentions Risbridger marriages in Shere and a possible connection between the Risbridger and Mellersh families.

Folio 36 Indenture
1553. This Indenture between John Risbridgger of Romsey son and heir of Robert Risbridger late (illeg.) he lived at Albury of the first part ----- and John Risbridger of Shere of the other part ----- interesseth ----- that the said John hath bargained and sold ----- to the said John of Shere all that his capital messuage ----- called Peter Cook's wherein Thomas Risbridger doth now ----- dwell and all his freehold land ----- to have and to hold ----- and also a lease made to Thomas Risbridger now farmer thereof for a term of eight years to come. (Is this property Cookes Place? Which was owned by John of Shere's father William) D XXII.1.c.(2)
Folios 37,38 Indenture and Marriage Settlement (G. 108/15-SHC) 1614. Indenture between: Edward Risbridger of Albury yeoman and William Risbridger of Albury yeoman
Whereas the marriage settlement between William and Joan Johnson widow, late the wife of Richard Johnson late of Wonersh ------
2 messuages called Cookes Place and Speers with all ----- etc late in the tenure of the said Edward Risbridger and of Francis Parmeson and Matthew Farley ----- except and always reserved to the same Edward ---- the use and occupation of all and every the rooms, lofts, chambers and garrets, parcel of the said tenement Cookes Places for the said Edward's life ---- (that is to say) the parlour and the new loft over the garrett loft over the same new loft and the storehouse and inner celler ----- and of the oven and brewing furnace with the brewing vessels there to take and brew on at the free will and pleasure of the said Edward Risbridger .... And also one full fourth part of all the pears and apples (Wardens) and other fruit ---- and also some of the best beeches standing and growing about the Ind ---- and also all those elder and trees of elder standing and being in the meadow ---- over against the tenement of Richard Warner ---- before the feast of the Assumption in the year 1615 and except five of the last oats standing or growing without the lodges in the land called Heathfield? ---- Lands called Whitecroft and the Rycked Close, also so much of the gateroom lying next to the parlours there as the said Edward shall necessarily use for the laying wood or anything else ---- And it is agreed that the said William shall daily and every day --- well and truly deliver unto the said Edward at Cookes Place one quart of milk new from the cows in the forenoon of every day with all convenient speed after milking time, the said Edward paying ---- a penny in silver of lawful money. Also loads of good Broom.


Marriage Settlement OMH Writes "date? between Thomas Risbridger of Albury and John Risbridger son of the said Thomas ---- in consideration of a marriage to be made between the said John and Mary Robinson daughter of John Robinson .... Rent arising out of the messuage or tenement, garden, orchards, lands etc. called or known by the name of Peter Cookes D.XXII 1.c.(2) Thos. Risbudger b. 1615 had a son John Damaris 1678, he d. 1699 of Cooks Parrochs

Folio 39 (The writing on this page and the following three can only be described as scribble and looks as though it is in pencil). Fortunately there are better copies in the Risbridger History by H.J. Risbridger which obtained through Miss Marguerite Gallancz, Surrey County Archivist in 1971).
Release. (SHC title is Quitclaim)
Given at Albury 27 Nov. (no year) Edward IV (1461-83). Thomas Adene of Ledered to John atte Rysbrygge the elder and Johanna his wife and the heirs of John; all those lands and tenements, rents and services with their appurtenances lying in the vill and parishes of Albury and Shere called Coukes lande. (on death of his father 1481 (HJR)
Grant (SHC title is Gift for life with remainders).
Sunday after Michaelmas 16 Ric. II (1393) John atte Risbrigger of the parish of Wonersh to Henry Elyot of the same parish all my land, tenements with appurtenances in the vill of Albury. To have and hold etc. Witnesses: Wm. Bulleyngs, John Clerk, Henry Clerk, Wm. Elstede, Wm. Serle.

Folio 40
Grant (SHC title is Gift for life with remainders). Given at Albury Sunday after Michaelmas 20 Richard II (1397). Grant of Henry Elyot of the parish of Wonersh to John atte Rysbrug of the same and Christina his wife: all my lands and tenements which I have by the gift of the said John in the vill of Aldebury to ?hold of the said John and Christina (illeg.) and after their deaths to John younger son and his issue. In default to revert to the right heirs of the said John the father.
Witnesses: John Clerk, Wm. Elstede, Gillant atte Ssere, Wm. Serle, Wm. Cook

Folio 41
Release
Weston, Feast of the Nativity 3 Henry VI (1424) John Weston ?Esq releases (illeg.) to John atte Rysbrugg of all his claims and rights in land and tenements called Cookeys alias Ryshbrugge in the vill of Albury. Witnesses: John (Cl ....), John Hyne, John Farley, Richard Hamond, Thomas Shanefeld, William Clark and others.
Release
Weston, Feast of the Nativity 3 Henry VI (1424). Thomas Wyntershull, William Weston and Thomas Eliot release to John atte Ryyshbryg, all his claim to lands called Cokyes alias Rysbrug in Albury his heirs and assigns, all the lands and tenements rents and services with all their appurtenances called Cooks alias Ryshbryg in the vill of Albury.
Witnesses: John Chale, John Hyne, John Farley, Walter Clerk, Thomas Clarefeld, Richard Hammond

Folio 42
Will 26" day August 2 Henry VIII (1511) John Risbridger the elder of Albury to my wife Joan lands in Albury and Shere. Son Robert lands in Wonersh. Son John tenement Joyes (lands called Lytheland, Shylfelde, Smythes, Tyllyes (lately acquired from John Cottel). Son William Speers and Cookes (A fuller extract from this will can be found in The Risbridger History by H.J. Risbridger who said original was at Syon House).

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 7 FEBRUARY, 1913 "NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Henry Hyde Hextall and Hugh William Rawlinson, carrying on business as Silkmen at 71 to 74, Little Britain, in the city of London under the style or firm of JAMES PEARSALL AND CO., has been dissolved by mutual consent as from the thirtieth day of November, 1912. All debts due and owing to or by the said late firm will be received or paid by the said Hugh William Rawlinson and Henry Cecil Hextall, by whom such business will be carried on in the future.—As witness our hands this 6th day of January, 1913. H. H. HEXTALL. & H. W. RAWLINSON.

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