Gidley's Gift

The report of the Commissioners concerning Charities; containing that part which relates to the county of Devon. Vol. III., 1830, Exeter, 286.

15 December 1681
Winkleigh
Hundred of Winkleigh.

Photograph by jackiefreemanphotography.com of Gidley's Almshouses from the Winkleigh Village History website which also gives more details of Bartholomew Gidley and Winkleigh in the Civil War

Parish of Winkleigh
Gidley's Gift

By indenture, bearing date 15th Dec. 1681, between Bartholomew Gidley, esquire, of the one part, and Richard Dunning and two others, of the other part, reciting, that the said Barthlw. Gidley was seised of certain buildings, with a garden or parcel of land, containing about half an acre, near Norman's land, in Winkleigh, and lately purchased by him; and reciting, that the said Bartholomew Gidley, of his own and his wife's charitable disposition, had intended the same for the sustentation and relief of the said parish, and so to continue for ever; the said Bartholomew Gidley granted and enfeoffed the said premises to the said Richard Dunning and others, and their heirs, to the use of two, three or four poor women of the said parish of Winkleigh, such as the said Bartholomew Gidley and his wife, or either of them, should place in the same, at any time during their lives, and after the decease of the said Bartholomew Gidley and his wife, upon trust, that the said trustees, together with the owner of the farm of Bittbear, for the time being, and the vicar of Winkleigh, for the time being, as the greater part of them, upon the death or removal of any such person or persons as should therein be placed by the said Bartholomew Gidley or his wife, should place therein any other poor woman of the said parish, in the room of her so dying or removed, with power to lease the said parcel of land for one life, or 21 years, at a yearly rent, to be, from time to time, bestowed in the repair of the said houses and garden, and if any surplus should happen, the same to be distributed amongst the said poor women, inhabiting in the said houses, yearly on Christmas-day.

We have not found any subsequent appointments of trustees of these premises.
They consist of:
1. Five dwellings under one roof, each containing one apartment occupied by poor widows of the parish, who are placed therein by the parish officers.
2. A house, garden, and a plot of ground, containing about a quarter of an acre, let to John Pope, as yearly tenant, at the annual rent of £21 10s subject to disbursements for repairs. The tenement has been for many years in the occupation of the present tenant and his father, at the same rent. We are told, that the premises held by him are worth about £31 10s per annum; but as the tenant has a large family, and receives relief from the parish, it has not been thought advisable to raise his rent. The rent is applied towards the repairs of the house inhabited by the widows, and of that in the occupation of John Pope, but is not sufficient for that purpose, and the houses are stated to be much in want of repair.
It would be more correct, that the last-mentioned house and garden should be let for its full value, as the widows inhabiting the fist-mentioned house are the only persons entitled to any benefit from the charity.

Some early references to the Gidley name up to the end of the 17th century

These references all come from the more unusual sources sent to me over the years by the Original Record Company, and which I thought might interest people. The sources include the Pipe Roll Society, the Egerton Collection, Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries, and the Register of Bishop Edmund Lacy of Exeter. If anyone would like to know the exact source and date of a reference, get in touch.
Of course, as the references are so early, some before surnames were commonplace, several refer to Gidleigh, the place. And I certainly don't claim these are the only early references which exist.
I have used, and sometimes abbreviated, the English translation, rather than the original Latin, in all cases. Most dates are also abbreviated to the year or grouping of years.

1176.  Reginald de Giddelega renders account for the same. In the treasury 1 mark. And he owes 1 mark.
Undated.  Gydlegh (Giles de). Charter of Martin, duke and earl of Cornwall, granting him the manor of Gydlegh, parcel of the manor of Leghatforde.
1194.  [from a charter of John, Earl of Mortain, and Lord of Lydford]. Manor of Gidleigh granted to his nephew Egidius [Giles] de Gydlegh.
1332. [from Devonshire Lay Subsidy]. Hundred of Wonford. Polslo. William de Giddeleghe 12d.
1370. In the parish church of Tuvertone, by the bishop of Exeter, tonsured: John Gederleghe.
[Note: the first tonsure was the rite of inducting someone into the clergy].
1381. Ordained by the bishop to first tonsure, at Mahynyet [place not known], Luke Gydleghe.
1400. Ordinations by the bishop in the chapel of his manor of Chuddelegh: Acolytes: William Gydelegh.
[Note: an acolyte was a member of the minor orders: a priest's assistant who carried out the lesser tasks such as carrying candles, attending the altar, etc.
1403.  Ordinations by the bishop in the chapel of the manor of Clyst: Subdeacons: William Gyddelegh, by title of Launceston priory.
1403. Letters dimissory to William Gyddelegh, subdeacon, to be ordained to further order by any Catholic bishop within the realm of England.
[Note: letters dimissory were granted by a bishop to someone called to another parish, enabling him to be ordained by another bishop].
1403. Sir William Gidle deacon is a wirness in a dispute at Launceston priory.
1403. Ordinations by the bishop in Crediton collegiate church: Priests: William Guddelegh, by title of Launceston priory.
1404.  John Giddelegh took an oath as a juror at an inquisition at Launceston.
1405.  Indults to the following to have a portable altar: William Gyddelegh, priest, of the diocese of Exeter.
[Note: an indult allowed a specific deviation from the church's common law].
1413. Exeter. Letters dimissory to Richard Gydelegh, acolyte, to be ordained to further order by any Catholic bishop within the realm of England.
1432. Exeter. Licence to sir John Giddelegh, rector of Jacobistowe, for absence from his church for one year.
1434. Chuddelegh. Commission to the Archdeacon of Exeter to enquire in full chapter into the vacancy &c. [sic] of the parish church of Teyngton Drew, to which sir William Gyddelegh chaplain has been presented by sir John Herle knight, John Jaibien and Walter Burell.
1449. Chuddelegh. Petition to enquire into dilapidations in the houses, walls, fence, &c. pertaining to the church, left by sir William Gydlegh deceased, the last rector.
1449. Clyst. To the Archdeacon of Cornwall: To enquire into the alleged pollution of the parish church of Talland by bloodshed between Thomas Gyddelegh and Thomas servant of Wlliam Collan, and to certify by Whitsun.
1449. Clyst. Declaration that the parish church of Tallan and its churchyard, alleged to have been polluted by bloodshed through the violence of Thomas Gyddelegh and Thomas servant of Wlliam Collan, have been found by inquisition not to have been so polluted, and that divine service and burial of the dead may be resumed.
1533.  South Tawton. Henry Gidley was a "constable of the parish".
1567.  Oare. Patron: Will. Gidly by right of Katharine his wife, daughter and heir of Nicholas Gove deceased.
1609.  Oare. Patron: Will. Giddy [sic] and Katharine his wife.
1596-1616.  Chancery Proceedings. Devon. Plaintiff; Wychehalse, Bennett. Defendant: Gydley, John. Subject: Money matters.
1620.  Disclaimers at the Heralds' Visitations:
  Gidley, George, St Thomas.
  Gidley, Hanibal, North Lew.
1625-1649. Chancery Proceedings. Bills and Answers.               
  Plaintiff: Fillcock. Defendant: Gidley. [no more details].
  Plaintiff: Rosse. Defendant: Gidley,etc.
  Plaintiff: Stafford. Defendant: Gidley
1633.  Probate of the will of Margaret Byrdall of St Thomas the Apostle, Devon, widow, deceased, by George Gidleigh, esquire.
1634.  Middle Temple. Mr Bartholomew Gidley, to the chamber of Philip Morgan, esq. and James Clotworthy, gent., on surrender by the latter; fine £2 10s.
1636. Probate of the will of George Gidley the elder of St Thomas the Apostle, Devon, gentleman, deceased, by Francis Wilding, with power reserved to Mary Jones.
1640-1659.  Catalogue of the Lords, Knights and Gentlemen that have compounded for their estates:
  Gidley Barthol of Gidley, Devon, gent. £126 16s. 0d.
1647.  Bartholomew Gidley of Gidley, Devon, begs to compound on Exeter Articles for delinquency in assisting the king against parliament. He has conformed in all things since the surrender of that city.
1647.  Bartholomew Gidley fined at one-tenth, £126 16s 8d on Oxford Articles.
1651.  Committee for Advance of Money. Devonshire delinquents: Bartholomew Gidley, Gidley, assessed at £60, ordered to pay [blank].
1652.  Order that all the Devonshire delinquents (excepting Gidley, whose case is respited a fortnight), pay in half their assessments, which are made on calculation of their estates, and then be heard as to their debts, and to what they have paid in the country.
1652.  Probate of the will of William Gidleigh of North Lew, Devon, gentleman, deceased, by Martha his relict.
1656.  Chancery proceedings. Bridges' Division. South Tawton, Devon. Plaintiff: Gidley, George, Defendant: Ford, John.
1674.  Hearth Tax Returns. Lavenham, Suffolk. Walter Gidley, 3.
1678.  Extract from the will of John Ham of Uplowman, Devon. Witness: Jo: Gidley.
1681.  Report of the Commissioners concerning Charities. Winkleigh, Devon. Gidley's Gift.
[This is so detailed that I'll type it separately in another post.]
1693-1694. Middlesex Aid Assessment. Shoreditch, St Leonard. Outlyers.
     Henry Gidley: rent £4, tax 16s.
                            stock: nil, tax nil.
1693-1694. City of London Aid Assessment. St Peter le Poore. Broad Street War.
      John Gidley: rent £36, tax £7 4s.
                          stock £100, tax £1 4s.
1693-1694. City of Westminster Aid Assessment. St Martin in the Fields. Strand Upper Ward.
       John Gidley: rent £12, tax £2 8s.
                            stock: nil, tax nil.
[Note: the Aid Assessments were raised not to assist the poor, but to finance King William III's wars.]