Bond 7424 & 7425

7424. William Coward & 7425. Katherine ?.

1601, William born in Wells, Somersetshire, England, s/o 14848. Thomas Coward & 14849. Mary Watkins.
~1615, Katherine born in Wells, Somertshire, England. [Because of the close relationship of this family with the Symcockes family, it is likely that Katherine was a Symcockes - but where she would fall in the ancestry is unknown. Katherine was a common name of the Symcockes daughters of Butleigh. 9/12/1580, Alice Symcockes, d/o Christopher Symcockes, married a William Coward - they had 2 sons and 3 daughters all of whom took the surname Symcockes.]
1/7/1619, William left the manwion in Chamberlain Street, Wells, in the will of his father.
1623, William “aged 22”. (S) 1623 Visitation of Somerset.
By 1633, William married Katherine.
1638, “1] Thomas Symcockes 2] William Coward of Wells Grant for life of Butleigh manor and advowson [to suffer a recovery]. Recovery with half-length portrait of Charles I.” 
1641, “1] Thomas Symcockes 2] Sir John Meller of Little Bredy, Dors., kt, his son and heir Robert, Wolley Meller of Upcerne, Dors., and William Coward of Wells Grant for lives of Barbara Keeping's messuage, water grist mill and 3a, Katherine Symcockes' s messuage”.
1647, “Thomas Symcockes and wife Dorothy daughter of Sir John Meller 2] Sir John Meller of Little Bredy, Dors., kt 3] William Coward of Wells Settlement in trust for Dorothy of Butleigh manor, demesnes and advowson.”
1647-48, “1] Thomas Symcockes, Sir John Meller of Little Bredy, Dors., kt, his son and heir Robert, Wolley Meller of Upcerne, Dors., and William Coward of Wells 2] William Percie of Butleigh, yeoman Lease for lives of 3a in Cowhorsies, part Callows tenement Rent.”
1653, “1] John Webb 2] Robert Meller of Little Bredy, Dors., Wolley Meller of Upcerne, Dors., William Coward of Wells and Thomas Symcockes of Butleigh Agreement concerning a recognisance for payment of £1,500”.
1654, “William Coward of Wells and Anthony Mowry of Nether Ham Assignment of lease (1654) of a messuage and 61a and Hutchings (8a) in Butleigh.”
1658, “Thomas Boone, John Upton and Thomas Stronge v William Coward: copyhold held of the manor of Wells, Somerset.”
Bef. 9/7/1667, William died. “Will of William Coward Gentleman, Wells.”
3/21/1670, “Here lyeth the body of Mrs. Catherine Coward, widow, who was buried March the 21st, 1670.” (S) Floor slab.
(S) UK National Archives.

Family notes:
• Will of William: In the Name of God Amen. I William Coward of Wells in the Countie of Somersett the elder Gent. Sick and weake in body but of sound and perfect minde and memorie thanks be our God doe make and ordain and publish this my last will and testabent hereby revoking all former and other wills whatsoever … intered? In the parish Church of Saint-Cuthberts in ? to well there as neare to the body of my most heavenly honored Mother late ? as may … Item I give and bequeath unto my deare and loving wife Katherine Coward all this my Messuage dwelling house garden … Land with the house Garden and tenements belonging which I hold of the .?. of Wells Cathredall Church adjc. I give unto my said wife all … . Item I give and devise unto my sonn William Coward my Rightful possessions and those my land & tenements meadow and pastures … within the parish East Pennard … And to hold unto my said sonne William Coward his heirs and … my sonn Christopher Coward … daughter Katherine Coward if she shall marry … I will bequeath unto my daughter Mary Coward if she shall marry … Item I give unto my sonne John Coward the summe of One hundred pounds … Item I give unto my sonne Francis Coward the summe of Two hundred pounds … Item I give unto my sonne George Coward the summe of Two hundred pounds …
• This family has a complicated genealogy. As examples using abstracts of wills: Will of Mary Phelips of 1659, previously married to William Coward of Wells – Katherine late daughter, son William the Elder, cousin Thomas Coward, Mary d/o late son Thomas, Mary d/o son William, Katherin d/o son William, Katherine w/o son William, Katherine w/o son Thomas, John, Frances, George, & Mary children of son William; Wm, Xtopher, Edward, sons of son William; Francis, s/o late son Thomas. Jane & Mary, d’s/o Francis. Will of Thomas Coward of 1660 of Wells – son Thomas. Will of Francis Coward of 1665 of Wells – wife Elizabeth, dau.’s Jane & Mary, sis-in-law Catherine, widow of dec. brother Thomas, son Thomas.

Children of William and Katherine:

i. William Coward ( 3712), baptized 7/19/1634 in England.
[Record of St. Cuthbert Parish Register of Wells.]

ii. Christopher Coward, born 4/4/1636 in England.
[Record of St. Cuthbert Parish Register of Wells.]
1707, “Wm. {William?} Coward of Wells, esq., s. and heir of Wm. {William?} C., serj. at Law (who was bro. and heir of Chris. {Christopher?} C. of Ditcheat, D.D.,decd.), …” (S) UKNA.

iii. John Coward, born 2/24/1640 in England.
[Record of St. Cuthbert Parish Register of Wells.]

iv. Francis Coward, born 9/29/1642 in England.
[Record of St. Cuthbert Parish Register of Wells.]

v. Katherine Coward, born 8/23/1644 in England.
[Record of St. Cuthbert Parish Register of Wells.]

vi. Mary Coward, born ? in England.
1667, Mary named in the will of her father.

vii. George Coward, born ? in England.
1667, George named in the will of his father.