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Docking, Norfolk is a
beautiful village on the highest point in Smithdon
Hundred (and possibly all of Norfolk). It was known as
"Dry Docking" as far back as the time of James
I, due to the lack of drinking water there. Its largest
manors were Southmere and Docking. At least part of
Southmere was held at one time by the Drurys.
| Pedigree
Chart, compiled from the Norfolk
Visitations, Docking Parish Register and
the 1624 will of Robert Drury, Gentleman
of Docking |
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John Drury,
Gentleman of Godwick, was succeeded by his oldest
son, Robert Drury, Gentleman of Docking, Norfolk.
The descendants of Robert have been documented in
the Norfolk Visitations (1563, 1589, and 1613)
and in Campling's "History
of the Family of Drury"
. In addition,
Gerald Hagan's excellent book, "Dry
Docking", transcribed portions of the
Docking Parish Register including the Drury
Pedigree Chart. Hagan corresponded with Drury
researchers in the U.S. and helped identify the
link between the Drurys of Docking, Norfolk, and
Robert Drury who founded Dry
Docking Farm
in St. Mary's County,
Maryland. Based
on these pedigrees, it has been suspected that
the Robert Drury who received a land grant in
Maryland in 1670 and named it Dry Docking Farm,
may have been the son of Robert, Gentleman of
Docking. An excellent discussion challenging this
assumption can be found at the website of
researcher Don Drury.
Based on current information, it would appear
that there must be one generation between Robert
Drury of Docking and Robert Drury of Maryland.
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| Examination of the
Drury
Pedigree Chart
on page 71 of the Docking Parish Register for
1558-1765 reveals details that were omitted in
the transcriptions in the Norfolk Visitations, as
well as Campling's and Hagan's works. The
original chart clearly shows that three of Robert
Drury and Mary Radcliffe's sons... John, Robert,
and Thomas... died "sp." [sine proles =
without offspring]. It seems doubtful that the
Parish of Docking would have that information on
anyone who had emigrated to Maryland. His only
son who may have had children and continued the
Drury name, according to this chart, is William. A
reading of the Last Will and Testament of Robert
Drury, Gentleman of Docking, from 1624 sheds more
light on his descendants (see transcription of
the will, below). In it, he leaves most of his
property to his oldest son, John. In addition, he
leaves an endowment of two hundred pounds to his
other sons, Thomas and William. There is no
mention in the will of his son Robert, indicating
the possibility that he had died before his
father wote the will in October, 1624.
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| St.
Mary The Virgin Church, Docking Parish
Register 1558-1765 |
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| Coat
of Arms from the Drury Pedigree Chart in
the in the Docking Parish Register, c.
1617. Click
on the photo to view the Full Drury
chart. |
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Robert also lists
his daughters as Audry, Mary, Elizabeth,
Heveningham, & Jane Drury, leaving the
possibility that his daughters Parnell, Frances,
and Ann were no longer alive at that time. The
husband of Frances, Humfrey Yermouth, was named
an executor. The Drury Pedigree Chart and
Robert's will, combined with previous sources,
for the first time give us the names of all
twelve of Robert Drury of Docking's children.
Elsewhere in the Docking Register, we find
children of Thomas Toll and Ann Drury (m. October
06, 1610) as Henry, bapt. October 09, 1611 and
Maria, bapt. December 10, 1613; and children of
Geoffrey Greene and Mary Drury (m. October 02,
1626) as Anne, b. 1628 and Jefford, bapt. October
07, 1633. The marriages of the other daughters
are shown in the blue pedigree chart shown above.
The will of Robert Drury of Docking is
transcribed below; blanks indicate illegible
words, and words followed by a ? indicate a best
guess by the transcriber. |
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~The
Last Will and Testament of Robert Drury,
Gentleman of Docking~
Transcribed from
PROB11/145, Public Record Office, London
In the name of
God, Amen. The seven and twentieth day of
September Anno Dei One Thousand six hundred
twenty four Anno Dei ____ ___ Anglio _____ _____
of Robert Drury of Docking in the County of
Norff., Gent. Calling to mynde the uncertainty of
this life, and that nothing is more certain to
man than death, and the tyme and hour thereof
most uncertain, and to the intent that my minde
may not be troubled with the vaine and transitory
things of this worlde when it shall please
Almighty God to separate my soule from this my
earthly body, but that my mynde might be then
wholly fixed upon heaven and heavenly things, I
do therefore make this my last will and testament
in manner and forme following. First I do commend
and commit my soule into the hand of Almighty God
my heavenly father assuredly lasting that by the
passion and precious blood shedding of Christ
Jesus His sonne my redeemer. I shall have free
pardon and remission of all my sinnes and my body
I doo committ to the bowells of the earth from
whense it came in the Christian buriall to be
buried at the discretion of my executors.
And as touching my
wordly estate I dispose thereof as follows. First
and above all things I will that my debt be truly
paid and my _____ discharged. Item: I do give and
bequeath unto Mary my loving wife all my leases
and lease lande which I have and houlde by the
demise? of the F_____ of the Colledge of Eaton
neere Winsor situated in Docking or elsewhere in
the County of Norff. To hold to her for and
during the residue of my living? therein,
provided all__ that if my said wife by suite in
lawe or otherwise shall clayme or demand any
Dower? in the Manor of Castleacre?, the rectory
and parsonage of Southmere or any other my landes
and tenements and hereditainments? in the County
of Norff. That thou my guift of the same leases
and landes in Docking shall unto now utterly voyd
and of none effect, And whereas I did take a
lease in my owne name and in the name of my
sonne, John Drury of Mr. John Dare? of diverse
messuage lande commitments I kept ______ and
other things therein mentioned situated lying and
being in Docking Southmere and other Townes in
the County of Norff. my will and mynde is that
the same lease and ______ therein shall wholly
survive and go to John Drury my eldest sonne for
the residue of the farmes therein, and that my
indentures? shall pay the half years rent which
shall be due for the same lease at Michelmas one
thousand six hundred twenty four and ____ the
rent ____ which shall be thendse forth paid-
And I doo hereby
desire my Executors that my said sonne John Drury
may have the presentment? of my flocke of sheepe
and cattoll thereupon at a reasonable price, And
I do give and bequeath unto my said sonne John
Drury and to his heirs all my fee simple lande in
Docking aforesaid.
Item: I do give
unto Thomas Drury and William Drury my sonnes the
summe of two hundred pounds apiece of lawfull
English money to be paid to them by my Executors
whereof I will - that one hundred punds apiece
thereof be paid to eiche of them within six
months next after my decease, and within one year
then next following, one hundred pounds more to
either of them in full satisfaction of the said
two hundred pounds apiece. And I do give unto
Audry Drury, Mary Drury, Elizabeth Drury,
Heveningham Drury, & Jane Drury, my daughters
to either of them two hundred pounds apiece to be
paid by my brother? whereof one hundred pounds
apiece to be paid to every of them within one
halfe year next after my decease, and the residue
to be paid unto every of them at the end of one
year and a halfe then next following. The residue
of my goods and personall estate, my debts
funerall charges and ______ paid and discharged I
do give unto Mary my loving wife. And I do
ordaine and make the said Mary my wife, Sir
Drummond Le Strange knight, and Sir Henry
Bodingfield knight Executors of this my last will
and testament, desiring them to see this my will
performed. In witness hereof I the said Robert
Drury have hereunto put my hand seale the day and
yeare first above written. Signed Roberti Drury,
Pronounced and published by the above named
Robert Drury for his last will in the presence of
us, Jo. Jermy, Humfrey Yermouth, Fermer Pepys,
Ric. Slater.
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