BAYLY, William (d.1613), of Chippenham, Wilts.

Bayly acquired lands in Allington and Monkton near Chippenham, and leased the Bull in the borough itself from the Earl of Hertford. At an unknown date he made a gift of £10 to the corporation. Moderately prosperous, he was assessed at 40s. in land for the 1576 subsidy. On one occasion he paid 17s.3d. towards provision for King James’s household and in 1611 he made a loan to the King of £16 13s.4d.3VCH Wilts. iii. 380; vii. 26, 137; Jones, Bradford-on-Avon, 162-4; Wilts. N. and Q. vi. 431; PCC 8 Lawe; Chippenham Recs. passim; Two Taxation Lists (Wilts. Arch. Soc. recs. br. x), 55; Wilts. Arch. Mag. ii. 187.

In 1603 he conveyed the bulk of his estate to his eldest son Henry on condition that over a period of 12 years £1,200 should be paid to the other children. He died in 1613. In his will, proved 12 Feb. that year, he described himself as esquire, whereas the 1572 Chippenham return describes him as ‘gent. of the parish of Chippenham’. He expressed his hope to partake of God’s ‘everlasting kingdom in heaven amongst his elect and chosen people’. Provision was made for his four younger sons, daughters and sons-in-law. He bequeathed 10s. to Salisbury cathedral and a similar sum to the poor of Chippenham. The widow was sole executrix.4PCC 8 Lawe; Chippenham Recs. 2, 18.