Mary SIMMS2

also known as Mary SIMS

1780 - 3rd Aug 18641

Life History

1780	Born in Marston, Oxfordshire
1799	Birth of son Richard SIMS in Marston, Oxfordshire
12th Aug 1801	Married Richard RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire It was during this period that the family became large landowners in the parish of Marston, some of it acquired by inheritence from Mary's father Joseph Simms, but some presumably from profits from the farming and allied activities. In 1818 Richard purchased The Orchard, which on his death passed to his widow Mary, who, on her death in 1865 left it to her daughter Mary wife of William Cannon. She in turn left it to their daughter Mary Sims Honour. At some time in the 19th Century the Rippingtons purchased the property known as Cross Farmhouse. They occupied it until 1885 when it was rented by the Haynes family at £209 per quarter, the Haynes purchasing it from the Rippingtons in 1920, it still being owned and occupied by one of their descendants. In the Tithe Assessment of 1845 much of the family lands were owned by Mary and farmed by her sons, but some were owned by brothers Charles and John despite them carrying out their butchery business in London at the same time. The Tithe Map and Apportionment for Marston has survived and shows the land owned or occupied by the Rippington family. Unfortunately the map is in such poor condition that it cannot be produced for viewing by the public although a very poor filmed copy exists at the Oxfordshire Studies Dept in Oxford Central LIbrary. The Apportionment dates from the 1840's just after the death of Richard (died 1840), showing his widow Mary as a considerable landowner. Their children also occupied more from other landowners. MARSTON SCHOOL Richard's family had a significant involvement in the early stages of Marston School. In 1849 the new vicar called a meeting of the Vestry Committee to discuss a proposal to provide the village with a school. Sitting on the committee were brothers Richard, Henry and Mark Rippington. The meeting was held on 20th December 1849 at the vestry of Marston Church to decide on an application for giving up the Parish Orchard as a site for the building of a Parish School. The school opened in 1851 but maintenance always seemed to be a problem. By 1871 Charles was the School Manager and responsible for its upkeep and arranging for repairs and maintenance to be carried out. Interestingly none of their children are believed to have actually attended the school, other than some of the children of Alice nee Warland and Edwin in the 1870's. Oxfordshire Archdeacon's Marriage Bond Index - 1634 - 1849 1801 Rippington, Richd Woodeaton Sims, Mary Marston
1802	Birth of daughter Ann RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1803	Birth of son Richard RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1805	Birth of son Joseph Simms RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1806	Birth of daughter Mary Anne RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1806	Death of son Joseph Simms RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1808	Birth of son William RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1808	Death of daughter Ann RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1810	Birth of son John RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1812	Birth of son Thomas RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1812	Death of son Thomas RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1813	Birth of son Henry RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1814	Birth of son Charles RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1816	Birth of son Vincent RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1816	Death of son Vincent RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1817	Birth of son Mark RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1819	Birth of son Edwin RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1825	Birth of son Joseph RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1840	Death of Richard RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
1856	Death of son Henry RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire
6th Sep 1859	Wrote will
3rd Aug 1864	Died in Oxford, Oxfordshire.1
30th Aug 1864	Death of son William RIPPINGTON in Marston, Oxfordshire.1
14th Nov 1865	Probate

Notes

She left a will made on the 6th September 1859. Most of the Rippington estates were in her name, much having been inherited from her father Joseph Sims who died in 1813. She was the owner of her own house, The Orchard, according to the Tithe Assessment carried out in 1845. Her husband Richard does not appear to have left a will.
Her will is very long but the main points are a follows:
a) Her existing home to son Richard
b) Her freehold house at Forest Hill to son Richard, subject to a payment of £1,300 to the executors (presumably to be paid by son Richard).
c) Some of her copyhold lands to son William
d) Her copyhold house occupied by son Richard to daughter Mary.
e) £700 to daughter Mary
f) Various copyhold lands to sons John and Charles.
g) £100 to sons John and Charles.
h) Her share of land at Stow Wood and a copyhold house and three cottages in Marston to be held in trust by her sons with the income to her son Henry's widow Martha.
i) Her leasehold farm held from Brasenose College (possibly The Almonds) plus £500 each to sons Mark and Edwin.
j) £1,300 to be invested by her trustees for the children and widow of her son Henry, with the dividends to her son Joseph.
k) All estates held on trust or mortgage to sons Richard, John, Charles and Mark to be held in trust as part of her general personal estate.
l) The remainder to be divided into nine shares, seven to her children, one to the sons in trust for the children of deceased son Henry, and one on trust to the sons of her son Joseph.
The total value of the estate was £16,000.
Name: Mary Rippington
Probate Date: 14 Nov 1865
Death Date: 3 Aug 1864
Death Place: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Registry: Principal Registry
Death Record Name Mary Rippington
Year of Registration 1864
Quarter of Registration Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District Headington
Registration County Oxfordshire
Volume Number 3A
Volume Page 379

Sources

1. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar
- Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
- (secondary evidence)
2. Tithe Map of Marston ~ 1834
- (primary evidence)