Richard Norrys

b. Abt 1525, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

d. Bef 1588, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England

> 1. Edward Norris, b. 1580, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England , d. 23 Dec 1659, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

> 2. Mary Norris, b. 1588, Newbury, Berks, England , d. 25 Feb 1622, Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

He was the vicar of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, England.  His position may have been passed to him through many generations.  We have shown that the Norris family had held vicarships in Gloucestershire parishes as early as 1394.  Edward Norrys died in 1583.  He was undoubtedly a young man.  His father Richard Norrys was still alive at the time of his death.  This Edward Norris had a son, Edward II, who was only four years old at the time of his father's death.

Here is the will of Edward Norris:

In the name of God amen. The 21st day of May anno regni dre Elizabeth regni and unssno quinto (very difficult to decifer: 25th year of her reign, 1583). I Edward Norris vicare of the parish church of Tedburie the countye and diocesse of Gloucester clerck. Being sicke in bodie but whole in mynd and of good and perfect remembrance laud and prayse be geven to god, do make and ordayne this my testament concerning herin my last will in maner and form following. This is to say first I committ my soule into the hande of almyghty God my creator trusting only in his mercy to obtayne this lasting salvation by the merits and deeds of his deare son Jesus Christ myne beloved Saviour and Redeemer and my bodie to be buried in the churchyard of Tedburie aforsaid. Item: I give and bequeath all my worldly goods moveable and unmoveable my debts payd and my funeral expenses performed and don, unto Pilaster my wife whom I make my sole executrix and this my last will and testament and of the execution hereof I make and ordayne the overseer Mr. Mathew Fognte Esquire and Mr. Richard Norice my father myne overseers and I utterly revoke and disadvow all former wills, legacies, , and bequethe hertofor at any time by me mad(e) willed or bequeathed and this only to stand for my last will in witness wherof to this my perfect testament I have sett to my hand and seale. Geven the day and year first above written thes bearing wittness: Mr. Mathew Fognte, Richard Norice, Edward Gaysman, Henry Gaysman, Tho. Higgins, Willm Tamer, and others.

It is interesting to note that Edward Norris spelled his name "Norris" while having spelled his father's name "Norice".  This changing of the spelling was still common even into the nineteenth century in America.  The wife of Edward Norrice I was Pilaster.  Their son was Edward II.