Posted: 25th March 2020
We have found some wills under the surname Rhetoricke/Retoricke. The Handbook of Cornish Surnames by G Pawley White does not mention this surname so it may be a variant of Restorick.
There is a connection with Tavistock, Devon where Richard Retoricke(sic) was a Notary Publique according to his will dated 29 Sept 1618. However, most of this family lived in London. His 5 page will states he was born and christened in Tavistock, the son and heir of John the Elder (merchant) deceased sometime of Tavistock, that his late wife was Marie and his present wife Elizabeth. He also mentions his sisters Agnes, Elizabeth and Rachel.
Richard’s will also states that Walter Retorick the elder of High Holborn, scrivener, London was son of his brother John. He named Walter his sole executor and left him all his tinworks, within the counties of Devon and Cornwall or elsewhere, which he had inherited from his father John. Also his other lands, tenements he had inherited but if Walter had no heirs then it reverted to Richard’s heirs. These were in Tavistock and Exeter. The bequests in the will show that Richard Retoricke of Tavistock was quite a wealthy man.
Richard’s brother John Rhetoricke had married Elizabeth Hall in 1578 at St Mary le Strand, London and was buried on 14 Sept 1592 at St Clement Danes, Strand, London. His children Cibell, Richard, Joane, Walter, Jane, Christopher and Mary were all baptised in the latter church 1578-1584 but all died in childhood except Walter bap 19 Dec 1581. He was a scrivener and married Ruth Bridgeman in 1619 in Exeter. His surname appears as Retoricke in records and he is the Walter named in Richard of Tavistock’s will. Walter had 9 children all baptised at St Andrew, Holborn, London. Sadly most of these children died in childhood except Joseph 1610-1660 who is listed as a Gent, and John, an apothecary (see below), both in Holborn, London. Joseph had married Dorothie Stone in 1634 and had 4 children all baptised St Andrews, Holborn. All of these died in childhood except Walter their eldest child bap 1635 about who we have found no further information to date. Joseph was buried in 1660 at St Andrews, Holborn.
Walter’s younger son John married Mary Haydon in 1631 at St Andrew, Holborn. They had 11 children, all baptised at St Andrews, Holborn 1632-c1655. Most of his children died in childhood except Richard bap 1637 and Elizabeth 1642, though we have not found the burial of his son James born 1645. (Elizabeth married Robert Fuller in 1669.) Richard was a Tide Waiter which meant he boarded ships as they came into London to assess the tax they had to pay.
John then seems to have married Margaret by whom he had 3 children – John bap 1655, Mary 1656-9 and Dyany(?) 1660-61. His address in these three was “above Middle Row, Holborn – the same as for the baptisms of his previous children. John senior was buried 29 Aug 1665 in High Holborn – this was the time of the Great Plague – the parish register states nearly 500 people died in Holborn. John Rhetoricke – In a Memorandum 1664 John Retoricke senior, resident St Andrew, Holborne changed his will in preference of his son Richard and daughter Elizabeth. He cut out his second wife for being unkind to him also his son John., Probate of Will 18/07/1666. The original will does not appear to be listed.
In his will of 1666, Walter, father of Joseph and John above, mentions Thomas Retorick, son of his grandson Richard, and also his granddaughter Elizabeth (married Robert Fuller) whom he gives a tenement where Walter’s son John, her father, lately lived.
Will of John Retorick, St Sepulchre, probate 20 April 1678 in favour of wife Bridget and daughter Elizabeth. This was John Retoricke senior’s son from his second marriage who married Bridget Fielder in 1676 and had daughter Elizabeth in 1677. He died in 1678 age 23. Bridget married John Foy.
Other Wills appear under the surname Restoricke and variations:
Richard Rostarrock Death abt 1576, Probate 8 August 1576 In favour of wife Isabell, son Thomas and Daughter Mary. Robert Restoricke 13 June 1608 St Giles in the Fields short and not very readable. Will John Restoricke, Mariner 14 Nov 1709 Ratcliffe, Middlesex. He left everything to Anne Oatley a loving friend. Will of Isaac Restorrock , Mariner Stepney death 1715 in favour of his brothers and his wife Elizabeth also names a few people he has left money to, to buy mourning rings.
