370 Bradford-on-Avon. [Old Families & Wor thies. 
where they applied their energies to the wool-trade, from which at 
that time the greater part of the wealth of the country was derived. 
Either as ‘Wool Staplers’ or ‘Clothiers,’ (dealers, that is, in wool, 
either in the raw or the manufactured state,) they traded and pros- 
pered in our neighbourhood from the commencement of the six- 
teenth century. 
The first member of the family known to have settled in our 
vicinity was ‘THomAs YERBERIE’ described as of Trowbridge, who 
married Alice, daughter of Thomas Horton, of Westwood. The 
last is a name frequently mentioned in our pages, and one which 
our readers will almost have learnt to regard as a synonyme 
for worldly wealth. Connexions also, as the pedigree shews, were 
formed about the same time with the ‘Longs’ of Trowbridge, and 
of Whaddon, a family that every year was increasing in property 
and station. With such advantages, it is not wonderful that 
‘Thomas Yerberie’ of Trowbridge prospered, and was able, at his 
decease, to bequeath a goodly portion to each of his children. 
He left behind him three sons,—Joun, according to the best 
authorities, the eldest, and the first that settled at Bradford-on- 
Avon ;—WItLi1aM, who remained at Trowbridge ;—and Tuomas, 
described as of Frome, and several of whose descendants are bu- 
ried in Laverton Church, near Frome, where there are monumental 
tablets to their memory. 
The two first-named—John and William, belong more immedi- 
ately to this memoir. The family spread itself in course of years 
into other parts of Wilts,—to Conock,! to Lavington, to Coulston, 
&c., but our present enquiry extends only to those who came here 
or into our immediate neighbourhood. And as we are able to bring 
down a direct descent in the Bradford-on-Avon line to the present 
time, it will be more convenient to dispose first, of the second or 
Trowbridge branch. 
Wuu1am Yersury of Trowbridge married his first cousin 
' The estate of ‘ Gifford Yerbury’ at Conock came to the ‘ Warriner’ family. 
At a sale of the effects of the last owner no very long time ago Mr. Ellen, of 
Devizes, bought an oak chair having the cypher G. Y. and a Merchant’s mark 
carved on the back, with the date 1624. 
