It would seem somewhat dampening to the spirit of those seeking the origins of the following Bynums to give lengthy detail of a Harris family of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, so suffice it to impart that Edward Bennett, uncle of Thomas Harris of that place, was associated with Christopher Reynolds Sr., who emigrated to Virginia as his indentured servant. Bk. 1, pp. 46-8, “Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my son Christopher Reynolds Jr. all my land on the southerly side of the Freshest swamp that Richard Jordan (his son-in-law who m. da. Elizabeth Reynolds) now liveth upon”. It may also be of use to mention that the family of Lancaster (Squires of Cheddar juxta Wedmore) were associated with Wiveliscombe, and that these Harris were kin of  families of Forte and Bodie.

In Wiveliscombe, John Benham/Bainham, bur. 1 Sept. 1601, was the father of Phillip Benham, who m. Ellinor, 4 July 1560; they the parents of Thomas Benham, bapt. 7 June 1566, and Tobias Benham, bapt. 8 May 1579; either of these being the father of Richard Benham, father of James Benham, bapt. 2 Nov., 1639. In Wedmore, Henry Bainham, who died in Wiveliscombe, was the father of Thomas Bainham, bapt. 22 Apr 1578; they of certain relationship to George Bainham, who m. Julianam Gane, 18 Jan. 1591. She m. 2. William Day, 1 Oct. 1595. Julia Gane was the aunt of John Gane, bapt. 8 Sept. 1588, father of Judith Gane, bapt. 21 Nov 1619, who m. William Popham, 29 May 1643, br. of George Popham, who m. Mary Comer 30 Apr 1635, relict of John Councell, who she m. 26 Nov 1631; the very probable uncle of Hodges Councell of Virginia; with Mary Comer being the sister of the wife of John Harris of Cheddar, tenant of the Lancasters, and probable uncle of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

It is with this rather scanty kinship outline that the following Bynums are introduced; it has to be so, because the connection between English and Virginia ancestries is one of repeated relationships. Stripped of assumptions, the following is most likely true:

1. Richard Bynum, Wiveliscombe.

1.1. John Bynum. On 29 September 1679, John Bynum sold to Richard Jordan Sr. the land he had purchased from George Blow.

1.2. James Bynum, bapt. 2 Nov. 1639, in Wiveliscombe; d. c. 1720, Surry Co. There is no evidence that she married a Mizzell, nor that the Mizells were French Hugenots. Massall/Mascell were not such uncommon English names. See Robert W. Baird: “There is no association at all between any Bynums and Mizells prior to 1691. They lived in different parts of the county, were enumerated in different tax districts, and their paths never crossed in any record. The first association between the families is a purchase of land adjoining Luke Mizell Jr. by James Bynum in 1691. Elizabeth Bynum’s witness of Luke Mizell’s will two years later, and James Bynum’s appointment as an appraiser of the estate can be explained by the fact that they were next-door neighbors” … “other witnesses and appraisers were also neighbors and no one has assumed that they were” internarried with the Bynums. In this case, James Bynum’s d.o.b. can not be assumed on the supposition of a marriage.

1.2.1. William Bynum, m. Mary Fort. He witnessed the will of his father-in-law John Fort on 21 October 1724 in Surry Co. In 1730, he witnessed Mary Fort’s discharge of dower in land conveyed by her husband, John Fort, Jr. to Davis Hopper on the Moratock in Bertie Precinct. (Bertie Co. D.B. C, p. 252). On 3 December 1744, William Bynum bought 300 ac. from Thomas Drake in Edgecombe Co. on the upper side of Fishing Creek. William Bynum (first cousin of William Bynum, aforesaid, married Elizabeth Sugars Fort, the widow of Mary Fort’s first cousin, Elias Fort, and the da. of John Sugars. She left a will in Southampton Co. proved 3 July 1773, leaving slaves to her sons and dau.: William Bynum, Benjamin Bynum, and Abigail Williamson,and the residual estate to son Michael Bynum. Specific bequests were made to grandson Cordall Norfleet Bynum, son of Cordall Norfleet and Ann Bynum, da. of Michael. Cordall Norfleet was the son of Joseph Norfleet, first-cousin of Marmaduke Norfleet, whose da., Elizabeth Norfleet, m. James Harris in Halifax Co, NC., son of: James Harris, Will pr. 10 Jan. 1749; son of Edward Harris and Mary Turner; his Will was pr. 25 March 1734, in IOW Co.; son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Mary Fort was the da. of John Fort and Elizabeth Jordan, named in her father’s Will of 24 Sept. 1695 as Elizabeth Fort, da. of Richard Jordan Jr., son of Richard Jordan Sr., aforementioned.

1.2.1.1. William Bynum, m. Mary Crocker, 13 Jan. 1762, Southampton Co., da. of Benjamin Crocker and Sarah Barrow. Benjamin Crocker was the son of Robert Crocker, who named sons Benjamin, Moses, and Arthur in his will, recorded 10 Jan. 1750; his estate being appraised by William Bynum, John Harris, and Arthur Long. Robert Crocker named his daus., Elizabeth Jordan, Sarah Braswell, and Mary Middleton. His son, William Crocker, Will dated 27 Oct. 1729, pre-deceased him, and was the father of Joseph Crocker; Will recorded 5 Feb. 1761, appraised by Thomas Holliman, who m. Catherine Lancaster, da. of Elizabeth Harris and Samuel Lancaster. Catherine Lancaster was the sister of (1) Martha Lancaster, who m. John Holliman, son of Christopher Holliman, Jr. 25 Sept. 1739: From Christopher Holliman of Bartee precinct, North Carolina, and John Holliman of Newport parish in IOW, to Arthur Crocker of Newport Parish in IOW … 300 ac. on the E. side the main Swamp in Newport Parish. (D. B. 5, p. 143). (2) Unity Lancaster, who m. Thomas Betts, whose estate was appraised by Henry Lancaster, Abraham Jones, and William Harris, and recorded 6 May 1773. (3) Mary Lancaster, m. William Drake, son of Richard Drake, Will probated 13 Sept. 1759. Richard Drake was the son of Thomas Drake, b. 1650, in South Petherton, Somerset, and Sarah. Richard Drake, b. 1696; d. 1759, Southampton Co. Will recorded W.B. 1, p. 313. He patented land in IOW in 1717, and in 1746 he received other patents, see Bertie Co, D.B. B, p. 132, D, p. 245; E, p. 52. Richard Drake was the br. of John Drake. born 1695, d. 1729 in Bertie Co. He m. Sarah Bryant in 1725, da. of James Bryant, and sister of Eleanor Bryant, wife of Richard Braswell, Mary Bryant, wife of Richard Sumner; and (paternal) half-sister of Robert Bryant, who had issue: Lewis Bryant, who m. Celia Holliman on 18 Nov, 1776 in Johnston, NC.; Arpey Bryant, who m. Richard Holleman on 8 Jan. 1768, in Johnston; Elizabeth Bryant, who m. James Grantson Holliman (the probable son of Samuel and his wife, Elizabeth Jones), on 16 Apr. 1772, in Johnston. Richard and John Drake were the nephews of John Drake, born 1647 in South Petherton. He m. Jemima Parnell in 1675, and patented land in IOW in 1682. Will of Thomas Parnell, cooper, dated 10 Oct. 1687; proved 9 June 1688: Sons Thomas, Joseph; dau. Susanna; 3 daus; my children shall be brought up in the fear of the Lord and to learne to wright and reade; Sister Jemima Drake. My cloth coate or hayre camlett coat to Mr. John Fulgeham; John Drake; Joane Johnson; cozen John Williams; cousen Sarah Williams to have my dau. Jane’s best suit of apparell. John Drake was the father of John Drake, b. 1680, fatherof Richard Drake, who patented land in IOW; and who in 1727 witnessed the Will of Mary Bodie.

The Crockers were almost certainly of South Petherton, where Thomas Crocker m. Charity Seagar (Sugar) on 25 May 1606, and their son, Thomas, m. Judith Fursland, 30 May 1641.

The earliest origins of these families may be found in the records of Wells Cathedral:

From the great number of benefactions and endowments received in the Middle Ages by the Vicars Choral of Wells, from the time of Bishop Ralph de Shrewsbury (A.D. 1329-63) downwards, the documents formerly in their possession must have been very numerous. However this may have been in former days, their records and archives that have survived to the present time, are comparatively few in number, except certain parchment Rolls of Account, which are still somewhat numerous. Of those that have so survived, a large proportion are so entirely decayed that they are either mouldering to dust, from the effects of damp, or are at least wholly illegible.

A long roll, finely written, containing several accounts; the Computus of the Bedel of Snersholte, A.D. 1438; the Computus of William Gyffarde, the Bedel of Sparkeforde, or Drayton Sparkeforde [near Castle Carey, in Somerset] for the same year. In this account, persons named “Henry Scarlet and “John Blake” occur.

Computus of John Benham, Warden, or Supervisor, of La Wellysleigh, A.D. 1455:— the manor, near Wells, from which the Wellesley family derives its name; no mention, however, of any member of the family is to be found in it. The Wellesley property, now known as the “Manor of Wellesley and Dulcot,” was given to the Vicars Choral by Bishop Ralph of Shrewsbury, A.D. 1354.

This is followed, on the same membrane, by the account of the same John Benham, as the Warden, or Supervisor, of La Fennes, in the same year. Among his items of expenditure, is a charge of 3s. 7d. for riding to the Sheriff, to obtain the liberation of John Russell, bailiff of Fennes, who was in the lock-up house [incluserio] at Yvelcesetre [Ilchester]. The roll concludes with the account of the same John Benham, as the Warden, or Supervisor, of La Hethorne, for the same year.

Computus of Henry Sporyer and Richard Harris, “Receivers of the moneys of the Vicars of the Cathedral Church of Wells, dwelling in the New Work” — the New Close — A.D. 1461. This is a long roll, and finely written, but in some parts illegible, from damp. William Pitte, of Wedmore, is again mentioned as a tenant, paying 70s. yearly for Chambleynshinne. They account for 4s. 4rf. received for saffron, “growing in “the common garden” this year: also, for 2s., for the dripping [pinguedine] in the kitchen; and “for 6s. 8d. “the gift of Master Hugh Sugar, Official of the Bishop “in the Consistory of Wells, as his fee on being admitted Rural Dean from the Parish Church of Kyngestone, this year.”

copyright m stanhope 2017