As some aristocratic families ‘declined. through descent to junior branches, they intersected with families who were ascending the social scale, as Poyntz to Owsley and Harris.

1. Osbert FitzPonts (perhaps).
2. Nicholas FitzPonts (perhaps).
3. Hugh Poyntz, d. 3 Henry III.
4. Hugh Poyntz, of Dodington Gloucestershire, m. Julian, niece of Robert Bardulph.
5. Hugh Poyntz, m. Heloise, sister of William Malet, of Cary Malet, Somerset.
6. Nicholas Poyntz, d. 1273.
7. Sir Hugh Poyntz, b. 1252, d. 1307, m. Margaret, da. of Sir William Pavely.
8. Nicholas Poyntz, m. (1) Elizabeth La Zouche, on January 20, 1288, in North Okenden, Essex. (2) Matild, da. of Sir John Acton, of Iron Acton, Gloucestershire.
9. Sir John Poyntz, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, ob. 1377, m. Elizabeth, da. of Sir Philip Clanvowe and Phillippa Talbot.

10. Robert Poyntz, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1397, m. Ruth, da. of Sir Thomas FitzNichol, of Nymphfield, Gloucestershire
11. Nicholas Poyntz, of Iron Acton, ob 1449, m. Elixabeth, da. of Thomas Mill, of Harscombe, Gloucestershire, and Juliana Le Rous.
12. John Poyntz, ob. 1507, m. Alice, da. of John Cox.
13. Sir Robert Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, d. Nov. 4, 1520, bur. Gaunt or Mayor’s Chapel, Bristol, m. (1478) Margaret Woodville, da. of Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, and Gwenillian Stradling. He was knighted on Bosworth, immediately after King Richard III was killed. He was Chancellor to Catherine of Aragon.
14a. John Poyntz, b. 1484, Aderly, Gloucestershire, d. November 29, 1544. Sewer to Queen Catherine; burgess to the House of Commons for the Borough of Devizes, Wiltshire, in 1529; Justice of the Peace for Gloucestershire, 1529-1544. Shortly after adding the codicil to his will, he left with the army of Henry VIII for the invasion of France and may have died in that expedition.
15. John Poyntz, burgess of Devizes, d. 29 November, 1544, m. (1) Elizabeth Browne, da. of Sir Matthew Browne, Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, and Frideswide Guilford. (2) Margaret Saunders, da. of Nicholas Saunders.
16. William Poyntz, d. 1601, m. Elizabeth Newdigate. Her will was proved June 17, 1602. (58 Montague).
17. John Poyntz, b. December 8, 1577, Reigate, Surry, d. October 20, 1617, m. Anne Sydenham, da of John Sydenham of Nymsfield, Glouc. He d. after October 20, 1617, in Jamestown, Virginia. He was Marshall of King James I. As a result of serious differences, his wife obtained a divorce on October 31, 1613. He sold all of his property between November 1615 and October 20, 1617.
18. Newdigate Ponytz, b. November 16, 1608, d. August 4, 1643, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, m. Sarah Foxley, da. of Francis Foxley and Mary Dryden.
19. Dorothy Poyntz, b. January 3, 1631, in Benefield, Northamptonshire, m. Rev. John Owsley, who graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA degree on June 29, 1631; and evidenced here: Trull. “An Assessmt  for £4 18s. 10d ob. per mensem for 3 moneths from the 24th of September last unto the 24th of December next made die et anno predictis by the Assessors whose names are subscribed” (arranged under Tithings). (At end: Willm. Buncombe, John Owsley, Robert Smyth:- Assessors. Subcollectors: George Durston, Henry Wyatt, Christofer Babb. Allowed by us: John Pyne, Edw. Ceely. 9 Oct. 1650. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. D\P\tru/23/25).
20. Thomas Owsley, b. June 11, 1658, in Stogursey, Somerset, d. October 10, 1700, Stafford Co., VA, m. Ann Harris, da. of William Harris, whose will of 1698 devised all of his land to his Owsley grandchildren. Ann Harris Owsley married (2) John West, son of Major John West.
21. Poyntz Owsley.

14b. Sir Anthony Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1480-1535, m. Elizabeth Huddersfield, da. of Sir William Huddersfield, and Katherine, da. of Sir Philip Courtenay.
15b. Sir Nicholas Poyntz of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, d. 1555, m. Joan Berkeley, da. of Thomas, 5th Lord Berkeley.
16b. Sir Nicholas Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, aged 21 years on his fathers’ death, 1555. Sheriff of Gloucester in 1569. Knight of the Shire 1571. Died at Iron Acton on September 1, 1585. (Inq. p. m. 28th Elizabeth, Part 2, No. 81). He m. (4) Grissell Roberts, da. of Walter Roberts, of Glassenbury, Kent, on June 2, 1600.
17b. Nicholas Poyntz, b. 1607, d. February 11, 1650, bur. in the Savoy, Lond; matric. from Magdalen Hall, Oxon, as son of Sir John Poyntz, January 31, 1622, aet. 16. Living at Tickenham in 1646. He m. Eleanor, only child and heir of Rice Davis, of Tickenham, Som., by Mary Pitt, relict of Robert Owen (Robert ap Owen, of Abergwilli, Carmarthenshire, and a Bristol merchant), and 3rd wife of Rice (Rees) Davis. Married 1638. Mary Pitt was the mother of Robert Pitt, of Virginia. Rice Davis originated from Carmarthenshire, and was brother of “William Davies, of Carmarthenshire”, father of Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. November 8, 1587, heir to his uncle, who m. Mary Owen, da. of Mary Pitt and Robert Owen, and sister of Robert Owen Jr., the very likely father of Bartholomew Owen.

The identity of Ann Harris can not be known, yet if the criteria common to these times is applied – most marriages were between people who lived within walking distance of each other, and most men married women who were 2-10 years their junior, then the following suggestion is at least plausible:

1. David Harris, bur. Aug. 25, 1597, in Stoke St Gregory, Somerset. Trull is 10 miles from Stoke St Gregory, and 10 miles from Wiveliscombe. The boundary of Aller to the south and southwest with Curry Rivel and Stoke St. Gregory is formed by the river Parrett.
1.1. William Harris, bapt. March 6, 1572, Stoke St Gregory; d. December 27, 1627; m. Mary Cely, February 3, 1595; of the family of Robert Cely: Dite v Cely. Plaintiffs: Edward Dite. Defendants: Robert Cely, Sir Henry Hawley, and Robert Poulet.Subject: tenement or fardell of land in Stoke Gregory and North Curry, Somerset. 1603-1625. (Nat Arch. ref. C 2/JasI/C17/77). He of the family of his namesake: Cely v Torey. Plaintiffs: Robert Cely of North Curry, husbandman. Defendants: Thomas Torey of Staple (Fitzpaine). Subject: Money and household goods promised by defendant on complainant’s marriage with Robygge, his daughter, and money entrusted to him. Somerset. 1538-1544. (Nat. Arch. ref. C 1/972/11).
1.1.1. Anthonie Harris, bapt. October 1, 1609, Stoke St Gregory.
1.2. John Harris.
1.2.1. William Harris, “the younger”.
1.2.1.1. William Harris.
1.2.1.1.1. Anna Harris, bapt. 14 September 14, 1660, in Stoke St Gregory, da. of “William”.

The branch to which these Harris belonged can only be assumed by on their geographical nearness to other Harris families.

Owsley genealogical enquiry should include William Owsley, vicar of Shepton Beauchamp: Owsley v Drewe. Plaintiffs: William Owsley, clerk on behalf of poor of Shepton Beauchamp. Defendants: Alice Drewe, widow, Christopher Rowswell, Agnes Cogan and John Allen. Subject: charitable bequests from William Drewe and John Cogan, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset. 1627. (Nat. Arch. ref. C 8/61/92).

copyright m stanhope 2017