It is possible with a fair degree of accuracy to chart the genealogical links of the Counsell family of Cheddar, Somerset; perhaps only being wrong on whether someone was a brother or cousin, cousin or second-cousin, etc. This would not detract from the overall picture of a well-to-do yeoman family of increasing expectations, initiated by Richard Counsell’s purchase of a fifth share in the Manor of Mudgley, Wedmore. William Webb bought a similar share; he the uncle of Johanna Webb, bapt. April 14, 1594, who m. George Harris in 1623, in Wedmore, father of a William Harris (has he ever been considered in the context of Virginia?), who m. into the same family (Lyte) as the Hodges, becoming as kin to the family of William Strachey, Secretary of the Colony of Virginia.

Another fifth share was purchased by Nicholas Wykes (Weeks).

George Harris was a cousin of John, Robert, and Thomas Harris; the first of whom m. Agnes Coomer, in the adj. parish of Cheddar, Feb. 4, 1635; Robert was the father of Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, in Wedmore; and Thomas, husband of Joan Gardner, bapt. 1617, da. of John Gardner, was the father of Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar. The said Agnes Coomer was the sister of Mary Coomer, who m. John Counsell, bapt. 28 Nov. 28, 1601,’ f. Joannis Counsell‘, 26 Nov 1631; the possibility of they being the parents of Hodges Counsell can not be dismissed too lightly.

Mary and Agnes Coomer were daughters of a John Coomer, sisters of John Coomer, and aunt of his issue: John Coomer (father of another John), William Coomer Sr., Thomas Coomer, and Mary Coomer, who m. John Gardner (nephew of the wife of Thomas Harris, afors.), on Oct. 24, 1664, in Cheddar; br. of Joel Gardner, father of Jane Gardner, who m. James Counsell, June 12, 1682, in Cheddar. Jane Gardner was the sister of Elizabeth Gardner, who m. George Tibbits, May 1678, in Cheddar, sister of Hester Tibbits, who m. Thomas Harris (probably as second wife), Apr. 24, 1679, in Cheddar; he born in 1637. She deceased in 1580. Thomas Harris, d. 1688 in Virginia, is not recorded there before 1681.

It would be tedious, and mind-boggling, to read an acount of the extreme interbreeding of the ‘top’ families of Wedmore and adjoining Cheddar. Dolly Parton once commented that she had to walk 10 miles before she could date someone who was not a blood-cousin; a walk that would have been a marathon in latter day Wedmore/Cheddar. Suffice it to say that all families of these places intermarried with such as the Comers, Councells, Chapmans, n.b. Hicks, Martins, Phippens, n.b. Reeves, Rilberies, and Walls; of no little significance to American genealogies, it is suggested.

Returning to Joan Gardner, mother of the said Thomas; she was the da. of John Gardner, who was mentioned as “kin” in the Will of Thomas Stroud, of Cheddar (1652, 116 Bowyer). His son was William Stroud, of Rodney Stoke (seat of the Rodneys), situate 3 miles from Cheddar, 5 from Wedmore, whose Will of the same date (plague was not an infrequent visitor to these parts), mentions grandson, John Gardner, son of his son, Thomas.

These Strouds/Strodes were of a prosperous family, if stemming from the family from Stoke sub Hamdon, 25 miles hence. Thomas Strode, Esquire, of that place, buried there on April 25, 1595, married Theophilia, who married, secondly, Anthony Parsons, “Gentleman”, of Martock, Somerset. Thomas Strode had, among other issue, (1) John, of Stoke sub Hamdon, born in 1568, of Broadgates Hall, Oxford, and the Middle Temple, who married Gertrude, da. of John Hippersley, Esq., and his wife Dorothy, da. of Sir John Horner, of the family intermarried with the Symes, landlords of the Fulghams. (2) Thomas Stroud, baptised July 14, 1579, who deceased in 1630.

The interesting point, perhaps, is the connection between the Hodges, Squires of Wedmore, and the Rose family. Thomas Hodges, m. Eleanor, da. of John Rose, of Shepton Beauchamp (see previous notes for the context of this association). In Virginia, a William Rose m. Lucy (Corker) Jordan, widow of Thomas Jordan. Bartholomew Owen sold cattle of William Rose, for the benefit of Jane, William, Ann and Mary Rose, son and daughters of William Rose and his wife, Ann. Rec. 1666.

Also in Virginia, a John Stroud m. Hannah Rose, witnessed here: Prince George Co, Minute Book, August 15, 1739, p. 317: Suit of William and Francis Poythress, executors of John FitzGerald, decd., vs Hannah Stroud, Executor of John Stroud, decd., dismissed. In 1704, he appears on the rent roll with 60 acres in Prince George, Virginia. On 28 September 28, 1728, he was granted 392 ac. on both sides of Sturgeon Run (in Brunswick, Virginia), “beginning at Raybourn’s corner hickory at the mouth of a branch, thence along his line”. Signed by William Gooch. On September 30, 1730, he purchased 104 ac. on both sides of Sappone Creek adjoining the land whereon he lives; on upper side of the Reedy Branch. John and Hannah Stroud were the parents of William Stroud, husband of Margaret Rose.

A deed recorded Dec. 5, 1752, Granville Co. Robert Callier and wife Jemima to William Stroud for 536 ac. on Smith’s Creek. Wit: Richard Harris, John Norwood.

A coincidence? I suggest not, and the clues are the Hicks and Reeves.

Old constructions become beliefs, which become false facts, and research becomes nothing more than the ‘proving’ of beliefs, which are unmoved, like a ship under the curse of the albatross.

copyright m stanhope 2018