The Brantleys of Evesham may possibly be traced to Richard Brantley: “Edmund de Brugge, Richard Brantley, clerk, and Roberl Russell were lately seised of the manor of Wykewone next Evesham, in the county of Gloucester. This Edmund was probably he who was sheriff of Worcestershire, 38 Edw. III., who held the advowson of the church of Staunton-on-Wye in 1379. (50 miles from Evesham). If Richard Brantley was his incumbant, he was probably in some way related to his sponsor; the almost invariable practice.

The more known ancestry of the Evesham Brantleys is relatively sparse. The earliest parish registers are not extant; and most Brantley associations can only be estimated using notes made by the Evesham Historical Society in the 1960’s.

1. William Brantley, bailiff of Evesham (possibly, as ancestor). “After the death of sir Thomas, lady Russell of Strensham, appears (during the minority of the heir) to have actively prosecuted the same crusade against the local immunities of our predecessors. About the year 1576, she is accordingly introduced to our attention, as at that time despatching a very cavalier-like message to the steward of the leet, by the lips of one Andrews, her serving-man: whom, on this occasion, she classically addresses thus. “Andrews, thou shalt have the honour of picking old Hawkins of Evesham, to be one of the bailiffs of the town … This intimation, however, was not conveyed, without rousing the choler of the jurors of the court. Nor could their wrath be pacified and their consent secured, till after much plausible solicitation on the steward’s part. Then, these recreant champions (degenerate scions of the “Brantley” stock) (upheld) “their ancient customs” upon the altar of an imperious female’s will. The required name was consequently included in their list of six; was picked by the steward; and the individual sworn a bailiff of the town”; ca. 1576. (George May, History of Evesham, p. 172, 1834). Worcestershire Taxes in the 1520s (Faraday) includes the name variation of Brontley.
1.1. Richard Brantley, bapt. 1551; Serjeant of the Mace for Evesham (20 mls fr. Gloucester; Gloucester 35 mls fr. Bristol).
1.1.1. William Brantley, bapt. 1580.
1.1.2. John Brantley, bapt. 1581.
1.1.3. Thomas Brantley, bapt. 1583.
1.2. Thomas Brantley, m. Christian Burley, in 1587; perhaps of the family of Bristol merchants. A Francis Burly was the headright of Robert Pitt, in IOW, in 1638.
1.2.1. Edward Brantley, d. inf.
1.2.2. Thomas Brantley, bapt. 1591.

1.3. Robert Brantley, alderman, m. Joan Goodrich, Oct. 16, 1589, in St. Mary, Cheltenham. (Cheltenham is ca. 15 mls fr. Evesham). He is mentioned in a court leet in an action brought by Sir Edward Hoby, temp. Eliz. 1. (N.A., E 134/MISC/2506). Robert Brantley had evidently m. into the Goodrich family of Ham. ‘John Goodrich had issue Giles (of age in 1494), Robert, Richard, John and William. Giles the eldest sonn had issue onlie a daughter and dyed before his father, and soe because noe land was conveyed to the said Giles, the land descended to Robert the next sonn, whoe sould the mannor of Ham to Thomas Packer. This John Goodrich dyed in St Oswells parish in the Cittye of Gloustr about the yere 1545, and in the said parish Church was buryed. Robert the second sonn dyed allso in the said parish, and was (as I thinck) there buryed – but questionless he dyed and was buryed in the Citty of Gloustr about the yere 1580: and had issue William who dyed withowte issue, and soe the lands came to Richard his next sonn: he had also issue John & Edward’ (Alexander Packer’s notes). The manor of Ham was a parcel of the manor of Cheltenham, and was granted to Robert Goodrich; by 1574 Robert and Edith Goodrich were in possession and Thomas Packer agreed to pay £400 for the property, described in 1576 as the ‘Farme of Hame’. Cheltenham. Court baron, William Norwood esq. farmer of the king, held there in January 1609 a suit of court by John Stubbe, deputy to Henry Norwood esq. chief steward. Manorial records for 1610 mention Michael Goodriche and Edmund Gooderich; and, on Sept. 8, 1610, before Henry Norwood esq. a record was made if the death of “Elianor Gooderich relict of Walter Gooderich late tenant in base tenure of 2 messuages with appurtenances lying in Ham in Charlton Kings has died since the last court, upon which there falls to the lord heriot of best beasts, namely 2 cows price £6. Edward Gooderich being of full age is their younger son and next heir. Proclamation is made, Edward seeks admission as tenant in base tenure with customary rent and heriot, and gives to the lord fine of 40s. 2d., being twice the yearly rent; is admitted. For enrolment, 4d.” (f. 73v). At a court held before William Norwood in 1604, “the heirs of Thomas Goodrich” are mentioned, as well as a “Richard Gotheridge”.

I suggest that John Goodrich Sr., of Virginia, was of this family, and that he m. a sister of Robert Flake, a factor of Bristol tobacco merchants.
His son and namesake m. Anne Bechinoe, dau. of Edward Bechinoe (whose family held property in Henbury, Bristol); who appraised the Will of Edward Harris, d. 1677. His son, John Goodrich, m. Ann Cripps, dau. of George Cripps, and former wife of Francis England. Katherine Moore, sister of George Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake, aforesaid. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. George Moore’s dau., Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. They had issue Thomas and John White, brothers of Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

(1. William Norwood.
1.1. Henry Norwood.
1.2. Richard Norwood.
1.2.1. William Norwood.
1.2.1.1. Lydia Norwood, m. John Sowerby, son of Francis and Katherine Sowerby, br. of Elizabeth Sowerby, m. to Richard Rose, having issue: Thomas and Ann Rose. (Bartholomew Owen acted on their behalf). John Sowerby’s Will, prob. July 19, 1727, mentions dau. Sarah Owen; that is, Sarah Sowerby, wife of John Owen, grandson of Bartholomew. John’s father, Robert Owen, m. (2) Hannah, widow of Bartholomew Vigors (a common enough West Country name), whose Will (1699) was witnessed by Thomas Blunt (B. 5, p. 198); who m. (1) a dau. of Henry Briggs;(2) Priscilla Browne (dau. of Henry Browne), who m. (2) William Thomas, of Surry.

This at first glance might seem to be another example of repeated associations between families that confuses more than clarifies the basis of their relationships. However, such relationships are quite evident., being those of an English kinship group, in which repeated intermarriages (and consequent business associations) between the same families occurred from one generation to the next.

The simple key to these associations is that Priscilla Browne’s sister, Jane, was the wife of Robert Spencer (neighbour of Edward Petway, whose dogs were noted as having attacked Spencer’s hogs); “friend” of Thomas Harris, d. 1672; cousin of the very influential Bennett family, around which all others jostled for position. Barholomew Owen was almost certainly their kin through his family and the Bennetts both marrying into the Bearde (Berd/Burde) family of Wiveliscombe. The Rose family were likely they intermarried with the Hodges family of Wedmore, from which Hodges Council, of Virginia. Bartholomew’s father, William, was very likely the nephew of Robert Owen, of Bristol, d. 1615, as suggested in previous notes – the Rice Davis/Hodges/Pitt connection.

The “Rosetta Stone” of understanding this kinship group is to find the Bennett connection, then untangle the knot from that starting position.

1.2.1.1. Richard Norwood – appraisal by Edward Brantley, Oct. 25, 1731).

1.3.1. Richard Brantley, bapt. 1592. For the purpose of speculation –
1.3.1.1. John Brantley. “During the Heat of this Persecution (against Quakers) at Worcester, the Mayor and other Magistrates of the Borough of Evesham proceeded with like Severity, for on the 16th of the Month called January 1660, Joshua Frensham, Edward Pitway the Elder, and James Wall, were taken out of their own Houses, and for refusing to Swear, committed to Prison; as were on the next Day twenty others, who were taken at a Meeting there, (inc. John Tandy, Joseph Tandy) … On the 20th of the same Month were taken out of the Meeting at Evesham forty five Persons, and by the Mayor and Recorder committed to Prison (inc. Francis Pitway, Joane Tandy, Anne Brantly, Edward Pitway jun., and Elizabeth Pitway … And on the 27th, the following fourteen were taken out of a Meeting, and also committed, (inc. Anne Brantly, Francis Pitway, Elizabeth Pitway, Margaret Tandy). (Joseph Besse, A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers, v. ii., p. 62, 1752).

Edward Pitway the Elder was a magistrate, and is witnessed here: Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Worcestershire) Recognizance before William Warmstry by John Tomlin: of Shipston upon Stower Yeoman. Edward Pitway of the same Victualler 28 April 1631 vouched for John Tomlins appearance. The husband of Ann Brantley was John Brantly: Boswood v Horne. Plaintiffs: John Boswood. Defendants: John Horne, Elizabeth Horne his wife, Robert Francklyn, John Brantly and Edward Field. Subject: personal estate of the deceased Robert Tandy, of Worcestershire. 1657. (N.A., C 6/137/7). Will of Robert Tandy, Glover of Evesham, Worcestershire, PROB 11/263/499, April 29, 1657.

(1. John Fiveash, m. Joyce Pettway (dau. of Edward Petway, as Will Jan. 27, 1686, and Elizabeth); he almost certainly “Edward Pitway jun.” of Evesham, husband of Elizabeth Petway, associated with the Brantleys of that place. Joyce Pettway was the sister of Elizabeth Petway, wife of Samuel Judkins; their issue being John Judkins, father of Sarah Barham (Bennett/Harris connection) and Ann Moring, wife of Henry Moring, who was likely of the family of John Moring, who made the appraisal of Bartholomew Owen’s estate on Feb. 14, 1677.
1.1. Thomas Fiveash, d. 1725; his will was witnessed by James Pyland, of Bristol.
1.2. Peter Fiveash, appraisal April 28, 1702 by William Thomas, John Brantley (son of Edward), and Richard Hardy. Thomas Harris, Will recorded Nov. 13, 1672, security given by the said Edward Brantley.
1.2.1. Thomas Fiveash, m. (1712) Alice Harris, da. of John Harris. (B. 7, p. 288), the son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).

1.3.1.2. Edward Brantley, headright of John Seward (ship-master/merchant, of Bristol, with estates in Somerset), IOW, 1638. Joseph Bridger’s Will was probated May 8, 1686, and bequested 850 ac. formerly belonging to Capt. Upton and 300 ac. formerly to Mr. Seward. The location of this land is identified in the Will of his son, William Bridger, recorded March 9, 1705, 170 ac. in the Upper Parish between the land of Thomas Tooke (Bennett/Harris connection), Francis England, and Thomas Blake (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672, whose sons inherited adjacent land), and Edward Brantley. (B. 2, p. 73).

The land had been that of Robert Flake.

On August 20, 1650 Robert Flake and Samuel Eldridge received a land grant in IOW of 560 ac. for transporting 11 persons. Samuel Eldridge and Richard Corsey were headrights of Justinian Cooper. On Aug. 20, 1650, Samuel Eldridge and Robert Blake (cousin of the Harris family) had a grant of 560 ac. in IOW. The Will of Richard Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, was witnessed by Thomas Moore, who named son-in-law William Seward, grandson of John Seward. John Goodrich, aforesaid, appraised the Will of Richard Corsey. The Will of Francis Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, was witnessed by George Moore. James Bennett (kinsman of the aforementioned Harris) was mentioned as “godson” in the will of Joyce Cripps, wife of George Cripps. and former wife of Francis England. I have previously given the long-standing relationship between the Moores and Elbridges of Bristol.

John Seward’s dau., Margaret (Seward) Edwards, m. John Edwards, Jan. 28, 1633, in Temple Church, Bristol. Alice Edwards, was a headright of John Seward in 1648 (IOW). The Will of Mary Pitt “of the parish of St. Thomas within the city of Bristol, widow”, proved Nov. 25, 1634, bequested to her grandchild, the said “John Edwards a silver beer bowl”. (His br., William Edwards, also received a bequest). March 2, 1661: Thomas Alcocke acknowledged receipt of 2,000 lbs of tobacco from Luke Mizell*, due by a bill to Wm. Edwards in 1660, who assigned the note to Alcocke, which is “claime to bee lost otherwise the sd. Mizell should have it delivered in” (B. 1, p. 184). Mary Pitt was Mary Owen: William Pitt was married to Mary Owen, sister of Robert Owen, aforsaid, “of the city of Bristol, merchant, now bound on a voyage into the parts beyond the seas”, his Will proved Feb. 16, 1615.

The Edwards brothers may have bee related to Thomas Edwards: James Pyland, baptised Aug. 30, 1604 in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, married the widow of Thomas Greenwood, who next married Thomas Edwards, who claimed Greenwood’s land, and sold 150 ac. of it to John Jennings (overseer of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). March 4, 1674. Witness, John Davis (to whom was owed money by the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677). Thomas Greenwood, 150 acres July 28, 1641. Upon a branch of Seward’s Creek adj. John Seaward and John Upton.* Due for his own per. adv. and for trans. of Mary, his wife and Dorothy Greenwood. *His headright was Christopher Lewis, associated with *Luke Mizell and Bartholomew Owen. Again, the Bennett thread.

Edward Brantley had connections to the Moore family of Bristol:

June 21, 1665. Samuel Eldridge. Dying intestate, adm requested by Thomas Moore who m. the relict. Security George Moore and Mr Brantlie. (AP,10). George Moore, of Bristol, aged 78 in 1710, m. Jane Barcroft, dau. of Charles Barcroft, whose family held land in Chard, alongside the Burridge and Cogan families. (Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, transported Charles Barcroft, IOW, 1650). The Moore’s sister, Katherine Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. George Moore’s dau., Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. They had issue Thomas and John White, brothers of Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

Thus, Edward Brantley had connections to Thomas Harris, d. 1688. He was similarly connected to Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and Edward Harris, d. 1677. Thomas Greenwood’s Will (whose relict m. James Pyland), was witnessed by Joseph Bridger, John Davis (the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, owed him money); John George, and Nicholas Hill, witness to the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672 (with Edward Brantley). Nicholas Hill was a kinsman of the Harris family, having m. a Bennett cousin. The estate of Edward Brantley’s son, John, was appraised by James Pyland Jr., Apr. 26, 1725. (G.B, p. 180).

John Brantley’s brother, Phillip, m. Joyce Lewis, dau. of Thomas Lewis and Rebecca Pardoe, half-sister of Phillip Pardoe Sr: Phillip Pardoe, appraisal by John Brantley, John Fiveash and Richard Gray; March 27, 1721. (G.B. p.71).

(1. Richard Bennett, d. 1709. (Cousin of the Harris family).
1.1. Richard Bennett.
1.1.1. William Bennett, m. Mary Hardy, dau. of George Hardy, and sister of Martha Hardy, wife of Edward Harris, d. 1677.
1.1.1.1. Ann Bennett, a beneficiary in the Will of Mathew Fones (1704), witnessed by Philip Pardoe, who witnessed the Will of Martha, wife of Edward Harris. Mathew Fones witnessed the Will of George Hardy (1704). Philip Pardoe’s wife was Jane George, dau. of John (his will was witnessed by Edward Bechinoe (who witnessed the Will of Edward Harris, d. 1677), and almost certainly related to the second wife of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Their dau., Joyce Pardoe, m. Phillip Brantley, br. of John).

I suggest that Edward Brantley was a grandson of Robert Brantley, alderman, who m. Joan Goodrich, Oct. 16, 1589, in St. Mary, Cheltenham.

Thus, he was a close kinsman of John Goodrich, who, to repeat (for it bears it), m. a sister of Robert Flake. His son and namesake m. Anne Bechinoe, dau. of Edward Bechinoe (whose family held property in Henbury, Bristol); who appraised the Will of Edward Harris, d. 1677. His son, John Goodrich, m. Ann Cripps, dau. of George Cripps, and former wife of Francis England. Katherine Moore, sister of George Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake, aforesaid. (By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps). George Moore’s dau., Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. They had issue Thomas and John White, brothers of Avis White, who m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

This would explain the Brantley family’s deep and continuous association with the Bennett/Harris kinship group.

There is, of course, no proof of this; no references to make this suggestion more ‘academic’ in what passes for acadaemia these days. Yet, by way of comparison, this perspective is like being lost in a dense forest of many trees, with no signposts to show a way out, so, without them, the lost traveller walks around in endless circles, without escape. The great irony of this is that those we study would have “followed their nose”, and gone the obvious route. When we lose sight of intuition (and do not take into account the ‘social pathways’ of the English kinship system), we become less human, I think.

copyright m stanhope 2018