(See THOMAS HARRIS 1637 – 1688).

The earliest notice which occurs of Wanswell Manor, Gloucestershire, is a licence granted in 1256 by the abbot and convent of the monastery of St. Augustine in Bristol, to Philip de Leicester, who then possessed it in right of his wife, Isabella de Wanswell.

From A brief historical account of the Manor of Wanswell, printed by A. Strahan, 1817: ‘Robert de Stone died 27. Ed. I. seized of Wanswell, leaving a son Thomas, who died about 15 Ed. II. leaving two daughters co-hereisses, one of them married Serjeant, to whom Stone was allotted as her portion; the other, Alice, being possessed of the manor of Wanswell, married John de Swonhonger. They had a son William de Swonhonger, who inherited this manor, as did his son Elias, who died 8 Ric. II. leaving a son John, who died without issue 22 Ric. II., whereby the manor of Wanswell descended to his nephew John Thorpe, a burgess of Bristol, son of Isabella his sister, who had married John Thorpe, also a citizen of Bristol’.

Thomas de Berkeleye, lord of Berkeley, and Thomas de Berkeleye, lord of Berkeley, and John de Swonhungre. Sept. 1, 10 Edw. II. Thomas has leased to John 48 a. 45 perches of land in various fields at Wanneswelle in enclosures, 3½ a. 10 perches of meadow in enclosures and 2 a. 22 perches of pasture in enclosures, which Thomas de Stone, recently deceased, held of Thomas by knight service in Hamme; to hold until the full age of the heir or heirs of Thomas, rent 6s. 8d. a year to Thomas, 26s. 8d. a year to Thomas’s daughter Isabel and 60s. a year to Thomas’s daughter Margaret. 1316. (BCM/A/1/24/191).

1. John Thorpe, burgess of Bristol, and Isabel his wife; and Richard Richard of Hinton by Berkeley and Joan his wife. Mon. before the Annunciation, 8 Hen. IV. John and Isabel have leased to Richard and Joan the field called Courtefelde, in Waneswelle by the road called Puttebroke, a croft called Prestefeld, a pasture called Oldefisshewere, beside Courtefelde, and 3 a. of meadow in le More; for their lives, rent 40s. a year. Witnesses: Thomas Stauntone, William Gilmyn, Robert Smyth of Pedington, John atte Hurne. March 21, 1407. (BCM/A/1/24/193).

(1. Wlliam de Albiniaco or Daubeny. At the time of his death, betw. 1267 and November, 1272, it was found by Inquisition that he held two carucates of land in Kingesholme, near Gloucester, by the service of guarding the door of the department of the King’s steward. The jury further found that John de Albaniaco, aged twenty years, was his next heir.
2. John de Albaniaco, noted in his inquisition to have d. March 31, 1304. John de Aubeny was his son and heir, aged eleven years, born in Hackendean, Kent, August 1, 1294. During his minority, the guardianship of his lands had been granted to Christina, widow of John de Montacute. his mother’s name was Isabel. In September, 1332, he obtained the King’s licence to convey his manor of Kyngesholme, near to Gloucester, in fee to Elias de Godeleye (of West-Perle, in the county of Southampton), his father-in-law, to hold to the use of himsel and Cecilia his wife, and their joint issue, with remainder to his right heirs. He died at the end of the year 1333. An Inquisition was taken at Hentone-Dabeney, in the county of Southampton, on 4th February following, when it was found that he was holding in fee of the King in chief, by the service of guarding the King’s larder on the day of his coronation. Elias de Albaniaco his son, of the age of 18 years at the feast of Michaelmas last past, was his next heir, born on 29th September, 1315.
3. Elias de Albaniaco; inquis. June 16,, 1381.
4. Elizabeth Giffard.
5. John Giffard. Inq. taken at Gloucester, Tuesday before St Gregory, 16 Richard II. The said John, who lately died while a minor in the king’s wardship, held the under-mentioned manor in his demesne as of fee tail by a gift and feoffment thereof lately made to John de Albiniaco and Cecily his wife, his ancestors, by Ellis Godleye. The said John and Cecily had issue Ellis their son and heir, who had issue Elizabeth his daughter and heir, mother of the said John the king’s ward. Kyngeshome by Gloucestre. The manor so called, held of the king in chief by knight’s service. The said John son of Elizabeth died on Monday after St Peter’s Chains, in the year aforesaid, without heir of his body. His next heirs are William Mattesdon Droys, son and heir of Maud daughter of the said John de Albiniaco and Cecily and sister of Ellis aforesaid, Eva wife of Simon Cadel, daughter and heir of Christina another sister of the said Maud and Ellis, Cecily Sage, another sister of the said Maud and Ellis, and John Swonhonger, son and heir of Isabel another sister of the said Maud and Ellis. Of these, William, Eva and Cecily are 40 years of age and more, and John Swonhonger is 18 years of age. (C. Ric. II File 75).
3. Isabel Daubeney, m. Elias (Ellis) Swonhonger, son of John de Swonhonger and Alice de Stone.
4. John de Swonhonger.
5. William de Swonhonger.
6. Elias de Swonhonger, ob. 1390, m. Joan, dau. of John Bill.
7. John de Swonhonger, died without issue 22 Ric. II., 1399.
6. Isabel de Swonhonger, m. John Thorpe).

2. John Thorpe, d. 1469, m. Margaret Toyt. John Thorpp has leased to John Wyth … 11 parcels of land containing 62 selions in the field called Walmegarstone; for their lives, rent 9s. 8d. a year. Witnesses: John Oldelond, Walter Toyt, Richard Ricard. 1429. (BCM/A/1/24/179). Pardon to Walter Toyt of Bradeston of the king’s suit for the death of William Higecok of Bradeston, whereof he is indicted or appealed, and of any consequent outlawry; as the king is informed that he killed’ him in self-defence. By p.s. 1371.

3. Richard Thorpe, m. Margaret Loffe. Richard possessed Wanswell and died seized of it 6 Henry VIII. William Berkeley, knight, lord of Berkeley, William Try of Hardwick, esquire, Walter Skay of Nibley, esquire, and Richard Thorpe of Wanswell, gentleman; and Henry Cote, citizen and goldsmith of London. Whereas William, William, Walter and Richard are bound to Henry in £56 13s. 4d. payable at Michaelmas, Henry wills that if they pay, in the parish church of St. Vedast in Faryndon ward in London, as follows, viz. at Michaelmas 5 marks, at Easter 5 marks, and so from feast to feast until the sum is fully paid, the bond will be void. 1476. (BCM/A/5/8/18).

4. Thomas Thorpe, died seized of Wanswell 35 Henry VIII., m. Alice Dastin. Lease for life from Thomas Thorpe of Wanswell in the parish of Berkeley, co. Glouc., gent., to John Ricardus of Wanswell, the elder, of a weir or stage for fishing in the river Severn. 1519. (Birmingham: Archives. MS 3549/52).

5. Thomas Thorpe, d. 1561, m. Margaret Throckmorton, dau. of William Throckmorton, and sister of Thomas, who m. Margaret Whittington; their dau., Ann, m. John Tracy.

6. Nicholas Thorpe, d. 1600, who in the first year of Queen Elizabeth, having attained the age of 21 years, sued out his livery, when in the valor sive eatentust annexed to the indenture of livery, the annual value of the manor of Wanswell, with its appurtenances in Wanswell and Hame, is stated to have been 14l. 7s. 8d. and to have been holden of the king as of his manor of Berkeley, by knight service. He m. Mary Wikes (alias Mason).

7 ‘George Thorpe, bap. 1 Jan. 1576, 1st s. of Nicholas Thorpe of Wanswell Court and his 1st w. Mary, da. of Christopher Wikes alias Mason, of Abingdon, Berks. educ. Staple Inn; M. Temple 1598; m. (1) July 11, 1600, Margaret, da. of Sir Thomas Porter of Newent, Glos., s.p.; (2) Feb. 21, 1611, Margaret (d. 1629), da. and h. of David Harris of Bristol, Glos. 2s. 1da; suc. fa. 1600. d. Mar. 1622. (No relation to the Harris, as follow).

Thorpe came from an undistinguished gentry family that had held Wanswell Court since 1402. In 1609, together with Arnold Oldisworth, he leased land recovered from the river Severn at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire from Robert Sidney. … The governor (of Virginia), Sir George Yeardley, described him as ‘a most sufficient gentleman, virtuous and wise, and one upon whose shoulders the … government of this whole colony would most fitly sit’. His plans to send for his family suggest that he intended to settle permanently. Principally concerned with evangelizing the Indians, he wrote to Sir Edwin Sandys on 15 May 1621: ‘I doubt God is displeased with us that we do not do as we ought to do, take his service along with us by our serious endeavours of converting the heathen that live round about us. … Scarce any man amongst us that doth so much as afford them a good thought in his heart … in my poor understanding if there be wrong on any side it is on ours, who are not so charitable to them as Christians ought to be’ (cit. Hist. Parl., Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris, 2010).

From Appendix of the 5th Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, 1876:

1616, July 14, Somer Islands. — Bryan Cave to Mr. Thorpe, one of the Adventurers for the Sommer Islands. Understanding that Thorpe was discouraged about his share and held back from supplying money until he heard the truth, Cave encourages him, and doubts not that if ho supplies plants and other necessaries, his commodities shall be greater. Their great enemies are the rats, which threaten the subversion of the plantation. The Governor, whose industry he praises, has given orders that the inhabitants shall work their confusion by poison and traps. In the margin is a snort note by Daniel Tucker to Thorpe, saying that not having leisure, he has got Cave to write; recommends Thorpe to send supplies to his land and provisions for two or three men, and says that to that effect he has written to the Countess of Bedford.
Mutual Covenants, between Sir William Throckmorton, Richard Berkeley, George Thorpe, John Smyth, and John Woodlefe; fo. 64.
Mutual Covenants, between Sir William Throckmorton, Richard Berkeley, George Thorpe, John Smyth, and John Woodlefe; fo. 64.
The Charter party with Mr. Williams of Bristol for the hire of his shipp; fo. 94.
The Certificate of Sir George Yardley of the arrival of our ship in Virginia; fo. 97.
The particular charges in a supply sent into Virginia in March 1619, in the ship from London wherein Mr. Thorpe went; fo. 98
The quadrupartite Articles of Agreement, between Mr. Berkeley, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Tracy, and Mr. Smyth; fo. 127.
Ferdinando Yate’s account of his voyage to Virginia in 1619. It is preceded by an address (in 2pp.) to George Thorpe, of Wanswell, Esq., and John Smith, of Nibly, Esq. The 16 day of September anno domini, 1619, he set sail in Kingrod in a bark of Bristol called the Margaret. — They made land on the 28 Nov. and landed at Keeketau in a good harbour on the 30 of Nov. The writer tells of nothing but the weather and the damages to the ship.
1620, Dec. 19. Southampton Hund. George Thorpe to John Smith, at North Nibley. Is busy examining witnesses concerning Captain Argoll. Will write more by the next [ship], against which time he hopes Captain Woodleefe’s tobacco will be ready.
1634, April 10. Inventory of the goods and estate of Capt. George Thorpe, deceased, appraised by three persons (named). They are valued at pounds of tobacco; total, 1.323J Ibs. (3 pp.)
1634, Aug. 14. Bristol. William Thorpe, son and heir of George Thorpe, to Mr. Taylor, asking him when he arrived in Virginia to enquire when George Thorpo died, what goods and servants ho had, who was then Governor, whether an inventory was taken, and what lands he had in Berkeley Town. (1 p.).

8 William Thorpe, d. 1666, m. Ursula, dau. of John Smyth, Esq. of Nibley.

7. John Thorpe m. (1) Sept. 15, 1592, in St Martin’s in the Field, Rebecca Greene.
8. Thomas Thorpe, b. ca. 1598.
9. Joseph Thorpe, Sr., m. Dorothy Fenn, dau. of Timothy Fenn and Elizabeth Kae, dau. of Robert Kae, of Bristol (atty. of Theoderic Bland, the kinsman of the wider family of Harris, through the Bennetts). (Fenn/Venn; a large family of which were settled in the vicinity of Cheddar, Somerset, almost certainly of that place was Thomas Harris, d. 1688, in Virginia. The Fenns/Venns intermarried with (a) the Day family, they with (1) the Thurstons, they with the Counsells, (2) the Pittmans (of Virginia); (b) the Tuttons; they with the Pittmans, Counsells, and Walls.
10. Ann Thorpe. Ann Harris, dau. of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, ‘to live with Ann Thorpe 7 years.
10. Timothy Thorpe Sr., d. bef. Oct. 13, 1763 in Southampton Co.
11. Timothy Thorpe Jr., m. Martha.
12. Mary Thorpe, m. James Barham, son of Charles Barham, son of Robert Barham and Elizabeth, dau. of John Clarke and Mary Flake, probable dau. of Robert Flake and Katherine Moore, aunt of Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White; their dau., Avis, m. John Harris, son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
11. Mary Thorpe, descendant of Wlliam de Albiniaco, m. (1) Edward Harris, son of Edward Harris and Mary Turner, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

7. John Thorpe m. (2) Margaret Ann Sherry, Sept. 16, 1605, in St Martin’s in the Field.
8. Otho Thorpe, of Virginia, bapt. Aug. 16, 1606, in St Martin’s in the Field, m. (1) Elizabeth Thorpe, relict of Richard Thorpe, kinsman. (2) Dorothy Fenn, probably Timothy Fenn’s sister. 

copyright m stanhope 2019

(See THOMAS HARRIS 1637 – 1688).

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