Thomas Joyner, who died in 1694, in Virginia, was highly likely to have been born in the London area of England,and have been of a prosperous land-owning family of Dorchester-on-Thames, Berkshire; the son of a Thomas Joyner, an attorney in the Edward Robins/Edward Bennett business partnership.

In this regard, it is simply not feasible that the often mooted origins of Thomas Joyner – the 16 year old immigrant of 1635 – are compatible with the importance of the position he held, and the degree and length of education it required.

This Thomas Joyner was probably the son of the attorney, who sailed from London to Virginia in 1635, as assistant to his father, on a ship named the “Dorst”. This resulted in the speculation that he was of a Dorsetshire family, albeit, in the vernacular of his time, the name Dorchester (on-Thames) was often synonomous with Dorsetshire, and “Dorst” was a contraction of the former, a town near Oxford, and 50 miles from london.

The Joyner family were related to that of Prowse, and, through them, to the family of Edward Robins. It was the norm of centuries of English life for families to have familial connection to their neighbours and to those with whom they conducted business. When it is supposed that the early colonists of Virginia entered into haphazhard relationships with strangers, such is based on an ignorance of the colonists, and on a lack of research of English records over the previous 100 years or so.

1. Roger Giffard of Tiverton Castle, d. 1603, m. (3), in 1580, Richarda, dau. of John Prowse, of Tiverton,* and relict of Mr. Walrond of that place. Prowse v Trelawny. Plaintiffs: Richard Prowse.* Defendants: Sir John Trelawny, George Puddington and William London. Subject: property in Tiverton, Devon. 1637. (N.A., C 6/139/162).

This George Puddington was probably the son of a namesake, as recorded here: Lease for 99 years. 1. George Puddington, shoemaker, Tiverton. 2. Thomas Cornishe, Tiverton. Rent: 1 wheat corn annually, if requested. Feb. 17, 1618. (Devon Archives, 213 M/T/282). The ‘easy terms’ of this lease suggest a familial relationship between these families. The younger George Puddington m. the relict of Edward Robins,  who had m. Jane Cornishe, on April 21, 1630, in Cullompton, Devon; the niece of Prudence Cornishe, who m. John Goddard, on April 27, 1594; he of the family of James Goddard, of Wellington, Somerset, as follows.

Edward Robins and Christopher Joyner witnessed the memorandum of in 1639 of “Thomas Cely of London merchant” concerning the debts of Thomas Elgar (“Joane Dennis, his mother”), p. 79.

Joyner v Bird. Plaintiffs: Christopher Joyner. Defendants: William Bird and Gerrard Scott. Subject: property in Cheapside, London. 1659. (N.A., C 8/311/82). This is likely to be the William Bird bapt. June 17, 1622, at All Hallows, Barking, London (who m. a dau. of Thomas Grendon); Virginia representative of the London merchants, John Sadler and Thomas Quiney.

Joyner v Joyner. Plaintiffs: Thomas Joyner. Defendants: Christopher Joyner. Subject: property in St Olave Southwark (Edward Bennett’s London parish), St Mary Newington, Surrey, St Clement Danes, Middlesex and Remenham, Berkshire (17 mls. fr. Long Wittenham). 1681. (N.A., C 8/248/39).

Pettit v Joyner. Plaintiffs: Clement Pettit. Defendants: Christopher Joyner, … Gwynne and another. Place or subject: money, Middlesex. 1682.(N.A., C 7/591/117). (Francis Pettit described himself as “brother” of Obediance Robins (Edward’s brother), in 1636.

Prowse v Joyner. Plaintiffs: Richard Prowse. Defendants: Thomas Joyner (Sr. – M.S) and Thomas Joyner (his son – M.S). Subject: personal estate of the deceased William Joyner of Long Wittenham, Berkshire. 1655 (N.A., C 5/22/104), father-in-law of James  Prouse, and “kinsman” of Christopher and Thomas Joyner, as per his Will, as follows.

Prowse v Joyner. Plaintiffs: Richard Prowse. Defendants: Thomas Joyner, Elizabeth Ratleife widow and Mary Joyner. Subject: personal estate of the deceased William Joyner, of Long Wittenham, Berkshire. 1657. (N.A., C 6/149/41).

Joyner v Jennings. Plaintiffs: Mary Joyner. Defendants: Richard Prowse, … Jennings and other. Place or subject: property in Long Wittenham, Berkshire. 1658. (N.A., C 7/467/125).

1. *John Prowse, of Tiverton, m. Alice White.
2. Richard Prowse, of Tiverton.
3. “Richard Prowse, merchant, apprentice of John Crocker, merchant”. Deed of Confirmation. (1) John Tuckfylde of Crediton, gent. (2) John West, Mayor of Tiverton. Richard Hill, Richard Prowse, the elder, Humfey Colman, Edward Amye, John Blundell, John Cogan, John French, James Osmond, Richard Ascott, and Ellys Bennett. 1618. (Devon Arch., Z1/34/1/18).
4. “Prowse, John (Prouze) born in Devon, s. Richard, of London, “Mercatoris gen.” Exeter Coll., matric. 9 March, 1626-7, aged 18; B.A. 3 June, 1630. (Alumni Oxonienses).
4. “Prowse, George s. Richard, of Tiverton, Devon, gent. Wadham Coll., matric. 20 Oct., 1629, aged 20; B.A. 9 Feb., 1631-2; M.A. from Hart Hall 11 Nov., 1634; vicar of Ashburton, Devon, 1662. See Foster’s Index Eccl. (ibid.).
4. “Prowse, James (Prouse) B.A. from Gloucester Hall 14 March, 1643-4. (ibid.). Prowse v Read. Plaintiffs: James Prowse. Defendants: Thomas Read, Elizabeth Lawrence widow and Thomas Harford. Subject: property in Long Wittenham. 1663. (N.A., C 6/49/61). James Prowse m. a dau. of William Joyner of Long Wittenham.
4. “Prowse, Joseph (Prouze) s. Richard, of Crediton, Devon, gent. Exeter Coll., matric. 6 Dec., 1639, aged 15” (ibid.). He m. Frances Keate, dau. of Francis Keate, son of Edward Keate, who gave his holding in Long Wittenham to a daughter. (Barbara Todd, John Chartres, David Hey, eds., English Rural Society, 1500-1800: Essays in Honour of Joan Thirsk, p. 198, 1990).
5. “Prowse, Francis (Prouze) s. Jos., of Crediton, Devon, gent. New Coll., matric. Aug. 12,1669, aged 19; B.C.L. 1676”. (ibid.).

William Prowse was vicar of Long Wittenham from 1617 until 1644; perhaps the William (cousin of “Richard Prowse merchant”), son of Richard Prowse, Mayor of Exeter, and br. of John Prowse, Mayor of Exeter, in 1620, whose son, Richard, m. Honor, dau. of Nicholas Turberville, of Crediton.

Edward Keate’s br., Ralph, of Whaddon, Wiltshire, m. Ann, dau. of John Clarke, esq., of Ardington, Berkshire, and had issue: Gilbert Keate, esq., of London, who m. Joan, dau. of the said Nicholas Turberville.

Gilbert Keate’s br. is witnessed here: Keate v Inhabitants of Hinton. Plaintiffs: William Keate, gent of Little Hinton, Wiltshire. Defendants: Robert Whipp, gent, William Heath, Edward Loveday, Thomas Joyner (Sr. – M.S), etc. … all inhabitants of West Hinton, Wiltshire. 1638. (N.A., C 2/ChasI/K22/55). Throughout most of the 16th century the Walrond family were farmers of Little Hinton at a rent of £12 6s. 8d. yearly. (Mun. D. & C. Winton., acct. roll).

As given, the Prowse and Walrond families were of familial association, as the Prowse and Keates. This association probably accounts for Thomas Joyner’s association with Wiltshire: Certificate of residence showing Thomas Joyner to be liable for taxation in Berks., and not in the hundred of Alderbury, Wiltshire, the previous area of tax liability. 1629. (N.A., E 115/230/54). Certificate of residence showing Thomas Joyner to be liable for taxation in Berks., and not in the half-hundred of Branch and Dole, Wiltshire, the previous area of tax liability. 1626. (N.A., E 115/230/111).

The said William Joyner was also known as William Lyde. His widow, “Joane Lyde alias Joyner”, of Long Wittenham, Berkshire, left a Will proved Nov. 20, 1651. He was the son of “William Lyde (correct transc.) alias Joyner, Gentleman of Long Wittenham, Berkshire”, Will probated April 21, 1621; whose family are detailed thus:

“By 1546 Cuddesdon manor was in the hands of the Crown, and being farmed by John Egerley, royal bailiff of ‘Cuddesdon lordship’. (L. & P. Hen. VIII, xxi (1), p. 770.) Soon after it came into the hands of Robert Lyde or Joyner of Dorchester.

In a Chancery suit heard some time between 1558 and 1579, Lyde was declared to have been seised before his death of the manor and 500 acres of pasture and meadow; these were later alleged to be worth £200 a year. (N.A, C 3/100/22; C 2 Jas. I, B 1/20).

Robert made his will in 1557, leaving the manor, with various annuities, chargeable on the estate, to a younger son Richard. Robert’s brother-in-law, Luke Bewforrest, and John Smyth were made executors and were to occupy Cuddesdon farm for six years. (N.A.,C 3/219/33). … Richard Joyner became involved in a lawsuit against Bewforrest over the ‘site’ of Cuddesdon. His brother Robert Joyner also went to law over the estate, (N.A., C 3/100/22), and five other relatives contested their legacies.

Richard died in 1613 seised of ‘a site and capital messuage’ and about 620 acres of land, leaving the property, apparently mortgaged, to his son Richard. He seems to have foreseen difficulties, for in his will (proved 1614) he left his elder son Francis a legacy of £30, which was to cease should he molest Richard in any way over the lands granted to him.

Francis at one stage had possession of a third of the manor, but in the end the Joyner brothers sold the property for £6,000 to William Child, a public notary of London, who had married into their family”. (See ‘Parishes: Cuddesdon’, in A History of the County of Oxford: vol. 5, Bullingdon Hundred, ed. Mary D. Lobel (London, 1957), pp. 96-11).

1. Robert Lyde or Joyner of Dorchester, b. ca. 1515.
2. William Lyde alias Joyner of Dorchester, b, ca, 1540, m. Dorcas, dau. Leonard Perrot and Dorothy Skipwith, dau. of Thomas Skipwith of St. Albans. Leonard Perrot, clerk of Magdalen College, was of Drayon, Oxfordshire, by 1575. Arms: Gules, three pears or, on a chief argent a demi-lion rampant issuant sable, a mullet charged with a crescent for a difference (Perrott), impaling, Quarterly of eight: 1 and 8: Gules, three bars or, in chief a greyhound courant of the second (Skipwith); 2: On a chevron cotised three lions rampant (untinctured); 3: Paly of six within a bordure engrailed, over all on a canton a spur (untinctured) (Knight); 4. Quarterly per fess danoettée, argent and sable, in the first and fourth quarters a bugle horn of the second (Forster); 5. Azure, three peacocks’ heads erazed argent; 6. Gules, on a fess or three fleurs-de-lys azure (Crawley); 7. Gules, a lion rampant within a bordure engrailed or, over a canton of the last. Crest: On a wreath, argent and gules, a parrot vert, holding a pear or, slipped and leaved proper, charged with a mullett and crescent as in the arms for a difference. (Oxf. Vis., 1574).
3. William Joyner, alias Lyde, of Horsepath, Oxfordshire, d. 1626.
2. Robert Joyner, b. ca. 1545.
2. Richard Joyner, b. ca. 1545, d. 1613. “Richard Lyde alias Joyner, Gentleman of Cuddesden, Oxfordshire”, whose Will was probated Feb. 1, 1614.
3. Francis Joyner, b. ca. 1575.
3. Richard Joyner, b. ca. 1575. Lyde v Calton. Plaintiffs: Richard Lyde alias Richard Joyner of Abingdon. Defendants: Paul Calton, esq, Francis Dunsden, and others. Subject: Assaults and destruction of enclosures and trees at Moore Farm in Milton, Berkshire. 1623. (STAC 8/204/30).

Abingdon is 4 mls fr. Long Wittenham, which is 6 mls fr. Cuddesden. “Richard Lyde alias Richard Joyner of Abingdon” was decease in 1652 (then being of Long Combe, Oxfordshire, 14 mls fr. Abingdon), when his estate was contested by his son, “John Lyde alias John Joyner”. (N.A, C 9/18/68). Lyde v Harvey. Plaintiffs: John Lyde (alias John Joyner). Defendants: William Harvey, Robert Harvey, Rebecca Child widow, Rebecca Gardiner widow and Martin Gardiner. Subject: manor of Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire. 1656. (N.A., C 6/132/117). Cuddesden was a part and parcel of the monastery of Abingdon (Berks).

3. William Joyner, armiger, of Long Wittenham, Will probated April 21, 1621; m. Joan … son Edward – one quarter – son William, exec. – one quarter… dau. Agness, wife of John Goddard – one quarter … dau. Elizabeth, wife of Christopher Ratliffe – one quarter … wife Joan, ‘for life of wife’ bequests

Will of Joane Lyde alias Joyner, Widow of Long Wittenham, Berkshire, probated November 20, 1651. Robert, eldest son … dau. Ellinor, wife of Richard Jennings … my son John, his dau Ellinor … my son David, his son Charles … Youngest son William, executor.

4. William Joyner, of Long Wittenham, Will probated Aug. 10, 1654, naming a chief beneficiary his ” son-in-law James Prowse”, on condition of paying “Christopher Joyner “my kinsman of the city of london £100 of lawfull money of England”, out of a “life sum of £1000 due unto him … and his heirs and assignes … bequeaths to his “Goddaughter Mary Joyner, daughter of my brother Richard” … also I bequeath unto my kinsman Thomas Joyner gentleman £40 of lawfull money of England … “Also I give and bequeath unto my son in law William Prowse” … bequeathes to sister, Elizabeth Ratliffe … wife of Mr. Ratliffe of Oxford… To my loving wife estate etc. … “sister Jennens wife of Edward Jennens 20s to buy ring”.

3. Thomas Joyner Sr.
4. Thomas Joyner Jr., d. in Virginia. To repeat: Prowse v Joyner. Plaintiffs: Richard Prowse. Defendants: Thomas Joyner and Thomas Joyner. Subject: personal estate of the deceased William Joyner of Long Wittenham, Berkshire. 1655. (N.A., C 5/22/104).
3. Christopher Joyner.
4. Christopher Joyner.

Prowse cont.
2. Richarda Prowse, m. Roger Giffard.
3. George Giffard of Tiverton, b. 1564 (by father’s first wife, Audria dau. of Sir Hugh Stukley), m. (1594), Joane (b. 1570), dau. of Thomas Hodges of Wedmore. Release of interest. 1. George Puddington; Thomas Puddington, both of Tiverton. 2. George Giffard, esq., Tiverton. Consideration: £35. Premises: messuage in Bolham, in possession of Edith Moore. Feb. 17, 1618. (Devon Archives. 213 M/T/247).

The Hodges connected many in Virginia – Thomas Hodge’s descendant, Hodges Counsell Jr., was the brother-in-law of Bridgman Joyner, son of Thomas Joyner Jr. The Hodges, and their n-laws, the Rodneys, owned much of Wedmore and adjacent Cheddar, and were landlords to such as Thomas Harris, born in 1637 in the latter place. 

4. Joanna Giffard, m. (1618), Gabriel Westover, in Taunton.
5. Jane Westover, m. William Williams, Nov. 25, 1647, in Boston, MA.
2. John Prowse, d. Sept. 11, 1598.
3. George Prowse, of Wellington, Somerset, m. Thomasine, dau. of James Goddard. James Goddard of Wellington, in the county of Somerset, yeoman. To be buried where it pleases exors. To the poor of Clayhidon (juxta Cullompton – MS) co. Devon, 10s. To Agnes my wife for life tenement in the tithing of Parye in Wellington … To Thomas Goddard, son of William Goddard my brother, deceased, £5 per annum. To James Goddard the younger, son of Nicholas Goddard my cousin of Hemyocke, co. Devon, £5 per annum … James, son of Robert Gullye 20s. Henry, James, William and John, children of Emmott Gulley my sister, deceased … Overseers: John Cade and Samuell Goddard. Proved May 19 1590 by exor. P.C.C. 29 Drury.
4. James Prowse, aet. 27, 1623, m. Elizabeth, dau. of George Paulet, of Gatehurst, Somerset, son of Amias Paulet, son of *Sir Hugh Pawlet, of Sampford-Peverel.
4. Elizabeth Prowse, m. Roger Robins. (A family of Robins were tenants of George Giffard and his wife, Joan Hodges: “George Giffard of Tiverton (Devon), Esq and Joane/Johan his wife; to Thomas Cox of Coston and Thomas Robins of Overweare in parish of Weare, yeomen: In cons. of £400. Messuages, lands, tenements, with woods, and commons in Overweare … now or late in several tenures etc of Thomas Robins; John Clement; Thomas Meades; Thomas Churchhouse; Peter Longe; Peter Huishe … Except a yearly rent of £5. 4. 7. payable to Cox and Robins on Hodges’ premises for term. Livery of seisin on August 5, 1611. (Bristol Archives, 21789/1). It is probable that a branch of Edward Robins (Northamptonshire) family were established in Devon (the primary reason for his association with that place), that branch being also established in Somerset.
2. Thomas Prowse, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Ralph Waldron, of Tiverton.
3. Roger Prowse, of Taunton, Somerset, m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Bond, of Taunton, the classics scholar.

The Joyner division of the Lyde/Joyners probably derived from this London family:
Richard Joyner, of London, grocer. 1486.  John Joyner, ironmonger, citizen of London. 1402.

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