Category Archives: Uncategorized

As I have stated many times, in the English kinship system of old, the benefits of an advantageous marriage were shared by cousins, and this complicates any determination of ancestry based on associations. Nevertheless, my view of the descent of … Continue reading →

Some ‘Harris researchers of old’ are of the opinion that Thomas Harris of Virginia, d. 1688, was of Mells/ Nunney, Somerset. (The Harris family of both adjacent places were synonomous, as given elsewhere). They claim that the closely (consanguineously) connected … Continue reading →

My view of the ancestry of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, is partly concerned with his likely knowing Hodges Counsell, of Wedmore, the guardian of his son, and the likely connection of his family to that of Branch, and, thus, Francis … Continue reading →

Just as someone can be described today as ‘Pete the carpenter’, in Norman times the sobriquet ‘dapifer’ hides true identity. What is known of the latter class is that they were almost invariably junior kinsmen of the lord they served. … Continue reading →

My view of the ancestry of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, is partly concerned with his likely knowing Hodges Counsell, of Wedmore, the guardian of his son, and the likely connection of his family to that of Branch, and, thus, Francis … Continue reading →

1. Thomas Harris of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494; landowner as tenant of Glastonbury Abbey. 1.1. John Harris, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells. 1.2. Anstice Harris, m. Robert Wolcott, 1569; their son, Robert Wolcott, m. Mary Storey, Jan. 25, … Continue reading →

Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope When considering Wace as a historian it is necessary to ask how much accuracy was contained within his rhymes. A general consensus is perhaps expressed by Elisabeth M. C. Van Houts (2004), who suggested: ‘As a historian, … Continue reading →

I suggest, as others have, that there were various men named William Underwood in Virginia. The following notice gives account of two of them, and their intersection with the Catlett family of Kent. On one level, they were connected previously; … Continue reading →

Over and above the enduring ties of familial kinship, a kinship of spirit existed, and various English  kinship groups found their paths crossing as they chased the opportunities afforded by the opening of new colonial territories. Two such groups “connected” … Continue reading →

Many of the West Country trading classes and yeomanry embraced the Puritan doctrine; an attractive attitude of mind to those who worked hard and were frugal with money, something God approved of, such was the claim. He certainly did not … Continue reading →

1121. “Anno ab incarnatione Domini millesimo centesimo vicesimo primo Willelmus Malet dedit Deo et Sancte Marie Becci Contevillam, ita quietam et integram sicuti eam tenuerunt ipse et antecessors ejus, et hoc pro salute anime sue et omnium parentum suorum. Et … Continue reading →

For many settlers of early Virginia it will never be possible to trace their English origin to a parish register entry, such as Thomas Pittman are the exception to this rule, and what is left is the recourse t0 the … Continue reading →

1. Thomas Hodges. 1.1. Thomas Hodges, d. 1583, of Wedmore, Somerset. The Will of Giles Hodges, of Middle Chinnocke, Somerset, gent, was proved Aug. 7, 1591, by Alice the relict. (61 Barber), mentions “Thomas, son of Thomas Hodges, my brother, … Continue reading →

Edward Rogers, claimed headright of Thomas Bulmer, 1636, in Warrasquinoake. Margaret Rogers, claimed headright of Thomas Bulmer, 1637, in New Norfolk. Edward Rogers came to Virginia in 1623, on “the Anne”, with William Gallaway. Rogers, Edward: Leg.- *Anne Mathews (his … Continue reading →

Any genealogy of the Norman dukes and their associates is rather like peering at a stone wall which has most of the stones missing. They have been replaced by conjecture, from the early Norman chroniclers to Victorian antiquaries. References are … Continue reading →

It seems so long ago, a vast amount of thorough research into a titled family of Harris of Essex, led by luminary Harris researchers, that has moved on to the misty Somerset marshes, peopled by a hardy race of cow-herding, … Continue reading →

A Harris researcher of old has asked me to outline a Harris family of Hemington, given its links to Virginia: John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, held land in Somerset at Hemington, which is 4 miles fom Mells/Nunney, … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

From the swampy lands of Somerset, kinship groups set forth to Virginia, surviving through joint effort, as of centuries past. The following notes give some indication of Welsh families with connections to Somerset and Virginia. 1. John Proctor, m. Alice … Continue reading →

If an aspiring yeoman family could not intermarry with with their lords, an alternative was to intermarry into the families of their lord’s cousins. From shaddow to the desired summit. 1. 1.1. Roger Hill, of Taunton, Somerset, Merchant. Will proved … Continue reading →