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This brief notice of some members of the Stanhope family is a precis of a larger work, which allows for a more concentrated view of the subject matter, and one which highlights a central theme – that the education of … Continue reading →

Several Harris researchers of long standing have asked me to re-calibrate my genealogical tables relating to the Harris family of Wiveliscombe and Virginia, to show a closer relationship between some branches than I have heretofore given. Their suggestion is as … Continue reading →

The following notes concern a group of English families that had intermarried over many successive generations, to a degree that the thread that ran through them was based on an intricate, and vast, network of various degrees of cousin. Put … Continue reading →

1. … 1.1. John Cutt, Mayor of Bristol in 1565-66, by will dated Jany. 10, 1571, bequeathed to his wife Joan, ” the manor and lordship of Burnett, co. Somersett”. (Rev. T. P. Wadley’s , Abstracts of Bristol Wills, 1886, … Continue reading →

Migration to early Virginia by English colonists of close kinship ties makes unraveling clear lines of descent almost impossible, as kin in Virginia continued to intermarry and conducted business within the same circle. A Harris family of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, provide … Continue reading →

Edward Brantley, who settled in Virginia in 1667, was of a well-to-do social circle, recorded here: Samuel Elbridge, merchant of Bristol. Dying intestate, adm. requested by Thomas Moore who m. the relict. Security: George Moore (first-cousin of Thomas Moore); and … Continue reading →

GREY OF ASKERSWELL, DORSET (A Grey of Virginia). 1. Walter Grey (Dr.), of Bridport, Dorset, d. 1612, m. Ann, dau. of Robert Williams, of Harrington. 1.1. Walter Grey, m. Mary, dau. of John Bonville, of Clopton in Belgrano, Somerset, ca. … Continue reading →

Some people like impressionism, with the works of such as Monet being dear to their heart; others like photographs, with the clearer the image portrayed, the more realistic it is to them; such is the genealogical choice: one, an overwhelming … Continue reading →

In many previous articles I have outlined the central importance of the English kinship system (and its feature of the repetition of marriages between the same families) in the settlement of early Virginia, and will not enhance on this here, … Continue reading →

It seems so long ago that I was studying research methodology to a high degree, which I never thought would be applied to genealogy. The result of this is exampled in these notes, concerning families of Holland, Wheeler, Irby, and … Continue reading →

To repeat from earlier notes, by way of placing families within their kinship group : The case for the ancestry of such Virginia settlers as Thomas Harris, d. 1672, Thomas Harris, d. 1688, and Thomas Harris, d. 1629/30, is made … Continue reading →

In any attempt to make sense of relationships between families of early Virginia settlers, it is important to understand their social norms – families had interm. in England for centuries and lived next to each other – norms that were … Continue reading →

1. Edmond Hooke. 1.1. John Hooke, bapt. March 5, 1582, Bridgwater, son of “Hooke alias Grave”. 1.2. William Hooke, m. Edith Henbury, Jan. 26, 1595, Bridgewater; sister of Thomas, who m. Alice Wythers, April 16, 1599. 1.2.1. Francis Hooke. 1.2.1.1. … Continue reading →

Richard Avery of Virginia was of Pitminster, Somerset, and his ‘circle’ in Virginia included those of the same area – the Flood family of Bridgewater, and the Rose family of Shepton Beauchamp. He was ‘transported’ from Bristol to Virginia in … Continue reading →

Close associations between English families were repeated in Virginia/Carolina. By this measure, the Kittrells of Virginia were Cottrells of Winford, Somerset, closely associated with a family of Godwin, of Bristol/ Nailsea. Winford is 6 miles from Bristol. Nailsea is 7 … Continue reading →

The armorial bearing claimed by the Tayloe family of Rosegill was alluded to in the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, vol. 11, 1903: Tayloe of Bisley: William Tayloe, Esq. of Chalford Bottom, Sheriff of Gloucester, 1742, same arms … Continue reading →

ST LAURENCE, LUDLOW 1. John Harris, of Cruckton, Shropshire, m. Eleanor, dau. Thomas Prowde, of Sutton, Shropshire. 1.1. Rowland Harris, d. 1605, of Ludlow, m. (Sept. 14, 1595) Jane Langford, bapt. Oct. 10, 1567. She m. (2) Edward Lewis of … Continue reading →

Saxon cild, which may be a title, “heir” (of a substantial family). As such, the surname Childe (and variants, Chiles, etc.), is of diverse origin. The name was often given a Norman/French variation – L’Enfant. A Shropshire strand can be … Continue reading →

I recently included a link on my blog for a song sung by Iris DeMent, and the response to this was strong, with one respondent saying that songs by Iris DeMent had provided her with much spiritual comfort over the … Continue reading →

The associations of Michael Holland of Goochland mirror those of Michael Holland of Pickthorne to such a degree that it is highly probable (by the underlying dynamic of the English kinship system – continuation of association), that the former descended … Continue reading →