Walter FitzGilbert de Hamilton

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 Apr. 8, 1546, by Margery the relict. (7 Alen). To the High Awter in Mawdelyn Church, 20/. Bequest for divers religious services. To an honest priest to sing for my soul for 20 years, for every year L5. In alms, L100. To Alice my daughter, L100 at 21 or marriage. My sons William & Robert. My daughter Margaret. My daughter Jone, that was at Buckland, 40/. My eldest son, John Hill. Alexander Togwell, my son in law, a pack of wre cloths. Residue to Margery my wife. William Portman, Exq’r, & Alexander Togwell, Overseers, L4 each. My wife to be Extrix, & if she refuse, then William, Robert, Marg’t, & Alexander, my four children, to be Exors, & my wife then to have L500.

Margaretv Hill, of Taunton, Somerset, widow. Will proved Feb. 14, 1550, by the Exors. [5 Bucke.] To be buried in S’t Mary Magdalen, Taunton, near my husband. My son William Hill’s three children. The three children of Alex. Togwell. My god-daughter Mary Portman, & to Henry Portman, L3. 6. 8 each. To my son in law, John Whyt, L3. 6. 8. To Sir John Hill & his sister Joan Hill, 10/ each. My apparell between my four daughters. My late husband, Roger Hill, “whose soul Jesu pardon,” by his last will constituted me his Extrix. Residue to my son Robert Hill, Exor. Sir William Portman, kn’t, my son William Hill, & Alexander Togwell, my son in law, Overseers. To John Cuffe & Will. Halley, 20/ each.

1.1.1. William Hill, of Poundsford, Somerset, Esq’r. Will proved Apr. 20, 1594, by Roger Hill. [31 Dixy.] My daughter Ellinor Hill, 200 marks. My daughter Luce Lawrence, L100. My son Gabriel Hill, 100 marks. My son John Hill, L100. Tho’s Hill, L20. Benjamin Hill, L40. My son Alexander2. Residue to my son Roger Hill, Exor. M’r John Colles, & my son Alexander, Overseers.
1.1.1.1. Roger Hill, of Poundsford, Somerset, gent. Will proved May 24, 1609, by W’m Hill. [42 Dorset.] To be buried at Pitminster. My father, William Hill, dec’d. My wife Mary, an annuity of L30, & to have rooms in my dwelling house at Poundsford. My son Roger Hill. My son John Hill, under 21. My daughters, Ann Shute, Frances Shaplin [Chaplin], & Elizabeth Sampson, three angells each, for three rings. My son William Hill, Exor. My friend John Pyne, esq’r, & my brother Alexander Hill, gent., Overseers.

1.1.1.1.1. John Hill.
1.1.1.1.1.1. William Hill.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Roger Hill. Cart. of Roger Hill of Poundisford Park, compiled 1653-57; p. 6: “Lease for 21 yrs. by Bp. of Winchester to Hugh Portman of Orchard Portman, esq., of capital messuage and 120a. in Pitminster called Poundisford als. Old Poundisford als. The Lodge and Lodge Close, and moiety of West Close als. Pearses Lawne, formerly held in common by Wm. Symmes of Chard, merchant, in common with Sir Henry Portman, father of Hugh, 1590″.

Of a highly significant nature (I suggest) to understanding a connection between the Bland/Symes/Fulgham/Harris families of England and Virginia and the Chard area of Somerset – p. 28 (ibid.): “Appointment by William Hill Of Anne widow of Robert Hassard to assign the 1597 lease to Giles Greene, Walter Yonge, John Hill and Gyfford Bale in trust for William Hill and then his son Roger, 1640”. (Som. Her. Cent., DD\X\VNL/1). That is: Giles Green married Elizabeth Hill of Poundsford Park, Somerset. Their son became clerk of the New River Company. A daughter, Sarah, married John Bland of London, naming her son Giles Bland after her father. He was a participant in Bacon’s Rebellion, for which he was executed. (See Browne Willis, Notitia Parliamentaria, pt. II, 1750. Warren M. Billings, Encyclopedia Virginia).
1.1.1.1.2. William Hill, m. Joan Collins, Nov. 2, 1563, in Pitminster. His family would have been well acquainted with the Fulghams.
1.1.1.1.2.1. Robert Hill, bapt, Sept. 6, 1566.
1.1.1.1.2.2. Thomas Hill, bapt. Oct. 28, 1567
1.1.1.1.2.3. John Hill, bapt. March 20, 1569.
1.1.1.1.3. Roger Hill.
1.1.1.2. Thomas Hill.
1.1.1.3. Alexander Hill, of Taunton, Somerset, Gent. Will proved Jan. 28, 1613-14, by Robert Hill. [3 Lawe.] My wife Alice. My daughter Elizabeth Hill. My daughter Godsall. My son Robert, Exor. Overseers, John Symes, esq., & Thomas Strowde, gent, both of Pitminster.
1.1.2. Robert Hill. , M.P, of Taunton, d. bef. June 2, 1581, in Charde.
1.1.2.1. Elizabeth Hill, (maritagium in Chard), m. William Symes, of Poundisford Park.
1.1.2.1.1. Robert Symes, b. 1567.
1.1.2.1.2. Joan Symes (half sister), m. *John Cogan, of Chard, named as a cousin in the Will of John Cogan, Merchant of Chard, proved February 10, 1593. The former John Cogan was described as sometime of Chard and now of London. The latter’s heir was his nephew, John Pittard, tailor, son of John Pittard and his sister of ‘Bowre Heanton’ in Martock. Cogan’s Will refers to his merchandise, including ‘kersies’, a coarse woollen cloth and a staple of the west country cloth trade (the Cogans were merchant clothiers, entitled to bear arms); and also to a furnace at his home. Chard was well-known for iron production.

*Cogan v Stegge. Plaintiffs: John Cogan of Chard, Somerset. Defendants: Nicholas Stegge. Subject: Failure to repay loan; detention of bond. Before 1579. (C 2/Eliz/C16/26).

‘Cogans Charity’ was described in the Borough Records of 1648 as ‘secured on the burgage of Mr Barcroft’.* That is, (1. …  1.1. John Barcroft, died in Virginia. 1.1.1. *John Barcroft, noted in an assignment of interest in 1652 as John Barcroft, late of Chard, Somerset. 1.2. Charles Barcroft, d. Sept. 23, 1661. Administration on Charles Barcroft’s estate granted to his son-in-law George Moore. (Anthony Fulgham transported Charles Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1650).

1.1.2.1.2.1. John Coggan
1.1.2.1.2.1.1. John Coggan, m. Frances Bland.
1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1. “John Coggins”, of Bristol. Witness of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1. Robert Coggan, m. Sara Greene, da. of John Green. The Will of George Green, dated Oct. 8, 1705 named legatees: wife Anne; brother John Green, the Red Point Plantation on which Sarah Bradshaw now lives; sons of Thomas Greene (br. of Martha Fulgham, wife of Anthony Fulgham, and mother of Michael Fulgham, whose da. m. a son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), and Mary Moone. Indenture, Mar. 4, 1694, between George Green and Richard Wilkinson, Jr. for 5000 lbs. tbco., 159 ac. now in possession of the said George Green, containing 200 acres granted to Capt. John Moon, Nov. 20, 1642, and by Moon given in his will to his dau., Mary Moon, afterwards by marriage, Mary Green, from whom it did descend to her son, Thomas Green, and from said Thomas to the said George Green, land called Poplar Neck on Nansemond Path. Wit: Geo. Moore.

Frances Bland was the second cousin of (1) Theodorick Bland, born 1628, m. Anne Bennett, da. of Governor Richard Bennett; the cousin of the Thomas Harris who m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelsicombe, Somerset, who almost certainly died in Virginia in 1672. Richard Bennett, bapt. Aug. 6, 1609, in Wiveliscombe, d. 1675, in Virginia; his Will bequesting: “To William Yearret of Pagan Creek and to the wife of *Mr. Thomas Taberer, to each of them two thousand pounds of tobacco”. *His da. Ruth m. John Numan, br-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. (2) John Bland, of “Lime Street”, London, who m. Sarah Greene.

SHADDOW HILL

1.
1.1. Joan Hill, m. David Edney, 30 Jan 1574. (Thus, cousin of the Bennetts).
1.2. John Hill, b. 19 Oct. 1564, m. Agnes Forte, 26 Apr 1585.
1.2.1. Margaret Hill, m. John Harrys; uncle of Thomas, d. 1672.
1.3. Edward Hill, b. 16 Jan. 1572.
1.3.1. Elizabeth Hill, b. 30 May 1593, m. 2. Lawrence Comer, 3 Feb. 1620.
1.2. Thomas Hill.
1.2.1. Elizabeth Hill, m. John Upham, 28 Apr. 1588.
1.2.2. Robert Hill, b. 21 Oct 1562, m. Grace Stoke, 12 Apr. 1589.
1.2.2.1. James (Jacobus) Hill, m. Katherine Holcombe, Oct. 17, 1625, da. of John Holcombe and Tomasin Herringe, who m. July 4, 1607 (he m. (2). Tomasin Bull, Apr. 27, 1617), son of Nicholas Holcombe, and br. of Christian Holcombe, who m. John Hawkes, May 9 1614.
1.2.2.1.1. Nicholas Hill, bapt. Feb. 2, 1626; d. Mar. 26, 1674, Virginia. He m. Sylvestra Bennett, da. of Edward Bennett, and was granted 670 ac. on Blackwater”, begining near Parsons bridge on the Beverdam branch at a pine in George More’s line. Robert Flake sells George Moore (his br.-in-law) land on Blackwater adj. John Oliver and Thos. Wombell (the Lancaster connection), part of 2700 ac. granted Aug. 20, 1666, p. 558. George Moore’s da. Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. Their son was John White; his Will probated May 2, 1754 (Chapman, Wills, p. 177); great-grandfather of Avis White, who m. John Harris, the son of Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

Out of the shadows.

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There are likely to be as many Hamiltons in Scotland as there are Sinclairs; obviously not all deriving from the same spawning ground.

‘But who, then, was the first Hameldun or Hamelton who actually held lands and had thus settled in Scotland anterior to Walter FitzGilbert de Hameldun, the hitherto earliest discovered founder of the family? This may be a material preliminary to fixing their original ancestry, and, as it happens, is all in statu that we may be enabled to ascertain. The writer believes he can answer the preceding question by adduction of an original quit-claim by “Roger de Hameldun” of his right to a carrucate of land in Oxenham, in Roxburghshire, which held of the Crown of Scotland, to John, Abbot of Whitby, in Yorkshire. It is without date, but must have been between 1245 and 1258, when the latter can be proved to have been Abbot. The preceding we may conclude also to have been the “Roger de Hameldun,” who is established by other Whitby deeds to have possessed Geker in “Hamelton,” along with the woods of “Hamilton,” which formed a manor in Yorkshire and hence must have been the foyer of these Hamiltons

It hence follows that the first of the surname (for there is no prior notice of it there elsewhere) who had settled and actually held lands of the Crown in Scotland, was the preceding “Roger de Hameldun, “as proprietor of Oxenham”, in Roxburghshire, between 1243 and 1258; and, singularly, of an English family, who, precisely like the Scottish eventually, had an estate named Hamilton, and who, in Scotch parlance, might be styled the Hamiltons of that Ilk in Yorkshire. This Roger may have been cotemporary with the “Roger de Hameldun” already mentioned, who (with his brother Robert) test a deed, though only connected with Northumberland (Sir William Fraser suggested that Walter FitzGilbert belonged to a Northumbrian family – M.S), shortly after 1223, in the Chartulary of Melrose — a coincidence worth remarking, though not yet identified with him. The above, consistently with what was stated, is all that can as yet be safely offered touching the origin of the Anglo-Scot Hamiltons, we not being able to connect the same Roger or his kindred with the Walter Fitzgilbert de Hameldun in 1296, though they possibly enough — considering, too, the extreme rarity then of this English surname in Scotland — may have been related’ (John Riddell, Comments in refutation, p. 259, 1860).

1. Radulfus Paynel.
1.1. Foulques Paynel
1.1.1. Guillaume Paynel, in a judgement given in Rouen in 1113, was seized of the land of Raoul Tesson.
1.1.1.1. Foulques Paynel II. Gilbert d’ Avranches, brother of Richard, Viscount d’Avranches, had a daughter, Dyonisa, who married Hasculphe de Subligny. They had a son who bore the name of his grandfather, thus also Gilbert Avranches. His older sister, Lesceline, married Foulques Paynel II., in 1170, Foulques receiving the seigniories of Bricquebec, Gacé, Hambie, Bréhal, Fontenay-le-Paisnel, and Haye-Paisnel.
1.1.2. Ralph Paynel.
1.1.2.1. Jordan Paynel, alias Jordan de Hameldon. He is first recorded in 1166, as holding of Puiset (the Bishop of Durham) fees in Hameldon (Durham) and Osgodby near Selby, Yorks (EYC. ii. 320). In 1204, the manor of Osgodby (6 miles from Hamelton or Hameldon, near Selby) was held in demesne by Jordan de Hameldon, otherwise known as Jordan of Osgodby (E.Y.C. ii, p. 329). By 1223, it had passed to Jordan’s daughter Dyonesia, who married Sampson de la Pomeroy (Yorks. Fines, 1218-31, p. 54), and it subsequently passed to Adam of Osgodby (Burton, Hemingbrough, 305-6). (Pomeroy alias Chevreville; descendants of Roger de Chievre of La Pommeraie, in Calvados, arrondissement Falaise, canton Thury-Harcourt. In 1086, Ralf de Pomaria, in addition to his tenancies-in-chief, held among other under-tenancies lands in Devon and Cornwall of Robert Count of Mortain. In 1166, Henry de Pomereia, Ralf’s representative, held 30 fees of the old feoffment and 1 11/12 of the new. In the Norman “Infeudationes Militum” of 1172 under the heading ‘de honore Mortonii in eadem baillia’ (ie. Obertii de Hosa) is the entry ‘Henricus de Pomaria iij partm militis defeodo de Vado; et tenet castrum de Pomaria cum purpestura de Rege’.

The families of Paynel, Sourdeval, and Lacy had close tenurial ties in Avranches, relationships being paralleled in post-Conquest Yorkshire, near to the town of Selby. Under the Mortain fee, Ralph de Paynel held Hamelton (Selby) under Ilbert de Lacy; Ralph having married Ilbert’s sister or daughter (Clay,114). Ralph secondly married Matilda de Sourdeval, daughter of Ralph de Sourdeval (Thoresby), whose sister married Robert Brus II. of Skelton.

1.1.2.2. William Paynel.
1.1.2.2.1. Adam Paynel, alias Adam de Hameldon. (“The next of this name noticed is Adam Painell (alfo prefumed another fon of William Paganell and Julian Bahuntune, his wife); which Adam, the 6th of Richard I. paid twenty millings fcutage upon the king’s redemption, and married the widow of William Fitz-Williams fifter and coheir of Robert Bardulf, lord of Hoo, in Kent, and of caftle Carleton, in com. Lincs” (Banks). Adam de Hameldon or Hamelton, m. ‘a da. of Hugh Bardolf’ of Great Carlton and Hoo. Hugh Bardolf had five daughter who became co-heirs of their brother, Robert Bardolf, described as the uncle (avunculus) of Jordan Foliot, and Ralph Paynel (Excerpta e Rotulis Finium, p. 129), sons of Richard Foliot and Adam Paynel. Margery de Stuteville m. Richard Foliot of Norton, Fenwick, Grimston, and Wellow, who had married firstly a da. of Hugh Bardolf; her sister being the wife of Adam Paynel, etc.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Perhaps “Roger de Hameldun” of Mr. Liddell’s account.

1. Robert de Estuteville, lord of Cottenham, d. after 1107, m. Adeliza de Beaumont, da. of Ivo de Beaumont.
1.1. Robert de Stuteville, lord of Cottenham, d. after 1116.
1.1.1. Robert de Stuteville, Sheriff of Yorkshire, d 1183, m. Hawise Murdac.
1.1.1.1. Robert de Stuteville, m. Sybil de Valognes, da. of Philip de Valognes. Gilbert Hansard m. a sister of Robert de Stuteville (fol. 23 Liber Vitae of Durham).
1.1.1.1.1. Helwis de Stuteville, m. Hugh de Morville.
1.1.1.2. William de Stuteville, m. Berta de Glanville, da. of Gerard de Glanville.
1.1.1.2.1. Nicholas de Stuteville, m. Gunnora de de Albini Brito, see hereinafter.
1.1.1.2.1.1. Nicholas de Stuteville, lord of Cottenham and Liddell, m. Devorgilla of Galloway, da. of Roland, lord of Galloway.
1.1.1.2.1.1.1. Joan de Stuteville, m. Hugh Bigod.
1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1. Joan Bigod, m. Sir Philip de Kyme, dapifer of Gilbert de Gand, son of William de Kyme and Lucy de Ros, da. of William de Ros, as follows.
1.1.1.2.1.2. William de Stuteville of Gressenhall, d. 1259, m. Margery de Say, da. of Hugh de Say.
1.1.1.2.1.2.1. Margery de Stuteville, m. Richard Foliot, of Norton, Fenwick, Grimston and Wellow, d. 1299, son of Robert Foliot.
1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1. Jordan Foliot, m. Margery de Newmarch, da. of Adam de Newmarch.

The king has committed to Richard Foliot the manors of Adam de Novo Mercato of Womersley (‘son of Adam’) Campsall, Thorp’, Bentley and Archsey in Yorkshire, which the king took into his hand because he (Richard) captured him (Adam) while Adam was resisting the king in hostile manner in the conflict that recently took place at Northampton, to keep for as long as it pleases the king. Richard Foliot’s Yorkshire properties included Norton, near Campsall and Walden Stubbs (‘Stubbs’). The early manor house lay a little to the north of the vill of Walden Stubbs, in the parish of Womersley.

1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1. Richard Foliot, of Gressenhall and Weasenham, b. 1283, died on the King’s service in Scotland between April 18 and July 23, 1317 (Rot. Pat. 10 Edward II., p.2, m. 20).
1.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1. Margery Foliot, in 1330, had livery of her purparty of the lands of her grandmother, Margery de Newmarch.

1.1.1.3. Burga de Stuteville, m. (before 1171) William de Vesci, of Alnwick, d. 1184. –
1.1.2. Osmund de Stuteville.
1.1.2.1. Roger de Stutteville.
1.1.2.2. Alice de Stutteville, m. Roger de Merlay, son of Ralph de Merlay, Lord of Morpeth, Northumberland, and Juliana of Dunbar, dau. of Gospatric II. of Dunbar. Roger de Merlay and Alice de Stuteville had issue: Roger de Merlay, who m. Margery de Umframville, dau. of Richard Umframville, and sister of Gilbert de Umframville I.
1.1.2.3. Beatrice de Stuteville, m. William de Colville. (1. Gilbert de Gand I, overlord of the Armentieres family of Whatton. 1.1. Hugh de Gand, m. Adeline de Beaumont, dau. of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester. 1.1.1. Robert de Gand, m. Gunnora de Albini Brito, da. of Ralph de Albini Brito (English Baronies’, I. J. Sanders, OUP, 2nd ed, 1963); she m. (2), Nicholas de Stuteville. A sister of Gunnora de Albini Brito, Maud, m. William de Colville (father of his namesake, aforementioned). William held one night’s fee of Robert de Gand in Lincs, his br.-in-law. William de Colville agreed to pay the king a fine of 20 mares and one palfrey, to have seisin of Normanton, Rutland, held in chief by the de Umframvilles. 1.1.1.1. Gilbert de Gand, Earl of Lincoln, obit. 1241, father of Juliana de Gand, who m. Geoffrey d’Armentières, son of Henry d’Armentières, descendant of Robert de d’Armentières).
1.1.2.3.1. Roger de Colville of Bytham Castle, Lincolnshire,
1.1.2.3.1.1. Walter de Colville, m. Elizabeth d’ Albini Brito, of Aubourn and Counthorpe, Lincs., da. of Odenel d’ Albini Brito, son of William d’Albini Brito I. and Matilda, da. of Odonel de Umframville. William d’Albini Brito’s sister, Maud d’ Albini Brito, m. Gilbert, 3rd Earl of Strathearn; their da., Ethne de Strathearn, m. David de la Haye, 2nd Laird of Erroll; their son, Glbert de la Haye, 3rd Laird of Erroll, m. Idonea Comyn,* of Buchan, da. of William de Comyn, 1st Earl of Buchan, and Margaret of Buchan, Countess Of Buchan. *Her brother, Alexander Comyn, had at least nine children with his wife, Elisabeth, da. of Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester, including Elisabeth Comyn, who m. Gilbert de Umfraville II., 1st Earl of Angus. (The de Quincey and Colville families were intermarried).
1.1.2.3.1.1.1. Roger de Colville, m. Margaret de Braose, da. of RIchard de Braose, whose br., William, m. Mary de Ros (da. of William de Ros, aforementioned); sister of Alice de Ros, who m. John Comyn (Lincoln Assize Rolls,’Lincoln N.& Q.’vol. ix., p. 250), whose cousin and namesake’s lands were given to Walter FitGilbert (de Hamilton).
1.1.2.3.1.1.1.1. Gilbert de Colville. The Writs of Military Service show (1292) Gilbertus Coleville performing military service in Scotland ‘due from Gilbertus de Neville’, his Kinsman, through the Merlays, and a man of the Gands in Lincolnshire.
1.1.2.3.1.1.1.1.1. Walter FitzGilbert (de Hamilton) first appears in January 10, 1295, as a witness to a charter by James, the High Steward of Scotland. Walter’s descendants bore gules, 3 cinque foils or. ‘The earliest representation of the Hamilton arms appears on the Bute Mazer were Gules, three cinquefoils ermine, presumably for Walter FitzGilbert and is accompanied by Gules, a chevron ermine between three cinquefoils for brother John (obit. 1328). “A sensible proposition is that they were kin, or vassals of the Umfraville lords of Redesdale and the earls of Angus” (Bruce A. McAndrew, Scotland’s Historic Heraldry, p. 235, 200). Robert Brus granted to Walter Fitz-Gilbert the whole tenement of Machan which belonged to John Comyn (nephew of Alexander). It was a medieval norm to grant lands of those disgraced to their loyal kinfolk.

(What is required is an an ability to discern sensible propositions from the chaff of improbability).

1.1.2.2.1.1. Johannis de Hameldun, fl. 1233-44, who is recorded in the records of St. Giles (Durham) as being closely associated with Gilbert Hansard – one of Bishop Puiset’s feudatories, who gave his whole vill of Aymundeston (Amerston, in the parish of Elwick) and fifty oxgangs in Hurtheworth (Hurworth) for the support of a chaplain to celebrate for ever in the chapel of the Hospital for the souls of himself, his father and mother, and all his kin. The Convent of Durham had property at Chyrton in Northumberland, which had been given by John de Hameldun for the support of three priests to celebrate for himself and his family on condition of his two brothers, Henry and Walter, being the firmarii feodarii, paying nine marks a year to the Convent. An exchange of these properties between the Hospital and the Convent had been proposed, but, after some contention, had fallen through, owing, apparently, to the Convent’s unwillingness to maintain the three priests on the terms proposed in the exchange. Eventually, however, through the action of Gilbert Hansard and Walter de Hameldun (the representatives of the two families whose souls were to be benefited), a composition was agreed to, one part of the conditions of which was that the Hospital should cede to the Convent certain land at Hurworth, together with twelve acres of “Southcroft ” near the city of Durham, producing altogether an annual revenue of three marks, which were to be devoted by the said Convent to pious uses through the hands of its almoner in a certain place for the benefit of the souls of the said John de Hameldun and of all the departed. Temp. Tho. Melsonby, Prior of Durham, 1233-1244. ‘Quit -claim by the Convent to the Hospital of Revenues in various placesin return for the cession by the hospital to the Convent of their lands at Amerston on condition of the hospital providing a chaplain at Keyper to sing for ‘the souls of the Hameldon and Hansard families’ (Printed in “Priory of Finchale,” Surtees Society, p. I27; cit. Memorials of St. Giles’s, Durham, Surtees Society xxx., ccxxxiv.).

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To understand the principle of the English kinship group, as a method of protection and advancement, furthered by associations to the ‘lordship’ class, of which they were tenants, is a gateway into discerning ancestry. The notion of random marriages was an absurdity to them, frought with perils.

What follows may appear as a simple collection of names, but it is one discovered after the kinship method of intermarriages and shared associations was applied to research. Understanding this method is everything.

Those of Somerset, described hereinafter, were more physically akin to Alan Ladd than John Wayne, and spoke a regional dialect that would be totally alien to modern listeners, and to their English contemporaries of other parts. Borrowed from Thomas Elsworthy’s The Dialect of West Somerset, vol. 2., 1875:

“Tidon, twau’dn, mean it is not, it was not; aa’rtn “art thou not ?” shaton “shalt thou not?” wiloton “wilt thou not?” kas’m “canst thou not?” Tae-ilk aup u gin’t pai’g bee dhu taa’yl Óa un, un dhu uyz oa un ul vaa’l aewt, is a version of the old saying: “Take up a Guinea pig by its tail, and its eyes will drop out”. From these and other examples it will be noticed that our possessive case is nearly always formed by the preposition; we very seldom use the ordinary’s. We have, too, no neuter pronoun for denoting a common substantive. The word it is never used, except an abstract idea is to be expressed. We should say taiz for “it is,” and aa’y oan dile ut, “I won’t do it,” but never give it me, always gee un tu mee. The nominative ai (he) does duty for both genders. A man said to me of his daughter, Urz a maa’yn guurt strau’ng maa’yd, ai aiz, “She’s a main great strong maid, she is”.

1.
1.1. Thomas Bland.
1.1.1. Elizabeth Bland, m. Edward Holmwood, in 1620.
1.1.1.1. John Holmwood. A Court at Westover Dec. 10, 1664. “Present: Theoderick Bland, Esqr., Lt. Coll. Tho. Drewe, Mr Stephen Hamelin (Thomas Harris, d. 1672, his headright), Mr Anthony Wyatt, Capt. Edward Hill, Capt. Robt Wynne, Capt. 0tho Southcott, Mr John Holmwood. Whereas one sloope hired of Mr John Holmwood by Mr Anthony Fryer Comand’r of a shipp oasually sunke with oerteine goods in her whereby the sd Fryer is endamaged fifteene hundred p’ds of tobbo. Judgt to Mr. John Holmwood agent for Roger Greene merchant against Capt Ed. Hill for 1980 lb tobo. Holmwood to account to Hill for 1 hhd of tobo adventured with sd Greene, either at the arivall of the sd Greene or at least by or at the arivall of the last London Shipp this yeare”; pp. 525,526. Jno. Holmwood and Captain Otho Southcott settle s/c between Jno Cogan and Phill Limbrey at 700lb tobbo due Limbrey. Cogan appeals to General Court. Gives bond (p. 620). In 1673, William Duke was one of the auditors appointed to examine the accounts between Mr. Roger Greene and Mrs. Bland.

Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666, Nell Marion Nugent: Thomas Harris, 850 acs. Surry Co., Feb. 13, 1657, p. 168, (250). On S. side of James Riv. & on N. W. & S. E. sides of the head of the sunken marsh above & below the mill, Nly. on the rich Neck & land of Robert Webb & Mr. Edward’s lands, Ely. on *William Carter, Sly. on Chipoaks path to the mill & on Mr. Green’s land. 300 acs. granted unto Mr. Jno. Holmwood, Oct. 26, 1650, & by Holmwood assigned to sd. Harris & 500 acs. for trans, of 11 pers, part for the headright of his wife “Elinr. Harris” (Eleanor George). That is, Elinor George, bapt. Dec. 31, 1626, Frome, Somerset, da. of Henry. Frome, 24 mls fr. Cheddar.

On the same day the above patent was renewed, March 18, 1662, he received 600 acres in Lancaster County, bounding northeast upon a branch of Corotoman River and upon land of one Hawkes, southeast upon land of Wm. Thatcher, etc. This land was granted to Gervase Dodson June 4, 1655, and sold, by him, to said Thomas Harris, for 4800 lbs. of tobacco, and cask. Gervase Dodson appointed Francis Hobbs attorney to acknowledge sale, (ibid, p. 436).

*William Carter claimed the headright (in Henrico) of Edward Bland in 1636. He was very likely to have been the William Carter who was bapt. on May 8, 1599, in the church of St Andrew, Tangmere, Sussex. William Carter, of James City Co., then Surry Co., deposed in 1653 that his age was 54. The Carters were tenant farmers of the Baker family: Catherine Scott m. Sir John Baker. Her sister, Mary Scott, m. Richard Argall; their dau. Elizabeth Scott, m. Sir Edward Filmer; theor dau., Katherine Filmer, m. Robert Barham; their son was Charles Barham. Thomas Harris was the cousin of Governor Richard Bennett of Virginia (both being of Wiveliscombe, Somerset), whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’). Thomas Harris and Charles Barham were involved in the Will of William Ridley, who was probably the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife. Catherine Scott and Sir John Baker had issue: Sir Richard Baker (of Sissinghurst), whose tenants were the Carter family, and whose dau., Elizabeth, m. Sir James Kirton, of Somerset; their son m. Elizabeth Rodney (as second-cousin), da. of John Rodney, who bought the manor of Cheddar, whose tenants (n.b.) included the Harris family of that place. The Rodney connection is a familial link to the Hodges family of Wedmore, whose tenants were the Counsell family; see previous notes.

The will of Thomas Harris, dated March 30, 1672, named legatees: son Thomas; son John (who m. a da. of Francis Hobbs); land in Corotoman in Lancaster County; wife Alice (Numan), dau. Mary.

1.1.2. Gregory Bland, bapt. April 22, 1567.
1.1.2.1. Frances Bland, m. John Cogan, very likely to have been of Chard, Somerset.
1.1.2.1.1. “John Coggins”, of Bristol. Witness of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Robert Coggan, m. Sara Greene, da. of John Green. The Will of George Green, dated Oct. 8, 1705 named legatees: wife Anne; brother John Green, the Red Point Plantation on which Sarah Bradshaw now lives; sons of Thomas Greene (br. of Martha Fulgham, wife of Anthony Fulgham, and mother of Michael Fulgham, whose da. m. a son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), and Mary Moone. Indenture, Mar. 4, 1694, between George Green and Richard Wilkinson, Jr. for 5000 lbs. tbco., 159 ac. now in possession of the said George Green, containing 200 acres granted to Capt. John Moon, Nov. 20, 1642, and by Moon given in his will to his dau., Mary Moon, afterwards by marriage, Mary Green, from whom it did descend to her son, Thomas Green, and from said Thomas to the said George Green, land called Poplar Neck on Nansemond Path. Wit: Geo. Moore.

(1.
1.1. John Barcroft, died in Virginia.
1.1.1. John Barcroft, noted in an assignment of interest in 1652 as John Barcroft, late of Chard, Somerset.
1.2. Charles Barcroft, d. Sept. 23, 1661. Administration on Charles Barcroft’s estate granted to his son-in-law George Moore. (Anthony Fulgham transported Charles Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1650).

1.1.2.2. Jane Bland, m. (1), her kinsman, Edward Bland, son of John Bland and Susan Delabere. She m. (2) John Holmwood.
1.2. John Bland, a Hamburgh merchant, m. Susanna de Dobbeler in August, 1606, in Stade, Hamburg.
1.2.1. Theodorick Bland, born 1628, m. Anne Bennett, da. of Governor Richard Bennett; the cousin of the Thomas Harris who m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, in Wivelsicombe, Somerset, who almost certainly died in Virginia in 1672. Richard Bennett, bapt. Aug. 6, 1609, in Wiveliscombe, d. 1675, in Virginia; his Will bequesting: “To William Yearret of Pagan Creek and to the wife of *Mr. Thomas Taberer, to each of them two thousand pounds of tobacco”. *His da. Ruth m. John Numan, br-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2.2. John Bland, of “Lime Street”, London, m. Sarah Greene, as follows.
1.2.2.1. Giles Bland.
1.2.3. Edward Bland, headright of William Carter, see hereintofore.

N.B. Cart. of Roger Hill of Poundisford Park (his family intermarried with that of Symes, of Mells/Pitminster), compiled 1653-57; p. 6: “Lease for 21 yrs. by Bp. of Winchester to Hugh Portman of Orchard Portman, esq., of capital messuage and 120a. in Pitminster (where the Fulghams were tenants of the Symes) called Poundisford als. Old Poundisford als. The Lodge and Lodge Close, and moiety of West Close als. Pearses Lawne, formerly held in common by Wm. Symmes of Chard, merchant, in common with Sir Henry Portman, father of Hugh, 1590″. Of a highly significant nature (I suggest) in understanding a connection between the Bland/Symes/Fulgham/Harris families of England and Virginia and the Chard area of Somerset – p. 28 (ibid.): “Appointment by William Hill Of Anne widow of (n.b.) Robert Hassard to assign the 1597 lease to Giles Greene, Walter Yonge, John Hill and Gyfford Bale in trust for William Hill and then his son Roger, 1640”. (Som. Her. Cent., DD\X\VNL/1). That is: Giles Green married Elizabeth Hill of Poundsford Park, Somerset. Their son became clerk of the New River Company. A daughter, Sarah, married John Bland of London, naming her son Giles Bland after her father. He was a participant in Bacon’s Rebellion, for which he was executed. (See Browne Willis, Notitia Parliamentaria, pt. II, 1750. Warren M. Billings, Encyclopedia Virginia).

The Cogans were a prestigious family, descending from “William Cogan, knight”, of Somerset and Devon. (C 136/25/2).

At an early date, they were settled in Taunton, Somerset: Thomas Osborn of Taunton & William Cogan, vicar of St. Mary Magdalene Taunton, John Beffe of Meriet, William Cogan, tailor, and John Alrigge, Smith, of Taunton. Subject: Sherney, Pyleigh, and elsewhere within the hundred of Taunton. 1435. (Nat. Arch., E 326/5027).

They settled in Chard, Somerset. Cogan v Stone. Plaintiffs: Nicholas Cogan. Defendants: Richard Stone. Subject: Detention of deeds relating to a messuage and land in Chard. Somerset. 1518-1529. (C 1/492/41). Cogan v More. Plaintiffs: Robert, son and heir of Nicholas Cogan. Defendants: John More and John, his son. Subject: Detention of deeds relating to a tenement in Chard. Somerset. 1532-1538. (C 1/761/26).

Cogan v Smyth. Plaintiffs: Richard Cogan of Chard, chapman (brother of Robert). Defendants: Thomas Smyth. Subject: Price of linen and spices. Somerset. 1538-1544. (C 1/967/22). Probate October 31, 1550. His sons were (1) Thomas Cogan, Will probated November 16, 1580, who disputed a lease of land with “John Hudie of the parsonage of Chard” (C 2/Eliz/H23/36). (2) John Cogan, Merchant of Chard, Will proved February 10, 1593. Cogan v Stegge. Plaintiffs: John Cogan of Chard, Somerset. Defendants: Nicholas Stegge. Subject: Failure to repay loan; detention of bond. 1558-1579. (C 2/Eliz/C16/26). (3) Barnard Cogan, Yeoman of Chard, Will proved January 2, 1598.

The Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was witnessed by John Coggin, of Bristol, see as follows.

Whichever way a Harris family of Somerset is dissected so as to provide those claiming descent from it a unique lineage, consistent with modern notions of such, it can not be escaped from that the Thomas Harris who died in Virginia in 1672 was a central cog in his extended family of many cousins; naturally so, as an association to the Governor of Virginia would have conferred benefits to his kinsfolk, as moths to a flame. This is not to infer that he was definitely the father or brother of so-and-so Harris, but he was a beacon to them all. His shared associations (considerable) with his namesake, who died in 1688, were the result of cousins of whatever distant degree intermarrying into the same families, and sharing their associations. This point seems vital in any discussion of relationships between such as they – the distance of consanguinity being disguised by shared intermarriages.

They all shared associations to Sergeant John Harris (through those connected to the Blands, etc.), and any descendants of this kinship group share this association, if not a very desired direct link ton Sergeant Harris. The ‘genealogical bridge’ to cross is one of proving the descent from those recorded in the 1750’s to those earlier Harris mentioned herein. A gap of great span and difficulty, but ‘continuations of associations’ with the same families offers circumstantial evidence.

HARRIS ANCESTORS (It is possible to trace this line before this).
1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494. “Thomas Harrys”, a tenant of Glastonbury Abbey, who is recorded thus: Harrys v Dyar. Plaintiffs: Thomas Harrys. Defendants: Thomas Dyar, knight. Subject: Tenement in the late abbot of Glastonbury’s manor of Greinton. Somerset. 1544-1551. (C 1/1228/15-18)
1.1.1. Richard Harris, bur. Dec. 19, 1593, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, m. Joan Collier, July 19, 1601, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1.1. William Harris, bapt. Oct. 3, 1602, Mells. Perhaps the William who was headright of John Moone (1637) and John Seward (1648) in Isle of Wight. John Moone’s da., Sarah Moone, m. Lt. John Pitt, son of Col. Robert Pitt, the Bristol sea captain and merchant. John Moone’s da. Mary Moone, m. Thomas Green; his sister m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset; their son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard, having issue: (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, who m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705. The Hardys were most likely of the family of John Hardy Esq., as given here: Hardy v Freke. Plaintiffs: John Hardy. Defendants: John Freke. Subject: property in Mere, Somerset, (5 mls fr. Cheddar/Wedmore). 1655. (N.A., ref. C 5/410/23). Exemplification of a common recovery. By John Hardy, Esq., and George Style, Esq., against George Parry, gent. and Thomas Abington, gent., of a messuage or fulling water-mill, etc. in Cole, Pittcombe, and Bruton. Nov 29, 1645. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. DD\WHh/650).

HARRIS GROUP A
1.1.2. John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, in Wedmore.
1.1.2.1. John Harris, d. 1625; m. (2) Christiana Thurston, bapt. 28 Oct. 1591, on Oct. 8, 1618; she was the great-niece of Joan Thurston, who m. (2) John Counsell, on Aug. 13, 1573.
1.1.2.1.1. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek, October 26, 1646: “James Tooke (his family were tenants of the Symes, of Mells) to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, probably d. in 1677, in Virginia. The inventory of Edward Harris states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis, i.e. Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset. (Pitminster: 30 mls south of Cheddar/Wedmore, on the main estuary road; n.b. 10 mls N.W. of Chard). He is not further recorded in the registers.
1.1.2.1.2. Thomas Harris.
1.1.2.1.2.1 Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, Cheddar, ‘son of Thomas’, perhaps he who pat. 240 a. adj. Mathew Tomlin, Mar. 27, 1686 (B.7, pp. 510-11), m. Hester Tibbits, probably as second wife, who decd. in 1581. He is not further recorded in the registers. His orphan was left in the care of Hodges Counsell, who was almost certainly of Wedmore. The Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was witnessed by John Coggin, of Bristol, son of his namesake, noted here: “Power of Atty. Aug. 25, 1658. Major John Harper, Capt. Thomas Morgan, and Robt Dessell, Citizens of the City of Bristol, to John Cogan of the City of Bristol, but now resident in Virginia aforesd chirugeon, to receive certain properties belonging to Margaret Bird. Whereas Margarett Bird of the sd Citty of Bristoll widd (admr’ix of the goods and chattells that were of Capt Richd Bond late dec’d some-times of the Citty of Bristoll but dyed in the Countrey of Virginia) hath constituted and appointed as her attorneys concerning the mill plantacon stock goods merchandizies and debts w’ch were off the sd Capt Rich’d Bond as may apper’e.’ Wit: Richard Price, John Osborne, Francis Yeamans Junr. Rec 31 Janry 1658″. (The Bond family were of Pitminster, Somerset, as the Fulghams, and tenants of the Symes (Sims) family of Chard/Mells.

HARRIS GROUP A1
1.1.2.1.3. John Harris, m. Agnes Comer, Feb. 4, 1635. (1. John Counsell, bapt. 1573. 1.1. John Counsell, bapt Nov. 28, 1601, married Mary Coomer, on Nov. 26, 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who married John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, in Feb. 1635; uncle of Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar). 1. John Counsell, bapt. 1573. 1.1. John Counsell, bapt. 28 Nov. 28, 1601,’ f. Joannis Counsell‘, m. Mary Coomer, Nov. 26, 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who m. John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, Feb. 4, 1635; uncle of Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar, and Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, in Wedmore 1.2. Richard Counsell, bapt. 3 Sept. 1613 (fr. Blackford), m. (1) Joan Taylor, Aug. 12, 1640, (2) Elizabeth Hix (the Chapman link), Aug. 12, 1647, da. of William Hix and Grace Morton, m. Jan. 23, 1625, and niece of Margaret Hix, who m. Simon Day, Jan. 14, 1632. 1.2.1. Hodges Counsell. Richard Counsell was the br.-in-law of Susan Lancaster, and Hodges Counsell may have received his Christian name after her husband, William Hodges, a member of the very influential Hodges family, squires of Wedmore, who was probably his Godfather.
1.1.2.1.3.1. John Harris Jr. (so designated).
1.1.2.1.3.2. Arthur Harris.
1.1.2.1.3.2.1. Arthur Harris, bapt. June 23, 1663.
1.1.2.1.3.2.1.1. Samuel Harris, bapt. 2 Jan. 1686, m. Hannah Comer, bapt. 4 Dec. 1702.
1.1.2.1.3.2.1.1.1. John Harris, bapt. Mar. 30, 1706.
1.1.2.1.3.2.1.1.2. James Harris, bapt. Oct. 5, 1707.
1.1.2.1.3.3. Anthony Harris.
1.1.2.1.3.3.1. Isaac Harris, bapt. Feb. 27, 1663, m. Dorothy Harris, bapt. June 13, 1675.
1.1.2.1.3.3.1.1. Robert Harris, bapt. Jan. 3, 1692.
1.1.2.1.3.3.1.2. James Harris, bapt. Feb. 18, 1704.
1.1.2.1.3.3.2. John Harris.
1.1.2.1.3.3.2.1. John Harris, bapt. Aug. 23, 1694, m. Mary Rogers, Dec. 26, 1723.
1.1.2.1.3.3.3. N.B. Robert Harris, m. Mary Hill, June 29, 1695.
1.1.2.1.3.3.3.1. John Harris, bapt. Mar. 30, 1707.
1.1.2.1.3.3.4. Thomas Harris, m. Anne Marshall, bapt. Oct. 20, 1678.
1.1.2.1.3.3.4.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. 12 June 1698.
1.1.2.1.3.3.5. James Harris, m. Hannah Marshall, Mar. 28, 1706.

This particular line of Harris should be of some consideration in English/Virginia genealogies. The entirety of this Harris family did not descend from one ‘Moses’ ancestor. The clues are in who the ‘Comer’ Harris married, writ large.

HARRIS GROUP B
1.2. William Harris (“of Glastonbury”), m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594, sister of Edward Bennett.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623. He was the cousin of Governor Richard Bennett, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’.

HARRIS GROUP C
1.1.2. John Harris.
1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris bapt. Feb. 3, 1582; “son of John”.
1.1.2.2. Sergeant John Harris (it may be presumed), bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, bur. Aug. 3, 1637, in Nunney/juxta Mells.
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Oct. 8, 1615 (in Othery juxta Greinton, whence the family holding, yet noted in the register as a son of a John Harris “of Aller”, 6 miles from Greinton, who is not recorded in the Aller registers), d. 1677, m. Alice West, in 1635, in Nunney, where a family of West were established. William West m. Katharine Perry on May 23, 1608, in Bath (18 miles from Nunney); their dau. being Alice West, bapt. Sept. 16, 1615. It was a common practice for marriages to take place in such ‘regional’ churches as Bath, especially if a rich relative (Godparent) lived there; a consideration of ample proportion.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Thomas Harris. bapt. Aug. 14, 1636, in Nunney, possibly he who d. in 1668. A possible connection between the Harris family of Nunney and Sergeant John Harris concerns Francis Derrick, the Bristol Merchant, noted in 1635 as paying custom duties on booty taken fron Spanish ships (2. E 134/12Chas1/Mich39). Like many Bristol merhants, he held land in somerset, as noted on this certificate of residence: “showing Francis Derricke (or the variant surname: Dericke, Dyricke) to be liable for taxation in Gloucestershire, and not in the hundreds of Brent, Bempstone, Portbury, and Hartcliffe, Somerset, the previous area of tax liability. 1628. (Nat. Arch., E 115/128/37). The Derrick family of the hundred of Winterstoke were almost invariably recorded as being of the parishes of Blagdon and Worle. The former is 18 miles from Nunney. Francis Derick bought the land of the dau. of Sergeant John Harris.

Please note, William Short, associated with land adj. that of Sergeant John Harris (see prvious notes) was probably he who was bapt. June 29, 1626, in Mells, with sons, Thomas, bapt. May 23, 1654, and William, bapt. March 30, 1658, whose dau, Mary, m. a William Harris.

May thy New Year be happy, An’ may thy cares be vew, An’ may success thy labours bless, May all thy vrien’s be true. Vor love ‘ull banish zorrow, An’ Love can lighten pain, An’ scatter afar the clouds 0′ war, An’ brighten the world again.

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1. John Fuljames, yeoman, of Weston Zoyland, Somerset (15 mls fr. Wedmore/Cheddar). Probate 11/55/485; Nov. 28, 1573.
1.1. John Fuljames, bur. May 10, 1601, in High Ham, Somerset (5 mls fr. Weston Zoyland, 10 mls. fr. Wedmore/Cheddar). The distances betw. families of these places was often considerably shorter than this, with a hamlet to the south of one being contigious with one to the north of another). High Ham was part of the Glastonbury estate until the Dissolution when it reverted to the Crown.

(Weston Zoyland was sold to Edward Dyer in 1570, although a lease was assigned to Thomas Moore, a Taunton merchant; father of John Moore, merchant of Bristol, father of George Moore, who m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, a London vintner. George Moore’s brother, Thomas, was an overseer of the Will of John Jennings, dated Oct. 19, 1678 (witness of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), who named son-in-law William Seward, grandson of John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, on adjacent land to his settled Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

1.
1.1. John Barcroft.
1.1.1. John Barcroft, noted in an assignment of interest in 1652 in a messuage between John Barcroft, late of Chard (20 mls fr. High Ham), now of London, merchant, and Robert Barcroft to John Chapman of Chard, merchant and Henry Tooley of London, Haberdasher. Will of Philobert Cogan, of Chard (Proved Apr. 12, 1641), mentions ‘Mr. John Barcroft; cousin, William Cogan (probable father of the John Coggin, witness of the will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688; John Coggin ‘of the City of Bristol, but now resident in Virginia’.
1.2. Charles Barcroft, d. Sept. 23, 1661, m. (2) Elizabeth. In Calendar of State Papers: Colonial America and the West Indies 1675-6, Addenda 1574-1674 p. 83, an entry for March 8, 1639 about “Elizabeth, wife of Charles Barcroft of Old Ford, Middlesex” to the effect that in August 1636 her husband abandoned his trade in London and went to Virginia “where he yet lives.” The entry goes on to note that “his brother John Barcroft was there deceased” and that Charles Barcroft “merchant” was sending her yearly expenses. 23 Sept 1661 – administration on Charles Barcroft’s estate granted to his son-in-law George Moore.
1.2.1. Jane Barcroft, m. George Moore, of Bristol.
1.2.1.1. Eleanor Moore, Richard Piland, son of James Piland, bapt. on 30 August 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol,

Arthur Smith, of Bristol, merchant, transported Jane and John Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1637.
Anthony Fulgham transported Charles Barcroft, Isle of Wight, 1650
Elizabeth Barcroft transported John Hardy, Isle of Wight, 1647. He was probably related to this George Hardy:
Mary Jackson, m. Capt. George Hardy, who patented 500 acres on July 17, 1648 ‘lying on east side of Lawne’s Creek extending to main river and along the great river to the creek dividing the same from land of Alice Bennett’. On June 19, 1666, he made a deed to land which belonged to his wife Mary whom he refers to as the ‘daughter of Richard Jackson, dec.’. Her sister, Sarah Jackson, m. Col. Arthur Smith II. George Hardy was an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

Weston Zoyland manor house had been held by Edward Dyer’s father, Thomas, and passed to Francis Dyer (S.R.O., transcript file 2/54), only son of John Dyer, of Roundhill, mentioned in the will of his father, 1597. He m. (1) Elizabeth, da. of Owen Gwynne of Bristol. She m. (1) John Ashe, of Tickenham (d. 1580), by whom she left issue, two sons: 1. John Ashe, who m. Elizabeth, sister of Francis Dyer, and their son, Richard Ashe, was born at Roundhill, and baptised at Wincanton, on Aug. 30, 1600, and bur. at Tickenham, Jan. 7, 1617; 2. Owen Ashe. (See “Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset, Vol. X” by Frederick William Weaver and Charles Herbert Mayo, 1907).

Gwyn, Owen (by 1530-93/94), of Bristol, Glos, and London, made his will on Jan. 11, 1592 as “of the castle of Bristol and the county of Gloucestershire, esquire”. He asked to be buried in St. Peter’s, Bristol, “without pomp or charge” and divided the two leases and his property in Bristol between his grandsons (described as ‘nephews’) John and Owen, sons of John Ashe of Tickenham, Somerset.

John Ashe, of Tickenham was the son of his namesake and Jane Gorges, da. of Sir Edward Gorges, eldest son of Sir Edmund Gorges and Lady Anne Howard, by his wife Mary, da. of Sir Anthony Poyntz of Iron Acton, co. Gloucester.

1.Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494. “Thomas Harrys”, a tenant of Glastonbury Abbey, who is recorded thus: Harrys v Dyar. Plaintiffs: Thomas Harrys. Defendants: Thomas Dyar, knight. Subject: Tenement in the late abbot of Glastonbury’s manor of Greinton. Somerset. 1544-1551. (C 1/1228/15-18)
1.1. John Harrys, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.1.1. Richard Harris, bur. Dec. 19, 1593, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, m. Joan Collier, July 19, 1601, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1.1. William Harris, bapt. Oct. 3, 1602, Mells. Perhaps the William who was headright of John Moone (1637) and John Seward (1648) in Isle of Wight. John Moone’s da., Sarah Moone, m. Lt. John Pitt, son of Col. Robert Pitt, the Bristol sea captain and merchant. John Moone’s da. Mary Moone, m. Thomas Green; his sister m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset; their son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard, having issue: (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, who m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705. The Hodges and Council families were of Wedmore, Somerset, 20 miles from Mells/Nunney, on the main east/west road; a connection made more close by the intermarriages of the leading families of each place into the same families (Bluets, etc.).
1.1.2. John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, in Wedmore.
1.1.2.1. John Harris, d. 1625; m. (2) Christiana Thurston, bapt. 28 Oct. 1591, on Oct. 8, 1618; she was the great-niece of Joan Thurston, who m. (2) John Counsell, on Aug. 13, 1573.
1.1.2.1.1. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek, October 26, 1646: “James Tooke (his family were tenants of the Symes, of Mells) to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, probably d. in 1677, in Virginia. The inventory of Edward Harris states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis, i.e. Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset. He is not further recorded in the registers.
1.1.2.1.2. Thomas Harris.
1.1.2.1.2.1 Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, Cheddar, ‘son of Thomas’, perhaps he who pat. 240 a. adj. Mathew Tomlin, Mar. 27, 1686 (B.7, pp. 510-11), m. Hester Tibbits, probably as second wife, who decd. in 1581. He is not further recorded in the registers.

1.2. William Harris (“of Glastonbury”), m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594, sister of Edward Bennett, aforesaid.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623. He was the cousin of Governor Richard Bennett, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’. Mr. Charles Barham Ex., Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tuke (of Barwick, Somerset, whose family were tenants of the Symes family of Mells), overseers, were officers of the will of William Ridley, who was the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.
1.2.1.1.2. John Harris, bapt. 18 Feb. 1624; probably d. 1687, Virginia, m. Unity.
1.2.1.1.2.1. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710. Robert Lancaster of Virginia was of a branch of the Lancasters, squires of Cheddar, as given elsewhere.
1.1.2. John Harris,
1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris bapt. Feb. 3, 1582; “son of John”.
1.1.2.2. Sergeant John Harris (it may be presumed), bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, bur. Aug. 3, 1637, in Nunney
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Oct. 8, 1615 (in Othery juxta Greinton, whence the family holding, yet noted in the register as a son of a John Harris “of Aller”, 6 miles from Greinton, who is not recorded in the Aller registers), d. 1677, m. Alice West, in 1635, in Nunney, where a family of West were established. William West m. Katharin Peare (Perry?) on May 23, 1608, in Bath (18 miles from Nunney); their dau. being Alice West, bapt. Sept. 16, 1615. It was a common practice for marriages to take place in such ‘regional’ churches as Bath, especially if a rich relative (Godparent) lived there; a consideration of ample proportion.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Thomas Harris. bapt. Aug. 14, 1636, in Nunney, possibly he who d. in 1668).

1.1. Thomas Fuljames. bapt. Oct. 14, 1572, in High Ham, bur. May 21, 1580.
1.2. John Fuljames, bapt. May 22, 1575.
1.2.1. Anthony Fuljames, of Pitminster, m. (2) Martha Greene.
1.2.1.1. John Fulgham, b. 1639, at Pitminster.
1.2.1.2. Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard.
1.2.1.2.1. Anne Fulgham, m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.2.1.2.2. Susannah Fulgham, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. The Counsell family of Wedmore were tenants of the Hodges family.

1.2.2. Elizabeth Fuljames, bapt. June 11, 1622, in Pitminster.
1.2.3. Sarah Fuljames, bapt. December 21, 1624, in Pitminster, m. (in 1642, in Pitminster) John Cotton of Silverton, Devon. The Reverend William Cotton, Sarah Fuljames’s father-in-law, was Rector of the Were Family’s church in Silverton. The estates of Counselor John Weare, the head of the Were family in Silverton, and his eldest son, John, Jr., were sequestered in 1648 by Parliament. By 1650, Counselor John Weare, his wife Margaret (Dart) Were, John, Jr., Francis, and Katherine, had emigrated to the south side of the eastern branch of the Corotoman River, in Virginia, next to Anthony Fulgham. By 1647, Anthony was in Northumberland Co., and filed for a 500-acre patent on the south side of the Corotoman River. Anthony m. his second wife, Martha Greene, whose great-grandfather, John, was living in St Giles Cripplegate, where his eldest son, John, was born, in 1568, and his son and namesake in 1592. He m. Katherine Walker (in St Giles Cripplegate) on 9 Feb. 1618. They had issue: Thomas b. 1621 (m. Mary Moone), Martha b. 1626 (married Anthony Fulgham). John Greene appears as headrights in the land patent of John Weare of Silverton, Devon (and others) dated 7 Sep 1654. John Weare and Anthony Fulgham had close familial connections and cooperated in seating their patents on the Corotoman River between 1647 and 1654.
1.3. Nicolas Fuljames, bapt. Jan. 25, 1578, bur. 30 Sept. 30, 1591.
1.4. Anthony Fuljames, bapt. May 1, 1582.

They were all connected before Virginia.

Nothing more accurate has been said about the faintly visible characters that inhabit the distant past of Normandy than by David Bates, who commented about the mythical status of Duvelina, a supposed sister of Gunnor, and her supposed relationship with the equally mythical (in a sense) Torf, Turold, and Turchetil. The sense of these not being mythical is that they were ‘borrowed’ from a later time, so as to fill the void of knowledge. They were genealogical time travellers. Turchetil, a known brother of Honfroi de Veilles, was a typical ‘transportee’, as their sister, Duvelina. (See David Bates, Normandy before 1066, p. 213, 1982).

The entire aim of this genealogical sleight of hand was to support the myth of the leading families of Normandy all being related to the ducal house, thus providing a (God sanctioned) right to rule.

In the genealogical table that follows, for 1. Torf; 1.1. Turchetil; 1.2. Turold, substitute any name you wish. The early voids of knowledge, however, do not detract from what is known or reasonably conjectured about the Beaumont kinship network.

1. Torf. According to Robert of Torigny (GND, viii. c. 37), Torf was the father of Turold and Turchetil (see also OV ii. 12).
1.1. Turchetil. (He did not necessarilly die without children; this assumption was given because an understanding of the origins of the Harcourts is not known, and the perceived wisdom of their ‘succession’ had to be accomodated). ).
1.1.1. Turulfus; charters of St-Pierre de Préaux, c.1040, mention his son Gilbert (nos. 320, 334, 112). He was also mentioned as the father of Hugh and Geoffrey, c. 1080 (nos. 286, 345). As stated in Nomina Germanica (vol. 11, p. 341, 1954), it is reasonable to conjecture that this Turulfus was a nephew of Torulf of Pont-Audemer, and was consanguineus with Roger de Beaumont, son of Honfroi de Vielles.
1.1.1. Gilbert Efflanc. Tourville was held by the Efflancs.
1.1.1.1. ‘Anschetillus filius Gisleberti Efflanci’.
1.1.1.2. Ralph, of St Germain (Anschetil Efflanc, son of Gilbert Efflanc, held lands in the parish of St-Germain de Pont Audemer); who held the manor of Milton (Cambs.) in 1086 (DB), whose wife was Agnes, da. of Picot the sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Hugoline Gernon (probable da. of Robert Gernon).
1.1.1.2.1. Turstin Efflanc, mentioned in various charters of Préaux as son of Ranulph and br, of Gilbert. (Gallia Christ., t. xii, p. 853).
1.1.1.2.1.1. Roger. “filius suus”, Cart. de Préaux, fol. 109.
1.1.1.2.2. Gilbert Efflanc.
1.1.2. Ansketil “Ansketil son of Turulph”. Mr. Holt, Colonial England, p. 208, 1997: “Sometime between 1044 and 1078, probably before 1066, the knight Ansketil, son of Turulph, made a post obitum gift, with the consent of his wife and sons, to the abbey of St-Pierre de Préaux of whatever came to him by right from paternal inheritance in Tourville and Campigny. At his death the inheritance was divided among his surviving brothers. The abbey’s portion amounted to three tenant-holdings (hospites) and two of the brothers, Gilbert and Geoffrey, persuaded Abbot Ansfrid to grant them to them in beneficia. (This is not Anschetil de Campigni, who gave land in Saint-Germain (Pont-Audemer, sur Tourville) to Préaux, and is designated Anschetillus de Campiniaco, filius Seffridi in Cart. de Préaux, f. 404. Seffridi was the br. of *Osbern: (“Sasfridi fratris sui”); father of Goiffredus (Geoffrey) de Turvilla* (see Cartul. St-P. Préaux, fol. 109 v.), and Osbern. *Osbernus de Turvilla filius Duneline, as follows.
1.1.3. Hugh ( Hugo Putefosse). When the monks of Saint-Pierre de Preaux complained to Roger de Beaumont that their late abbot, Ansfrid, had given the churches of Pont-Audemer to Hugh the cleric son of Turulf (the abbey’s patron) without their permission, Hugh replied that he had received the churches from Roger’s father, Humphrey de Vieilles, and from Roger himself before he received them from Ansfrid. A charter of Roger de Beaumont, dated 1035-1036, gave to Preaux all he held in Espaignes (Pont Audemer), except those portions held by tenants of Preaux; his testes Hugo Putefosse, Goscelinus filius (le Rous/Roux/Rufus); his signature to confirm (‘firmati’; L. singular, nom. part. (‘to confirm’); Vitalis, Wadardus (Arch. de l’Eure, H. 711, fol. CII).
1.1.3.1. Goscelin le Rous/Roux/Rufus.
1.1.4. Geoffrey. Goisfred. (Cartul. St-P. Préaux, nos. 286, fol. 99, 345, 114).
1.2. Turold. M. Le Prevost (‘Essai Archéologique sur Pont-Audemer’, p. 8, 1834) did not consider this Turold to be the tutor of the young Duke William.
1.2.1. Hunfrid (Honfroi de Vieilles).
1.2.1.1. Roger de Beaumont; Asketil, his dapifer, being a junior kinsman. 1087-1095. Notification that “in the reign of Robert son of William king of the English, Roger de Beaumont gave, etc. The same day he gave to St. Peter, Preaux, 20 pounds of English money annually from the tithe of his revenues oversea, etc. Signa … Anchetilli pincerna”.
1.2.1.2. Dunelma (Dunelina and Duvelina). Charters that Humphrey’s son Roger had a sister called Dunelma, whose daughter was a nun at Saint-Leger-de-Preaux. This Dunelma might be identified with Dunelina, mother of Osbern de Tourville- sur-Pont-Audemer. If this identification were correct it would mean that Dunelina had married a landholder in Tourville-sur-Pont-Audemer. Before 1050 Abbess Emma of St Leger of Preaux exchanged thirty acres at Tourville-sur-Pont Audemer with filiis Dunelinae, see N.P., p. 522. Osbernus de Turvilla filius Duneline .
1.2.2. Turchetil.
1.2.2.1. Asketil (de Harcourt, I conjecture) de Rieu (“senioris”), gave the abbey of Tréport, c. 1060, the tithes of ‘decimam suam de Riu’. (Carlularium sanctae Trinitatis, p. 425).
1.2.2.1.1. Hugues de Rieu, confirmed his father’s gifts to Treport. At Domesday, he held Rotingedene (near Bergemere, contracted to Burg and Berges) from William de Warenne, whose son, William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (d. 1138), m. Isabelle de Vermandois, widow of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, whose son founded Garendon.
1.2.2.1.2. Asketil. D.B.: The Land of the Count of Eu, Bexill Hundred: ‘Ansketil of Rieux 1/2 hide‘. Possible pincerna of Roger de Beaumont, as second-cousin.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1. Robert fitz Anschetil, ob. 1118 (ctl. Preaux, fol. 102v).
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. William fitz Robert, fl. 1149 (P.R. 31 H. 1). Granted Stanton-under-Bardon, Leic., to Garendon Abbey, founded by Robert de Beaumont (cart. Garendon, fols. 5v., 15v.).
1.2.2.1.2.1.1.1.1. Robert fitz William, m. Eve Crispin, da. of baron of the Vexin Normande, Joscelin Crispin.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.2. Ivo de Harcourt. He ratified the confirmation of his brother, William, of their father’s gifts to Garendon (ctl. Garendon, fol. 15v.; Nichols’ Leic. vii.).

To envisage too readily a descent from such luminaries is to not account for the very stormy waters of time, which wrecked male-line succession on the rocks of frequent wars and disease, which brought about adoption on a scale not understood (nor wished to be understood). If any two families survived by male-line succession from a common Domesday ancestor a rare event has occurred; made impossible events the more other families are claimed to stem from a ‘Moses of Domesday’.

What is required is a clear understanding that names of a Saxon origin should not be transmuted into Norman ones with ease, and tenurial associations were frequently of a non-consanguineous kinship variety.

A Happy Christmas to all.

copyright m stanhoe 2017

From Robert Goodricke of Nortingley, Somerset, descended:

1. Richard Goodricke, of Ribstone (1559-1601), Sheriff of York, who m. Muriel Eure, da. of William, Lord Eure.
1.1. Sir Henry Goodricke, of Ribstone (1580-1641), m. Jane Savile, da. of Sir John Savile, of Methley.
1.1.1. Francis Goodricke (1621–1673); lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1673. Will proved Feb. 5, 1673. My nephew John Goodricke, younger son of my brother Sir John Goodricke, decd. My cousin Eleanor Goodricke, £5. The estate of her & her father, left in Trust to my care, both for her & her aunts, & creditors of her father, at York, & lands purchased in Somerset of her relatives, lying intermixed with her estate there, to be made over to Eleanor Goodricke. My wife Hester Goodricke.

1.1.2 . John Goodricke, m. Rebecca.
George Moore m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, a London vintner. George Moore (son of John Moore, mariner and merchant of Bristol, and br. of Thomas Moore), stated to be “age 78 years” when he made his will in 1710 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54). He was also the br. of Katherine Moore, who m. (2) Robert Flake, a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. Francis England, George Cripps. William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Dryver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor, to collect from William Hoodson in Nansemond. June 29, 1667.
George Moore had issue: (1) Eleanor Moore, who m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on 30 August 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642. (2) Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White. The estates of Ann Moore and her husband were appraised between betw. 1741 and 1742 by Thomas Day, John Goodrich, and Edward Brantley. (ibid., p. 142). Edward Brantley was security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
George Moore’s brother, Thomas, was an overseer of the Will of John Jennings, dated Oct. 19, 1678 (witness of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), who named son-in-law William Seward, grandson of John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, on adjacent land to whom settled Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
May 13, 1677: Francis England of Blackwater in IOW: Leg. da. Ann Branch, wife of George Branch and her sons, George, Francis and John Branch. Wife Joyce, Extrx. Overseers, John Gutridge and John Pearson. R. June 9, 1677. Wit: Nicholas Davis, George Cripps, Richard Bennett. (p. 144). Richard Bennett being the cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
April 18, 1679: Joyce Cripps: Leg. Husband George Cripps the lands and tenements given me by my former husband, Francis England, to the son of Francis England’s brother, if he comes to Virginia and makes claim to the said land within seven years; names “my mother Flake”. My husband Extr. R. June 9, 1679. Wit: John Goodricke, Rebecca Davis, William Evans. (B. 2, p. 202).
August 20, 1695: John Goodrich Sr. of Upper Parish. Legatees: Son Charles, wife Rebecca, John Goodrich the son of my wife Rebecca, reversion to my grandson John Goodrich, the son of Captain John Goodrich. Wife Extx. R. June 9, 1698. Wit. Robert Kae. (ibid., p. 389).
Edward Bechinoe’s Will was rec. June 9, 1679, naming wife, Mary, son George.
George Bechinoe’s Will, rec. 1688, was witnessed by Robert Kae (of Bristol), his son-in-law, and mentions Edward Bechinoe, his son.
Edward Harris: Appraisers: Edward Bechinoe, Richard Corsey.
The Will of Richard Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, witnessed by Thomas Moore.
The Will of Francis Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, witnessed by George Moore.
1.1.2.1. John Goodricke, appraised the Will of the said Richard Corsey.

1.2. William Goodricke, b. 1584.
1.2.1. William Goodricke, m. (1) Eleanor Davis, da. of Rice Davis and Mary Pitt. She m. (2) Nicholas Poyntz. Nicholas Poyntz, b. 1607, d. Feb. 11, 1650, bur. in the Savoy, Lond; matric. from Magdalen Hall, Oxon, as son of Sir John Poyntz, 31st Jan. 1622, aet. 16. Living at Tickenham in 1646. He m. (1638) Eleanor, heir of Rice Davis, of Tickenham, Som., by Mary Pitt, relict of Robert Owen (Robert ap Owen, of Abergwilli, Carmarthenshire, and a Bristol merchant), and 3rd wife of Rice (Rees) Davis. Mary Pitt was the mother of Robert Pitt, of Virginia. Rice Davis originated from Carmarthenshire, and was brother of “William Davies, of Carmarthenshire” (see Vis. Som.), father of Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. November 8, 1587, heir to his uncle, who m. Mary Owen, da. of Mary Pitt and Robert Owen, and sister of Robert Owen Jr., the very likely father of Bartholomew Owen. In Virginia, John Upton’s headright was Christopher Lewis, associated with Luke Mizell and Bartholomew Owen. On 10 July 1643, John Upton held 3289 ac. upon the branches of Pagan Point Creek and New Town Haven adj. Robert Pitt, cousin of the Owen family.

(1. Thomas Pitt, of Blandford Forum, North Dorset.
1.1. William Pitt, b. 1578; d. Oct. 25, 1624, in Bristol, Will pr. Feb. 3, 1625. To my wife Mary £500; to son Robert, three score and ten pounds; to son Henry £250; to son Thomas £250; to da. Mary Pitt £250. To my wife Mary a lease of the house wherein I now dwell in Redcliffe Street.
1.1.1. Henry Pitt. The Pitts were associated with Wrington: Consideration: £34. (1) Henry Pitt, merchant son of William Pitt, merchant, (2) John Yeaman, brewer. March 28, 1636. (Bristol Archives, 30631/7). Henry Pitt m. Margaret Dale, da. of “Thomas Dale of Wrington, Somerset, gent”. (See Bristol Archives, 33072/2). Wrington is 8 miles from Cheddar, and 11 from Wedmore, and was from where a Christopher Lewis was bapt. on October 1637, having brothers, John, bapt. Sept. 30, 1631, and Richard, bapt. Feb. 16, 1643. John may have had a full, uterine, sister, Jane, bapt. in Oct. 1636, in Bridgwater.
1.1.2. Robert Pitt. John Upton (whose headright was Christopher Lewis), 3289 acres, 10 July 1643. Lying upon the branches of Pagan Point Creek and New Town Haven adj. Mr. Sparkes, Anthony Jones, Mr. Nevill, Robert Pitt, Mr. Seward, Ambrose Bennett and Mr. Moone. 139 acres for trans. 3 pers. and the remainder by several former pats. John Seward was a headright of John Moone, in Warrasquinoake, in 1635, kin of the Fulghams: Anthony Fulgham’s brother, Thomas, having married Mary (Moone) Green, half-sister of Sarah Moone, wife of John Pitt, of Bristol, grandson of William and Mary Pitt.
1.2. Mary Pitt, m. Robert Owen, of Carmarthenshire and Bristol, merchant; his Will proved Feb. 16, 1615, naming son Robert, and da., Mary. Mary Pitt m. 2. Rees Davis, who had first m. Dorothy, da. of Maurice Rodney, Esq., and sister of Sir George Rodney; thus becoming kin to the Hodges family of Wedmore.
1.2.1. Mary Owen, m. Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. November 8, 1587, son of William Davies, of Carmarthenshire, brother of Rees Davis, Esquire, of Tickenham, Somerset.
1.2.1.1. Robert Davis (involved in various litigations concerning the Owen estate).
1.2.1.1.1. John Davis, bapt. April 17, 1637; d. bef. 28 June 1714, m. Mary Green. His Will names friend Nathaniel Ridley (nephew of William, associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672). The estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, was in debt to John Davis. Thomas Harris (d. 1672) 40 acres, Aug. 14, 1652. At the head of one of the branches of the Pagan Cr., bounded by John Davis on N.W. for trans. Peter Bell
1.2.1.1.1.1. Sarah Davis, d. bef, Jan. 6, 1720, m. Nicholas Fulgham, son of Anthony Fulgham, and brother of Michael Fulgham, who m. Anne Izzard; having issue (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, who m. (1705), Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Nicholas Fulgham, m. Martha Pitt.
1.2.2. Robert Owen.
1.2.2.1. John Owen: Owen, John. 1652. Christopher Lewis. Isle of Wight. (Greer).
1.2.2.2. Bartholomew Owen, who probably m. the sister of Christopher Lewis, of the same family as an earlier namesake).

1.2.1.1. Eleanor Goodriche. Her father’s will, dated 12th May, 1666 bequeathed his lands in Somersetshire, the inheritance of his late wife, to his daughter Eleanor Goodricke, and to his daughter Mary Goodricke he gave the sum of one thousand pounds. His property in Stuntney, in the Isle of Ely, known as Thorney Manor Farm, and his four closes in Stuntney and their appurtenances, he left to his cousin Sir Francis Goodricke

The estates in Somersetshire, situated at Tickenham and Backwell, inherited by Eleanor Goodricke, were considerable. Her mother (Eleanor Davis) had succeeded to them to the exclusion of her half-sisters, Joan, Elizabeth, and Margaret, daughters of Mr. Rice Davis by his wife Dorothy Rodney, through whom the property had come into the, possession of the Davis family. Constant disputes and litigation arose between Eleanor Goodricke and her relations on her mother’s side, in connection with her estate; and Sir Francis Goodricke mentions in his will the fact that he was largely out of pocket for purchases of lands in dispute in order to settle the lawsuits to which Eleanor Goodricke was a party. Born Eleanor Goodricke in Yorkshire, around 1654, she inherited property in the fullness of time, including Tickenham Court, near Clevedon in Somerset, which she made her home. She first married Edmund Ashfield, an artist from Lincolnshire, by whom she had three children, and then, after his untimely death, Richard Glanville.

At the time of her marriage to Glanville, Eleanor Ashfield possessed in her own right an income of £600 per annum and ready money to the amount of £10,000 Her husband settled upon her for life, under a deed dated 24th January, I692-3, his manors of Elmset, Somersham and Often, which estates were to descend to their son Richard after his death and Eleanor’s decease.

Eleanor’s second marriage, however, was a exceedingly unhappy one, and she was soon separated from her husband. His own father cheated her son Richard out of his patrimony. He settled at Wedmore, co. Somerset, and was ancestor of the Glanvilles, who still hold property there. I must refer my readers to the exhaustive “Records of the Anglo-Norman House of Glanville,” published in 1882 by W. U. S. Glanville-Richards, Esq., for the history of this family continued to the present time.

Eleanor Glanville died in 1709. By her will, dated 30th July, 1705, proved in London by Sir Henry Goodricke, fourth Baronet, 21st April, 1709, she bequeathed her manors of Tickenham, Rodney Stoke, etc., and her lands in Backwell and Loxton, etc., to Sir Henry Goodricke, who took possession of the properties.

In 1712 however, Forest Ashfield claimed Tickenham as heir-at-law to his mother, and entered a suit against Sir Henry to have his mother’s will set aside-having been, he declared, made by her under the impression that her children had been changed by Fairies! After trial and examination of one hundred witnesses at the Wells Assizes, in 1712 the will was upset on the ground of testatrix’s insanity.

Forest Ashfield afterwards sold Tickenham to Mr. Brickdale, of Bristol; but he continued to live in the neighbourhood. He died unmarried, leaving no will, and such property as remained to him-probably very little-was divided among his relatives. He was buried at Tickenham, 11th August, 1721.

Eleanor Glanville, wife of Richard Glanville, of Tickenham Court, Somerset, Gent. Will dated July 30, 1705. Before my marriage with Richard Glanville, by the name of Eleanor Ashfield, of Tickenham, widow, by Indenture Nov. 23 & 24, 1 Jac. II., I did grant to Edward Gorges, of Charlton, in Wraxall, Esq., & William Rogers of Painswick, co. Glouc, Esq., & their heirs, my manors of Tickenham, Rodney Stoke & Cheddar, & lands in Backwell & Lockston, all in co. Som., & all other lands wherein I the said Eleanor was then seised, to be holden by them to their use in Trust, & by Indenture tripartite, Nov. 25, 1 Jac. II., between me Eleanor Glanville as Eleanor Ashfield, of Tickenham, widow, Richard Glanville, of Bristol, Gent., & the said Edward Georges & William Rogers (Trustees), reciting that a marriage was shortly to be solemnized between the s d Rd Glanville & me, it was agreed that the said Trustees should make leases, &c, & should permit the profits to be received by such person as I should by Writing or Will, order or declare, the said Richard Glanville consenting thereto, pursuant to this power I will & desire the said Trustees should pay to Thomas Merrick, Exor. of Sir William Merrick, knt. ,£2,500 and interest secured by Mortgage on the said premises — and then to pay to my son Forest Edmond Ashfield, my daughter Mary & my son Richard;£i0 each, & a weekly sum of 5/ to my daughter Eleanor for her life. All my Manors to my cousin Henry Goodrick, esq., son of my cousin, Sir John Goodrick of Ribstone, Yorkshire, Bart. To the said Edward Gorges, & Wm. Rogers, Esqrs , 20 each for a piece of plate. To Mr John Parratt, £100. To John Baptist Stambrid, £i00. Poor of Tickenham, 40/, & of Backwell, 20/. To Wm Wale, £10 yearly. The aforesd Henry Goodrick, Exor.

Eleanor, a most interesting and learned person, well worth reading about. See Fiona Fountain, Rebel Heiress, 2012.

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A fundamental difficulty in determining English ancestries in Virginia is the practice of English cousins intermarrying into the same families, so that consanguineous links were strengthened at each generation by non-consanguineous ones. This makes it difficult to identify different strands of the same family, as their records contain references to their wider kinship circle. Thus it was with the Somerset family of Harris of Mells/Nunney/Wedmore/Cheddar/Wiveliscombe.

In what follows, I have not reiterated in any detail their shared connection to the Bennett family; made more explicit in previous notes. Herein is an account of that strand of the family which came to reside in Wedmore, juxta Cheddar.

The only reflection I will put forward is that it was more likely to place your orphan with someone you knew very well; the same comment applying to a witness of your Will.

1. Thomas Lyte of Lytes Cary, Somerset, d. 1523, m. Marjory Drene, of Bridgewater, Somerset.
1.1. John Lyte, d. 1566, m. 1. Edith Horsey, d. 1556, da. of John Horsey, of Marlin, Somerset.
1.1.1. Henry Lyte, d. 1607, m. 1. (1546) Agnes Kellway, of Cullumpton, 2. (1565) Frances Tiptoft, 3. (1591) Dorothy Gover.
1.1.1.1. Thomas Lyte, b. 1568, m. 1. (1592) Frances Worth, da. of Henry Worth, of Worth, Devon. 2. Lady Constance Sydney, née Huntley. General release of all actions, Frances Coggan of Chard (executrix of Thomas Huddy of Taunton, decd.) to Thomas Lyte and Dorothy (Gover) Lyte, wid. (executrix or administrator of Henry Lyte esq. decd.) 8 Jas., said to be folded with ‘the roll of all the proceedings betwixt Thomas Lyte and Francis Coggan’. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. DD\X\LY/3/66).
1.1.1.1.1. Dorothy Lyte, b. 1594.
1.1.1.1.2. Thomas Lyte, b. 1602.
1.1.1.1.3. George Lyte, b. 1621 (by second wife), m. Ann Hodges. Hodges v Lyte. Plaintiffs: Mary Hodges, and Jane Hodges (heirs of George Hodges). Defendants: George Lyte, Anne (Hodges) Lyte his wife. Subject: rectory of Wedmore, Somerset. 1655 (N.A, ref. C 5/23/121). Morgan v Horler. Plaintiffs: William Morgan, Barbara Morgan his wife, George Lyte and Anne Lyte his wife. Lease: Margery Hodges of Heathhouse, Wedmore, widow of George Hodges, to Richard Counsell of Wedmore, husbandman and Joan his wife. (Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, ref. 2667/1/36/2. 1655). In the north chapel of Wedmore Church is part of a monument to the Hodges family which incorporates brasses to Captain Thomas Hodges, who was killed at the siege of Antwerp in 1583, and his son George, who died in 1634: they were the son and grandson of the Thomas Hodges who bought the manor of Wedmore in 1577. Richard Counsell was the probable father of Hodges Counsell, see anon.
1.1.1.2. Magdalene Lyte, m. (1583) Henry Moone.
1.1.1.2. William Lyde.
1.1.1.2.1. Thomas Lyde, m. Agnes Bailey, Nov. 28, 1581, in Wedmore; the source of the following records:
1.1.1.2.1.1. John Lyde ‘of Heathouse’, bapt. Oct. 8, 1620, m. Jocosa Webb, on Oct. 22, 1640. Jacosa Webb was bapt. Apr. 14, 1594, da. of Thomas Webb, and relict of George Harris, ob. Apr. 4, 1640, whom she m. Apr. 28, 1623. Robert Harris, br. of George, was the father of Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, in Wedmore, whose sister m. John Lyde’s son, Thomas.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2. Thomas Lyde, m. Christian Harris, Mar. 20, 1654.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.1. Thomas Lyde.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.1.1. Anna Lyde, bapt. Nov. 20, 1676, m. Robert Champion, on Aug. 20, 1709. Edward Symes m. (2) Susannah Champion, widow, Oct. 12, 1676, in Bath. Edward’s br., James Symes, was the probable grandfather of Robert Symes, who m. (1719) Phillis Fort, in Virginia, her first husband being Francis Fiveash, whose nephew, Thomas Fiveash, m. (1712) Alice Harris, da. of John Harris. (D.B. 7, p. 288). Phillis Fort was the sister of Elias Fort (his family almost certainly of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, as the Bennetts of Virginia): Appraisal by Edward Brantley, John Britt, William Baldwin, and Edward Champion. R. April 9, 1679. These Champions originated from Meare, 5 mls fr. Wedmore. As hereinafter: Will of Tho. Moore: names Edward Champion, Jr., Orlando Champion and their father Edward Champion, Sen., Alice Champion, dau. of said Edward Champion; Benjamin, son of Edward Champion, Sr., wife Elizabeth Moore and bro. George Moore, niece Magdalen Carter, Priscella Champion; wife and bro. exors., and Charles Champion and Mr. Carrell overseers. Proved 9, 10 br , 1696. Magdalen Carter was the da. of George Moore, and wife of Thomas Carter Jr.; son of Captain Thomas Carter and Elinor Cooke, who m. 2. William Groves, whose estate was presented by “Mrs. Elinor Groves” on Nov. 21, 1677. Elinor’s sister, Frances, m. John Person, who came to Virginia, in 1648, on the Transport at age 18; that is “John Perce, sonne of Richard Perce of Somersetshire, England. Said to own land in Virginia Colony near to land owned by Captain John Ratliff, the first Governor”. William Groves. Appraisal by John Harris (son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), Edward Brantley, Elias Fort, Edward Grantham. Presented by Mrs. Elinor Groves. B. 2., p. 172. R. Feb 9, 1678,
1.1.2. Maria Lyte, m. Richard Huddey, of Stone.
1.1.3. Dorothy Lyte, m. Anthony Ashley.
1.1.3.1. Sir Anthony Ashley, of Wimborne St Giles.
1.1.3.1.1. Anne Ashley.
1.1.3.1.1.1. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, baronet.

1. Sir John Hody, or Huddy of Stowell, Somerset, and Nethway, Devon, Chief Justice of England, m. Elizabeth Jewe, d. 1473, da. of John Jewe, son of William, of Whitefield, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset.
1.1. John Huddy, of Stowell m. Elizabeth Thornbury, da. of John Thornbury.
1.1.1. Andrew Huddy, of Stowell and Netherway, m. Joan Burnell, da. of Henry Burnell, of Somerset.
1.1.1.1. William Huddy, of Stowell and Netherway, m. Margaret Yarde, da. of Richard Yarde, of Devon.
1.1.1.1.1. Richard Huddy, of Stowell, m. Maria Lyte, da. of John Lyte.
1.1.1.1.1.1. John Huddy of Stowell, m. Elizabeth Anketill, da. of George Anketill, of Dorset.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Christopher Huddy of Stowell, d. 1617. m. (1583) Elizabeth Upton, da. of John Upton, of Lupton, Devon, and Ann Cooper, of Somerset, relict of Thomas Allen, of Glastonbury.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Mary Huddy, m. John Harris.

1.. John Harris, of Wedmore (Allerton), m. 1. Joanna, d. 1579, 2. Alicia, d. 1585. ‘Servant’ of Robert Sherwell, husband of Maria Beard, da. of John Beard (this family intermarried with the Bennetts of Wiveliscombe). Marie Sherwell, widow of Robert Sherwell, of Blackford, Somerset, gent. Will proved Nov. 26, 1627.  ‘To be buried at Wedmore. My cousin Richard Counsell. My cousin Margery Hodges. Mr. George Hodges, of Wedmore. Eleanor Hodges. Ann, daughter of Mr. George Hodges.
1.1. John Harris, bur. Jul. 31, 1599, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, Wedmore.
1.1.1. John Harris, of Wedmore (Allerton), bur. Glastonbury* (1621) m. Mary Huddy. *Glastonbury was where the Harris family of Wiveliscombe ‘originated‘; they intermarried with the family of Governor Bennett of Virginia.
1.1.1.1. George Harris, m. Joan (Jacosa) Webb, Apr. 28, 1623, Wedmore.
1.1.1.1.1. Christian Harris, m. Thomas Lide, Mar. 20, 1654.
1.1.1.2. Huddy Harris. (Harris v Harris. Plaintiffs: Huddy Harris. Defendants: Richard Harris and others (Webbe). Subject: property in South Brent, Somerset (6 mls fr. Wedmore/Cheddar); 1620, Nat. Arch. C 3/312/36.

Huddy Harris, of Corsham, Wiltshire, gentleman, was a lawyer, and was likely involved in that capacity with Edward Tooker of Maddington, co. Wilts., esq., in the purchase of Somerset and Wiltshire manors by Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, baronet: ‘Oldfield, Pinchampstall, Dicon Fields and messuage in Dicon Fields, form. occ. by Thos. Stenson then by Wm. Broomfield, then by John Coggin, in St. Pancras, leased for 3 years by Edw. Tooker of New Sarum, co. Wilts., esq., and Mary his wife wid. of Wm. Platt of Highgate Hill, to Christian Neale of Kentish Town, Mx., wid., and in 1679 for 20 years by Mary Tooker of Barrow, wid., and Master and Fellows of St. John’s College, Cambridge, to John Coggin of London, cooper. 1654, 1679. (Somerset Heritage Centre, DD\GB/103). Thynne v Tooker. Plaintiffs: Sir Henry Frederick Thynne, bart. Defendants: Edward Tooker and another. Subject: manors of Frome Selwood, (n.b.) Cheddar, Deverill Longbridge, etc, Somerset and Wiltshire. 1661. (Nat. Arch., ref. C 5/433/46).

Order of the Court of Wards for Edward Tooker to give security for 1,250l. for purchase of the manor of Powlett, county Somerset, on behalf of (his ward) Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, baronet. (PRO 30/24/2/).

Huddy Harris was the senior of that name, also mentioned here: Harris v Allyn. Plaintiffs: Huddy Harris. Defendants: Robert Allyn, Katherine Long and Leonard Atkins. Subject: money matters, Wiltshire. 1646. (N.A., ref. C 3/404/77). The admon. of his great-aunt, of April 14, 1630, shows him to have been the son of Mary Harris: Hellen Angoll (Angell) of Corsham, Wilts. wid. Nunc. in July,1627 (but decd. in Oct. 1629, at Elsmore (juxta Gloucester). Her k. Huddy Harris in whose house she then dwelt, of Corsham gent.; his 2 yr. chn., Wm. and Frances; Mary his w. Witn: Huddy Harris , Ric. Pinchin, Eliz. Pitts. (Admon. Ap. 14 to Huddy Harris, h. of Mary H., niece of testatrix. (Scrope, 374). Hellen Angell was almost certainly of the Angell family of Gloucester, merchants and land speculators, active in Bristol trade. It was almost certainly Huddy’s son and namesake, born c. 1630, who was bound to George Vinson, planter, to serve 4 years in Barbados. (BRO., 1655).

1.1.1.3. Richard Harris.
1.1.2. Thomas Harris.
1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, Cheddar, ‘son of Thomas’, perhaps he who pat. 240 a. adj. Mathew Tomlin, Mar. 27, 1686 (B.7, pp. 510-11), m. Hester Tibbits, probably as second wife, who decd. in 1581. He is not further recorded in the registers.
1.1.3. Robert Harris.
1.1.3.1. Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, Wedmore, ‘son of Robert’, perhaps he who d. in Virginia in 1677. He is not further recorded in the registers.
1.1.4. John Harris, m. Agnes Coomer. (The pre-eminent family of shared intermarriages).

1. John Counsell, bapt. 1573. 1.1. John Counsell, bapt. 28 Nov. 28, 1601,’ f. Joannis Counsell‘, m. Mary Coomer, 26 Nov 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who m. John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, Feb. 4, 1635; uncle of Thomas Harris, bapt. 31 Dec. 1637, in Cheddar, and Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, in Wedmore 1.2. Richard Counsell, bapt. 3 Sept. 1613 (fr. Blackford), m. (1) Joan Taylor, Aug. 12, 1640, (2) Elizabeth Hix, Aug. 12, 1647, da. of William Hix and Grace Morton, m. Jan. 23, 1625, and niece of Margaret Hix, who m. Simon Day, Jan. 14, 1632. 1.2.1. Hodges Counsell. Richard Counsell was the br.-in-law of Susan Lancaster, and Hodges Counsell may have received his Christian name after her husband, William Hodges, a member of the very influential Hodges family, squires of Wedmore, who was probably his Godfather.

The vastly intertwined nature of family associations is evidenced through the Coomers. Mary and Agnes Coomer were daughters of a John Coomer, sisters of John Coomer, and aunt of his issue: John Coomer (father of another John), William Coomer Sr., Thomas Coomer, and Mary Coomer, who m. John Gardner, Oct. 24, 1664, in Cheddar; br. of Joel Gardner, father of Jane Gardner, who m. James Counsell, likely br. of Hodges Counsell, Jun. 12, 1682, in Cheddar. (See Presentments of churchwardens, etc. Cheddar (Peculiar, etc.). 1662-1701. Marriage Bond: James Counsell of Burrington, husbandman, and Jane Gardner, daughter of Joel Gardner of Cheddar. (S.H.C./ DD\SAS/C795/PR/150). Jane Gardner was the sister of Elizabeth Gardner, who m. George Tibbits, May 1678, in Cheddar, sister of Hester Tibbits, who m. Thomas Harris, Apr. 24, 1679, in Cheddar.

Counsell connections:
John Hardy, Will dated October 7, 1676. I give and bequeath my dau. Olive, the wife of Giles Driver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). I give to my da. Lucy Councill the wife of Hodges Councill. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 7th day of October 1676. (signed) John Hardy. Witnesses: Richard Rennolds, Will Jenkins (of Bristol, merchant; connected to John Coggin, of Bristol, merchant, witness to the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688). Proved by Mr. Rennolds in Court June 9, 1677. Richard Rennolds was the servant of Edward Bennett, of Wiveliscome, br.-in-law of Richard Harris of the same place.

Probable Hardy connections:
Hardy v Freke. Plaintiffs: John Hardy. Defendants: John Freke. Subject: property in Mere, Somerset, (5 mls fr. Cheddar/Wedmore). 1655. (N.A., ref. C 5/410/23).
Exemplification of a common recovery. By John Hardy, Esq., and George Style, esq., against George Parry, gent. and Thomas Abington, gent., of a messuage or fulling water-mill, etc. in Cole, Pittcombe, and Bruton. Nov 29, 1645. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. DD\WHh/650).
Symes v Hurding. Plaintiffs: John Symes and Christopher Symes, William Bird, John Hardie, Hippolite Pinch and Hugh Miller. Defendants: Henry Harding and John Michell. Subject: lands in Long Bredy, Somerset. 1603-1625. The Fulgham family of Pitminster, Somerset, were tenamts of the Symes.

A Bechinoe template:
1. George Bechinoe.
2. Conyers Bechinoe, held property in Bristol.
2. Edward Bechinoe, d. June 9, 1679, m. Mary.
3. George Bechinoe, d. aft. Aug. 10, 1700.
4. Edward Bechinoe.
3. Anne Bechinoe, d. 1712; m. 1. Robert Kæ Sr. d. 1704. 2. John (Guttreidge) Goodrich Jr., d. 1695. (His family intermarried to that of Rees Davis, Esq., of Tickenham, Somerset).
4. Constance Goodrich, d. 1752, m. Benjamin Hodges. (The usually given ancestry of these Hodges is typically flawed).
5. Hartwell Hodges, d. April 25, 1796, in Nash County, North Carolina. (Very interesting, perhaps).

W&M Quarterty vol. vii. April, 1899. No. 4. IOW Co. records.
Conyers Bechinoe, br. of Edward, owned property in Henbury, Bristol. (N.A., C 7/540/16).
Edward Bechinoe’s Will was rec. June 9, 1679, naming wife, Mary, son George.
George Bechinoe’s Will, rec. 1688, was witnessed by Robert Kae, his son-in-law, and mentions Edward Bechinoe, his son.
Edward Bechinoe and Richard Piland witness the Will of Thomas Ware, R. June 9, 1677. (Elizabeth Beaumont, of Gittesham, Devon, widow of Henry Beamont, Esq., decd. Will proved July 14, 1614. by Tho. Warre. To my cousin Thomas Warre, son of my nephew Roger Warre, a chain of gold. My cousin Roger, son of my said nephew. To the eldest & youngest sons of my cousin Johan Lyte, £6. 13. 4. (The Beaumonts were interm. withe the family of Wykes. William Beaumont, of Wells, Somerset, gent. Will proved Jan. 26, 1632-3, by Edward Wykes). To Katherine Bluett, daughter of my nephew John Bluett, 50/. My cousin Thomas Warre, of the Middle Temple, London, esq., third son of my nephew Roger Warre, of Hestercombe, Exor. She was daughter of Sir Roger Bluet, of Holoombe Rogus. Her sistter Catherine Bluet married Richard Warre, of Hestercombe. The Bluets interm. with the Bennett family of Wiveliscombe; they with the Harris family of that place.

George Moore m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, a London vintner. George Moore (son of John Moore, mariner and merchant of Bristol, and br. of Thomas Moore), stated to be “age 78 years” when he made his will in 1710 (Chapman, IOW Wills, p. 54). He was the br. of Katherine Moore, who married (2) Robert Flake, a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants. By her first husband, she had issue: Joyce, who m. (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. Francis England, George Cripps. William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Dryver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor, to collect from William Hoodson in Nansemond. June 29, 1667. Edward Brantley, Oct. 30, 1669, 675 acres adj. land of Mr. England and Mr. Tooke (associate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).

Will of Tho. Moore: Names Edward Champion, Jr., Orlando Champion and their father Edward Champion, Sen., Alice Champion, da. of said Edward Champion; Benjamin, son of Edward Champion, Sr., wife Elizabeth Moore and bro. George Moore, niece Magdalen Carter, Priscella Champion; wife and bro. exors., and Charles Champion and Mr. Carrell overseers. Proved 9, Oct. , 1696. At Bristol are the wills of Katherine Champion (1616), William (1636), John (1705).

Barcroft:

1.
1.1. John Barcroft.
1.1.1. John Barcroft, noted in an assignment of interest in 1652 in a messuage between John Barcroft, late of Chard now of London, merchant, and Robert Barcroft to John Chapman of Chard, merchant and Henry Tooley of London, Haberdasher. He became a london merchant. He made his last will on December 12, 1667. Will of Philobert Cogan (Proved Apr. 12, 1641): ‘Mr. John Barcroft and Margaret Webb’ …. Fxecutrix, wife Ann. Cousin, William Cogan (probable father of the John Coggin, witness of the will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), overseers. If William Cogan, my cousin, do discharge my said executrix of all such bonds, bills and obligations as I do stand bound with and for him unto Mr. John Barcroft and Margaret Webb, widow (Philobert’ s sister, probable wife of John Barcroft).
1.2. Charles Barcroft, d. Sept. 23, 1661, m. (1) Dorothy Crosbie on 20 Feb. 20, 1632 at St. Olave’s, Southwark, London. (2)

In Calendar of State Papers: Colonial America and the West Indies 1675-6, Addenda 1574-1674 p. 83, an entry for 8 March 1639 about “Elizabeth, wife of Charles Barcroft of Old Ford, Middlesex” to the effect that in August 1636 her husband abandoned his trade in London and went to Virginia “where he yet lives.” The entry goes on to note that “his brother John Barcroft was there deceased” and that Charles Barcroft “merchant” was sending her yearly expenses. 23 Sept 1661 – administration on Charles Barcroft’s estate granted to his son-in-law George Moore.

1.2.1. Jane Barcroft, m. George Moore.
1.2.1.1. Eleanor Moore, Richard Piland.

John Coggin (‘of the City of Bristol, but now resident in Virginia’ witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. Although the ancestry of John Cogan is problematic, his social status (gent), and the connection of Philibert Cogan, gent, of Chard, Somerset, to Virginia, is suggestive of an affiliation to his family: John Ludlow, living in York Co., Virginia, in 1660, died in Somerset, England in 1664 (Brown, Somerset Wills, pp. 28-29, 1890). His sister, Sarah, was the fourth wife of Col. John Carter, Esq. of Lancaster Co. They has issue, John and Robert. Col. Carter died in 1669 (ibid.). John and Sarah Ludlow were nephew and niece of Roger Ludlow, who m. Mary Cogan (b. 1604), da. of Philibert Cogan, gent, of Chard, Somerset, and Anne, da. of Thomas Marshall. Roger Ludlow’s br., George, was in Virginia in 1665. Roger Ludlow moved to Chard, Somerset, and came in contact with the “John and Mary group”.

George Moore had issue: (1) Eleanor Moore, who m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on 30 August 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642. (2) Ann Moore, who m. Thomas White. The estates of Ann Moore and her husband Thomas White were appraised between betw. 1741 and 1742 by Thomas Day, John Goodrich, and Edward Brantley. (Chapman, Wills, p. 142). Edward Brantley was security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

George Moore’s brother, Thomas, was an overseer of the Will of John Jennings, dated Oct. 19, 1678 (witness of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), who named son-in-law William Seward, grandson of John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, on adjacent land to whom settled Thomas Harris, d. 1688. John Jennings witnessed the Will of George Hardy, proved April 14, 1655, who came to Virginia before 1636, when he is called “Shipright.” In 1644, he patented 300 acres (increased to 500 in 1648), situated upon Lawne’s creek and bordering upon Alice Bennett’s land (doubtless widow of Robert Bennett, of London). ‘To my kinsman George H. 3000 lbs. of tobacco to buy two servants’.
Mr. George Hardy aged 37 in 1670.

Edward Harris: Appraisers, Edward Bechinoe, Richard Corsey, John Williams, and Richard Hansford. Presented by Mr. George Hardy.
The Will of Francis Corsey, rec. May I, 1679, witnessed by George Moore.
The Will of Frances Corsey, rec. Feb. 22, 1679, Mr. Thomas Groves to educate son, John, orphan of Richard Corsey, by permission of his attorney, Captain H. Applewhaite, attorney of Captain Thomas Groves

1. Elizabeth Fulgham (cousin of the family of Thomas Harris, d. 1688), m. Thomas Applewhaite, son of Henry Applewhaite, who moved from Barbados to IOW Co., before 1668
1.1. Henry Applewhaite, d. 1739, m. Mary Council, da. of Hardy Council and Susannah Fulgham. Henry Applewhite’s estate was returned by Philip and Mary Brantley. R. Sept. 23, 1745.
1.1.1. Henry Applewhaite, of the parish of St Luke, d. 1783, m. Ann Harris. Marriage bonds of Henry Applewhite and Ann Harris, Nov. 7, 1756. Ann Harris was the da. of Edward Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.1.1. Mary Applewhite, m. John Barham, son of Benjamin Barham (grandson of Charles Barham, connected to Thomas Harris, d. 1672), of the parish of St Luke, Will R. June 10, 1779, witnessed by James Ridley, son of Nathaniel Ridley (half brother of William Ridley and Elizabeth Day, the relict of Matthew Jones, and da. of John Day and Mary Bennett, da. of Edward Bennett, br.-in-law of Richard Harris, of Wivelscombe, Somerset. John and Mary (Bennett) Day had issue: Elizabeth Day, who m. firstly (Oct. 17, 1706) Capt. Nathaniel Ridley; secondly Matthew Jones; their son, James Ridley, m. Jane Smith, da. of Col. Arthur Smith, whose son, Arthur Smith II., m. Sarah Jackson, sister of Mary, wife of George Hardy, an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

John Banton of Bristol, merchant, makes Robert Kae his atty. 9 Aug. 1669.
John Banton of the City of Bristol, merchant, resident in. Virginia, power to Robert Kee or Thomas Taberer, 17 June,. 1669
Will of Thomas Taberer, dated Jan. 14, 1692: names grandson; Thomas Numan, son of John Numan (br.-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and my dau. Ruth Jordan. (The reynolds connection).

Letter of Charles Toplady requesting Robert Kae to proseccute Mr Richard Izard. 1668.

Robert Kae was the son of Thomas Kae, of Bristol.

Will of Geo. Cripps : Devises land to Edward Bechinoe, son of George Bechinoe, and Mary his wife, Elizabeth Gutridge, dau. of Capt. John Guttridge and Anne his wife. Oct. 10, 1687.

Joyce Cripps R. June 9, 1679: ‘Godson James Bennett’ (see previos notes); ‘my mother Flake’.

To each their own; but it seems obvious.

copyright m stanhope 2017

1. Torf.
1.1. Turketil (GND, viii. c. 37; OV ii. 12); died sans issue.
1.2. Turold ‘Turoldis teneri ducis pedagogus perimitur’ (Will. Gemet, VII.).
1.2.1. Hunfrid (Onfroi) de Vieilles, alias Vetulis or Vaux, lord of Vieilles; a small commune in the canton of Beaumont, arrondissement of Bernay.
1.2.1.1. Roger de Beaumont; Asketil, his dapifer, being a junior kinsman. 1087-1095. Notification that “in the reign of Robert son of William king of the English, Roger de Beaumont gave, etc. The same day he gave to St. Peter, Preaux, 20 pounds of English money annually from the tithe of his revenues oversea, etc. Signa Roberti comitis de Mellent; Ricardi Wanescrot; Ricardi fiii Teoderici; Anchetilli pincerna; Willelmi Stutaville”.
1.2.1.1.1. Robert de Beaumont, Ist Earl Leicester.
1.2.1.1.1.1. Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl Leicester, founder of Garendon in 1133, to which donated his kinsmen, Hugh de Berges, and his son, Asketil.
1.2.1.1.1. Robert de Beaumont, Ist Earl Leicester.
1.2.1.1.1.1. Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl Leicester, founder of Garendon in 1133, to which donated his kinsmen, Hugh de Berges, and his son, Asketil.
1.2.1.2. ‘Rodbertus de Bellomonte, filius Unfredi‘. 1066-1087.
1.2.1.2.1. Rogerius de Tetboldivilla. Le Prévost, Hist. of Saint-Martin du Tilleul, vol. 8: “The genealogy of the family of Thibouville is partly given by a charter of 1150, concerning Guillaume de Thibouville, first of that name. Thibouville, between Neubourg and Harcourt, was the cradle of this family, probably as a result of some alliance. The first recorded personage of this house was called Robert. He is known only to us as the father of Roger de Thibouville: “Rogerius filius Roberti of Tetboldi Villa, Rogerius of Tetboldivilla“.
1.2.1.2.1.1. Guillaume de Thibouville.
1.2.2. Turchetil, brother of Lescelina, whose husband founded Tréport.
1.2.2.1. Asketil de Rieu, gave the abbey of Tréport, c. 1060, the tithes of ‘decimam suam de Riu’. (Carlularium sanctae Trinilatis, p. 425). He is noted as ‘senis’, distinguishing him from his son and namesake. If as given, distinguishable from
Anschetil de Campigni, who gave land in Saint-Germain (Pont-Audemer, sur Tourville) to Préaux, and is designated Anschetillus de Campiniaco, filius Seffridi in Cart. de Préaux, f. 404 in which his lord is given as ‘Rogerii Bellimontis’.
He is clearly distinguished from ‘Anschetillus filius Gisleberti Efflanci'(vassal of Humfrid (Onfroy) de Vieilles, father of Roger de Beaumont), who donated land in Saint-Germain to Préaux with the consent of the said Roger. (ibid.). “Le Cartulaire de Saint-Gilles nomme, parmi les bienfaiteurs de la maison … famille, descendant sans doute de Toustain Efflanc, fils de Ranulfe (and brother of Gisleberti) témoin dans deux chartes pour Préaux, vers 1078” (Alfred Canel, ‘Essai historique’, cit. Neustr. pia, pp. 511,524; Gallia Christ., t. xii, p. 853).
Véronique Gazeau (‘Normannia monastica’, 2007) suggests that Sifroi was the illigitimate son of William I. de Bellême,, and grandfather of Raoul d’Escures, thus: “Radulphus Sifreidi de Scurris filias”; “Seginfridus filius Willelmi de Bellisimo”, refering to Charles and Menjot, eds. (1886) Cart. St Vincent du Mans, no. 548. Escures is St Germain d’Escures, dep. Orne, ch.-l. cant.).
1.2.2.1.1. Hugues (de Berges) de Rieu, confirmed his father’s gifts to Treport. At Domesday, he held Rotingedene (near Bergemere, contracted to Burg and Berges) from William de Warenne. His son, William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (d. 1138), m. Isabelle de Vermandois, widow of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, whose son founded Garendon.
1.2.2.1.1.1. Hugues. To repeat: Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl Leicester, founder of Garendon in 1133, to which donated his kinsmen, Hugh de Berges, and his son, Asketil.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1. Anscherio (Asketil) de Moncellis. In 1107, Anscher de Moncellis witnessed a charter of Henry count of Eu for the abbey of Treport; and in 1109, with his brothers William and Ralf, another of the same for the abbey of St-Lucien, Beauvais. In 1175 Ralf de Moncellis confirmed to Treport whatever right he or his ancestors had in the church of Monchaux (de Moncellis). Monchaux also lies 23 kil. N of Aumale. (Mr. Loyd).
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Geoffrey le Despenser (‘Gaufrido dispensatore’), ‘dispensarius’ to the Earl of Chester.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas le Despenser, donated to Garendon as ‘Tomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris’. (John Nichols, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, vol. III, part 2, 1804).
1.2.2.1.2. Asketil. D.B.: The Land of the Count of Eu, Bexill Hundred: ‘Ansketil of Rieux 1/2 hide‘. Dr Keats-Rohan suggests that the Ansketil who held land at Bexhill, Footland and Wellhead in Sussex from the Count of Eu was ‘perhaps’ Ansketil of Rieux‘; perhaps synonomous with Anschetil, junior cousin of, and dapifer of Roger de Beaumont (ctl. Preaux, fol. 125; cart. Beaumont; Lot, p. 96, 1913 – 1080’s).
1.2.2.1.2.1. Robert fitz Anschetil, ob. 1118 (ctl. Preaux, fol. 102v). Held Norman fiefs.
1.2.2.1.2.1.1. William fitz Robert fl. 1149 (P.R. 31 H. 1). Granted Stanton-under-Bardon, Leic., to Garendon Abbey, founded by Robert de Beaumont (cart. Garendon, fols. 5v., 15v.).
1.2.2.1.2.1.1.1. Robert fitz William, mar. Eve Crispin.
1.2.2.1.2.1.2. Ivo de Harcourt. Ratified the confirmation of his brother, William, of their father’s gifts to Garendon (ctl. Garendon, fol. 15v.; Nichols’ Leic. vii.). ‘In 1148/9, William de Harcourt, with the consent of his brother and heir, Ivo, and mother, Agnes, alienated to Garendon the manor of Stanton-under- Bardon, which was specifically their patrimonium’ (Benjamin Thompson, Monasteries and Society in Medieval Britain, p. 107, 1999).
“It was Ivo who was the progenitor of the English line of Harcourts … The later forfeiture of the English lands of the ‘Norman’ Harcourts makes them difficult to trace, but we do at least know some of them in Leicestershire … the remaining part of the Harcourt inheritance in the manor of Leicester was being held by Ivo de Harcourt before the end of Stephen’s reign” (Crouch, Beaumont Twins, pp. 125-6).

Another dapifer family of the Beaumonts was that of Epaignes: “Arrond. de Pont-Audemer. — Cant. de Cormeilles. Nous pensons que le territoire de cette commune avait appartenu primitivement à Roger de Tosni, seigneur de Conches, et qu’il lui donna le nom d’Espagne au retour et en mémoire de ses expéditions dans la Péninsule. Cette conjecture est d’autant plus vraisemblable que Roger de Tosni est plusieurs fois appelé par Orderic Vital: Rogerius de Hispania. Nous allons tirer du Cartulaire de Préaux un certain nombre d’actes qui établissent les principaux droits de l’abbaye de Préaux sur le territoire d’Epaignes” (Prevost, ed. Delisle).
“Alfred (d’Epaignes) appears as a tenant in Epaignes of the honor of Pont Audemer soon after 1066 as son and heir of Goscelin Rufus*: Cartulary of St-Pierre of Preaux, Archives Departmentales de l’Eure, H 711, f. 102r-v, he was the brother and father of other men called Goscelin, as appears from his grant of tithes at Turnworth in Dorset to St Stephen de Caen” (Ralph Alan Griffiths, Gwent County History, vol. II, University of Wales Press, p. 37, 2008.; cit. Regesta Regum, 1066-1087 (ed. David Bates, 1998), no. 55. For Alfred, see Domes. I., f. 162b. Alfred’s eventual heir, his da., Isabel, m. Robert de Candos, of the Bec-Hellouin circle.
“Roger de Beaumont, et Robert, son frère, donnèrent à l’abbaye la dîme des revenus de Pont Audemer, en droits d’entrée, cens, moulins et autres choses qui pouvaient se dîmer, et les e’glises de la même ville, qu’ Onfroy paraît avoir aliénées antérieurement, et au sujet desquelles nous avons vu les religieux avoir recours au duel judiciaire. Robert fit don de tout ce qu’il possédait à Epaignes, avec un habitant nommé Osbern, c’est-à-dire, la forêt d’Epaignes, toute la dîme de la paroisse et du moulin, et l’église avec ses dépendances” (Alfred Canel, Essai historique, i., p. 315, 1833).
“Onfroi de Vieilles, fondateur du monastère, tout ce qu’il possédait à Préaux, Bosc-Osberne, Merlimont, Selles et tout ce qu’il avait à Campigny, Tourville et Toutainville, avec moulins et dépendances. De Roger, fils d’Onfroi, la dixième partie des revenus de Pont-Audemer, des tonlieux, cens, moulins et autres choses qui peuvent être dîmées ; tout ce qu ‘il avait dans son domaine à Épaignes, excepté trois chevaliers, Goscelin, Hugues d’Avennes et Goscelin le Roux” (Dominique Rouet, Le cartulaire de l’abbaye bénédictine de Saint-Pierre-de-Préaux: 1034-1227, p. 297, 2005).
*”Goscelin Rufus de Formovilla“, ibid., p. 6.
“Auvray, fils de Goscelin d’Epaignes, confirme, une fois recueilli l’héritage de son père, les dons que celui-ci a faits à l’abbaye Saint-Pierre de Préaux à condition d’avoir, avec ses fils, ses frères et la femme qu ‘il épouserait à l’avenir, sa part des prières des moines” (ibid., p. 20).
“Auvray, fils de Goscelin d’Espaigne, lui-même fils d’Asulf d’Espaigne , eut en effet non seulement un frère, Hervé, mais des frères dont une charte émanée d’Auvray lui-même et conservée dans le Cartulaire de l’Abbaye de Préaux” (Bibliotheque d’Histoire du Droit Normand. 2. Serie: Etudes, v. 4, 1931).

copyright m stanhope 2017

When considering the the ancestry of William and Edward Carter of Virginia, previously of Sussex and London, England, and being perplexed as to how their family became associated with families of the Bristol basin, it is only necessary to understand that connections between families of different English regions were interconnected by the marriages of the families to which they were tenants. Above the usual intermarriages between members of provincial kinship groups was a lordship conduit that connected them to other such groups. To understand this method of survival is to understand by which means Virginia was colonised.

William Carter claimed the headright (in Henrico) of Edward Bland in 1636. He was very likely to have been the William Carter who was bapt. on May 8, 1599, in the church of St Andrew, Tangmere, Sussex (an 11th-century church, which is mentioned in Domesday Book); son of William Carter (whose wife was bur. Jan. 10, 1603), and br. of Edward Carter, bapt. in Tangmere on Jan. 31, 1597.

The sons of many provincial yeoman families were drawn to centres of trade, such as Bristol and London, to ‘make their fortune, and so it was with William Carter, who settled in London.

William Carter, of James City Co., then Surry Co., deposed in 1653 that his age was 54. He had m. at least thrice by 1636, to (1) Avis Purtley; (2) Ann Mathis; (3) Alice Croxon, who deposed to be aged 55 in 1653.

Carter lands in Tangmere are recorded here: Conveyance (feoffment). From (a) John Arnolde of Chichester, butcher, (son and heir of Agnes Androwe, deceased, formerly wife of Gregory Byrde of Tangmere), to (b) William Squyre of Tangmere, yeoman. One acre and a half acre of land in Tangmere: 3 stitches of the said acre lying in the field called the Hamme on the N. part of Boxe Rewe and the land of John Bennet (coincidentally so named – MS) on the S. part, and the other stitch of land lying in the said field called the Hamme between the land of Thomas Lewkenor on the N. part and the land formerly belonging to Robert Stent on the S. part; and the said half acre lying in a certain field called the Gaston abutting to the land of Thomas Starr on the E. part and the land of William Carter on the W. part. Witnesses: Ralph Chandler, George Ardern, John Heath, and Gregory Byrd. November 30, 1592. (West Sussex Record Office. Add Mss 28,804).

The Carters were tenant farmers of the Baker family.

In 1579, Sir Richard Baker (of Sissinghurst), and Thomas Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, conveyed Tangmere manor to John Morley (husband of Elizabeth Wotton; their da., Elizabeth, m. Sir James Kirton, of Somerset), and Thomas Crompton. (Suss. Rec. Soc. xx, 428); regranted in 1581: ‘Manor of Tangemer alias Tangimer with appurtenances, 50 messuages, 50 tofts, 2 mills, 5 dovecotes, 50 gardens, 1000a. land, 250a. meadow, 1000a. pasture, 140a. wood, 1000a. furze and heath and 50s. rent in Tangmere (but excepting 19a. meadow, 10a. pasture and 90a. wood) and the advowson of Tangmere. E442-444 20 May 1581 Deed to lead the uses of a Fine; with counterpart: (a) Thomas Crompton and John Morley. (Goodwood estate archives).

Kent/Sussex Overlord Network

1. Sir Reginald Scott, m. Mary Tuke.
1.1. Mary Scott, m. Richard Argall.
1.1.1. Elizabeth Scott, m. Sir Edward Filmer.
1.1.1.1. Katherine Filmer, m. Robert Barham.
1.1.1.1.1. Charles Barham.Thomas Harris was the cousin of Governor Richard Bennett of Virginia (both being of Wiveliscombe, Somerset), whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’). Thomas Harris and Charles Barham were involved in the Will of William Ridley, who was probably the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.
1.2. Thomas Scott, m. Elizabeth Baker; aunt of Sir Richard Baker (of Sissinghurst).
1.2.1. Sir John Scott, m. Katherine Smythe; sister of Treasurer Thomas Smythe of Virginia.
1.2.1.1. (step-da.) Elizabeth Hayward, m. Thomas Knyvett (Nevett).
1.3. Catherine Scott, m. Sir John Baker.
1.3.1. Sir Richard Baker (of Sissinghurst), whose tenants were the Carter family.

1. John Rodney, m. Elizabeth, da. of John, lord Mordaunt.
1.1. Maurice Rodney, who m. (2) Jane, da. of Sir Thomas Dyer, of Somerford, Wilts (connected to the Harris family of Nunney, as given elsewhere).
1.1.1. George Rodney, who held the manors of Over-Badgworth and Congresbury-Rodney, Somerset.
1.1.1.1. John Rodney, who bought the manor of Cheddar, whose tenants (n.b.) included the Harris family of that place.
1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Rodney, m. (as second-cousin) James Kirton, as given heretofore, whose father’s tenants were the Carter family of Tangmere, Sussex. (See John Collinson’s ‘Somerset’, vol. 3, 1791).
1.1.2. Dorothy Rodney, m. Rice Davis, Esq., of the Middle Temple, and of Tickenham, Somerset.
1.2. 1. Agatha Rodney, m. Captain Thomas Hodges, d. 1583: ‘At Wedmore is a monument Sacred to the memory of Captain Thomas Hodges of the County of Somerset, esq., who at the siege of Antwerpe, about 1583, with unconquered courage wonne two ensignes from the enemy, where receiving his last wound, he gave three legacies: his soule to his Lord Jesus, his body to be lodged in Flemish earth, his heart to be sent to his dear wife in England’ (Pettigrew’s ‘Tombs’, 1857). The Hodges were landlords of the Counsell family.

1. Lewis Davis, of Carmarthenshire.
1.1. Rees Davis, Esquire, of Tickenham, Somerset, aforesaid.
1.2. William Davies, of Carmarthenshire.
1.2.1. Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. Nov. 8, 1587, m. Mary Owen, da. of Mary Pitt and Robert Owen, of Bristol and Carmarthanshire, whose grandson was probably Bartholomew Owen of Virginia. Robert Owen, of Bristol, Merchant. Will pr. Feb. 16, 1615-16. (8 Cope). “My cousin Rice Davies, esq. My brother-in-law William Pitt, overseer”. William Pitt’s son, Col. Robert Pitt, d. bef. Jan. 9, 1674, in IOW, Virginia.
1.2.1.1. Robert Davis (involved in various litigations concerning the Owen estate).
1.2.1.1.1. John Davis, bapt. April 17, 1637; d. bef. 28 June 1714, m. Mary Green. The estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677, was in debt to John Davis. Thomas Harris (d. 1672) 40 ac., Aug. 14, 1652. At the head of one of the branches of the Pagan Cr., bounded with his own land on N.E. Fran. Smith on S.W., Thomas Prichard on S.E., and John Davis on N.W. for trans. Peter Bell.
1.2.1.1.1.1. Sarah Davis m. (2) Nicholas Fulgham, son of Anthony Fulgham. Anthony Fulgham’s son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard; having issue (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Nicholas Fulgham, m. Martha Pitt.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Fulgham, m. Thomas Applewhaite, son of Henry Applewhaite.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Henry Applewhaite, d. 1739, m. Mary Counsell, da. of Hardy Counsell and Susannah Fulgham. Henry Applewhite’s estate was returned by Philip and Mary Brantley. R. Sept. 23, 1745. Susannah Counsell’s legatee was da. Mary Brantley. (Halifax Co. NC. R. 6 Oct. 1757).
1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Henry Applewhaite, of the parish of St Luke, d. 1783, m. Ann Harris. Marriage bonds of Henry Applewhite and Ann Harris, Nov. 7, 1756. Ann Harris was the da. of Edward Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

In 1618, the list of freeholders in Tangmere included Sir Garret Kempe for Sperlandes ‘which he holdeth by knyght service’, son of Anthony Kempe, of Slindon, Sussex, and Blackfriars, London, whose Will was proved in 1598 (P.C.C, 61 Kidd).

It may have been William Carter, the son, evidenced in this case: Carter v Pickham. Plaintiffs: William Carter. Defendants: Henry Pickham. Subject: copyhold held of the manor of Tangmere, Sussex. 1621-1625. (Nat. Arch. ref. C 3/342/3).

William was granted 700 ac. on May 26, 1636, upon ‘Sunken Marsh’, for the transportation of those including Alice Watkins, and Edward Bland; son of John Bland, of London; merchant, and br. of Theoderick Bland, who m. Ann Bennett, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

His second grant of 100 ac. adjoined the first and the land of Robert Sheppard, whose da., Anne Sheppard, m. (1) Thomas Hart, (2) William Newsome; between June 10, 1669 and Jan. 4, 1670. (Virginia Historical Society Magazine, Vol. 48, p. 268). William Newsome held land next to a William Carter. In 1672, Charles Barham (associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672) and Stephen Allen, witnessed a lease from William Hare and wife Mary, late wife of George Carter, dec., son of William, to William Alderson (p.93).

On the west of his second grant his neighbour was (n.b.) Stephen Webb.

William Newsome may have been of the family of Peter Newsam, ‘scrivener’, who witnessed the Will of Richard Hinde, of St Saviour, Southwark, London, proved on December 12, 1625, with ‘Ralph Yardly of London‘, who was the father of Governor Yardley of Virginia (TNA, Prob.11/147, f).

The familial connection between William Carter’s family and that of Harris (and theirs to William Newsome) was through the Bennett and Watkins families. The Will of George Watkins, pr. Sept. 20, 1673, name wife Elizabeth Spencer, “da. of my friend Capt Robert Spencer” (associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672), cousin Charles Barham, son of my loving uncle capt Charles Barham (associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672), cousin Christopher Watkins of White Hart Court in Lone Lane London, Sunken Marsh Mill, William Newsom, friend, wife Elizabeth, and uncle Capt. Charles Barham are executors. (Surry Co., B. 2, p. 51).

(A very appreciated contribution from a renowned Harris researcher: Elizabeth Spencer was the god-daughter of George Watkins according to his 1673 Surry County will which reads as follows: “Item: I give to Elizabeth Spencer, my God-daughter, daughter of my well beloved friend, Captain Robert Spencer, three ewes and a ram out of my flock to be sheared for her use immediately after my decease”.

From Weynette Parks Hauns’s transcriptions of Surry County Court Records are these entries: “Eliz. Spensor Orphan of Capt. Robert Spensor appearing in Cort and desireing to make Choice of a Guardian being of full Age soe and doe, and makeing choice of Mr. Tho. Jordan who in Cort accepting thereof, It is ordered that he act therein accordingly.” Surry County, Virginia Court Records (Part I: Order Book 1671-1691, p. 265).

Elizabeth’s choice of guardian was because Robert Spenser’s widow married Thomas Jordan. From Surry County, Virginia Court Records (Part II: Order Book 1671-1691, are these two records: “Judgmt. is granted Mr. Jno. Watkins Admr. of ye. Est. of Ann Spencer agt. the admrx. of Mr. Tho. Jordan’s Est. for the whole of the sd. Spencers Estate two thousand three hundred & twenty pds. of tobo. & caske being discounted for the said Spencer’s Funerall Charges.” (page 510). And then, “Judgmt. is granted Mr. John Watkins who married Eliz. Spenser agt. the Admrs. of Mr. Tho. Jordan’s Estate for three yards of brod cloath.” (page 511).

The John Watkins who died in 1708 and who married Elizabeth Spenser was the son of John Watkins the cooper who died in 1655 and whose widow Elizabeth married Sackford Brewster).

1674 Guardian Accounts, Surry Co., B. 2, p. 63: David Williams presents Capt. Charles Barham and Robert Caufield as securities for estate of William Harris, orphan, son of Thomas Harris. At this juncture, it is the most simple of things to conjecture that Thomas Harris of Wiveliscombe was the grandfather of the said William Harris, yet, in this, a genealogical truth may be ignored – the families into which close cousins intermarried became the kin of all.

William Carter died in Surry Co. in 1654. His son, George, died in 1671.

William’s grandda., Elizabeth, m. Robert Crawford; their son, Carter Crawford m. Sarah Swann, da. of Matthew Swann; their son, Carter Crawford, Jr., m. Elizabeth Kearney, whose sister m. William Bennett, Jr. (as his second wife), who d. in Northampton Co. in 1757. William Bennett, Jr’s first wife was reportedly Mary Hardy, whose family were his neighbours in IOW. William Bennett was very likely the son of Richard Bennett Jr., son of his namesake, Governor of Virginia, the cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

On Jan. 9, 1706, Robert Lawrence sold to Robert Crawford of Lawne’s Creek Parish, Surry, 150 ac. of land granted to his father on Sept. 28, 1643. On April 8, 1706, William Bennett leased this land to Robert Lawrence of IOW in the presence of Carter Crawford and William Brantley. This Robert Crawford m. Elizabeth, da. of George Carter, John and James Carter witnessed the will of Richard Bennett, Jr., in 1720.

William’s br., Col. Edward Carter , Esqr., was granted 1650 acs. in Lancaster Co., on N. Side of Rappa. Riv., on Apr. 29, 1665 (p. 155), beg. at a point on the NWd. side of the mouth of Harrises Cr., adj. land of Edward Harris … &c. crossing Brices Cr. granted to Mr. Thomas Brice Oct. 27, 1652 , given by will to his wife Martha & by Sd. Martha amd her second Husband, William White, mortgaged unto Mr. John Jefferyes & Mr. Thomas Coldclough of London, Merchants; sd. land given by her will unto the orphans of sd. William White and by order of the Govr. & Council put in possession of Col. John Carter, Atty of sd. Jeffereys amd Coldclough for payment of the sd. debt, the overplus to remain to Mr. Jeremiah White & Mr. George Hewett, guardians of sd. orphans for their use; sd. land afterwards sold unto sd. Col. Edward Carter and his heirs forever by the sd. John Carter, he being authorized by a Joint letter of Atty. under the hands & seals of sd. Jefferies & Coldclough & the sd. guardians.

There were a number of John Carters born within 7 mls of William Carter, at the same period, and a cousinship relationship may be presumed.

From Sussex to London, then Virginia, where their paths crossed in the method described herein.

Various footnotes:

1. Robert Bennett, a tanner, of Wivelscombe, Somerset, m. Elizabeth Edney.
1.1. Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, Wivelscombe, m. Ann Spicer.
1.1.1. Governor Richard Bennett, b Aug. 6, 1609, Wiveliscombe, d. 1675, Virginia; his Will bequesting: “To William Yearret of Pagan Creek and to the wife of Mr. Thomas Taberer, to each of them two thousand pounds of tobacco”. His da. Ruth m. John Numan, br-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.1.1. Richard Bennett Jr.
1.1.1.1.1. (Probably) William Bennett, m. (1) Mary Hardy.
1.2. Elianor Bennett, bapt. Mar. 5, 1567, m. (Oct. 7, 1594) Richard Harris, son of William Harris, who m. Dorothy Westbrook, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.
1.2.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe.Thomas Harris was almost certainly he who d. in Virginia in 1672, a close cousin of Edward Harris, of Wedmore, tenant of the Hodges family; as the Counsell family. John Goodrich m. Anne Bechinoe, da. of Edward Bechinoe (who owned property in Bristol); an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677. June 9, 1679: Edward Bechinoe Estate, appraised by Richard Bennett, cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.1.1.2. Ann Bennett, m. Theoderick Bland, br. of Edward Bland, a headright of William Carter, in 1636.

1. John Hardy (probably related to George Hardy, esquire, of Somerset), m. Olive Counsell.
1.1. George Hardy, m. Mary Jackson. He appraised the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677. On June 9, 1666, George Hardy deeded Francis England 100 ac. where George Branch formerly lived called “Shadow Rock”. (p. 545).
(1. John Moore, mariner and merchant of Bristol, m. Ann Rogers.
1.1. George Moore m. Jane Barcroft, da. of Charles Barcroft, a London vintner.
1.1.1. Eleanor Moore, m. Richard Piland, the son of James Piland, bapt. on 30 August 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642.
1.1.1.1. James Piland. On 28 April 1720, he, Benjamin Hodges, and Roger Ingram witnessed the Will of Robert Lancaster.
1.1.2. Ann Moore, m. Thomas White. The estates of Ann Moore and her husband Thomas White were appraised between 22 March 1741 and 26 July 1742 by Thomas Day,  John Goodrich, and Edward Brantley. (Chapman, Wills, p. 142). Edward Brantley was security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. John Goodrich was an overseer of the Will of Francis England; a witness being Richard Bennett (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2. Katherine Moore, m. (2) Robert Flake (a tobacco factor for Bristol merchants). By her first husband, she had issue:
1.2.1. Joyce, who married (1) Francis England, (2) George Cripps. Francis England, George Cripps. William Jennings of Bristol, surgeon, appts. Thomas Moore of Pagan Creek his atty. to collect from Arthur Skynner, Gyles Dryver (headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672), and Joseph Whitson, and by virtue of a letter of atty. from John Hardiman of Bristol, taylor, to collect from William Hodson in Nansemond. June 29, 1667. (Bodie, vol. 2, p. 550). Francis England was probably closely related to John England: Surrender of lease – John England of Bristol, merchant to John Seymour. (Bristol Archives, 8017/24. 20 April 1676).
1.1.1. Mary Hardy, m. William Bennett.
1.1.2. Richard Hardy,
1.1.2.1. Richard Hardy: Estate appraised by Peter Fiveash, Jeremiah Pierce, John Bennett. Signed, Mary Hardy. R. June 3, 1756. (p. 218).
Fiveash, Peter – appraisal April 28, 1702, by William Thomas, John Brantley, and Richard Hardy. (B. 2. p. 449).
Fiveash, Thomas – of the upper parish. Will dated Jan. 4, 1723. Legatee cousins Martha and John, children of John Fiveash; cousin Mary, da of Thomas Fiveash; brother Peter Fiveash exc; sister-in-law Martha Harris, the clothes belonging to my wife. Witness James Pyland and Elizabeth Sparkman. (G.B, 194).

1. John Fiveash, m. Joyce Pettway, da. of Edward Pettway, as Will Jan. 27, 1686.
1.1. Thomas Fiveash. James Pyland witnesses the will of Thomas Fiveash, Jan. 4, 1725.
1.2. Peter Fiveash, appraisal April 28, 1702 by William Thomas, John Brantley, and Richard Hardy. Thomas Harris, Will recorded Nov. 13, 1672, appointing relict Alice as exc. Security John Newman and Edward Brantley.
1.2.1. Thomas Fiveash, m. (1712) Alice Harris, da. of John Harris. (D.B. 7, p. 288). He was the son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.

James Piland, bapt. on August 30, 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642, m. the widow of Thomas Greenwood. She next m. 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).

On April 28, 1720, James Piland Jr., Benjamin Hodges, and Roger Ingram witnessed the will of Robert Lancaster, whose son, Thomas, m. Elizabeth Harris, da. of John Harris, whose likely relationship to those described herein I have elsewhere given.

1.
1.1. William Counsell.
1.1.1. George Counsell, bapt. 15 July 1584, m. 2 July 1607, Margery Wyke. The relationship betw. Margery Wyke and Edward Wyke, who m. Sara Chapman, 9 Feb. 1640, in Bridgwater (St Mary), 16 mls fr. Wedmore, can not be known
1.2. John Counsell, bapt. 1573.
1.2.1. John Counsell, bapt 28 Nov. 1601, ‘f. Joannis Counsell’, m. Mary Coomer, 26 Nov 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who m. John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, 4. Feb. 1635.
1.2.2. Johanna Counsell, bapt. 28 Nov. 1601 (twin), m. (1) Philip Lawrence, 20 Aug. 1618, (2) John Chapman, 26 April 1624.
1.2.3. Richard Counsell, bapt. 3 Sept. 1613 (Blackford vill. par. Wedmore), m. (1) Joan Taylor, 12 Aug. 1640, (2) Elizabeth Hix, 12 Aug. 1647, da. of William Hix and Grace Morton, who m. Jan. 23, 1625, and niece of Margaret Hix, who m. Simon Day, Jan. 14, 1632.
(Lease: Margery Hodges of Heathhouse, Wedmore, widow, to Richard Counsell of Wedmore, husbandman and Joan his wife. (Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. ref. 2667/1/36/2). Sale: 15a. land occ. by Thos. Brooke, 2a. land occ. by Hy.Symes, mess. and ten. and 40a. land occ. by Rich. Counsell, all in Wedmore, sold by co-heirs of Geo. Hodges to Wm. Prowse of Compton Bishop. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. DD\FD/10. 1665).
1.2.3.1. Hodges Counsell, the very likely son of Richard Counsell, by either wife. Richard Counsell was the br.-in-law of Susan Lancaster, and Hodges Counsell may have received his Christian name after her husband, William Hodges, a member of the very influential Hodges family, squires of Wedmore, who was probably his Godfather.
Hodges Counsell, d. bef. Aug. 9, 1699, was named as the husband of Lucy Hardy in the Will of John Hardy (B. 2, p. 419).
1.2.3.1. Hardy Counsell.
1.2.3.1.1. Mary Counsell, m. William Brantley, son of Edward Brantley (associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672, who received a grant of 40 ac. in I0W, Aug. 14, 1652, at the head of Pagan Creek, bounded with his own land on the northeast, Francis Smith on the southwest, Thomas Pritchard on the southeast, and John Davis on the northeast. The inventory of Edward Harris, d. 1677, shows him to owe money to a “Mrs. Davis”, John’s wife.

1. William Lyde, b. 1562.
1.1. William Lyde, of Week, Stanton Drew, Somerset, b. Feb. 25, 1604; m. the da. of Cornelius Sage, of Clutton, Somerset.
1.2. Thomas Lyde, m. Agnes Bailey, as second wife, Nov. 28, 1581, in Wedmore; the source of the following records:
1.2.1. Thomas Lyde.
1.2.1.1. John Lyde ‘of Heathouse’, bapt. Oct. 8, 1620, m. (n.b.) Jocosa Webb, on Oct. 22, 1640. Jacosa Webb was bapt. Apr. 14, 1594, da. of Thomas Webb, and relict of George Harris, ob. Apr. 4, 1640, whom she m. Apr. 28, 1623. Robert Harris, br. of George, was the father of Edward Harris, bapt. Aug. 8, 1624, in Wedmore. Robert Harris was very likely he associated with Thomas Tooke in Virginia. Edward Harris was very likely to have been he who d. in Virginia in 1677. To recount: On the west of William Carter’s second grant his neighbour was Stephen Webb. His br., Edward Carter, held land adj. Edward Harris.
The Webbs of Wedmore were also intermarried with the Coomes/Coomers, kin of the Counsell family of Wedmore.
1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Lyde, bapt. Feb. 7, 1646.
1.2.1.1.1.1. Anna Lyde, bapt. Nov. 20, 1676, m. Robert Champion, on Aug. 20, 1709. Note, as follows, Edward Symes m. (2) Susannah Champion, widow, Oct. 12, 1676, in Bath. Edward’s br., James Symes, was the grandfather of Robert Symes, who m. (1719) Phillis Fort, in Virginia, her first husband being Francis Fiveash, whose nephew, Thomas Fiveash, m. (1712) Alice Harris, da. of John Harris. (D.B. 7, p. 288). Phillis Fort was the sister of Elias Fort: Appraisal by Edward Brantley, John Britt, William Baldwin, and Edward Champion. R. April 9, 1679. These Champions originated from Meare, 5 mls fr. Wedmore.

Thomas Harris of Mells/Nunney, Somerset, carpenter, was almost certainly the progenitor of this Harris clan; but, as certainly, the Thomas Harris who died in Virginia in 1672 was central to it, and any denial of this is absurd.

How different it all would be now if one ounce of the great weight of effort which went into Harris  research had  followed new leads, instead of justifying belief dressed up as research.

copyright m stanhope 2017

Within the sheer density of kinship group intermarriages, it is possible to gain an insight into a particular family by focusing on another, so as to view through a different prism. In the case of many families of the Somerset/Gloucestershire borderlands, there is no better prism as the family of Bourne, which, because of a wealth of extant Wills, allows an insight into the complexity of relationships which assisted in the settling of Virginia, by supplying financial and physical support to those within its circle.

Bristol was at the heart of many family’s commercial (tobacco) enterprise, and this is where such as the Bennetts, Sewards, Allens, Bechinoes, Pitts, Drivers, and Pylands, etc. operated from, attracting investment from those associated with them. The Bourne family were very well-to-do, and had considerable influence.

1. Richard Bourne, of Wiveliscombe, Somerset, m. Sylvester Tybolde, who d. bef. Feb. 9, 1593, in Wells, Somerset. Richard Bourne, Will pr. March, 1594. (23 Dixy). To be buried near my wife in the Cathedral of Wells. Gilbert Bourne (eldest son) to be Exr. To him the Demesnes of Wrodiscombe (Wiveliscombe), with the custody of the great house demised to me by my Reverend brother, Bishop Bourne. My eldest da. Mary. My second son John. My sons William, Roger, Thomas, now detained in a foreign country. To Richard, 100 marks, & Jasper Bourne. A piece of plate to the Chamber of Worcester. To Jane Bourne, my best brasse pott.
1.1 Gilbert Bourne. Will proved Feb. 3, 1596: To be buried in Wells Cathedral near is wife. Son John Bourne; daus. Mary, Jane, Philippa; brothers John Bourne (Treasurer of Wells Cathedral) and Roger Bourne. He m. Eleanor Smith.
1.1.1. John Bourne, born in Wiveliscombe. Will proved Oct. 21, 1656. To be buried in Wells Cathedral near his ancestors. Eldest s. Roger, s. Henry, s. Gilbert, s. Thomas, younger sons under 16 years of age; daus. Mary, Phillippa, Silvestre, Jane, and Frances; sons in law Mr. Stanhope and Mr. Fleming; nephew Mr. William Wyke; sister Godwin. He m. Elizabeth Weare, d. bef. Aug. 16, 1660, in Halberton, Devon. Elisabeth Bourne, of Gothelney, Som., widow. Will proved by Jane Bourne, Aug. 16, 1660. (163 Nabbs). To be buried at Charlinch. To my eldest son Roger Bourne, my salt that was my cousin Bourne’s, the ring that was my Uncle Jasper’s. Ann, wife of my son Roger. My da. Frances. Roger to have the mortgage of the Manor of Curripole, Tuxwell, & Radlett. My daus. Mary, Sylvestre, & Frances. Richard Cross, gent., my son-in-law. My da. Philippa, deceased. My son Humphry Bourne, & his wife Margaret. His Aunt Stephens. To my son Gilbert, £150. My sons Henry, Thomas (Bourne Thomas, 1638 John Moone – Greer; hence associated with the Fulghams), John, Edward, William, who is under 21. My estates in Huish & Langport, to be sould by my son-in-law, Mr Robert Fleming, & my brother-in-law, Mr John Stephens. My son-in-law, John Stanope. My da. Ellinor, wife of Mr Robert Fleming. Their children Ellinor & Mary Fleminge. My house at Wells. My da. Jane Bourne, Ex. She not to dispose of herself in marriage until she hath discharged or secured all the legacies given by her Father, yet unpaid. Francis Carleil, a witness.

1.1.1.1. Elizabeth Bourne.
1.1.1.2. Roger Bourne.
1.1.1.3. Henry Bourne.
1.1.1.4. Gilbert Bourne, d. bef. June 15, 1686, m. Susanna Morley, d. bef. Sept. 15, 1715.
1.1.1.4.1. Edmund Bourne, d. bef. May 10, 1695, m. Ann Gore, d. bef. June 3, 1730.
Ann Bourne, of Gothelney, somerset, widow. April 4, 1729. Proved by William Gore June 3, 1730. To be buried at Charlinch, near my husband. To my brother William Gore all my house, lands, &c., of Gothelney, & other lands in other Parishes for his life.

1.1.1.5. Silvestre Bourne, d. bef. Dec. 31, 1668, m. Adam Bainham, of Yate, Glos., Will proved May 27, 1661. (68 May). My wife Sylvestre. My da. Silvestre Godwin. My da. Keynes. My da. Elizabeth Goodman. Goodwin, Samuell. 1650. Stephen Hamelin Charles City – as Thomas Harris, d. 1672 – Greer.
1.1.1.5.1. Silvestre Baynham.
1.1.1.5.2. John Baynham.
1.1.1.6. William Bourne, d. bef. Jan. 27, 1662.

1.1.2. Jane Bourne, d. bef. Aug. 8. 1666, m. Edward Wykes, d. bef. May 29, 1647. (Thus, a connectionto the Counsell family: Margery Wykes m. George Counsell, July 12, 1607, in Wedmore, where the Counsells were tenants of the (squire) Hodges family, which held property next to St Olave, London, where the children of Edward Bennett were baptised. The Wykes also intermarried with the family of Chapman in Somerset). Edward Wykes was the son of Nicholas Wykes and Isabell Godwin. Nicholas Wykes, of Wells, Somerset, Gent. Will proved Nov. 20, 1611, by Isabel Wykes, widow. (96 Wood). My sons Edward & William. My wife Isabel. My farm at n.b. Cheddar (tenant of the Lancasters). Deed made with James Kirton, esq., & Edward Barnard, Clothier. My son William, lands in Wedmore. My sisters, Jone Oliver, widow, & Margery, wife of Thomas Hill. John Oliver & Nicholas Hill, their sons (the latter’s son probably being he who m. Sylvestra Bennett, as hereinafter given). My cousin Thomas Godwin, & his sisters. Isabell was the da. of Anthony Godwin, of Wookey, Somerset, Gent. Will proved March 8, 1609 [26 Wingfield.] I have had manifold troubles & suits of law. I am indebted for the payment of the same to my brother in law, John Maye, Esqr. My wife Elizabeth. Robert, my son. Ten pounds out of the Rectory of Wookey to my son, William Godwyn, whom I heartily pray unto God to convert & make an honest man. My daughters, Christian Hewes & Alice Parfitt, 40/ each for a ring. Residue to my wife Elizabeth. My brothers in law, John Maye, Esqr, & Nicholas Wykes, Overseers.

1.1.2.1. William Wykes
1.1.2.2. Jane Wykes
1.1.2.3. Alice Wykes
1.1.2.4. Silvester Wykes, d. bef. Feb. 25, 1675, m. George Huntley, d. July 11, 1670.
1.1.3. Phillippa Bourne, d. bef. April 9, 1657, m. (1) Richard Adams, d. bef. April 24, 1634. The will of her first husband Richard Adams, DD, Canon Residentiary of Wells, proved April 24, 1634, appoints her his executrix, and names his brother Robert Adams, DD, and his son Robert Adams and is witnessed by John Bourne and Edward Wykes.
1.1.3.1. Robert Adams, d. bef. Jan. 26, 1655.
1.1.3. Phillippa Bourne, m. (2) Thomas Godwin, d. 1642.
1.2. John Bourne, d. bef. June 4, 1622.
1.2.1. John Bourne, m. Ann Baynard, d. bef. June 30, 1668. John Bourne, of Durleigh, Som. Will proved by Francis Carliel, & Rich. Cross, Aug. 9, 1652. (70 Bowyer). To be buried in the Cathedral of Wells, near my father & mother. I have sold my moyety of Bishop’s Teinton for £950, to be called in whenever my cousin John Bourne, of Gothelney, whose posterity is most concerned in it, doth desire it : my wife to have the interest of it meanwhile. £50 to my wife to buy her blacks. To my wife’s son, Mr Henry Still, certain furniture which was my wife’s before her intermarriage with me. My wife’s daughter, Mrs Cottesham. To my sister Bainham, £200. To my cousin Thomas Bishop, £70. Francis Bishop. Sister Anne’s children. My cousins Francis Carliel & Xtopher John Carliel. My cousin Richard Cross & his sister Philippa. My cousin Francis Cross. To my little cosin whom I adopt, my godson & my god-daughter, Mrs. Mary Georges, £3 apiece. My old friend, Ralph Wilbraham. To my cousin John Bourne, of Gothelney, my house at Wells, after the death of my cousin Goodwin. My sister Carliel. My cousin Elizabeth & Mary Benett.
1.2.2. …. Bourne, m. Adam Bainham.

1.3. Roger Bourne, m. Jane Tothill. Roger Bourne, of Wells, Som., Esqr. Will proved May 5, 1624. To be buried in the Cathedral of S. Andrew’s, Wells, where my father & mother lie interred. My wife Jane Bourne. My brother Jasper Bourne, of London, gent, & my cousin John Bourne, son of my brother, Mr John Bourne, decd. To my niece Jane, £400 paid her & her husband. My niece Philippa, £400. To my nephew John Bourne, their brother, the Farm of Wilscombe (Wiveliscombe), left by my father to his father, & by him to my nephew, John Bourne, his son. My cousin Adams. My cousin Weekes. Arthur Duck (Duke), D. of Laws, Robert Eyre, Esqr., & my cousin Edward Wykes, gent., to be overseers.

1.4. Jasper Bourne, m. Joan. Jasper Bourne, of Stanmore Magna, Midd., gent. Will Proved by John Benitt, May 4, 1636. [67 Pile.] My wife Joan. My son (in-law) John Benett, of London, merchant, standeth bound to my nephew John Bourne, of Lincoln’s Inn, in £100. My grandchildren, children of my daughter Elizabeth Benitt, Pictures of my late Brothers William and Thomas Bourne, decd. My da. Sylvestre, wife of my son William Hutchinson, clerke. My grandson Jasper Fell, son of Henry Fell, late of Hampsted, Midd., gent., & of my da. Sylvestre, now wife of William Hutchinson. My da. Mary, wife of Edward Benett, merchant. The children of Benett & Hutchinson. My cosin John Cayne, the elder, of North Petherton, Som. My wife’s grandson, John Norwood, of London. My wife’s da. Elisabeth Ireland, alias Norwood. My sisterJane Bourne, late wife of Roger Bourne, of Wells, Som. My brother deceased. My niece Mrs Elizabeth Bishop, wife of Thomas Bishop, of Minehead. My niece Susan, widow of Mr John Cross, Master of Arts, deceased. My niece Mrs Ellinor Carliel, widow of Francis Carliel, gent., decd. My nephew Jasper Bourne, son of my nephew John Bourne, of Gothelney. My nephews John Bourne, of Gothelney, & John Bourne, of Durleigh, Overseers. My son John Benitt, Residuary Legatee & Exr.
1.4.1. Elizabeth Bourne, m. John Bennett.
1.4.2. Sylvester Bourne, m. William Hutchinson.
1.4.3. Mary Bourne, m. Edward Bennett, b. Feb. 2, 1578, in Wiveliscombe, d. bef. Sept. 30, 1664. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, 20 Nov. 1623, almost certainly he who died in Virginia in 1672. Thomas Harris, son of Richard Harris, who m. (8 Oct. 1594), Eleanor Bennett, of Wiveliscombe, sister of Edward Bennett, aforesaid. Thomas Harris was the cousin of Richard Bennet, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’). Mr. Charles Barham Ex., Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tuke overseers, were officers of the will of William Ridley, who was probably the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife. Thomas Harris, Will recorded Nov. 13, 1672. Security: John Newman, br.-in-law by his second wife.

(John Davis, bapt. 17 April 1637; d. bef. 28 June 1714. The inventory of Edward Harris, d. 1677, states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis (great-nephew of Rice Davis), i.e. Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset.

The Will of John Davis of the Upper Parish, dated Dec. 31, 1712, names da. Mary the wife of William Murray, br. William Green, friends Nathaniel Ridley (half-br. of William Ridley, aforesaid), and James Day to make the division of my estate.

Thomas Harris (d. 1672) 40 acres, 14 Aug. 1652. At the head of one of the branches of the Pagan Cr., bounded with his own land on N.E. Fran. Smith on S.W., Thomas Prichard on S.E. and John Davis on N.W. for trans. Peter Bell.

Sarah Davis, John’s dau., d. bef. Jan. 6. 1720, m. Nicholas Fulgham, son of Anthony Fulgham, aforesaid, and Martha Green. Their son, Nicholas Fulgham, m. Martha Pitt (of the Bristol merchant family); their da., Elizabeth Fulgham, m. Thomas Applewhaite, son of Henry Applewhaite, who moved from Barbados to IOW Co., before 1668.

Anthony Fulgham’s son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard; having issue (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, who m. Hardy Counsell, son of Hodges Counsell Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705.

Thomas Harris, d. 1688, whose Will was witnessed by John Coggan of Bristol, placed his orphan son under the care of Hodges Counsell Sr.

Henry Applewhaite (br. of the said Thomas), m. Mary Counsell, da. of Hardy Council and Susannah Fulgham. His son, Henry Applewhaite, of the parish of St Luke, d. 1783, m. Ann Harris. Marriage bonds of Henry Applewhite and Ann Harris, Nov. 7, 1756. Ann Harris was the da. of Edward Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.

Henry Applewhate’s da., Mary, m. John Barham, son of Benjamin Barham (grandson of Charles Barham, connected to Thomas Harris, d. 1672), of the parish of St Luke, Will R. 10 June 1779, witnessed by James Ridley, son of Nathaniel Ridley (half brother of William Ridley and Elizabeth Day, the relict of Matthew Jones, and da. of John Day and Mary Bennett, da. of Edward Bennett, br.-in-law of Richard Harris, of Wivelscombe, Somerset).

1.4.3.1. Susan Bennett, bapt. St. Olave, London, m. Richard Beale, d. 1664.
1.4.3.1.1. Richard Beale, b. 1645, d. 1703. Richard Beale, the son of Richard, and grandson of Alexander Beale, of Frittenden resided at Hayle Place, and was in the commission of the peace for Kent. He m. Susan, daughter of Edward Bennet, deputy to the Hamburgh company, and dying in 1664, was s. by his son, Richard Beale, a Hamburgh merchant, b. in 1645, who d. without issue in 1703, leaving his nephew, Richard Beale, esq. the son of his brother Alexander, his heir.
1.4.3.2. Sylvestra Bennett, bapt. Oct. 25, 1630, in St Olave, London, d. Jan. 9, 1707, m. Nicholas Hill, d. bef. Oct. 20, 1675. The will of Nicholas Hill, dated April 19, 1675, named legatees: wife Silvestra; son Richard; son Ralph; daughter Agnes (a mantle that was her Mother’s and her wedding ring): da. Martha; son George; da. Mary; son Nicholas; da. Anna; da. Elizabeth; my wife and her six children to have the legacy given her by Major General Bennett; my three children by a former wife. Overseers: Major James Powell, Mr. Thomas Taberer, Mr. William Bressie & John Jennings. Witnessess: John Grayham, John Newman, & Mary Davis. Recorded Oct. 20, 1675. Thomas Taberer , John Jennings , and John Newman were all associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.4.3.2.1. Mary Hill, d. bef. Dec. 31, 1695, m. John Jennings, d. bef. June 9, 1698.
1.4.3.2.2. Elizabeth Hill, d. aft. 1700, m. William Thomas, d. aft. Aug. 18, 1710.
1.4.3.2.2.1. William Thomas. The will of William Thomas named legatees: wife Mary; son Richard, land on the Meherrin river, adj. Samuel Smith; son Samuel, the plantation on which I live. Wife Executrix. Witnesses Lewis Brantley, Nathaniel Morrell, & Ann Gray. Rec. July 27, 1741.
1.4.3.2.2.2. Elizabeth Thomas, m. John Boddie, b. 1685, d. bef. April 25, 1720.
1.4.3.2.2.2.1. William Boddie, m. Mary Bennett, b. c. 1710.
1.4.3.2.3. Richard (als Bennett). The will of Richard Bennett of ye Upper Parish dated March 30, 1720 named legatees: son Richard; son ….. land to be taken out of Mr. John Coffer’s patent of 1,450 acres; to Jane Coffer and her sons, Robert and John Coffer, the land where I now live which I bought of Mr. William Manggum; da. Silvestra. Executors: Jane Coffer and William Allen. Friends: John Carter and James Carter to see that my will is performed. Witnessess: John Carter, James Carter & William Allen, Sr. Recorded May 23, 1720.
1.4.3.2.3.1. Jane Bennett, m. John Coffer.
1.4.3.3. Mary Bennett, d. aft. 1701, m. John Day. (She m. (2) Thomas Bland. Sept. 12, 1668, “Mary Bland, widow, daughter of Jasper Bourne of Stanmore Magna, Middlesex, son of Richard Bourne, gentleman of Wells.
1.4.3.3.1. Ann Day, m. Charles Chapman. The will of Charles Chapman, dated Dec. 20. 1710, named legatees: son John; grandson Charles; friend Arthur Smith; son Joseph. Executor: son Joseph. Witnessess: Arthur Smith, Robert Brock. Rec. Feb. 26, 1711.
1.4.3.3.1.1. John Chapman. The will of John Chapman, of the Lower Parish, dated Sept. 10, 1736, named legatees: da. Patience Wiles; son John my “Bath Seal”; son Charles; da. Mary; son Joseph; sons William and Thomas to live with their mother until they are 14; wife Mary; da. Elizabeth. Executors, wife Mary and son Charles Chapman. Witnessess: Charles Fulgham, Jr. and Mary Bevan. Rec. Nov 28, 1737.

THE BLAND CONNECTION
1.
1.1. Thomas Bland.
1.1.1. Elizabeth Bland, m. Edward Holmwood, in 1620.
1.1.2. Gregory Bland.
1.1.2.1. Frances Bland, m. John Coggan, of Bristol, who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.1.2.2. Jane Bland, m. (1) Edward Bland son of John Bland and Susan Delabere. She m. (2) John Holmwood.
1.2. John Bland.
1.2.1. Theodorick Bland, m. Anne Bennett, da. of Governor Richard Bennett, cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. It is absurd not to think that there was at least a very close connection between these Harris.

THE BENNETT CONNECTION
1. Robert Bennett, a tanner, of Wivelscombe, Somerset, m. Elizabeth Edney.
1.1. Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, Wivelscombe, m. Ann Spicer.
1.1.1. Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe; m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623.
1.1.2. Richard Bennett, b Aug. 6, 1609, Wiveliscombe, d. 1675, Virginia; his Will bequesting: “To William Yearret of Pagan Creek and to the wife of Mr. Thomas Taberer, to each of them two thousand pounds of tobacco”. His da. Ruth m. John Numan, br-in-law of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.2. Elianor Bennett, bapt. Mar. 5, 1567, m. Oct. 7, 1594 Richard Harris, son of William Harris, who m. Dorothy Westbrook, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.
1.3.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe.

1.4.3.3.1. James Day, m. Mary Thompson (He m. (2) Priscilla Applewhaite). The will of James Day, dated Aug. 10, 1700, named legatees: son James; son Thomas; son William; daughter Elizabeth; wife Mary; aunt Mrs. Silvestra Hill; my brother and sister Chapman; my brother and sister Swann; Mrs. Isabella Havield; Mr. John Havield; Major Henry Baker; Major Henry Tooker; Major Arthur Allen. Wife and Luke Havield Executors. Friends, Mr. Micajah Perry, Mr. Thomas Lane and Mr. Richard Perry to dispose of my property in ye Parish of St. Peters ye Poor in London. Witnessess: Thomas Rieves, George Benchinoe, Barnaby Mackinnie.
1.4.3.3.1.1. Elizabeth Day, m. Nathaniel Ridley.
1.4.3.3.1.2. James day, m. Juliana Norsworthy, da. of George Norsworthy and Elizabeth Pitt, da. of Robert Pitt of Bristol; hence a connection to the Owen family of that place, and very likely to Bartholomew Owen.

copyright m stanhope 2017

In the following notes I have redacted  information recorded in a family bible, the first entry in which commences in 1687. The family possessing the bible have no material interest in the early entries, which, by female succession, lead to their family.

I can only make sense of the bible entries by suggesting the following construct, in which *** = redacted. There follows deliberate repetition.

1. William Harris, m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset; kin of a family of Forte.
1.1. Richard Harris, m. (Oct. 8, 1594), Eleanor Bennet, sister of (a) Thomas Bennett, who had issue: (1) Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe, father of Alice Bennett, who m. John Hardy. (Nugent, C&P vol. 1, p. 569); their da., Lucy, m. Hodges Council; her sister m. Richard Jackson, their da., Mary Jackson, m. Capt. George Hardy, appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677. (2) Richard Bennett, bapt. Aug. 6, 1609, Governor of Virginia. (b) Edward Bennett.
i. Edward Bennett left two daus, one of whom, Mary, m (1) Thomas Bland, of London; (2) Luke Cropley. The other, Silvestra, m. Major Nicholas Hill, son of Thomas Hill and Margaret Wyke, of Ninehead Flory, Somerset. Mary, a da. of the first-named da., Mary Bland-Cropley, m. James Day of IOW., and Mary, a da. of Silvestra Hill, the other da. of Edward Bennett, m. John Jennings, son of the clerk of the same name, who witnessed the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
ii. Harrison, William. 1638. Richard Bennett (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Isle of Wight. (Greer).
iii. Harrison, John. 1641. Thomas Mathews. (Greer).
1.1.1. William Harris, bapt. Jan. 28, 1595.
iv. Harris, William. 1648. John Seward. Isle of Wight. (Greer).
1.1.2. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, probably he who d. in Virginia in 1672.
He was overseer of the Will of William Ridley, who was probably the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.
Thomas Harris was also the nephew of Edward Bennett. Christopher Reynolds Sr. emigrated to Virginia as an indentured servant of Mr. Edward Bennett. B. 1, pp. 46-8, “Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my son Christopher Reynolds Jr. all my land on the southerly side of the Freshest swamp that Richard Jordan (his son-in-law who m. da. Elizabeth Reynolds) now liveth upon”.
v. Harris, Thomas. 1650. Stephen Hamelin. Charles City. (Greer).
1.1.2.1. John Harris. William Groves, appraisal by John Harris, Edward Brantley, Elias Fort and Edward Grantham; recorded Feb. 9, 1678. (B. 2, p. 172). John Harris m. a da. of Francis Hobbs, who sold Edward Brantley 675 ac. adj. Thomas Tuke, in 1669.
1.1.2.2. Thomas Harris, d. 1688. The Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was witnessed by John Coggin, of Bristol.
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1730: Thomas Harris 290 ac. IOW, on the Maherin River and both sides of Herbert’s Branch adj. Edward Brantley (son of Phillip and Joyce Lewis), and William Simmons line, March 24, 1725. Edward Brantley’s son, John, m. the widow of Thomas Harris, *** ***.
1.1.2.2.2. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham, da. of Michael Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset.
vi. Her sister, Susannah Fulgham, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705. The Hodges and Council families were of Wedmore, Somerset.
1.1.2.2.2.1. John Harris, d. 1772 in Southampton Co., m. Avis White.
1.1.2.2.2.2. Michael Harris, m. *** ***; executor of his father’s Will, witnessed the Will of Charles Judkins, in 1709 , who m. his ***, *** *** ***. Michael Harris witnessed the Will of John Gray, “to sister Lidie”; rec. Nov. 9, 1708; br. of Thomas Gray and William Gray, who bequeathed lands “where Thomas Matthews lived”.
vii. Michael Harris m. “*** ***” – “this 3rd day of May 1720” – “in presence of *** *** … cosen *** *** … cosen *** *** , uncle ***”.
1.1.2.2.2.2.1. “*** ***” – “5th day of June 1722”.
1.1.2.2.2.2.2. “*** ***”* – 12th day of October 1724” – in presence of “cosen ***, wife *** … sister ***”: “his” to preceed “wife” and “sister”, it may be presumed.
viii. Will of William Harris of Surry Co.: To son Hamlin … all lands in Nottoway, Dinwiddie, and Surry Co. prob Nov. 28, 1797.
1.1.2.2.3. George Harris.
1.1.2.2.3.1. William Harris.
viii. Charles Judkins was the son of Samuel Judkins, who m. Lydia (“Lidie”) Gray; a da. of Thomas Gray Sr.
ix. Lydia m. Thomas Pitman, the relict of Samuel Judkins, bef. Sept. 10, 1672.
x. Thomas Pitman had first m. the relict of Thomas Atkinson.
xi. Thomas Atkinson was the father of John Atkinson, who m. Ann Holman.
xii. Their da. Hanna Atkinson m. Reuben Cooke, who d. bef. August 1, 1751 in IOW Co., grandson of William Cooke, born March 27, 1613 in Bristol, d. bef. Nov. 10, 1679 in Surry Co.
xiv. Reuben Cooke was the father of John Cooke, who d. bef. January 2, 1777. Will of John Cook, Leg: nephew Dempsey Cook: nephew Mathews Harris, son of Michael and Sarah Harris. Executor brother Nathan Cooke, dated April 18, 1762. Witnesses: Peter Woodward, Benjamin Lancaster (son of Elizabeth Harris and Samuel Lancaster), *William Harris, and Benjamin Bailey. R. January 2, 1777.
xv. Charles Judkins was the father of a namesake, recorded in a deed of November 10, 1748, concerning 250 ac. “in Albemarle Parish on south side of Nottoway River”, which showed, as neighbours, Silvanus Stokes, Charles Judkins Jr., and *William Harris. (Surry Co. D.B. 5, 1746-1749, p. 324).
xvi. Charles Judkins was the uncle of William Judkins, who m. Margaret Taylor, da. of Edward Taylor, who m. 2. Bartlett Moreland; 3. William Harris. (Probable son of *** ***).
xvii. William Judkin’s was the father of (1) Elizabeth Judkins, who m. John Berryman. (2) Hannah Judkins.
1.1.2.2.4. William Harris, m. Mary Short. (her grandfather held lands associated with Sergeant John Harris).
1.1.3. Richard Harris.
1.1.3.1. John Harris, bapt. Feb. 18, 1624; probably d. 1687, Virginia, m. Unity.
xviii. Harris, John. 1650. Richard Tye & Charles Sparrowe. Charles City. (Greer) He may have been the John Harris, headright in 1653 of Benjamin Brasseur, who bought a large tract of land from Richard Bennett.
1.1.2.1. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr.

Thomas Harris, d. 1672, m. Judith Blake, November 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.
xix. Cousin of Richard Bennett, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’).
xx. The Will of John Seward, Bristol sea captain and merchant, bequeathed lands in Barrington, 17 miles from Wiveliscombe.
xxi. Matthew Tomlin and Thomas Harris (d. 1688) held land in lower par. IOW Co. on borders of Blackwater to the bottom of Pig Neck (B 7, p. 510), which had been granted to Mr. John Seward, on April 16, 1648.
xxii. John Seward also patented land in 1638 “upon Warresquioke River”, against the land of Nathaniell Floyd, whose widow m. Francis Hobbs, whose da. m. John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
xxiii. Edward Brantley was a headright of John Seward.
xxiv. Edward Brantley was security for the estate of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
xxiv. James Piland, bapt. on August 30, 1604, in St Mary’s Le Porte, Bristol, headright of Francis England, in 1642, married the widow of Thomas Greenwood. She next married Thomas Edwards, who claimed Greenwood’s land, and sold 150 acres of it to John Jennings (overseer of the Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).
xxv. James Piland was the grandfather of James Piland (Godson of John Williams Sr.), and George Piland.
xxvi. George Piland and Michael Harris witnessed the Will of William Clements (B. 7, p. 854); grandfather of Elizabeth Boykin.
xxvii. On 28 April 1720, James Piland Jr., Benjamin Hodges, and Roger Ingram witnessed the will of Robert Lancaster, whose son, Thomas, m. Elizabeth Harris.
xxviii. James Piland Jr. witnessed the Will of Thomas Fiveash, dated Jan. 4, 1725. His nephew, Thomas Fiveash, m. (1712) Alice Harris, da. of John Harris (DB. 7, p. 288), son of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
xxix. James Piland Jr., John Brantley, and Peter Fiveash (father-in-law of Alice Harris) appraised Stephen Kea’s estate, June 26, 1727.
xxx. James Piland Jr’s son and namesake m. Elizabeth Brantley.
xxxi. Their son, Robert, m. Caroline, da. of Thomas Bell, son of John Bell and Ann Bennett, second-cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
xxxii. Thomas Bell’s nephew, John, m. Phoebe Stokes, da. of Sylvanus Stokes.
xxxiii. Thomas Harris, d. 1672, was a headright of Stephen Hamlin, who, on October 26, 1650, was granted 1250 ac. in Charles City Co., at the “head of Weyonoke”.
xxxiv. 1664: In Charles City Co., Mr. Stephen Hamelin, Mr. William Harrison and Mr. Robert Evans were sworn Churchwardens for Weyanoke Parish.
xxxv. Harrison, William. 1638. Richard Bennett (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Isle of Wight. (Greer).
xxxvi. 1665: In Charles City Co., a deed of gift was recorded from Robert Jones to his Godda., Elizabeth Harrison, da. of William Harrison, witnessed by William Harrison, Jr.
xxxvii. 1667: Patent to Wm. Harrison, Jr. for 368 ac. in Charles City Co. on the south side of James River beginning in the line of Capt. David People, to Robert Jones, down the Pyny Swamp to the Old Towne Bridge, to James Jones, to line of Mr. Richard Tye. (Nugent).
xxxviii.  Repeat: Harris, John. 1650. Richard Tye & Charles Sparrowe. Charles City. (Greer).
xxxix. Stephen Hamlin’s grandson (s. of John), John Hamlin, m. Anne Goodrich, da. of Charles Goodrich.
xxxx. Stephen Hamlin’s grandson (s. of John), William Hamlin, m. Ann Harrison, da. of Thomas Harrison. (Lyndon H. Hart, Surry County, Virginia, Wills, Estate Accounts and Inventories, 1730-1800, 1985).
xxxxi. Thomas Harrison was a grandson of William Harrison, Sr. of “Waynoak Parish”, whose Will was recorded on February 11, 1712, leaving Thomas land “toward Mr. Hardyman’s mill, and all land between Francis Wilkins, William Short, Mr. Pigeons, Mr. Moody’s”. William Short’s da., Mary, m. William Harris, son of Thomas, d. 1688. She was a grandda. of William Short, whose land was identified as adjoining that of Sergeant John Harris.
xxxxii. Prince George Co., Wills & Deeds, 1713-1728, p. 398: Will of Thomas Harrison, proved on May 10, 1720. Wife, Ellinor Harrison, daughter Ann Hamlin. To grandson, Thomas Hamlin, 10 pounds to be paid to him at the age of 21 years.
Ibid.: Indenture made the … day of May, 1714, between Thomas Harrison of the Parish of Westover in Prince George Co. and Adam Tarply, for 100 ac. Wit: E. Goodrich, br. of John.
xxxxiii. John Goodrich m. Anne Bechinoe, da. of Edward Bechinoe (who owned property in Bristol); an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677. June 9, 1679: Edward Bechinoe Estate, appraised by Richard Bennett (cousin of Thomas Harris, d. 1672).
xxxxiv. John Goodrich Jr. was a neighbour of Edward and James Brantley. (Newport Parish, IOW Co., Vestry Book, Feb. 12, 1727).
xxxxv. Thomas Harrison was the br. of Richard Harrison.
xxxxvi. Prince George Co., Wills & Deeds, 1713-1728, p. 106: William Harrison, Sr. of Waynoak Parish, Prince George Co. to Richard Harrison of same, for love and affection to his said son, 682 ac. in Martins Brandon Parish, between lands of William Hall , John White, Capt. Wyatt, Frances Rey, Richard Winkles, Chippoaks Creek, and the lands of John Bell (he, as given heretofore).
xxxxix. Thomas Harrison was the br. of William Harrison, who was bequeathed “10 acres on east side of Southern Run, marked by an oak, lately felled by William Mathews“, who witnessed William Harrison’s Will, probably as his br.-in-law. (See Prince George Co., W&, 1710-1713; ledger B, p. 201).
l. Thomas Harrison was the uncle of William Harrison Jr., whose Will, recorded November 4, 1762, named da. “Sarah Driver, grandda. “Martha Fiveash“. The Driver and Fiveash families were associated with Thomas Harris, d. 1672, and his family.
li. William Harrison Jr. was the husband of Mary Hodges (da. of Ellis Hodges), who sold 25 ac. on a creek off Pagan Creek, to her br., John Hodges, who sold it to Edward Goodrich, on April 9, 1755.
lii. William Harrison presented the inventory of Edward Brantley, on May 2, 1754. (B. 6, p. 95).

The influence of the Bennetts shaped it all.

Michael

What passes as ‘factual’ in most accounts of the early lineage of the Norman Dukes is nothing more than a preference for a Norwegian or Danish origin, fiercly contested in the 19th century by nationalistic zealots.

Other thorns in the side of any truth are discovered through a consideration of chronology applied to monkish chronicles – a cursory study makes them unreliable, and open to being contrived to claim fictional marriage alliances that enhanced the elites’ legitimacy to rule.

To merely quote them as references, without considering their validity, is short of the mark.

Norwegians, Danes (and Swedes) certainly came to Normandy – in as much as these modern concepts of statehood have relevance. “The fact that the origins of Bernard the Dane, companion of William Longsword, were remarked upon may mean that he belonged to a minority group” (David Crouch, The Normans: The History of a Dynasty, app. 1., 2006). To which could be added – a disproportionately powerful minority.

When Dudo tells of Rollo’s dream, it is an allegory that depicted the Norman view of of their ancestry, in which “birds of many types and colours came to bathe on a mountain”; that is, the ‘Normans’ were of mixed breed, ruled by an aristocratic minority.

On the principle that language adheres to the soil, it is claimed that Scandinavian words are frequently found in Normandy place-names, with affixes indicating settlement, such as ‘bye’ (Danish), proving this. In that we can not be certain of the primitive form of words claimed as Scandinavian, they may also be representatives of the Belgic, Anglian, or Saxon dialects; the latter being spoken by the Otlingua-Saxonica of the Bessin, who had established themselves on the channel coast centuries before the arrival of Rollo. ‘Scandinavianism’ occurs more probably in proper names, compounds of the name and a French noun, as in Toufreville; yet, again, many of these can not be assigned to a distinctly Scandinavian origin. Given the paucity of tenth-century charters, early spelling is absent, and names appearing in later charters are latinised and influenced by local vernacular. It may be added that the total number of place-names containing the elements ‘bye’ in Normandy is neglgible when compared to the number of them in England.

As shown by Isaac Taylor (Words and Places: Or Etymological Illustrations of History, pp. 94-95, 1873), in the Bessin we find Sassetot (Saxons field), Hermanville, Etreham, or Ouistreham (Westerham), Hambye, Le Ham, Le Hamelet, Cottun (cows’ yard), Heuland (hayland), Plumetot, Blomfield (Flowerfield), and Douvres (the shore). Charlemagne transported into France a vast multitude of Saxons – ‘multitudinem Saxonorum cum mulieribus et infantibus’. After another Saxon conquest he transplanted every third man – tertium hominem – of the vanquished people. Many of the German names in France may be due to these forced emigrations.

The area and intensity of this German colonization may conveniently be traced by means of the patronymic village names, of which there are more than 1100 in France. In addition to these names, about five hundred words were introduced into the French language by the German conquerors. Most of them are names of weapons and military terms, such as gonfanon, or guerre, from werra, war.The other words are chiefly the names of articles of dress, of beasts of the chase, and terms belonging to the feudal system. To these must be added the points of the compass, nord, sud, est. As late as the year 812, the Council of Tours ordained that every French bishop should be able to preach both in the Romance and Teutonic languages. Thus, it is impossible to distinguish between early Saxon settlers and later ones, and it may have been the case that the Saxons of Bayeux joined with later colonisers in a anti-French coalition.

The following construction is of one based on a Danish hierarchy being the central part of the Norman “flock”, and, seems, at least, plausible.

1. Sigfrid – alias Sigurd, the nephew of Godefrid, King of the Danes, or, perhaps more accurately, as ruler in Hedeby, a modern spelling of the runic Heiðabý(r), which was an important trading settlement in the Danish-German borderland, located towards the southern end of the Jutland Peninsula.

1.1. Reginheri – alias Ragnar Lodbrok, the leader of the Viking attack on Paris in 845. “The first recorded instance of the names being so used (Ragnar + Lodbrok) is Ari Þorgilsson’s reference to Ívarr Ragnarssonr loðbrókar in his Íslendingabók, written between 1120 and 1133” (McTurk, Studies in Ragnars saga loðbrókar and its major Scandinavian analogues, 1991).

1.1.1. Ivar exosus (cruel). His nickname, ‘beinlauss’, is wrongly interpreted as ‘boneless’, reflecting a misunderstanding of the written source of exosus, which was abbreviated to exos (boneless), hence stories invented to explain this strange epithet. “Exosus accords well with Adam of Bremen’s description of Ivarr as crudelissimusis” (J. de Vries, ‘Die westnordische Tradition der Sage von Ragnar Lodbrok’. Zeitschrift für deutsche Philologie 53, 257-302, 1928).

1.1.1.1. Guthfrith Ivarsson – alias Godfrey, “Duke of Frisia” and ruler in Dublin (883), vassal of the Emperor Charles III., after that ruler sued for peace, giving Godfrey most of Frisia to rule. Charles also gave him Gisela (865-908), illegitimate dau. of King Lothair II. (839-869), as his wife. (Godfrey and Gisela had issue: Reginhilde de Friesland, alias Rheinghildin de Frise, wife of Count Theoderic of Ringelheim, a direct descendant of Duke Wittikind. Their issue were: (1) Frederune of Ringelheim, who married King Charles III. of France. (2) Mathilda of Ringelheim, wife of Henry the Fowler, 876-936, alias Henry I., King of Germany. (3) Almalrad of Ringelheim, who married Everard, Count of Hameland, a domain of Wickman de Hameland. (4) Sigfrid, Count of Ringelheim: “Henry the Fowler bestowed the government (of Brandenburg) on Sigfrid, Count of Ringelheim”(Robert Beatson, A Political index to the histories of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, p. 494, 1806]. “It was this Sigfrid who was to become known as Sigfrid de Guines, who held Brandenburg simultaneously” (J. Dhondt, Recherches sur l’histoire Boulonnais, ix., x., in Memoires de l’Academie d’Arras, 4th. series, pp. 1-35, 1941/42).

1.1.1.1.1. Bernard the Dane. (Beorn) ‘Of the blood royal of Saxony’. Lothair II had had one son and three daughters, all by Waldrada, and all of whom were declared illegitimate: Waldreda was the sister of Gunther, Archbishop of Cologne (Germany) from 850 until he was deposed in 863. “In 856 a nephew of Charles le Chauve, and great-grandson of Charlemagne, Lothaire, king of Lorraine, lived openly with Waldrade, sister of Gunther, archbishop of Cologne, and niece to Teutgaud, archbishop of Treves” (F. Guizot, The History of Civilisation, translated by William Hazlitt, vol.3, p. 139, 1874). Bernard the Dane has been given a dual nationality within the larger Teutonic framework, being “Bernard of the blood-royal of Saxony” (Mark Antony Lower, Patronymica Britannica, p. p. 147, 1860), and “Bernard the Dane, Prince in Denmark” (William Chauncey Fowler, Memorials of the Chaunceys, p. 312, 1858).

1.1.1.2. Sitric. Smith, Hist. of Waterford, c. 4.— “Were we to believe Giraldus Cambrensis,” says Dr. Lanigan, “Sitric was the founder of Limerick” (c. xxi. sect. 14. note 143). But this is an oversight; for it is to Ivar that Giraldus attributes, the construction of this city: “Constructis itaque primö civitatibus tribus, Dublinia, Gwaterfordia, Limerico, Dubliniae principatus cessit Amelao, Gwaterfordiae Sytaraco, Limerici Yuoro” (Topog. ib. Dist. iii. c. 43). Of Limerick, its historian, Ferrar, says, “According to a manuscript in the editor’s possession, the Danes got possession of Limerick in the year 855”.

1.1.1.2.1. Ragnall ua Ímair. “The identity between the Ragnall of the Irish Sea and Ragnald of northern Britain is no longer in doubt” (Downham, Viking Kings, p. 94). “I equate him with this Ragnall: The annalist Flodoard mentioned a Viking named Ragenold, like Rollo, called princeps Nortmannorum, leader of the Loire Vikings, who were regarded as a menace, especially to Brittany. He is noted as being a man of Rollo, who attended the coronation of Rollo’s son, William Longsword, in 931, and was probably of Rollo’s family” (A. Hugo, France Historique, p. 416, 1837). “In 924, Ragenold, although he had accepted a grant of lands within the borders of France, laid waste the country of Duke Hugh” (Reginald Lane Poole, The English Historical Review, p. 16, 1911).

1.1.1.2.1.1. Harald of Bayeux, “noted ally of Rollo’s family, who came to hold land between Bayeux and Coutances, possibly connected to the family of the Duchess Gunnor, and the person called on for assistance by Bernard the Dane when the Scandinavian colonists came under attack by Frankish forces” (Hudson, Viking Pirates, p. 65, 2005).

1.1.1.2.2. Rollo. Richard of Reims (Historia, i, 28, p. 62) claimed that Rollo was the son of Ketil (‘filio Catilli’; a latinisation of Ketil; “mais Richer a dû confondre Rollon avec un autre chef viking, Björn, fils d’un certain Ketil Flatnef” (Pierre Bouet, Rollon: Le chef Viking qui fonda la Normandie, 2016). Rollon stems fron the Scandinavian name Hrolfr. (Harcourt is the latinised form of a fief that was originally named after a chieftain called Heriolfr or Heriulfr, of which Hrolf/r is a contraction: “Les autres croient ce nom personnel, et l’expliquent par plusieurs racines Scandinaves, dont la principale, Har ou Her, se traduit par éminent fort ou guerrier. Les chroniqueurs du moyen âge le latinisaient en Harulfi Corte, ce qui fournirait d’autres inductions” (La Rocque, Histre. de la M. d’Harc., p. xiii. , etc., cit. MSAN, 1837; Larchey, Recherche Etymologique, p. cxxxii, 1880).

In order to show that the exploits of Rollo were based on those of his uncle, Guthred (Godfrey), I will borrow from Mr. Howorth, whose essay ‘A Criticism of the Life of Rollo, as told by Dudo de St. Quentin,’ appeared in the ‘Archaelogia’, vol. xlv., 1880: “The story of Rollo depends mainly upon the testimony of the biographer and panegyrist of his grandson Richard the First, Dudo of St. Quentin, who had access to the sons of those who were Rollo’s actual contemporaries and companions, yet he given us such a false and unsubstantial account. Where the annals say Guthfred or Sigfred, he retains the exploit, but assigns it boldly to his hero. Dudo makes Rollo advance upon Rouen and there have an interview with its bishop, Franco; but, as has long been pointed out, Franco was not made bishop until the year 909, and it is clear that if the incidents of the story are reliable, the date 876 is utterly inadmissible.

The Siege of Paris: There Dudo gives the leadership to Rollo, were, in fact, the leaders of it were Sigfried and Guthred. None of the annalists of the time say a word about Rollo. The whole account is distorted, and is another instance of the way in which Dudo has converted to the honour of Rollo deeds with which he had nothing to do. The history of France during the ten years from 900 to 910 is hid in almost impenetrable mists. There is a huge gap in the Annals, the reason being no doubt the terribly disturbed state of Gaul and Germany and the ravages of the Danes. As these Annals fail, so does Dudo most consistently. Having no material to transform, he creates none. He has not handed us even a tradition, but makes a clean jump over the chaotic interval; and when we emerge from the blank it is generally supposed that we come upon undoubted, independent evidence of the existence of Rollo; that the Frodoard Annals mention the treaty he made with Charles the Simple at St. Clair-sur-Epte in 911; and that this date is the first one at which we have independent evidence of the presence of Rollo in France. That Rollo married Gisela, daughter of Charles the Simple, as one of the terms of the treaty of St. Clair-sur-Epte, has been accepted by historians with, I believe, almost unvarying credulity.

Let me collect the evidence. Charles the Simple was born in the year 879, and on the feast of St. Lambert (i.e. the 17th of September), as he tells us in one of his charters (Recueil des Historiens de France, ix. 531, quoted by Licquet 82). The treaty of St. Clair sur Epte was made, according to Dudo and his copyists, at the end of the year 911, and put in force at the beginning of 912, so that Charles must then have been 32 or at most 33 years of age.

The two wives of Charles the Simple of whom we know something were, Frederune, the sister of Boso, Bishop of Chalons, whom he married in 907 (Mabillon, de Re Diplomatica, 558). She died about ten years after, and was buried in the church of St. Remi. His second wife was Edgifa, or, as the French write it, Ogiva, daughter of Edward the Elder, and sister of Athelstane. It is clearly impossible that he could have had a marriageable daughter by either of these wives at the date of the treaty.

These facts make it very nearly certain that Charles the Simple could not have had a daughter of marriageable age in 911; and is the story then wholly false? By no means. Here, again, and this only makes the contention the stronger, he has merely robbed Guthred of another incident in his life. Reginon, Abbot of Prune, whose chronicle closes in the year 906, has sub ann. 882 the following notice: “Novissime rex Godfridus Normannorum ea conditione christianum se fieri pollicetur, si ei, munere regis, Frisia provincia concedcretur, et Gisela filia Lotharii in uxorem daretur”.

As M. Licquet says: Here we have a Charles (the emperor Charles the Fat) giving away a province (Frisia) with a Gisla or Gisela to a Norman chief, on condition of his being baptized. We have in fact the very circumstances assigned to Rollo in one of the clauses of the treaty of St. Clair-sur-Epte. The parallelism of the stories is so complete that we are driven to the conclusion that one has been borrowed”.

Writing a generation after Rollo, Flodoard describes Rollo’s son, William Longsword as having a mother ‘concubina Brittana’. The contemporary Frankish eulogy, ‘lament for William’, seems to suggest that Brittana equates to Britain rather than Brittany.

1.1.1.2.2.1. “Willelmus princeps Nortmannorum”, m. Sprota, a concubine. (Frodoard, 933, MGH SS III, p. 381).

1.1.1.2.2.1.1. Robert. m. (1) Emma, dau. of Hugh “le Grand”, duke of the Franks. Sans issue. (2) Gunnora, d. bef.Jan. 5, 1031. Professor Eleanor Searle (‘Facts and Patterns in heroic poetry’, 1984) wrote of the besieged colonists being reinforced by a new wave of Norsemen in the 960’s, and Richard (‘dux pyratorum’) took as a wife Gunnor, the daughter of one of their leaders, in a ‘peace-weaving’ marriage. The Normans pressed for the marriage of Richard and Gunnor, “so that from a Danish father and a Danish mother may be bore the heir of this land, and will be its defender and advocate” (Dudo, 4.125).

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.1. Richard, ‘the Great Prince’, bur. Fécamp.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1. Richard II., m. (1) c. 1000, Judith, dau. of Conan I. of Brittany.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Richard, duke of Normandy
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.2. Robert, by Herleva his concubine:
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.2.1. William the Conqueror.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.1.1.3. Eleanor, m. Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders, whose first wife, Otgiva, was a sister of Giselle, who was probably the mother of Gilbert de Gand.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.2. Robert, Archbishop of Rouen, d. 1037.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1. Richard d’Evreux, m. (after 1040), as her second husband, Godechildis, widow of Roger de Tosny. (W. Genet, Liber vii., iv., p. 269).
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1.1. Agnes d’Evreux. Orderic records that ‘Radulfus filius Rogerii de Toenia’ kidnapped ‘Agnetem uterinam sororem suam, Ricardi Ebroicensium comitis filiam’ and married her to ‘Simoni de Monteforti’, brother-in-law of William Crispin 2, son of Gilbert Crispin I.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.3. Mauger, m. Germaine de Corbeil, dau. of Albert, Count of Corbeil.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.4. Emma, known as Aelgifu in England, m. (1) Aethelred II King of England, son of Edgar, King of England, and his second wife, Aelfthryth. (2) Canute, King of England (see Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, F, 1013 and 1017), son of Svend I, King of Denmark, and his first wife Swietoslawa (Gunhild) of Poland.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.5. Havise, m. (996) Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany, son of Conan I, Duke of Brittany, and his wife Ermengarde d’Anjou.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.5.1. Alain de Bretagne, d. 1040, m. (1018) Bertha de Blois, dau. of Eudes II Comte de Blois and his second wife, Ermengarde d’Auvergne.
1.1.1.2.2.1.1.6. Mathilda, m (1003) as his first wife, Eudes II, Comte de Blois, son of Eudes I, Comte de Blois & his wife Berthe de Bourgogne. It was a dispute over Mathilda’s dower lands that led to the construction of Tillières (“castrum Tegulense”) Verneuil, Eure; the border fort given to the Crispins to defend, as vassals of the Counts of Brionne.

Richard, ‘the Great Prince’. About the year 980, Richard, duke of Normandy, gave Brionne to one of his natural children, named Godefroy, which included the territories of Bonneville and Bec. After the death of Richard, a brother of Godefroy (born like himself to a concubine), Guillaume, Count of Exmes, revolted against his elder brother. Raoul d’Ivry, uncle of the brothers, was charged to end the rebellion, and captured Guillaume in Exmes, bringing him to Rouen, under the guard of Turquetil de Harcourt. (See Charpillon, Dict., Hist., p. 584, 1868). Thus, Godefroy d’Eu held the barony of Bonneville-sur-le-Bec.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.7. Godefroy d’Eu, cousin of Emma d’Ivri, wife of Osborn de Crepon, of whom W. Genet records that a sister married Osmund de Conteville. Their son was Foulques d’Anet. Gilbert Crispin I. married his daughter, thus explaining Prevost’s statement that there was an obvious connection between the FitzOsborns, decendants of Osborn de Crepon, and the Crispins, without its basis being known.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.7.1. Heloise, m. Ansgot. Heloise received Bonneville as dower.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.7.1.1. Herluin de Bec. Educated in the household of Gilbert de Brionne. Hellouin founded the Abbey of Bec toward the 37th. year of his life, i.e. 1034. “His father, Ansgot, derived his origin from those Danes who first conquered Normandy, and his mother was closely related to the dukes of Flanders. Gilbert, Count of Brionne, grandson of Richard I., Duke of Normandy, by his son, Prince Godefroy, had Herluin brought up by him, and particularly cherished him among all the lords of his court” (Francois Guizot, Collection des mémoires relatifs à l’histoire de France, p. 146, 1826). “Hellouin, in the presence of his two brothers, Odo and Roger, gave to Bec the third part belonging to him from his land of Bonneville, and his lands of Petit-Quevilli, Seine-Inférieure, and Surci, Eure, as well as the land of Cernai-sur-Orbec, Calvados” (W. Genet, t. xi, p. 35). This gift dates to c. 1035.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.7.2. Gilbert de Brionne. (Perhaps the father of Gilbert Crispin I., by a concubine).

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8. Guillaume d’Eu. (Perhaps the father of Gilbert Crispin I., by a concubine). He m. Lesseline, sister of Turquetil de Harcourt.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8.1. (Perhaps) Gilbert Crispin I, cousin of Gilbert de Brionne, m. a daughter of Foulques d’Anet. Gilbert Crispin held the fortress of Tillieres under the ducal family as a vassal of Gilbert de Brionne.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8.1.1. Gilbert Crispin II. (Colavilla), held the fortress of Damville as a vassal of Gilbert de Brionne’s son, Richard FitzGilbert (de Clare). Domesday shows “Gilbert de Colavilla” as a considerable undertenant of Robert Malet at Rendlesham; he also held under Robert Malet’s mother, Hesilia Crispin (DB/Sf 6/19-21, 29-30, 34-37, etc.).

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8.1.2. William Crispin I. (Colavilla), m. Eve de Montfort-sur-Risle.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8.1.2.1. William Crispin II. “Ex dono Willielmi Crispin , Eccles. de Droecourt, cum terra et decima, etc.”. This is taken from a confirmation charter of Henry II. (in Monast. Anglican. Tom. II, p. 953) in which is acknowledged the gifts given to Bec by the following grouping: Fulc de Aneto, who donated, with his sister, the church of Mesnil Simon; Roger, son of Richard FitzGilbert, son of Gilbert de Brionne, who donated the fief of Colleville; William Malet, brother-in-law of William Crispin I., who donated the church of Conteville; William Crispin I., as given. William Crispin II. Colleville became a Malet holding, probably as dower of Hesilia Crispin.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8.1.3. Hesilia Crispin, m. William Malet (Monasticon 3. 405). His caput was Graville-sur-Honorine, near Le Havre, which had previously formed part of the Giffards barony, centred on Montvilliers.

1.1.1.2.2.1.1.8.1.3.1. Robert Malet, held the fief of Collavilla, near Harfleur, Seine-Inf.

The aforementioned confirmation charter followed one of 1134, in which the abbot of Bec confirmed the gifts to Bec of the churches of Blangy, Livarot, Drucort, and Duranville, held by the Crispins; and Saint-Philbert près Montfort, Saint-Georges-du-Vièvre, and Saint-Etienne-l’Allier, all once of the ‘honneur de Montfort-sur-Risle’.

1.1.1.2.1.1.2. Raoul d’Ivry (Count Rodolph), uterine brother of ‘Duke’ Richard I.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.1. Osborn de Crépon.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.1.1. William FitzOsborn
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.2. … de Crepon, m. Osmund de Centville.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.2.1. Foulques d’Anet.
1.1.1.2.1.1.2.2.1.1. Gunnora d’Anet, m. (I suggest) Gilbert Crispin I, kinsman of the FitzOsborns.

1.1.2. Healfdene – The Albann/Healfdene of the Annals of Ulster and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, mentioned above, may also be identified with an Halbdeni mentioned in the Annales Fuldenses for 873 as the brother of the Danish king Sigifridus and as active on the European continent (in Metz) in that year.

1.1.3. Sigifridus Ragnarsson – alias Sigurðr ormr-í-auga – ‘king’ in Denmark in 873. In this year, Hedeby, and thus the fortress of Hochburg, was controlled by Sigifridus, who negotiated its trade with King Ludwig of Germany [Angelo Forte, Richard D. Oram, Frederik Pedersen, Viking Empires, p. 46, 2005]. “According to the testimony of Svein II. Estridsen, Sigfrid was succeeded as a king in Denmark by Helgi, probably after the battle on the Dyle in 891” (Gwyn Jones, A History of the Vikings, p. 111, 2001).

1.1.3.1. Helgi (Hulcius), who succeeded his father as ruler of Hedeby. Two commanders of Sigifridus and Healfdene were Hals and Vurm, called Helgi and Gorm in the Ragnarssona pattr, and mentioned in the Annales Fuldenses for 882. Hals is a similar name to Hulci in its genitive form, so it is reasonable to equate Hals with Hulci and Helgi. (Quant à Hulcius, si l’on retenait cette coupure, ce pourrait être le v. nor. Helgi, comme l’a suggéré L. de Saint-Pierre, Rollón devant l’histoire, Paris 1949, p. 195, nom qui a donné en Normandie Helge, Helge ou Helgus, in Fracia 5, p. 49, 1977).

Vurm is (cas. obl.) Vurmon, or Gormond, which equates with the Anglo-Saxon name Guthrum, “the name of a prince who was of Sigfrid’s family”. He certainly received a part of the tax levied on Emperor Charles – “Sigifridio etiam Vermoni illorumque complicibus” (Hincmar). This “prince” may well have been Guthrum Aethelstan: As shown, the mythos of Rollo’s early career is largely built around the exploits of the Danish chieftain Guthred, whose name equates with both Guthfrith and Godfrey. This Guthred had a brother (vide Hincmar) called Vurm (Guthrum); and Dudo makes Rollo an associate of Guthrum Aethelstan. (See Lappenberg, A History of England, p. 8, 1857).

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1. Robert, held of William Peverel I. (who died in 1113) “in Stapleford 2 carucates”.
1.1. Geoffrey de Heriz donated to the said William Peverell’s foundation of Lenton (between 1103-1108), two-thirds of his tithes in Stapleford (Mon. Anglic. v. 111b), as one of his feudatories in Avranches. (Société d’archéologie et d’histoire de la Manche, p.56, 1992).
1.1.1. Robert de Heriz, sans issue.
1.2. Robert de Heriz, ob. ante. 1128, who held Stapleford, Tibshelf, Wingfield, and Oxcroft, was mesne tenant of William Peverel I. “There is land to 8 ploughs. William has in the demense there (Robert holds of him) 3 ploughs and 6 villeins with 6 ploughs and two bondmen”. Robert was Sheriff of Nottingham, 1110-1122. (Judith A. Green, The Government of England under Henry I., p. 221, 1989). He was a King’s Commissioner who witnessed charters of Robert de Ferrers, 1st. Earl Derbys.
The family of Heriz continued to hold in Stapleford (that is, the descendants of Agnes de Heriz, sister of her childless brother, Robert, who m. … de Eccleston), untill 11 Edward III., when Richard de Heriz settled his estate on John de Bughton, his brother-in-law, but, he dying of the plague,the estate eventually descended to Idonea de Heriz, his sister, wife of John de Furmery.
1.2.1. Ivo de Heriz I, m. Emma de Bilborough, dau. of Herbert de Bilborough. “Erbert, a knight of William Peverel’s, held this Manor (of Gonalston) in the time of King Henry I. and left it to Emma his eldest daughter, and one of his co-heirs, who, marrying to Ivo de Heriz, brought this manor into his family” (Thomas Cox, Anthony Hall, Robert Morden, Magna Britannia, p. 104, 1738). Herbert may have been synonomous with Herbert, “the king’s servant”, who held of Henry de Ferrers in Derbyshire.
Gonalston remained in the ownership of the family of Heriz until 18 Edward II., when John Heriz left his estates to Roger Beler, his daughter Margaret’s son.
The last generations of this branch of the Heriz are buried at Gonalston, in the north aisle, near the chantry they founded. Three effigies are extant, one being of the aforesaid John Heriz.
1.2.1.1. Robert de Heriz, m. Agnes, the dau. and co-heiress of Gilbert Alcher, who held land in Sudbury, Derbyshire: “Gilbert de Sub(er)ia”, who witnessed a grant of Robert de Ferrers to Tutbury in 1135-1139. (C.D.F. 580). Robert held Mundham in Sussex in right of his wife. Gilbert Alcher was the grandson of the Saxon thegn Ealhhere (Alcher), who held (under earl Roger Montgomery) 9 hides in Mundham. (lb. I. Sx. 4266). In Runcton, I mile distant from Mundham, its church was granted to the Priory of Boxgrove by Robert de St. John, elder son of Roger de St. John and Cicily, only dau. and heir of Roger de la Haia. Roger de St. John was the son of William de St-John, of St-Jean-le-Thomas, near Avranches, and Olivia, dau. of Raoul de Fougeres.
In 1162, William de St. John confirmed to the abbey of Holy Trinity, Luzerne (founded by Hasculf de Soligny), the gift of 6 quarters of wheat by Robert de Heriz, with the consent of his sons, Robert and Andrew, “for the weal of his soul and that of Agnes his wife”. The latter Robert had married a dau. of Roger-le-Pauvre, the younger, noted here: “Robertum abbatem et conventum concessisse W. de S. Johanne universam terram nostram … Nous avons donné deux gerbes de dîme de la terre Cornart à la Pommeraye; l’église de la Rochelle avec ses dépendances, du consentement de Roger-le-Pauvre”. (MS. Lat. 17,049, in Bibliotheqice Rationale).
Their son, Roger (“Rogeriis de Rochella”), donated to Holy Trinity, Luzerne, considerable lands in la Rochelle and in Crollon. Witnesses to this deed included “Ricardo de Haia“; “Rogero de Sancto Johanne“; “Willelmo de Filgeriis“. (ibid.).
Crollon was a fief of Hasculf de Subligny, whose dau., Lesceline, m. Fulk Paynel. She granted the Church of Crollon to Hambye, her husbands’ foundation.
The Heriz family held the fief of La Hérissiere in La Rochelle, also named La Rochelle-le-Hericiere (D.N. vol. xi. p. 379, 1776; Revue de l’Avranchin et du pays de Granville, vols. 27-28, 1934), situated six miles from Avranches, in the canton of Haye-Pesnel, from whence also came the Paynels.
In 1172, Fulk Paynel’s tenant held a messuage in La Hérissiere. (Déclaration des fiefs de fabbaye du Mont-Saint Michel).
The Heris name is a contraction of (Héris)sière, and their armorial of three hedgehogs was a pun of Hérissière, a fort with defensively angled wooden spikes that resembled the spines of a hedgehog; Fr. hérisson being an hedgehog.
The other co-heiress of Gilbert Alcher married Ralf (de Montgomery, according to Keats-Rohan, D.D. P. 598), who held Cubley and Snelston in Derbys., of Henry de Ferrers, in 1086.
The dau. of Roger de Montgomery (le Poitevin), overlord of Alcher, married William Peverel, the younger.

Thus, the marriages of the land owning class were a deadly game of political chess – the fear of going from knight to pawn was the underlying impetus.

Not all Harris were the offsping of Henrys (pet form, Harry).

1. Ivo I. de Heriz, Sheriff of Notts. and Derbys., 1128-30, as above.
1.1. Robert de Heriz.
1.1.1. Ivo II. de Heriz, ob. 1225, m. Hawise Briwiere.
1.1.1.1. William de Heriz, ob. 1242, of Wiverton, Justice Itinerant of Notts., m. Maud Basset.
1.1.1.1.1. Robert de Heriz (Hoblyn’s MS.). At the 1201 Launceston eyre, Robert was a plaintiff for seizin of land taken “by reason of the king’s service” in 1199 (He was probably a Crusader). He held land in Landegai (Caerhays) and Ebbeford (Efford), Cornwall (Pipe Roll, 1201)
1.1.1.1.1.1. ‘John Heris’, m. Joan Vivian, da. of Richard Vivian and Constance Peverel, descendant of William Peverel I. (See Visitations of Cornwall, Comprising the Heralds’ Visitations of 1530, 1573, & 1620, with additions by J. L. Vivian, 1887, p. 17).
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. etc., etc.
1.1.1.1.2. Henry de Heriz. Assise Roll, Launceston, 1201: “The assize of novel disseisin betweeen Robert de Heriz, complainant, and Henry (de Heriz) son of William stands over because Robert has had seisen by fine which he has had made with the King. Between 1221 and 1242 Henry de Heriz donated land in Bradford Heriz to Launceston Priory for his soul and that of his wife and his ancestors. Richard Carew’s ‘survey of Cornwall’ states that the Herys family of Caerhays were of his stock.

If Herries is allowed in Scotland for Heriz, and Herys in Cornwall/Devon, then what difference Herryes? Bond in £10 (today $5,000). For quiet possession of 3 pieces of land in the fields of Frome; Henry Wayfere son and heir of Robert Wafer of Rodden to Thomas Herryes of Frome, weaver. July 12, 1437. (Somerset Heritage Centre.ref. T\PH\pls/1/17).

Likewise Harreis: Carter v Harreis. Plaintiffs: John Carter. Defendants: John Harreis, Elizabeth, his wife, William Andrew and Margaret, his wife, and Alice Trymlet, single woman. Subject: A tenement called `Suthome,’ in Glastonbury, held on lease from defendants by plaintiff, Isabel, his wife, and John, their son, for their lives. Somerset. 1515-1518. (Nat. Arch., ref. C 1/400/2).

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As some aristocratic families ‘declined. through descent to junior branches, they intersected with families who were ascending the social scale, as Poyntz to Owsley and Harris.

1. Osbert FitzPonts (perhaps).
2. Nicholas FitzPonts (perhaps).
3. Hugh Poyntz, d. 3 Henry III.
4. Hugh Poyntz, of Dodington Gloucestershire, m. Julian, niece of Robert Bardulph.
5. Hugh Poyntz, m. Heloise, sister of William Malet, of Cary Malet, Somerset.
6. Nicholas Poyntz, d. 1273.
7. Sir Hugh Poyntz, b. 1252, d. 1307, m. Margaret, da. of Sir William Pavely.
8. Nicholas Poyntz, m. (1) Elizabeth La Zouche, on January 20, 1288, in North Okenden, Essex. (2) Matild, da. of Sir John Acton, of Iron Acton, Gloucestershire.
9. Sir John Poyntz, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, ob. 1377, m. Elizabeth, da. of Sir Philip Clanvowe and Phillippa Talbot.

10. Robert Poyntz, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1397, m. Ruth, da. of Sir Thomas FitzNichol, of Nymphfield, Gloucestershire
11. Nicholas Poyntz, of Iron Acton, ob 1449, m. Elixabeth, da. of Thomas Mill, of Harscombe, Gloucestershire, and Juliana Le Rous.
12. John Poyntz, ob. 1507, m. Alice, da. of John Cox.
13. Sir Robert Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, d. Nov. 4, 1520, bur. Gaunt or Mayor’s Chapel, Bristol, m. (1478) Margaret Woodville, da. of Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, and Gwenillian Stradling. He was knighted on Bosworth, immediately after King Richard III was killed. He was Chancellor to Catherine of Aragon.
14a. John Poyntz, b. 1484, Aderly, Gloucestershire, d. November 29, 1544. Sewer to Queen Catherine; burgess to the House of Commons for the Borough of Devizes, Wiltshire, in 1529; Justice of the Peace for Gloucestershire, 1529-1544. Shortly after adding the codicil to his will, he left with the army of Henry VIII for the invasion of France and may have died in that expedition.
15. John Poyntz, burgess of Devizes, d. 29 November, 1544, m. (1) Elizabeth Browne, da. of Sir Matthew Browne, Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, and Frideswide Guilford. (2) Margaret Saunders, da. of Nicholas Saunders.
16. William Poyntz, d. 1601, m. Elizabeth Newdigate. Her will was proved June 17, 1602. (58 Montague).
17. John Poyntz, b. December 8, 1577, Reigate, Surry, d. October 20, 1617, m. Anne Sydenham, da of John Sydenham of Nymsfield, Glouc. He d. after October 20, 1617, in Jamestown, Virginia. He was Marshall of King James I. As a result of serious differences, his wife obtained a divorce on October 31, 1613. He sold all of his property between November 1615 and October 20, 1617.
18. Newdigate Ponytz, b. November 16, 1608, d. August 4, 1643, in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, m. Sarah Foxley, da. of Francis Foxley and Mary Dryden.
19. Dorothy Poyntz, b. January 3, 1631, in Benefield, Northamptonshire, m. Rev. John Owsley, who graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA degree on June 29, 1631; and evidenced here: Trull. “An Assessmt  for £4 18s. 10d ob. per mensem for 3 moneths from the 24th of September last unto the 24th of December next made die et anno predictis by the Assessors whose names are subscribed” (arranged under Tithings). (At end: Willm. Buncombe, John Owsley, Robert Smyth:- Assessors. Subcollectors: George Durston, Henry Wyatt, Christofer Babb. Allowed by us: John Pyne, Edw. Ceely. 9 Oct. 1650. (Somerset Heritage Centre, ref. D\P\tru/23/25).
20. Thomas Owsley, b. June 11, 1658, in Stogursey, Somerset, d. October 10, 1700, Stafford Co., VA, m. Ann Harris, da. of William Harris, whose will of 1698 devised all of his land to his Owsley grandchildren. Ann Harris Owsley married (2) John West, son of Major John West.
21. Poyntz Owsley.

14b. Sir Anthony Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1480-1535, m. Elizabeth Huddersfield, da. of Sir William Huddersfield, and Katherine, da. of Sir Philip Courtenay.
15b. Sir Nicholas Poyntz of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, d. 1555, m. Joan Berkeley, da. of Thomas, 5th Lord Berkeley.
16b. Sir Nicholas Poyntz, of Iron Acton, Sheriff of Gloucestershire, aged 21 years on his fathers’ death, 1555. Sheriff of Gloucester in 1569. Knight of the Shire 1571. Died at Iron Acton on September 1, 1585. (Inq. p. m. 28th Elizabeth, Part 2, No. 81). He m. (4) Grissell Roberts, da. of Walter Roberts, of Glassenbury, Kent, on June 2, 1600.
17b. Nicholas Poyntz, b. 1607, d. February 11, 1650, bur. in the Savoy, Lond; matric. from Magdalen Hall, Oxon, as son of Sir John Poyntz, January 31, 1622, aet. 16. Living at Tickenham in 1646. He m. Eleanor, only child and heir of Rice Davis, of Tickenham, Som., by Mary Pitt, relict of Robert Owen (Robert ap Owen, of Abergwilli, Carmarthenshire, and a Bristol merchant), and 3rd wife of Rice (Rees) Davis. Married 1638. Mary Pitt was the mother of Robert Pitt, of Virginia. Rice Davis originated from Carmarthenshire, and was brother of “William Davies, of Carmarthenshire”, father of Richard Davis, Esq, of Tickenham, bapt. November 8, 1587, heir to his uncle, who m. Mary Owen, da. of Mary Pitt and Robert Owen, and sister of Robert Owen Jr., the very likely father of Bartholomew Owen.

The identity of Ann Harris can not be known, yet if the criteria common to these times is applied – most marriages were between people who lived within walking distance of each other, and most men married women who were 2-10 years their junior, then the following suggestion is at least plausible:

1. David Harris, bur. Aug. 25, 1597, in Stoke St Gregory, Somerset. Trull is 10 miles from Stoke St Gregory, and 10 miles from Wiveliscombe. The boundary of Aller to the south and southwest with Curry Rivel and Stoke St. Gregory is formed by the river Parrett.
1.1. William Harris, bapt. March 6, 1572, Stoke St Gregory; d. December 27, 1627; m. Mary Cely, February 3, 1595; of the family of Robert Cely: Dite v Cely. Plaintiffs: Edward Dite. Defendants: Robert Cely, Sir Henry Hawley, and Robert Poulet.Subject: tenement or fardell of land in Stoke Gregory and North Curry, Somerset. 1603-1625. (Nat Arch. ref. C 2/JasI/C17/77). He of the family of his namesake: Cely v Torey. Plaintiffs: Robert Cely of North Curry, husbandman. Defendants: Thomas Torey of Staple (Fitzpaine). Subject: Money and household goods promised by defendant on complainant’s marriage with Robygge, his daughter, and money entrusted to him. Somerset. 1538-1544. (Nat. Arch. ref. C 1/972/11).
1.1.1. Anthonie Harris, bapt. October 1, 1609, Stoke St Gregory.
1.2. John Harris.
1.2.1. William Harris, “the younger”.
1.2.1.1. William Harris.
1.2.1.1.1. Anna Harris, bapt. 14 September 14, 1660, in Stoke St Gregory, da. of “William”.

The branch to which these Harris belonged can only be assumed by on their geographical nearness to other Harris families.

Owsley genealogical enquiry should include William Owsley, vicar of Shepton Beauchamp: Owsley v Drewe. Plaintiffs: William Owsley, clerk on behalf of poor of Shepton Beauchamp. Defendants: Alice Drewe, widow, Christopher Rowswell, Agnes Cogan and John Allen. Subject: charitable bequests from William Drewe and John Cogan, Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset. 1627. (Nat. Arch. ref. C 8/61/92).

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1. Torf. According to Robert of Torigny (GND, viii. c. 37), Torf was the father of Turold and Turchetil (see also OV ii. 12). It is wrongly assumed that this Turchetil was a forefather of the Harcourts; he died childless, passing his estate to his great-nephew, Asketil (cart. Preaux, fol. 97v; CP xi. Instr., col. 201 a. d., Du Monstier, Neustria Pia, p. 522, 1663). Turold mar. Duvelina de Crepon, sister of Gunnor, the wife of ‘Duke’ Richard; they were ancestors of the Beaumont family of Pont-Audemer, and, according to Auguste le Prevost, of the Harcourts, with Turold and Duvelina being the parents of both Onfroi de Vieilles (GND vii. 1. 3.), and Turchetil. (See Ordericus, ed. Prevost, vol. i., p. 180; ii. pp. 14, 369, 370; iii. pp. 42, 229).
1.1. Turchetil.
1.2. ‘Turoldis teneri ducis pedagogus perimitur’ (Will. Gemet, VII.).
1.2.1. Hunfrid (Onfroi de Vieilles, alias Vetulis or Vaux, lord of Vieilles; a small commune in the canton of Beaumont, arrondissement of Bernay.
1.2.1.1. Roger de Beaumont; Asketil, his dapifer, being a junior kinsman. 1087-1095. Notification that “in the reign of Robert son of William king of the English, Roger de Beaumont gave, etc. The same day he gave to St. Peter, Preaux, 20 pounds of English money annually from the tithe of his revenues oversea, etc. Signa Roberti comitis de Mellent; Ricardi Wanescrot; Ricardi fiii Teoderici; Anchetilli pincerna; Willelmi Stutaville”.

1.2.1.1.1. Robert de Beaumont, Ist Earl Leicester.
1.2.1.1.1.1. Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl Leicester, founder of Garendon in 1133, to which donated his kinsmen, Hugh de Berges, and his son, Asketil.
1.2.1.2. ‘Rodbertus de Bellomonte, filius Unfredi‘. 1066-1087. Notification that “in the reign of William I. and by permission of Robert son of Humfrey de Vieilles a certain knight, Gilbert by name, having no heir, gave to St. Peter a gift of his whole inheritance, namely all that he had in the vill of Conde. Of this is witness Roger of Beaumont who with his own hand placed the gift of the said honour on St. Peter’s altar”.
1.2.1.2.1. Rogerius de Tetboldivilla. Le Prévost, Hist. of Saint-Martin du Tilleul, vol. 8: “The genealogy of the family of Thibouville is partly given by a charter of 1150, concerning Guillaume de Thibouville, first of that name. This lord is firstly mentioned in the confirmation by Henry I, in 1131, of donations from Count Galeran in favour of the Holy Trinity. It recounts: Homines comitis Mellenti: Willelmi filius Roberti (William, lord of Harcourt), Willelmi of Thibovilla, etc. Guillaume de Thibouville is precisely in the same rank among the witnesses of the confirmation by Count Galeran of a chirograph of Hugue de Meulan, his great-uncle, in favour of Saint-Wandrille: Ego Gualerannus, comes Mellenti, praescriptam donationem praedecessorum meorum concedo and hoc signo meo confirmo. Testibus: Willelmo, filio Roberti (Harcourt), and Willelmo de Teboldivili, and Roberto Bigoto, and … (Bibl. Nat., Ms 5425, 69). In these accords the lord of Thibouville occupies the first place among the vassals Guillaume d’Harcourt, who preceded him as witness, (and) was a member of the family of the lord suzerain.
Thibouville, between Neubourg and Harcourt, was the cradle of this family, probably as a result of some alliance. Fontaine la Soret, an important passage on the Risle, soon became its second settlement.
The first recorded personage of this house was called Robert. He is known only to us as the father of Roger de Thibouville: “Rogerius filius Roberti of Tetboldi Villa, Rogerius of Tetboldivilla“. This character, a contemporary of Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Meulan, left only a small number of historical records. What we know about him is nevertheless enough to constitute a magnificent illustration of the history of a Norman family: we believe that he was present at the battle of Hastings. It is not that we find his name on the very defective lists of the Norman warriors who took part in this great event; but because it seems impossible to explain in any other way the possession in England of the property of which he conceded shortly afterwards to the abbey of Bec. It is quite natural, moreover, that he should have followed in this expedition Robert de Beaumont, his contemporary, and the son of his suzerain. We can see a testimony of the relations which would have existed between them in the creation of this fief of Thibouville. Guillaume de Thibouville, who appears to have been his son, a contemporary of Count Galeran, is mentioned in a charter in favour of the priory of St. Gilles de Pont-Audemer, dated to 1150, in which he donates “Terram de Fonte”.* His son was Robert de Thibouville, one of the signatories of the treaty with the Count of Flanders, in 1197, with Amauri, his brother. *Fontaine-la-Soret.
1.2.1.2.1.1. Guillaume de Thibouville.

1.2.2. Turchetil.
1.2.2.1. Asketil (de Harcourt) de Rieu, gave the abbey of Tréport, c. 1060, the tithes of ‘decimam suam de Riu’. (Carlularium sanctae Trinilatis, p. 425). He is noted as ‘senis’, distinguishing him from his son.
1.2.2.1.1. Hugues de Rieu, confirmed his father’s gifts to Treport. At Domesday, he held Rotingedene (near Bergemere, contracted to Burg and Berges) from William de Warenne. His son, William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (d. 1138), m. Isabelle de Vermandois, widow of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, whose son founded Garendon.
1.2.2.1.1.1. Anscherio de Moncellis. In Easter of 1107, before the barons of king Henry, he gave witness in a dispute concerning fisheries, donated to Treport by Robert d’Eu. He may have been the Ansketil de Jorz who is recorded in England in 1110 and who (it is suggested) is synonomous with the “nobis Aschetillus dispensator” and his son “Galfridus” noted by Bridgeman (The Burton Abbey Twelfth Century Surveys, Collections for a History of Staffordshire, p. 225, 1918). Sometime during the period 1133- 48, as “Asketillus de Berges,” he gave four carucates of the land of Burton to the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary at Garendon, the charter being witnessed by Robert, Earl of Leicester, and Ives de Harcourt, who d. 1148. (B.M. MS Lansdowne 415, folios 8, 31v.).
1.2.2.1.1.1.1. Geoffrey le Despenser (‘Gaufrido dispensatore’), ‘dispensarius’ to the Earl of Chester.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1. Thomas le Despenser, donated to Garendon as ‘Tomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris’. (John Nichols, The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester, vol. III, part 2, 1804).
1.2.2.1.2. Asketil. D.B.: The Land of the Count of Eu, Bexill Hundred: ‘Ansketil of Rieux 1/2 hide‘.

The English Harcourts:
1.2.2.1.2.1. Robert fitz Anschetil, ob. 1118 (ctl. Preaux, fol. 102v). Held Norman fiefs.
1.2.2.1.2.1.1. William fitz Robert, fl. 1149 (P.R. 31 H. 1). Granted Stanton-under-Bardon, Leic., to Garendon Abbey, founded by Robert de Beaumont (cart. Garendon, fols. 5v., 15v.).
1.2.2.1.2.1.1.1. Robert fitz William, mar. Eve Crispin, da. of baron of the Vexin Normande, Joscelin Crispin.
1.2.2.1.2.1.2. Ivo de Harcourt. He ratified the confirmation of his brother, William, of their father’s gifts to Garendon (ctl. Garendon, fol. 15v.; Nichols’ Leic. vii.). ‘In 1148, William de Harcourt, with the consent of his brother and heir, Ivo (pincerna), and mother, Agnes, alienated to Garendon the manor of Stanton-under-Bardon, which was specifically their patrimonium’ (Benjamin Thompson, Monasteries and Society in Medieval Britain, p. 107, 1999). It was Ivo who was the progenitor of the English line of Harcourts.

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1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494. “Thomas Harrys”, a tenant of Glastonbury Abbey, who is recorded thus: Harrys v Dyar. Plaintiffs: Thomas Harrys. Defendants: Thomas Dyar, knight. Subject: Tenement in the late abbot of Glastonbury’s manor of Greinton. Somerset. 1544-1551. (C 1/1228/15-18).
1.1. John Harris.
1.1.1. Richard Harris, bur. Dec. 19, 1593, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1. John Harris, m. Joan Collier, July 19, 1601, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1.1. William Harris, bapt. Oct. 3, 1602, Mells. Perhaps the William who was headright of John Moone (1637) and John Seward (1648) in Isle of Wight. John Moone’s da., Sarah Moone, m. Lt. John Pitt, son of Col. Robert Pitt, the Bristol sea captain and merchant. John Moone’s da. Mary Moone, m. Thomas Green; his sister m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset; their son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard, having issue: (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688.
1.2. John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, in Wedmore.
1.2.1. John Harris, d. 1625, m. Penelope Millard, Sept. 9, 1611, in Wedmore. He m. (2) Christiana Thurston, bapt. 28 Oct. 1591, on Oct. 8, 1618; the great-niece of Joan Thurston, who m. (2) John Counsell, on Aug. 13, 1573.
1.2.1.1. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek, October 26, 1646: “James Tooke (his family were tenants of the Symes, of Mells) to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”.
1.2.1.1.1. Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, probably d. in 1677, in Virginia. The inventory of Edward Harris states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis, i.e. Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, aforesaid.
1.3. William Harris (“of Glastonbury”), m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.
1.3.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594, sister of Edward Bennett, aforesaid.
1.3.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623.
1.3.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, died in Virginia in 1672, second-cousin of Governor Richard Bennet, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’).
1.3.1.1.2. John Harris, bapt. 18 Feb. 1624; probably d. 1687, Virginia, m. Unity.
1.1.2. John Harris. Held land in Aller, of the manor of Greinton.
1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris bapt. Feb. 3, 1582; “son of John”.
1.1.2.2. Sergeant John Harris, bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, bur. Aug. 3, 1637, in Nunney, m. Dorothy Collier, bapt. Jan. 26, 1594, in Nunney, da. of Joseph Collier, Rector of Nunney, and sister of George, Rector of Nunney in 1635.
The principal applicants for the manor of Nunney, post-dissolution, were Thomas and John Horner, who in 1543, 22nd May, sent in their valuation for the Manor of Nunney, part of the possessions of the “attainted” Monastery of Glastonbury. The Crown still held some rents (the advowson) in Nunney, and these, “in consideration of the good, and faithful and acceptable services of our loving servant, Edward Dyar, Esq.”, son of Sir Thomas Dyar, aforesaid, landlord of the Harris family in Gtreinton, and the grantor of the Church living at Nunney to Joseph Collier, to whom, as the norm for these times, he was probably related. (See Liber Institutionem, First Fruits, New Series, Vol. II., 1876).
The intermarriage of the Horners and Symes families brought about the prosperity of the latter
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Oct. 8, 1615, in Othery, juxta Greinton, son of a John Harris “of Aller”, 6 miles from Greinton, and three miles from Othery. He d. in 1677, having m. Alice West, in 1635, in Nunney (married by his br.-in-law), da. of William West (of Nunney) and Katharin Perry, who m. on May 23, 1608, in Bath (18 miles from Nunney); their da., Alice, being bapt. Sept. 16, 1615, in Bath. It was common practice to marry in the parish of a prosperous God-parent/in-law. Thomas Harris returned to Nunney with his father, before returning to Virginia.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Thomas Harris. bapt. Aug. 14, 1636, in Nunney, d. 1688. John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, held land in Somerset at Hemington, which is 4 miles fom Mells/Nunney, and named one land grant in Virginia “New Hemington.” (Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography). Thomas Harris settled on land that had been John Sewards. The Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was witnessed by John Coggin, of Bristol. John Seward patented land in 1638: “Upon Warresquioke River. Beginning at a pynie pint by a little gutt running into the woods right over against the land of Nathaniell Floyd* and near his former pattent. “Francis Hobbs’ now wife Mary was former wife of Nathaniel Floyd deceased”. Francis Hobbs’ da. was the wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, who died in 1672. Francis Hobbs Jr. left a legacy to “cousin John Davis”.
1.1.2.2.1.1.1. William Harris, m. Mary Short, grandda. of William Short, whose land had been granted to Robert Moseley on Jan. 7, 1649, and then assigned to William Short Sr., on Oct. 28, 1657. (See Tidewater Families of Virginia, p. 544). This was the land identified as adjoining that of Sergeant John Harris: lyeing and being in Southwarke Parish in the County of Surry in Virginia in the woodes joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes and neere unto the plantation which was formerly Robert Moseleys, adjoining to a great swamp which divides Surry Co. from Charles Cittie County. Witnesses: Robert Spencer, John Gittings’. (Dated Oct. 4, 1660. Surry Co. Court Records. R. November 10, 1660). William Short Sr. was likely to have been he born June 29, 1626, at Mells, with sons, Thomas, bapt. May 23, 1654, and William, bapt. March 30, 1658.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham, da. of Michael Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset. Susannah Fulgham, Anne’s sister, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council and Lucy Hardy.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1. Edward Harris, Will pr. March 25, 1734.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1.1. Nathan Harris.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1.2. West Harris.
1.1.2.2.1.2. John Harris, baptised in 1640. He married Margaret Beard in 1664.
1.1.2.2.1.2.1. John Harris, baptised June 24, 1667. (It can not be discounted that emigrated to Virginia with his cousins).
1.1.2.2.2. Dorothy Harris, m. John Baker, a transportee of Mr. George Menefee, in James City Co., in 1635. George Menefee’s Will, dated December 31, 1645, named Overseers as “friends Captain Peter Andrews, and Richard Bennett, Esq.”; the latter’s land being adjacent to his. The Menefees were a Devonshire family, who like many (the Pitts etc.) were drawn to the trading opportunities afforded by Bristol. (See Will of Elizabeth Minifee, Widow of Bristol. PROB 11/126/446. November 15, 1615).
John Baker was probably he who was bapt on March 14, 1616, in West Cranmore, Somerset, 5 miles from Nunney, brother of William; sons of Matthew. “John Baker, 650 acs. Chas. City Co., 20 Nov. 1637, p. 497. 150 acs. E. upon Causons field Cr. N. upon Appamattock Riv., towards the Citty Cr. W. & S. into the maine woods; & S. up along the Citty Cr. 50 due in right of his first wife Priscilla Palmer, 50 acs. by deed of gift from his Mother in Law Jone Palmer 2 Jan 1633 & 550 acs due for his own per. adv. the per. adv. of his late wife Alice, of his wife Dorothy & for trans. of 8 persons”. Joane Daniell was bapt. March 4, 1581, and m. Thomas Palmer on April 28, 1597, in East Brent, Somerset, 10 miles from Greinton.

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1. Gilbert Crispin I., held the border fortress of Tillieres as vassal of Gilbert de Brionne. He m. Gunnora d’Anet (I suggest), which would answer M. Le Prevost’s statement that there was an apparent association between the Crispin and FitzOsborn family, without the basis of that association being known. (‘Ordericus Vitalis’, ed. le Prevost et. al., p. 398, 1840). Gunnora d’Anet was the da. of Fulk d’Anet, from the vil of Anet, south of Ivry, son of a sister of Osborn de Crépon, who married Emma, da. of Raoul d’Ivri (Count Rodolph), uterine brother of Duke Richard I.
1.1. Hesilia Crispin, m. William Malet (Monasticon 3.405). His caput was Graville-sur-Honorine, near Le Havre, which had previously formed part of the Giffards barony, centred on Montvilliers.
1.1.1. Robert Malet, held the fief of Collavilla, near Harfleur, Seine-Inf. (Held by Jean Malet in 1349; see Revue historique de la noblesse, vol. 2, p. 392, 1841). “La route de Fécamp à Valmont, et celle de Valmont à Fécamp, en passant par Colleville, le Bec de Mortagne, pour l’aller, et pour le retour par Guerheville et Daubeuf” (Journal pour tous”, vol. xi., 1862). Domesday shows “Gilbert de Colavilla” as a considerable undertenant of Robert Malet at Rendlesham; he also held under Robert Malet’s mother, Hesilia Crispin (DB/Sf 6/19-21, 29-30, 34-37, etc.).
1.1.2. Gilbert Malet, among the few who were spared by the Danes sacking of York.
1.2. Gilbert Crispin II., alias Colavilla, held the border fortress of Damville as vassal of Richard de Clare, son of Gilbert de Brionne, and brother of Baldwin de Clare. A charter (undated) of Henry II. confirmed the gifts to Bec made by Baldwin de Clare, and his assent to the gifts of (1) Fulk d’Anet and his sister, Albreda; (2) William Crispin, who donated tithes of Druecort; (3) Roger, son of Richard de Clare, who donated tithes of “Colleville“; and (4) William Malet, who donated tithes of Conteville. (See Mon. Ang. II., 953). Fulk d’Anet and his sister, Albreda, donated tithes of “Mesnillo Simonis” to Bec. That is, “Fulconis de Aneto”, not d’Anou. Gilbert Crispin I’s vassal, William Pacy, held land in Mesnil Simon.
1.3. William Crispin, alias Colleville, held Druecort in Normandy. “Le nombre de fiefs relevant de l’église de Fécamp était considérable, et les possesseurs de fiefs rendaient foi et hommage à l’abbaye et s’obligeaient à lui appartenir, à défendre ses intérêts en toutes choses, à se réunir trois et quatre fois par an aux hommes de l’abbé, pour aller au besoin au delà de la Seine et des mers, venger les injures et les torts faits à l’église de Fécamp. Au reste, le service militaire était obligatoire non-seulement pour les vassaux de l’abbaye, mais encore pour les moines et pour l’abbé, qui devait se trouver à toutes les prises d’armes à la tête de ses hommes.11 était porté sur les rôles du ban et de l’arrièreban, et Fallue rapporte qu’au combat de Bouvines, on vit les abbés de Fécamp combattre auprès des Estouteville, des Guillaume Crépin et des Robert Malet” (Henri Gourdon de Genouillac, Histoire de l’abbaye de Fécamp, p. 122, 1875). According to Dudo, Richard I was born at Fécamp; and was buried in the Abbey he founded there, along with his sons, Robert and Richard II.

Some of the Norman elite can be identified when the method by which they formed familial associations is understood – “Foedus inter consobinos heredes” – inheritance (and close tenurial association) passing down non-consanguineous lines of cousins; a necessary element of colonisation in a hostile environment.

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As in the colonisation of Virginia by English settlers, the colonisation of England by Norman settlers was achieved by the transplantation of kinship groups.

The Norman elite’s control of England was through a ‘mesh’ of interrelated families; a form of familial chain-mail, that gave protection against a hostile environment. Essentiially, neighbours in Normandy became such in England.

Of such neighbours were the Crispins (alias Colville) and the Percys. Milo Crispin, the former family’s ‘historian’, stated that they were of “noble origin”. They were also entrusted with the defence of Normandy, being governors of various border forts.

The protection of Normandy would have only been given to members of the ducal family.

One possibility is that Gilbert Crispin I. was an illigitimate son of Gilbert de Brionne; another, that they were cousins.

1. Richard, ‘the Great Prince’. About the year 980, Richard, duke of Normandy, gave Brionne to one of his natural children, named Godefroy, which included the territories of Bonneville and Bec. After the death of Richard, a brother of Godefroy, born like himself a concubine, Guillaume, Count of Exmes, revolted against his elder brother. Raoul d’Ivry, uncle of the brothers, was charged to end the rebellion, and captured Guillaume in Exmes, bringing him to Rouen, under the guard of Turquetil de Harcourt. (See Charpillon, Dict., Hist., p. 584, 1868). Thus, Godefroy d’Eu held the barony of Bonneville-sur-le-Bec.
1.1. Godefroy d’Eu, cousin of Emma d’Ivri, wife of Osborn de Crepon. Guillaume of Jumièges records that a sister married Osmund de Conteville. Their son was Foulques d’Anet. Gilbert Crispin I. married his daughter, thus explaining Prevost’s statement that there was an obvious connection between the FitzOsborns, decendants of Osborn de Crepon, and the Crispins, without its basis being known.
1.1.1. Heloise, m. Ansgot. Heloise received Bonneville as dower.
1.1.1.1. Herluin de Bec. Educated in the household of Gilbert de Brionne. Hellouin founded the Abbey of Bec toward the 37th. year of his life, i.e. 1034. ‘His father, Ansgot, derived his origin from those Danes who first conquered Normandy, and his mother was closely related to the dukes of Flanders. Gilbert, Count of Brionne, grandson of Richard I., Duke of Normandy, by his son, Prince Godefroy, had Herluin brought up by him, and particularly cherished him among all the lords of his court’. (See Francois Guizot, Collection des mémoires relatifs à l’histoire de France, p. 146, 1826). ‘Hellouin, in the presence of his two brothers, Odo and Roger, gave to Bec the third part belonging to him from his land of Bonneville, and his lands of Petit-Quevilli, Seine-Inférieure, and Surci, Eure, as well as the land of Cernai-sur-Orbec, Calvados’. (See W. Genet, t. xi, p. 35). This charter dates to c. 1035.
1.1.2. Gilbert de Brionne.

1.2. Guillaume d’Eu, m. Lesseline, sister of Turquetil de Harcourt.
1.2.1. Gilbert Crispin I, cousin of Gilbert de Brionne, m. a daughter of Foulques d’Anet. Gilbert Crispin held the fortress of Tillieres under the ducal family as a vassal of Gilbert de Brionne.
1.2.1.1. Gilbert Crispin II., held the fortress of Damville as a vassal of Gilbert de Brionne’s son, Richard FitzGilbert (de Clare). The military prowess of the Crispins was well esteemed: ‘And like the Fabii, or the Anicii or Manlii, carried the tokens of fame (insignia) among the Romans, so the Crispins knew even greater fame among the Normans and the French’. (Milo Crispin, How The Holy Virgin Appeared To William Crispin The Elder And On The Origin Of The Crispin Family, ed. Migne, cols. 735-744, 1856).
1.2.1.1.1. Gilbert Crispin III., m. Hersende de Brezolles, kinswoman of Albert Ribaut, and became enfeoffed in Armentières-sur-Avre.
1.2.1.1.2. Robert de d’Armentières, held Whatton of Gilbert de Gaunt. Hence the family of Wormley.
1.2.1.2. William Crispin 1. Hence the family of Stanhope.  Some members of which  acknowledge a common origin with the Wormleys, based on a consideration of all the evidence at our disposal.
1.2.1.2.1. William Crispin 11., an Anglo-Norman lord, who held land in Wetherby, Wheldrake, Coxwold, and Goodmanham in Yorkshire, and in Ancroft in Northumberland, as mesne-tenant of William de Percy. The Colvville/Percy connection was repeated in Scotland, where Philip de Colville was successor to Henry and Geoffrey de Percy at Heiton, Roxburghshire. (G. W. S. Barrow. The Anglo-Norman era in Scottish History, 1980). William de Percy was from Perci-en-Auge, Calvados, arr. Lisieux, cant. Mezidon. Lisieux was the caput of this branch of the Crispin family. As a vassal of the family of d’Eu, William de Percy donated to St Pierre-sur-Dives, founded by Lesseline de Harcourt, Countess d’ Eu, after the death of her husband (par Torigni). St Pierre-sur-Dives was built on the land land of Stigand de Mezidon. Some sort of familial connection between him and William de Percy may be presumed.

William de Percy, d. 1096, m. Emma, a da. of Hugh de Port; their son was Alan de Percy, who m. Emma de Gaunt, da. of Gilbert de Gaunt; their son, William, was the father of a namesake, who m. Adeliza de Clare, descendant of Gilbert de Brionne.

1.3. Robert d’Everux, Archbishop of Rouen.
1.3.1. Richard d’Evreux, m. (after 1040), as her second husband, Godechildis, widow of Roger de Tosny. (W. Genet, Liber vii., iv., p. 269).
1.3.1.1. William d’Evreux.
1.3.1.2. Agnes d’Evreux. Orderic records that ‘Radulfus filius Rogerii de Toenia’ kidnapped ‘Agnetem uterinam sororem suam, Ricardi Ebroicensium comitis filiam’ and married her to ‘Simoni de Monteforti’, brother-in-law of William Crispin I, son of Gilbert Crispin I.

1.4. Richard II.
1.4.1. Eleanor, m. Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders, whose first wife Otgiva was a sister of Giselle, who was probably the mother of Gilbert de Gaunt.

We may never be able to determine which particular streams flowed into the genealogical river, but the pattern of Norman cohesion based on interrelated families at least identifies the river.

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The Harris family of Nunney, Somerset, were synonomous with their namesakes at adjoining Mells. This is evidenced by a deed of the Whitchurch family, which descibes property in Nunney being tenanted by “Harris of Mells”. (Nunney deeds, ref. DD\BR\ls/8).

1. Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, b. 1494. Depositions as to the late abbot of Glastonbury (Somerset) taken at Wells (Somerset) before Nicholas Fitzjames esq and John Mawdleyn’ gent, king’s surveyors.Thomas Harrys of Mells, carpenter, 50, deposes that the tenement and mills were in great decay, and that for his labour he received £7 from Burges. He also received £10 for repairing the grist mill. (Nat. Arch., ref. E 135/2/32). “Thomas Harrys”, a tenant of Glastonbury Abbey, who is recorded thus: Harrys v Dyar. Plaintiffs: Thomas Harrys. Defendants: Thomas Dyar, knight. Subject: Tenement in the late abbot of Glastonbury’s manor of Greinton. Somerset. 1544-1551. (C 1/1228/15-18). In 1545, the manor was granted to Sir Thomas Dyer, d. 1565. The John Horner who came to possess the Manor of Mells, a village near Frome, 6 WSW. of Glastonbury, was not his namesake who was steward to the late Abbot of Glastonbury, though undoubtedly related. The intermarriage of the Symes with the Horners brought them much land, and brought about their lordship of the Fulgham family at Pitminster.

1.1. John Harrys, witnessed a Will in 1554 concerning Mells.
1.1.1. Richard Harris, bur. Dec. 19, 1593, in Nunney.
1.1.1.1. Richard Harris, bapt. Aug. 24, 1589, m. Edith Burges, Jan. 14, 1607, in Nunney.
1.1.1.2. John Harris, m. Joan Collier, July 19, 1601, in Nunney.
1.1.1.2.1. William Harris, bapt. Oct. 3, 1602, Mells. Perhaps the William who was headright of John Moone (1637) and John Seward (1648) in Isle of Wight. John Moone’s da., Sarah Moone, m. Lt. John Pitt, son of Col. Robert Pitt, the Bristol sea captain and merchant. John Moone’s da. Mary Moone, m. Thomas Green; his sister m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset; their son, Michael Fulgham, m. Anne Izzard, having issue: (1) Anne Fulgham, who m. Robert Harris, son of Thomas Harris, d. 1688. (2) Susannah Fulgham, who m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council Jr. and Lucy Hardy, in 1705. The Hodges and Council families were of Wedmore, Somerset, 20 miles from Nunney, on the main east/west road; a connection made more close by the intermarriages of the leading families of each place into the same families (Bluets, etc.).

1.1.2. John Harris, m. Joan Stubbs, Feb. 10, 1569, in Wedmore.
1.1.2.1. John Harris, d. 1625, m. Penelope Millard, Sept. 9, 1611, in Wedmore. He m. (2) Christiana Thurston, bapt. 28 Oct. 1591, on Oct. 8, 1618; she was the great-niece of Joan Thurston, who m. (2) John Counsell, on Aug. 13, 1573.
1.1.2.1.1. Robert Harris. Lawne’s Creek, October 26, 1646: “James Tooke (his family were tenants of the Symes, of Mells) to Robert Harris, all my right and title to this lease”.
1.1.2.1.1.1. Edward Harris, bapt. 8 Aug. 1624, probably d. in 1677, in Virginia. The inventory of Edward Harris states that he owed money to “Mrs Davis”; almost cartainly the wife of John Davis, i.e. Mary Greene; da. of Thomas Greene and Mary Moone, and cousin of Martha Greene, who m. Anthony Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset, aforesaid. In IOW Court, January 11, 1672, Thomas Tooke (associated with Thomas Harris, who died in 1672), as attorney, calls John Davis “his loving brother”.

The family of Thurston were established at Thornbury, Gloucestershire, along the south bank of the Bristol Estuary. As the Bridger family, they held land in Woodmancote. Edward Thurston, of Thornbury, in Chancery Proceedings, 1636, is recorded as being the husband of Judith Gwatkins, da. of William Gwatkins. In Virginia, James Bland, of Prince William Co., m. Mary Gwatkins. He was the son of Theodorick Bland and Margaret Mann, who was probably related to Elizabeth Mann: ‘Thomas Mann and wife Elizabeth Mann to Theophilus Joyner (neph. of Bridgeman, a guardian of an orphan of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, 150 acres on Blackwater River and bounded by William Mayo, Bridgeman Joyner and Hodges Counsell, Wit: William Mayo and Richard Booth. Rec. June 9, 1683. Theodorick Bland was the son of Theodorick Bland and Anne Bennett, b. 1641, da. of Governor Richard Bennett. (PROB 11/351/440: Will of Richard Bennett of Nansemond River, Virginia. August 3, 1676). Richard Bennett was a son of Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, in Wivelscombe, Somerset, and a nephew of (1) Edward Bennett, bapt. 2 Feb. 1577, in Wivelscombe, later of of St Olave, Southwark, London, and Lawn’s Creek, Virginia, father of Alice Bennett, who m. John Hardy. Nugent, C&P vol. 1, p. 569: Mr. John Hardie 1150 acres IOW Co., 5 June 1666. Beginning at upper corner tree of Mathew Tomlins old land, running SSE by Wm. Westwrayers land &c. SW on Mathew Tomlins new land. Their daus. m., respectively, Hodges Counsell, and Richard Jackson, whose da. Mary Jackson, m. Capt. George Hardy, who patented 500 acres on July 17, 1648 ‘lying on east side of Lawne’s Creek extending to main river and along the great river to the creek dividing the same from land of Alice Bennett’. George Hardy was an appraiser of the estate of Edward Harris, d. 1677.

1.2. William Harris (“of Glastonbury”), m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe, Somerset.
1.2.1. Richard Harris, m. Elianor Bennett, Oct. 8, 1594, sister of Edward Bennett, aforesaid.
1.2.1.1. Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623.
1.2.1.1.1. Thomas Harris, died in Virginia in 1672, second-cousin of Governor Richard Bennet, whose first wife was Anne, who was Charles Barham’s sister (see Douglas Richardson, ‘Plantagenet Ancestry’). Mr. Charles Barham Ex., Thomas Harris (d. 1672) and Thomas Tuke (of Barwick, Somerset, whose family were tenants of the Symes family) overseers, were officers of the will of William Ridley, who was the br. of Elizabeth Ridley, Charles Barham’s wife.
1.2.1.1.2. John Harris, bapt. 18 Feb. 1624; probably d. 1687, Virginia, m. Unity.

1. Robert Bennett, a tanner, of Wivelscombe, Somerset, m. Elizabeth Edney.
1.1. Thomas Bennett, d. 1616, Wivelscombe, m. Ann Spicer.
1.1.1. Thomas Bennett, b. Nov. 11, 1603 at Wiveliscombe; m. Agnes Beard, July 17, 1623.
1.1.1.1. Alice Bennett, m. John Hardy.
1.2.1.1. Lucy Hardy, m. Hodges Council.
1.2.1.1.1. Lucy Hardy, m. Hodges Council.
1.1.1.2. … Bennett, m. Richard Jackson, who patented 450 acres in IOW adjacent to Justinian Cooper.
1.1.1.2.1. Mary Jackson, m. Capt. George Hardy.
1.1.2. Richard Bennett, b Aug. 6, 1609, Wiveliscombe, d. 1675, Virginia; his Will bequesting: “To William Yearret of Pagan Creek and to the wife of Mr. Thomas Taberer, to each of them two thousand pounds of tobacco”. *His da. Ruth m. John Numan (brother-in-law to Thomas Harris, d. 1672). Robert Spencer married Taberer’s sister, Ann. Richard Bennett’s bequest to “the wife of Mr. Thomas Taberer” was probably to a sister or cousin. The Will of John George, recorded Jan. 9, 1678, names friend Thomas Taberer as exec. John Dalton was transp. by Nicholas George & Thomas Taberer & Humphry Clarke. Thomas Harris, d. 1672, m. a da. of Nicholas George, as first wife. “Know all men present that I Thomas Harris (aforesaid) ine th county of IOW for many considerable caused me thereunto moving have and do by the srest constitie and ordeyne my be beloved friend Mr. Thomas Culmore of the county of Surry my true and lawfully attorney for me and to my ame and use to ask leavy recover of receive of Robert Spencer of the County of Surry all such somes of tobacco as shall appear due unto me within the county aforesaid”. (Surry Co. D.B. 1, p 149).
1.1.2.1. Ann Bennett, m. Theoderick Bland.
1.2. Edward Bennett. Christopher Reynolds Sr. emigrated to Virginia as an indentured servant of Edward Bennett. Bk. 1, pp. 46-8, “Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my son Christopher Reynolds Jr. all my land on the southerly side of the Freshest swamp that Richard Jordan (his son-in-law who m. da. Elizabeth Reynolds) now liveth upon”. The grandson of Christopher Reynolds, Richard Reynolds, m. Elizabeth Sharpe, the da. of Richard Sharpe Sr., br. of John Reynolds, whose Will bequested to Robert Driver, whose dau, Elizabeth, m. Giles Driver, headright of Thomas Harris, d. 1672. Giles Driver m. (2) Olive Hardy, da. of John Hardy and Alice Bennett, da. of Edward Bennett aforesaid; brother-in-law of Richard Harris. Giles Driver’s son, Charles Driver m. Prudence Pitt, da. of John Pitt and Olive Hardy, probable sister of George Hardy, who witnessed the Will of Edward Harris, d. 1677. John Hardy m. 2. Alice Tucker, widow of Arthur Allen. Richard Reynolds and Will Bradshaw witnesses to will of Giles Driver (son-in-law of John Hardy), proved 28 December 1676. (D.B. 2, p. 147). The Reynolds family were probally of Chedzoy, 30 miles from Nunney, 12 miles from Glastonbury, where Joan Reynolds m. Richard Coggan, on June 28, 1627, and Mary Coggan m. Thomas Bond, on Oct. 28, 1632.

1.3. Elianor Bennett, bapt. Mar. 5, 1567, m. Oct. 7, 1594 Richard Harris, son of William Harris, who m. Dorothy Westbrooke, Aug. 31, 1562, at Wivelscombe.
1.3.1.Thomas Harris, m. Judith Blake, Nov. 20, 1623, at Wivelscombe.
1.3.1.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1672.
1.3.1.1.1. John Harris m. a da. of Francis Hobbs, who sold Edward Brantley 675 ac. adj. Thomas Tuke, in 1669. Edward Brantley Sr. came to America as an indentured servant under John Seward of Bristol who received a land patent on 18 June 1638 for 400 ac. in IOW.
1.3.1.1.2. Thomas Harris. (The supposition that he was the Thomas who d. in 1688 can not be discounted).
1.3.1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris, d. 1730: Thomas Harris 290 ac. IOW, on the Maherin River and both sides of Herbert’s Branch adj. Edward Brantley (son of Phillip and Joyce Lewis), and William Simmons line, 24 March 1725. Edward Brantley, John Thorpe, and Thomas Purcell appraisers. Edward Brantley’s son, John, m. the widow of Thomas Harris, Hannah (probably) Judkins.
1.3.1.2. John Harris, bapt. 18 Feb. 1624; probably d. 1687, Virginia, m. Unity.
1.3.1.2.1. Elizabeth Harris, m. Samuel, son of Robert Lancaster Sr. and Sarah, widow of her 2nd husband, Richard Bennett Sr., d. 1710.
1.3.1.2.2. John Harris. On Nov. 9, 1708, Samuel Lancaster was granted the administration of the estate of John Harris, his brother-in-law. The Lancasters were the squires of Cheddar, juxta Wedmore.

1.1.2. John Harris,
1.1.2.1. Thomas Harris bapt. Feb. 3, 1582; “son of John”.
1.1.2.2. Sergeant John Harris (it may be presumed), bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, bur. Aug. 3, 1637, in Nunney. A possible connection between the Harris family of Nunney and Sergeant John Harris concerns Francis Derrick, the Bristol Merchant, noted in 1635 as paying custom duties on booty taken fron Spanish ships (Nat. Arch., ref. E 134/12Chas1/Mich39). Like many Bristol merhants, he held land in Somerset, as noted on this certificate of residence: “showing Francis Derricke (or the variant surname: Dericke, Dyricke) to be liable for taxation in Gloucestershire, and not in the hundreds of Brent, Bempstone, Portbury, and Hartcliffe, Somerset, the previous area of tax liability. 1628. (Nat. Arch., ref. E 115/128/37).
1.1.2.2.1. Thomas Harris, bapt. Oct. 8, 1615 (in Othery juxta Greinton, whence the family holding, yet noted in the register as a son of a John Harris “of Aller”, 6 miles from Greinton, who is not recorded in the Aller registers), d. 1677, m. Alice West, in 1635, in Nunney, where a family of West were established. William West m. Katharin Peare (Perry?) on May 23, 1608, in Bath (18 miles from Nunney); their dau. being Alice West, bapt. Sept. 16, 1615. It was a common practice for marriages to take place in such ‘regional’ churches as Bath, especially if a rich relative (Godparent) lived there; a consideration of ample proportion.
1.1.2.2.1.1. Thomas Harris. bapt. Aug. 14, 1636, in Nunney, d. 1688. John Seward, the Bristol sea captain and merchant, held land in Somerset at Hemington, which is 4 miles fom Mells/Nunney, and named one land grant in Virginia “New Hemington.” (Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography). Thomas Harris settled on land that had been John Sewards. April 27, 1686: Matthew Tomlin 1227 ac., lower par. IOW Co. on borders of Blackwater, 781 ac. being part of 1200 ac. granted to Mr. John Seward, 16 April 1648; 448 acres being waste adj.; beg. at a br. dividing land of John Turner and his daughter Marie’s, by William Westray, adj. Mary Turner, and Thomas Harris (d. 1688), to the bottom of Pig Neck; transp. of 9 persons. (B 7, p. 510). The Will of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, was witnessed by John Coggin, of Bristol. Abstract. Power of Atty. 25 Aug. 1658. Major John Harper Capt Thomas Morgan and Robt Dessell, Citizens of the City of Bristol to John Cogan of the City of Bristol ‘but now resident in Virginia aforesd chirugeon, to receive certain properties belonging to Margaret Bird. Whereas Margarett Bird of the sd Citty of Bristoll widd (admr’ix of the goods and chattells that were of Capt Richd Bond late dec’d some-times of the Citty of Bristoll but dyed in the Countrey of Virginia) hath constituted and appointed as her attorneys concerning the mill plantacon stock goods merchandizies and debts w’ch were off the sd Capt Rich’d Bond as may apper’e.’ Wit: Richard Price, John Osborne, Francis Yeamans Junr. Rec 31 Janry 1658. (The Bond family, to repeat, were of Pitminster, Somerset, as the Fulghams, and tenants of the Symes (Sims) family of Mells.

John Seward da., Margaret (Seward) Edwards, m. John Edwards, on Jan. 28, 1633, in the 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”, mother of Robert Pitt of Virginia, proved Nov. 25, 1634, bequested to her grandchild, the said “John Edwards a silver beer bowl”. (His br., William Edwards, also received a bequest).

John Seward patented land in 1638: “Upon Warresquioke River. Beginning at a pynie pint by a little gutt running into the woods right over against the land of Nathaniell Floyd* and near his former pattent. “Francis Hobbs’ now wife Mary was former wife of Nathaniel Floyd deceased”. Francis Hobbs’ da. was the wife of John Harris, son of Thomas Harris, who died in 1672. Francis Hobbs Jr. left a legacy to “cousin John Davis”, and “brother John Harris”; his Will being recorded on June 9, 1688.

Adam Sims, who m. Elizabeth Walton, da. of George Walton of Brunswick Co., and who was, thus, the brother-in-law of Nathan Harris, grandson of Thomas Harris, d. 1688, and br. of West Harris, was very likely a descendant of Sir John Symes, of Mells, who m. Amy, the da. of Thomas Horner esq., lord of Nunney. As repeated herein, the Symes family’s tenants included such families as the Bonds and Fulghams.

1.1.2.2.1.1.1. William Harris, m. Mary Short, grandda. of William Short (br. of Thomas, of Cabin Point, Surry). He originally lived in Charles City Co., on the south side of the James River (later Prince George County); he repatented 1100 acres ‘above the head of Chippokes Creek about one and one-half miles up the western most branche’, identifying himself as ‘the son and heir of William Shorts’. The land had been granted to Robert Moseley on Jan. 7, 1649, and then assigned to William Short Sr., on Oct. 28, 1657. (See Tidewater Families of Virginia, p. 544). This was the land identified as adjoining that of Sergeant John Harris: ‘William Lea and Alice (Feltham), his wife, to William Heath, 150 acres (gifted to william Harris, grandson of William Short Jr., “tract of land 150 acres where his father now liveth”) formerly Thomas Felton’s, deceased, and lyeing and being in Southwarke Parish in the County of Surry in Virginia in the woodes joyneing upon the lands which was John Harryes and neere unto the plantation which was formerly Robert Moseleys, adjoining to a great swamp which divides Surry Co. from Charles Cittie County … one hundred and fifteen acres of said land lyeth in Charles Cittie County adjoining unto the rest of the divident which lyeth in said surry County. Witnesses: Robert Spencer, John Gittings’. (Dated Oct. 4, 1660. Surry Co. Court Records. R. November 10, 1660). William Short Sr. was likely to have been he born June 29, 1626, at Mells, with sons, Thomas, bapt. May 23, 1654, and William, bapt. March 30, 1658.

1.1.2.2.1.1.2. Robert Harris, m. Anne Fulgham, da. of Michael Fulgham, of Pitminster, Somerset. Susannah Fulgham, Anne’s sister, m. Hardy Council, son of Hodges Council and Lucy Hardy.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1. Edward Harris, Will pr. March 25, 1734.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1.1. Nathan Harris.
1.1.2.2.1.1.2.1.2. West Harris.
1.1.2.2.1.1.3. Thomas Harris. On March 3, 1690, He petitioned that John Echols be summoned to the next court, perhaps to claim against the surviving executor of his grandfather’s estate. He was probably the Thomas Harris he who made a deposition in 1692 that he was then 25 years old. (B. 1, p. 52).

1.1.2.2.1.2. John Harris, baptised in 1640. He married Margaret Beard in 1664.
1.1.2.2.1.2.1. John Harris, baptised June 24, 1667. (It can not be discounted that emigrated to Virginia with his cousins).
1.1.2.2.1.3. Ann Harris, baptised October 21, 1646, who married Robert Millard, in May 1667; he baptised September 11, 1625, in Nunney, the son of Francis Millard. The Millards were primarily of Wedmore (20 miles from Nunney), where they intermarried with the Harris family of that place. The wife of the John Harris may have been related to the wife of Thomas Bennett, baptised on November 11, 1603, at Wiveliscombe; who married Agnes Beard, on July 17, 1623.

Thus, the shared associations (considerable) of Thomas Harris, died 1672, and his namesake, who died in 1688, were perhaps the result of cousins of whatever distant degree intermarrying into the same families, and sharing their associations. This point seems vital in any discussion of relationships between such as they – the distance of consanguinity being disguised by shared intermarriages.

1.1.2.3. Richard Harris.
1.1.2.3.1. Mary Harris, bapt. Aug. 1624, m. Jeffrey Coomes (Comer) 8 Nov. 1660, Nunney. (1. John Counsell, bapt. 1573. 1.1. John Counsell, bapt Nov. 28, 1601, married Mary Coomer, on Nov. 26, 1631; the sister of Agnes Coomer, who married John Harris in the adj. parish of Cheddar, in Feb. 1635; uncle of Thomas Harris, bapt. Dec. 31, 1637, in Cheddar and Edward Harris, also bapt. there. (It can not be discounted that this branch of the Harris family were of the pioneering stock of Virginia).
1.1.2.3.2. William Harris, Dec. 9, 1627, in Nunney. (It can not be discounted that he emigrated to Virginia with his cousins).
1.1.2.3.3. Sedwell Harris, bapt. June 14, 1629, in Nunney.
1.1.2.3.4. Melior Harris, bapt. Aug. 17, 1634, in Nunney. Some Harris intermarriage with the Mellor/Melior family can be supposed, as in these other instances: Farewell v Grymes. Plaintiffs: John Farewell and Melior Farewell his wife. Defendants: William Grymes. Subject: property in Nunney, Somerset. 1622. (C 3/348/19). Baker v Pryor. Plaintiffs: Melior Baker, widow. Defendants: George Pryor, Anne Pryor his wife and John Pryor. Subject: personal estate of John Baker, Middlezoy, Somerset. 1668. (C 8/240/37). Seward v Coles. Plaintiffs: Richard Seward. Defendants: Melior Coles, widow, Robert Puddy and John Mitchell. Subject: property in Langport, Somerset. 1679. (C 8/240/37).
1.1.2.2.2. Dorothy Harris, m. John Baker, a transportee of Mr. George Menefee, in James City Co., in 1635. George Menefee’s Will, dated December 31, 1645, named Overseers as “friends Captain Peter Andrews, and Richard Bennett, Esq.”; the latter’s land being adjacent to his. The Menefees were a Devonshire family, who like many (the Pitts etc.) were drawn to the trading opportunities afforded by Bristol. (See Will of Elizabeth Minifee, Widow of Bristol. PROB 11/126/446. November 15, 1615.

John Baker was probably he who was bapt on March 14, 1616, in West Cranmore, Somerset, 5 miles from Nunney, brother of William; sons of Matthew.

A collection of cousins. The highly interbred kinship group from whence they came makes a distant relationship appear more close in terms of DNA analysis. They spoke a Somerset dialect that none outside its perimeter would have understood, and were adept at all forms of farming, metalwork, and woodwork. They made strong “zider” and Cheddar cheese.

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The motivations given for people to emigrate to Virginia often include those of economic gain and escape from the stifling English class system; the latter leading to the former. A motivation of a starker kind was an escape from political terror, which can be explained through a brief account of families connected to Mells, in Somerset, of which, a case can be made, derived Sergeant John Harris of Virginia.

His ancestor may have been “Thomas Harrys”, a tenant of Glastonbury Abbey, who is recorded thus: Harrys v Dyar. Plaintiffs: Thomas Harrys. Defendants: Thomas Dyar, knight. Subject: Tenement in the late abbot of Glastonbury’s manor of Greinton. Somerset. 1544-1551. (C 1/1228/15-18). In 1545, the manor was granted to Sir Thomas Dyer, d. 1565. The John Horner who came to possess the Manor of Mells, a village near Frome, 6 WSW. of Glastonbury, was not his namesake who was steward to the late Abbot of Glastonbury, though undoubbtedly related. The intermarriage of the Symes with the Horners brought them much land, and brought about their lordship of the Fulgham family at Potminster.

“The late abbot” (Richard Whiting) lived at Mells. Depositions as to the late abbot of Glastonbury (Somerset) taken at Wells (Somerset) before Nicholas Fitzjames esq. and John Mawdleyn gent, king’s surveyors. Sir Thomas Way, priest, 68, formerly monk of Glastonbury, deposes that he knows of no reason why the late abbot ought to have delivered £100 to Robert Burges, or that he delivered it, and that Robert married a niece of the late abbot. Sir Thomas used to serve the late abbot as his chaplain and often heard the late abbot say that Robert should not lose out due to the costs he had to incur in repairing the decay to his house at Mells, and that such costs should be allowed to him.

Thomas Whyting of Pilton (Somerset), 63, deposes that Robert Burges (his probable brother-in-law) married the niece of the late abbot but bestowed nothing upon her or promised anything. However, Robert took a tenement from the late abbot in Mells with two mills which at the time were in great decay, delivered £100 to him and requested that he make the repairs. In so doing, Robert incurred costs of about 300 marks.

Thomas Harrys of Mells (probably the tenant of Greinton), carpenter, 50, deposes that the tenement and mills were in great decay, and that for his labour he received £7 from Burges. He also received £10 for repairing the grist mill.

His descendants, Richard Harris, bapt. Aug. 24, 1589, who m. Edith Burges, Jan. 14, 1607, in Nunney, and (possibly) Sergeant John Harris, bapt. Oct. 1, 1587, in Nunney, were first-cousins (by this estimate). Richard Harris probably married into the same Burgess family as the aforesaid Robert Burgess, and he and his cousin would have been well aware of the fate of Bishop Richard Whiting.

He graduated from Cambridge in 1483, and was, at first, a royal favourite, but was executed (in 1539) for treason in the form of remaining loyal to Rome against the dictate of a powerful, paranoid psychopath, otherwise known as Henry VIII. The Bishop, with two of his men, were fastened upon sledges and dragged by horses to the top of Glastonbury Tor which overlooks the town. Here they were hanged, drawn and quartered, with Whiting’s head being fastened over the west gate of the now deserted abbey and his limbs displayed at Wells, Bath, Ilchester and Bridgwater.

Unhappy the mortal who lives only on the smile of princes!

The same applied in the following reign, with the Catholic half of England praying for a successful Spanish invasion.

Hollywood it was not, and an escape from political terror (murder dressed as execution) was a prime motivation for emigration to Virginia.

copyright m stanhope 2017