A Collection of Facts and Comments

Sir Robert Vyner 1673 a family portrait by J.M. Wright is in National Portrait Gallery London

 Sir Thomas Viner was lord mayor in 1653, he and Robert his nephew connected to the North Cerney Eycott family

Sir Robert the nephew of Thomas. Sir Robert was a rich goldsmith and banker with a house at Swakelys Middlesex. His wife was Mary Whitechurch, the widow of Sir Thomas Hyde, their daughter became the duchess of Leeds. Sir Robert became lord Mayor of London in 1674, went bankrupt in 1684,, He and his son Charles both died in 1688.

One in 3 of the gentry made a will in 1600's

An index of all wills before 1700 is published by PCC (Prerogative court of Canterbury) British Records Society

Society of genealogists - 18,000 apprentices recorded 1641 to 1888

Militia reestablished in 1757 each parish had to train some men age 18 to 50, lists were drawn up and published locally

Interred means a burial was of a catholic, a suicide, or an excommunicated person

After 1653 births, not baptisms are recorded. Thus most of recorded information is a birth date

Baptism 3 days after birth was common

After 1753 marriages were standard entries by license

The title Mr. or Mrs meant the persons were gentry, landowners.

In the 1841 census anyone over 15 years of age had their age rounded down to nearest 5. Thus a person 59 would become 55 on the form.

Births, Marriages and Death records began July 1 1837 the index is at the PRO 10 Kingsway London WC2B6JP

Landowners numbered about 3 000 in early 14th C. Each had a coat of arms.

In 1530 the terms ESQ was common for the gentry to use. Some who were not, used it as well, but the claim could be tested.

Only a dozen or so gentry families own the land from which their medieval ancestor took his name.

Australian convict records a book Bound for Australia by D.T. Hawkings

30% of the male names in the 12 C were Henry, John, Richard, Robert, William. By the 13th C the had increased to 57% and by 14th C to 64%

In the 16/17th C puritans took names such as Joseph, Samuell, Sarah

Most common female names in 11th /12th C Joan, Agnes, Catharine, Mary, Elizabeth, Anne

Hereditary surnames began in East Anglia between 1250 and 1350...There were still people recorded without surnames until well into the 1400's

A name with single family origin is rare, few can trace back to Domesday, fewer still can trace back to the Anglo Saxon era. Eycott is likely a single family name. Only Ardens and Berkeleys can prove descent from pre conquest times. The Berkeleys were from Eadnorth.

David Hay wrote " The Oxford Guide to Family History" 1993 Oxford U Press. Walton St Oxford OX2 6DP he is prof of Local and family history at Sheffield U. It is useful for background.

Cromhall in Glos. was an Abbott's Parish and records exist dating from 1653. 2.5 miles from Wickwar. Cromhall Abbotts (Cromale) at Domesday it was Kings land, now Abbottside Farm. Cromhall Lygon records were lost.

Gaunts Earthcote was originally named Hardicote

Rendcombe -The mansion dates from 1863, now a school. The Parish records exist from 1566

Purton parish records date from 1558 and is in Archdiocese of Wiltshire, Salisbury diocese. Held by Glastonbury Abbey at 1086

Woodmancote was a tything of North Cerney and once had it’s own chapel. 

 Subsidy Roles exist for Cirencester, Bagendon, Woodmancote 1327, 1381

 Manor Court Roles exist for Bagendon, Woodmancote. In the Red Book of Worcester

Ralph Bigland “Historical monuments and genealogical Collections of Gloucester 1791" with additions shows Eycotts only and they at North Cerney and Cirencester. These would be people of some substance merchants, landowners, manufacturers etc.