Eycott-Vyner Connection


by John Eacott


Thomas Ekott in his will of July 1583, says he was not a well man. In fact he was to depart the world within the month. In August his will was proved.


Thomas was a husbandman at Bagendon. That is he was a farmer, raising principally sheep. He had 6 daughters all unmarried and a son, Joseph all under twenty years of age. In addition his wife was still of child bearing age. It could thus be guessed that he was between 35 and 50 years of age. Thomas had 5 brothers, Robert (his will 1629), John the Younger, John the Elder, Edward and William. John the elder had children. His wife was Elizabeth. His will includes references to Henry Balden or Baulden.


Richard Eycott of North Cerney, ostensibly in good health, set forth his will in 1581. His children four boys and 2 girls. John, Anthony, William, Thomas and Elizabeth and Katherine . Richard has a brother Phillipe who has some severe difficulties and needs to be cared for. His son Thomas has been delegated that responsibility. What is the relationship between Thomas and Richard? Father and son - no, Thomas has other brothers than in the will. Brothers - not likely, since Richard entrusts his brother to his wife and son and does not mention other family. Richard must be uncle or cousin to Thomas.


Thomas in his will Says this “ I make my brother THOMAS VYNER of North Cerney, RICHARD BURTON parson of Badgendon and HENRY BALDEN of wodmancote mine overseers and give to every of them ten shillings.”


During the 1500's the price of wool increased rapidly and Cotswold wool was in great demand in Europe. Literacy was also on the rise and by mid century the old feudal rules on land ownership had been abolished. It was a time of prosperity for the yeoman farmers, particularly in the Cotswolds. The wills indicate ownership of some modest property. Pewter dishes, not wood, or clay.


Families by and large didn’t stray far from their origins and Bagendon and North Cerney were adjacent villages on the road along the Churn river. Everyone pretty much knew everyone else.


Thomas Vyner of North Cerney is married twice, first ? to a sister of Thomas Ekott (Margaret born about 1533) They have several children Richard 1566, Joane 1568, Katherine, Robert, Mary, Ann including a son William ( 31 jan 1568) before Margaret dies and Thomas remarries Ann Ellis (b. 1554) also of North Cerney. There are several more children born including, nn the 15 of December 1588, a son also Thomas, born at North Cerney. Thomas senior has a sister who has married and moved to London. At the age of 13, 1601, Thomas junior is apprenticed to Thomas’s brother in law Samuel Moore who is a London goldsmith. This is a trade with great career connections and available only to the favored child who has access to these connections. In 1604 Thomas junior continues his apprenticeship with William Terry. From 1623 to 1665 he lived at the “Vine” Clements Lane, Lombard St. Home of the money managers of London. Thomas moves in a select society and became a goldsmith, banker, and national financier for the Commonwealth and also the monarchy. In 1646 to 1651 he became an Alderman for Billingsgate, In 1648 he was Sheriff of London. An active supporter of Cromwell he was made Lord Mayor of London in 1653. This was real power at the highest level that only great wealth could command.


His nephew Robert Vyner, son of his half brother William whose mother was Margaret (presumably Ekott) became an Alderman in London for Broad St. in 1666. He had been an apprentice of his uncle in earlier years. He had gone into business with his Uncle. Born at Warwick in 1631 he died at Windsor Castle in 1688. He was lord Mayor in 1674. In 1662 Thomas and Robert were the King’s goldsmiths and were asked to supply the East India Company. He also was a partner in the Hudson’s Bay Company and reputed to be the wealthiest man in England.


With the Restoration of Charles II to the throne ,Thomas changed sides like many other influential people of the day and became a supporter of the monarchy again. His reward was instant as he was created a baronet in 1660 for his support. ( he had also been knighted by Cromwell).


Thus when he died 28 may 1665 his funeral was a major event. He had been a leader of the realm and one of his clients was Samuel Pepys’ who attended the funeral. Thomas was buried at St. Mary Woolnoth. Thomas’ brother Robert is also buried there. Robert erected a statue to Charles II on Lombard St. that is now in Newly Hall in Yorkshire. A third brother George Vyner was given building contracts in London after the great fire in 1666 and worked under the supervision of the great architect Wren. Robert became deeply involved with funding the frivolities of Charles II, Lending the king great sums, erecting a huge bronze statue to the King and personally created the crown and most of the regalia for the coronation ( The crown jewels of today). Unfortunately the king, later defaulted on the loans and financially ruined Robert. He died in 1688 at Windsor castle.


In the shadow of these self made giants there were opportunities for relatives. One Eycott relative, a nephew or great nephew was born in the 1650's to (??? Richard bef 1640 North Cerney or Samuel who may have been a goldsmith himself in Cirencester). Bearing a prestigious name which may have linked him to another of the great families, Berkeley Eycott had a birth that gave him a future. Born after the great upheaval of the 1640's when the Puritan power was ascendant, when Roundheads fought Royalists, parliament stood against the king and prevailed in the 1650's he was reared in a community with strong links to Cromwell. Bagendon parish had clergy appointed by Cromwell and had many Puritan style names in the baptisms. Considering the influential local people who rose to prominence it can be assumed this was a Cromwell supporting community.


Young Berkeley was about 13 years of age, had some schooling, and it was arranged for him to be sent to London to be apprenticed to the goldsmiths in 1670. This was 4 years after the great fire, during which his uncle Robert had been the Sherriff of London, and there was much construction in the rebuilding of London at the time. The Goldsmiths new hall had just opened. The guild of Goldsmiths were at the peak of their power. They controlled not only the making of gold plate, jewelry but coin and the flow of currency. It was before the creation of modern banking and around 1670 the goldsmiths of the city were engaged in the nearest thing to being bankers and money lenders. To be apprenticed meant a secure future. Berkeley Eycott served his apprenticeship under William Cowland, however it appears that he never got around to petitioning for his freedom and thus technically did not become a master smith. Thus it is not known how long he remained an apprentice although 7 years was the usual time it took to reach the level of master by creation of a masterpiece. He did however become a goldsmith in Cirencester. In the year he went to London 1670 Robert was becoming a partner in the Hudson’s Bay Company and thus part owner of nearly half of Canada. Then 2 years late he was to be involved with creating the Royal African Company, a slaver organization. When he was apprenticing Robert become Lord Mayor of London 1674. Robert Vyner’s famous family portrait of 1673 by J.M. Wright now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London [NPG 5568]. Robert had a son Charles, named after the King. Charles died in 1688 shortly before Robert. His daughter Bridget became the Duchess of Leeds. Berkeley lived in London at a very favored time.



(John Cowland was of reputable parents, apprenticed to goldsmith, got into fight over a women and killed A man near Drury lane theater year 1700.....son of William????)