Fordington

• Latin words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. On the very first entry “filius” has been used and as this is masculine we know the baptism was for the “son of” despite not being sure of the actual name. The third entry is for “filia” which is feminine meaning “daughter of”. The vast majority of records however have “fili” which is not gender specific. The vicar would have expected everyone to know the gender from the Christian name & I have translated as such where I am sure of the sex of the individual being baptised.


• Abbreviation is common. some examples used here are:- Bapt: for Baptised; eld: for elder or sen for senior. In Latin “i” and “j” are interchangeable so you will also see iun as well as jun as an abbreviated version of junior.


• Another example of gender specific abbreviation often used in this text is the word Johes, abbreviated from Johannes meaning John. In the IGI these names have sometimes been incorrectly recorded as female which would be Johan for Johanna.


• Numbers are often written in Roman numerals and in faded or damaged documents are particularly difficult to get right - here the vicar has sometimes followed roman numerals with a “ th” as in xxvth [25th]. He has also used “ iiii” meaning 4th rather than “ iv”.

Readers are reminded that each year started on 25th March not the 1st January [ up until 1752] so January and February Christenings for example will appear at the end of the year

Baptisms 1600 to 1602 inc Missing

Anno DM 1603                heading illegible [CLDS Image 2087]
[Note IGI has whole year as 1601 - the year is unclear but repeated twice at the top -  my interpretation is that it is 1603; mainly because it is a continuous document and year changes to 1604 and then 1605 on the same page; and burials further on also start 1603 as well. It is written in latin so I have provided a translation beneath each entry]

Josephus filius Henry BOWER fuit Baptisatus decimus Aprili
        [Joseph son of Henry BOWER he was baptised 10th April]
Mageria [Margeria?] fili Robt [Robertus] BUNE [BUNN or BUNNE] Bapt: fuit Sext: May
        [Margery? the daughter of Robert BUNE she was baptised the 6th May - IGI has 7th i.e. Sept: - NOTE:- There is a Margery the daughter of Robert BUNN (1558-1639 & Edith (1575-1654) but seems rather early unless their children are not in order of seniority in their Wills]
Elizabetha filia Willm WHITE Bapt: xxij May
        [Elizabeth the daughter of William WHITE baptised 22nd May- Note:- Elizabeth was the daughter of William WHITE (c1563-1607) ]
Elinora fili Robti READE Bapt: xxiiij May
        [Eleanor the daughter of Robert READ baptised 24rd May- Note IGI has Elmora]
Johes fili Johes SCUTT Baptisatus xiij Junii
        [John the son of John SCUTT baptised 13th June][Note: IGI wrongly records as female]
Johanes fili Gilbert TUCKER Bapt: tertia Julij
        [John the son of Gilbert TUCKER baptised the third day of July]
Jana ht? fantin? filia Thoma TUCKER? ?? Augusta
        [Jane ht? fantin? daughter of Thomas TUCKER? ?? August]
Elizabetha filia Samuelis MACE Bapt: xiiij Augusta
        [Elizabeth the daughter of Samuel MACE baptised 14th August]
Willimus fili Robti INGRAM Bapt: xxj Augusta
        [William the son of Robert INGRAM baptised 21st August]
Johes fili Johas CONYCKE? Bapt: xviij die Septembris
        [John the son of John CONYCKE Baptised the 18th day of September][Note: IGI wrongly records as female and in the year 1601 - The surname is spelt many different ways eg: CONNIKE in church records - CENNICKE in Sir Francis Ashleys casebook eg. see examination on 21 Dec 1617]
Robtus fili Ricti ASHE Bapt: xxij die Septembris
        [Robert the son of Richard ASHE Baptised 22nd day of September]
Marta fili Johes KINGTON itm Bapt: xxiij Octobris
        [Martha the daughter of John KINGSTON, likewise Baptised 23rd October] [Note: Not listed at all in IGI - Rev. John Kington was Curate at Fordington]
Robertus fili Thoma KEYZAR Bapt: xxvj Octobris
        [Robert the son of Thomas KEYZAR Baptised 26th October - Note buried as Robert the son of Thomas KEZIAR 22nd Dec 1603]
Johes fili Robti BELLMAN Bapt: iiij die Decembris
        [John the son of Robert BELLMAN Baptised 4th day of December] [Note: IGI wrongly records as female]
Christian fili Thoma TUCKER Bapt: xvj Decembris
        [Christian the son of Thomas TUCKER Baptised 16th December]
Margareta fili Johes MOGGE bapt: xiiij [xiv?] die Januarii
        [Margaret the daughter of John MOGGE baptised 14th day of January] [Note IGI has wrong date of Aug 14th]
Willmus fili Willi TIZZARD Bapt: xvij Ffebuary
        [William the son of William TIZZARD Baptised 17th February]
??? fili Rogeri DENISHE? Bapt; primo Martii
        [??? son or daughter of Roger DENNIS? Baptised, 1st day of March -- Note- Roger DENNISE was buried at FStG 1st March 1626]

Anno Dm [In the year of Our Lord] 1604 [CLDS Image 2087]

Grace fili Phillippi FFEARE Bapt: xv Aprilis
        [Grace the daughter of Philip FEARE Baptised 15th April] [Note actually appears as last entry for 1603 but April is beyond the end of that year - it has an illegible side note ending in 1604 so included here as date precedes next entry - IGI also 1604]
Margareta fili Willm BARNES Senr. bapt: xxviii Aprilis
        [Margaret the daughter of William BARNES senior baptised 28th April - Note:- Comments under William Barnes Senior (1545-1620) ]
Johes fili Willi WINSOR Sen bapt: secundo Junii
        [John the son of William WINSOR senior baptised 2nd June] [Note: IGI incorrectly has female gender - John is the 1st child from the marriage of Thomasine WHITE to William WINSOR at St Georges Church Fordington during 1603 [Link to her place in the The White Family of Fordington ]
Elinora? fili Henri MITEN? Bapt: xxvj Julii
        [Elinor? daughter of Henry MITEN? baptised 26th June]
Julyan fili Willi SWANN Bapt: vj Septembris
        [Julian the son of William SWANN Baptised 6th September] [Note: no surname is given in the IGI only the letter S]
Leonardus fili Johes DIGGET Bapt: primo die Octobris
        [Leonard the son of John DIGGET Baptised the 1st day of October]
Agneta fili Johes ASHE Senr. Bapt: xvj Octobris
        [Agnes the daughter of John ASHE senior Baptised 16th October] [Note:- IGI has Agneta daughter of Joses Ashe - See biographical notes on the John ASHE Family]
Maria fili Johes DILES [RIVES?] bapt: iiij Novembris
        [Maria the daughter of John DILES/RIVES baptised 4th November] [Note not recorded in IGI]
Willmus fili Amias? POTTS bapt: x Novembris
        [William the son of Amias? POTTS baptised 10th November]
Marha? [Marta?] fila Willi MARTINE Bapt: xxiij Novembris
        [Martha daughter of William MARTIN Baptised 23rd November] [Note not recorded in IGI] [Note:Next 3 out of date order?]
Barbara fila Willi COLLINS Bapt: v Novembris
        [Barbara daughter of William COLLINS Baptised 5th November]
Harriet fili Walter CONDITE [CONDUIT?] bapt: primo Novembris
        [Harriet the daughter of Walter CONDITE baptised the 1st day of November] [Christian name unclear might be Hamnet rather than Harriet in which case son of]
Robertus fili Andreas KEEYT [KETE or KEATE] Bapt: xiij Novembris.
        [Robert the son of Andrew KEYT baptised 13th November - Note:- Elizabeth the wife of Andrew KEYTE was buried at StG on 13th Dec 1603]
Willmus fili Johes? LEVETT? Bapt: ix Decembris
        [William the son of John LEVETT? baptised 9th December]
Eodem die Margareta fili Richd MYLES Bapt fuit
        [On the same day Margaret the daughter of Richard MYLES she was baptised] [Note: IGI wrongly has given Eodemdie as a Christian name?]
Margarita fili Willi WINSOR sen Bapt: xx Januarii
        [Margaret the daughter of William WINSOR senior Baptised 20th January - Margarita known as Marie is the 2nd child from the marriage of Thomasine WHITE to William WINSOR at St Georges Church Fordington during 1603 [Link to her place in the The White Family of Fordington ]
Johes fili Rogeri BUNN [BUNE or BUNNE] Bapt: xxvij Januarii
        [John the son of Roger BUNN Baptised 27th January] [Note: IGI incorrectly records as female]
Robertus fili Johes WHITE Bapt: tertio February
        [Robert the son of John WHITE Baptised 3rd February - Note:- son of John WHITE Junior (1551-1622) by Mary his 1st wife who died 13 May 1608]
Thoma fili Johes BUNN [BUNE or BUNNE] Bapt: xij February
        [Thomas the son of John BUNN Baptised 12th February]
Xpophorus fili Edward JOHNSON Bapt: tertio martii
        [Christopher the son of Edward JOHNSON Baptised 3rd day of March]
Marianus fili Johes SCUTT Bapt: xii Martii
        [Marion the daughter of John SCUTT Baptised 12th March] [Note: not recorded on IGI]

Anno Dm [In the year of Our Lord] 1605 [CLDS Image 2087 & 2088]

[CLDS Image Latin 2089 and English 2092]

Willimus [the sonne of ] Richd FFREAKE Bapt: vicesimus quinto die mensis Octobris
        [William the son of Richard FREAKE baptised 25th day of the month of October] [Note: words “the son of” have been omitted on the Latin return]
Priscilla fili Henrie WHITE fuit Bapt: vicesimus sext [sextus] die mensis Octobris
        [Priscilla the son of Henry WHITE baptised 26th day of the month of October.

[NOTE: Henry WHITE Senior (1553-1619/20) was almost certainly another member of the White Family of Fordington but so far we have not identified his exact relationship to the matriarch Agnes WHITE (d.May 1576). From the Survey of Fordington Manor taken in 1615 we know he was born circa 1553 and had a small farm of just over 25 acres in Fordington Fields. We also know he was married to Eame as "Eame the wife of Henry WHITE was buried at St Georges church in Fordington on 26th Jan 1619/20. Only nine days later Henry White senior was also buried there on 4th Feb 1619/20. There would have been other children born between 1609 and 1613 when records are missing but known children of theirs are :-
(1). Priscilla White bap FStG 26th Oct 1606
(2). Rabbidge White (1614-1614) bap and buried 24th June 1614
(3). Henry White (1615-1638) bap 15th Nov 1615 and buried there 19th Mar 1638
(4). Roger White (1619-1623) bap 5th Dec 1619 and buried there 27th July 1623]

[Note:- There was a mix up over appointing Adam WILSON's replacement as initially a Peter Owen was instituted as vicar at Fordington on 12th June 1609, but this decision had to be reversed and a Rev. William JONES MA was instituted instead on 25th July 1609. His name wrongly spelt as William James appears in one of the Act Books under date 3rd Sep 1613 when he was still Vicar in Fordington. Source CCEd]

[NOTE: Rabbidge is a female name originating from Cornwall in use 1450 - 1650: She died the same day. Rabbidge was the 2nd of 4 known children of Henry and Eame WHITE who both died in January and February 1619/20. Follow link for more information]

[Image 2096 (above) & 2097]

Baptised ano 1616 [Continued from Image 2097 above]

March 31st James the sonne of John SEAGER Baptised [Note:- 1st child from the marriage of John SEAGER to Marie COLLINS at FStG 17th Oct 1615. Buried FStG 4th Apr 1616]
May 16th William the sonne of John ASHE Baptised [Note:- See biographical notes on the John ASHE Family]
May 17th John the sonne of John PAGE Baptised
May 19th Anna the daughter of Thomas LYNSIE [LINCEY] Baptised [Note IGI has the wrong date of 6th June 1616 which is when she was buried]
May 21st Joseph the sonne of William WINZOR Baptised

Signed FFREAK [End of Image 2097]

[We know of the following two births when baptisms would have fallen within this missing period:-

(1) Edward PELE son of the Rev Edward PELE (1582-1643) by his wife Alice. Almost certainly among the missing baptisms as we know from university records that he was aged 19 at entry making him born c1617, the year after Edward Pele [Peele or Peale] arrived in the parish. He was probably their 1st child, and was named Edward after his father.

(2) Joseph BISHOP the son of Richard BISHOP (bur.1633) by his wife Anna. [Note:- 2nd child from marriage of Richard BISHOP to Ann Unknown whom he married circa 1614]

[Note:- 2nd known child of William LINNINGTON - Link to 1650 Survey Fordington Manor and more information about the family]

[Note:- child from the 2nd marriage of John WHITE Junior (1551-1622) ]

[Note:- 3rd known child from the marriage of Thomas WINDSOR to Elynor MAYBEE at Fordington on 21st sep 1606]

[Note son of Richard Eames & Alice Sprague who married Fordington 5 Jun 1615 - Edward later marries Fordington 31 Jan 1638 to Elizabeth Tapp]

[Note:-Ancestry not known - 1st of 3 children of William Churchill baptised at Fordington - Wm junior was buried at FStG 4th Sep 1631. (2nd child ) Sarah bap 27th Jun 1624 and buried 10th Aug 1625 - (3rd child) Jane Churchill bap 30th July 1626 and buried as Jone Churchill daughter of William on 14th Sep 1631. The burial register suggests that an infectious disease of some sort wiped out most of the family as there are 4 deaths in the space of 10 days. As already states the first child William junior died on 4th Sep 1631. William Churchill the father was then buried on the 12th September with another daughter Elizabeth on the same day. Jane was buried 2 days later on 14th Sep]

Modern English translation:- A note of the names of all such persons as have been married, christened, & buried within the parish of Fordington from & after the 25th day of March in the year of Our Lord 1621 until the 25th of March 1622. As follows:-

[NOTE: Persis is an unusual female biblical name - she was a Christian woman in Rome whom St Paul salutes - she was spoken of as “beloved and as having laboured much in the Lord” - She was a Pilgrim - Also See Biography of Anthony Eames - Persis died at Hingham MA USA 31 Dec 1662] .

[NOTE:- The birth of this child is referred to in "The casebook of Sir Francis Ashley JP page 74 :- for 15th April 1623: Examination of Robert TOOPE of Fordington, carpenter (from the deposition it would appear that he was probably serving as constable) "Complained that he followed one Edmund CHUB who was reputed to be the father of a base child born to one ... PIERCE spinster of Fordington, and overtook him at Chetnoll in the parish of Yetminster and had there apprehended him and given him into the charge of the tithingman, but during the night the tithingman had allowed CHUB to escape, and refused to raise the hue and cry after him on the grounds that he was not a felon." Nothing was done however as the baby died and was buried at Fordington on 29th April 1623]

[Note:- In Sir Arthur Ashleys casebook under date of 10 January 1623/24 it states " Ordered by Sir Francis Ashley and Sir Richard STRODE that James PIERCE of Fordington should pay 12d weekly to the overseers of the Poor of Fordington towards the maintenance of a base child born to Alice LUKAS ]

NOTE: Esquire by the sixteenth century was a title acquired by holding an office under the Crown, and so was not necessarily superior to that of “gentleman”, but in practice such office holding carried distinction. Esquires proper held such Crown commissions as Justices of the Peace army officers ( Thomas served in the Parliamentary Army), Royal Navy commanders and even the common hangman. The modern use of the title became common in the 19th Century. The squire in a country parish was the colloquial designation for the Lord of the Manor, or chief landowner. NOTE:- Elizabeth is the second child of Thomas Pelham (c1595/8-1673 by Blanche nee EYRES]

[Note:- son of Ralph Sprague (1599-1650) and Joan Warren - See Biography of the Sprague Family] died 24 Jun 1692 Malden Massachusetts]

[Note:_ 1st child from the marriage of Ambrose HUNT to Mary WINSOR at FStG 3rd July 1623]