Parish Churches

English parish churches were the center of community life for many of our ancestors. Reaching back in time, understanding the story which surrounded each, will often expand our appreciation of this aspect of our families' history.  The book edited by John Betjeman will provide the American genealogist with such a reference.

Of course it is titled "An American,s Guide To English Parish Churches".  Over 4,000 churches organized by the counties of England and the Isle of Man.  It was published 1958, and printed in Great Britain by Collins Clear-Type Press : London and Glasgow.  There are 66 selected photographs, along with a brief description of the name, which Saint it is dedicated, and recognized structural significance.  How neat is this!  The ancient parish registers listed in the book by Arthur Meredyth Burke [a previous post] can take on a new life when combined with this text. 

Halls of Existence

Our ancestors operated within a context of existence.  For that matter, we all do.  As genealogist interested in documenting this experience for our ancestors, we often need to understand the moral principles that helped them organize, interpret, and explain their daily lives.  The Judao-Christian ethos is one major factor that played such an important role for those of Welsh descent.  From the earliest days of Celtic Christianity [ca. 597 AD led by Augustine of Canterbury] to the monasteries founded by various religious groups among the isolated mountains and valleys of Wales [mostly Cistercians], this belief system operated in the hearts and minds of this existence.  The following book by Colin Platt, provides a view of the results of this belief system.

First published in 1984, it was reprinted by Barnes & Noble, Inc. in 1996.  Illustrations abound [love pictures], and a broad view of the many Abbeys and Priories that were built as a result of this belief system are presented.  A helpful reference to all genealogist who seek their ancestors among these halls of existence.

Voyages

In 1606, England's claim to the vast new territories just north of Spanish Florida rested upon the many voyages taken between 1497 and 1596 under the flag of St. George.   Trying to discover a way to Marco Polo's "Cathy", they headed northeast and northwest above the 35th parallel.  Trying to finally collect the financial and political will, a fellow named Richard Hakluyt in 1600 published his third volume of these explorations which laid the foundation for the Virginia Company.  The following reference contains a selection of the three volumes published between 1598 - 1600.

Selected and edited by Irwin R. Blacker, this reference was published 1965 by the Viking Press, Inc., NY.  A good reference for those who like to dig a little deeper into this history.  The selections  begins with "The Letters Patents" to John Cabot 1497 down to "A briefe and true report of the Honorable voyage unto Cadiz, 1596...". [ A total of 49 documents are given.] 

For those who like history the first edition cover of Hakluyt's volume is shown:

What a deal!  I love it. [Above taken from William and Mary Quarterly , 3rd series, Vol. 12, 1955, p.453.]

Being First

To be first is the goal of many.  As to revolutions, we in America date our first back to July 4, 1776.  However, it is the thesis of the following book by Michael Barone, that in reality our first revolution was years before.

Now a revolution can be defined as the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed.  This activity is designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation.  Hearts, minds, and in this case souls, were all involved.  In 1688-1689, the "Glorious Revolution" became its name.

My interest in this subject came to light during my family tree climbing experience.  As governor of Bahama Islands [1689-1692], my many generations back in time grandfather, was caught up in this revolution.  Trying to understand these events lead me to the book shown.  To the victor goes the spoils is the saying but, to the victor also goes the history books.  Coming down on the losing side is often left out of the pages of history.  Say what...my family on the losing side!  Guess that is why we are on this side of the great pond now a days.  For insight into these events, the book by Michael Barone gives the context.

The story of Cadwallader Jones [ca.1650 - ca. 1703] can be found:  

http://cadwalladerjones.blogspot.com

The book by Michael Barone was first published 2007 by Crown Publishers, NY.

The Pendulum Swing

Changes in one's cultural archetypes often become historical writing of later days.  Many times it is one side against another in tortuous displays of disagreement.   Meeting in the middle [compromise]  is resisted at all cost.  Back and forth it goes until one side captures the flag...then swish...away into the night it is retaken.    The restoration of Charles II is such an example.  The book by Antonia Fraser is the text.

The Civil War in Britain (1642 - 1651) brought one side to victory.   The Commonwealth...Oliver Cromwell and the like...swung the pendulum to one side, the restoration of Charles II swung the pendulum back.  [References to this period have been given in previous posts.]  For my ancestors, this swing in the pendulum brought them to Virginia.   Under British rule, Virginia experienced similar effects.  A major brick wall it was working through these events for my family tree.  The book by Fraser opened some of the windows.

First published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., NY, 1979, it was distributed by Random House.  Originally, it was published in Great Britain as King Charles II.

The Great Escape

After the death of his father Charles I ; Charles, Prince of Wales, was crowned Charles II.  This occured at the traditional Scottish coronation place of Scone on January 1, 1651.  His attempt to regain his authority in England was ended at the battle of Worcester September 3rd 1651.  Here, he barely avoided capture and his escape to France is told in the following text by Richard Ollard.

This escape has been told using contemporary evidence, which involved the loyalty of his followers.  My personal interest in this escape came after wondering if some in my own family tree had a role in this adventure. [The surname Moseley in particular.]  At any rate, it was a fascinating account of  the followers involved and the network that existed to aid this escape.  Family tree climbing can take some interesting paths of history.

This account was first published by Richard Ollard, 1966.  The edition illustrated above was published by Dorset Press, Marboro Books Corporation, 1986.

Last Days

Death does have its way of ending things.  For the genealogist, the date of death, when discovered, is required for all those found among the family tree.  Having family members involved in the English Civil War, led me to study this period in history from both sides of the fence. [Roundheads vs Cavaliers]  The following book by Graham Edwards details the last several months before the beheading of Charles I on Tuesday 30 January 1649.

At the beginning of the search into my own JONES surname family tree, it was unclear which side of the fence we were identified.  The last several posts have given some of the readings and references  that helped open the window to this conflict.  At any rate, there were plenty of JONES to go around on both sides, [a John Jones signed the death warrant ], and it took a number of years to sort things out.

Those deeply involved in the events surround these last days of Charles I are recorded.  Perhaps this text might open some windows for others.

First published in 1999 by Sutton Publishing Limited, the paper back edition [cover shown above] was printed in 2001.

An Illustrated Guide

A guide can be defined as something that provides a person with guiding information.  To find one that helps organize a very complex period of history found in many family trees, is called "The Cromwellian Gazetteer, An Illustrated Guide to Britain in the Civil War and Commonwealth"
by Peter Gaunt.

Organized first by country [England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland], it then guides one county by county through the conflict that ends in what is called "The Commonwealth Period".  For the genealogist, if one has a family member involved during this period of time, it becomes very hard to get a grasp of this conflict.  The sites involved during this crisis are shown in brief summary [many in pictures].  A detailed itinerary of the life of Oliver Cromwell is included which helps establish chronology for much of the conflict.  An interesting point of view it is.

First published in 1987 by Alan Sutton Publishing Limited, it was printed in Great Britain by Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

The Lord Protector

Dynamic religious and political forces produced a variety of ideas and beliefs during the Civil War period in England.  Certain individuals took leadership roles during the many conflicts.  Depending on which side of the fence your beliefs resided, your view of these individuals might have dramatic differences.  Such is the case for Oliver Cromwell.  An accomplished leader or narrow minded traitor are thoughts which might occur simultaneously.

This book by Antonia Fraser presents a detailed view of this individual during this complex time in history.  Published 1973 by Random House, N.Y, it presents a lengthy chronology of his life and times.  This book offers the reader a grasp of one side of the conflict deep in Puritan beliefs and concepts of the day.  It is a helpful resource for the genealogist who wishes to sort through the forces which occupied the lives of our ancestors involved in these conflicts.  [My copy shown above is 774 pages and might be more a reference than easy read.]

Another Angle

Archaeology is defined as the scientific study of material remains of past human life and activities.  Human life and much human activities certainly occurred during the period known as the English Civil War, and the book by Peter Harrington takes another angle to this history containing my own family tree.

 Various sites and landmarks involved during this conflict are presented from an archaeologist point of view expanding my own understanding of the conflict which at its end, brought my family to the colonies.  [ Harrington estimates more than 150 towns and 100 villages experienced some destruction. ]

First published 2004, the contents present archaeological findings involving towns, castles, strongpoints, battles, and many sites buried by time.  The material culture of war he describes in his last chapter.  Another way to understand the forces that impacted those family tree branches.

Published by B T Batsford, London.

Eyewitness

Primary documents are essential to the tree climbing genealogist.  What were the actual feelings and expressions of the ancestors being investigated?  Personal diaries and letters add to the historical context being explored.  For my own family research, the English Civil War period play an important dynamic in sorting through a fair number of brick walls.  The text below presents eyewitness accounts of folks during this period of time.

To be carried out of Basing House "...sick and naked in a blanket." (p. 203) would certainly leave an ancestor wondering "what in the world".  State Papers, diaries, and letters are used to help the reader understand many of the emotions and conflicts that affected those involved. 

John Adair first published it 1983 by Century Publishing Co Ltd.  My 1998 edition was printed and bound in Great Britain by J.H. Haynes & Co., Sparkford.  A nation divided it was.

British Civil Wars, 1638-1651

War is defined as a contest between nations or states, carried on by force, either for defense, or for revenging insults and redressing wrongs, for the extension of commerce or acquisition of territory, or for obtaining and establishing the superiority and dominion of one over the other. [Webester : 1828]  Now "Civil War" is the above activity between people of the same state or city.  It was certainly the case for the people of England starting 1638. 

My genealogy tree climbing bought me to this period.  To sort through this social quagmire was necessary for me to get around a number of brick walls.  The following book was one of many that lead the way.

First published by Routledge in 1992, and written by Charles Carlton, it is basically a social history of the conflicts that were shared by the participants.  Primary sources were the foundation to this writing, and provides a solid description of the events involved by many of these days.  Colonel Thomas Lundsford had an influential role from the very beginning, and was to provide a connector to my own Jones family as they came to Virginia [1649 -1650] with essentially "the cloths on their backs".  A series of brick walls indeed.

An Apex

Religious, political, and economic differences continued to boil during the reign of the second Stuart, Charles I.  These disagreements came to an apex in what has come to be called the "English Civil War".  For my own Jones surname tree climbing, this period of English history was one of the hardest brick walls to show its face.  A number of issues had to be evaluated and sorted. Several references were helpful in getting through this difficult branch of my family tree, and the next several post will give these sources.  The first is:

A military history of England, Scotland, and Ireland it is.  Edited by John Kenyon and Jane Ohlmeyer [with nine other historians], and was published by Oxford University Press in 1998.  It gives a general overview of this conflict providing a needed "big picture" for those whose ancestors played a part.  The period covered is 1638 to 1660.  This arranges a context in which most of our families became involved.  For those with a military history bend, it is an excellent read.

A Plot

The struggle for the minds and hearts of individuals has been an activity since the beginning of time as we know it. [Present day included!]  Since Henry VIII separated the Church of England from the Papacy of Rome, this struggle continued as a major issue between the Catholics and Protestants of  the day.  During the reign of James I, a plot was designed to continue the struggle.

The Gunpowder Plot it has been named.  The book by Alan Haynes [cover shown above] is a comprehensive account of this exploit.  First published 1994 it gives a broad coverage of this topic.  My own Jones family was Catholic during this historical period, and were involved heart and soul in many of these struggles.  My many years of genealogical research involved exploring and trying to understand these issues as branches of my family tree were exposed.   The book shown above was very helpful.

Printed in Great Britain by WBC Limited, Bridgend, it is in both hard cover and paperback.  Struggling with my own brick walls, understanding this religious conflict helped get around a few.

Life Under The Stuarts

Historical context remains a foundation to those genealogist who are trying to climb out those tree branches.  Tudor tradition had established one historical corridor through which our ancestors walked.  The Stuart period resulted in multiple changes in the religious, political, social, and colonial mindsets. [Many of our ancestors crossed the great pond during this period.]  The following text discusses many of these developments.  Multiple authors present a series of topics such as "Poetry" [Chap. VIII], "Theatre" [ Chap. IX], and "Art" [Chap. XI] which is often not included in other texts covering this period.

The book was first published in 1950, by Falcon Educational Books, Ltd, London.  It has been published in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.  Only 170 pages, it is a good overview of many aspects impacted during this transition period in our ancestors life time.

Drums and Trumpets

Unity and tolerance seem like good ideas.  However, from the first Stuart King (1603) to the death of a great granddaughter (1714) , this was certainly not the case.  The following book by Kirsty McLeod gives an overview of this turbulent time.  For my own Jones family tree climbing, exploring this period of conflict, became a necessary tool to break though a few of those brick walls. [Inigo Jones ended up being a member of the family tree!]

The first American edition was 1977, published by Seabury Press, NY.  It discusses the life in court, town, and country during the reign of "The House of Stuart".  Chapter topics include "Courtly Life", "Town Life", "The Growth of Puritanism", the "Civil War", "The Commonwealth",  and "Life After The Restoration".  It was in this period of conflict that many of my Jones family survived to pass down that Y-chromosome DNA.

Life in Stuart England...a transition period for many, and a difficult time for the genealogist to sort through the branches.  A helpful text it is.

Outside The Box

We often carry with us a group of boxes that contain our views of the world.  Historical boxes also exist that place time and life events into fixed spaces.  The making of history is frequently placed here.  The book by Michael Reed looks outside the box.

The way man [in this case Britons] has shaped and occupied the space around them between 1550 - 1700.  The period covered occupies a central role in the process of change that has affected our ancestors.  Taking pictures from an archaeologist point of view, the period is presented around the changes that took place.  Understanding this period will help many genealogist to break down a few of their brick walls.  The land and its people, check the pulse in this "The Age of Exuberance".

First published in 1986 by Routledge & Kegan Paul plc, London, it includes 74 plates in ten chapters.  Chapter 8 titled "Landscapes of the mind" is my favorite.  You will have to pick your own reaching outside the box.

A New Beginning

The Tudor era ended 1603 with the death of Elizabeth I.  A new beginning it was with the Stuarts.  The Welsh line of descent was replaced with a Scottish line of descent, and a new millennium was turning its page in history. 

A Scottish king [James VI] was to become an English king [James I].  This historical context is discussed in the book by David Harris Willson, my copy of the paperback shown above.  First published in 1956, it was republished as an Oxford University paperback in 1967.  It contains 22 chapters [only 464 pages] as it interweaves the story of transition during this new millennium.  Context, context, and more context is presented.  Religious, political, and social issues are at a new beginning.

For those whose ancestors first came to the colonies [Virginia and Plymouth Companies and all that] it was certainly a new beginning for them.  This book is a foundation.

Twilight Lords

From family to clans and chieftains, to tribal and feudal relationships, to regional and hereditary conflicts,  all were involved in the period surrounding Elizabeth I.  For those of us from Welsh descent, understanding these issues often help climb further out that family tree during this difficult period.  These issues are discussed in a very readable text called "The Twilight Lords".

It is presented as "An Irish Chronicle".  Many of Welsh descent filtered through the pages of this history representing both sides of the story. [Catholic vs Protestant, and English vs Irish]  Written by Richard Berleth, it presents the story of the destructive wars between England and Ireland between 1579 to 1601.  Maps and genealogies are many.  Published 1978 by Barnes & Noble, Inc. NY, it provides insights into the conflicts and families. 

For the genealogist, the historical context is a vital part of our ancestors existence.  Understanding this context will often break through those brick walls.  Throw in Ireland, and you have a deep well in which to draw.  This book provides one bucket. 

Elizabethan Age

Various political, social, and religious issues faced our ancestors.  These were often dramatically different than anything that we [our generation] have faced.  For my own family, growing up Protestant, Republican, and bleeding "blue" [Go Big Blue] in the Bluegrass of Kentucky, only to find out that my ancestors were Catholic, Monarchist, and literally bled their own blood, was a surprise. 

The Tudor family [Welsh] brought my Y-chromosome to the eastern side of Offa's Dyke.  Trying to understand this migration presented a number of brick walls.  The book by Norman Jones [cover shown above] provided many insights to this period of my family tree.  A focus on the issues that consumed the lives of my ancestors are given around the 1560's England.  Family values and making a living are presented.  How one did this as a Catholic family from Wales took some time to sort through.  What a deal.  A good read for those who share the same family tree branches.

"The Birth of the Elizabethan Age England In The 1560's" by Norman Jones [A good Welsh surname!] First published 1993, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., Cambridge, MA.