Robert SUMNER (1853- )

1 Robert SUMNER (1853- ) [7127]. Born Q2 1853, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Elizabeth SLADE 27 Mar 1881, Rowde, Wiltshire.

In 1871 he was living in Seend Cleeve with his parents and brother Benjamin. He is 17 years old and a Agricultural Labourer.

2 James SUMNER (1821-1891) [815]. Born 1821, Potterne, Wiltshire. Christened 26 Mar 1827, Potterne, Wiltshire. Died Mar 1891, Melksham Registration District, Wiltshire.

In 1841 he was living in Potterne, Wiltshire with his parents and 5 siblings. He was 20 years old and a Shoe Maker.

In 1871 James was living in Seend Cleeve with his wife and two sons. He was a Stone Mason.

In 1881 he was living at The Cleeve, Seend with his wife and son John (Benjamin). He was a Stone Mason.

4 Henry SUMNER (SOMNER) (1795-1868) [843]. Born 1795, Seend, Wiltshire. Bap. Marr Sarah MATTHEWS 16 Feb 1818, Potterne, Wiltshire. Died Q3 1868, Devizes Registration District, Wiltshire.

In 1841 he was living in Potterne, Wiltshire with his wife and 6 children. He was 40 years old and a Shoe Maker.

In 1851 he was living in Potterne with his wife and children William, Samuel, Henry and Thomas. He was 56 years old and a Cordwinder (Cordwainer).

In 1861 he was living in Potterne with his wife and son Samuel. He was 46 years old and a Boot and Shoe maker. Also living with them was Lot Star, born 1850, an apprentice.

8 Joseph SOMNER (1768- ) [901]. Born 1768, Seend, Wiltshire. Christened 4 Dec 1768, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Ann FEW 5 Apr 1790, Seend, Wiltshire.

16 Thomas SOMNER (1745- ) [902]. Born 1745, Seend, Wiltshire. Bap 9 Feb 1745, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Rebekah GUMM 7 Nov 1768, Seend, Wiltshire.

32 Joseph SUMNER (1708- ) [903]. Born 1708, Seend, Wiltshire. Bap 5 Sep 1708, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Ann STUMP 21 Dec 1735, Rowde, Wiltshire.

64 William SOMNER (SUMNER) (1680?- ) [904]. Born 1680 (app), Seend, Wiltshire. Bap 1 Mar 1680, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Ann HOPE.

128 Edward SUMNER (1644- ) [905]. Born 1644, Seend, Wiltshire. Bap 29 Sep 1644, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Ann WOOD 20 Nov 1669, Seend, Wiltshire. Died.

256 John SUMPNER (1619-1663) [906]. Born 1619, Seend, Wiltshire. Bap 27 Aug 1619, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Susan NEWTON 16 Nov 1637, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Frances HART 20 Nov 1639, Seend, Wiltshire. Died 20 Sep 1663, Seend, Wiltshire.

Notes from the Wiltshire County Council Web Site -

The seventeenth century saw buildings continuing to be erected in the High Street such as Seend Lodge, The Manor house, Bell Hill Cottages and Seend Green House (residence of John Sumner, friend of John Aubrey) with its walled garden, summerhouse, stable block and coach house. Opposite is Horse Pond and Edward Cook’s smithy (on the corner of what still is Cook’s Lane).Greenhayes House has a 17th century core and may have been the White Hart Inn in 1690. Most of the 17th century houses were re-faced with brick in the 19th century. A Pound in Seend Green had been there since the 17th century, but is not there now.

The 19th century saw six farmhouses built in Seend: Seend Hill Farm, Turner’s Farm, Marsh Farm (Seymour Lodge), Seend Farm/Sumner’s (Vicarage), Manor Farm and Malthouse Farm.

There was a Mill in Seend from the 13th century and the broad cloth trade was the principle one in the village in the 15th century. Western Wiltshire was one of the main manufacturing areas it the country. Summerham Brook powered the water mills. Other village craftsmen in the 17th century were weavers, fullers, tucker, shearman and tailors, still largely having a connection with the wool trade. The trade began to decline in the early 17th century and lead to a lack of jobs for weavers. Three Seend weavers were prosecuted for rioting when corn was being collected at Seend Green. The villagers saw the grain but couldn’t afford to buy any. The weavers were imprisoned in Warminster gaol for a few days, and then put in the stocks for two hours. In 1647 Seend villagers joined others in the locality to make representations at the Quarter Sessions on the ‘miserable condition for want of work’. The industry recovered in the late 17th and 18th century. Clothiers became so rich that they began to own property, for example the Somner family. Weavers earned more than farm labourers and in 1797 income was spent on barley flour, yeast, salt, tea, butter, cheese soap, candles, thread, coals and garden vegetables. In 1814 the row of cottages next to the Methodist Chapel were leased and re-built to form workshops for the clothing trade, but by 1841 there were no weavers, finishers or spinners in Seend. Labourers fared poorly; a labourer living in the Melksham area in a house on ‘part of the waste’ that was in poor condition did not dare to ask the Parish to repair it in case they should claim it. The poor often moved to the Salisbury Plain area for better wages and more constant employment at that time.

512 John SUMPNER (SUMNER) (aft1587-1641) [907]. Born btw 1587 and 1590, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Margery TYLLING 5 May 1612, Seend, Wiltshire. Died 1641, Seend, Wiltshire. Buried 21 Dec 1641, Seend, Wiltshire.

Some records show the surname as Sumner, the surname used or given to some of his children.

1024 John SUMPNER OF HENMARSH (1560- ) [908]. Born 1560, Seend, Wiltshire.

One record show 'Another Event' (unknown), on 13th.Jun.1566.

Records show area in Seend as Henmarsh and Kenmarsh.

2048 William SUMPNER (1535?- ) [2785]. Born 1535 (est). Marr Unknown <SUMPNER> 1559, Seend, Wiltshire.

After many generations, the family of 'Sumpner', 'Somner' and later 'Sumner' eventually became Clothiers in Seend. The following is a small exerpt from the parish history by John Chandler and is taken from his books ‘Marlborough and Eastern Wiltshire’ and ‘Devizes and Central Wiltshire’

'The Seend clothiers created dynasties – Dugdale, Sumner, Awdry, Usher – which intermarried with each other and with similar families from elsewhere. They rose to the status of gentry and built the remarkable series of fine houses which now line the village street. The elaborate monuments to the dead inside the church complement the elaborate houses – Seend House, Cleeve House, Seend Green House, the Manor House – in which they had lived. Some returned to the artisan level of craft weavers from which they had originated. The clothiers controlled the weavers, spinners and other craftsmen, who worked in more modest cottages and small houses, perhaps with workshops attached. It is the survivors among these that give Seend Cleeve its character.'.

4096 William SUMNER (SUMPNER) (1510?- ) [6755]. Born 1510 (est). Marr Unknown <SUMPNER> 1539, Seend, Wiltshire.

8192 William SUMPNER (1480?- ) [13970]. Born 1480 (est).

This is a link record. Further research needed.

Wiltshire Records Office hold a will for William Sumner dated 1546. It could be for this William or possibly his son.

16384 Unknown SUMPNER (1455?- ) [13971]. Born 1455 (est).

This is a link record. Further research needed.

32768 Thomas SUMPNER (1430?- ) [13972]. Born 1430 (est).

Wiltshire Records Office -

Grant of land by John Duyke, clerk and Thomas Hancock of Poulshot to Thomas Sumpner ,son of Thomas Sumpner alias Smythe, and Joan his wife,1435.

Bond by Thomas Hanecok of Poulshot to Thomas Sompner alias Smythe and Joan his wife,1435.

65536 Thomas SUMPNER (1405?- ) [13974]. Born 1405 (est).

65537 Joan <SUMPNER> ( - ) [13975].

4097 Unknown <SUMPNER> ( - ) [8440].

2049 Unknown <SUMPNER> ( - ) [2786].

1025 Edith <SUMNER> (1560?- ) [2240]. Born 1560 (app), Seend, Wiltshire.

This is Edith's will dated 1631 found at the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office -

In the Name of God Amen. In the 11th of July in the fourteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King 1631, I Edith Sumner of Seend being sick & weak of body, but sound & [alert] memory (Thanks be to God) I here make this my last will & testament in manner & form following (That is to say) first I commit my soul unto Christ my Saviour. Then I give unto the children of my son Thomas Sumner each of them four pounds a [---]. Thomas Sumner & William Sumner [---] then I give unto the children of my son Joseph Sumner every one of them four pounds a [---], John Sumner, [---] Sumner, & Joseph Sommer, & William Sommer, & Edith Sommer, & Priscilla Summer, Mary Sumner, & Joan Somner, & Anna Sommer. Then I give unto the daughters of Elizabeth Smith each of them four pounds a [---], Joan Smith & Elizabeth Smith. Then I give unto my son Thomas Somner all the [---] of [---] he [---] [---] of mine(mind?). Then I give unto my son Joseph Sumner all the [---] of [---] that he [---] [---] of mine (mind?) Then I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Smith two pounds, [---] shillings and eight pence. Then I here make [---] Thomas Somner & Joseph Somner --- over all the goods that is [must able] or summonable, of what nature, & [---] [---], I wholy give & bequeath unto my [sons] Thomas Somner & Joseph Somner whom I make & ordain them to be my executors of this my last will & testament. I have [---] [---] my beloved [---] John Stokes, by --- [kinsman] [---] [---] [---] to be my [---]. [witnessed] [---], Robert Somner. The mark of Thomas [---].

513 Margery TYLLING (1591-aft1619) [909]. Born 1591, Seend, Wiltshire. Died aft 1619, Seend, Wiltshire. Buried Seend, Wiltshire.

257 Frances HART ( -1664) [911]. Born Seend, Wiltshire. Died 1664, Seend, Wiltshire. Buried 17 Sep 1664, Seend, Wiltshire.

514 Thomas HARTE ( - ) [11944]. Marr Helen FEW (FUE) 10 Oct 1612, Seend, Wiltshire.

1028 Unknown <HART> ( - ) [11947].

515 Helen FEW (FUE) ( - ) [11945].

129 Ann WOOD (1649-1715) [914]. Born 1649, Seend, Wiltshire. Died 1715, Seend, Wiltshire. Buried 27 Nov 1715, Seend, Wiltshire.

65 Ann HOPE ( - ) [921].

33 Ann STUMP (1708- ) [925]. Born 13 Jun 1708, Bromham, Wiltshire. Christened 13 Jun 1708, Bromham, Wiltshire.

66 Richard STUMP (1672- ) [11925]. Born 17 Nov 1672, Bromham, Wiltshire. Christened 17 Nov 1672, Bromham, Wiltshire.

132 Richard STUMP (1646- ) [11927]. Born 9 Mar 1646, Bromham, Wiltshire. Christened 9 Mar 1646, Bromham, Wiltshire. Marr Mary (Marie) SMART 31 Dec 1668, Heddington, Wiltshire.

264 Richard STUMP (1636- ) [11928]. Born 16 Oct 1636, Bromham, Wiltshire. Christened 16 Oct 1636, Bromham, Wiltshire.

528 Theophilus STUMP (1602?- ) [11929]. Born 1602 (app), Bromham, Wiltshire. Christened 11 Apr 1602, Bromham, Wiltshire.

1056 John STUMP ( - ) [11931]. Marr Margery HOBBS 23 Oct 1591, Bromham, Wiltshire. Marr Agnes HOBBS 1 May 1596, Bromham, Wiltshire.

2112 Unknown STUMP ( - ) [14747].

1057 Agnes HOBBS (1569- ) [11933]. Born 1569, Bromham, Wiltshire.

2114 Thomas HOBBS ( - ) [11934]. Marr Christian WEBB 8 May 1568, Bromham, Wiltshire.

2115 Christian WEBB ( -1637) [11935]. Died 1637.

529 Ann <STUMP> ( - ) [11930].

133 Mary (Marie) SMART (1639?- ) [11938]. Born 1639 (app), Heddington, Wiltshire. Christened 4 Jun 1639, Heddington, Wiltshire.

266 Henry SMARTE (1620?- ) [11939]. Born 1620 (app), Heddington, Wiltshire. Christened 27 Jan 1620, Heddington, Wiltshire.

532 Henry SMARTE ( - ) [11941]. Marr Alice HEDGES 16 Oct 1581, Westbury, Wiltshire.

533 Alice HEDGES ( - ) [11942].

267 Alice <SMART> ( - ) [11940].

67 Mary <STUMP> ( - ) [11926].

17 Rebekah GUMM (1745-1819) [934]. Born 16 Jun 1745, Seend, Wiltshire. Died 17 Oct 1819, Seend, Wiltshire.

Records show three ways of spelling Rebeccah, Rebekah & Becky. Witnesses at the marriage were Edward Somner and Isaac Gibson.

34 John GUM (1728- ) [12789]. Born 1728, Potterne, Wiltshire.

68 Joseph GUM (1714?-1758?) [12794]. Born 1714 (app), Seend, Wiltshire. Christened 19 Aug 1714, Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Sarah HISCOCKS 30 Jun 1741, Melksham, Wiltshire. Died Sep 1758 (app), Seend, Wiltshire.

136 Joseph GUM (1686?-1758) [12836]. Born 1686 (app), Seend, Wiltshire. Marr Mary BARRET (BARRAT) 6 Feb 1709, Devizes, Wiltshire. Died 12 Aug 1758, Seend, Wiltshire.

272 Roger GUM (1660?-1703?) [12839]. Born 1660 (app), Devizes, Wiltshire. Marr Elizabeth DREW 13 Mar 1684, Rowde, Wiltshire. Marr Anne <GUM> 20 Oct 1686, Devizes, Wiltshire. Died 1703 (app), Seend, Wiltshire.

273 Anne <GUM> (1665-1716) [12843]. Born 1665, Potterne, Wiltshire. Died 1716, Seend, Wiltshire.

Records show her marriage as in Potterne or Devizes.

137 Mary BARRET (BARRAT) (1688?-1746) [12837]. Born 1688 (app). Died Oct 1746, Seend, Wiltshire.

69 Sarah HISCOCKS (1720- ) [12795]. Born 1720, Melksham, Wiltshire.

35 Mary <GUM> (1730- ) [12790]. Born 1730.

9 Ann FEW (1770- ) [842]. Born 12 Aug 1770, Potterne, Wiltshire.

Witnesses at their marriage were Isaac Dalimear and Elizabeth Dean.

18 Thomas FEW (1723-1794) [866]. Born 1723, Potterne, Wiltshire. Christened 15 Apr 1723, Potterne, Wiltshire. Marr 19 Oct 1755, Potterne, Wiltshire. Buried 24 Oct 1788, Potterne, Wiltshire. Died 2 Apr 1794, Potterne, Wiltshire.

36 William FEW (1690- ) [857]. Born 1690, Potterne, Wiltshire. Christened 23 Nov 1690, Potterne, Wiltshire.

72 Edward FEW (1644- ) [12734]. Born 1644, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Christened 5 Oct 1644, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Marr Dorothy MUNDAY 1 Mar 1680, Marlborough, Wiltshire.

144 Edward FEW (FIEW) (1617- ) [12736]. Born 1617, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Marr Joane HUMPHRY 22 Aug 1642, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire.

288 Richard FEW (1597-1689) [12739]. Born 6 Feb 1597, Coate, Bishops Cannings, Devizes, Wiltshire. Christened 6 Feb 1597, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Marr Joane LEWMAN 14 Jan 1618, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Died 1689.

576 Richard FEW (1565?- ) [12740]. Born 1565 (app), Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Marr Unknown <FEW> 1597 (app), Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire.

1152 Unknown FEW (1550?- ) [12748]. Born 1550 (est).

It is generally considered that the FEW family originated from Wiltshire, UK, and the father of Jeffery, Thomas, Richard and Eydith Few is likely to be the first in the family since records began. His estimated date of birth is about 1550.

Records show that the 'original' Few's all lived in a group of nearby villages, and currently the connection between William Few 1599 of Market Lavington (who was the start of the American Few ancestry) and the Few's who remained in Wiltshire, is not known. Everything points to William possibly being the son of Jeffery Few c1575, however records show him as being born in the nearby village of Market Lavington and not Bishops Canning where Jeffery was born, but he could have moved - just a few miles away. A second brother, Thomas, married 3 years after William's birth so may not be a contender, and a third brother, Richard, had children born in Bishops Canning either side of William's birth date of 1599, so his family was less likely to have moved to Market Lavington.

For the purposes of creating 'a link' until more information is available, William is shown in this tree as the son of Jeffery c1575.

More research is needed.

577 Unknown <FEW> (1575?- ) [12747]. Born 1575 (est).

289 Joane LEWMAN (1575?- ) [12746]. Born 1575 (app), Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire.

145 Joane HUMPHRY (1621?- ) [12737]. Born 1621 (app).

73 Dorothy MUNDAY (1659-1683) [12735]. Born 1659, Pewsey, Wiltshire. Died 1683, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire. Buried 19 Apr 1683, Bishops Cannings, Wiltshire.

37 Grace <FEW> ( - ) [10541].

5 Sarah MATTHEWS (1796-1880) [847]. Born 1796, Keevil, Wiltshire. Died Q4 1880, Westbury Registration District, Wiltshire.

In 1841 she was living in Potterne, Wiltshire with her husband and 6 children. She was 40 years old.

In 1851 she was living in Potterne with her husband and children William, Samuel, Henry and Thomas. She was 57 years old.

In 1861 she was living in Potterne with his wife and son Samuel. She was 67 years old. Also living with them was Lot Star, born 1850, an apprentice.

3 Harriet <SUMNER> (1826-1893) [897]. Born 1826, Seend, Wiltshire. Died Dec 1893, Melksham Registration District, Wiltshire.

In 1871 she was living at Seend Cleeve, Wiltshire with her husband and 2 sons. She was 45 years old.

In 1881 she was living at The Cleev, Seend, Wiltshire with her husband and son Benjamin (John). She is 56 years old.