Table of Contents
- Letters From Abroad
- Notes From Helen
- Thoughts From England
- Here I Am !!
- Letter From Ed
- BLENCOWE/BLINCOE Coat of Arms
Letters From Abroad
Dear Ed. 24 January 1988
What a thrill it was to receive your letter of last October…
Our family came to New Zealand In 1842. Prior to that, they lived in Windsor. Berkshire, England[1]. So far I have been unable to locate them on a Parish film or the 1341 Census. To New Zealand came Francis and his wife Ann and six children. Of these six children, my husband Is descended from the eldest son again called Francis. He appears to be the only son to have had offspring. One of the unmarried daughters had a son also and we know all his descendants. Two brothers died unmarried and the other appears to have had no children.
A family of Blincowe’s arrived in New Zealand In 1874 on the ‘Cospatrick” but I do not know where they came from. They were John, Emma. Naomi & Elizabeth.
Also, a William & Elizabeth Blincoe arrived In 1857. William died In Mar 1393 leaving a wife and 2 daughters. He was age 6o yrs and his death certificate said he was born in Bunbury or Banbury Eng. As there are several places of this name it may be hard to find which one Is meant.
In the index of War deaths (WWI) there Is listed a Roland George BIInko but I do not know where he comes from at all.
As you can see from this there is not a great deal of Blincoe’s In New Zealand and the ma]ority are descended from our family from Berkshire. When they sailed for N Z Francis nave his occupation as being farmer; bricklayers labourer. The family settled in Nelson and most of the first three generations were Involved in gardening of some sort. One member was responsible for years for the Cathedral gardens and my husband’s grandfather worked in a flax mill by day (owned by his sister’s in-laws) and then worked his own market garden at night often by the light of a lantern. My father-in-law Is also a great gardener and grows many types of flowers and vegetables which he shows with great success. If you mention the name Blincoe In Nelson even today people associate it with good gardens. My husband carries on the tradition and grows beautiful orchids, begonias and fuschias. He also provides most of our vegetables using hydroponic methods. He Is Secretary//Treasurer of the New Zealand Hydroponic Growers Association. He is also a Pharmacist and we own our own business where I also work as a dispensary Technician.
Your get together sounded most interesting and if you have copies of the talks given I would love to have a copy.
I would be interested to receive your newsletter and who knows perhaps one day we will see how our families all fit together. I have always enjoyed puzzles and I think that is why I enjoy genealogy so much, there s always a missing piece to look for.
My main interest is of course in my own family and I search for all references to the name Rentoul/Rin-toul/Rantoul the latter being the spelling that most of the American branch uses although they came from Rintoul In Scotland. I am related to the American branch.
It was great to hear from you and I look forward to receiving your next newsletter.
Regards, Pam BlIncoe, Hamilton, New Zealand
[Why don’t we P have a Blincoe gathering in New Zealand? – Helen]
Dear Helen, 7 May 1988
Very many thanks for your note and the enclosed BLIN COE/BLENCOW family newsletter. What a wonderful achievement! I was most interested in Don’s comments on the Battle of Crecy[2] (26 Aug. 1 346) and Adam’s part in it. I know its a family legend, but I have never found proof that Adam was actually at Crecy. That he was squire. standard-bearer, steward, Ballif or held some position of trust in the household of the Baron of Greystoke is ob- vlous from the Inquisition post mortem of the Baron who left Adam 100 shillings per annum for the rest of his life to be charged on the estate of Greystoke (l. This must have been for services rendered, loyalty and honesty.
When Ed.lll sailed for France he did not take his northern lords with him as that would have weakened the defence of the border with Scotland and In fact. the Battle of Neville’s Cross[4] 17 Oct. 1346 proves this point. George Wrottesley in his book Crecy and Calais[2], published 1898 gives details of the army before Calais and adds “this army had been reinforced by the retinue of the Earls of Lancaster, Pembroke and others … and the northern lords such as Lord Lucy the Baron of Greystoke did not join the army before Calais until the defeat of the Scots at Neville’s Cross”. I would be interested to know if Don has found other evidence of Adam’s participation at Crecy.
Re your James S. who settled In Virginia In 1671. James was not a common family name at that time. The only suitable one I have on record Is BUNCOWE, James of London. Father John, mother Mary, grandmother Temperance who as a widow married Giles Rowl s. She left a will proved 4 Feb. 1653, PROB 111236-155. wherein she mentions 6 grandchildren, children of her son John Blincowe; Temperance; Symon; Hellen; John; James and Mary. They received L50 each to be paid on attaining the age of 21.
Symon’s will proved 6.11.1665. PROB 111318-137 left James 20 shillings to buy him a ring, i.e. a mourning ring. Symon was a goldsmith of London, unmarried.
Best wishes. Jill Dudbridge. London.
Dear Ed. 11 June 1988
Your phone call was most exciting and I have written a few words as per the enclosed. We did not discuss the topic on which you wanted me to write a few lines, so have combined a series of facts.
As I mentioned In my letter to your sister Helen, I am Intrigued by James B. who settled In Virginia in 1671. If there is any other snippet of Information on him it may help to pinpoint him at this end.
1671 is after the Restoration of Charles 11, true also after the plague and fire of London. In London there was a flurry of building new houses which had to be of brick or stone, no wood was allowed in town. There was religious toleration In comparison to the Cromwellian years. The country desired to live in peace. What took James overseas?
Best wishes, Jill Dudbridge.
NOTES FROM HELEN
First.. I want to apologize to two of our correspondents for mistakingly crediting articles in the last newsletter. The article “The First Known Bookie Blincoe” was from James Lee BlIncoe of Virginia. The ‘Will of Maryann Hardes ty” was researched by Melvin and Peggy Blincoe of Charlottesville, VA.
We get a tremendous burst of enthusiasm from letters like the ones enclosed. Did you know that General- Is now rated as the #1 hobby In the US? The letter from Karen shows how many other BlIncoe descendants there must be who come from the female lines. Contacting “Blincoes” Is pretty straightforward., but how do we find all the ones like Karen and I who have married and can no longer be identified as Blincoes? You see, it’s all up to you!
You may notice a new format to this issue. My daughter gave me a new “desktop publishing program” for the computer and I have been trying to learn it. Computers can be very stub born when you want to do things they don’t want to do and you are not ready to do the things they do want to do. As always, any comments – pro or con are appreciated.
Bob, my husband, retired the end of April and we have been home about three weeks since then. One of our trips Included Denver Where Ed and I spent some time in the library going over some microfilms he had received from the Virginia State Library. These were microfilms of wills, deeds, and land records for Virginia. We just touched the tip of the iceberg as there are several hundred of these reels and we looked at six. I also spent considerable time doing research on Bob’s Simpson and Pringle lines in his home town of Tribune, KS.
The end of summer, we will be taking our teenage grandchildren from San Jose on a trip to Montana to visit our daughter In Whitefish and our son in MoMinneville, OR. Perhaps we can swing through southern Idaho. Then, in the fall we will be in New Orleans and Disney World, Florida We have been fortunate to be able to take many trips while we were working but now they can become longer.
We sent out 147 newsletters In February. Many were new names which had been referred. We try to send each new referral one complimentary letter and then must remove them from the list if we do not hear from them. Generally, we keep correspondents on the complimentary mailing list. Al-though, we do not like to lose a single reader, we must assume they are no longer interested when we do not hear from them for a couple of years. If there is a “C” on your label it indicates you are receiving a complimentary copy. However, it is possible that I might make a mistake in keeping the records. I have never been famous for my bookkeeping. I even had someone also keep accounts for the Girl Scouts when I was the leader. Our mailing list seems to remain around 120.
In the last newsletter, I sent a random mailing of postcards to be filled out and returned. I am happy to report that almost one-third of those receiving the cards replied. Thank you. Be sure to mark your calendar for the CALIFORNIA REUNION on October 13, 14, 15. 1989. There will be more details In the next newsletter. Virginia. are you listening?
LETS GET TOGETHER
OCTOBER 13, 14, 15 , 1989
SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA
We are planning a reunion in the San Francisco/Sacramento area. We welcome suggestions, help, encouragement. Hold the dates and we will see you then. Send us names and addresses of Blincoe descendants.
THOUGHTS FROM ENGLAND
by Jill Dudbridge
Genealogy came to me through fire, fury and pain. Fire because of our Importer’ business in Managua. Nicaragua, burnt to the ground during the Sandinista take over in July 1978. Fury, for I am anti-communist and also was opposed to the Somoza regime, yet In replacing his dictatorship by the despotic Sandinista hierarchy, the country jumped out of the political caldron onto a national funeral pyre.
But perhaps Latin America Is not ready for democracy nor will be for many decades. Pain, a deep pain, 20 years research on a particular aspect of Latin American history went up in flames. So I turned to genealogy for consolation.
Like most Blencowes – or any of the variant spellings – I was brought up on the legend that Adam de Blencow, of Blencow, Cumberland, served at the Battle of Crecy (26.8.1346) as the Baron of Greystoke’s standard-bearer, Ridel, a Scot, had been dead a good many years. His sons, also Scots living in Scotland were not allowed to inherit lands in England by the English law of the time, so the property was without a claimant.
Another curious fact. The Cumberland Subsidies of 1332 levied by Ed. III to raise money for the Exchequer or were taxes of the 15th and 10th on all moveable belongings. Adam owned goods to the value of £4. 19s in Greystoke, and 16 shillings 4 pence in Skelton. His but I have failed to find proof of this belief and even that the Baron was at Crecy. At this time the Scots – allied with France – constantly menaced the borderland with England after their overwhelming victory at Bannockburn [6] in 1314. Ed.Ill did not draw on his northern Lords to augment his force for the invasion of France so that when the Scots under their King David II, who was taken prisoner, marched south, they were completely decimated at Neville’s Cross (17.10.1346). It seems highly probable the Baron of Greystoke participated in this battle and surely with him, his trusted servant Adam de Blencow.
After Crecy, Edward arrived before Calais. Immediately full preparations for an extensive siege of the fortified town began; streets and houses constructed, with markets, stalls and shops supplying all the necessities for the dally life of the besieging army. The neighbourhood was plundered and looted to replenish food stocks and to entertain the troops as was the custom of the time. The Baron Greystoke joined the army before Calais after the Battle of Neville’s Cross.
Dated 30.1.1348 Westminister, Patent Rolls, Adam received a pardon ‘for his good services in Gascony[7] in the company of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, of the King’s suit for all felonies and trespas ses in Cumberland[8] before the passage of the Earl to the said part, whereof he Is appealed, and of any consequent outlawries”. These trespasses were the granting of the lands of John Rldel in the hamlets of Newbiggin and Blencow, to Adam by the Baron of Greystoke, without having paid the corresponding fine (fee) in the hanaper (the King’s Treasury). John name doesn’t figure on the list for the will of Blencow. He only acquired this land when he took over the lands of John Ridel. And so Adam found his way Into Burke’s Landed Gentry of England.
I have traced my own family from Devizes, Willshire[9], my father, Sidney Blencowe, M.I.C.E., and Grandfather, Harry Blencowe, were born, to Bath, Somerset[10] birthplace of my great grandfather, Henry Blencowe, to Westminister, London, where my great, great, great grandfather, John Blen- cow, leased two properties, one his abode and the other his bakery, In Chandler Street, which no longer ex- ists; it has been absorbed by Grosvenor Square, where now stands the American Embassy. Luckily he left a will, naming his two sons, Walter and Joseph. It was Joseph who left London at the beginning of the 19th century and set up in Bath as a boot and shoemaker.
In a letter from a great aunt of mine to my father dated In the 1920’s she states she was under the impression her great grandfather John of Chandler Street, London, came from Brackley, Northamptonshire[11] If true, this is the branch descended from Adam’s third son John, who In the 1400s established themselves around Marston Saint Lawrence, Nothamptonshire[12], and were probably tenants of Priory of Shene in Surrey. At the dissolutions of the Monasteries, 1537, Thomas Blin- cow purchased the manor and manor farm from Henry Vlll for L180, see his Inquisition Post Mortem, identically, a frugal and thrifty husbandman to have possessed that amount of ready coinage for Henry would never have accepted paper. Ingot we trust.
In the one- name research I have on cards over 2.000 Blencowes of all spellings, photocopies and extracts of wills, Indentures and other various manuscripts; also births, marriages and deaths registered at Saint Catherine’s from Inception 1837 to 1900; the I.G.I.s for all counties of England augmented by extracts from parish registers and other data taken from a variety of sources.
If I can be of assistance to anyone please contact me giving as many details as possible and I will see If I have any information recorded.
Jill Dudbridge, London, England
MAP OF ENGLAND
[1] Windsor, about :0 miles west of London
[2] CRECY and CALAIS towns located in Northwestern France.
[3] GREYSTOKE ‘STOVE 5 miles west of Penrith, England
[4] NEVILLE’S CROSS, the Scots were defeated at Neville’s C=ross near Durham, by Henry Percy and Ralph Neville during a bit. tie between the English and the Scots, 17 Oct 1346, in which David Bruce, King of Scotland. friendly to France invaded England as a result of Edward III’s conquests in Normandy
[5] BLENCOW, 1 mile NE of Greystoke.
[6] BANNOCKBURN, about 2 1/2 miles southeast of Stirling, Scotland
[7] GASCONY, Province in Southwestern France
[8] CUMBERLAND, a Shire in Northwestern Aberystwyth England, Area now known as Cumbria
[9] DEVIZE, 13 miles east of Bath
[10] BATH, 104 miles west of London
[11] BRACKLEY, 65 miles northwest of London
[12] MARSTON ST. LAWRENCE 12 miles northwest of Brackley
[13] THOBY PRIORY. ESSEX. I couldn’t find Thoby Priory, but Essex is a Shire about 30 miles northeast of London
[14] THE HOOKE, SUSSEX, I don’t know about The Hooke. but Sussex is a Shire on the coast south of London
“HERE I AM !!”
Dear Mrs. SImpson March 13,1988
Peggy June Horton Blincoe & Don BlIncoe of Jacksonville, Fla each told me of you. Peggy sent me a copy of the Blincoe Newsletter Vol 3 No 1 and on page 6 some research was done by Tom Spalding about Sampson BlIncoe who married Mary S Jones on March 21, 1808.
Well, I am descended from Sampson BlIncoe & Martha Smith (Mary) Jones’ daughter Mary Smith Blincoe. Mary Smith Blincoe married August 9, 1836 to Rev. Wiliam Norvell Wqrd and had 12 children. Their daughter Edmonia Karr Ward married November 21, 1876 to Dr. Pearson Chapman, Jr. The later two were my great grandparents.
I noticed at the end of Tam Spalding’s research you state that you are not aware of any living descendants of Sampson. WELL, HERE I AM!!! Enclosed are some pedigree charts and a Family Group Chart to show you family from my 2 children to Sampson & hIs father & grandfather. Don Blincoe & I are 6th cousins once removed. He is related through Benjamin Blincoe, one of Sampson’s brothers.
I am just thrilled to find you and Peggy & Don. I have been researching for the past 2 years on the Blincoe name & the Ward name. I hope to hear from you soon & If there Is any other information you need I will try to help. And I am Interested in your reunion In 1989!!
Karen Chapman Harrison, Beileview FL
Letter from Ed
Dear Helen (#200) 1 July 1988
You might want to use this letter In the next newsletter. It will provide me the opportunity to thank numerous family members, acknowledge the receipt of letters and hopefully provide some Interesting reading.
I now have three new grandchildren – twins in Atlanta and one In Alaska. While returning from Alaska in April, I stayed a couple of nights with John T. Blincoe, #273, and family in Issaquah. WA. John was born In Dayon. OH. He Is a heavy construction contractor in the Seattle area and we visited several of his construction sites.
John loaned me his car which provided the opportunity to visit George BlIncoe, #360, our 2nd cousin who was born In Hiattvillle, KS. George came to the Seattle area about 1906 at age five. I spent a night with George In Marysville, WA and visited his two daughters, Roberta Winter, #348, and Joan Hordyk, #349, who live In the area. Thanks to each one and their mates for a most enjoyable visit. While with them, it seemed as though they were old friends not newly located family members. I also visited Debra Cooke King, #332, In Seattle. She told me that her grandmother, Regina Tatum Cooke, #262, had a stroke in Santa Fe, NM. It was nice to meet Debra and best wishes to Regina. — wife, Betty, visited Regina in June. I left a message on Walker (Bud) Blincoes,#177, phone recorder in Seattle.
I spent a night with James Lee Blincoe, #19, in Spotsylvanla, VA. Sorry we didn’t have time to knock around doing some research. Thanks, Jim. Jim told me his grandfather, Warren Douglas Blincoe, #178, had moved to one of the Carolinas. Hope someone sends us his new address.
Don Blincoe, #33, Jacksonville, FL sent me a couple of lengthy letters. He discussed the Mark Blincoes of 1600 era. Don believes there were four Marks. He also believes that George W. BlIncoe, our great-great-grandfather was the son of Thomas (4) and Lettlce of Northumberland/Loudon Counties, VA. Bro. Tom Spalding, #261, has written a couple of times with Interesting Info. He’s spending the summer In Baltimore at 303J.N Chapel Gate Lane, 21229. Our sister, Elizabeth Flournoy, #192, sent the names and addresses of Blincoes in various towns In New Zealand, which she obtained from phone books during her recent trip there. Our 1st cousins Carl, Woodrow, and Ruth Jacobson sent Family Group Sheets on their families. Cousin Wilma Jacobson Talbot, #203, sent some old BlIncoe pictures. Thanks to each of you for your letters and information. I’ll be touch.
While in Atlanta In June, I gave Margaret BlIncoe Lacy, #266, the 1850 Census record of Edward Blinco, PA, Washington County, East Pike Township; occupation, colyer (colIier), age 26; birthplace, VA; and D Blinco, age 22, birthplace, England. It appears likely this is the great-grandfather of the Cherokee County, KS Blincoes. If this Is the case, Margaret said It would “explode the myth about her great-grandfather”. [“What little I know was that my great- grandfather came over from England as a 7 year old. He landed In Virginia, but did not stay there. He was an orphan and some family brought him to live with them (he was not ,adopted’). They moved to Pennsylvania well before the Civil War. – from a letter bv Homer Blincoe. #72. brother to Margaret. dated 9 Dec 1986]
I understand Michael Wayne BlIncoe. #138, Is moving from Hopewell, VA to Fredrickburg, VA this summer. Address?
If the Louisville, KY Blincoes are planning a get-together In 1989, we’d sure like to hear about it.
I must close and get to filing, answerIng letters, etc.
Love, Ed, #44
+ + BLENCOWE/BLINCOE COAT OF ARMS
by Bro. Thomas Spalding
The shield Is red except for square (quarter) at the top left. which Is silver. The dagger’s handle Is gold, its blade and the heart is red. The wings are silver. The wreath is silver and red. If there is mantling (sae arms at the end), it Is also silver and red.
The motto is: QUORSUM VIVERE MORI, MORI VITAE.
The heraldic description is, Gu., a quarter arg. Crest– A sword in pale, arg. hilt in chief or enfiladed with a human heart gu., all between two wings expanded arg.
The coat of arms, Fig. 1, is taken from one that appears in the Harleian Society Publications Visitatlon of Northampton-shire 1681 (p. 19). In that one, however, the Blencowe arms is quartered with that of the Walleston family. whose heiress a Blincoe married. I have eliminated the quartering. Compare Fig. I wIth the sketch, Fla. 2. of the arms and motto carved In stone above the main entrance of Blencowe Hall near Blencow Village in Cumbria (Cumberland).
The sketch is make from a photo taken by Bob and Helen SImpson. I have sketched the arms, motto, etc. as they appear in the photo. The Henry Blencowe (Henricus Blencow) whose name is carved with the arms was twice sheriff of the county of Cumberland and was in 1617 knighted by King James, according to Burke’s Landed Gentry of 1858. He was a descendant of Adam de Blencowe (as are possibly all Blencowes, Blincoes, Blyncos, etc. ).
I have not yet discovered when these particular arms were granted. In the edition of Burke’s Landed Gentry mentioned above It Is stated:
‘Adam De Blencowe distinguished himself in the French Wars in the reign of Edward Ill.. under the banner of William, Baron Greystoke, who granted arms to him and his heirs by the following warrent: ‘To all to whom these presents shall come to be seen or heard: William, Baron of Greystoke. Lord of Morpeth, wisheth health In the Lord: Know ye. that I have given and granted to Adam de Blencowe an escutcheon sable, with a bend closetted (or barred) argent and azure, with three chaplets pules; and with a crest closetted, argent and azure, of my arms; to have and to hold to the said Adam, and his heirs. the arms aforesaid: In witness whereof, I have to these letters patent set my seal. Written at the castle of Morpeth, the 26th day of February, In the 30th year of the reign of King Edward ill., after the Conquest [1357]’.”
One has only to compare this description to the previous heraldic description to see that this was not the shield (escutcheon) and crest borne by the Blencowes at a later date.
A.G. Bradley, in The Highways and Byways of the Lake Dlstrlct, pp 70-71, says concerning Blencowe Hall; “The Blencowe of that period [unnamed but obviously Adam] so distinguished him self at Poitiers that he was allowed to bear the Greystoke arms, and Blencowes were here till the beginning of the century, when the Howards absorbed them…. They were connections of Lady Jane Grey, and over the door is carved the egnigmatic sentence, “vivere morl, vivere vitae,” which some think was an allusion to that unhappy lady.’
This quote Is a good example of the unreliability of romaticized legend. There Is no mention of the fact that the arms above the door bear no resemblance to the Greystoke [or Greystock] arms. True, the Blencows were at Blencowe Hail till the beginning of the century but the nineteenth century. They sold Blencowe Hall In 1802. The author, moreover, Is apparently unaware that the sentence he misquotes was the motto of the Blencowes: ‘Quorsum vivere mori, mori viae,’ of which more below. And the connection with Lady Jane Grey was very remote and probably much after the motto was chosen. Sir Henry’s grandfather married Winifred Dudley, who was a second cousin once removed of the Guilford Dudley who married the unfortunate Lady Jane. But I hope to go into some of this In another Instalment on the Blencowes.
The Latin scholars I have consulted are puzzled by the motto. Literally it means ‘To what purpose to live to die, to die of life.’ A freer translation might be; ‘One must live to die, to die from living.’ But this Is not my last word on the motto.
The 1858 edition of Burke’s Landed Gentry gives this description for the arms of the Blencowes of Blencowe and Thoby Priory. “1st, Blencow, gu., a quarter erg. 2nd, Greystoke, augmentation with a difference. 3rd, Laton Dalemain. 4th, Prescott.’ The third and fourth were quarterings from later marriages. The first two suggest that Adam de Blencowe had a coat of arms before being granted that of the Greystokes. The 1858 edition also says concerning the crest of the Blencowe arms; ‘A legend In the family refers this curious crest to the circumstance that, In the Border wars [with Scotland], a Blencowe, whose crest was a sword, having slain a Douglas (no small honor In those days), was permitted to unite It In the present form, the the bleeding heart of the Douglas” (p.146). If so, this would have been before 1462, when the Earls of Douglas, rivals to the Scot- tish royal house of Stewart. were final ly reduced, but by the King of Scotland, who confiscated their lands, and not the English.
Besides the Blencowes of Thoby Priory of EssexI[13], there were also prominent Blencowe families In Marston St. Lawrence In Northamptonshire tons hire[ [12] and The Hooke In Sussex[14]. All of these claimed the original coat of arms of the Blencowes of Blencowe in Cumber- land but with the quarterings of other families with whom they Intermarried. Accounts of these several branches can be found In different editions of Burke’s Landed Gentry. which make clear that they were all branches of the original Blencowes of Blencowe who came to prominence in the 14th century with Adam de Blencowe, of whom I hope to have something to say In another Instalment. Most of these families returned to the primitive or simple arms of the Blencowes (without quarterings) as the one In Fig. 3 taken from a later edition of Burke’s Landed Gentry for the Blencowes of the Hooke Indicate.