The Hissem-Montague Family
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The Hissem-Montague Family
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This page records the Heysham family in the midland-counties of Cheshire, Shrophsire, Staffordshire, Derby, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincoln, Herefordshire, Worcester, Warwick, Northampton, Rutland, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshie, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
Settlement in Cheshire by members of the Heysham family probably occurred as early as the 13th century, afterall I have references to them living in Bath circa 1290 and in York no later than 1349. However, the earliest references I have found so far for the famly in Cheshire are from 1472. A large number of Heesom's continue to live in Cheshire to this day.
| The County of Cheshire
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Thomas is an outlyer. Per the reference below he lived in Pulford, in Cheshire, on the river Dee, at the boundary with Wales. None of the other Heyshams of Cheshire below lived so far west.
"1472. Elizabeth Dutton, wife of Peter Dutton, . . . writ of livery setting forth the finding of an inquisition, viz., . . . ; of 4 messuages, 2 tofts, 80 acres of land, 8 acres of meadow, and 10 acres of pasture, in the several tenures of John Feysand, Madd'ap Gruff, Laurence Huett, clerk, Nicholas Jacson, John Hulle, David ap Grono, and Thomas Hessam, in Pulford, also of a 6th part of 2 fields called 'le Holdfild' and 'le Halfild,' held of the earl of Chester in capite, by knight's service, yearly value 40s.;" - from the "Memorials of the Duttons of Dutton in Cheshire"At about this time William Hesam, or Hesham, of Lancaster was serving as a juror at the inquisition of the death of William de Bolleran. (14) John Heysam of Norton Abbey (c1500)
In 1536 a member of the Dutton family above, Sir Piers Dutton, received a letter from Henry VIII in regard to the King's dispute with the Augustinian priory of Norton, near Runcorn, Cheshire. It was at this time that the King, having split from the church at Rome over his divorce from Queen Catherine, saw a chance to seize church property in order to enrich his court and replenish his treasury. The King directed that Sir Dutton arrest the abbot and hang him for his offenses. Is is not clear what crimes the letter referred to, but in 1535 Sir Dutton had accused the Abbot of coining [illegally minting coins].
"On 26 August 1535, evidence was taken from one Henry Broke, gentleman, about coining at Norton. He alleged that Robert Jannyns and James Pate, a canon of Norton, had tried to change forged coins in his presence in 1534. It was stated that John Heysam, the abbot of Norton's smith, had fled." - from "Norton Priory: The Archaelogy of a Medieval Religious House" by J. Patrick GreeneThe accusation of coining was undoubtedly spurious, but John Heysam would nevertheless been in great danger. Common men were routinely tortured to coerce false testimony against their lords.
Henry VIII dissolved all of the abbey's in the following year, 1536. The Brooke family later bought Norton priory, probably at a bargain price, and made it their seat. Note that Norton means north. Also within Runcorn are Weston (west), Aston (east), and Sutton (south).
The John Heseham mentioned next may have been the abbey blacksmith. The time period was only one year after the abbey's smith had fled and Sir Piers Dutton plays a central role again. In a letter written to Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor, on 23 September 1536, Sir Dutton addresses the arrest of a John Heseham for treason.
"Please it your honourable lordship, that where heretofore the king's pleasure was by your commandment given unto me that I should take certain persons for suspect of treason, amongst whom one John Heseham was named and specified which John at that time fled out of this country that I could not meet with him and now is coming in again. And I therefore not only for that but also for divers traitorous and seditious words that he hath spoken, which was that if the spiritual men had holden together the king could not have been head of the church, and also that the bishop of Rochester and sir Thomas Moore died martyrs in the quarrel aforesaid. I have taken him and committed him to the castle of Chester, there to abide unto the king's pleasure and your's thereabout shall be ever glad to accomplish during my life, by the grace of our lord God who preserve your good lordship in honour long to continue. From Dutton the 23rd day of September (1536?) by yours assured." - from the "Memorials of the Duttons of Dutton in Cheshire"Note that like the smith, John Heseham also fled, though he later returned. Were John Heysam and John Heseham the same man? Did the smith utter traitorous words after, or at the time of, fleeing the abbey? Were his unwise words the result of seeing his good master arrested on spurious charges? Or, was this just another set-up?
As of yet I have found no indication of what happened to John Heysam/Heseham after his imprisonment.
| Heysham's in Religious Orders
(14) Laurence Hessam (c1510)
A clergyman, Laurence was ordained at Chester cathedral. Under the titles Subdiaconi and later Diaconi, as Circa 1542. "Dns [Dominus] Laurencius Hessam cestrien. dioc. subdiaconus ad tim [ad titulum] Mri Petri Warberton de Arleye [Arlleye] dict. dioc. mitis [ministerium?]" - from the "Ordination Register of the Dioceses of Chester"A translation might be, "Clergyman Lawrence Hessam of the Diocese of Chester, subdeacon ordained in the field of service, [under the patronage of?] ____ Peter Warberton of Arley, in the service of the named diocese." In another part of this book, under the title Presbri [presbyter], circa 1558, his name was rendered as Laurencius Hesshim. I believe Presbri here was used as an honorific for priest. The Diocese of Chester, of the Anglican church, was created in 1541 out of the ancient Diocese of Lichfield. It originally included all of Chester and Lancashire, the western portion of Yorkshire, and the southern parts of Westmorland and Cumberland. Peter Warberton de Arley, esquire, was one of the grandees of Cheshire and was probably a patron of the church. In 1535 Sir Peter Warberton, esquire, took a case in the Henry VIII's Star Chamber. I have a Sr. Peter Warberton, Knight and Justice of the Peace, and a Peter Warberton de Arley Esqr. with houses in Northwich, Cheshire circa 1600. A Peter Warberton, Esq., was Baron of the Exchequer - from "Catalogue of Noblemen and Gentlemen in the Commission of the Peace for Berkshire, 1601." (14) Robertus Heisham (c1520)Robert was the minister (parochie) of Weuerham, a village in Cheshire. "Thos. Underwood v. Ellen Key. To cancel Affiliation |
| Sacred Orders of the Catholic Church
The number of orders it is usually given as eight: bishops, priests, deacons, subdeacons, acolytes, exorcists, readers, and doorkeepers.
Subdeacon, Subdiaconi - The lowest of the sacred or major orders in the Latin Church. He may carry the chalice with wine to the altar, prepare the necessaries for the Eucharist, and read the Epistles before the people. After ordination, he is bound to celibacy. Deacon, Diaconi - He may minister at the altar, baptize, perform burial, and preach. He is also an assistant to the Bishop. Priest - He has the responsibility of teaching, governing, and providing the Sacraments in a given congregation. Presbyter & Bishop, Presbyteroi and Episkopoi - The presbyter and the bishop were initially closely related, even synonomous. Later the presbyter became identified as a senior or elder priest. The Bishop was an ecclesiastical dignitary who possessed the fullness of the priesthood to rule a diocese as its chief pastor. They appoint, ordain, and discipline priests and deacons. |
The majority of the family that settled in Cheshire did so in Halton, the seat of the old Barony of Halton, and the villages northeast, up the Mersey river; Runcorn, Widnes, Norton, Daresbury, Keckwick, Hatton, Stretton, Wilderspool, and Latchford. See The Baron's of Halton for the story of the barony. They also settled in villages to the south and east; Frodsham, Budworth, Davenham and Middlewich. Old Gernet/Heysham sites, such as Speke and Garston, are just north and west of the Mersey.
| Townships of Cheshire
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Rhot Heesom, a male child, was born in about 1552 in Cheshire, England; no parents' names were shown. The name Rhot is apparently germanic in origin, meaning fame or renown, i.e. Rhotbert, "light of fame." This name became Robert. Of the few references I've found, most are Welsh.
(16) Margaret Heisum of Frodsham (c1560)Margaret Heisum married Tho Johnson on 17 September 1582 in Frodsham, Cheshire, England. Frodsham is just south of Runcorn. A quick Google search shows that Heisum is a Norwegian surname, though I don't propose that means anything.
(19) Richard Heysam of Runcorn (c1670)Of Runcorn. Rici. Heysam married Sarae. The Heysam spelling of the surname is also seen in Dorset & Lancashire at this time.
(20) Maria Heysam of Runcorn (1700)The daugther of Rici. Heysham and Sarae. Maria Heysam was born on 10 February 1700 and christened on 16 March in All Saints church, Runcorn, Cheshire, England.
This is a small village in Halton parish, just east of Runcorn and Norton, up the Mersey river. The local All Saints' church serves Daresbury, Hatton, Keckwick, Moore, Newton by Daresbury, and Preston on the Hill. The village's claim to fame is as the birthplace of Lewis Carroll, the author. Downriver from Halton, at the Birkenhead Priory, founded by Hamo de Mascy circa 1150, there is a gargoyle in the form of a grinning cat that some feel was the origin of Carrol's Cheshire Cat.
Interestingly, the Heesham/Heesam spelling of the name appears to have disappeared quickly in Cheshire, to be replaced by Heesom.
(21) Edward Heesham (1722)Edward is known through the baptismal records of his daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth. Conceivably the son or grandson of (19) Richard Heysam (c1670) of Runcorn, Cheshire. Edward married Margaret. The following was copied by Stephen Pickles from a tombstone in the churchyard of Daresbury All Saints' Church.
"In memory of Edward Hessom of Newton who departed this life ...There are two Newtons in the vicinity, but this was probably Newton by Daresbury vice Newton by Frodsham. Stephen writes, "This headstone is damaged. Ellipses indicates missing text. We are tempted to identify this Edward with your (21) Edward Heesham (c1730), who married Margaret. We suggest that the marriage recorded in the Runcorn registers between Edward Hesham and Margaret Jones (16 Nov 1747, by license) may be theirs." At Stephen's website he also notes that "It [the headstone] might have been more complete during the 1970's, because a transcription made then reads as follows:
Feb 1810 Aged 88. ...
Margarett ... who departed ... Sept..."
"In memory of Edward Hesson [[sic]] of Newton
who departed this life 16th Feb 1810 aged 88.
Margaret [[sic]] his wife who departed this life 18 Sep 1806 aged 83.
An adjacent headstone was for Thomas Hessom (1795) of Norton which may help confirm his relationship as Edward's grandson.
The children of Edward Heesham and Margaret Jones were,
(22) William Heesham (c1750), perhaps
(22) John Heesham (c1750), perhaps
(22) Margaret Heesam, who was christened on 25 March 1759 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(22) Elizabeth Heesham, who was christened on 12 July 1761 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(22) Elizabeth Heesham, who was christened on 17 July 1763 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. A Betty Heesham was the mother of (23) Nancy Heesham, who was christened on 20 January 1793 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. No father was named so I assume this was an illegitimate birth.
Or Heasham. He could be the son of Edward - he's in the right place at the right time. William Heesham married Hannah. Stephen Pickles continues, "Like you, we think it not unlikely that William, husband of Hannah and father of Thomas, was a son of Edward and Margaret. It's also possible, although a little far afield, that the marriage of William and Hannah may be the one recorded on 6 Apr 1790 at St Mary's, Great Budworth [Cheshire] between William Hissom and Hannah Plant; if so, then Hannah would have been showing on her wedding day.
The children of William and Hannah were,
(23) John Heesham was christened on 25 July 1790 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(23) Edward Heesham was christened on 28 October 1792 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(23) Thomas Heesom (1795)
(23) William Heesham, "son of William and Hannah Hesham of Halton, Farmer," was christened on 25 February 1798 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England - Daresbury All Saints' register.
(23) Hannah Heesham was christened on 23 September 1800 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. Mother not named. Stephen Pickles comes up with "The baptism "Hannah Daughter of William and Hannah Heesham of Hatton Farmer Bapd. 29th Day [of August 1800]". Hannah's mother _is_ named." I'm not sure of his source here.
William Heesham married Betty, probably early in 1801. This could easily be a second marriage if we assume Hannah died in 1800. Stephen Pickles helpfully confirms this with: "Hannah wife of William Heesham of Hatton died 25th [September 1800], inter'd 28th [September 1800] aged 43 years." Also confirmed by "The monumental inscription for William Hessom of Moore. This confirms your theory that marriage of William and Betty, probably early in 1801, was the second marriage of William (c1760). By cross checking with death indexes, we should also be able to get more precise birth years for William and Betty."
Williams tombstone, from Stephen Pickles' website:
"Here lies the body of William Hesson of Moore
died 23 August (1840?) aged 83
Hannah wife of William He[sson [[sic]] of] Hatton
who departed this life (25?) Sept 1800 aged (4-?)
Hannah their daughter who departed this life 30th March 1801 aged (6m?)
George son of William and Betty Hessom second wife of William
(R.-d 21 June 1801 aged 15 months).
The children of William and Betty were,
(23) John Heesham was christened on 11 October 1801 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. This would presume that the John Heesham born in 1790 died young.
(23) James Heesham was christened on 10 November 1805 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(23) George Heesham was christened on 10 April 1808 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(23) Margarett Heesham was christened on 15 July 1810 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
(23) Joseph Heesham was christened on 19 April 1812 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
Thomas Heesham was christened on 1 March 1795 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England, the son of William and Hannah Heesham.
Thomas Heesham married Mary Jones on 28 December 1814 in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. Interestingly, Stephen Pickles notes that the marriage certificate was filled out as Heesham, but was signed as Hessam. Stephen also has the following.
"My wife and I have been researching the ancestry of her mother, a Hessom from Liverpool, England. We've traced it back to Thomas Hessom/Heesham of Norton (1795-1848) with a high degree of confidence. Here it begins to intersect with the information on your page "Heyshams in the Midlands" . . . [Note: You can check Stephen's work by searching on Thomas Hessom (1795) in Ancestry.com's Public Member family trees, at Hessom-Daresbury, or at Genes Reunited.]
We believe that that the following are one and the same person:
1. Thomas, son of William Heesham and Hannah christened on 1 March 1795 in Daresbury.
2. Thomas Heesham, Labourer, who married Mary Jones in Runcorn parish on 28 Feb 1814.
3. Thomas Hessom who married Ann Lamb in Runcorn parish on 12 Mar 1837.
4. The Thomas Heesom, husband of Mary, who fathered John (1815), Catharine (1817), Mary (1820), Thomas (1823), and James (1826), which children were baptised at St Mary's, Halton, then a chapel of ease in Runcorn parish. His abode is variously given as Halton and Norton. Norton is half way between Halton and Daresbury.
5. The Thomas Hessom, labourer, husband of Ann, who fathered William (1837), Edward (1839) and George (1841), which children were baptised at St Mary's Halton. His abode is given respectively as Norton, Halton, Norton.
6. The Thomas Hessom of the 6 Jun 1841 census for Norton, an agricultural labourer apparently aged 40 (although ages were rounded down in the 1841 census to the nearest multiple of 5 years, he would actually have been 46 on census night, by our reckoning). In his household were Ann (40), Mary (15), James (14), William (3), and Edward (2).
. . .
We have a photograph of an embroidery sampler by Thomas' daughter Catharine Hessom "made in the 12th year of her age 1830", now in the possession of a descendant of John Hessom (1814).
Yesterday, we were fortunate to stumble across the Thomas' headstone in the churchyard of Daresbury All Saints' [Stephen's photograph is at left]. It reads:
"In memory of Thomas Hessom of Norton. . .
who died August 4th 1848 aged 53 years.
Ann his wife.
Forgive blest shade the tributary tear
That mourns thy exit from a world like this
Forgive the wish that would have kept thee here
And stay'd thy progress from the realms of bliss"
All these various spellings lead me to suspect that, at least in Cheshire around 1800, the surname may have been pronounced HEES-HAM (with a sibiliant S and an H that was easily dropped) rather than HEE-SHAM, as the residents of Heysham today pronounce the name of their town (and have done so, they say, for at least 150 years). People in the North West without close ties to the town pronounce it, in their ignorance, HAY-SHAM.
We now have the death certificate of Thomas Hessom (of the first headstone). It's a typewritten (or printed) transcript from the original registers at Halton. It has:-When and where died: Eighth August 1848 [this is four days different from the headstone]
-Name: Thomas Heesom
-Sex: Male
-Age: 53 years
-Occupation: Labourer
-CoD: Accidentally killed falling from a loaded cart
-Informant: Henry Churton Coroner Chester
-Registered: Twenty fifth September 1848 "
In the 1841 census of Norton, Cheshire as Thomas Hessom [Hessome in Ancestry.com], a 40 year old agricultural laborer. Living with him were his wife, Ann, 40, and children, Mary, 15, James, 14 (1827), William, 3 (1838), and Edward, 2 (1839). Stephen Pickles identifies Mary as Ann Lamb's sister, not her daughter. See Mary Lamb in the 1851 census below.
In the 1851 cenus of Norton, Cheshire as Ann Heesom, a 51 year old widow and laundress, of Halton. Living with her were her children, Mary Lamb, 27, of Halton, and William, 13, Edward, 11, and George, 9, of Norton.
The children of Thomas Heesham and Mary Jones were,
(24) John Heesom (1815)
(24) Catharine Heesom (1817), christened on 19 October 1817 in Halton, Cheshire, England.
(24) Mary Heesom (1820), christened on 6 February 1820 in Halton, Cheshire, England
(24) Thomas Heesom (1823)
(24) James Heesom (1826), all baptised at St Mary's, Halton, then a chapel of ease in Runcorn parish.
A Mary Heesham of Norton parish, Runcorn, was buried on 6 January 1834. This may have been Mary Jones. Thomas then married Ann Lamb. Thomas Heesom married Ann and/or Thomas Hessom married Ann Lamb on 12 March 1837 in Runcorn, Cheshire, England.
The children of Thomas Hessom and Ann Lamb were,
(24) William Hessom (1837), christened on 13 August 1837 in Halton, Cheshire, England, of Thomas Hessom and Ann
(24) William Heesom (1837)
(24) Edward Hessom (1839), christened on 2 June 1839 in Halton, Cheshire, England, of Thomas Hessom and Ann
(24) George Hessom (1841), christened on 14 November 1841 in Halton, Cheshire, England
John Heesom was christened on 17 September 1815 in Halton, Cheshire, England at St Mary's church, the son of Thomas Heesom and Mary of Halton. From Stephen Pickles: "We also believe that that Thomas [John's father] became a gamekeeper in his latter years. This is from the latter two certificates of the three marriages of his eldest son John Hessom (1814) [sic], who apprenticed as a baker in Liverpool then set up shop on his own in Birkenhead. We have traced about 75 descendants of John Hessom so far."
John married Jane Gadd in Liverpool on 23 September 1838. He was 23 years old. They resided on Liverpool. John then married Ellen O'Neill on 15 May 1853 at St. Peter's, Liverpool. Thirdly, John Hessom married Elizabeth Upton on 27 August 1864 at St. Nicholas, Liverpool. By 1871 John had moved to Birkenhead, Cheshire, but continued as a baker. By 1881 John was a widower again.
In the 1841 census . . .
John died of chronic bronchitis on 15 March 1883 at 3 Willaston Place, Birkenhead, Cheshire.
(24) Thomas Heesom (1823)
Thomas Heesom, the son of Thomas and Mary, was christened on 29 June 1823 in Halton, Cheshire, England. Thomas Heesom married Emma. Their children were,
(25) Alice Heesom (1862), christened on 6 July 1862 in Astbury, Cheshire, England
James, the son of Thomas and Mary Heesom, was christened on 22 October 1826 in Halton, Cheshire, England. In the 1841 census of Dutton township, Cheshire as James Heesom, a 20 year old agricultural worker.
In the 1851 census of Norton, Cheshire as James Heesom, a 25 year old farmer's servant, of Moore, Cheshire. Thomas Heesom also lived there.
****************************Perhaps of Liverpool, like his son below. A number of Heyshams who I've identified at being from the John Heysham Line moved to Liverpool. Could one of them be the father of William?
(24) James Heesom (c1825)This is a second James Heesom of the same era, but one year older, the son of a William Heesom. He lived on Leeds street, in Liverpool. It was he that married Maria, the daughter of James Rowe. Stephen Pickles has obtained their 1856 marriage certificate (http://www.lancashirebmd.org, 2053LP/33/43, Liverpool, Our Lady & St. Nicholas & St. Anne), from the Liverpool Register Office. His transcription follows.
Registration District: LiverpoolStephen says that Maria's mother was Mary and that the Rowe's came from Newton, Devonshire. What was a flatman? I suspect this was a boatman who used a flat-bottomed boat. Note the occupations in the census records, below. A warehouse porter, porter and canal carrier, and canal bank laborer are all related. A flatman probably used his craft to transport goods up and down the canal.
1856 Marriage solemnized at St Nicholas Church in the Parish of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster.
No.: 436
When Married: 14th (?) November 1856
Name and Surname: James Heesom / Maria Rowe
Age: Full / Full
Condition: Bachelor / Spinster
Rank or profession: Flatman / -
Residence at the time of Marriage: Leeds St / Leeds St
Father's Name and Surname: William Heesom / James Rowe
Rank or Profession of Father: Flatman / Farmer
Married in the Church of St Nicholas according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns...
This Marriage was solemnized between us, Jame Heesom, Maria Rowe, in the Presence of us
Matthew Heesom his X mark,
Margaret Heesom her X mark.
In the 1861 census of Halton, Cheshire as James Heesom, a 36 year old warehouse porter, of Cheshire Moore. Living with him were his wife, Maria, 24, of Newton, Devonshire, and children, James, 2, and Thomas, 9 months, of Halton.
In the 1871 census of Halton, Cheshire as James Heesom [Heeson in Ancestry.com], a 46 year old porter and canal carrier, of Moor, Cheshire. Living with him were his wife, Maria, 35, of Newton, Devonshire, and children, James, a 12 year old laborer at a Bone [garbled], John, 8, Mary, 6, Edward, 4, and Mathew H., 1, all of Halton.
In the 1881 census of Halton, Cheshire as James Heesom, a 56 year old canal bank laborer, of Moore, Cheshire. He was living in the house of his mother-in-law, Mary Rowe, 80. Also living there were his wife, Maria, 44, of Newton, and children, John, an 18 year old chemical laborere, Matthew Henry, 11, Elizabeth, 8, Sarah, 6, and Maria, 3, all of Halton.
James and Maria's children were,
(25) James Heesom was born in about 1859
(25) Thomas Heesom was born in about 1860
(25) John Heesom was christened on 12 October 1862 in Halton, Cheshire, England
(25) Mary Heesom was christened on 21 May 1865 in Halton, Cheshire, England
(25) Elizabeth Heesom was christened on 11 August 1872 in Halton, Cheshire, England
(25) Sarah Heesom was christened on 7 February 1875 in Halton, Cheshire, England
(25) Ann Heesom was christened on 19 October 1880 in Halton, Cheshire, England.
William was baptised in 1837 at St Mary's, Halton, Cheshire. In the 1861 census of Parr, Lancashire as William Heesom, a 27 year old railway laborer, of Moore parish, Cheshire. Living with him were his wife, Catherine, 26, of St. Helens, Lancashire and son, William, 6, of Prescot, Lancashire.
(23) William Heesham (1798)William Heesham, the son of William and Hannah, was christened on February 1798 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. Stephen Pickles: "We noticed one other headstone:
"Here lieth the Body of William Heesom of KeckwickThere may be others that we missed. We will be checking a transcription of monumental inscriptions for All Saints', Daresbury, in the next week or so. We are also planning a visit to the Chester Record Office, where we hope to inspect a will (proven 1849) by Thomas Hessom, carter, of Norton."
who departed this life January 1st 1846 aged 47 years.
Also William his Son who died April 7th 1894, aged 61 years.
Also Sarah Heesom who died Feb 13th 1899 aged 62 years.
She has found the rest we toil to find.
Also Thomas Heesom of Runcorn who died August 3rd 1903 aged 66 years.
Thy will be done."
William children were,
(24) William Heesom (1833)
(24) Thomas Heesom (1837)
William died on 7 April 1894 at the age of 61.
(24) Thomas Heesom (1837)In the 1851 census of Norton, Cheshire as Thomas Heesom, a 14 year old farmer's servant, of Heckwith [Keckwick?], Cheshire. His uncle, James, lived with him.
Stephen Pickles: "For what it's worth, we now think that the Thomas and Sarah on the third headstone were respectively the son and daughter in-law of William Heesom of Keswick [Keckwick]. Thomas Heesom married Sarah Bankes in 1861. You can find them together in the 1871 (and 1891) census in Runcorn (look under Husom if you're using ancestry - it's easy to mistake two ee's for a u)." Sarah Heesom died on 13 February 1899 at the age of 62. Thomas Heesom of Runcorn died on 3 August 1903 at the age of 66.
(22) John Heesham (c1750)
He could also be the son of Edward. John Heesham married Mary. Their child was,
(23) Mary Heesham who was christened on 12 January 1791 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
John Heesham then married Hannah. Their child was,
(23) Humprhey Heesom (1798)
John Heesham then married Rosamund. A third marriage? Their child was,
(23) Betty Heesham was christened on 11 August 1799 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
Humphrey, the son of John Heesham and Hannah, was christened on 15 April 1798 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. Humphrey's age as depicted in the census varied over the years, with his year of birth ranging from 1794 to 1801. Interestingly, Humphrey started by claiming to be young in 1841, then aged rapidly through 1861, but returned to reality in 1871.
In the 1841 census of Grappenhall, Runcorn parish, Cheshire as Humphrey Heesom [Huson in Ancestry.com], a 40 year old [1801] agricultural laborer. Living with him were his wife, Ellen, 40, and children, Thomas, 12, Mary, 10, Betty, 8, and James, 8 months. Their eldest son, John, was 13 and, under the surname Hissam, was working and living with farmer Joseph Hewitt, also in Grappenhall.
In the 1851 census of Hatton, Cheshire as Humphrey Heysam, a 54 year old [1797] agricultural laborer, of Newton, Cheshire. Living with him were his wife, Ellen, 54, of Whitley, and children, John, 22, of Whitley, Thomas 20, of Lymm, and James, 10, of Hatton.
In the 1861 census of Daresbury, Hatton parish, Cheshire, England as Humphrey Heesom, a 67 year old [1794] agricultural worker, of Dutton, residing in "cottages on Hatton Common." Living with him were his wife, Ellen, 68, of Whitley, and son, John, a 33 year old unmarried agricultural worker, of Lower Whitley.
In the 1871 census of of Daresbury, Hatton parish, Cheshire, England as Humphrey Heesom, 73 [1798], of Dutton. He was living with his son, John, an unmarried man, 45, an agricultural laborer, of Whitley. Also living with them was John's mother, Ellen, 73, of Whitley, and a nephew, James Heesom, 9, of Hatton.
Humphrey died in October-December 1878 at the age of 80. His children were,
(24) John Heesom (1828)
(24) Thomas Heesom (1830)
(24) Mary Heesom (1831)
(24) Betty Heesom (1833)
(24) James Heesom (1841)
John married Rebecca Mousdale. In the 1881 census of Hatton in Runcorn, Cheshire as John Heesom, a 56 year old laborer, of Whitley. Living with him was his wife, Rebecca, of Lymm, and a step-son, George Moulsdale, 21, of Appleton.
(24) Thomas Heesom (1830)In the 1861 census of Hatton, Cheshire as Thomas Heesom, a 31 year old agricultural laborer, of Whitley. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 26, of Sutton, and children, Thomas, 5, James, 3, and John, 9 months, of Hatton.
Witton (23) Edward Heesham (c1780)
He married Ann (Nanny). In a marriage that would fit here, an Edward Heesom married Nancy Haddock on 7 December 1809 in Witton, Cheshire, England. The only Edward I've identified prior to this was the son of William Heesham, above, but he would have been only 17 at the time of his marriage. Their children were,
- (24) Hannah Heesham was christened on 15 April 1810 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
- (24) Thomas Heesham was christened on 14 June 1812 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
- (24) Elizabeth Heesham was christened on 29 February 1824 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England.
- (24) Catherine Heesom (1828), perhaps
The information below might fit here.
In the 1851 census of Stretton, Cheshire as Ann Heesom, a 70 year old laundress, the widow of a laborer, of Dutton. Living with her were her daughter, Catherine, 23, of Lower Whitley, and her husband, James Harrison, daughter Hannah, 39, of Lower Whitley, and her husband, Richard Riley, and grand-daughter, Mary Ann Heesom, 17, of Stretton.
In the 1861 census of Stretton, Cheshire as Nancy Heesom, a 77 year old widow, formerly a laborer's wife, of Dutton. She was living with her daugther, Catherine, 31, of Lower Whitley, and her husband, James Harrison.
(25) Mary Ann Heesom (1835)Note that Mary Anne Heesom was the daughter of Anne Heesom. She was born on 26 April 1835 in Stretton, Cheshire, England. She was christened on 7 June 1835 in Stretton Near Warrington, Cheshire.
In the 1861 census of Northwich, Cheshire as Mary Ann Heesom, a 20 year old house servant.
(24) John Heesom (1823)John probably fits here as a son of Edward and Ann. Note that he came from Lower Whitley, as did Catherine and Hannah, above. In the 1851 census of Stretton, Cheshire as John Heesom, a 28 year old tile maker, of Lower Whitley. Living with him were his wife, Margaret, 23, of Warrington, Lancashire, and son, John, 2, of Stretton.
In the 1861 census of Walton Inferior, Cheshire as John Heesom, a 38 year old stone quarry man, of Stretton. Living with him were his wife, Margaret, 34, of Warrington, and children, Edward, 9, and James, 7, of Stretton, and Leonora, 2, of Walton Inferior.
Halton is a small village just above Runcorn.
(24) John Heesom (1806)In the 1841 census of Wilderspool, Appleton township [though as Great Budworth per Ancestry.com], Cheshire as John Heesom [Hussom in Ancestry.com], a 35 year old carter. Living with him were his wife, Catherine, 35, and children, Thomas, a 15 year old gardener, John, 13, Mary, 10, Joseph, 7, Matthew, 4, and James, 1.
In the 1851 census of Appleton, Cheshire as John Heesom [Heenan in Ancestry.com], a 46 year old waggoner at the brewery, of Aston [possibly crossed out for Hatton], Cheshire. Living with him were his wife, Catherine, 46, of Higher Walton, Cheshire, and children, Thomas, a 25 year old laborer at the brewery, of Aston, and John, a 23 year old tanner, Mary, a 20 year old dressmaker, Joseph, a 17 year old laboer, Matthew, a 14 year old [garbled] maker, James, 11, and Elizabeth, 1, all of Wilderspool [?].
His children were,
Thomas (1826) of Aston
John (1828) of Wilderspool
Mary (1831) of Wilderspool
(25) Joseph Heesom (c1834)
(25) Matthew Heesom (c1837)
(25) James Heesom (c1841/3)
In the 1861 census of Appleton, Cheshire as Joseph Heesom [Husom in Ancestry.com], a 27 year old brewer's laborer, of Widerspool. Living with him were his wife, Ellen, 26, of Latchford, and children, William, 6, and John, 5, of Wilderspool.
Their children were,
- (26) William Heesom (1855) of Wilderspool
- (26) John Heesom (1856) of Wilderspool
In the 1861 census of Grappenhall, Cheshire as Matthew Heesom [Hersom in Ancestry.com], a 24 year old basket maker, of Wilderspoll. Living with him was his wife, Sarah, 26, of Newton.
In the 1871 census of Latchford, Cheshire as Matthew Heesom [Husom in Ancestry.com], a 34 year old hamper maker, of Appleton, Cheshire. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 36, of Newton, and children, John , 9, Arthur James, 8, Frederick Smith, 4, and Annie Mary 2, of Latchford.
In the 1881 census of . . .
In the 1891 census of Latchford, Cheshire as Matthew Heesom [Husom in Ancestry.com], a 52 year old basket maker, of Wilderspool. Living with him were his second wife, Charlotte, 47, of Warrington, Lancashire, and children, Frank, an 18 year old railway servant, of Latchford. Also living with him were his father-in-law, James Livesey, 81, and brother-in-law, Edward Livesey, 33.
In the 1901 census of . . .
Their children were,
- (26) John Heesom (1862) of Latchford
- (26) Arthur James Heesom (1863) of Latchford
- (26) Frederick Smith Heesom (1867) of Latchford
- (26) Annie Mary Heesom (1869) of Latchford
- (26) Frank Heesom (1883) of Latchford
He married Sarah.
In the 1861 census of Daresbury, Hatton, Cheshire as James Heesom, a 20 yar old agricultural laborer, of Hatton. Living with him was his wife, Sarah, 20, of Aston.
In the 1871 census of Daresbury, Hatton, Cheshire as James Heesham, a 28 year old agricultural laborer, of Hatton. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 29, of Aston by Sutton, and children, Ellen, 7, John C., 4, and Ann, 1, of Hatton.
In the 1881 census of Latchford, Cheshire as James Heesom, a 38 year old size [?] and hair dyer, of Hatton. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 41, of Hatton, and children, James, a 19 year old Size and hair dyer, Ellen, a 17 year olf [garbled, fushian?] cutter, Charles [John C?], a 14 year old laborer, Ann, 10, and Arthur, 7 [4?], all of Hatton.
In the 1891 census of Warrington, Lancashire (this is just the other side of the river from Cheshire) as James Heesom, a 50 year old laborer, of Hatton. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 51, of Aston, and children, John C., 23, and Arthur, 14, laborers, of Hatton, Alma L., 8, of Latchford, Ann J., 4, of Warrington, and a married daughter Helen, a 25 year old [garbled, fushian?] cutter, of [garbled] Cheshire. Below Helen were two sons that I assume were hers, Harry, 20 months, and Charles J., 6 months, of Warrington. Were these latter two illegitimate?
In the 1901 census of Warrington, Lancashire as James Heesom [Hersom in Ancestry.com], a 59 year old tanner, of Hatton. Living with him were his wife, Sarah, 60, of Aston, and children, Alma, 18, and Ann J., 13, of Warrington.
Their children were,
- (26) Ellen Heesom (1864)
- (26) John Charles Heesom (1867)
- (26) Ann Heesom (1870)
- (26) Arthur Heesom (1874/7)
- (26) Mary Elizabeth Heesom (1878). She was christened on 22 April 1878 in Halton, Cheshire, England. Did she die before the 1881 census?
- (26) Alma L. Heesom (1883)
- (26) Ann J. Heesom (1887)
of Hatton, Cheshire. He married Sarah, born 1840 in Hatton. Child was,
James Heesom (1862), born in Middlewich. Marrie Annie, born 1870 in Mount Heasant, Chesire. He died 1897 in Wolstanton. Their child was Gladys Heesom, born 1890 in Kidsgrove. She married William H. Simm. She died in 1954 in Kidsgrove.
Memoirs of James Heesom (1839-1925) by D. Heesom and T. Heesom. Denistry.
Thomas Michael Anthony Heesom aricle in British Dental Journal. "His great-grandfather, James Heesom, was for some years in practice with Thomas Evans in Paris in the late 1860s treating royalty and heads of state." Thomas Wilberger Evans.
He was born in 1838 in Wilderspool, Lancashire. He married Sarah Smith. She was born in 1835 in Newton.
3 - John Heesom was born on 26 April 1860 in Latchford, Cheshire, England. He married Martha Nash. She was born on 10 December 1866 in Runcorn. He died on 17 February 1917, lost at sea. 4 - Maud Heesom was born in 1889 in Cheshire. She married Claude Brunt. She died in 1942 in Liverpool. 4 - Edith Heesom was born in 1887 in Runcorn. 4 - John Heesom was born in 1892 in Widnes. 4 - Frank Heesom was born in 1894 in Widnes. 4 - Frank Heesom was born in 1896 in Widnes. 4 - Frederick A. Heesom was born in 1897 in Widnes. 4 - William H. Heesom was born in 1899 in Widnes. 3 - Arthur Heesom was born in 1864 in Latchford, Cheshire, England. 3 - Anne Mary Heesom was christened on 25 July 1869 in Latchford, Cheshire, England. 3 - Frank Heesom was born in 1872 in Latchford, Cheshire, England. 1 - Henry Heesam married Elizabeth (c1875) = 2 - Selina Heesam was christened on November 1876 in Great Budworth, Cheshire, England. 2 - Priscilla Heesom was christened on 2 March 1879 in Cheshire, England. 1 - John Heesom married Martha. = 2 - Edith Heesom was christened on 5 December 1886 in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. 1 - Arthur Heesom married Ann = 2 - Sarah Heesom was christened on 30 January 1887 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. 2 - Eliza Ann Heesom was christened on 22 February 1891 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. 1 - Thomas Heesom (1856)He married Mary Jane. In the 1901 census of Whitley Inferior, Cheshire, living nearby Edward, below, as Thomas Heesom, 45. Living with him were his wife, Mary Jane, 46, and children, John Walter, 20, Annie, 18, George Henry, 16, William Edwrd, 14, Joseph, 9, Samuel, 8 and Tom, 5.
2 - Anne Heesom was christened on 31 December 1882 in Lower Whiteley, Cheshire, England. 1 - Edward Heesom (c1849)He may be in the 1871 census of Halton, Cheshire as Edward Heesham, a 23 year old unmarried servant [farm-indoor] of Benjamin Bennett. He was born in Stretton. He married Martha. In the 1901 census of Whitley Inferior, Cheshire as Thomas Heesom, a 52 year old. Living with him were his wife, Martha, 50, and children, Denis, 18, Philip, 15, Ethel, 14, Morgan, 12, and Jessie Maud, 24, and her husband, John Percival Charles, 25.
2 - Jessie Maud Heesom was christened on 6 May 1877 in Lower Whitley, Cheshire, England. 2 - Elizabeth Ann Heesom was christened on 29 August 1880 in Lower Whitley, Cheshire, England. 2 - Ethel Nellie Heesom was born on 15 April 1887 and christened on 12 June in Lower Whitley, Cheshire, England. 1 - Joseph Heesom married Catharine (Kate) = 2 - Elizabeth Heesom was christened on 28 January 1883 in Witton Cum Twambrooks, Cheshire, England. 2 - Ada Heesom was christened on 24 May 1885 in Witton Cum Twambrooks, Cheshire, England. 2 - Catharine Heesom was born on 14 January 1891 and christened on 9 April in Witton Cum Twambrooks, Cheshire, England. 1900-2000 1 - Edward?? w/Thomas his uncle?? 2 - Thomas Charles Heesom (1878)He was born on 9 September 1878 in Lower Whiteley, Cheshire, England. In the 1881 census of Whitley Inferior, Cheshire as Thomas Charles Heesom, 4. He was living in the house of his uncle, Thomas Heesom, a 68 year old agricultural worker, and Aunt, Ann, 60. Also living there were Thomas' daaghter, Sarah Ann. 22, and her husband, Moses [?] Lawson, 23, and nephews, James Shaw, 9, and Walter Lawson, 1.
In the 1891 census . . .
In the 1901 census
He married Alice Holden on 19 September 1901 in Runicorn, Cheshire, England. She was born on 22 September 1882 in Lower Crowley, Worcester, England. He died on 20 February 1925 [or 1945?] in Latchford, Lancashire, England. =
3 - James Heesom was born on 25 December 1901 in Whiteley, Cheshire, England. He married Emily Wilkinson on 20 August 1921. She was born on 24 April 1899 in Daresbury, Cheshire, England. She died on 27 July 1978 in Daresbury. He died on 14 April 1983 in Cheshire, England. =
4 - James Arthur Heesom was born on 3 October 1923 in Darebury, Cheshire, England. He died on 24 May 1995 in Lincoln, England.
2 - Thomas Heesom married Annie Robinson in 1900 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
Bowdon, Cheshire
Ellin Heesom (c1680)
Ellin Heesom married John Ackerley on 9 March 1702 at St. Mary's church, Bowdon, Cheshire, England.
| Townships of Cheshire
|
Randle married Amey circa 1783. Their children were,
- William Heesam was born on 9 August 1784 and christened on 22 August in Davenham, Cheshire, England.
- Ellen Heesom was born on 8 November 1794 and christened on 21 December in Davenham, Cheshire, England.
He could be the son of Randle. James Heesom married Mary Fairhurst on 27 January 1808 in Davenham, Cheshire, England. Their children were,
- Emma Heesom was born on 4 June 1808 and christened on 10 July 1808 in Davenham, Cheshire, England.
Edward Heesom married Elizabeth Painter on 20 May 1770 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England. Their children were,
- Esther Heesom was christened on 3 February 1771 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
- John Heesom was christened on 23 September 1772 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England. He died on 18 January 1783.
- Peter Heesom was christenened on 20 July 1774 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
- Edward Heesom was christened on 17 May 1776 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
- Thomas Heesom was christenend on 21 June 1778 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
- Richard Heesom was christened on 4 June 1780 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
- William Heesom was christened on 23 March 1783 in Middlewich, Cheshire, England.
In the 1841 census of Middlewich, Cheshire as James Heesom [Hersom in Ancestry.com], a 60 year old agricultural worker. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 50, and children, James, 15, Lucy, 15, Nancy, 14, Jane, 12, Marcia, 4, and William, 1.
Their children were,
- James (1826)
- Lucy
- Nancy
- Jane
- Marcia
- William (1840)
James Heesom married Mary circa 1835.
He married Martha (c1787). Their children were,
- Peter Hesom was christened on 25 May 1788 in Astbury, Cheshire, England.
In the 1851 census of Newbold Astbury, Cheshire as Peter Heesom, a 17 year old farm laborer, of Astbury.
The only member of the family I've found so far that lived in the city of Chester.
(23) John Heesom (1786)In the 1841 census of Chester, St John the Baptist parish, Cheshire as John Heesom, a 55 year old Army p [?]. Living with him was his wife, Sarah, 55.
This family is interesting because they used the Heysham spelling of the name which may mean they were part of the Merchants of Lancaster Line. Note, of course, that Thomas and Johannes Hesham were merchants who enjoyed the freedom of York temp. Henry VI (1422-1461).
(13) Thomas Heysham Sr. (c1470)A merchant of the Staple at Calais. I don't know if he was part of the Staffordshire line, but he could fit here as the father of (14) Thomas Hessam/Heysham of Staffordshire.
(14) Thomas Heysham Jr. (c1500)I think that Thomas Jr. may be (14) Thomas Hessam/Heysham (c1500) of Staffordshire, below, because (1) the use of the Heysham surname and (2) general level of wealth. That is, Thomas Jr. was the son of a staple merchant and Thomas Hessam/Heysham had enough money to require an extensive will. I don't think that Thomas Sr. was the Thomas Hessam/Heysyam below because the writer of the will clearly had no son. I don't know enough about the reference below to date it, but the staple in Calais was in operation from 1363 to 1558. The latter date would align well with the first use of the Heysham name in Lancaster and Staffordshire.
"Thomas Heysham, clerk, son and administrator of Thomas Heysham, merchant of the staple at Calais. Thomas Parker [?] Anne, late the wife of John Stansted, of Wok-ing . . . Attachment of wools at Calais - Calais Lands, &c. in Ashfield . . . Failure to perform a bargain of cloth, &c. (2 Edw. IV.) [1463] Attachment of goods at Calais for a pretended debt. of William Barton. . . and Agnes his wife, late the wife of Thomas Dewe, who bought it of Robert . . . &c. in Woking . . ." - from "Lists and Indexes," page 269, by the Public Record Office of Great Britain, 1936The Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office has,
"Thomas Heysham, clerk, son and administrator of Thomas Heysham, merchant of the staple at Calais. v. John Hemelsey, gent., late of York, servant to Thomas late lord Roos.: Attachment of goods at Calais for a pretended debt.: Calais. Chancery pleadings addressed to [George] Neville. Date range: 1460 - 1465."A staple merchant would have been in a position to make a great deal of money. Woking is a large town and parish in Surrey, England and today serves as a "bedroom community" of London.
| Merchant of the Staple at Calais
The Merchants of the Staple, also known as the Merchant Staplers, was an English company, or guild, which controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period. From 1314, the Crown required all wool for export to be traded at a designated market, called 'the staple'. This allowed the Crown to monitor the trade and levy tax on exports. Calais was the staple from 1363 when a group of twenty-six traders was incorporated as the Company of the Staple at Calais. In exchange for its cooperation in the payment of taxes, the company was granted a total monopoly on wool exports from England. The company was important to the English crown, both as a source of revenue, and through its role in the defence of Calais against the French. The monopolists drove up wool prices to enrich themselves which in turn drove up the price of cloth manufactured in Europe. While England had not previously manufactured much cloth, the effect of the staple was to make European cloth more expensive and made domestic manufacture more profitable. The staple monopoly in Calais thus gradually became irrelevant. As domestic cloth production increased the power of the Staple Merchants diminished. In 1558, with the loss of Calais to the French, the staple was transferred to Bruges where the Merchant Staplers continued to enjoy their monopoly on exports. However, in 1614, export of raw wool was banned entirely during the Cockayne Project of William Cockayne and wool was traded only in domestic staples. The project failed however, because the Estates-General of the Netherlands banned the import of cloth from England. In 1617 the English lifted their ban, but the Dutch ban remained in place. The Merchant Staplers continued to exist, but only in local markets. |
The descent shown is a wild guess based on Thomas' use of the Heysham surname. I make him a brother of (14) John Hesham whose son, William of Highfield, also used the Heysham surname. There was a brother, John Hessam, mentioned in Thomas' will.
Thomas lived through the tumultuous reigns of Henry VIII, 1509-1547, Edward VI, 1547-1553, Mary, 1553-1558, and the first years of the reign of Elizabeth. At about this same time (14) John Heysham (c1500) was living at Highfield. His mother may have been a Taylour. Thomas' will:
"1565 - Thomas Hessam/Heysham, gent., Butterton, Stafford; city of London 26 Morrison - from "Index of Wills Proved in the Prerogative Court of Caterbury, 1558-1583" Volume III, The British Record SocietyCity of London refers, I think, to where the will was filed, though he could mean that Thomas kept two addresses. Note in the will below that Thomas "Laid downe [30s] in London ton." 26 Morrison refers to the Morrison register, a subsection of the volume, named for the first will in it, that of Thomas Morrison, clerk. From the "Documents Online" page of the British National Archives, with a probate date of 16 August 1565:
Testam. Thome. HeyshamThe will was probated in London, but this was in latin and far too hard to decipher, except to say that John Hessam and John Taylour were made Executors. This is one of the earliest documents that used the Heysham name, though oddly Thomas Heysham's brother was clearly, and consistently, shown as John Hessam.
"In the name of god Amen, the Sixth Daye of Julie the yere of our Lord god one Thousande ffive Hundred three score and five I Thomas Heysham beinge meke of boddie But of ffull and perfecte Remembrance doo make my last will and testament in manner and fforme followinge.
First I bequeathe my Soull to my Savio'r and onelie Redemour Jesus Christ trustinge by that onelie passion and redemption to be purged and delivered from all my Sinnes and to Be reconciled to the favour of god the ffather and to be made in [Jesus methe hym] of his ever Lasting Kingdome.
Item, I give and bequethe to my Brother John Hessam twentie poundes.
Item, I bequeth to my Cosin John Taylour twentie poundes who hath taken grete paynes withe [mem] my sicknes.
Item, I bequeth to my mother my best [risniye] Cloake Together w'th thirtie three shillinges of reddie money w'ch I Laid downe in London ton [town]
For my ffather in Lawe to his Brother and Sisters for their Childrens portions, Item, I give to them CCCd Mr.[?] George Honnesbie owinge me.
Item, I begueth to my Brother Henrie tenne poundes to be bestowed of him as Shall Seme best to my Executors Provided nevertlesse that iff my saide Brother Henrie will not obey the honest [precentes] of my Executors Then I will that tenne poundes besides further money as they have bestowed uppon him shalbe delivered and distributed by [xls] [einsis] [yere] amongst the poore of the parrisshe of Button [Butterton].
Item, I bequeth to my Sister Elene tenne poundes to be paid to her at xxi [21] yeares.
I bequeth to my Sister Anne xl xjs xijal [I think this is short hand for ten pounds, eleven shillings, twelve pence].
Item, I bequeth to my Brother Roger [Essferd] xls.
Item, I bequeth to three of my Brother John's Daughters ffive poundes to be devided equally amongst them.
Item, I bequeth unto my sister in Lawe Margaret my Seconde Cloake withe an old angell [?].
Item, I bequeth to my Sister in Lawe Elizabeth an olde angell.
Item, I bequeth to my Father in Lawe xxd in a Tocken of good will.
Item, I bequeth to Elizabethe Hollande and Jane Dorman either of the [] an [yuglisshe] Gowne.
Item, I give to my ffellowe [kinsersham] my [feirde] gowne w'th an old angell.
Item, I bequethe to my m[other] my ringe withe the signett of my name and also my best gowne.
Item, Also I give to my systers my ringe of golde withe a white stone in it.
Item, I give to Jane [Distare] my littell ringe with the red stone.
Item, to William [Desstare] the three ringes that are [yoyend] to get [hers].
And ffurther I doo of this my last will and testament make and ordaine myne Executors my saide Brother John Hessam and my saide Cosen John Taylour to see this my last will and testament doon [done?] and performed accordinglie.
In wittness whereof [perme] Thomass Heysham This was acknowledged by the testator Thomas Heysham to be his last will and testatment the same beinge redd by me unto him he then beinge in perfect memorie, [witnesses signed]
Butterton is a small village on a steep declivity about 10 miles northeast of Stoke-On-Trent, on the Staffordshire Moors. There are a wonderful series of photographs of the region at Butterton in North Staffs.
Thomas may have migrated from Lancashire, Cheshire or York. I don't see any members of the Heysham family in Staffordshire before him, and very few after. I'm assuming that before the industrial revolution people rarely migrated north.
(14) John Hessam (c1500)He had three daughters.
(14) Roger Heysham (c1500)(14) Henry Heysham (c1500)
Apparently a reprobate, at least according to his older brother.
(14) Elena Heysham (c1500)(14) Anne Heysham (c1500)
This man used the Heysham surname. He was "of Staffordshire," but later managed the estates of the Duke of Portland near Gosport, in Hampshire. On the "Heysham's of Southeastern England," see (20) George Heysham (c1707) who was born about the same time as Thomas. Known as a "gent.", he married and had a daughter in Gosport. My guess is that they were related, possibly brothers. The scenario would be that George, a younger brother perhaps?, gained a position through the influence of his brother. See also below an Elizabeth Heysham who married John Ward, of Crabborn, which is just 5 miles from Gosport.
Or Haysham. Much of the information that follows is from an excellent new site about Thomas' son-in-law, Henry Cort. It may be happenstance that our Thomas and the one just proceeding were both "of" Staffordshire. While there may have been a Staffordshire line of the family, I have found no other evidence for it. I suspect that men both drifted down to the region from Lancashire. Thomas' father could have been (19) Edward Hesham (c1648) of Highfield, in Lancashire, or (19) Richard Heysam (c1670), of Runcorn, in Cheshire.
Thomas married Ann Attwick, the daughter of John and Rebecca Attwick. Anne was christened on 14 February 1709 at the High Street Independent church, in Gosport. Thomas' daughter, Elizabeth, was called the niece of William Attwick, who was Anne's half-brother.
| The Attwick Family
John Attwick (c1670) He was born in Portsmouth [John Atweeke, christened 9 June 1675 in Chalton, Hampshire, of John and Ellinor, or 14 December 1682 in Chalton of John and Elizabeth] and moved to Gosport early in the 18th century. From 1722 the Attwick [Atweek] family of Gosport were under contract to supply considerable amounts of nails and other ironmongery to the Navy. John Attwick was a respected inhabitant of Gosport having lived there since at least 1710 when he was chosen as aletaster. Three times he was appointed bailiff to the Manor of Gosport, entrusting him with the collection of the Lord's rents. His houses, at 62 to 65 Middle (or High) Street originally had gardens stretching to The Green and these gardens provided the site for a warehouse, smith's shop and, much later, the Gosport Iron Foundry. In 1718 John was in trouble for leaving timber lying on 'the Lord's waste' as The Green was then known.
John first married Rebecca [Rebeckah]. John's children with Rebecca were,
John second married Mary Beverley Holloway. His children with her were,
By 1736, as the ironmongery contracts continued, John had acquired the status of an esquire. For a few years before his death in 1745 he held the contracts jointly with his wife Mary. She continued alone until joined by her son William when he came of age in 1751. William Attwick (1730)The son of John and Mary Atwick, he was christened on 30 March 1730 at the Holy Trinity church, Gosport, Hampshire. John Sr's heir was still a minor when he inherited the business and property in Middle Street and on The Green. Later he too served as town bailiff four times between 1755 and 1770 and was one of the original Gosport Paving Trustees appointed in 1763. By 1760 the contract was in William's own name and he was supplying, amongst other iron goods, nails, hinges, locks, hooks, chisels, axes, hammers, files, ladles, shovels, tongs and forks to the dockyard. In 1768-9 he supplied £7,000 worth of iron goods weighing around 200 tons. William died circa 1774 and his brother-in-law, Henry Cort, inherited the works. |
Thomas was a lawyer, a solicitor of Staffordshire and steward to some of the estates of the Duke of Portland. At some point Thomas moved to Gosport, in Hampshire. This was probably related to his duties as steward of the the Duke's Titchfield estates. Titchfield is about 4 miles northwest of Gosport. Thomas also kept a London address.
A "Mr. Haysham, attorney of Gosport," was the court holder for William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, the 3rd Duke of Portland, as well as the steward of his estate at Botley - from "Catalogue of Papers of William Henry Cavendish Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland." [George Gill Mounsey, husband of Isabella Heysham, was the Duke of Portland's attorney in the 1800's]. I suspect that a "court holder," in this situation, was the man designated to hold the manor court in place of the lord of the manor. Or, as is inferred in the next paragraph, the one who keeps the record of the court. Botley is northwest of Portsmouth.
Thomas Heysham was "the steward of the Duke of Portland moiety of the Earl of Southampton's Titchfield estates, Hampshire, from 1731 to 1765 [sic, he died in 1762] when the Duke sold this estate." In 1759 the Duke's agent instructed "that the court book be sent so that Mr Haysham can update it." - from "Letter from Clement Walcot, Titchfield, Hampshire to John Powell; 16 Dec. 1759." Walcott was an agent for the Duke of Portland in Hampshire.
| Dukes of Portland
William Bentinck, the 2nd Duke of Portland, was born on 1 March 1709, the son of Henry. He died on 1 May 1762. William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, the 3rd Duke of Portland, Marquess Of Titchfield, Viscount Woodstock, Baron Of Cirencester, was born on 14 April 1738 Bulstrode, Buckinghamshire, England. He was the eldest son of William Bentinck, 2nd Duke of Portland, whom he succeeded in 1762. He entered Parliament in 1761. He was British prime minister from 2 April to 19 December 1783 and from 31 March 1807, to 4 October 1809. On both occasions he was the nominal head of a government controlled by stronger political leaders. He died on 30 October 1809 in Bulstrode. Titchfield Manor
Botley manor also passed to the Duke of Portland via his marriage with Elizabeth. It was in Hampshire, about 10 miles north of Titchfield. Titchfield HouseA 13th century Premonstratensian abbey converted into a "right statlie mansion." It was largely demolished in the 18th century, though the three-storied Tudor gatehouse, formed from the nave, remains. Henry VI was married in the abbey, to Margaret of Anjou, and Charles I had his final night of freedom there. |
Mr. Haysham died in December 1762 - from "Letter from Clement Walcot, Titchfield, Hampshire to John Powell; 16 Dec. 1759." Thomas had six children, of whom I know,
(21) Thomas Heysham (1735), who died young
(21) John Heysham (1738), who died young
(21) Ann Heysham (c1744), she married John Becher
(21) Elizabeth Heysham (c1745), she married Henry Cort
(21) Hannah Heysham (c1745), who died young
The son of Thomas and Ann Heysham. He was christened on 13 September 1735 at Holy Trinity, Gosport, Hampshire. He may have died young since he wasn't mentioned in his mother's will.
(21) John Heysham (1738)The son of Thomas and Ann Heysham. He was christened on 13 March 1738 at Holy Trinity, Gosport, Hampshire. He may have died young since he wasn't mentioned in his mother's will.
(21) Ann Heysham (c1744)Sometimes as Haysham. The sister of Elizabeth and co-heir of the estate of their uncle, Jeremiah Attwick, ship's purser, via their mother, Ann Attwick Heysham, see below. Ann married Commander John Becher on 26 September 1761 at Hagley, Stourbridge, Worchestershire. John was baptized on 27 July 1737, the son of the Reverend Henry Becher and Mary Matthews. John made Lieutenant on 21 January 1757, and Commander on 1 February 1778. They had seven children, including John Harmon Becher. Henry Cort, Elizabeth's husband, was prize agent for John Becher.
(21) Elizabeth Heysham (c1745)"Elizabeth Heysham was the daughter of Thomas Heysham, the steward of the Duke of Portland moiety of the Earl of Southampton's Titchfield estates, Hampshire, from 1731 to 1765 when the Duke sold this estate." - from "Henry Cort, the Great Finer: Creator of Puddled Iron" by Reginald Arthur Mott, Peter Singer.
Of Gosport, Hampshire. This is a seaport and major naval and military center on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour. She was the niece of William Attwick, the son of John and Mary Attwick of Gosport.
Elizabeth's uncle was Jeremiah Attwick, a ship's purser. His sisters, Elizabeth and Ann, inherited his estate upon his death. When they both died in 1766 most of their estates were left to Ann's daughters, Elizabeth, Anne and Hannah. Elizabeth won adminstration of the estates. John Becher, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, had for an agent Henry Cort, who had handled many similar estate documents. The two probably met when Elizabeth sought advice on the will. On 16 March 1768 Elizabeth married Henry Cort, as recorded in the register of St. Thomas the Apostle church, London.
"16 March 1768: Copy marriage settlement: Elizabeth Haysham of London, spinster, and Henry Cort of Crutched Friars, London, gent." - from "Henry Cort, the Great Finer: The Great Finer : Creator of Puddled Iron" by Reginald Arthur Mott, Peter SingerElizabeth was "of London" meaning that when her father died in 1762 she and her mother probably resettled in that city. Crutched Friars is a street near Tower Hill, named for an order of mendicant friars, "Fratres Cruciferi", who came to England in the 13th century.
"the niece of Mr. Attwick . . . the daughter of a solicitor in Staffordshire, who was steward to the Duke of Portland. There is a hint that Cort received some fortune with his wife. The memorandum goes on to state that Mr. Attwick "had a contract for supplying Portsmouth Dock Yard with mooring chains and other Iron Naval store." - from "Transactions By Newcomen Society"The fact that Henry thus knew that Elizabeth was inheriting a £3000 estate may have colored his marital decision. This was Henry's second marriage. He had previously been married, for only a short time, to an Elizabeth Brown.
Henry was born in Lancaster in 1740, the son of a builder and brickmaker. In 1765, at the age of 25, he had begun his career as a Naval Agent in London. The Naval Agent acted on behalf of naval officers and sailors to recover prize money and back pay from the Navy Board, and took a percentage commission for his efforts. In this position he became aware of the poor quality of British iron compared to that which was available abroad.
Henry inherited the Funtley ironworks, near Fareham in Hampshire, upon the death of William Attwick in 1774 and in 1775 he gave up his job as agent for the Navy to set up his own business. I wonder to what extent Henry's interest in ironworking preceded or followed his introduction to Elizabeth and the Attwicks?
By 1777 Henry, Elizabeth and their five children (eventually rising to thirteen) had moved to Gosport and Henry joined the Attwick family iron businees. They settled at 62 Middle Street. As his work expanded he needed capital and in 1781 he took Samuel Jellicoe as a partner. His father, Adam Jellicoe, Deputy Paymaster of the Navy, provided financial backing in exchange for patent rights.
Henry began experimenting on and improving the manufacture of English iron. Between 1783 and 1784 he took out patents for the processes he had developed. One patent process involved the production of bar iron by hammering at a constant temperature and rolling out all the impurities. This produced iron that had been compressed into a tough and fibrous state. The second patent involved the manufacture of bar iron from ore or cast iron in an air furnace without a blast. During this process the liquid iron was constantly stirred with iron bars, called "puddling," burning off the carbon from the cast iron and the iron was separated from the slag. This was then hammered and rolled as above.
By 1820 there were at least 8,200 of Cort's furnaces operating in Great Britain. Cort, however, never benefitted financially from his work. His partnership ended in financial disaster. When Adam Jellicoe died it turned out that he had illegally used Naval funding to invest in Cort's ironworks. The government seized much of his property, including Cort's patents, to pay off his debt. Cort never recovered and he left his iron works in 1789. Samuel Jellicoe, on the other hand, did, having inherited the Gosport and Fontley foundaries. His descendent was Admiral Jellicoe of WWI naval fame.
In 1791 Henry Cort was given a pension of £200 a year. He died in London 23 May 1800 and was buried in Hampstead. His widow, Elizabeth, was left destitute with 10 surviving children to support. Eventually, in 1801, the Treasurer of the Navy, Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville, authorized a grant of £100 per year. Elizabeth died in 1826.
Henry and Elizabeth had five children while living in London, all baptized at St. Olaves church, Hart street. Another seven children were christened in Gosport. Their children were,
(22) Henry Bell Cort (1769), he went to India and became an indigo planter; this failed. He married Frances Burges and moved to Guiana in 1805, where he died in 1806.
(22) Coningsby Francis Cort (1770), known as Con, he also went to India, though apparently stayed only a short while. He married Ann and had a son, Henry Hannam Cort. Henry Hannam Cort was an Apothecary of Ripley, Surrey. He may have married Sarah Eugnenia Axcell.
(22) William Thomas Cort (1771), he married Mary Ann. He moved to Berbice.
(22) Elizabeth Jane Cort (1773)
(22) Harriet Ann Cort (1775), she went to Inida where she married Captain Thomas Dowell, an officer in the British Army in India, in August 1797
(22) John Harman Cort (1777), who died at Alverstoke on 26 July 1780, an infant
(22) Maria Cort (1778), she died in June 1797
(22) Charlotte Cort (1779), she married John Wilson
(22) Frederick John Cort (1781), he died in 1835
(22) Caroline Cort (1783)
(22) Richard Cort (1784), he married Mary Caroline Kendall. He was a partner of W Kirkpatrick in Bread Street, Cheapside: "Merchants, Warehousemen, Dealers and Chapmen"
(22) Louisa Cort (1786), she married Joseph Powell
(22) Catherine Frampton Cort (1790), she married a Sisson
I also have a John Haysham Cort, Obituary, 1853. "June 2. In Judd-st. John Haysham [sic] Cort, esq. of the Bank of England." - from "The Gentleman's Magazine." He must have been a grandson. John was also mentioned in a suit of 1837 which looks to be a family feud.
"Cort v Wilson. Bill and three answers.Note that Henry Hannam Cort was the son of (22) Coningsby Francis Cort (1770). Louisa and Eliza Powell were the children of (22) Louisa Cort (1786).
Plaintiffs: William Cort and others.
Defendants: John Wilson, Henry Hannam Cort, John William James Dawson and wife, John Haysham Cort, Caroline Cort, Louisa Cort, Louisa Powell, Eliza Powell, Henry Liddon, Frederick Liddon, Eliza Cort, William Cort, Mary Macdonald, Frederick Cort, John Cort, Duncan Fraser and wife and Charlotte Cort (abroad)."
I haven't been able to place the woman below in the John Heysham, Merchants of Lancaster, or Thornton-Heyshams lines, though I assume she must have had a respectable pedigree to make the marriage described. Also, Hants was where the Robert Heysham & Thornton Heyshams lived.
(20) Elizabeth Heysham (c1705)A possible sister of Thomas Heysham, based on the Titchfield connection of her marriage. Of Staffordshire? Elizabeth Heysham married John Ward, esquire. He was born in 1690, the elder son of Captain William Ward, of Crabborn, Titchfield, Hants, The Captain distinguished himself in the campaigns under the Duke of Marlborough, and especially at the battle of Malplaquet, in 1709. Crabborn is five miles from Gosport.
John Ward died in 1770, leaving a son, John Ward, born in 1735, who married Elizabeth Young and left descendents. - from "A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry."
Interestingly, an unrelated John Ward, Sir John Ward, merchant, the son of Sir Thomas Ward of Tanshelf, Pontefract parish, Yorkshire and nephew of Sir Patience Ward, Lord Mayor of London in 1681, ran for Parliament from London as a Whig on the same poll cards in which the merchants Robert Heysham, Sir Thomas Scawen and Peter Godfrey ran. Sir John Ward was Lord Mayor of London in 1714-1719.
The reference is confused, the given name being in one place John and in another William. On 17 June 1449 the administration of the estate of William Nepe, who died intestate, was "granted to William [John] Heseham, mercer of Newark, and William Crecy, of the same place." Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire. The rivers Trent and Devon run through the city, as do the Great North Road and Fosse Way. At the end of the 14th century the town's population was about 1,200.
Thomas Hysham
"aus Preußen nach England; Empfehlung zugleich für Thomas Hysham aus Nottingham. Westminster 28. Febr. anno r. nri. 17. Or. Pgt. S. ab." - from "Regesta historico-diplomatica Ordinis s. Mariae Theutonicorum, 1198-1525" by Erich Joachim and Walher HubatschI guess this means, "from Prussia to England; Recommend at the same time for Thomas Hysham of Nottingham, [at] Westminster, 28 Feburary . . .
In the 1841 census of Burgh in the Marsh, Lincolnshire as John Haysham, a 25 year old agricultural laborer, born in Lincolnshire. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 25, and children Edward, 1, and Henry, 2.
- 2 - Henry Haysham (1839)Of Northamptonshire. Another descendent who wandered out of Lancashire. From the UK Archives, "Fitzwilliam (Milton) Charters, Northamptonshire Deeds,"
- 13 July 1445. "M aft F of St Thomas, M 23 Hen VI, "Grant by John Wittilbury, of Milton, esquire, to Edmund, Lord de Grey, Knt., Richard Welby, Thomas Sutton, esquires, and Nicholas Heesham, of his manors of Milton and Marham, and all other his lands, etc. in Milton, Marham, Castre, Thorpe, Paston, Wiryngton [Werrington] and elsewhere in Northamptonshire, with the advowson of Marham church."
- 26 Jan 1463. "2 Edw IV, "Feoffment by Edmund de Grey, Knt., Richard Welby, esq. and Thomas Sutton, esq. to Margaret Grene, wife of Henry Grene, esq. sometime wife of John Wittilbury, esq., deceased, of the manors of Milton and Marham, with lands, etc. the advowson of the church and the cemetery of Marham, which they had by feoffment of the above John Wittilbury, jointly with Nicholas Heesham, deceased."By 1463 Nicholas had died.
At right is a map of Cheshire before the modern period.
The village of Halton is just inland, on the south side of the Mersey river. A larger town, Runcorn, grew up between it and the river. Close by is Norton Abbey. On the opposite side of the Mersey river from Runcorn is Widnes. Daresbury is several miles east of Runcorn and just beyond are the villages of Hatton and Stretton. A mile north of Stretton is Appleton. A mile or so south of Stretton is Higher and Lower Whitley. Look further southeast of there for Budworth. Latchford is 10 miles northeast of Runcorn, almost in Warrington and almost off the map, to the left. Wilderspool is near the Warrington town center. Grappenhall is just southeast of there. Bowdon is off the map, just beyond its northeast edge. Frodsham is just south of Runcorn, on the Weaver river. South of there is Newton.
Davenham is southeast of Northwich, at the center of the Cheshire plain, and near the confluence of the Weaver and Dane rivers. Middlewich is further southeast of that, perhaps 20 miles from Runcorn. Middlewich is famous as one of Britain's chief salt-producing towns. Astbury is off the map, on the right, to the southeast.
This estate passed to the 1st Duke of Portland by his marriage to Elizabeth Wriothesley, the daughter and heir of the Earl of Southampton. It was located in Hampshire, near Fareham. The estate was sold by the 3rd Duke of Portland at the end of the 18th century.