Rhe JERVIS, PORTER and OTHER ALLIED FAMILIES
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JOHNSONIAN GLEANINGS BY ALEYN LYELL READE HON. M.A. OXON. PART VII rhe JERVIS, PORTER and OTHER ALLIED FAMILIES PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY PERCY LUND, HUMPHRIES & CO. LTD. 12 BEDFORD SQUARE, LONDON, W.C.1 MCMXXXV PREFACE HIS ''Part" of the Gleanings is really only a kind of genealogical appendix to Part VI., and will be corres Tpondingly dull for most people. But its contents are essential to the large scheme on which I am working, and there are items of interest for those with patience to seek them. To what an extent "the complicated interactions of kinship," particu larly through his wife, impinged upon Johnson's own career at various points is well shown by the key pedigree which acts as a kind of frontispiece. If the volume itself is not stimulating to many, I hope that the novel map contained in the pocket at the end, and described in a special note, may prove of general interest. So far as I know, nothing like it has ever been attempted before to illustrate the origins and life, or part of the life, of any celebrated man. At present I cannot say whether Part VIII. will continue with the story of Johnson's career after his returning to London in r740, or whether a Part will have to be interposed containing various fresh matter bearing upon his early life that has cropped up during the progress of the work. In conclusion, it is a great pleasure to thank all those who have so generously helped me in the compilation of this Part, chief among whom, as so often before, is Mr. A. W. Read, of Leicester, a friend who never fails. And my thanks are overdue to Miss Lucy Drucker, of London, whose professional services, particularly at Somerset House, have been invaluable to me for many years. To my printers, Messrs. Percy Lund, Humphries & Co., Ltd., and to my friend Mr. E. C. Gregory, their enlightened ... 111 and enterprising director, a special tribute is due, not only for the diligent care they continue to take in the production of the volumes, but also for their sympathetic interest in work of this character, which has helped considerably towards making publication of my researches possible. That the University of Oxford, since my last Part was issued, should have seen fit to reward my labours with an honorary degree, is a circumstance of which only vanity could leave me unregardful. ALEYN LYELL READE. Treleaven House, Blundellsands, Nr. Liverpool. 11 Sept., 1935. lV LIST OF CONTEN1'S KEY . PEDIGREE SHOWING JOHNSONIAN INTERCON NEXIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS THROUGH THE PORTER FAMILY facing title page THE JERVIS FAMILY OF GREAT PEATLING PP· r-45 THE DARELLS OF FULMER pp. 45-53 Narrative Pedigree of Thomson pp. 53-55 Narrative Pedigree of Eedes pp. 55-57 THE PORTER FAMILY OF EDGBASTON pp. 58-rrr Narrative Pedigree of Colmore of Birmingham pp. rrr-125 THE EBORALLS OF BALSALL pp. r25-141 Narrative Pedigree of Lucas pp. 141-143 THE NORTON FAMILY OF WAR\\tICK pp. 143-151 THE HINCKLEYS OF LICHFIELD pp. 151-167 THE REV. JOHN HUNTER AND HIS DESCENDANTS pp. 167-178 MAP TO ILLUSTRATE DR. JOHNSON'S ORIGINS AND FAMILY ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS HIS LIFE AND MOVEMENTS DOWN TO 1740 (in pocket at end) Description p. 179 INDEX pp. 181-226 V THE JERVIS, PORTER AND OTHER ALLIED FAMILIES THE JERVIS FAMILY OF GREAT PEATLING (See ante, VI., 1-12) AT the outset of my researches, in The Reades of Blackwood Hill and Dr. Johnson's Ancestry, 1906 (pp. 235-6), I printed some particulars of the Jervis family, but they were almost entirely derived from Nichols's Leicestershire, and could claim no originality. Since then I had not added anything to those notes, until in Part VI. of the Gleanings I devoted the first chapter (pp. 1-12) to a brief anticipation of the information here given in full detail. With the early generations of the family, as set forth in the Visitation pedigree of 1619, I am not much concerned. The succession of names from William " J erveis," said to have been settled at Thorpe Langton in or about 1363, to the John Jervis with whom I am content to start my pedigree, probably has some foundation of fact, but I am inclined to doubt whether it is a true descent throughout from father to son. John Jervis, who died in 1558, is shewn as eighth in descent from the founder, and when eight generations are compressed into less than 200 years we, who know how the generations of male descent rarely vary much from the accepted average of three to the century, may justifiably be sceptical. There were very likely records of Jervises, 2 JOHNSONIAN GLEANINGS : PART VII. as named, being in possession of the Thorpe Langton estate at the dates given, but in some cases they may have been brothers, or even cousins, who succeeded, and not sons. When we come to the .John Jervis in question we find him given in the Visitation pedigree as son of William Jervis, but as actual records reveal that when he inherited Thorpe Langton, in 1511, it was in succession to one William Jervis, described only as his "kinsman," we may wonder whether here is not an excellent illustration of the truth of n1y suggestion . William Jervis, son of the John Jervis mentioned, purchased a manor at Great Peatling in 1564, and after that date Great Peatling was the family seat until the second half of the eighteenth century, when increasing poverty compelled relinquishment of the old home. There seem to have been Jervises who remained at Thorpe Langton after the settlement of William Jervis at Great Peatling, and apparently in the elder line, but they soon vanish and are not heard of again. I am content to deal with the Great Peatling line, and to leave questions not directly connected with it for others to settle if they can. There is no great problem or difficulty in the pedigree of the Peatling Jervises, such as tormented me, and still torments me when I think of it, in the descent of the Porters (see post, pp. 62-4). But there are a few things I am very sorry to leave unsettled. Most do I grieve that the careers of Mrs. Johnson's younger brothers, William and Samuel, who were both alive in 1703, and approaching maturity, have not been traced. More extended research might reveal their after history, but when ways and means have constantly to be considered even obvious channels of information often have to be left unexplored. There is the usual number of discrepancies in names and dates, particularly in the printed sources, but I have done my best to resolve all such difficulties. At ante, VI., 12, I was only able to suggest that William Davies Jervis, like his elder brother Charles, left no legitimate issue, and that therefore the male line of the Jervis family of Peatling failed on their death. The evidence is now complete that this was so, though, like his brother again, he left illegitimate issue. THE JERVIS AND PORTER FAMILIES 3 EXTRACTS FROM PARISH REGISTERS GREAT PEATLING, CO. LEIC. (Register searched by Mr. A. W. Read, from commencement on 15 Nov. 1565. Entries in italics not utilized in pedigree.) 1567/8. Feb. 25. bap. Dorthye Jervis dau. of William Jervis. 1571. Mch. 30. bur. Ann Jervis wife of William Jervis the elder gent. 1574. Nov. 22. mar. Edward Ward [sc. Wade] et Annys Jervis. I 5 76/ 7. Jan. 7. mar. William Jervis & Francis Bradgate. 1578. Sept. 10. bap. Edward Jervis son of William Jervis. 1582/3. Feb. 25. mar. Noe Duckett et Grace Jervis. 1587. Mch. 25. bitt'. John Jervis son of [blank] Jet'vis. 1587. Dec. 4. mar. Mr. Rychard Roberds et Dowrethye Jervis. 1590. Aug. 30. bur. Catherine Jervis Wife of William Jervis, Gent. 1594. Nov. 1. bap. Elizab. Jervis dau. of George Jervis. 1596. Apl. 13~ bap. Frances Jervis dau. of George Jervis. 1597. May-. bap An Jervis dau. of George Jervis. 1597. May 8. bur. William Jervis the eldest Gent. 1597. May 14. mar. Thomas Bennett et Amye Jet'vis. 1598. Dec. 17. bap. William Jervis son of George Jervis. 1599. Sept. 10. mat'. John Jervis & Mat'garet Hewet. 1602. Nov. 16. bur. Frances Jervis wife of William Jervis the elder. 1610. Nov. 5. mar. William Holliack & Dorethy Jervis. 1611/12. Feb. 11. mar. John Dawes & Elizab. Jervis. 1613/14. Jan. 3. bap. Jervis Dawes son of John Dawes. 1613/14. Jan. 23. bur. William Jervis the eldest gentleman. 1617. Dec. 17. mar. Frauncis Chamberlain and Frauncis Jervis. 1618/19. Jan. 5. bur. William Jervis the elder gentleman. 1633. (July ?). 11. bur. Elizabeth wife of George Jervis gent. 1637. May 4. bap. William son of William Jervice Esq. & Elizabeth. 1641. Dec. 16. bap. Maria Jervis dau. of William Jervis & Elizabeth. 1643. Oct. 3. bap. Abigal Jervis was bap. 1643/4. Mch. 21. bur. Elizabeth Jervis. 1657/8. Mch. 8. mar. Mr. Richard Bradgate and Mns Jane Jervuise ["spin.," in different hand) published January 10-17-24 and married at Weddington in the county of Warwick. 1657/8. Mch. 15. mar. Mr. William Reade Merchant and Bachelour Citizen of the parish of Martins Ludgate London and Mris Susannah Jervis Spinster having been published 3 several days in the City of London (viz.) 13-17-22 day of February. 1658/9. Jan. 1 r. bap. William sonne of Mr. William Read a Merchant and Citizen of London & Mrs. Susanna his Wife born the 3 day of January.