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Sir John Southworth Knight
(1526-1595)
Mary Assheton
(Abt 1526-)
William Lister Esquire
(Abt 1512/24-1582/2)
Bridget Pigot
(Abt 1530-)
Thomas Southworth
(1561-1616)
Rosamond Lister
(Abt 1554-1582)
Edward Southworth
(Abt 1590-Abt 1621)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Alice Carpenter

Edward Southworth

  • Born: Abt 1590, Wrington, Somersetshire, England 157
  • Marriage: Alice Carpenter on 28 May 1613 in Leyden, Holland 157,202
  • Died: Abt 1621, London, Middlesex, England about age 31 157

bullet  General Notes:

According to the book "Colonial and Revolutionary Lineages in America" Vol. 19, Edward was a silk worker in Leyden, Holland.

New England Families, Genealogical and Memorials, Clearfield Company, p. 1202

~ The Families of Standish, p. 65, gives his birth location as London, 1590 and death before 1622. 202

bullet  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation:: A merchant and business agent for the Leyden Pilgrims. 446

• Birth. 157
Edward was not mentioned in his grandfather Lister's will in 1582 but was in his grandfather Southworth's will in 1595

• English Ancestry. 447
There has been some debate over the English ancestry of the American Southworths. I was given a genealogy done by a profession genealogist for my grandmother sometime between 1920 and 1960. It had Edward Southworth connected to the Sir Thomas and Sir John Southworth of Samlesbury Hall, Lancaster shire, England. I have since read about the controversy over this connection, began questions that connection.

I followed both A Genealogy of the Southworths, which follows very closely to the genealogy of my grandmother, Mable Atwood, and the Southworth research done by Jim Stevens (database ), whose research I highly respect. He is convinced that the connection I was given is correct. He spent many years researching the Southworth family, and he has "the ultimate" Southworth data base on his rootsweb site.

I also searched through the database of the New England Historic and Genealogical Record for any information I could find dealing with this controversy. The NEHG Record, 1943, Vol. 97, pages 390-364 has an article titled The Southworth family of Plymouth Colony, which deals with an embroidered Southworth Crest resembling the Crest of the Southworth of Samlesbury Hall, Lancastershire, England which had belonged to Constant Southworth's mother Alice Carpenter Southworth Bradford. This embroidery had been passed down through the Bradford family through the women, starting with Alice Carpenter.

The embroidery is considered to be made in the Americas after 1700. It contains patterns that are from the older Southworth arms, but at the time it was made there was no printed source of this earlier version in either Britain or the Americas. This may have been copied off an inherited family item.

During the sixteenth century there were these two pairs of Southworth brothers, the Southworth brother of Leyden: a Thomas and Edward of the Samlesbury branch and a Thomas and Edward of the Nottingham branch. The first of two sets brothers named Thomas and Edward that were born in Lancashire of the Samlesbury Southworths. They were the grandsons of Sir John Southworth the Recusant, who mentioned them both in his will. Sir John was a Roman Catholic, but the father of these two brothers became a member of the Church of England.

Also during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries there was a large family of Southworths who bore the Southworth coat of arms living in the heart of "Separatist and Pilgrim country." Sir John Southworth, of Samlesbury, living around 1400, had land in Norttinghampshire. Future generations of Southworths lived in this area. There were two brothers there named Thomas and Edward Southworth.

The male Samlesbury Southworths belonged among the foreign burgesses of the Preston Guild. Both Thomas and Edward Southworth named appear in the list of 1602, but both are omitted from the list of 1622. Omission from the list might indicate death or removal from Lancastershire. Edward Southworth of Leyden died sometime between 1620 and 1623.

Whether the Leyden brothers who began the Southworth families in the United States were the Nottingham or Samlesbury branch, the article concludes that they either remotely or very closely decend from the knightly family of Southworth of Samlesbury.

NEHGR, Vol 97 pp. 359-364

• Dates & Events. 157
Edward Southworth was a silk worker in Leyden, one of the Pilgrim exiles who formed Reverend John Robbin's church, On 4 Nov 1611, he was groomsman or witness at the marriage of Isaac Allerton and mary Norris. On 30 Apr 1618, he was again a witness for his friend Samuel Fuller's marriage to agnes carpenter.

Edward moved back to London and lived at the Henige/Heneage House in the Duke Place. Governor William Brandford kept a letter from a Robert Cushman to Edward dated 17 Aug 1620 living at that location. The letter discusses Edward's plan of making a journey to the Americas. Edward never made this journey.

A Genealogy of the Southworths (Southards), author Samuel G. Webber uses the location and ownership of the Heneage House as on proof of the connection between the American Southworths and Samleson Southworths. A man named Francis Walsingham took an interest in the welfare of Thomas Southworth when there was fear that Sir John might disinherit his eldest son after Thomas became a protestant. Sir Francis Walsingham had lived across from the Henage House.

Webber also compared the ages and dates of the few Edward/Thomas Southworths living at the time of Edwards marriage to Alice Carpenter, age 16 at the time of marriage. He concludes that the only the Edward Southworth, son of Thomas Southworth and grandson of Sir John Southworth, was of the correct age to marry Alice Carpenter. He further states that there had been a family legend about a previous interest of Governor William Bandford in marrying Alice Carpenter, but Alice's father refusing because Bradford's status was below Alice's. The son of Thomas and grandson of Sir John would be of similar status.

Webber's last argument is that the pilgrim friend of Edward and Thomas Southworth, Myles Standish, lived within eight miles of the Shamleson Southworths. He concludes his book, A Genealogy of the Southworths, by giving Constant's and Edward's ancestry as the one I have used here.

~A Genealogy of the Southworths , Chapter Five, Southworths in England pp. 401-438

• Background Information. 157
Entry from A Genealogy of the Southworths (Southards), p. 426:
Thomas Southworth, born about 1561; died 1617; married Rosamond Lister, daughter of William Lister, Esquire of Thornton, York, and Bridget Pigot of Midhope. His children were: John, who died before his father; Thomas, present at Edward's marriage at leyden in 1613; William, of Holcroft, Lancaster, living in 1618; Richard; Michael (Nicholas); Edward, in Leyden married Alice Carpenter; Bridget, married Duddel, Esquire of salwick; Margery, married Thomas Osbaldston, Esquire; Ellen, married William Dewhurst; Ann. all these children were living 1595, when their grandfather made his will.

• From Gen-Medieval Archives: Proof of Southworth Royal Descent, Part I. 116,193
From: Jim Stevens <jstevens@IQUEST.NET>
Subject: Proof of Southworth Royal descent (part1)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 16:26:50 -0500

Part 1 of 2:

I know this is a lengthy post, but should be of immense interest to anyone descended from Edward Southworth of Leyden. Two facts of importantance are contained herein:

1.) We know that Edward's brother, Thomas, was present at Edward's marriage to Alice Carpenter. There were two sets of Edward/Thomas brothers. The Thomas of Wellam, which branch has not been proven to be descended from the Southworths of Samulsbury hall, died before the wedding as proven by probated wills, copies of which are still extant. Though this does not in itself prove Edward of Leyden is the one descended from the Samulsbury Southworths, it does prove that his rival for the desisignation definitelty was not. Edward of Leyden could not have been Edward of Wellam and Edward of Wellam definitely did not marry Alice Carpenter.

2.) The discussion regarding the heraldic background of the crest found in Alice's possession seems convincing to me, but I admit to no great knowledge of the field of heraldry. Apparently the heraldry committee of the New England Historic Genealogical Society was concinced.

Nottingham Origin of the Southworth Family of America: as given by Colonel Chas. E. Banks:

A refutation by Mrs. Mary J. Sibley, Ph.D., 101 University Place, Syracuse,
New York.

In his "English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers", Grafton Press 1929, Colonel Banks on page 161 states that the Southworth family came from the vicinity of Fenton, Co. Notts, near Sturton le Steeple, home of Reverend John Robinson, and gives as his authority "P.R.O. British Public Records Office Exchequer Deposition 43044 Elizabeth Michaelmas. Number 3".

United States Library of Congress, in reply to my inquiry, states: - "It is believed the Library of Congress has all publications of the British Public Records Office but the reference is not to any printed book. It pertains to some MSS. manuscript material in the P.R.O.

In the recent work "Banks Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to America", Edited by Elijah Ellsworth Brownell, page 133 of the tabular index is found: - Edward Southworth from the Parish of Sturton, settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Came on the ship Anne. Authority "Banks MSS". Instead of Edward it should have stated "Widow of Edward" for it is authoritatively known that Edward was then dead and that Alice, his widow came on the ship Anne in 1623.

The Banks MSS "alluded to was not in the collection of Banks MSS. in the Rare Book Room of the Library of Congress, neither is it in the New England Historic Genealogical Society Library, Boston, Massachusetts. However I found a list of P.R.O. Exchequer Deposition by Commission from I Elizabeth to 18 James I"; "Names of 43,625 Deponents", arranged in 8 geographical groups, according to County to which the documents relate (Issued only to members of the Genealogical Research Co-operative Club). In volume I (1559 - 1620) page 36, under Group I, "York and Notts", I found the names of the deponents in the reference given by Banks. I had seen these names in a deposition in "Pastor of the Pilgrims - John Robinson", by Walter H. Burgess, 1920, which antedated Banks by nine years. Burgess gives the exact reference in a foot-note, page 376, and the full text of Edward Southworth's deposition, pages 379 to 381, which showed that Banks had accepted Burgess instead of making a personal search for the home of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland, and had failed to give Burgess credit in his "English Ancestry and Homes of the Pilgrim Fathers", Grafton Press 1929.

In the Boston transcript, February 25, 1932, the Nottingham version of the Southworths of Leyden, Holland and New England, by Burgess, was given in the transcript April 27, 1932, I cited some of the discrepancies in the Burgess theory. Burgess believed that Hunter "Founders of New Plymouth" 1849 had proved the puritanism of the Southworth family of Wellam, Notts, to which Edward of Fenton belonged, which is fully proved by Burgess, but he did not know that Hunter had confused two Robert Southworths (both of Notts) and so had not proved the religion of the Wellam Branch.

I called attention to the colorings of their (Notts) coat-of-arms, which was not the same as that brought to America by Alice Southworth, widow of Edward of Leyden, Holland. I showed that Burgess had not proved the Edward Southworth of Wellam was a firm and fast friend of John Robinson, pastor of the Pilgrims. They may have been, if ages given by Burgess were wrong, but he Burgess did not give anything to prove it. What he Burgess did give proof concerning, was the Pilgrim pastor's father knew Edward of Wellam's guardian, John Thornhagh, Sr. of Fenton and had served witness with said Edward's brother, Thomas.

Since writing the transcript articles, I have obtained additional abstracts of wills of the Wellam Southworths, which I shall give, without comment. In order to connect these at a glance, I shall give Edward Southworth of Wellam's report to the Herald in the Visitation of Nottinghamshire in 1614.

His identification with Edward of Fenton is fully proved by Burgess. Subsidy rolls of Sturton cum Fenton show that no Southworths were living there as land owners. The land he inherited from his father, Robert Southworth of Wellam, was at East Retford, Ordsall and Gringley - "on the hill".

During his minority he lived at Fenton with his guardian John Thornhagh, Sr. and was still of Fenton in 1602 when he made his deposition mentioned above, but, he was of Wellam when he made his will. His mother and unmarried brother, Thomas, had inherited the Wellam estate and were then both deceased.

Visitation of Nottingham 1569 - 1614 (Harl. pub.) Volume 4, page 114.

Raymond Southworth of Wellam:
-
/---------------/
-
Richard Southworth Emma daughter of ? Levesey of Clarborough and Wellam, of Keeton Keston? Notts. son and heir
Southworth Ellen daughter of Harris of Clarborough of Bestropp, Notts.
-
|-- Elizabeth uxor George Harrison
|-- Margaret uxor John Otter
Edward Southworth of Clarborough and Wellam. Living in 1614 Married to:
Anne daughter of Richard Elsam of West Radford, Notts.

Abstracts of Wills Found in H.G. Somerby papers in New England Historic
Genealogical Society Library (Boston):

• Richard Southworth of Wellome, Notts, yeoman September 7, 36 Henry VIII (15444), to be0 buried in the Church of Clareborough. Wife Emmot. Son Robert to have the farm at Clarborough where testators father lived when 24 years of age. Son Oliver. Brother Sir Robert Southworth, parson of Kirton. Brother Sir William Southworth, Vicar of Heden, and brother Sir Thomas Southworth whom I make my executor. Also I will that Sir Humphrey, my brother, shall not meddle with any part of my goods for I have agreed with him for his child's part. Michael Clerkson to be Supervisor of my will. Witnessed by James Southworth, Richard Bilbie, Robert Byse and Thomas Copton. Proved April 30, 1545. (Somerby Papers, Volume 53 page 313)

Note: Mr. Somerby does not state where the original will is found. I shall supply this from "York. Arch. and Top. Assn. Record Ser." as far as possible. - In volume XI. Wills in York Registry 1514 - 1553, page 165 "May 22, 1545 Southworthe, Richard, Wellome, yeoman, September 7,36 Henry VIII (1544). Volume 13 f 15".

• Robert Southeworth of Wellam, Parish of Clareborough, November 20, 1580. To be buried in the Church. Wife Ellen, the lands &c. in Clareborough during her life, which I bought of Francis Worth, Esquire and John Dunstone, Gentleman. After her death to son Thomas and other lands &c. in Wellam and Tylney in County of Notts. To son Edward lands &c. in East Retford, Ordsal and Gringley in the hole (in Burgess - "on the hill") in County Notts. Son Edward not 21. Appoint the right worshipful Mr. Thornaghe of Fenton, Esquire guardian to son Edward, Daughters Elizabeth, Alice and Margaret all under 21. Daughter Isabel married. Sir Thomas, Executor (his uncle, brother to his father, see will of Richard, above) and John Cadd, George Diccons, Oliver Southworth and Richard Southworth supervisors, to each he gives an angel of gold.

Proved October 8, 1589.

(Somerby Papers, Volume 51 pages 278 - 279)

(York. Ar. & Top. Rec. Ser. Volume 22 - Index of Wills in York Registry. - October 8, 1590 Southworthe, Robert, Wellam parish Clareborough, Notts, dated November 20, 1580. Volume 24 page 416)

This proves that his son Edward was the Edward Southworth at Thornaghe's in Fenton, his son Edward was Burgess has also shown in more detail; also the Edward had a brother Thomas.

• Ellen Southworth, Wellam, Parish of Clareborough, Notts. Widow, April 29, 1609. Sons Thomas and Edward each 10/. Daughter Elizabeth, wife of George Harrison 10E. Daughter Margaret, wife of John Otter 10E. To Elizabeth daughter of Leonard Steele Style 10E. Other children of Steele name. To the children of William Ashton. Sons Thomas and Edward, executor and Richard Southworth and Thomas (Burgess had it "Dickons") Dickon, supervisor.

Proved January 22, 1612 - 1613.

(Somerby Papers, Volume 51 page 355)

Notice that on the same day her (Ellen Southworth) will was proved, her unmarried son's will was also proved (see below). Ellen was widow of Robert Southworth of the preceding will. This agrees with the report of her son Edward to the Herald in 1614. Both mention her daughter Elizabeth, wife of George Harrison and Margaret, wife of John Otter. Daughters Isabel and Alice were evidently deceased.

From Edward's will (below) we learn that a sister married Leonard Steele (Note: Somerby should have said Leonard STYLE - see below) and another sister married William Ashton. As Leonard Steele Style had the larger number of children I judge his wife was Isabel, who was married by November 20, 1580; and Alice, wife of William Ashton, who was then not 21.

(York. Ar. & Top. Rec. Ser. Volume 28 Index of Wills in York Registry 1612 - 1619 - "January 22, 1612 Southworth, Ellen, Wellam, parish Clareborough, Notts, widow, dated April 29, 1609 Volume 32 page 275)".

• Thomas Southworth, of Wellam in parish of Clareborough, Notts, yeoman, July 18, 1612. To William Fairbank, Edward Loveden, George Parkin, Widow Packin (?), Davis Markham and Gilbert Swifte. Brother Edward and sister Elizabeth Harrison. Sister Margaret Otter. To Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard Steele Style and other daughters of said Steele. William Ashton. Brother-in-law John Otter. Brother Edward's wife. Sister Elizabeth Harrison and brother Edward executors. Witnessed by Richard Southworth and others.

Proved January 22, 1612.

(Somerby Papers, Volume 51 page 356)

(York Ar. & Top. &c. Volume 28 January 22, 1612, Southworth, Thomas, Wellam Parish Clareborough, Notts. yeoman dat. July 17, 1612 - Volume 32,f. 278).

This Thomas Southworth died before the wedding of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland, May 28, 1613. (A photo of the original marriage record is the frontispiece of the "Mayflower Descendant", Volume 10, and is followed by a translation and comment.) Thomas Southworth, the brother of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland attended Edward's wedding and Edward was given as a single man from England.

Thomas of Wellam in his will mentions "Brother Edward's wife", so Edward of Fenton and Wellam was not Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland. Hence Walter H. Burgess and Colonel Chas. E. Banks failed in their identification of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland.

I was surprised to find that Burgess (footnote, page 102) quotes from the will a gift to the Vicar of Clareborough, which Somerby omits from his abstract. This shows he Burgess had seen the will of Thomas and yet failed to see that it nullified by its probate date that this Thomas was the Thomas who was present at his brother Edward's wedding at Leyden, Holland. He had been dead four months at least. He gives in his reference "York. Registry,

Volume 32,f.278", so it was the same will.


And, Edward's will (below) also shows that Alice Carpenter was not his wife but Ann Elsam, which he stated in 1614 in the visitation quoted above, when Edward and Alice Southworth of Leyden, Holland were both alive.

• Edward Southworth, of Wellam, parish of Clareborough, Notts, Gentleman, November 15, 1621, to be buried in the chancel of the church. To son Edward his house and all his lands in Wellam, Wellam Moorhouse, Bollam and Gringley in said parish of Clareborough. Daughter Mary. Sister's sons viz. John, Robert and Thomas, sons of Leonard Steele Style. Thomas, son of George Harrison. Edward, son of William Ashton. Edward and John sons of John Otter. Son Edward not 21. Nephew Edm. Ashton. Brother John Otter. Appoints his father-in-law, Mr. Richard Elsam and his brother-in-law, George Harrison, executors.

Proved July 12, 1622.

(Somerby Papers, Volume 53 page 31)

The "British Gazetteer" (1910) gives - "Wellam, a village, 11 miles Northeast of Retford, Notts. Clareborough, a parish and Post-Office, three miles Northeast of Retford. Population 368. To inquiry, the Reverend T. L. Wardle, Vicar of Clareborough and Hayton made reply under date April 29, 1938, giving his address: - Hayton Vicarage, Retford, Notts. England. He was most courteous and helpful. Heden (page 2) or Headon, Notts is not Hayton.
(Marton K. Southworth)

Correction: Somerby should have written Leonard STYLE instead of Steele according to Harl. Ms. 1487 fo.466ua-or aa (?), given in volume 6 of Genealogical & Hist. Notes of Yorkshire Fam. by M. M. T.: a manuscript in the Library of Congress, page 97.

Leonard Style 1612 - Married Isabell, of Auston, (daughter of (Son of Francis Style Robert Southworth of Auston and of Wellam) Elizabeth daughter of Fletcher; and the grandson of Robert Style of Auston)
-
| John ae. 22, 1612
|
| Robert
|
| Thomas
|
| Elizabeth
|
| Susan
|
| Margaret
|
| Gertrude

Under the date November 19, 1938, Mrs. Mary J. Sibley, our Genealogist, wrote to the Blackburn Grammar School at Blackburn, Lancashire, England. The gist of her letter is as follows: -

"I have examined the records of the Blackburn Grammar School, by George Alfred Stocks, published in 1909 in the Chetham Society Publication. Stocks does not list the pupils, but in the introduction he states - 'We learn names of the five who fled beyond the seas because of their complicity in the Counter-Reformation.' He does not name them. Will you kindly have someone examine your records prior to 1629 and send me what data you have, especially of Edward Southworth and his brother Thomas Southworth, and also, the two sons of Edward Southworth, Constant and Thomas - if they attended the school."

"In 1893 a local antiquarian, Mister Joseph Baron of Blackburn, to Mister Horatius W. Southworth, of the Springfield, Massachusetts Southworth, that Edward of Samlesbury went to Leyden, Holland; but did not name his authority. I am trying to find proof of this identity. Every item will be valuable. In 1602 Edward and his brothers, including Thomas, were still in the neighborhood of Samlesbury for they were all listed as foreign burgesses with their father in the Preston (Lancashire) Guild Roll of that year. They were all mentioned by their grandfather, Sir John Southworth, in his will dated September 17, 1593. Sir John died November 3, the same year."

"In 1622, William and Christopher, brothers of Edward Southworth of Samlesbury, were still on the rolls of the Preston, Lancashire Guild, but Thomas and Edward were omitted, indicating they were dead. William is given at the time of his grandfather's death (1595) as of Holcroft, Lancashire."

"The first authentic record of Edward Southworth at Leyden, Holland was on November 13, 1610, as a witness at a betrothal, which would suggest that he was then of age, and he married Alice Carpenter at Leyden, May 28, 1613, with his brother, Thomas, as his attendant, the record of which states that Edward was from England."

"A preserved letter shows that Edward Southworth, previously of Leyden,

Holland was living at Heneage House, Duke's Place, Aldgate Ward, London, in 1620. He must have died in 1620, or early 1621 for his nephew stated at the time of his widow's death, in an ode in her honor, that he died young."

"I mean good Edward Southworth, who not long Continued in this world the saints among. With him she lived seven years a wife, Till death put a period to his life,"

Alice, his widow, came to Plymouth, Massachusetts on the ship Anne in 1623, and in August that year married Governor William Bradford. Edward's sons, Constant (born 1614) and Thomas (born 1616) remained in England untill 1628/9, presumably to be educated. If they were pupils in Blackburn Grammar School the information would be important. Both Sir John Southworth (died 1595) and his eldest son and heir, Thomas Southworth, Esquire were Governors and contributors to the school; therefore entitled to have their sons educated there." (End of letter to Blackburn Grammar School. Since the arms brought to Plymouth by Edward's widow had a sable field and since the Samlesbury Southworths bore the same and were the only Southworths in England who did - and the heir male had used crosses patonce, flory and crosslet, it seems conclusive that Edward of Samlesbury and Edward of Leyden were identical.
Mrs. Mary J. Sibley

(to be continued in part 2)

• From Gen-Medieval Archives: Proof of Southworth royal descent, Part II . 116,193
From: Jim Stevens <jstevens@IQUEST.NET>
Subject: Proof of Southworth royal descent (part 2)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 16:26:57 -0500

part 2 of 2:

This petition dated July 22, 1938 must have been submitted some time later than that date and is logically inserted here.

July 22, 1938
Committee on Heraldry,
New England Historic Genealogical Society
9 Ashburton Place,
Boston, Massachusetts

Gentlemen:

In registering the Southworth arm (cf. number 152) in the Second Roll the Committee finds, in the Register for July 1932: -

1. That the descent of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland from the Samlesbury, Lancashire Southworths "seemed very improbable";

2. "and, if the coat (Edward's in an embroidery among the effects of Governor Bradford at Plymouth, Massachusetts) in the embroidery was the coat of the Lancashire family, it was differenced to a most extraordinary extent";

3. "While they (American Southworths) and the Lancashire family very likely has a common origin, the embroidery furnishes strong evidence that the relationship was very remote." However, Edward Southworth's coat was registered as the one, in all probability, belonging to the American Southworths, on the finding that it was the same as that assigned to a Thomas Southworth in the Willement Roll of Arms made about 1395.

Now, from the Willement Roll (termed the Surrey Roll by Joseph Foster in Some Feudal Coats of Arms) we have:-

"Thomas Southworth (Richard the Second Roll. 1377 - 1399) bore sable a chevron between three crosses patonce argent", which, as the committee states is the self-same shield that is in the Bradford embroidery, although Bolton's American Armory describes the latter sable a chevron between three crosses flory (i.e. crosslet?) argent. Further more the Surrey Roll assigns to Christopher Southworth the same arms (with a crest) as borne by Thomas Southworth; Also the Ballard Roll (Edward the Fourth 1461 - 1483) gives Christopher Southworth the same shield as Thomas, in which 'Crosses flory are intended'."

We identify the said Thomas Southworth as:-

Sir Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury, Lancashire, born knighted 1380, died April 27, 1432, son of Sir John Southworth, who died at the siege of Harfleur, France October 1415. Richard Southworth, born 1420, died December 21, 1467, succeeded his father, said Sir Thomas Southworth. Sir Christopher Southworth, knighted 1482, died 1502, succeeded his father Richard Southworth. We identify this Sir Christopher Southworth as he of the Surrey and Ballard Rolls. Sir John Southworth, knighted February 18, 1503 - 4 died 1519, succeeded his father, Sir Christopher Southworth. This Sir John Southworth bore, sable a chevron between three cross crosslets argent.

Sir Thomas Southworth, died 1546, succeeded his father, Sir John Southworth, died 1519.

Sir John Southworth, born about 1521, knighted 1547, died November 3, 1595, succeeded his father Sir Thomas Southworth, died 1546. The Sir John Southworth bore sable a chevron between three cross crosslets argent, crest a bull's head erased sable, horns argent. He was the grandfather of Thomas and Edward Southworth, whom he mentioned in his will.

Sir John Southworth, died November 3, 1595 was taken up for recusancy and imprisoned at Manchester, Lancashire in 1581, bailed in 1584 and by an Order in Council directed to reside in London with his eldest son, Thomas Southworth, and which he did. Sir John Southworth was released and returned to Samlesbury in 1594. Thomas Southworth, born 1548 and died 1617 (was the first Protestant in the family) succeeded his father, Sir John Southworth, died 1595.

The line of descent shown above is confirmed in "A History of the Ancient Hall of Samlesbury" by James Croston of London, England, published by Whittingham and Wilkins at the Chiswick Press, 1871.

The table of descent on a double quatro chart is inserted between pages 160 and 161.

These are all in the main line of the Southworths of Samlesbury, Lancashire. It is noteworthy that in every instance the field was sable, the charges argent. We maintain that Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland, where he married Alice Carpenter, May 28, 1613, was born 1590, died 1620, the seventh and youngest son of Thomas Southworth, died 1617, of the Samlesbury main line.

Constant Southworth, born 1614 in Leyden, Holland, died March 10, 1678, Duxbury, Massachusetts and Thomas Southworth, born 1616 in Leyden, Holland, died December 8, 1669 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, were sons of Edward and Alice (Carpenter) Southworth.

Constant Southworth came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1628, as is authenticated by Colonial records. Thomas Southworth came soon after, possibly by way of Cape Ann or Salem in 1629. They did not come with their mother on the Anne in 1623.

Croston's table of descent was confirmed by Mister Joseph Baron, antiquarian of Blackburn, Lancashire, and author of "Ribble Land", published by John Heywood and Company, Deansgate, Manchester, Lancashire, in which occur noteworthy references to the Southworths of Samlesbury. Mister Baron in 1893, personally declared to Mister Horatius W. Southworth, a reputable gentleman, of the Springfield, Massachusetts, Southworths, that Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland was the son of Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury. Doctor Samuel G. Webber in his Genealogy of the Southworths (1905) disproves the theory of Winsor in his History of Duxbury, Massachusetts, that Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland, was the son of Thomas Southworth, Recorder of Wells, Somersetshire, second son of Edward Southworth, merchant of London, son of Christopher Southworth, second son of Sir John Southworth of Samlesbury, died 1519. Thomas Southworth, the Recorder had no children.

Furthermore, Doctor Webber, after exhaustive research in the lines of all Edward Southworths contemporary with Alice Carpenter, who answered the proper requirements, concludes with - "the probability is so great as to amount to a certainty that Edward Southworth of Samlesbury (son of Thomas Southworth died 1617) was the father of the Southworths who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts."

Edward Southworth, son of Robert of Welham Southworth in Clarborough, Nottingham is shown by the visitation of Nottingham 1569 - 1614 to have been the husband of Ann Elsam in 1614, and was not the Edward Southworth who married Alice Carpenter at Leyden, Holland in 1613. The Nottingham branch of the Southworth family bore arms, argent a chevron gules between three crosses crosslet sable. These do not agree with the colorings in the embroidery of Alice Carpenter Southworth Bradford at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Edward Southworth, husband of Alice was not of the Nottingham Southworth branch. The committee holds that - "the Lancashire Southworth family bore a silver shield with a black chevron and crosses crosslet." We contend that these represent reverse colorings, and are of a branch of the Southworth family descended from a second son, as from the Visitation of Somersetshire 1623 they are ascribed to Henry of Weeks Champflower, and Thomas Southworth, Recorder of Wells, sons of Edward Southworth, merchant of London, son of Christopher Southworth, second son of Sir John Southworth of Samlesbury, died 1519.

The quartered arms on the wall of the chapel at Samlesbury reveal first and fourth quarters with a sable field, while the second and third are argent. What could be more conclusive that the mail line bore a sable shield? In justice, the committees' finding should be corrected. In Doctor Webber's Genealogy is a picture of the arms in the Samlesbury Chapel.

Mrs. Mary J. Sibley of Syracuse, New York (M.J.S. of the Boston Transcript "Southworth" articles) in the issue of that newspaper for August 31, and November 6, 1931, quoting Doctor Henry M. Dexter from "English Exiles in Amsterdam", names as present there a "Mister (gentry) Southworth, Jane Southworth, doubtless an Aunt or sister-in-law of Edward Southworth of Samlesbury, who had both, so named; Also six Pygotts, one named

Matthew. The maternal grandmother of said Edward Southworth was Bridget Pygott, and she had a son Matthew Lister, annuitant under Thomas Southworth, father of said Edward Southworth, as provided in the will of Matthew's father, Sir William Lister. Later Matthew became a physician to royalty and was knighted.

Edward Lister, elder brother of Sir Matthew Lister, was a physician in ordinary to Queen Elizabeth. He lived in Aldgate, parish of Saint Mary Aldermanbury and was buried within the parish church. Thus an uncle of Edward Southworth of Samlesbury lived in Aldgate when Edward Southworth of Leyden and other Pilgrims were there.

Edward Southworth of Leyden and wife, Alice, lived in Heneage House, Dukes Place, Aldgate, London, as evidenced by a letter written to Edward Southworth by Robert Cushman, business agent of the Pilgrims. The letter was dated from Dartmouth, England, August 17, 1620 and is now in the Massachusetts Historical Society archives at Boston.

Mary J. Sibley - Boston Transcript, August 31, 1931, relates that Sir Francis Walsingham (who was the Secretary of State, and a warm friend of Thomas Southworth, father of Edward Southworth of Samlesbury) lived opposite Heneage House in Dukes Place, and was responsible for Sir John's freedom on bail in London, while the latter was actually under the charge of his son, Thomas Southworth, who with his wife lived in London, 1584 -1594. Thus it is likely that Edward Southworth was born there (1590), and it would be more than a mere coincidence, but natural, that Edward Southworth should return and live in Dukes Place when in London, 1620. Walsingham died in Aldgate, 1590.

Mary J. Sibley - Boston Transcript, November 6, 1931, shows from records of the Preston, Lancashire, Guild that Edward Southworth of Samlesbury died young before 1622. Edward Southworth of Leyden and London likewise died young, late in 1620, as per his nephew, Nathaniel Morton, Secretary of Plymouth Colony, in his "New England Memorial".

Again, Mary J. Sibley - Boston Transcript, November 6, 1931, to quote:- "With test of known facts I eliminated all other Edward Southworths I had found in London and elsewhere. Edward Southworth of Samlesbury stood this test, and was the only one who did. I made my intensive search to see if it would reveal any reason why said Edward Southworth of Samlesbury could not be identified with Edward Southworth of Leyden, and I found none". Further:- "I found crosses flory among the arms of the Samlesbury Hall Southworths, and in their colorings and since they were the main family all others would have been reversed colorings. This gives positive identification of the arms."

Mary J. Sibley - Concludes her Boston Transcript, November 6, 1931, article with:- "Why should Edward Southworth's widow and children care to possess a memorial (the arms in the embroidery) to a deceased member of the Samlesbury Hall Southworths if it were not our family? And they would know as to that."
We desire to certify to recognition and thankful appreciation of the work of the Committee, and trust that we may not appear over-critical. However, we feel strongly that we are entitled to reconsideration of the three numbered citations at top of page 1 herein, as they are at variance with the facts. We would respectfully request a revision, which might also show both Thomas and Christopher as having borne the same arms which were handed down in America.

Likewise to keep the record straight, - Constant Southworth came to Plymouth in 1628 and his brother Thomas Southworth soon after, not "With their mother."

Doctor Bowditch, Secretary of your Committee, has been interviewed, proved himself most courteous and helpful, is appraised of this, our present action, and we are encouraged in the belief that it meets with his approbation.

Respectfully submitted,

Merton K. Southworth, 65 Warren Avenue, Wollaston, Massachusetts
Eugene C. Southworth, Marion Court
Clifford E. Southworth, 9 Colver Street, New London, Conn.
Roswell L. Southworth, 54 Dudley Avenue, Coninicut, R.I.
Melvin D. Southworth, (1558) 6 Crescent Hill, Springfield, Massachusetts
Galward Southworth, 42 Magnolia Terrace, Springfield, Massachusetts
Rev. Franklyn C. Southworth (4229) Maraside, Little Compton, R. I.
Constant Southworth (1555) 4000 Cathedral Avenue, Washington, D. C.
Franklin C. Southworth 521 Ashland Avenue, Buffalo, New York.
H. Brewster Southworth, Garison Road, Hingham, Massachusetts
Clarence E. Southworth. 157 River Street, Braintree, Massachusetts
S. D. Southworth. 714 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts
Charles E. Southworth, 31 Holland Terrace, Needham, Massachusetts
Robert A. Southworth, 14 Midland Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Winthrop M. Southworth, 81 Powers Street, Needham, Massachusetts
George W. Southworth, 23 Lincoln Street, Needham, Massachusetts
Dana B. Southworth, 97 St. Stephen Street, Boston, Massachusetts
George E. Southworth, 2 Southworth Trail, Milford, Conn.
Arthur P. Southworth, 11 Shefield Road, Wakefield, Massachusetts
Constance E. Southworth, 65 Warren Avenue, Wallaston, Massachusetts
Alice H. Southworth, Briarwood, Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Dr. Thomas S. Southworth, 530 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
Harriet Southworth, 775 Port Avenue, Hasbing ?
Rev. George S. Southworth, (1560) 538 North Talawan Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
Elisabeth Southworth Harrison, (1557) 347 North Audubon Road, Indianapolis,
Ind.
Dr. Rufas Southworth, (1556) Fauntaire Avenue, Glendale, Ohio.
Dr. John D. Southworth, (1561) 23 Washington Street, Rutland, Vt.
George Asahel Southworth, (4366) 402 College Avenue, Northfield, Minn.
Asahel Dimmick Southworth, 304 East 4th Street, Northfield, Minn.

Southworth Company Paper Manufactures
Established 1839
West Springfield Massachusetts U.S.A.
December 10, 1940
Mister George Asahel Southworth
402 College Street
Northfield, Minnesota

Dear Mister Southworth:

I must apologize for not having acknowledged your valued letter of November 20, 1940. I certainly appreciate the names you have given me and the interest you have taken in the use of our paper. I will send a sample book to each of the persons and advise them where they can pick up our paper.

I am more than chagrined that I did not report to you the result of our petition on the Southworth Coat of Arms. I am enclosing herewith a newspaper clipping from the Boston Transcript under the date of November 11, 1939, which shows the New England Historical Society acted favorably upon our petition.

As you know the Southworth Coat of Arms is registered in what is called part two of the Roll of Arms published by the Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society.

Very Sincerely yours,
MDS:DC
Melvin D. Southworth
Boston Transcript, November 11, 1939

Notes
Southworth Arms

Comment on Note 29986. January 27, 1938. Under the above caption this department gave an extract from the Introduction to the Second Roll of Arms, by the Committee on Heraldry as printed in New England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1932.

Interested members of the Southworth family could not accept three premises therein as:
(1) That decent of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland from the Samlesbury, Lancashire, Southworth "seemed very improbable."
(2) If the coat in the embroidery (Edward's, at Plymouth, Massachusetts) was the coat of the Lancashire family, it was differenced to a most extraordinary extent."
(3) That the embroidery furnished strong evidence that the relationship of American Southworths and the Lancashire family "was very remote."

The committee on Heraldry took up the case anew and in the current (October) Register, page 395, issued the following:

The Southworth Arms - A corerction

In the "Introduction" to the Second Roll of the Arms of the Society's Committee on Heraldry, Register, Volume 86 pages 258 ff, certain statements in regard to the Southworth arms were made which it now seems, in the light of certain facts brought to the attention of the committee by members of the Southworth family, should be modified or corrected.


Edward married Alice Carpenter, daughter of Alexander Carpenter and Priscilla Dillen, on 28 May 1613 in Leyden, Holland 157.,202 (Alice Carpenter was born 3 Aug 1590 or 16 Dec 1593 in Wrington, Somersetshire, England 157, baptized on 1 Sep 1592 in Brighton, Somersetshire, England 157 and died on 5 Apr-29 Mar 1670 in Plymouth, Massachusetts 157.)

bullet  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Record. 157,447
Edward's brother, Thomas Southworth was present for the wedding that took place in Leyden in 1613.


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