Southern Strong's and possible research avenues
I. George Stronge of Chardstock
II. Thomas Stronge of Chardstock
III. REV. JAMES STRONGE - Bpt. 23 August 1618, Chardstock, Devon, Eng., d. 1694, bur. 1694, Ruishton, Somerset, Eng. M. 1) Katherine Minterne, dau. of John Minterne and Bridget Brown, d. aft. 1674/75, bur. Ruishton, Somerset, Eng. 2) Sarah ______. [ Patricia Pierce, pub. By M&J Clearinghouse] - First cousin of Elder John Stronge of Chard and Northampton, Massachusetts.
Will of Rev. James Stronge, dated 26 Feb. 1694, proved 20 June, 1694, by James Stronge and Sarah
Buried near my former wife and children in the parish Church of Ruishton.... 50 shillings to be bestowed on a salt which I give to New Inne Hall in Oxford.... 5 pounds to be bestowed in 20 bibles of 5 shillings each to the poor people....poor children or other of Curry Rivell and Ruishton.... 40 shillings to any of Alexander Cook's children of Chardstock.... My dear and honorable friend Mr. John Speke.... To my son Martyn, Montanns Hebrew Bible in 8 volumes.... To my son James be he living and returned....100 pound paid to him out of my estate at Henlade.... My daughter Elizabeth Stacey, 10 shillings.... My estate at Henlade, I give to my son Edward and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body to the worlds end, but my wife shall enjoy the said 18 acres of land at Hospitts during her life.... Residue to my son Edward and my now wife Sarah whom I appoint joint executors.... Household goods and.... Goods at Curry Rivel.... divided between them..... and also debt of 50 pounds.... I hold by a mortgage of 7 years for Mr. Jeringes and Mr. Thomas Jennings, Esq. which at 10 pounds a year for Ernshill amount to 70 pounds.... all the small tithes due out of parsonage of Curry. Mr. Nicholas Massall of Taunton and Mr. John Gardner of Hinton St. George Overseers. [Jeanne Waters Strong]
Children all by Katherine Minterne.
A. Melancthon Stronge - Bur. 13 Sept. 1691, Nether Stowey, Somerset, Eng., M. Susannah _______, bur. 30 Nov. 1673, Nether Stowey, Somerset, Eng. 2) Thomasine Ballifant, 1674, dau. of William Ballifant and Tomasin, bpt. 26 March 1652, Nether Stowey, Somerset, Eng.
Children
1. Mary Stronge - Bpt. Jan. 30, 1674, Nether Stowey, Somerset, England. M. ______Gosforth.
2. William Stronge - Bpt. Apr. 12. 1676, Nether Stowey, Somerset, England.
3. Melancthon Stronge - Bpt. Jan. 11, 1677/78, Nether Stowey, Somerset, England. M. Mary _____.
4. Elizabeth Stronge - Bpt. Jan. 14, 1679/80, Nether Stowey, Somerset, England.
5. Elizabeth Stronge - Bpt. 1687, Nether Stowey, Somerset, England.. M. Samuel Sanderforth, Esq. MI of Chiddingstone, Kent.
B .
JAMES STRONGE - alive June, 1694. "To my son James be he living and returned...."C. Edward Stronge -
Children
1. James Stronge - B. 1688, Ruishton, Somerset, England.
2. Katherine Stronge - Bur. Ruishton, Somerset, England.
3. Catherine Stronge - B. 1698, Ruishton, Somerset, England.
4. Alexander Stronge - B. 1698, Ruishton, Somerset, England.
5. Ann Stronge - B. 1703, Ruishton, Somerset, England.
6. Francis Stronge - Bur. 1682/83, Ruishton, Somerset, England.
7. Child - B.d. 1684/85, Ruishton, Somerset, England.
8. Jane Stronge - Bur. 1688/89, Ruishton, Somerst, England.
D. Elizabeth Stronge - M. _______Stacey.
E. Rev. Martin Stronge
- Bpt. 1663, Henlade, Somerset, Eng, d. 12 Nov. 1720, Yeovil, Somerset, Eng. M. 1) ______Phelips of Montacute. [not proven] 2) Jane Game of Yeovil, Somerset, Eng., 22 Sept. 1696, Aller, Somerset, Eng. Martin matriculated Lincoln College, Oxford, March 26, 1681, BA. 1684, MA.. 1687. Presented to the vicarage of Yeovil by Sir Edmud Phelips, Knt. Instituted May 11, 1690, Inducted May 23, 1690. Vicar of Yeovil, for 30 years. In 1707 he was Prebendary of Combe I in the Cathedral Church of Wells.[Note: Sir Edmud Phelips' grandfather, Sir Edmud Phelips signed the Third Virginia Charter - which means he had interests in Virginia]
Children by Jane Game
1. Edith Stronge - Bpt. March 12, 1697/98, Bur. March 24, 1697/98, Yeovil, Somerset, England.
2. Mary Stronge - Bpt. July 11, 1700, Yeovil, Somerset, England.
3. John Stronge - Bpt. Apr. 6, 1702, Yeovil, Somerset, England.
4. Elizabeth Stronge - Bpt. December 14, 1704, Yeovil, Somerset, England.
5. Henry Stronge - Bpt. Jan. 20, 1707/08, Yeovil, Somerset, England.
6. Martin Stronge - Bpt. Feb. 9, 1715/16, Yeovil, Somerset, England.
Phelips Ancestry: The Phelips Family of Montacute, Somerset and the Ludlow Connection and their Connection to Virginia.
I. Thomas Phelips, born probably slightly before 1440, is the earliest known progenitor of this family.
Three entries in the Patent Rolls seem to gibe ample evidence that he resided in the parish of Lufton, Somerset [ 1 mile east of Montacute] prior to his having established himself at Montacute...and that his origins were in the County of Kent in a parish called Cooling. The first of these, dated 29 Oct. 1460, is a commission to Sir William Bonville and others to arrest "Thomas Philip of Lukton, county Somerset, Yoman" and bring him before the King in Chancery, presumbably for some disloyalty to the Duke of York's assumption of power in September 1460. The second of these, dated February 1466, is a pardon granted to "Thomas Phelip late of the parish of Colying, county Kent, gentleman, alias of Lukton, county Somerset, gentleman, for all offences committed by him before 27 Novemeber 1465." The third patent roll enty, also dated in February 1466, is a grant returning all of Thomas' confiscated property to him: "Thomas Phillippes late of the parish of Cowlyng, county Kent, gentleman, of all the goods and chattels forfeited by him for certain felonies of which he was indicted before the justices of the peace in the county." [ Ref.: Phelips of Montacute: Two Early Representatives, by J.H.C. Phelips, as reproduced in March 1981 from Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries, Vol. XXXI Part 313, p.2 citing Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1452-1461, p. 649, CPR, 1461-1467, p. 421, and CPR, 1461-1467, p. 483; hereinafter referred to as JHC Phelips]. In 1472, he is seen as one of the patrons of the living of Brympton, Somerset, as a Sydenham trustee. [Ref.: Ibid, p.4 citing Somerset Incubents, by F.W. Weaver, p. 36] In 1476, when he is still described as of Lufton, he was sued for a debt of 20 pounds. [Ref.: Ibid, p.4, citing De Banco Roll, Dorset County Museum ref. 57/858/202d]. Thomas Phelips was establishing himself at Montacute as early as 1479 when, in December of that year a half burgage 'within the free borough of Montacute in North Street, namely on the east side of that street between a burgage of Thomas Geffrey and a garden of the said Thomas Phelips on the south" was conveyed to him. {Ref.: Ibid, p. 2, citing Somerset County Record Office ref. DD;PH5].
There exists reasonably strong evidence of a special relationship between Thomas Phelips and the Brooke-Cobham family, seated at Cooling, Kent. The Brooke family has West Country origins and, if Thomas Phelips had been the administator or surveyor of at least some of the Booke-Cobham estates, his migration from Kent to Somerset is easily explained. Such a relationship would also explain the presence of Brooke estate documents among the Phelips family papers in the Somerset County Record Office. Further, such an influencial connection, could explain his rise in rank form yeoman in 1460 to gentleman by 1466 and his appointment to the office of Escheator fro Somerset & Dorset in 1471 and 1478. [Ref.: Ibid, p. 3-4}. Further evidence of a relationship derives from a lease extant in the Kent County Record Office in which John, Lord Cobham leased his manor of Brooke Montacute to "Jane Philip , widow." [ Ref.: Ibid p. 3, citing Kent County Record Office ref. U601 T202].
His wife Jane ( ----), is identified only as "the relict of one Abbot of Pendomer." [Ref.: Ibid, p. 4, citing a letter written in January 1588 by Thomas Phelips, grandson to this Thomas, to one of his sons, Somerset County Record Office ref. DDPH/224/4.] It has been suggested that Jane may have been a Compton, the crest, "a beacon fired proper," coming from her. [Ref.: Ibid, p. 5]
The earlises of the Phelip monuments in the north transcept of St. Catherine's, the parish church of Monacute, is that of David Phelips who died in 1484. [Ref.: Welcome to Montacute, a leaflet published by the Parent-Teacher Association for the benefit of the village school]. At this distance in time, we cannot be certain of the relationship between David and Thomas, although there certainly was one, even if this identification of the monument can be trusted. It is worth noting here that former deputy archivist, Robin Bush, states that "only the effigies of Thomas Phelips (died 1590) and his wife Elizabeth can be identified with certainty despite the confident later inscriptions on the bases." [Ref.: Somerset: The Complete Guide, p. 150].
Thomas Phelips died, apparently in 1501 prior to 7 October, leaving a Latin will dated 1 January 1500/01, still existant in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral, an English transcript of which appears below [Ref.: JHCPhelips, front cover]:
In the name of God amen. At Montacute in County, Somerset on the first day of the month of January in the year of the Lord 1500, I Thomas Phillips of the disocese of Bath, sound of mind and of good memory, make my will in this manner:
First, I leave my soul to Almighty God my creator and redeemer and my body to be buried in the church of the holy apostles Peter and Paul within the monaster of Montacute near the high cross. I give and bequeath all my burgages, lands and tenements with their appurtenances in Montacute aforesaid in the aforesaid county to JANE MY WIFE, her heires and assigns in perpetuity held of the chief lord of that fee for the rent and service due thence and by accustomed law. The rest, however, of my goods not bequeathed I give and bequeath to the aforesaid Jane my wife to dispose for my salvation as will seem best to her, whom I ordain and constitute my executrix by this my last will. These being witnesses: Master John Chamberlane vicar of Montacute aforesaid, John Saunder of the same, Giles Abbott, Richard Philippes and others. Given the day and year above written.
Children:
A. Richard Phelips, b. c. 1480
B. Thomas Phelips
II. Richard Phelips, son of Thomas, was born say 1480. He married 1) Emeline (----) who was still living in 1536, but deceased by 1557. He married 2) Emme (----), the widow of a Bristol man called John Spynge. [Ref.: Ibid, p. 5].
In 1507, Richard is seen as under-sheriff of Somerset in a letter to him from Wells Cathedral chapter after chapter had been ordered, by the court, to remove obstructions to the flow of water in the Tone River [ Ref.: Ibid, p. 6, citing Cal. Wells D. & C. MSS., II, 203]. He may be the "Ric Phyllps" named as a member of the King's Guard at the funeral of Henry VII in 1509. He may also be the "Rich Philips" named as a "servitor" at the coronation of Anne Boleyn; among the knights in attendance on that occasion was Henry Grey, the third Marquis of Dorset, whom Richard served as a surveyor of estates. [Ref.: Ibid, p. 6]. As evidenced by an Exvhequer account dated 1511, he served as the deputy of Sir Robert Southwell, Chief Butler, in the ports of Lyme and Weymouth, 1511-1516. [Ref.: Ibid, p. 6, citing L. $P., F. & D., Henry VIII, Vol. 1, Pt. 2, 3313 (6)]. In 1511, Richard was first elected to parliment as a burgess for Poole, Borough accounts yield records of many payments made to him, but which were compensation for his service in parliment, which were made to him as under- steward of the manor of
Canford [ a post which he held by 1531]. And which were for some other service, is not known; however, Richard was certainly returned to parliment as a burgess for Poole in a good number of years. In 1512, Richard appears on a muster roll for Poole [Ref.: Ibid, p. 6]. In October of 1513, he is seen in the manorial court for Canford, having failed to keep his ditch in the tything of Langflete in good repair. [Ref.: Ibid, p.6, citing Poole Museum Archives, Canford Memorial Roll7]. In 1514 or 1515, Richard bought a lease of the tithing of Great Canford for 50 years. [Ref.: Ibid,p. 6, citing Hutchins' History of Dorset, 3rd ed., III, 301]. In 1521-22, he was Escheator for Somerset & Dorset. In 1522 he appears as a justice of the peace for Dorset, for the first of 32 years in his post on the commission and is periodically seen on the Somerset commission as well. [Ref.: Ibid p. 10] In 1524 Richard returned to parliment as representative for Melcombe Regis. In October 1531, Richard is seen seized of a lease of the manor of Charborough. About 1539, he also purchased the manors of Corfe Mullen and Corfe Hubart. In 1524, Richard appears in the subsidy rolle of Poole . In 1525, he appears in a survey of the Grey family estates as holding half of the 400 avre manor of Sock Dennis [lying just south of Ilchester], Sommerset:
Richard Phellypps, Emeline his wife and Thomas and Bertram, sons of the same, hold by grant of the Lord Henry late Earl of Wiltshire and the right noble lady Cecily, Marchioness of Dorset, Baroness Harington, Bonville and Astley, wife of the said Earl, and afterwards by the confirmation of the said right noble Cecily in her pur and legitamte widowhood, half of manor above written for the term of the life of the aforesaid Richard, Emeline, Thomas and Bertram - by rent each year XXII li. The other half of the said manor belongs to William Bartlett, knight, and the said manor contains in total four hundred acres of grazing, pasture and meadow. [Ref.: Ibid, p. 9, citing P.R.O., E 315/385 f.29].
Richar Phelips spent the greater of some thirty years, from 1524 on, in service to the Marchiones of Dorset and her son, Thomas Grey.....and then the third Marquis, Henry Grey...as a 'general surveyor of her manors of Woodbury, Combpyne and Lympstone in Devon and of all others her lordships...lying within the said county & in the counties of Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset & Wilts....' If Richard Phelip had not already retired from service to the Dorsets by the time of the ill-fated plot to place Henry Grey's daughter Lady Jane, on the throne, he seems not to have suffered any consequences other than perhaps the loss of his power base when Dorset's lands were forfeited.
[Historical Note: King Henry VIII sister, Mary, married as her 2nd husband Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. They had a daughter Frances, who married Henry Grey, third Marquis of Dorset, who became, in right of his wife, Duke of Suffolk. Henry and Francis had a daughter Jane whom they married off to Guilford Dudley, a young son of the Duke of Northumberland, in a scheme to place Lady Jane on the throne following the death of her sickly first cousin once removed, King Edward VI. Edward's sister Mary, daughter of Queen Catherine of Aragon, marched on London to claim her birthright as the eldest of two surviving daughters of Henry VIII. Lady Jane and Guilford were taken to the Tower.... and, eventually, the whole business ended in the execution of the two teenagers used as pawns in the scheme.]
Richard Phelips died in 1560 leaving most of his estate to his eldes son Thomas subject to his second wife'es life interest. [Ref.: Ibid, p.11].
Children:
A. Thomas Phelips, b. c. 1510
B. Bertram Phelips, not seen aft. 1525.
C. Henry Phelips - He was the infamous Henry Phelips who betrayed the Protestant reformer, William Tyndale, to the Catholic authorities in the Netherlands. Tyndale was tried and executed. Henry went to the Continent; nothing further is known.
D. Edith Phelips - Married 1) John Stocker, mayor of Poole; 2) John Horsey and they lived at Clifton Maybanks.
E. [son] Phelips
F. [daughter] Phelips.
III. Thomas Phelips, son of Richard Phelips, was born c. 1500-1510 d. 1590. He married Elizabeth, Smythe, daughter of Matthew Smythe of Bristol. He was returned MP, 1545-1558.
On 3 January 1538, during the events commonly referred to as the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Thomas and his father Richard Phelips, were witnesses to the surrender of the impoverished Benedictine Abbey of Muchelney. The monks were pensioned off and disprersed....Richard Phelips was placed in charge of the Abbey site. [Ref.: Suppression of the Monasteries in the West Country, by J.H.Betty, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1989, p. 78]. The Prior, at what was formerly a Clunic House, in Montacute, however resisted the King's commissioners a little longer. In early 1539, Hugh Pollard and William Petre [father of Dorothy wife of Sir Nicholas Wadham, and foundres of Wadham College, Oxford] wrote to Thomas Cromwell complaining of the stubborness of the prior of Montacute. In March of 1539, these same two commissioners were complaining once again; they wrote to Thomas Cromwell asking for instructions. The Priory was finally surrendered on 20 March 1539 to John Tregonwell, the prior having been granted a handsome pension of 80 pounds per annum. [Ref.: Ibid pp. 86-87].
In 1587, Thomas gave his Montacute property to his youngest son Edward and Edward's first wife Margaret.
Thomas died leaving a will dated 25 September 1588. Effigies of Thomas and Elizabeth are still existant in the north transcept of St. Catherine's Montacute.
Children
A. Sir Edward Phelips - born c. 1560, d. 1614. Married 1) Margaret Newdigate, d. 1590. 2) Elizabeth Pigott.
He was a lawyer. Member of Parliment, 1584, 1586, 1593, 1601. Appointed Serjeant at Law and King's Serjeant, 1603. Knighted by King James I, 1603. Speaker of the Huse of Commons, 1604-1611. Chancellor in household of Prince Henry, 1610. Master of the Rolls [Head of Chancery Court], 1611. Builder of Montacute House. As Master of Rolls, he appears as a subscriber on the Third charter of Virginia Company of London, 1612.
Children
1. Robert Phelips of Montacute - Married Bridget Gorge, dau. of Thomas Gorge
Children
a. Elina Phelips - b. 1606
b. Elizabeth Phelips - b. 1610
c. Sir
Edward Phelips - b. 1613. Presented Rev. Marting Stronge to the vicarage of Yeovil, 1690.d. Bridget Phelips - b. 1616
e. Robert Phelips - b. 1618, possibly the one that fled with King Charles II, in 1651.
f. Catherine Phelips - b. 1623
[Historical Note: The Phelips family fought for the Crown during the Civil War and one, Robert fled with Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.]
B. Richard Phelips of Montacute -
Children
1. Elizabeth Phelips m. Sir Henry Ludlow, son of Sir Edmund Ludlow and first cousin to Roger Ludlow. [Note - Roger Ludlow owned the Mary & John of 1630. His wife Mary Cogan was the cousin of Rev. John Warham, minister on the Mary & John and first minister of Windsor, Ct.. Mary Cogan was born in Chard, Somerset, England where she married Roger Ludlow. Elder John Stronge was born in Chard. Rev. James Stronge was born in Chardstock.
George Ludlow, brother of Roger Ludlow, came to NE, on the Mary & John 1630, later he went to York County Virginia and owned a plantation there.
C. Thomas Phelips
Children
a. Thomas Phelips of Barrington, Somerset,
D. [son] Phelips.
Phillips (Phelips) Family of Yeovil
In 1623 in the Harlequin Visitation Giles Phillips sent in the following: visitation 1623 Somerset
It appears that both the Phelips family and the Phillipps family are the same since he sent both in.
I. Thomas Phelips - See above.
A. Richard Phelips
B. Thomas Phelips
II. Richard Phelips - See above
A. Thomas Phelips - See above.
B. Probably John Phillipps of Yeovil
III. John Phillipps of Yeovil - M. Joane Wareham (Warham)
Children:
A. John Phillipps - m. Thomazin Mountsett, dau. of Peter Mountsett of Blamford, Dorset.
Children:
1. Giles Phillipps - b. 1568. M. Jane Kellaway, dau. of Henry Kellaway of Lillington, Dorset. Reported the family history to the visitation.
Children
a. Jane Phillipps - b. 1607
b. Anne Phillipps - b. 1608
c.Giles Phillipps - b. 1614
d. William Phillipps
e. John Phillipps
f. Robert Phillipps
2. William Phillipps
3. John Phillipps
4. Peter Phillipps
Rev. Henry Whitfield Ancestry - Whitfield and Manning.
More Information to come......