Rev Richard Synge

Extract from "Clerical and parochial records of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross: Vol. III" by William Maziere (1864) Richard Synge, the only surviving son of Alderman George Synge, was an Alderman and Bailiff of Bridgnorth, in 1598. He entered his pedigree with the names of his children at the Herald's Visitation of 1623. He died in 1631. He had, by his wife, Alice, daughter of Roger Rowley, of Rowley, Shropshire, ten children:

• 1. George, Bishop of Cloyne;
• 2. Joseph, in holy orders, Rector of Manfieldstown, and Vicar of Dundalk; he married Anne, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Ashe, Knt, of St. John's Abbey, co. Meath, and by her had issue a son, George Synge, of Dundalk;
• 3. Benjamin;
• 4. Thomas;
• 5. Richard;
• 6. John;
• 7. Samuel;
• 8. Edward, Bishop of Cork;
• 9. Joshua;
• 10. Anne.

Extract from "The History of Parliament" Synge, Richard (c. 1567-1632) of Bridgnorth, Salop. M.P. for BRIDGNORTH in 1614 Family and Education b. c.1567, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of George Synge, tanner of Bridgnorth and 2nd w. Anne, da. of Hugh Catistrey of Catistrey, Salop. m. 1 Jan. 1594, Alice, da. of Roger Rowley of Rowley, Salop, 9s. 1 da. bur. 7 Mar. 1632. sig. Rich[ar]d Synge.

Offices Held Bridgemaster, Bridgnorth 1594, chamberlain 1596-7, millmaster 1598-9, treas. 1600-1,4 alderman by 1605, bailiff 1605-6, 1623-4, 1631-d.

Bailiff, Salop estates of (Sir) William Whitmore by 1609-at least 1615.

Biography

Synge made no claim to kinship with the prominent Irish family of that name, tracing his ancestry instead to a clergyman called John Millington alias Synge, a prebendary in the collegiate church of St. Mary Magdalen, Bridgnorth at its dissolution in 1548. The family ran a tannery at Bridgnorth, clearly a prosperous concern, as Synge was described as 'tanner and gentleman' at his marriage in 1594 and worked his way up the hierarchy of municipal offices until he became bailiff in 1605. Thereafter his local standing was enhanced by his role as steward to the wealthy newcomer William Whitmore, and by the fact that in 1613 he himself purchased property in Bridgnorth worth £55 a year. The key factor in Synge's return to Parliament for Bridgnorth in 1614, though, was probably not his improved social status but the fortunate coincidence that his cousin Humphrey Synge was one of the borough's two bailiffs at the time of the election. Although the corporation sent Synge to Westminster with £10 for expenses, he left no mark on the records of his only Parliament. Immediately upon his return home he was involved in a lawsuit in which the bailiffs and recorder, Sir Henry Townshend, were accused of perverting the course of justice in a debt case before the borough court. In 1621 Whitmore succeeded Synge as MP, who served as bailiff twice more, dying in office in March 1632. His eldest son George, a minister for whom he had purchased the rectory of Birmingham, Warwickshire, became chancellor of Armagh diocese, while one of his younger sons, Richard, served as bailiff of Bridgnorth in the 1650s. None of his descendants sat in Parliament.

Extract from "The Visitation of Shropshire, taken in the Year 1623: Part II" by George Glazebrook and John Paul Rylands (1889)

SYNGE of Bridgnorth:

Thomas Millington, corrupted to Singe, of Bridgnorth, Salop, married a daughter of Adames of Cleeton, and had issue:

• 1. Hugo;
• 2. Willimus Singe, alias Millington, s.p.
• 3. Georgius Singe, of Bridgnorth, married, firstly, Dorothie, daughter of _____ Whitbrooke, and had issue:
• a) Willimus, s.p.
• b) Georgius, s.p.
• c) Anna, married to Willielmi Warham (Richard Wareham) of London.
• d) Barbara, married to Roberti Scarburgh.
• e) Margeria, married to William Edmond Morris.
• f) Elizabeth, married to Jacobi Starr of Atfordton, and later to Thomae Turner.
• g) Johanna, married to _____ Simonds, of Radnor.
• Georgius Singe, of Bridgnorth, married, secondly, Anna, daughter of Hugo Catistree, of Catistrey, Salop, and had issue:
• h) Margeria, married to Ricardi Stringer.
• i) Richardus Singe, of Bridgnorth, Salop, living in 1623, married to Alicia, daughter of Rogeri Rowley, of Rowley, Salop, and had issue.
• j) Francisca, married to Richardi Lee, son of Robert Lee, in 1602.
• k) Johanna, married to ______ Starr, of Radnor.

Richardus Singe and Alicia Rowley had issue:

(i) Georgius Singe, son and heir, married to Anna, daughter of Francisci Edgworth of Dublin, Ireland, who had issue:

• - Franciscus.
• (ii) Josephus.
• (iii) Thomas.
• (iv) Richardus.
• (v) Johannes.
• (vi) Samuell.
• (vii) Edwardus.
• (viii) Josua.
• (ix) Benjamin s.p.
• (x) Anna.

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Richard Synge was the son of George Synge.1 He married Alice Rowley, daughter of Roger Rowley, on 1 January 1593.1 He died circa March 1630/31.1 He was buried on 7 March 1631.

He held the office of Bailiff of Bridgnorth in 1598.1 He held the office of Bailiff of Bridgnorth in 1605.1 He held the office of Bailiff of Bridgnorth in 1617.1 He held the office of Bailiff of Bridgnorth in 1623.1 He held the office of Bailiff of Bridgnorth in 1630.1 He lived at Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England.2

Citations [S47] Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, editor, Burke's Irish Family Records (London, U.K.: Burkes Peerage Ltd, 1976), page 1086. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Irish Family Records. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 3, page 3849. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.