John Symes, MP, of Poundisford

3. JOHN SYMES, D.L., J.P.,27, was b. 4 March 1572 28 or 1581 29 or 1586 30 or 14 Mar 1573 31 at Charde,32 Somerset, Eng. He matriculated from 33 Exeter College, Oxford, 23 Feb 1587 8, æt. 14.34 B.A. 9 July 1591.35 Student of Lincoln's Inn 1589; M.P. for Somerset; High Sheriff.36 He m. about 1605 37 (where?) Amy Horner.38 He d. 21 39 or 23 40 Oct. 1661 at Winterbourne, Gloucestershire.41 Owens (p. 3) says, "A monument to memory of John Symes was erected in Church of Bishop Hull"42 and gives a shorter version of his "epitaph." His will was dated 5 Oct. 1658 43; proved 19 Dec 1661.44

Notes

• John Symes II married Amy Horner, niece of Thomas Horner, for whom the nursery rhyme ¡§Little Jack Horner¡¨ refers. John graduated from Oxford, was a Member of Parliament, and served as the Sheriff of Somersetshire. John & Amy had three sons and eight daughters. During the English Rebellion, when Oliver Cromwell overthrew the king, John Symes II, as a supporter of the king was forced to leave his estate and take refuge in Gloucestershire where he also owned property. He lived there during the rule of Cromwell. After the monarchy was restored, John Symes II regained his estate (Poundsford) at Somerset, but being old and frail, he was too feeble to return to Poundsford. John died there at the age of 89, on Oct 21, 1661 and is buried at the church at Frampton Cottrell.
• Monument to the memory of John Symes is in the Church of Bishop Hull. It reads  ... "Reader, thou treadest on the sacred ashes of John Symes, Esq., who in the late unhappy times of rebellion was forced (for his signal loyalty to his Prince) to leave his former habitation at Poundisford, in the parish of Pitminster, in the county of Somerset, and to seek a repose for his old age in this parish. He was a man greatly renowned for wisdom, justice, integrity, and sobriety, which talents he did to hide in a napkin, but religiously exercised in the whole conduct of his life, especially in the government of that county, wherein he bore all the honourable offices incident to a country gentleman (as Knight of the shire ... ... and as he was careful and solicitous to discharge his duties to God, his soverigne and his country, so God was pleased to bestow on him several badges (also) of his special favour, as length of days, accompaned with a most healthy constitution of body for above 80 years, and of his mind to the last, as also a numerous posterity even of children and children's children, to the number of 100 and upwards ...". (1)

Notes:

• John Symes matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford, Feb 2, 1586: BA Jul 9, 1591; matriculated in Lincoln's Inn 1589. He was a barrister, Lincoln's Inn 1589; a Country Gentleman and Knight of Shire. A member of Parliament for Somerset 1624 and 1625; Justice of the Peace 1612- Civil War (40 years); High Sheriff for Somerset 1627.
• When war broke out he took the king's side and had to flee to Frampton Cottrell in Glouchester when Cromwell confiscated his property. After Cromwell's death, Charles II was crowned King in 1660 and the land was restored to the family. John was an old man by then and was probably too weak to return. WP 19 Dec 1661. Burial: Frampton, Cotterell, Gloucester, England.
• WILL: 5/10/1658 proved 19/12/1661 Poundisford, Somersetshire, England.  To my nephew Arthur Symes, 100 pounds at the end of his apprenticeship; I am possessed of many years to come and undetermined of the Mansion of Poundsford, my executors shall convey it to William Symes, first son of John Symes, dec'd, he not to vex or prosecute any suit against Henry and Thomas Symes; To my two nieces, Elizabeth and Grace Symes, 800 pounds to be paid out of Poundsford; John and Edward Symes, sons of my son Thomas Symes; All residue to sons Henry and Thomas Symes, executors.
• Barrister, Lincoln's Inn 1589
• Country Gentleman and Knight of Shire.
• John inherited his father's property in 1597. Links
•  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=77808741
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/sims/messages/6412.html
• THE PURPORTED DESCENT OF THOMAS SIM(M)S OF CULPEPER CO., VIRGINIA, FROM JOHN SYMES OF BARWICK, SOMERSET, ENGLAND - Draft 1998
• SYMES, John (1573-1661), of Poundisford, Pitminster, Som.; later of Frampton Cotterell, Glos.

notes

• ____________
• Abstracts of Somersetshire wills, etc: copied from the manuscript ..., Volume 1 By Frederick Arthur Crisp, Frederick Brown
• http://books.google.com/books?id=PElFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=J...
• Pg. 52.
• B.110. WILLIAM SYMES, of Poundsford, Somerset, Merchant. Will dated June 4, 1597, proved July 27, 1597, by Elizabeth Symes the relict. [66 Cobham.] Poor of Chard & Pitminster. The R't Hon. Sir Edward Seymour, Kn't. Lord Seymour of Pomeroy, Devon by deed, Nov. 29, 31 Elizab: hath granted me an annuity of 100 marks out of the demesne of Bury Pomeroy, for 99 years, if Elisabeth my wife, & Henry & James my sons shall live so long. To my son John Symes, L2000, according to certain covenants between me & Sir John Popham, K't, Chief Justice, & Thomas Horner, Esq. To Henry my son, 1000 marks. To my son Robert, L500. My son William, L500, at age of 21. My daughter Elizabeth, 1000 marks. My daughter Margaret, 1000 marks at age of 21 or marriage. My daughter Margery Pyne, 100 marks. Jasper Pyne, my son in law, living in Charde. My Manors of Barwick, Bowre, & Stoford, Somerset, & Frankham, Dorset. Mill in West Coker, & lands in Taunton. My manor house in Charde, to Elizabeth my wife, during her life, Extrix. Supervisors, John Pyne, esq., Roger Hill, gent., & my brother in law, Hugh Hill, gent.
• Pg. 53
• JOHN SYMES, of Poundsford, Somerset.(1) Will dated Oct. 5, 1658, proved Dec. 19, 1661. [206 May.] To be buried at Frampton Cotterell, co. Glouc. To my nephew Arthur Symes, L100 at end of his apprenticeship. I am possessed for many years to come & undetermined, of the Mansion of Poundsford, my Exors shall convey it to William Symes, eldest son of John Symes, dec'd. He not to vex or prosecute any suit against Henry & Thomas Symes. To my 2 nieces, Elisabeth & Grace Symes, L800, to be paid out of Poundsford. My nephews, John & Edward Symes, sons of my son Thomas Symes. Residue to my sons Henry & Thomas Symes, Exors.
• HENRY SYMES, of Frampton Cotterell, Glouc're, esq.(2) Will dated Jan. 28, 1678, proved Feb. 12, 1682, by Amye Symes the relict. [26 Drax.] To my wife Amie, messuages, &c., of the late dissolved Free Chapel called Stirthall, alias St. Luke's, Dorset, & after her death to my son John Jacob, & my friends, Thomas Edwards, gent., & Nathaniel Friend the younger, in trust, to permit my daughter Jane, wife of Edward Bysse, gent., to take the profits thereof. Edward Gorges, of Wraxall, owes me L3,000 on mortgage of lands in Wraxall. John Jacob & Susan his wife shall have L1,5000 thereof, and the other portion to my wife Amie & my trustees, as Jane Bysse shall appoint. My estate in the Manor of Matherne, Monmouthshire, &c., granted to my daughter Jane, now wife of Edward Bysse, by George Milborne, gent. To my grandchild Amy Berkley, & heirs, my inheritance in tenements in Frampton. My niece Elisabeth Coleman, L5. Admonb (de bonis non) granted to Ann Berkeley (nepti), Oct. 11, 1686, Amye Symes the relict being dec'd. Further Admon., Mar. 12, 1690, to Susanna Jacob, daughter of the s'd Henry symes, & wife of John Jacob. Another
  • (1) He married Amy, daughter of Thomas Horner, Esq., and died Oct. 21, 1661, aged 80. Long Epitaph in Frampton Cotterell Church.
  • (2) Henry Symes was son of John Symes, of Poundsford, by Amy Horner. He married Amye, daughter of Sir John Seymour, of Bitton, Glouc., and died Nov. 1, 1682, aged 73. Amy Symes, his widow, died May 25, 1686.
  • Frampton Cotterell. Frances, daughter of Henry and Amie Symes, died Dec. 17, 1671. Eleanor, daughter of Henry and Amie Symes, died Sept. 25, 1672. Jane, daughter of Henry and Amie Symes, and wife of Edward Biss, died Aug. 6, 1704. Edward Biss died Apr. 20, 1696, aged 48.
  • Elisabeth Symes, daughter of Henry Symes, of Frampton Cotterell, married Richard Berkeley, of Stoke Gifford, who died 1671.
• Pg.54
• grant Dec. 23, 1708, to Ann Hale, niece from the daughter of H. Symes, wife of Gabriel Hale. ______________
• SYMES, John (1573-1661), of Poundisford, Pitminster, Som.; later of Frampton Cotterell, Glos.
• b. 4 Mar. 1573, 1st s. of William Symes, merchant, of Chard, Som. and Elizabeth, da. of Robert Hill† of Taunton, Som.1 educ. Exeter Coll., Oxf. 1588, BA 1591; L. Inn 1589.2 m. settlement 29 Dec. 1595, Amy, da. of Thomas Horner† of Cloford, Som., 3s. 8da. suc. fa. 1597.3 d. 29 Oct. 1661.4 sig. Jo[hn] Symes.
• Offices Held
  • J.p. Som. 1608-26, 1627-45;5 commr. sewers, Som. 1610, 1616, 1625; gov., Huish’s almshouses, Taunton 1616;6 sheriff, Som. 1626-7;7 commr. disafforestation, Roche forest 1627, enclosure, Sedgemoor, Som. 1628, oyer and terminer, Western circ. 1629-43, knighthood compositions, Som. 1630-2;8 dep. lt., Som. c.1637-42;9 commr. assessment 1641-2, array 1642, rebels’ estates (roy.) 1643.10
• Symes’s father was a successful merchant or, in the words of one of his opponents of more genteel ancestry, ‘a pedlar, and a base fellow’. He acquired lands in Devon, Dorset and Somerset and was granted arms in 1591. Symes himself married the daughter of a former knight of the shire, and in his father’s will he was left £2,000 according to an agreement made with his bride’s father and her grandfather, lord chief justice Sir John Popham†. Symes also inherited some of his father’s business instincts, acting both as a moneylender and as a charitable trustee.11
• At the Somerset election of 1614, Symes found himself unable to support Sir Robert Phelips*, having previously committed himself to Sir Maurice Berkeley* and John Poulett*. As he protested to Phelips, he was thus forced ‘either dishonestly to violate my promise made to these gentlemen, or else to hazard the love of my honourable friend’. With his brother-in-law Sir John Horner†, he oversaw part of the poll.12 Symes was approached to stand in 1624, probably to keep out Phelips; he originally offered his support to John Stawell*, but when the latter withdrew he protested ‘God knows I never laboured any man directly or indirectly for myself’, and undertook to appear at the county court in favour of Phelips; in the event, he was himself elected as Phelips’s partner ‘nemine contradicente’.13
• Symes was not a prominent Member of his only Parliament. He was appointed to committees considering bills against drunkenness (26 Feb.), the abuses of supersedeas (9 Mar.) and for the continuance of expiring statutes (13 Mar.), and also to examine the alleged misbehaviour of Dr. Anyan, president of Corpus Christi (28 April). As a Somerset landowner he was included on the committee for the land bill concerning the brothers William Seymour*, 2nd earl of Hertford, and Sir Francis Seymour*, to which Phelips was the first named (10 Mar.); he may have had a minor personal interest in this bill, as his family had held a rent-charge on the Devonshire estate of the senior branch of the Seymours since 1588.14
• In 1626 Poulett accused Symes and other Somerset justices of obstructing the Crown’s efforts to raise an extra-parliamentary benevolence, complaining on 24 Sept. that they ‘have laboured to keep back many justices from the sessions and did (I think) as much as in them lay in endeavour to disorder businesses’; the accused were subsequently removed from the county bench, and a month later Symes was pricked as sheriff, perhaps as a punishment. Symes went on to support Phelips in a quarrel with (Sir) John Stawell over the pressing of a soldier.15 The commission for the enclosure of Sedgemoor brought him into conflict with Poulett again, but in 1633, as a strong puritan, he joined Poulett in opposing church-ales, thus finding himself in opposition to Phelips. Shortly thereafter, he supported the petition of his Taunton neighbours against its assessment for Ship Money.16
• By then ‘a rich and decrepit man’, Symes supported the king in the Civil War, but was charged ‘with some inclination to the rebels’ by Sir Richard Grenville* and fined £1,000. He never paid it, but later compounded with Parliament for his delinquency at a fine of £945; he was then charged with concealing mortgages to the value of £5,000. He sought ‘a repose for his old age’ in the Gloucestershire parish of Frampton Cotterell, where he died in his 89th year on 21 Oct. 1661. According to his epitaph,
  • he was a man greatly renowned for wisdom, justice, integrity, and sobriety, which talents he did not hide in a napkin, but religiously exercised in the whole conduct of his life, especially in the government of that county wherein he bore all the honourable offices incident to a county gentleman.
• He had enjoyed ‘a most healthy constitution of body for above 80 years, and of his mind to the last’. He left over 100 ‘children and children’s children ... descended of his loins’, but remained the only one of his family to sit in Parliament.17
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/sy... ___________________________
• 'Hill06'
• This family is still being researched.
• Most likely connected to the above families, but how is not known, was...
• William Hill
• m. Eleanor
  • 1. Roger Hill of Taunton Visitation (Weaver, Somerset, 1551+1575+1595, Hill) identifies Roger's wife and mother of her children as Alice Towse, Visitation (1623) shows the mother of Roger's children as a Margery so we prsume that Alice Towse was Roger's 2nd wife.
  • m1. Margery
    • A. William Hill of Poundsford, Somerset
    • m1. Ann Trowbridge (dau of John Trowbridge of Clyton)
      • i. Roger Hill of Poundsford
      • m. Mary Hasard (dau of John Hassard or Hansard Lyme)
        • a. William Hill of Poundsford (a 1623)
        • m. Jane Young (dau of John Young of Collumpton) The following comes from Visitation (Somerset & Bristol, 1672, Hill of Pitminster).
          • (1) Roger Hill of Poundsford (b c1606. bur 23.04.1667, judge)
          • m1. Mary Greene (dau of Giles Greene of Corfe Castle)
            • (A) William Hill of Poundsford (b c1636, a 1672)
            • m. (c08.1668) Hester Muschamp (dau/heir of Agmondisham Muschamp of Rowbarns)
            • (B) Jane Hill
          • m2. Abigail Gourdon (dau of Brampton Gourdon of Assington)
            • (C) Sir Roger Hill of Denham, Sheriff of Buckinghamshire (d 29.12.1729, MP) The following comes from Commoners (vol 4, Way of Denham).
            • m. (11.06.1667) Abigail Lockey (dau of John Lockey of Holmes Hill)
              • (i) Lockey Hill (b 07.09.1671, d 06.02.1729)
                • (a) Roger Hill (d 1721)
                • (b) Abigail Hill (dsp)
                • m. Mathew Powell of Lantillo
              • (ii) William Hill (d before 29.12.1729)
                • (a) Mary Hill (dsp)
                • m. William Denny, Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania
              • (iii) Roger Hill (b 06.07.1685, dsp 29.12.1729)
              • m. Martha Shard (dau of Sir Isaac Shard)
              • (iv) Hester Hill of Denham (b 05.07.1669, dsp 22.02.1742)
              • m. Henry Probert of Penalt
              • (v) Abigail Hill (d 26.02.1673-4, d 17.03.1757)
              • m1. Edward Lockey of the Middle Temple & Holme Hill, Hertfordshire (d 1711)
                • (a) Abigail Lockey, heiress of Denham
                • m. Lewis Way of Richmond Denham passed into the Way family.
              • m2. Charles Edwin of Lincoln's Inn
            • (D)+ other issue - Gurdon, Mary
          • m3. Abigail Barnes (dau of Thomas Barnes of Albone Hatch, widow of John Locky of Holmes Hill & Josias Berners of Clerkenwell)
          • (2) John Hill of Taunton (b c1618, 3rd son)
          • m. Jane Strode (dau of John Strode of Ryme)
          • (3)+ other issue (a 1623) - William (b c1610, d young?), Mary (b c1605), Ann (b c1607), Jane (b c1608), Elizabeth (b c1613), Sarah (b c1622)
        • b. Elizabeth Hill
        • m1. George Sampson
        • m2. Jos. Long
        • c. Amy Hill m. Robert Chute of Bridgwater
        • d. Frances Hill
        • m1. Thomas Chaplin
        • m2. Simon Gibbins
        • e.+ other issue - Roger of Taunton, John of Dorchester, Temperance, Mallet, Philippa (dsp)
      • ii. Alexander Hill of Taunton
      • m. Alice Hassard (dau of John Hassard of Lime)
        • a. Robert Hill of Hollyland, Taunton
        • m. Anne Young (dau of John Young of Devon) The following comes from Visitation (Somerset & Bristol, 1672, Hill of Taunton).
          • (1) Alexander Hill of Taunton (b c1613, a 1672)
          • m. Dorothy Michell (dau of John Michell of Kingston Ruseell)
            • (A) Alexander Hill (b c1668, a 1672)
            • m. Elizabeth Searle
              • (i) Alexander Hill (b c1671)
            • (B)+ other issue - John, Robert, Bernard, Elizabeth
          • (2)+ other issue - Robert, Edward, Lucy, Mary
        • b. Mary Hill
        • m. Hugh Godsall of Taunton
        • c.+ other issue - William of Bridgwater, Roger (dsp), Anne (dsp), Lucy (dsp)
      • iii. Elizabeth Hill
      • m1. __ Hobbs
      • m2. __ Murifey
      • m3. __ Martin
      • iv. Eleanor Hill
      • m. __ Gravit of Berkshire
      • v.+ other issue (dsp) - William, Robert, Henry, Ambrose, Gabriel, Susan
    • m2. Lucy Ryves (dau of John Ryves of Dorset)
      • xi. Lucy Hill
      • m. William Lawrence of Dorset
      • xii.+ other issue - Benjamin, Thomas, John
    • B. Robert Hill of Yard near Taunton
    • m1. Alice Clark
      • i. Elizabeth Hill
      • m. William Symes of Chard
        • a. John Symes
        • m. Amy Horner (dau of Thomas Horner of Mells)
          • (1) John Symes
          • m. __ Arscott of Devon
    • m2. Eleanor Martyn (dau of Sir James Martyn)
      • ii. Hugh Hill of Splot 'of Yard'
      • m. Mary Bond (dau of Sir George Bond of London)
        • a. James Hill
      • iii. Jane Hill
      • m. Thomas Brereton
        • a. Thomas Brereton of Yard
        • m. __ Anketil of Dorset
      • iv. daughter
      • m. Thomas Martyn of Devon
      • v.+ other issue (dsp) - James, John
    • C. John Hill (dsp)
    • D. Margaret Hill
    • m. Alexander Togwell
  • m2. Alice Towse (dau of John Towse of Somerset (by Joan Combes), m2. Sir Thomas Grenville of Cornwall)
• From: Stirnet.com
• http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/zwrk/hill06.php ____________

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GEDCOM Note

Biography

• John Symes MP

::Gender: Male ::Birth: March 4, 1573 ::Poundisford, Pitminster, Somerset, England ::Death: October 21, 1661 (88) ::Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, England ::Place of Burial: St. Peter Churchyard, Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom.*(I think that the Symes family in Antigua later in America are a separate family originating from the Chard family of William and Elizabeth (Hill) Symes who a merchant family I don't think we yet know the parents of John Symes MP If William and Elizabeth's son John proves to be a half brother of this John. Then thinsmay become clearer.}*Immediate Family: <ref>Added by: Angela Crotts Beyer on May 29, 2007 Managed by Wayne Henry Friedman and 31 others Curated by Erica Isabel Howton </ref> ::Son of William Symes, of Poundisford and Elizabeth Symes Not proved ::Husband of Amy Symes née Horner b.1575::Father of John Sims; Jane Symes; Henry Symes; Susan Symes; Edith Symes and 7 others ::Brother of Robert Symes; Margery Payne; Rev. William Symmes; Elizabeth Symes; Mary Symes and 6 others ::Half brother of John Bridges Not proved *Memorial in the Church of St Peters, Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire reads.::Reader, thou treadest on the sacred ashes of John Symes, Esq., whoin the late unhappy times of rebellion was forced (for his signal loyalty to his Prince) to leave his former habitation at Poundisford, in the parish of Pitminster, in the county of Somerset, and to seek a repose for his old age in this parish. He was a man greatly renowned for wisdom, justice, integrity, and sobriety, which talents he did to hidein a napkin, but religiously exercised in the whole conduct of his life, especially in the government of that county, wherein he bore all the honourable offices incident to a country gentleman (as Knight of the shire ... ... and as he was careful and solicitous to discharge his duties to God, his soverigne and his country, so God was pleased to bestow on him several badges (also) of his special favour, as length of days, accompaned with a most healthy constitution of body for above 80years, and of his mind to the last, as also a numerous posterity evenof children and children's children, to the number of 100 and upwardsand upwards, descended from his loynes (by his only wife Amy, the daughter of Thomas Horner, of Cloford, in the county of Somerset, Esquireand when he was full of days and honor, having lived 88 years 7 months and 7 days, and seen the safe return of his Prince to his crown and kingdom, after a long and horrible exile, and thereby the flourishing condition of both Church and State. Having finished his work on earth,he cheerfully resigned his soul to God that gave it, the 21st day of October, anno domini 1661, in full assurance of a joyful resurrection."

Sources ==*www.geni.com/people/John-Symes-MP-of-Poundisford

• 77808741

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GEDCOM Note