The Royce Family Genealogy Forum (Charles Julian, GenForum, genealogy.com) suggests Rev Robert Royce was born 03Nov1605 in Ketton Cum Tixover, Rutland, England, and married Mary Jackson 08Apr1627 in St Michael, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. His sources are yet to be proven, but y-dna research to this Rutland record (Robert Royse) has been underway since 2006.

Robert Royce

• Birth: MAR 1603 - Long Sutton, Somerset, England [Disputed]
• Death: 1676 - New London, New London, Connecticut
• Parents: uncertain; Seen as son of Thomas Royce, of Martock.
• Wife: Mary (Sims surname DISPROVED - see below)
• not the same as Robert Roice of Boston

Robert Royce is an ancestor of US President Millard Fillmore.

Robert Royce was born in England, immigrated from Martock, Somerset [???] and was an early settler in Stratford,CT, where name is on record in 1644. In 1657 he moved to New London,CT where he was constable in 1660 and the following year was a member of the General Assembly. Robert Royce of New London died in 1676, leaving a widow, Mary, who died in 1697, and on July 14 of that year administration of the remaining estate of the widow, who died intestate, was granted her son, Samuel Royce.

Four of the five sons of Robert Royce removed to Wallingford. The children sharing in the distribution of his estate were: Joshua,Nathaniel, Patience, Ruth, Sarah, Nehemiah, Samuel, Isaac and Jonathan

Links

• http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00538255&tree=LEO
• https://famouskin.com/family-group.php?name=5270+robert+royce&ahnum=1
• http://babbage.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr01/rr01_359.html#P6383
• https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/royce/914/ Re: Stamford Royces and UK Royce Demography (2006 discussion)
• https://www.familytreedna.com/public/rice/default.aspx?section=yres... Group 3
• http://www.roycefamilyassn.org/genealogy/Descendants%202.html

Disputed Origins

From https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=park&id=I24411

Two valuable points seem to have been established conclusively by this report. First: the claim set forth in several printed books here and abroad that Robert Royce and Mary sims were married in Martock on 4 June 1634 is not a fact: second: the marriage in Long Sutton on 4 June 1624, with which the first seems to have been confused, almost certainly could not have been that of the young couple from whom we are descended. So the questions, "who was Robert Royce? where did he come from? who was Mary, his wife?" are still unanswerd.

park 1171
From https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/royce/893/

Robert Royce (Abt 1606-1676) of New London CT is probably the ancestor of most Royces in North America today, but his origins in England (specifically Martock, Somerset) have proven a headache for those attempting to take the record back further. Records of Robert Royce's birth in Somerset and of his early family there have never been found. This discrepancy has lead to a cycle of inference and speculation that has created, among other things, about 20 different birthdates for Royce in Somerset and about 20 different surnames for his wife Mary – most often "Sims", though this proposal has been disproven as noted below. ..
Clarence Leslie Hewitt, Jr. in an article originally published in the NEGHS Register and later in "English Origins of New England Families", Series 2, Volume 3 pp 42-45 titled "Some Light on the Marriage of Robert and Mary Royce of Connecticut" concludes this could not be the correct date because the earliest recorded birth of a child, Sarah, was 1633-34 and they had seven children total." ( http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/o/b/Michael-E-Dobson )
This gives just some idea of the problem. In researching my own Royce history (I am not a descendant of Robert Royce) I may inadvertantly have found the answer.
On hearing vague mention of Somerset England as a possible point of origin for the Royses of Ireland (my line), I started in on the Royces of Somerset. Initially I thought that sorting out this family would take a long time since there are over 1250 entries for Royces in Somerset on the IGI alone. On closer inspection, however, I found that at least 1200 of these entries are in fact entries for Robert Royce himself and for various members of his family as contributed anonymously by over a thousand people. Of these records, not one is from a genuine parish roster.
If you rake these 1200 + records, the total number of genuine birth record entries from County Somerset parishes is: eleven. And a fairly random eleven at that. There are twenty or thirty Royce marriages on record in the county but virtually all of these appear to have been fly by night, with few Royces having had more than one child christened there.
At the time of the 1881 census, stray births aside, there is only one Royce family (arguably two) in all of Somerset. Factor in official records from all four of the counties that surround Somerset (Devon, Dorset Wiltshire, Gloucester), and there is still nothing.
All this makes clear that there is not – and evidently there never has been – a viable Royce presence in Somerset or in any county of Southwestern England. Far from being a Royce epicentre some 1200 people strong, County Somerset and surroundings are a veritable No-Man's-Land when it comes to people with the surname Royce.
This begs the question, "Was Robert Royce really from Somerset?" Records of his birth, of his marriage, of the christenings of his known children, have never been found there, even though records from every conceivable parish at which he and his wife Mary {Unknown} might have been parishioners have records preserved and available for the time that he and his family are believed to have resided there. In short – and in spite of folk legend, whether primary or secondary – there is really no evidence for Robert Royce's (b. Abt 1606) family having been from Martock, or from anywhere in Somerset. And, even on the off-chance that Royce did live at Somerset for a time and his records have simply gone missing, there is still no evidence to indicate a substantial Royce presence in Somerset. Robert Royce's family, if not Royce himself, almost certainly came from somewhere else before making passage to the New World. ...
Robert Royce married Mary Jackson on 08 APR 1627 in Stamford, Lincolnshire; John Royce married Anne Jackson on 02 NOV 1636 in Stamford, Lincolnshire.
An interesting development in having apparently located Robert Royce of CT in Stamford, Lincolnshire, is that this district (South Kesteven) borders on Rutland, Bedford and Leicester Counties; and in contrast to Somerset and the counties of southwestern England, Royces abound in this region. In fact, this part of England's Eastern Midlands is the only clear epicentre of Royces that I have found that predates a later arrival of Huguenot Royces (Le Roy, De Roy > Royse / Royce) in County Kent and Greater London, and the surname Royce in this part of the Midlands is as old as the hills. Are there any batch record occurrences of a Robert Royce b. late 1500s or early 1600s in this area.?

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Confusion about his wife and his children. Wife's name was Mary. Her surname is unknown but some speculate that she was the daughter of a John Simms since there are marriage records for a Robert Royce and Mary Simms.

The surname of Mary, wife of Robert Royce, is not on record, but a Mary Sims and Robert Royce were married at Martsock,Somersetshire, England, June 4, 1634, and the date is suitable for the marriage of the New London, CT man. (Article by Donald Lines Jacobus in New England Historic & Genealogical Register - Vol. 80, pages 107-09.)
”Claims that Robert Royce was from Martock, Somersetshire, England and had a wife there whose maiden name was Sims has been disproved.”
!A marriage to Mary Sims is disproven in Gary Boyd Roberts, English Origins of New England Families, Second Series, volume 3, pp. 42-45.

All sources agree that Robert and Mary of Connecticut had Sarah, Nehemiah (male), Jonathan, Ensign Nathaniel, Ruth, Ensign Samuel, and Isaac. Some say they had Robert (1625), Margaret (1626) and Mary (1626).

Other children attributed to them are: Patience. She is mentioned in the will supposedly. There was a Patience, daughter of a different Robert Roice (Roys) of Boston, who Savage confused with this Robert Royce.

Settler

The name Royce is English in origin. The history of this ancient Kent family traces its ancestry as a family of Anglo Saxon origin before the year 1100 and appears first in the ancient records in Kent .

ROBERT3 ROYCE (ROBERT2, THOMAS1) was born Abt. 1605 in Martock, Somersetshire, England1, and died September 22, 1676 in New London, CT. He married MARY SIMS June 04, 16341, daughter of JOHN SIMS and SARAH BAKER. She was born Abt. 1609 in Long Sutton, Sommerset, England1, and died June 04, 1697 in CT.

Notes for ROBERT ROYCE:
One of the 16 original members of the New London Church. In 1660, he was a constable at New London, CT and a member of the general assembly in 1669.

More About ROBERT ROYCE:
Moved: 1644, To Stratford, CT Occupation: Shoemaker

Children of ROBERT ROYCE and MARY SIMS are:

1. SARAH4 ROYCE, b. 1634, Martock, Somersetshire, England; d. May 01, 1711, Norwich, CT.
2. JONATHAN ROYCE, b. Abt. 1636; d. September 22, 1690, CT.
3. NEHEMIA ROYCE, b. 1636; d. November 07, 1706, Wallingford, CT.
4. NATHANIEL ROYCE, b. April 24, 1647; d. February 08, 1725/26, Wallingford, CT.
5. ISSAC ROYCE, b. 1643; d. 1681, Wallingford, CT.
6. SAMUEL ROYCE, b. November 01, 1644, Marat, CT; d. December 24, 1711, Wallingford, CT.
7. RUTH ROYCE, b. Abt. December 07, 1645, Wallingford, CT; d. August 26, 1688.

He was at Stratford CT in 1650. Removed to New London 1657. Constable 1660. Deputy in the CT Assembly 1661. Member of the City Council 1663-1667-1668. Congregationalist. Land owner. Influential and respected citizen. 

Children: Nehemiah m. Hannah Morgan Nov. 20, 1660; a daughter; Jonathan m. Deborah Calkins in June 1660; Sarah m. John Calkins; Samuel ; Nathaniel married 3 times - first Sarah Lathrop 1681; Isaac m Elizabeth Lathrop 1699; Ruth b. 1646 m. John Lathrop 1669.

Marym Sims was the daughter of John Sims (or Symes) and Sarah Baker. Mary died July 14 1696 in Wallingford, CT, at 88 years of age.

Families of Ancient New Haven by Donald Lines Jacobus, pg. 1549

!Al Dawson, 22 Apr 2000,
Robert Royce. Born ca 1603. Robertwas baptized in Martock, Somersetshire, Eng. on 9 Jun 1603. Source: 7. JosephSavage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Originallypublished 1860.

!Dorothy C Burt, "Ancestors of David Walden Burt," http://www.familytreemaker.com/user/b/u/r/Dorothy-C-Burt, Feb. 1998.

!Robert died on 22 Sep 1676 in New London, CT. Occupation: shoemaker.

Robert came from England in the Francis; settled at Stratford, CT, in1644/48; at New London, 1660; Member of City Council [selectman?].

![see quote from GMB below, following paragraph is for a differentperson] Robert was a freeman at Boston 1 Apr 1634,one of the disarmed1637 as a supporter of Mrs. Hutchinson in her revelations,or ofWheelwright in his opinions.

He removed before 1657 to New London,perhaps in 1650 was of Stratford,but constable in 1660 and in 1661 representative for New London where helived in good repute.7

![Disproven - On 4 Jun 1634 Robert married Mary Elizabeth Sims, daughterof John Sims (ca 1579-) & SarahBaker (1587-), in Martock, Somerset,Eng.13 Born ca 1609.5 Mary Elizabeth was baptized in England ca 1615.5Mary Elizabeth died on 4 Jul 1697 in New London, CT. Sims, SIimms, orSymmes.]

Great Migration Begins: Savage claimed that Robert Roice of Boston was identical with a man ofthe same name who appeared inConnecticut some years later, but since the latter had wife Mary, and the onlyknownwife of the Boston man wasElizabeth, who outlived him, this cannot be true [NEHGR 122:274-77 andthe sources cited there; Goodwin Anc 1:295].

Resided at Stratford and New London. Marry at Martock County, Somerset, England in 1634

Thanks to "Families of Ancient New Haven, " by Donald Lines Jacobus, we have the lineage of the "Rices". The name was also variously spelled Royce And Roys. The first of the line in America appears to be Robert, who seems not to have emigrated from Wales but fro England.

The first of the Rice line in America, emigrating from England, not Wales.

Also resided at Stratford and New London.

Links

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=park&id=I...
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=branagak&...
• http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p2453.htm#...

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8524. Robert ROYCE,4 son of Thomas ROYCE OR RHYS and Mary APPLETON, was born on 1 Mar 1562 in Martock, Somersetshire, England, was christened on 1 Apr 1634 in Martock, Somersetshire, England, died from 1676 to 1684 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA at age 114, and was buried from 1676 to 1684 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. Ancestral File Number: 84SR-9Q.

Robert married Mrs. Robert ROYCE on 4 Jun 1634 in Long Sutton, Parish, Somerset, England. Mrs. was born in 1609 of Long Sutton, Somerset, England, was christened on 17 Dec 1609 in South Petherton, Somerset, England, died on 14 Jul 1697 in Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA at age 88, and was buried from 1655 to 1669 in Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA.

Children from this marriage were:

         i.  Elizabeth ROYCE (born in 1622 in Long Sutton, Somerest, England) 

ii. Robert ROYCE (born on 12 Jun 1625 in Long Sutton, Somerset, , England - died on 15 Jun 1714 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA)
iii. Margaret ROYCE (born in 1626 of Martock, Somerset, England)
iv. Nehemiah ROYS (born about 1632 of New London, New London, Connecticut, USA)
v. Samuel ROYS (born about 1634 of Martock, Somerset, England)
vi. Sarah ROYCE (born in 1634-1635 in Monmouth, Somerset, England, England - died on 1 May 1711 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA)
vii. Mary ROYCE (born in 1634 of Martock, Somerset, England)
viii. Nathan ROYCE (born about 1636 in Stafford, Tolland, Connecticut, USA)
ix. Joshua ROYCE (born on 14 Apr 1637 of Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA - died of Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA)
x. Nathaniel ROYCE (born on 1 Apr 1639 of Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA - died on 8 Feb 1736 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA)
xi. Patience ROYCE (born on 1 Apr 1642 of Marat, New Milford, Connecticut, USA - died on 8 Apr 1642 in Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA)
xii. ROYCE (born in 1642 in Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA)
xiii. Isaac ROYCE (born in 1643-1644 in Marat, New Milford, Connecticut, USA - died in 1681 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA)
4262 xiv. Johnathan ROYCE (born on 18 Mar 1644 in Wallingford, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA - died on 22 Sep 1690 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, USA)

        xv.  Samuel ROYCE (born on 1 Nov 1644 in Marat, New Milford, Connecticut, USA - died on 24 Dec 1711 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA) 

xvi. Ruth ROYCE (born on 7 Dec 1645 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA - died on 10 Nov 1732 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA)
xvii. Patience ROYCE (born in 1649 in Marat, New Milford, Connecticut, USA)
10890. Robert Royce, born 1608 in Matlock, Somersetshire, England; died September 22, 1676 in New London, CT.. He was the son of 21780. Thomas Royce and 21781. Mary Appleton. He married 10891. Mary Sims June 04, 1634 in Long Sutton Parish, Somerset, Engand.

10891. Mary Sims, born 1609 in Long Sutton Parish, Somerset, England/Sutton, England; died July 14, 1697 in Wellingford, New London, CT. She was the daughter of 21782. John Sims and 21783. Sarah Baker.

Child of Robert Royce and Mary Sims is:

5445 i. Sarah Royce, born 1634 in Monmouth ,Somerset, England; died May 01, 1711 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut; married John Calkins 1658 in New London, New London, CT.

8525. Mrs. Robert ROYCE,4 daughter of John SIMS OR SYMES and Sarah BAKER, was born in 1609 of Long Sutton, Somerset, England, was christened on 17 Dec 1609 in South Petherton, Somerset, England, died on 14 Jul 1697 in Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA at age 88, and was buried from 1655 to 1669 in Wallingford, New London, Connecticut, USA. Ancestral File Number: 84SR-BW.

Mrs. married Robert ROYCE on 4 Jun 1634 in Long Sutton, Parish, Somerset, England. Robert was born on 1 Mar 1562 in Martock, Somersetshire, England, was christened on 1 Apr 1634 in Martock, Somersetshire, England, died from 1676 to 1684 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA at age 114, and was buried from 1676 to 1684 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA.

64. Robert Royce47, born in Wallingford, Norwich, New London, Connecticut; died 22 Sep 1690 in

Norwich, New London, Connecticut. He was the son of 128. Thomas Royce and 129. Mary Appleton. He

married 65. ????? Nov 1656 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

65. ?????, born 1609 in Of Long Sutton, Somerset, England; died 14 Jul 1697 in Wallingford, Norwich,

New London, Connecticut. She was the daughter of 130. John Sims and 131. Sarah Baker.

Child of Robert Royce and ????? is:

32 i. Jonathan Royce, born 18 Mar 1644 in Wallingford, Norwich, New London, Connecticut; died 22 Sep

1690 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut; married Deborah Caulkins Calkins Nov 1656 in Stratford,

Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Robert was a freeman at Boston 1 Apr 1634, one of the disarmed 1637 as a supporter of Mrs. Hutchinson in her revelations, or of Wheelwright in his opinions, had removed before 1657 to New London, perhaps in 1650 was of Stratford, but constable in 1660 and in 1661 representative for New London where he lived in good repute.2

On 4 Jun 1634 Robert married Mary [Royce] in Martock, Somerset, Eng.30 Born ca 1609. Mary was baptized in England ca 1615. Mary died on 4 Jul 1697 in New London, CT.

Clarence Leslie Hewitt, Jr., argues in his article “Some light on the marriage of Robert and Mary Royce of Connecticut” in New Eng. Hist. Gen. Reg. 122 (1968): 274-277 that Mary, Robert’s wife was not Mary Sims, Simms, or Symmes, of Long Sutton, Somerset. There was a Robert Royce who married a Mary Sims in Long Sutton on 4 Jun 1624. Hewitt says the “1624 wedding hardly works out, credibly or chronologically, with their emigration to America or the birthday of their first born. ... It would therefore seem most unlikely that Robert and Mary would have remained continent or been barren from 1624 to 1634 or that all their children born in that decade could have perished in infancy.” It remains a possibility, though, that they could have been married in 1624 and all their children from the first ten years died. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx other sources: http://www.parkercat.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I3786&tre...

Name Robert^ ROYCE [1] Christened 3 Nov 1605 Ketton Cum Tixover, Rutland, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location [1] Gender Male Immigration 1631 Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location [2] Residence Bef 1657 New London, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location [2] Died Abt 1684 New London, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location Notes http://genforum.genealogy.com/royce/messages/893.html

Surnames: Royce Family Genealogy Forum

Robert Royce of ConnecticutPosted by: Charles Julian <http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-genforum/email.cgi?129767539> (ID *****7539)Date: February 25, 2006 at 17:45:14 Royce (Abt 1606-1676) of New London CT is probably the ancestor of most Royces in North America today, but his origins in England (specifically Martock, Somerset) have proven a headache for those attempting to take the record back further. Records of Robert Royce's birth in Somerset and of his early family there have never been found. This discrepancy has lead to a cycle of inference and speculation that has created, among other things, about 20 different birthdates for Royce in Somerset and about 20 different surnames for his wife Mary – most often "Sims", though this proposal has been disproven as noted below.

"The often claimed marriage to Mary Sims on Jun 04, 1634 cannot be substantiated. Extensive research in the Long Sutton, Martok and Lubenham, Somerset, England parish churches failed to show any marriage in 1634 between a Robert Royce by any spelling and a Mary Sims (Syms). The closest that could be found was between a Robert Rayce and a Mary Sims on Jun 04, 1624 in Long Sutton. Clarence Leslie Hewitt, Jr. in an article originally published in the NEGHS Register and later in "English Origins of New England Families", Series 2, Volume 3 pp 42-45 titled "Some Light on the Marriage of Robert and Mary Royce of Connecticut" concludes this could not be the correct date because the earliest recorded birth of a child, Sarah, was 1633-34 and they had seven children total." ( <http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/o/b/Michael-E-Dobson> )

This gives just some idea of the problem. In researching my own Royce history (I am not a descendant of Robert Royce) I may inadvertantly have found the answer.

On hearing vague mention of Somerset England as a possible point of origin for the Royses of Ireland (my line), I started in on the Royces of Somerset. Initially I thought that sorting out this family would take a long time since there are over 1250 entries for Royces in Somerset on the IGI alone. On closer inspection, however, I found that at least 1200 of these entries are in fact entries for Robert Royce himself and for various members of his family as contributed anonymously by over a thousand people. Of these records, not one is from a genuine parish roster.

If you rake these 1200 + records, the total number of genuine birth record entries from County Somerset parishes is: eleven. And a fairly random eleven at that. There are twenty or thirty Royce marriages on record in the county but virtually all of these appear to have been fly by night, with few Royces having had more than one child christened there.

At the time of the 1881 census, stray births aside, there is only one Royce family (arguably two) in all of Somerset.

Factor in official records from all four of the counties that surround Somerset (Devon, Dorset Wiltshire, Gloucester), and there is still nothing.

All this makes clear that there is not – and evidently there never has been – a viable Royce presence in Somerset or in any county of Southwestern England. Far from being a Royce epicentre some 1200 people strong, County Somerset and surroundings are a veritable No-Man's-Land when it comes to people with the surname Royce.

This begs the question, "Was Robert Royce really from Somerset?" Records of his birth, of his marriage, of the christenings of his known children, have never been found there, even though records from every conceivable parish at which he and his wife Mary Unknown might have been parishioners have records preserved and available for the time that he and his family are believed to have resided there. In short – and in spite of folk legend, whether primary or secondary – there is really no evidence for Robert Royce's (b. Abt 1606) family having been from Martock, or from anywhere in Somerset. And, even on the off-chance that Royce did live at Somerset for a time and his records have simply gone missing, there is still no evidence to indicate a substantial Royce presence in Somerset. Robert Royce's family, if not Royce himself, almost certainly came from somewhere else before making passage to the New World.

Anyway once the above suspicion was adopted as a hypothesis, answers came swiftly. Locations in England aside, here is what is known about Robert Royce's family, with dates postulated on the basis of death records etc as found at Connecticut.

1 Robert Royce . . . + Mary . . . . . . 2 Jonathan Royce, b. Bet. 1631-1635 England, d. JUL 1690 New London, CT. . . . . . . 2 Sarah Royce b. Bet. 1633-1634 England, d. 01 MAY 1711 New London, CT. . . . . . . 2 Nehemiah Royce b. Abt 1636 England, d. 01 NOV 1706 New Haven, CT. . . . . . . 2 Samuel Royce b. 01 NOV 1644 New London, CT, d. Bef. 24 DEC 1711 New Haven, CT. . . . . . . 2 Ruth Royce b. 07 DEC 1645 New Haven, CT, d. MAY 1695 New Haven, CT. . . . . . . 2 Nathaniel Royce b. 24 APR 1647 New Haven, CT, d. 08 FEB 1726/1727 New Haven, CT. . . . . . . 2 Isaac Royce b. Abt 1648 New Haven, CT, d. Abt 1681 New Haven, CT.

The first three children of Robert and Mary are known to have been born in England during the dates given above. "Nehemiah" is the oddest name out. A search for Nehemiah Royce b. England, any year, leads to only a single official batch record (plus about forty "extras" from Martock):

1 Robert Royce . . . + Mary . . . . . . 2 Nehemiah Royce chr. 30 MAY 1637 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln.

Only one Nehemiah Royce in all of England, coincidentally christened 1637, whose parents coincidentally are named Robert and Mary. What are the odds? Next let's check the Saint Michael, Stamford batch (1560-1949) for all occurrences of the name Royce.

1 Richard Royce . . . + Unknown . . . . . . 2 Rebeckah Royce chr. 13 JAN 1626 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 John Royce chr. 15 FEB 1628 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln.

1 Robert Royce . . . + Mary . . . . . . 2 John Royce chr. 21 APR 1633 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Sarah Royce chr. 08 FEB 1634 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Nehemiah Royce chr. 30 MAY 1637 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln.

1 John Royse . . . + Anne . . . . . . 2 Elisabeth Royse chr. 10 MAY 1638 Saint Michael, Stamford Linclon.

1 William Royce . . . + Susanna . . . . . . 2 George Royce chr. 27 APR 1772 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Thomas Royce chr. 28 MAR 1774 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln.

That's strange. Not only do Nehemiah's birthdate and the names of Nehemiah's parents match Nehemiah Royce of CT exactly, he has two siblings with exactly the same names that Robert and Mary's children have, born during exactly the times that those children were born. Again, what are the odds. Did a Robert Royce ever marry a Mary in County Lincolnshire.

1 Robert Royse . . . + Mary Jugkson 08 APR 1627 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln.

One match, and coincidentally just a few years before John Royce was born. Still, six years between a marriage and the first child is something of a stretch – did a Robert and Mary Royce have any other children christened at any other Lincolnshire churches in the 1600s.

1 Robert Royce . . . + Mary . . . . . . 2 John Royce chr. 20 DEC 1627 All Saints, Stamford, Lincoln, d. 29 MAY 1628. . . . . . . 2 John Royce chr. 29 JUN 1629 All Saints, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Mary Royce chr. 10 JUL 1631 All Saints, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 John Royce chr. 21 APR 1633 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Sarah Royce chr. 08 FEB 1634 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Nehemiah Royce chr. 30 MAY 1637 Saint Michael Stamford, Lincoln.

From the records it would appear so – a John Royce who died, followed by another John Royce who presumably also died before a third John Royce was born in 1633, and a daughter Mary, who – if we take this to be Robert Royce of CT and his wife Mary, and I do – it would appear also died. There are no children of a Robert and Mary Royce on record in Lincolnshire after Nehemiah Royce. Can we clear up the "John and Anne" who also christened their children at the same church in Stamford at about this time.

1 John Royce . . . + Anne Jackson 02 NOV 1636 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln. . . . . . . 2 Elizabeth Royce chr. 10 MAY 1638 Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln, d. 05 MAY 1638.

"Anne Jackson" – which would seem to indicate that the bizarre surname of what is probably John Royce's sister-in-law, "Jugkson", is somebody's odd rendering of the surname Jackson. Robert Royce married Mary Jackson on 08 APR 1627 in Stamford, Lincolnshire; John Royce married Anne Jackson on 02 NOV 1636 in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

An interesting development in having apparently located Robert Royce of CT in Stamford, Lincolnshire, is that this district (South Kesteven) borders on Rutland, Bedford and Leicester Counties; and in contrast to Somerset and the counties of southwestern England, Royces abound in this region. In fact, this part of England's Eastern Midlands is the only clear epicentre of Royces that I have found that predates a later arrival of Huguenot Royces (Le Roy, De Roy > Royse / Royce) in County Kent and Greater London, and the surname Royce in this part of the Midlands is as old as the hills. Are there any batch record occurrences of a Robert Royce b. late 1500s or early 1600s in this area.

1 William Royce . . . + Unknown . . . . . . 2 Robert Royce chr. 03 NOV 1605 Ketton Cum Tixover, Rutland. . . . . . . 2 George Royce chr. 18 JUN 1608 Ketton Cum Tixover, Rutland.

Only one, geographically a perfect fit. Does this Robert Royce have a brother John lying around anywhere in another parish – John Royce with a father William who was b. early 1600s.

1 William Royce . . . + Unknown . . . . . . 2 Joan Royce chr. 31 MAY 1600 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire, d. 02 JUN 1600. . . . . . . 2 David Royce chr. 09 AUG 1601 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire. . . . . . . 2 Matthew Royce chr. 18 SEP 1604 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire. . . . . . . 2 Robert Royce chr. 03 NOV 1605 Ketton Cum Tixover, Rutland. . . . . . . 2 Elizabeth Royce chr. 21 JUN 1607 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire. . . . . . . 2 George Royce chr. 18 JUN 1608 Ketton Cum Tixover, Rutland. . . . . . . 2 John Royce chr. 13 NOV 1609 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire. . . . . . . 2 Richard Royce chr. 21 MAR 1612 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire. . . . . . . 2 Hester Royce chr. 21 MAY 1616 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire.

Here has been incorporated the family of the only John Royce born to a father William Royce in the 1600s. Now: Berkshire is more than a few counties removed from Rutland, but the dates of christenings at the two parishes fit well. "William Royce" is also the only Royce on record at either of these parishes. Are there any William Royce marriages dating from this period.

1 William Royce . . . + Joan Casebird 01 OCT 1598 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire.

Bullseye. "William Royce" is far vaguer a name at this time in history than was "Robert Royce", so while I could speculate further on William Royce's parentage at this point I won't. Research would best first be carried out in order to confirm that the William Royce of Berkshire is indeed contiguous with William Royce of Ketton Cum Tixover Rutland. There's a reasonable chance he is, or that the family is at least mobile, as there are no records for a Matthew Royce, Richard Royce, George Royce, etc line in Berkshire after this point.

So now we're left the task of explaining why Robert Royce of CT is actually from Rutland-Lincolnshire rather than Somerset. For this I have no answer apart from that there are no Royces situated in Somerset and therefore, pending actual Somerset documentation, there is no real reason to believe that Robert Royce's family came from Martock. Perhaps he was "from" Somerset in the sense that this is the point from which he embarked for the New World (Somerset is located on England's southwest coast). I have not seen reference to the document that contains the original Martock mention, only references to Royce's supposed origin there being repeated again and again. Without such reference I would not have been inclined to assume that this is where Robert Royce's family came from in the first place.

In any event, the best way to confirm or refute the hypothesis that Robert Royce of Ketton Cum Tixover Rutland and Stamford Lincolnshire is Robert Royce of CT is to obtain Y-DNA from Lincolnshire Royces who descend from Robert Royce's brother John and to compare this with the Robert Royce Y-DNA profile already on file at the Edmund Rice Association ( <http://www.edmund-rice.org/> ). Of course, these things are always easier said than done. Since the Ketton Cum Tixover Royces are the earliest branch of Royces on record in Rutland and William's family may ultimately have given rise to the Rutland Royces (situated primarily in Oakham), even a comparison of Robert Royce's Y-DNA with Rutland Royce DNA in general might yield interesting results. Person ID I3786 Larrick-Chadwick Genealogy Last Modified 21 Aug 2013

Father William ROYCE, d. Yes, date unknown Mother Joan CASEBIRDE, d. Yes, date unknown Married 1 Oct 1598 Kingston Bagpuize, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location [3] Family ID F2815

Family Mary^ JACKSON, d. Aft 1688, New London, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location Married 8 Apr 1627 Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location [4] Saint Micheal Church Children

	1. John ROYCE,   c. 30 Dec 1627, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 May 1628, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 0 years)

	2. John ROYCE,   c. 29 Jun 1629, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1633  (Age ~ 3 years)

	3. Mary ROYCE,   c. 10 Jul 1631, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location

	4. Jonathan ROYCE,   c. 21 Apr 1633, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jul 1690, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 57 years) +	5. Sarah^ ROYCE,   c. 8 Feb 1633/34, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 May 1711, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 77 years)

	6. Nehemiah ROYCE,   c. 30 May 1637, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Nov 1706, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 69 years)

	7. Ensign Samuel ROYCE,   b. 1 Nov 1644, New London, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 24 Dec 1711, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)

	8. Ruth ROYCE,   b. 7 Dec 1645, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. May 1695, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 49 years)

	9. Ensign Nathaniel ROYCE,   b. 24 Apr 1647, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Feb 1726/27, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)

	10. Isaac ROYCE,   b. Abt 1648, Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1681, Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 33 years)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172829301/robert-royce

GEDCOM Note

<!--This profile is in line with the 2014 no HTML guideline using for coloration and the 2015 use of inline pictures-->Category: Martock, SomersetCategory: New London, Connecticut Category:US President Direct Ancestor

size=400 This person is an ancestor of Fillmore-3|President Millard Fillmore<ref> Roberts, Gary Boyd; Space:Ancestors of American Presidents|Ancestors of American Presidents, Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009, pages 36-42.</ref>

Disambiguation

There are two Robert Royces who must not be confused:*Royce-709|Robert Royce of Boston, estimated birth 1615, married Elizabeth, died 1668.*Royce-35|Robert Royce of Connecticut, estimated birth 1605, married Mary, died 1676
Since Robert’s parentage is still disputed, as is the maiden nameof his wife, Mary, he should remain unattached, rather than leading people astray. Links to his possible relations are underlined in the text below.

NOT Robert of Boston ==First: Do not confuse Royce-709|Robert Royce of Boston with RobertRoyce of Stratford and New London, Conn. Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary confuses the two men beginning with “ROYCE, ROBERT, of Boston, as early as 1631 or 2; freem. 1 Apr. 1634, by w. Elizabeth had Joshua, b. 14, Bapt. 16 Apr. 1637" includes the children of Robert of Connecticut and then concludes with " He d. 1676, and his wid. Mary was liv. on his est. 1688.”<ref>Savage, James. Space:A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England|A Genealogical Dictionaryof the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692. Vol. I-IV. Boston, MA, USA: 1860-1862. Volume 3 p. 570. </ref>

They are definitely two separate men. Robert Royce/Royse/Rice of Boston died before 27 Oct 1668. Reference two deeds<ref>Space:Suffolk Deeds|Suffolk Deeds. Volume 9. pp 393, 352. Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, 1897.</ref>, by his son Joshua, selling the land of his late father Robert. <ref> Suffolk County Deeds Volume 9, p. 392</ref><ref>Suffolk County Deeds [http://books.google.com/books/reader?id=WecvnDkWeZcC&printsec=front.... Volume 9, p. 352]</ref> They were presented in 1676, but one is dated from 1668. The document mentions Joshua's mother Elizabeth Tearn/Tarne wife of Michael, and formerly wife of Robert. Robert of New London, husband of Mary, was himself still conveying land in 1670, so obviously was not dead.

Disputed Origins

An extensive search of internet sources, found not one shred of evidence linking Robert to Royce-75|Thomas Royce and Appleton-76|Mary Appleton. The first page of 50 Ancestry trees, for Thomas and Mary, list 47 trees unsourced or sourced by other Ancestry tree entries. Onegives a source of GDL #170??? One lists a sourced baptism for Thomas,but that is not a link to his son. The third source listed is World Family Tree Vol 22, Ed. 1. (Isn’t that one of those money making discs, with lots of unsourced data.) “Google” Thomas Royce, Mary Appleton. All you get is individual unsourced trees or other sites like mytrees.com. Please if you have legitimate sourcing for this couple as parents of Robert, let us know. B-404|Anne B 10:23, 5 May 2014 (EDT) There is some current speculation on the parentage of Robert based on new findings for Robert, his wife and his children. See genforum "Robert Royce of Connecticut" http://genforum.genealogy.com/royce/messages/893.html. This is not a proven line and even the researcher later in the postings has some doubts about what he thought was one possibility for the parentage of Robert. This would be a great place to start researching for someone who wants to take a genealogical trip to England. There is a chance that Robert Royce may be the son of Royce-710|William Royce of Berkshire and Lincolnshire.Day-1904|Day-1904 14:38,16 September 2017 (EDT)

Disputed Spouse

Mary Sims ? Mary Jackson ? Mary Unknown ? When did Sims-222|Mary Sims first became attached to Robert Royce?It appears in Jacobus' Families of Ancient New Haven, but probably has an earlier origin. : "ROYCE, Robert, d 1676; res. Stratford, CT and New London, CT; m. Mary____ who died 1696 at Wallingford<ref>Cites the New Haven County court records</ref>. [Robert m. 4 June 1634 in Martock, Co. Somerset, Eng. -- Mary Sims of Long Sutton Somerset.]"<ref name=Jacobus>Jacobus, Donald Lines (compiler). Space:Families of Ancient New Haven|Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol VII. p 1549. New Haven: 1931. Reprint, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1974.</ref>

The area in brackets is stated by Jacobus to be unproven information. Mr. Clarence Leslie Hewitt, Jr. thoroughly disproves this notion in his charming article “Some light on the Marriage of Robert and Mary Royce of Connecticut” in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol 122 pp274-77. Mr. Hewitt recounts his journey in England in the area of Martok, looking for Robert’s marriage and ancestry. In the parish of Martock, “It was anticlimatic to discover that therewas no record of any wedding on 4 June 1634, much less that of RobertRoyce and Mary Sims.” Neither were there records before or after giving evidence of any Simses. He and his wife then went to the parish of Long Sutton, Somersetshire, where at the public library, they were able to study W.P.W. Phillimore’s Somerset Parish Registers: Marriages (1898), vol 1. p. 116, where a marriage of Robert Rayce to Mary Simsdid occur, but on 4 June 1624, 10 years earlier than the reported date. Mr. Hewitt concludes that 1624 is highly unlikely to be the date ofmarriage of Robert Royce and Mary, whose children were not born until1633 ish. He concludes, :“Two valuable points seem to have been established conclusively by this report. First: the claim set forth in several printed books here and abroad that Robert Royce and Mary Sims were married in Martock on 4 June 1634 is not a fact; second: The marriage in Long Sutton on 4 June 1624, with which the first seems to have been confused, almost certainly could not have been that of the young couple from whom we are descended.” Almost at the end of the discussion in genforum mentioned above http://genforum.genealogy.com/royce/messages/893.html, is this post "The Royce Family Association has found the marriage record for Robert Royce and Mary Sims at Martock, Somerset which occurred 4 June 1634. The record apparently had been overlooked by earlier researchers including theClarence Leslie Hewitt, Jr." http://genforum.genealogy.com/royce/messages/897.html . The genforum's post is not quite accurate. The Royce Family Association found the marriage of Robert Royce and Mary Sims, but not at Martockand not in 1634. They found the 4 June 1624 marriage at Long Sutton, which had been found by Mr. Hewitt. Their document can be downloaded here<ref>Note that this document does not list the source for this information</ref> There is no doubt that a Robert Rayse married Mary Sims, in 1624. Theyalso had children, not found by Mr. Hewitt in his searches.: Robert Rayse married Mary Sims, 4 June 1624, Holy Trinity Church, Long Sutton, Somerset, England. Record found in Phillimore’s transcripts.<ref>at www.freereg.org.uk Search parameters Robert Rayse (soundex), Marriage 1623-1635, Somerset</ref>::1. Robert Rayse, son of Robert, baptized (not born) 27 Mar 1625, Holy Trinity, Long Sutton, Somerset. from the Parish Register.<ref name=FreeReg2>www.freereg.org.uk Search parameters Rayse (soundex), Baptism 1624-1644, Long Sutton, Somerset and nearby.</ref>::2. Margaret Rayse, daughter of Robert, baptized (not born) 06 Jan 1626/7, Holy Trinity, Long Sutton, Somerset. from the Parish Register.<ref name=FreeReg2 />::3. * Rayse, daughter of Robert, baptized (not born) 15 April 1629<ref>The Royce Family Association has a date of 19 April 1629</ref>, HolyTrinity, Long Sutton, Somerset. from the Parish Register.<ref name=FreeReg2 /> The Royce Family Association have given her the name Mary. Probably their person who read the register was able to determine this. There is no overlap here with the known children of Robert Royce in New England and the Royce Family Association Document has just stuck them on the beginning of the previously known list. Other research has uncovered another possible scenario. For more detail on the discovery itself see the genforum post cited earlier. The following information was found by Charles Julian in the IGI Indexes, confirmed in England by Hal Whitmore<ref>http://genforum.genealogy.com/royce/messages/917.html except one of the two early Johns</ref> or can be looked up at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/igi Robert Royse & Mary Jugkson married 8 Apr 1627, Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln, England.<ref>Index project # M03171-3. system origin England-ODM. GS Film # 1450475 IT 2. ["England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NKQS-13V : accessed 04 May 2014), Robert Royse and Mary Jugkson, 08 Apr 1627; citing Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln, England, reference ; FHL microfilm1450475 IT 2. ]</ref># John Royse christened 30 December 1627; died 29 May 1628, All Saints, Stamford, Lincoln, England; s/o Robert<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NG5Y-56J : accessed 04 May 2014), John Royse, 30 Dec 1627; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 436051, 508046.</ref># John Royse christened 29 June 1629, All Saints, Stamford, Lincoln, England; s/o Robert.<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NG5Y-56K: 6 December 2014, John Royse, 29 Jun 1629); citing ALL SAINTS,STAMFORD,LINCOLN,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 436,051, 508,046.</ref># Mary Royse christened 10 Jul 1631, Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln,England; d/o Robert<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,"index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NGVP-VMQ :accessed 04 May 2014), Mary Royse, 10 Jul 1631; citing SAINT MICHAEL,STAMFORD, LINCOLN, ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 504769.</ref># John Royse christened 21 Apr 1633, Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln,England; s/o Robert & Mary<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JQJZ-J9R : accessed 04 May 2014), John Royse, 21 Apr 1633; citing SAINT MICHAEL, STAMFORD, LINCOLN, ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 1450475 IT 2.</ref># Sara Royse christened 08 Feb 1634, Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln,England; d/o Robert<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,"index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N26R-W3L :accessed 04 May 2014), Sara Royse, 08 Feb 1634; citing SAINT MICHAEL,STAMFORD, LINCOLN, ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 1450475 IT 2.</ref># Nehemiah Royse christened 30 May 1637, Saint Michael, Stamford, Lincoln, England; s/o Robert & Mary<ref>"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N26T-9P2 : accessed 04 May 2014), Nehemiah Royse, 30 May 1637; citingSAINT MICHAEL, STAMFORD, LINCOLN, ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 1450475 IT 2.</ref> Note that the names John/Jonathan, Sara, & Nehemiah, are the names of children of Robert Royce and Mary that came with him from England. Which feels like the more likely scenario? All the above having been said, bear in mind that none of the above constitutes proof, that either of these Roberts is the New England Robert. There may be more information to be found, more families of Robert & Mary, or there may be no information on this family at all. We all like to fill the blanks on our genealogical charts and it’s always fun to find out that you’re related to someone important, but the world is made up of ordinary people, who lead ordinary lives. They are important to the people that they care for and the people that love & respect them. That should be enough for anyone.

Vital Statistics ==Robert Royce was born about 1605 in England. There are baptismal dates(for instance March 1, 1603) that are possibilities, but until one isproven to be correct, about 1605 is sufficient.

He married in England – Mary. Perhaps Sims-222|Mary Sims in 1624or Mary Jugkson (Jackson) in 1627. He died in 1676. There is no record of his death (not an uncommon occurrence) but it would have been before Sept 22, 1676, when an inventoryof his estate valued at £420.11 was presented at court. One important point about the distribution of his estate is that besides his wife and some charitable gifts to the church, his estate goes to five sons and three daughters. We only know the names of two of his then living daughters.<ref name="Goodwin">#Starr|Starr, Frank Farnsworth (Compiler), Space:Various Ancestral Lines of James Goodwin and Lucy(Morgan) Goodwin of Hartford, Connecticut|Various Ancestral Lines of James Goodwin and Lucy (Morgan) Goodwin of Hartford, Connecticut (Hartford, Conn., 1915) Vol. 1, Page 295-301 NOTE: Starr is very good about referencing his facts to original records. See here</ref> “Unfortunately the will and inventory have not been preserved and the record of them, if any was made, was probably destroyed at the burning of New London by the traitor Arnold in 1781.”<ref name="Goodwin"/> It is believed that the widow, Mary, continued on the “Post Lot” until her declining years, when she went to live with one of her children, in Wallingford, where she died.

Life in New England ===What did Robert do with his life between his birth and death, beside marrying a wife and having children?

'IMMIGRATION:' Robert left England between 1637 (the baptism of Nehemiah) and 1648 when the first located record of him is found in New England. The years between were turbulent times as England fought over it's method of government in the period known as the English Civil War.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War</ref>

::AT STRATFORD: “Robert Rice was not of the original proprietors but came soon afterthem and was granted land from the town which was recorded Sept. 16, 1648, which is the earliest record now on the town books. ... The record says: “One house lot, two acres, more or less, butting south uponthe highway”... He had also “meadow and upland in the Old Field, 8 acres in the Newfeyld...” and other pieces elsewhere. On February 6, 1660, Mr. Rice sold these parcels of land, including “one house lot, one dwelling house upon it and barn” ... and removed to New London.” [http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/cofairfield/pages/stratford/stratfor...| His house lot] was # 74.<ref name="Orcutt">Orcutt, Rev. Samuel. Space:A History of the Old Town of Stratford and theCity of Bridgeport, Connecticut|A History Of The Old Town Of Stratford And The City Of Bridgeport, Connecticut The Fairfield County Historical Society, 1886.</ref><ref> #Starr|Starr cites the following references “"Stratford, Conn., Land Records, vol. 1, old folio 62, new p. 101, and old folio 140, new p. 259.’”</ref> In Oct 1656, Robert Rice and Philip Groves were appointed leather sealers for Stratford.<ref name="Orcutt"/>

::IN NEW LONDON: LAND: Beginning in 1657, Robert Royce acquired and sold land recorded in the New London town land records. He bought a houselot of John Elderkin, and was subsequently given, by the town, some additional land nearby the future burial place. December 1, 1658, the town gave him ten acres of upland woodland by Mill Brook. April 2, 1659, Richard Smith Junior of Wethersfield sold to Robert his house and lot, ten acres nextto Scull Plain, four acres in the Neck, four acres of fresh meadow and twenty-four acres of upland. September 11, 1660, John Stebbins deeded to him sixteen acres of upland by the Mill Brook and his six acre lot with the remaining part of Post Hill adjoining that which Robert already owned.<ref name="Goodwin"/> January 7, 1662, and August 10, 1664, Robert conveyed and gave severalof his lots with homes and buildings to his sons Nehemiah, Samuel, Nathaniel and Isaac.<ref name="Goodwin"/> December 28, 1664, he purchased from William Measure and his wife Alice two acres of land on the highway. Robert Royce and his wife Mary sold this land to Lawrence Codner, April 29, 1670, and in the deed Robert's occupation is given as that of a shoemaker.<ref name="Goodwin"/> An examination of the records reveals the purchase and sale by him of other tracts of land in various parts of the town. More of this land was sold in 1688 and 1697, by Robert’s heirs.<ref name="Goodwin"/> A rate list for the “Ministry Tax” of 1664 shows the valuation of Robert's property at £163.<ref name="Goodwin"/><ref name=Caulkins /> CHURCH AFFILIATION: Mr. Bradstreet was ordained 5 Oct 1670 and he began his record of the church on that date, creating first a list of members which containing the name of Robert Royce but not his wife.<ref name=Caulkins>Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. History of Norwich, Connecticut: From Its Possession by the Indians to the Year 1866. (Hartford: Friends of the Author, 1873.) minister's list p. 144; 1664 tax list p. 152; short bio p. 294</ref> TOWN SERVICE: May 1660, Constable of the town; 1661, Deputy to the General Court; 1663 and 1668, appointed Townsman; December 9, 1667, he and Gabriel Harris were chosen "to gather ye Towne Rate in the Towne plat for this yeere"; September 1666, he was on the jury of the County Court; September 1668, appointed one of the Grand Jurors for New London.<ref name="Goodwin"/>

OCCUPATION: Leather worker, shoemaker, keeper of the ordinary.25 Feb. 66-7."Robert Rice (Royce) voated and chosen by the towne to keep ye Ordinary." Here he entertained the new minister, Reverend Simon Bradstreet, as the following vote shows: "To Goodman Royce for ye ministers dyet, 15 lb."<ref name="Goodwin"/>

::WALLINGFORD:Robert Roice and his son Nathaniel Royce are on the list of original proprietors of Wallingford.<ref>Davis, Charles Henry Stanley. History of Wallingford, Conn., from its settlement in 1670 to the present time,including Meriden, which was one of its parishes until 1806, and Chesire, which was incorporated in 1780. (Meriden, Conn. : The Author, 1870.) p.86</ref> It doesn't appear that Robert actually lived there but bought land to accommodate his sons Nehemiah, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Isaacwho relocated to Wallingford.<ref name=Caulkins /> CHILDREN: The traditional list of Robert's children without the English baptisms:<ref name=Jacobus/>

1. Sarah, b c 1634, d. 1 May 1711 in Norwich ae 77; m. John Calkins.
2. Nehemiah, b. c. 1636, d. Nov 1706 New London; m. Hannah Morgan.# Jonathan, d. 1690; res. Norwich; m. 1) Mary Spinning 2) Deborah Calkins.
3. Samuel, d 1711; Ens.; m. 1)Hannah Churchill 2)Sarah Baldwin.# Nathaniel, d 8 Feb 1726; m. 1) Esther [prob.Moss] 2) Sarah Lathrop 3) Hannah (Wilcoxsen) Farnham 4) Abigail (Cooke) Pomeroy Hoyt.
4. Isaac, d 1681; m 15 Dec 1669 Elizabeth Lathrop.
5. Ruth; m 1) John Lathrop 2) Abraham Doolittle.# Daughter. There is a third daughter mentioned in the probate recordsfor Robert.

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172829301/robert-royce

Sources

<references />

GEDCOM Note

• Reportedly born in Mar 1581/2 in Marlock, Somerset, England, and christened there 1 Apr 1582. Married Mary Sims? 4 Jun 1634 in Long Sutton, Somerset, England. Died about 22 Sep 1676 in New London CT. Their child: Jonathan Royce.

Savage claimed that Robert Roice of Boston was identical with this man, who appeared in Connecticut some years later, but since the latter had wife Mary, and the only known wife of the Boston man was Elizabeth, who outlived him, this cannot be true.

• Find A Grave contributor bhicks adds:

His marriage record to Mary Sims on ancestry.com says his birth year is 1605
∼

• Son of Robert Royce/Royse/Roise and Margery Hamlyn.
• He was baptized on March 9, 1603 in Martock, Somerset, England.
• He married Mary Sims on June 4, 1624 in Long Sutton, Somerset, England. Mary died on July 14, 1697 in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA. Mary was the daughter of John/Johannes Sims/Syms and Sara Baker.
• There is a question if Robert married a Mary Jugkson on April 8, 1627 in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.
• Gravesite Details

Time and weather has possibly erased the location of this grave