Robert Wynne, Mayor of Canterbury

Additional Curator's Notes:

Robert Wynne was mayor of Canterbury (made famous by Chaucer) in Kent County, England. He died and was buried at St. Georges, Canterbury. The Wynne family lived in the Kent County area of England for at least three centuries prior to Robert Wynne's son, Peter, coming to Virginia. One of Robert's ancestors is believed to have been John Wynne, who served in Parliament in 1356. There have been several attempts to connect this Robert Wynne to Sir John Wynne (of Gwydir, in Wales). Indeed, Sir John did have a son Robert, who was a lawyer and preacher. THIS Robert Wynne was a Woolendraper (clothier) and was born in Salop, not in Wales. Most researchers believe there is a connection, but that Robert is NOT a son of the Welsh Baronet. PLEASE DO NOT MERGE THESE TWO FAMILIES!

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Adapted from "Virginia Historical Genealogies," by John Bennett Boddie, and other sources:

The Wynne family seems to have resided in and about Canterbury, England, for three or more centuries before coming to Virginia. The first mention of the name found in the records is that of "John Wynne", member of Parliament from Canterbury, probably about 1356. From that time on down to Robert Wynne, Mayor of Canterbury in 1599, the name appears often in the records.

The Wynnes were members of Woolendrapers Guild. Robert Wynne I, woolendraper, apprenticed to John Rose, Alderman, was released from his indentures and became a Freeman of the City in 1590. Nine years later, in 1599, he was mayor of the ancient city of Canterbury. His sons became freemen by right of birth.

About 1590/91, in Canterbury, Kent, England, Robert was married to Frances Wattmer. She was born in 1565 in Canterbury, Kent, England and died September 8, 1609 in Canterbury. She was the daughter of William Wattmer born about 1539 and Joann Hatch born about 1543. Some sources claim she was the daughter of William Watmoughe/Wattmore and Margaret Sparkes/Parkes)

Robert and Frances contracted the plague. He died September 6, 1609, in Canterbury, and was buried at St. George's Cathedral in Canturbury. Frances died two days later, September 8, and was also buried in St. George's. Frances' father, William Wattmer took the Wynne children to a house outside the city and procured a nurse for them. William Wattmer raised the children after the deaths of Robert and Frances.

The children of Robert Wynne I and Frances Wattmer Wynne:

• Thomas Wynne, born in 1592 in Canterbury, Canterbury, Kent, England Thomas was a grocer in Canterbury, England, and married Mary Wickham of Faversham on July 20, 1613, in Ospringe. Thomas and Mary had a child buried in St. Georges on May 9, 1625. Mary Wickham Wynne was buried on July 20, 1629. Thomas married wife #2, Ann Nichols, on October 26, 1629, in St. Martins. Ann was of the Almony of St. Augustine, Canterbury, and was the widow of James Nichols. No further record is shown of Thomas.
• Peter Wynne, baptized on 25 November 1593 at St. Dunstan's Canterbury, Kent, England, Died on 30 May 1638 St. George’s, Canterbury, Kent, England and buried on 30 May 1638 at St. George's, Canterbury, Kent, England. Peter Wynne, gentleman of Canterbury, was an Alderman of the city. He married Martha Coppin of St. Margarets, Canterbury, on August 12, 1620, at St. Martins. William Coppin, father of Martha, signed the marriage bond. In St. Georges, on August 20, 1631.
• Robert Wynne II, born c.1593 in Canterbury, Co. Kent, England , preceded his father in death, buried at Jordan's Church.
• Elizabeth Wynne, born in 1594 in Canterbury, Co. Kent, England. She died on 30 Aug 1631, and is buried at St. George's Parish, Canterbury, Co. Kent, England. She married Paul May. Children: Christopher and Sarah May.
• Anne Wynne, born c.1595 in Canterbury, Co. Kent, England, and died: 20 Aug 1631. She married Roger Pey.
• Unknown Wynne, born before 1597. Buried: 20 Aug 1631 at St. Georges, Canterbury, Kent, England
• John Wynne, born in 1597 in Canterbury, Co. Kent , England. He married first Dorothie (unk), and second Joan Burt. Children: Marie Wynne, Ann Wynne and Elizabeth Wynne.

The Will of Robert Wynne, Mayor of Canterbury

Transcribed and submitted by Dorothy Tuttle:

This is the last will and Testament a nuncupative of Robert Wynne late of the parish of St. Mary Bredman in the City of Canterbury, Alderman deceased by him uttered and declared for his last will and testament he being in good and perfect memory on the fourth day of ye month of September 1609 in these words following or the like in effort viz the said Robert Wynne being moved to make his will he said his will was quickly made for he did give and bequeath to Frances his wife the one half of his goods and chattels and the other half of his good and chattels he did give & beqeath to his children and he did move and appoint Frances his wife to be Executrix of his will & he named William Wattmer his brother to be his overseer and the said Robert Wynne further willed that Frances his wife should pay to Sara Effield her legacy given her in ye will of Christopher Effield her father deceased of whom the said Robert Wynne was Executor. He should leave enough behind him to discharge the same. Witnesses present at the uttering of the promises by the said Testator Robert Wynne for his last will and testament. Joseph Colege, Mr. James Bissell, Clerk, Leonard Ashendon and others.

s/ James Bissell, Leonard Ashendon.

Probatum: (Proved) 5 Dec 1609 by witness John Fish, Executor James Bissell & Supervisor William Wattmer. (Canterbury Wills, Comistory Court of Canterbury, Vol. 41 folio 4, FHL Film 188854)

The WYNNE family is mentioned in the Hasted History of Canterbury volumes as far back as a John Wynne, Member of parliament in 1356. The Wynnes were members of the Woolendrapers Guild. Robert Wynne was released from his apprenticeship and became a Freeman of the city in 1590. He became Mayor nine years later in 1599. The parish records of St. George's in Canterbury show he and his wife were buried two days apart in September, 1609. Their deaths were in connection with a visitation of the plague to Canterbury, either Bubonic plague, or Typhus. The outbreak was severe. They left five young children orphans, and had it not been for the kindness of their uncle, William Wattmer, they would have been destitute. He saw to it they were removed from the infected house until it was cleansed, and reclothed, housed, and looked after them during the quarantine. Then he boarded (BO:Peter:BO) and John with Rowland Dixon, the tailor, to follow an apprenticeship in their father's trade. Thomas was old enough to assume the responsibilities of his parent's house, Uncle William took Elizabeth and Anne to his home, and looked after the financial affairs of the young children.

There is a detailed article of several pages length in the Archaeologia Cantiana, published by the Kent Archaeological Society, 1948, by Dorothy Gardiner, which tells of the dealings of "A Mayor of Canterbury: William Wattmer, the Children's Friend"

http://www.thefourwinns.net/winn.html#ROBERT%20WYNNE

Here is some interesting information about Robert Wynne.

Occupation Robert was born in 1558 and was originally from Shrewsbury (*1) Robert was a member of the Woolendrapers Guild and became the Mayor of Canterbury in 1599. In an Ecclesiastical Deposition dated 1604 he states that he came to Canterbury in 1579 and was in Swaddling Clothes in Shrewsbury, Salop (Shropshire) in 1558.

Based on current thinking (July 2017) descendants of Robert should be expected to test positive for the SNP BY3290.

There are a large number of descendants of this Wynn family in the Wynn DNA project at FamilyTreeDNA. See https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/winn/about/background

Will The Will of Robert Wynne, Mayor of Canterbury Transcribed and submitted by Dorothy Tuttle

This is the last will and Testament a nuncupative of Robert Wynne late of the parish of St. Mary Bredman in the City of Canterbury, Alderman deceased by him uttered and declared for his last will and testament he being in good and perfect memory on the fourth day of ye month of September 1609 in these words following or the like in effort viz the said Robert Wynne being moved to make his will he said his will was quickly made for he did give and bequeath to Frances his wife the one half of his goods and chattels and the other halfe of his good and chattels he did give & bequeath to his children and he did move and appoint Frances his wife to be Executrix of his will & he named William Wattmer his brother to be his overseer and the said Robert Wynne further willed that Frances his wife should pay to Sara Effield her legacy given her in ye will of Christopher Effield her father deceased of whom the said Robert Wynne was Executor. He should leave enough behind him to discharge the same. Witnesses present at the uttering of the promises by the said Testator Robert Wynne for his last will and testament. Joseph Colege, Mr. James Bissell, Clerk, Leonard Ashendon and others. s/ James Bissell, Leonard Ashendon. Probatum: (Proved) 5 Dec 1609 by witness John Fish, Executor James Bissell & Supervisor William Watmer. (Canterbury Wills, Comistory Court of Canterbury, Vol. 41 folio 4, FHL Film 188854)

Sources

1 Ecclesiastical Deposition dated 1604 he states that he came to Canterbury in 1579 and was in Swaddling Clothes in Shrewsbury, Salop in 1558.

The parish records of St. George's in Canterbury show he and his wife were buried two days apart in September, 1609. Their deaths were in connection with a visitation of the plague to Canterbury, either bubonic plague, or typhus. The outbreak was severe. They left five young children orphans, and had it not been for the kindness of their uncle, William Watmer, they would have been destitute. He saw to it they were removed from the infected house until it was cleansed, and reclothed, housed, and looked after them during the quarantine. Then he boarded [BO:Peter:BO] and John with Rowland Dixon, the tailor, to follow an apprenticeship in their father's trade. Thomas was old enough to assume the responsibilities of his parent's house, Uncle William took Elizabeth and Anne to his home, and looked after the financial affairs of the young children. There is a detailed article of several pages length in the Archaeologia Cantiana, published by the Kent Archaeological Society, 1948, by Dorothy Gardiner, which tells of the dealings of "A Mayor of Canterbury: William Watmer, the Children's Friend". http://www.penjaccphoto.com/penleyged/nti04369.htm