- “Remember, Remember… the Fifth of November”
Among the many plots to assassinate the monarch, the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was the closest to succeeding. Many of the descendants of Thomas Richards alias Fermor had a role. The following is excerpted and edited from the book, Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney. King James I & VI and Sir George Fermor …Continue reading ““Remember, Remember… the Fifth of November””
- The Men of King Henry VIII
The Smithsonian Channel aired a three-part series about King Henry VIII and his men. The episodes provide good educational and entertaining biographies of those who associated with Richard Fermor of Easton Neston and his brother William Fermor of Somerton. The book “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney” spans a period from the 1400s to … - Major Jasper Farmar: Father At 62?
Is it possible for a father to have a son in his senior years? Recently in the news, Al Pacino, age 83, welcomed his fourth child Roman with actress Noor Alfallah, age 29. A month ago, Robert De Niro, age 79, welcomed his seventh child with girlfriend Tiffany Chen. Many times in building a family tree, … - “Sir Laurence Fermour de Richards”
A relatively recent article appeared in the February 2021 issue of “Who Do You Think You Are?” On page 41, a contributor asks, “How can I prove that Sir Laurence Fermour de Richards is one of my ancestors?” The reply contains a lot of guidance in researching English ancestors in the 1500s and concludes that … - Elizabeth Horne
This blog is part of a continuing series in which heraldic coat of arms, tombs, deeds, chancery records, and wills help piece together a medieval family tree. Per his 11 September 1552 will, William Fermor – son of Thomas Richards alias Fermor by his second wife Emmote (Hervey) Wenman – bequeaths… unto my good Aunte … - William Fermor of Somerton
In an earlier blog, we examined how the answer to a brick wall can be found… on a brick wall. In this blog we again use heraldry and burial tombs combined with wills and deeds to verify the identity and marriage order of William Fermor’s four wives. The Visitation of Northamptonshire claims… “William Farmor of … - Farmer Coat of Arms
In an earlier blog, we highlighted the fascination that two characters from William Shakespeare’s play had with a coat of arms. Even today, there is a modern fascination with wanting to display family heraldry. You see it on family trees, or with companies selling you a certificate or coffee mug. Regrettably, some of these companies … - Fermor Connection to Shakespeare
In “Merry Wives of Windsor,” did William Shakespeare satirize Sir Thomas Lucy, a great grandson of Thomas Richards alias Fermor? Justice Shallow Written sometime between 1596 and 1599, William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 2, introduces the character of Robert Shallow, a tall, thin, elderly, and wealthy landowner and Justice of the Peace in Gloucestershire. As … - John Farmer, Musician
Of the Thomas Richards alias Fermor family connections to Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, one may be composer and musician, John Farmer.[1] Although his pedigree is unknown, John may have been descended from Thomas Richards alias Fermor,[2] with a 27 March 1584 entry in the register of Merton College for a “John Farmer, … - Benjamin Franklin’s Ledger
In translating Benjamin Franklin’s 1728 shorthand ledger entry for Edward Farmar, did he publish one hundred lines or one hundred copies of a piece entitled “Accts. of Pennsylvania?” The pluralization of accounts would suggest copies, but which “Account of Pennsylvania?” And why? Did Edward write and publish a book!? Benjamin Franklin Early Years In 1723, … - The Portrait of Sir George Fermor
The new book “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney” includes portraits of Sir George Fermor and wife Dame Mary Curzon auctioned by Sotheby’s from the Easton Neston estate sale. Or are they a £78,000 fraud? (Edited from the ArtDaily and The Guardian articles with additional sources.) In May 2005, Sotheby’s announced the auction sale … - 325th Anniversary
In 1698, Edward Farmar donated land and built a log cabin for the purposes of a church. For 325 years, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Whitemarsh, has supported the community’s spiritual and social needs. It’s an honor and privilege to kick-off their anniversary celebration with an invitation to speak at their inaugural event. Hope to see … - War of the Three Kingdoms
The War of the Three Kingdoms ended with the English declaring their independence from the monarchy, and the descendants of Thomas Fermor had a role in history. Excerpted and edited from the book “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney.” Americans will celebrate their Independence Day holiday with fireworks as the date English subjects of … - Nicholas Fermor
The 1580 will of Thomas Fermor of Somerton gifts his “well-beloved nephew” Nicholas Fermor. Which one? Per the 1580 will of Thomas Fermor of Somerton, In default of such issue [of Mary or Richard, the children of Thomas], the remainder goes to my brother Jerome Farmor, according to the gift of my Uncle William Farmer … - Jane (Isacke, Hunckes) Fermor
In determining the identity of Jerome Fermor’s wife Jane, the following information supplements what has been written in the new book Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney. In the church at Towcester, Northamptonshire, is the memorial to Jerome and Jane Fermor who “lived togeath(er) in wedlock 42 years…” The coat of arms displayed above … - Bibliography & Footnotes
The marketing for the new book “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney” includes a statement that a full bibliography and footnotes are included. Why is this important? There are good publications defined by the excellent, well-researched data they provide. There are also some publications with extremely poor data, and some genealogical books that contain … - Barnabas O’Brien & Mary Fermor, Part 2
The O’Briens continued to live in Carlow Castle, but two years after moving into Bunratty Castle, they found themselves in the middle of a war in Ireland. Excerpted and edited from the new book “Thomas Fermor and the Sons of Witney.” On 17 July 1615, Barnabas “Barnaby” O’Brien married Mary (Fermor) Crichton, the youngest surviving … - Jane Fermor, Pirate? Arrgh.
History has been unkind to Jane Fermor Killigrew (1583-1648), daughter of Sir George Fermor and Mary Curson. Pirate? Prostitute? Affair? Divorce? Jane Fermor, the daughter of Sir George Fermor and Mary Curson, was baptized on 28 October 1583, and married at the age of twelve on 08 October 1596 to Sir John Killigrew V of … - Barnabas O’Brien & Mary Fermor
Excerpted and edited from a new book to be released soon. In the early seventeeth century, the family patriarch exercised total parental control and carefully orchestrated the right marriage contracts of their children, a normal practice in a society that regarded family discipline as a guarantee of public order, and in which young men and … - Hark The Herald Angels
Edward Farmar was one connection away from George Whitefield who popularized the beloved Christmas carol “Hark the Herald Angels.” On 18 December 1739, Edward in a letter to his cousin Nicholas Scull writes… “…I was in hopes since this Gentleman Mr. Whitefield had preached up the Doctrine you yourself applauded so much that it might … - Quarantine! The John Wiley Farmer Family
Excerpted from the upcoming sequel to the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh. John Wiley Farmer, was born in Dent County, Missouri on 18 March 1859 to Hiram David Farmer and Mary “Polly” Jones.[1] When his father Hiram died, “Wiley” was four years old and was compelled to work tending to the family … - UPDATE: Rachel Astley, Wife of Edward Farmar?
A lot of family trees incorrectly have Rachel Astley as the wife of Edward Farmar. Is his wife Rachel Ellis/Roberts as other researchers suggest? In an earlier post, it was related that the Astley surname first appears in the Philadelphia region around the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Yet, on a July 1685 land deed …Continue reading “UPDATE: Rachel Astley, Wife of Edward Farmar?”
- Edward’s Relatives & The American Revolutionary War
The following is excerpted and edited from the book “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.” The relationship between America and England had been deteriorating since King George III’s Royal Proclamation in 1763, and after a series of parliamentary taxes in the 1760’s,[1] many questioned whether England had any jurisdiction over the colonies. By 1774, …Continue reading “Edward’s Relatives & The American Revolutionary War”
- Jasper’s Backyard
On this St. Patrick’s day, you may find yourself raising a pint of Guinness at Jasper’s Backyard, a popular bar and grill in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. From their website, “The earliest purchase of land in the vicinity of Conshohocken can be traced to deeds from the Tammany Native Americans to William Penn in 1683. In that … - Part 5: Hiram Fee
The conclusion of a tutorial on deductive reason when branching your family tree using Hiram Fee as the example. If you happened upon this blog, recommend you read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Having performed the prior steps, it’s time to move on to Step #8. STEP #8: NEVER STOP SEARCHING … - Part 4: Hiram Fee
A tutorial on deductive reason when branching your family tree using Hiram Fee as the example. If you happened upon this blog, recommend you read Part 1, Part 2, and/or Part 3. Having performed the prior steps, it’s time to move on to Step #6. STEP #6: APPLY THE HARD PROBABILITIES TO YOUR POSSIBILITIES. At … - Part 3: Hiram Fee
A tutorial on deductive reason when branching your family tree using Hiram Fee as the example. Assuming you have been following this blog series on determining if your person of interest belongs in your family tree, we’ll skip the introductions and move on to the next step. If you haven’t been following along, recommend you … - Part 2: Hiram FeeIn this multi-part blog series, we examine “Hiram Fee” to educate genealogical research and deduction methods. So you’re researching your ancestors and you’re trying to determine if your person of interest belongs in your family tree. In our last blog, we started with two basic steps to prevent you from adding someone that does not …
- Part 1: Hiram Fee
In this multi-part blog series, we examine “Hiram Fee” to educate genealogical research and deduction methods. Several weeks ago, I was on the telephone with a gentleman who had questions regarding the westward expansion from Grayson County, Virginia into Kentucky. Amidst the explanations of King George’s Royal Proclamation of 1763, Richard Henderson’s Transylvania Company, and … - Enos “Bear” Hensley
Some folks have family trees. Others describe their tree as a stump, or even a bush. Mine turned into a plate of spaghetti. Over the past month, I’ve been busy with holidays, work, and other activities. Most of my spare time has been consumed with fixing the “problem child’s” in my family tree while researching … - David Vahanger Farmer
An earlier blog talked of relatives living nearby. This story is closer to home. [Note: Excerpted from the upcoming sequel to the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.] An interesting anecdote about my uncle, David Lenn Farmer. Many, many years ago, my uncle felt that he would not live past the age of … - James Farmer and the Election of 1824
With the end of this week’s mid-term elections, it seemed like a good time to discuss James Farmer’s first year as a representative in Kentucky’s House of Representatives. [Note: Excerpted from the upcoming sequel to the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh.] In 1824, at the age of twenty-five, James Farmer, the son … - Kentucky to Oklahoma
After moving to Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, we discovered we weren’t the first family members who lived here. In December 2015, I accepted a new job in Shawnee, Oklahoma and in March 2016, my wife and I purchased a home here. Shawnee is a nice little town in Pottawatomie County with a population of about 32,000. … - Rachel Astley, Wife of Edward Farmar?
A lot of family trees have the wife of Edward Farmar as “Rachel Astley.” It is uncertain as to how or when this information was presented and perpetuated as fact, but it may be in error. Note: The following has been excerpted and edited from the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh. Edward … - Samuel Farmar, Merchant of Norfolk
In 1685, Major Jasper Farmar’s son, Major Samuel Farmar, remained in Ireland while the family moved to Pennsylvania. Four years later, Samuel would also immigrate to America. This is the story of his son, Samuel Farmar, Merchant of Norfolk. In the previous blogs, we mention how Burke’s Landed Gentry states that Major Samuel Farmar’s “valuable … - Dr. Richard Farmar
In 1685, Major Jasper Farmar’s son, Samuel, remained in Ireland while the family moved to Pennsylvania. Four years later, Samuel would also immigrate to America. This is the story of his son, Dr. Richard Farmar, who settled in Philadelphia. In the previous blog, we mention how Burke’s Landed Gentry states that Major Samuel Farmar’s “valuable … - Major Samuel Farmar
In 1685, Major Jasper Farmar’s son, Samuel, remained in Ireland while the family moved to Pennsylvania. He would soon follow… In an earlier blog, we explored whether Major Jasper Farmar’s son, Richard, made the trip to Pennsylvania in 1685. After examining the land deeds and other resources, Richard either remained or returned to Ireland soon … - Who was on the Bristol Merchant in 1685?
When writing the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh, the research that created the biggest headache was in determining who arrived in America, who stayed, who died, and who returned to Ireland. We know the Farmar family embarked on the Bristol Merchant which may have left Liverpool on 11 August 1685, arrived into … - Genealogy and… Star Trek?
When doing your family genealogy, you might find that you’re related to someone famous… such is the case in my family tree. When doing your family genealogy, you might find that you’re related to someone famous… either a professional athlete, or historical figure, or actor. You may have met someone who proudly exclaims that they’re … - William Penn and the Farmar’s
As large landowners in southeast County Cork, Ireland, the Penn’s and the Farmar’s knew each other and continued their relationship into early 1700 Pennsylvania. The following is excerpted from the book Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh. As early as 1677, William Penn was part of a group purchasing land in the western side … - UPDATE: First Hanging in Harlan County?
An update based on reader-submitted “evidence” regarding the oral history that Hezekiah Clem was the first person hanged in Harlan County in 1860. From June 29 to July 5, a four-part blog was written about Hezekiah Clem. An analysis of the oral tradition raises doubts whether he was the first person executed by hanging in … - John Farmer, Father of Stephen?
A lot of family trees exist today with John Farmer as the father of Stephen Farmer. Focusing on published works, we examine the evidence that the information contained in those trees is incorrect. When branching my family tree, I’ve been led down wrong paths with misdirection or misinformation, particularly when it becomes too easy to … - The Five Baker Children: Part Four
For almost six decades, the descendants of Rosebell Baker were searching for the fathers of her children, with limited success. In Part One, we analyzed vital records and newspaper articles to determine that Samuel Chase Early was the father of Lucinda Baker. In Part Two, we determined the father of Rosebell’s other child, Meldia Baker, was … - The Five Baker Children: Part 3
For almost six decades, the descendants of Rosebell Baker were searching for the fathers of her children, with limited success. In Part One, we analyzed vital records and newspaper articles to determine that Samuel Chase Early was the father of Lucinda Baker . In Part Two, we determined the father of Rosebell’s other child, Meldia Baker, … - The Five Baker Children: Part 2
For almost six decades, the descendants of Rosebell Baker were searching for the fathers of her children, with limited success. In Part One, we analyzed vital records and newspaper articles to determine that the father of Lucinda Baker was Samuel Chase Early. We continue the story to determine the father of Rosebell’s other child, Meldia … - The Five Baker Children: Part 1
I wish I had started genealogy research much earlier when my grandmother was still alive. With information more readily available, and armed with data from vital records, newspapers, and other records, I have so much more to ask her. Growing up in Battle Creek, Michigan, we would visit my grandpa and grandma, Harry and Minnie … - Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 4]
Oral history and numerous retellings of the same story report that Hezekiah Clem was the first person hanged in Harlan County in 1860. What if Hezekiah wasn’t hanged? In Part 1, we recount who Hezekiah Clem is, his family ties, and his notoriety, and in Part 2 we cover the crime and trial. Part 3 …Continue reading “Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 4]”
- Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 3]Oral history and numerous retellings of the same story report that Hezekiah Clem was the first person hanged in Harlan County in 1860. What if Hezekiah wasn’t hanged? In Part 1, we recount who Hezekiah Clem is, his family ties, and his notoriety, and in Part 2 we cover the crime and trial. On the …
Continue reading “Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 3]”
- Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 2]Oral history and numerous retellings of the same story report that Hezekiah Clem was the first person hanged in Harlan County in 1860. What if Hezekiah wasn’t hanged? In Part 1, we recount who Hezekiah Clem is, his family ties, and his notoriety. In July 1859, Hezekiah and his brother John were arrested and indicted …
Continue reading “Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 2]”
- Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 1]Oral history and numerous retellings of the same story report that Hezekiah Clem was the first person hanged in Harlan County in 1860. What if Hezekiah wasn’t hanged? The stories circulating on the internet, in books, newspapers, blogs, forums, and other journalistic works recount a group of loosely knit outlaws related by blood and marriage …
Continue reading “Hezekiah Clem: First Man Hanged in Harlan County? [Part 1]”
- Now Available on Amazon, B&N
Book Now Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble Have an Amazon gift card still in your pocket from Christmas? You can now purchase “Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh” on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book retailers. Don’t believe Amazon’s “used book available.” I know how many books have sold, and it’s no … - Stephen Farmer in Hawkins County
Stephen Farmer of Harlan County, Kentucky. Who is he? Where did he come from? For many branching their family tree, most have hit a brick wall with these questions. In 1782 and in 1795, we find Stephen Farmer purchasing large tracts of land in Lincoln County, Kentucky an area which will later become Knox County … - Branch Slowly, or Cut the Tree Down
When branching your genealogy, go slow or risk having to cut the family tree down. For those researching their genealogical roots, Ancestry.com offers convenience. They offer access to records, a social media outlet for networking, and positive reinforcement to continue your search. The advertisements make it sound so easy. Enter a name and some vital … - Wife of Stephen Farmer, Nancy Russell?
Did Stephen Farmer Marry Nancy Russell? In 1682, Major Jasper Farmar sent his son Jasper Jr. to purchase 5,000 acres in Pennsylvania. Jasper Jr. then made the return trip to Ireland to gather his family and sail again for Philadelphia in 1685. Like his father and his sister, he never arrived and was buried at … - Leafy Hints and Late Night StintsJust type in a name and a leaf appears! But what happens when your branch isn’t growing? Be prepared to do some real digging… Genealogy is a billion-dollar industry that has spawned profitable websites, television shows, books, and a cottage industry with DNA testing. A 2014 study found that genealogy is the second most popular …
- Brick Walls
Have you hit your brick wall? Let go of what you “know” Frequently, I’m approached from others about their brick wall. Just in the past few months… …A family looking for their grandfather who died in Ohio in February 1913. I found he was murdered in Kentucky in November 1914 while betting a watch on … - Samuel Farmar in Debtors’ Prison
In 1751, notices appeared in the weekly Pennsylvania Gazette that Samuel Farmar at the age of fifty-six had been released from debtors’ prison. “Whereas Samuel Farmar, of the township of White-marsh, in the county of Philadelphia, upon Petition to the justices of the court of Common Pleas, was lately discharged from confinement for debt, by … - Stephen Farmer of Harlan County… German?
In an interview with Reverend John J. Dickey on 05 May 1898, Felix Gilbert Farmer states: “My grandfather, Stephen, was born on the New River, North Carolina… The Farmers are German not Dutch…” Actually, Stephen was English. Modern DNA and other genealogical research shows that Stephen was the great grandson of Edward Farmar. It also … - New Book!Through our partner Lulu Printing, we’re pleased to announce that Edward Farmar and the Sons of Whitemarsh is now available for purchase in both premium paperback and hardcover. This book is not another “family tree book” that records vital statistics of births, deaths, and marriages! Covering a span of 155 years, the narrative balances local …
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