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John Earle and Ann Baker © Although it is not clear just where John was born, his marriage record1 gave us a clue as to his birthplace most likely being in or around Binstead, Surrey. A possible baptism reference2 for a John, the son of Edmund Earle and his wife Ann (nee Dunner) on the 10th February, 1698, has been located in Binstead. But the actual document has not yet been sighted, or confirmed as belonging to my John. Records of the Old Parish Church in Headley1, Surrey show John Earle, from the Parish of Binstead, married Ann Baker, from the Parish of Headley, by Licence on the 20th October, 17231. A reference to the Licence indicates John was a Yeoman. A yeoman generally worked their own land, but did not necessarily have to be freeholders. But they could also have been a retainer, guard, attendant, or subordinate official. However, most yeomen of this era were occupied in cultivating the land, and have been described as having free land worth 40 shillings annually (roughly $400.00 today) and as not being entitled to bear arms3. A baptism for an Ann Baker, on the 28th October, 1701, at All Saints, Headley, Surrey, has been located. Ann was the daughter of Nicholas Baker, a Renter of a small farm, and his wife Jone (nee Haine)4. As the marriage record is from Headley in Surrey and this indicates Ann was from that Parish and John was from the Parish of Binsted which is in Hampshire, it is unclear just where John & Ann settled. However, as many of their children were baptised in Headley, Surrey, it is believed they lived in close proximity to this village. Binstead is approximately 40km south-west of Headly in Surrey and roughly 10km north-west of Headley in Hampshire. Originally the village of Binstead was little more than a clearing on top of a ridge and the name probably has its origin in the Saxon word ‘bin’ meaning ‘heap’ or ‘mound’ marking a battle. An entry in the Domesday Book reveals Binstead in 1086 was a small settlement with only 4 households consisting of 4 smallholders and a value of only £1.00. The Lord in 1066 was Boda, the Overlord in 1086 was King Edward and the Lord and Tenant-in-chief was Bishop Odo of Bayeux5. Research as shown there are two villages called Headley: one in Hampshire and the other in Surrey, both entries in the Domesday Book of 1086, refer to each of the villages as ‘Hallega’, which in each case is said to mean clearing in the heath/heather5. There is very little information in the Domesday Book regarding Headley in Hampshire. It was assessed as part of Bishops Sutton and having no households and no value on its own. Held by Earl Godwin in 1066, the Lord and Tenant-in-chief in 1086 was Count Eustace of Boulogne. It wasn’t until the early 1800 that the population of Headley in Hampshire rose above 900. Today the population is estimated at around 5,500. Headley in Surrey, with an annual value recorded as £5.00 in 1086, had 22 households, consisting of 9 villagers, 5 smallholders and 8 slaves. The Lord in 1066 was Goda, the Overlord in 1086 was King Edward and the Tenant-in-chief was Ralph of FougEres5. Over time several large farms seem to have dominated agriculture in and around the village of Headley in Surrey, including Manor Farm, Headley Court Farm, Slough Farm, Hyde Farm and Heath Farm. Maybe Nicholas Baker rented one of these farms, or at the very least a small part of one. With the focus on agriculture in the surrounding area, it is a logical assumption that John was an agricultural worker, possibly on the farm that Ann’s parents rented. Or maybe John’s parents had another small holding in the area. A search of the parish records indicate John and Ann had six children: Anne 1726; John 1727, he married Ann Bignal 1753; Ruth 1730; Sarah 1731; Mary 1734 and Anna 1737. A reference on FindMyPast to a burial for a John Earle in Headley Hampshire on the 16th November, 1765 has been located. This record has not yet been sighted, but is believed to be the possible burial of our John Earle. To-date no record has been located for a burial of Ann Earle (nee Baker). References: 1. Parish Marriage Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 2. Public Family Trees via Ancestry.co.uk https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1030 3. Encyclopaedia Britannica http://www.britannica.com/topic/yeoman 4. Headley Surrey Parish Baptism Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk 5. Open Domesday Book http://opendomesday.org/
Binstead Histoy http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol5/pt1/pp117-125
Exploring Surrey’s Past
www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/ Headley, Hampshire, UK http://www.headley-village.com/ Headley, Surrey, UK http://www.headleysurrey.org.uk/ |
