{86} Edward III Descents for Lady Ellen (née Thresher) Wrey (1733-1813)

Thresher of Bradford Coat of Arms
[Argent, a chevron gules, between three
boars' heads erect and couped, sable]

The previous post gave a descent from Edward III for Ellen Thresher, second wife of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet, that was an addition to Ruvigny's 1907 Anne of Exeter volume. This post will present five additional descents from Edward III for Ellen, Lady Wrey. [Update: many thanks to John Higgins, for sending me the two further lines of descent (Lines D and E below) from Edward III for Lady Ellen Wrey.]

Edward Thresher was a successful clothier in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, who married Dyonisia, daughter of Richard Long of Collingbourne Kingston, from one of the most prominent gentry families in the county. Their only surviving son John Thresher, a respected attorney, returned to Bradford-on-Avon at his father's death. Since 1698, the Thresher home in the town was the Chantry House. John waited until middle age to marry, taking to wife Ellen Long, the only daughter of his first cousin Henry Long of Melksham House.

The Longs of South Wraxall Manor had become one of the leading families in Wiltshire by the mid-15th-century, in large part due to the patronage of the Lords Hungerford, to whom they were related. Sir Thomas Long (d. 1508) was connected both with the Barons Stourton and with the Seymours of Wolf Hall, and acquired the manor of Draycot Cerne in the county, making Draycot House there the family's chief seat. It was his son Sir Henry Long who first married into the Edward I bloodline, taking to wife, at some point between 1510 and 1515, Eleanor (née Wrottesley) Leversedge, the twenty-something widow of the squire of Vallis House in the parish of Frome, Wiltshire, about 13 miles from South Wraxall. But long before this marriage, probably in the 14th-century, a branch of the Longs had separated from the main South Wraxall line. In the mid-17th century, the head of this junior line was Thomas Long of Little Cheverell and Melksham House (1579-1654), whose eldest son John Long inherited those properties, but died childless, when his nephew Henry Long (1659-1686), eldest son of his next brother Richard Long of Collingbourne Kingston (c.1633-1669), inherited. It was this Henry Long who married back into the senior branch of the family, taking to wife Anne, the youngest sister of Hope Long of South Wraxall Manor (1648-1715). Henry Long of Melksham House died at the young age of 28, and his only son was born posthumously seven months after his death.

Monument of Henry Long of Melksham
in South Wraxall Church

HENRY LONG of Melksham House, Wiltshire, b. (posthumous) South Wraxall Manor, Wiltshire, bap. 20 Oct. 1687 St James Church, South Wraxall; d. 23 Oct. 1727, bur. 31 Oct. 1727 St Nicholas Church, North Bradley, Wiltshire, only son of Henry Long of Melksham House (1659-1687, descended from Edward III - see Generation D13 below) and Anne Long of South Wraxall (1652-1705, descended from Edward III - see Generation A13 below); m. by 1709, ELLEN TRENCHARD, b. 1687; d. 9 July 1752, bur. 18 July 1752 St Nicholas Church, North Bradley, dau. of William Trenchard of Cutteridge House (c.1643-1713, descended from Edward III - see Generation C10 below) and Ellen Norton (c.1648-1710, descended from Edward III - see Generation B13 below), and had issue, three sons and one daughter.

Issue of Henry and Ellen (Trenchard) Long:

1) WILLIAM LONG of Melksham House, b. 1709/10; d. unm. 15 June 1773, bur. 23 June 1773 St Nicholas Church, North Bradley.

2) ELLEN LONG, bap. 27 Feb. 1711 St Michael Church, Melksham; d. 17 Apr. 1753 Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, bur. Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon; m. 1731 St Michael Church, Melksham, her first cousin once removed, JOHN THRESHER of Chantry House, Bradford on Avon, bap. 22 May 1689 Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon; d. 17 Aug. 1741, bur. there, son of Edward Thresher of Bradford on Avon, clothier (c.1660-1725) and Dyonisia Long (1662-1692, descended from Edward III - see Generation E13 below), and had issue, four daughters.

Lady Ellen (née Thresher) Wrey
(1733-1813)

Issue of Ellen (Long) and John Thresher:

2A) ELLEN THRESHER, bap. 20 Aug. 1733 Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire; d. 3 Dec. 1813 Bath, Somersetshire, bur. 13 Dec. 1813 St Peter Church, Tawstock, Devon; m. 1 May 1755 St Bartholomew Church, Corsham, Wiltshire, as his 2nd wife, Sir BOURCHIER WREY, 6th Baronet of Trebeigh, b. 7 Jan. 1715 London, bap. 13 Jan. 1715 St James Church, Westminster; d. 13 Apr. 1784, bur. 22 Apr. 1784 St Peter Church, Tawstock, est son of Sir Bourchier Wrey, 5th Baronet of Trebeigh (1683-1726, descended from Edward III) and Diana Rolle (c.1685-aft.1725, descended from Edward III), and had issue, two sons and four daughters.

2B) DYONISIA THRESHER, bap. 21 Aug. 1735 Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon; d. unm. 18 Jan. 1806, bur. 28 Jan. 1806 St Michael Church, Melksham.

John Crosdill (c.1750-1825)

2C) ELIZABETH THRESHER, bap. 21 May 1737 Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon; d.s.p. 26 May 1807, bur. 6 June 1807 St Michael Church, Melksham; m. 1st 5 Aug. 1756 St Mary Church, Potterne, Wiltshire, as his 2nd wife, ROBERT COLEBROOKE of Chilham Castle, Kent, M.P. Maldon 1741-1761, b. 24 June 1718 London, bap. 3 July 1718 St Benet Fink, London; d.s.p.l. 10 May 1784 Soissons, Picardy, France, bur. St Mary Church, Chilham, Kent, est surv. son of James Colebrooke of Chilham Castle, London banker (1680-1752) and Mary Hudson (d. 1753); m. 2nd 31 May 1785 St Marylebone Parish Church, London, JOHN CROSDILL of Marylebone, violoncellist, b. c.1750 (aged 75 in burial entry); d.s.p.l. Oct. 1825 Marylebone, bur. 11 Oct. 1825 St Marylebone Parish Church, son of Richard Crosdill of Marylebone, violoncellist (c.1698-1790) and Margaret Taylor (d. 1792).

2D) MARY THRESHER, b. 1739; d. unm. 12 Dec. 1816[*1], bur. St Michael Church, Melksham.

3) JOHN LONG, b. Feb. 1712; d. in infancy 31 Oct. 1712 South Wraxall Manor, bur. 1 Nov. 1712 St James Church, South Wraxall.

St Michael Church, Melksham, Wiltshire

4) HENRY LONG, bap. 14 July 1713 St Michael Church, Melksham; d. unm. 30 Aug. 1739, bur. 17 Sept. 1739 St Nicholas Church, North Bradley.

[*1] I cannot locate baptism or burial entries for Mary Thresher in the three major online genealogy databases (Ancestry, Find My Past, Family Search), which is odd, since I can find them for each of her three sisters. Mary's date of death is from her M.I. in Melksham Church, which also states she died at age 77. Her P.C.C. will dated 8 July 1814, proved 21 January 1817, leaves bequests to all six grown children of her sister Ellen, Lady Wrey, as well as to several of their children. The affidavit to the will, made on 9 Dec. 1816 and sworn on 10 Jan. 1817, confirms Mary's death date of 12 Dec. 1816, as it appears on her M.I.

Edward III had sons A1 and B1 (see below)
A1) Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence (1338-1368) m. 1) Lady Elizabeth de Burgh (1332-1363, descended from Edward I), and had
A2) Lady Philippa Plantagenet of Clarence (1355-1377) m. Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March (1352-1381), and had

Dorothy (née Dudley) Wrottesley
- see Generation A7

A3) Lady Elizabeth Mortimer (1371-1417) m. 1) Sir Henry 'Hotspur' Percy (1364-1403), and had
A4) Lady Elizabeth Percy (c.1395-1437) m. 1) John, 7th Lord Clifford (1388-1422, descended from Edward I), and had
A5) Thomas, 8th Lord Clifford (1414-1455) m. Joan Dacre (c.1417-c.1452, descended from Edward I), and had
A6) Maud Clifford (b. c.1436) m. 2) Sir Edmund Sutton, Heir of Dudley Castle (c.1430-1482), and had
A7) Dorothy Dudley (c.1465-1517) m. Richard Wrottesley of Wrottesley Hall (1457-1521), and had
A8) Eleanor Wrottesley (c.1486-1543) m. 2) Sir Henry Long of Draycot House (by 1487-1556), and had
A9) Sir Robert Long of Draycot House (1516-1581) m. Barbara Carne (d. 1607, descended from Edward I)[*2], and had
A10) Sir Walter Long of Draycot House (1560-1610) m. 1) Mary Pakington (d. by 1594), and had
A11) John Long of South Wraxall Manor (c.1585-1636) m. Anne Eyre (b. 1590), and had

Long Coat of Arms

A12) John Long of South Wraxall Manor (c.1616-1652) m. 2) Katherine Paynter, and had
A13) ANNE LONG, b. 1652[*3]; d. 4 Oct. 1705, bur. St James Church, South Wraxall; m. (lic. 15 Dec.) 1684, HENRY LONG of Melksham House (see D13 below), and had
A14) Henry Long of Melksham House (1687-1727-see details above) m. Ellen Trenchard (see B13 below), and had
A15) Ellen Long (1711-1753-see details above) m. John Thresher of Bradford on Avon (see E14 below), and had
A16) Ellen Thresher (1733-1813-see details above) m. Sir Bourchier Wrey, 6th Baronet

[*2] I'm one of those who feel there is not enough evidence to support Joan Stradling, the first wife of Maurice Dennys of Siston, being a daughter of Jane Beaufort, daughter of Cardinal Henry Beaufort. But for those who feel that connection is valid, then Barbara Carne, wife of Sir Robert Long, would be a descendant of Edward III thru Cardinal Beaufort.

South Wraxall Manor, Wiltshire

[*3] Per her marriage licence, Anne Long was age 26, so born in 1658, and per her M.I. in South Wraxall Church, she was age 48 at death, so born in 1656/7. Both ages are incorrect, making her younger than she actually was. In the PCC will of her father John Long, dated 19 Feb. 1651/2, and proved 12 July 1652, he leaves property "for and towards the diet education & mainteynance of all my children That is to say Elizabeth Long, Katharine Long, Hope Long, Love Longe, and the child or children which my said wife goeth with or is lately brought to bed of." Anne was thus her father's youngest child, born in 1652. I am grateful to Chris Pitt-Lewis for bringing this to my attention in a Feb. 2014 SGM post. In addition to her son (A14 above), Anne Long had one other child, a namesake daughter, Anne Long, bap. 6 Oct. 1685 St James Church, South Wraxall; bur. 27 June 1749 St Mary Church, Whaddon, Wiltshire, wife of Rev. Walter Clarke, rector of Whaddon, bur. there 16 Mar. 1735.

Joan (née Beaufort),
Countess of Westmorland -
see Generation B2

B1) John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399) m. 3) Katherine Roet (c.1350-1403), and had a dau B2 and a son D2 (see below)
B2) Lady Joan Beaufort (1377-1440) m. 2) Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland (1364-1425), and had two sons B3 and C3 (see below)
B3) Richard Neville, 1st Earl of Salisbury (c.1398-1460) m. Lady Alice Montagu (1406-1462, descended from Edward I), and had
B4) Lady Katherine Neville (c.1442-1504) m. 1) William Bonville, 6th Lord Harington (1442-1460, descended from Edward I), and had
B5) Cecily Bonville (1460-1529) m. 1) Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset (c.1456-1501, descended from Edward I), and had
B6) Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset (1477-1530) m. 2) Margaret Wotton (d. 1541), and had
B7) Lady Elizabeth Grey (c.1520-1564) m. 2) Sir George Norton of Abbots Leigh (d. 1584), and had
B8) Samuel Norton of Abbots Leigh (1548-1621) m. ----[*4], and had

Lady Elizabeth (née Grey) Norton
- see Generation B7

B9) George Norton of Abbots Leigh (c.1575-bef.1635?) m. Anne Strangways (c.1580-aft.1635, descended from Edward III thru Anne, Duchess of Exeter), and had
B10) Grace Norton (c.1600-by 1627) m. Arthur Norton of London (c.1595-1635), and had
B11) Sir George Norton of Abbots Leigh (1622-1668) m. Ellen Owen (1622-1677, descended from Edward I), and had
B12) Ellen Norton (c.1648-1710) m. William Trenchard of Cutteridge House (see C10 below), and had
B13) Ellen Trenchard (1687-1752) m. Henry Long of Melksham House (see A14 above)

[*4] Per the ODNB bio of Samuel Norton, "nothing is known of his wife."

3rd Lord Abergavenny -
see Generation C3

C3) Edward Neville, 3rd Lord Abergavenny (c.1417-1476) m. 1) Lady Elizabeth Beauchamp (1415-1448, descended from Edward III), and had
C4) George Neville, 4th Lord Abergavenny (1440-1492) m. 1) Margaret Fenne (c.1444-1485), and had
C5) Sir Edward Neville of Addington Park (by1482-1538) m. Eleanor Windsor (d. 1531, descended from Edward I), and had
C6) Edward Neville, 7th Lord Abergavenny (c.1518-1589) m. 1) Katherine Brome, and had
C7) Francis Neville of Chichester (c.1558-1628) m. 1) Mary Lewknor (d. by 1616), and had
C8) Edward Neville of Bentworth m. Margaret Palmes (descended from Edward I), and had
C9) Anne Neville m. John Trenchard of Saltford (d. 1651), and had
C10) William Trenchard of Cutteridge House (c.1643-1713) m. Ellen Norton (see B12 above)

Cardinal Henry Beaufort -
see Generation D2

D2) Henry Beaufort, Cardinal Bishop of Winchester (1375-1447) = unknown mistress, and had
D3) Jane Beaufort, illegit. (c.1402-1479) m. Sir Edward Stradling of St Donats Castle (c.1389-1453), and had
D4) Sir Henry Stradling of St Donats Castle (c.1423-1476) m. Elizabeth ap Thomas, and had
D5) Thomas Stradling of St Donats Castle (c.1454-1480) m. Jennet Matthew (d. 1485), and had
D6) Sir Edward Stradling of St Donats (c.1472-1535) m. Elizabeth Arundell (d. 1513), and had
D7) Joan Stradling m. 2) Alexander Popham of Huntworth (by 1504-1556), and had
D8) Sir John Popham of Wellington (c.1531-1607) m. Amy Adams (d. 1612), and had

Sir John Popham -
see Generation D8

D9) Eleanor Popham m. Roger Warre of Hestercombe House (d. 1616, descended from Edward I), and had
D10) AMY WARRE, b. Sept. 1578; d. 1650; m. 2nd c.1605, as his 2nd wife, GIFFORD LONG of Rood Ashton House, West Ashton, Wiltshire, M.P. Westbury 1625, b. c.1576; d. 15 Dec. 1634, est son of Edward Long of Monkton House (d. 1622) and Anne Brouncker (d. 1607), and had
D11) EDWARD LONG of Rood Ashton House, b. 1607; d. 1644; m. 17 Feb. 1631 St Peter-le-Poer, London, DOROTHY JONES, bap. 9 Sept. 1610 St Peter-le-Poer, London; d. unknown, est dau. of Isaac Jones of London, Merchant Taylor (d. 1652) and Elizabeth Prince (descended from Edward I), and had
D12) ELIZABETH LONG, bap. 25 Apr. 1637 St Peter-le-Poer, London; d. unknown[*5]; m. 1st 9 Apr. 1657 St Mary Church, Collingbourne Kingston, Wiltshire, RICHARD LONG of Collingbourne Kingston, b. c.1633; bur. 27 Sept. 1669 St Mary Church, Collingbourne Kingston, 2nd son of Thomas Long of Little Cheverell (1579-1654) and Joan Flower, and had a son D13 and a dau E13 (see below)
D13) HENRY LONG of Melksham House, b. 22 Dec. 1659 Collingbourne Kingston, bap. 3 Jan. 1660 St Mary Church, Collingbourne; d. 31 Mar. 1687, bur. St James Church, South Wraxall; m. (lic. 15 Dec.) 1684, ANNE LONG (see A13 above)

St Mary Church, Collingbourne Kingston

E13) DYONISIA LONG, bap. 23 Jan. 1662 St Mary Church, Collingbourne Kingston; d. 10 Nov. 1692, bur. Holy Trinity Church, Bradford-on-Avon; m. 15 Oct. 1685 St Andrew Church, Chippenham, Wiltshire, EDWARD THRESHER of Chantry House, Bradford on Avon, clothier, b. c.1660; d. 18 Feb. 1725, bur. Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon, and had
E14) John Thresher of Bradford on Avon (1689-1741-see details above) m. Ellen Long (see A15 above)

[*5] Elizabeth (Long) Long m. 2nd 29 Sept. 1670 St Mary Church, Collingbourne Kingston, John Ayres, esquire, and, aside from a mention of "Elizabeth Eyres" by her brother Henry Long of Rood Ashton House (1632-1672) when he made out his will the following year, I've been unable to uncover her subsequent history, or when she died. Nor have I been able to further identify her second husband. [Update 31 July 2017: Thanks to Cheryl Nicol and her detailed genealogical work Inheriting the Earth: The Long Family's 500 Year Reign in Wiltshire (which I highly recommend), Elizabeth's second husband can be further identified. He was John Eyre of Little Chalfield, Wiltshire, bur. 26 Aug. 1672 All Saints Church, Great Chalfield, est son of Robert Eyre of Little Chalfield (1591-1651) and his 1st wife Elizabeth Warne (d. 1632). By John Eyre, Elizabeth (née Long) had further issue, two daughters. Her date of death remains elusive.]

The next blogpost will continue the ancestry of Hon. Annette (née Palk) Baird, and explore a line of descent from Edward III for Lady Dorothy Elizabeth (née Vaughan) Palk that is an addition to Ruvigny's 1911 Mortimer-Percy volume.

Cheers,                                      -----Brad