A Tale of Two Constantine Families from Coniston

By Sheila Harris

Notes by Susanne Young

A well-attended meeting including a number of members with Constantine ancestors.

Sheila’s interest in her own Constantine forbears began with a sampler inherited from her 2 x great grandmother which she followed up by reading a private publication of House of Constantine (1957) by L.G. Pine.

The Wharfedale Constantines were originally of Norman descent and the earliest record found in the area by Sheila is the death of Henry Constantine in 1520.

The first Constantine family discussed began with Henry second son of yeoman Robert (Sheila’s 8 x great grandfather & possibly a tenant of Francis Clifford). Henry was baptised 1614 in Coniston, attended Glasgow University and was ordained at Carlisle in 1639. He married Ann Heber in 1648 and they lived at Hebden Hall. Henry and Ann had 5 known children: Henry, Christopher, John, Ann & Samuel. Henry was ejected from the Rectory in 1662 and died 1667 (buried Ripley).

• Henry junior also attended Glasgow University & was ordained as a rector, preaching at York Assises in 1683. He married Susannah Puddington of Devon and died 1709 leaving 6 daughters and £6000 of debt. His only son Heber Constantine died 1707. Henry’s daughter Jane married her cousin Richard Constantine and moved back to Yorkshire as did her sister Lydia who married William Stockdale.

• Christopher also attended Glasgow University and became a barrister. He married widow Elizabeth Bellingham 1684 in Westminster and died 1713 leaving no children.

• John also attended Glasgow University and eventually became a cleric too, although he was a school master in Burnsall in 1678. He married Phillippa Quantock and their only daughter Ann died young.

• Daughter Ann married Reginald Bean and her will bequeathed her assets to their only son Reginald Bean.

• Little is known of son Samuel who died 1679 in Gisburn.

The second Constantine family discussed began with another Henry Constantine (Sheila’s distant cousin), born 1686 in Coniston who married Isobel Brown. Their surviving children included John, William, Henry, Alice & Jonathan.

• John born 1721 married Mary Paley in Giggleswick and moved to Settle. They had 13 children and John was buried 1802 in Giggleswick. Two sons Richard & William became successful silversmiths in Sheffield.

• Henry born 1725 Coniston moved to London where he first married Ann Gass in 1754 and later Jane Macey. Henry was a publican and died 1795 in Bethnal Green.

• Jonathan a mercer (draper) also moved to London where he married Margaret Pilon (of French Huguenot descent) in 1769. Jonathan became a Freeman of the City of London in 1765 and died 1799. Uncertainty over the contents of his will led to a court case in 1801.

Sheila’s research showed how the use of wills, Land Tax records, University Alumni and Old Bailey archives, to name but a few resources, can build an effective picture of two Wharfedale branches of a family, many of whom relocated far and wide.

Steve Miller gave a vote of thanks.

Website http://constantine.one-name.net/ (Constantine one name study).

The Long Paper Trail (Papers discovered in an attic)

A talk by Sue Paul

Sue’s talk was based around the discovery of a personal archive collectively known as the Bowry Papers in 1913 at Cleve Prior Manor, Evesham. These were the personal papers of Captain Thomas Bowry an East Indies merchant and were found in a leather travelling case marked ‘E.B. 1649’ in an attic room at the Manor. This unusual case in now deposited at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Sue’s interest in the papers was related to her family history connection to the surname Bowry and her study of the manuscripts has enabled her to write Thomas’ biography.

When Thomas died in 1713 the papers were passed to his wife and eventually passed to her cousin Thomas Bushell mid C18th. In 1921 the paper archive was sold to Henry Howard and today the papers are maintained mainly in the British Library and the London Metropolitan Library.

The papers include a wide range of documents including deeds, personal letters, tradesmen’s bills and packing lists. They provide interesting information regarding both individuals and social history in general. Sue discussed, among many items, the trunk packing lists for Thomas and his wife’s trips to visit Spa towns and details of his tailor’s bills.

There are many such personal archives deposited at various Record Offices and if you are fortunate enough to locate a collection relating to your own family history research, they can provide a wealth of information.

Unfortunately, the Bowry Paper collection suffered by being separated, inexpertly handled and edited but they still provide a wonderful historical resource.

I have a little personal insight into this type of discovery. Various papers were discovered in a blocked-up room when the Rowntrees Warehouse in Scarborough was demolished some years ago. These papers were passed to a descendant of the previous owner of the papers who happened to know my father, who is also related to the owner of the papers. I was fortunate to be able to borrow the papers which included a C17th Book of Receipts (Recipes) and a number of personal letters from the same period. I spent many enjoyable hours transcribing the letters and recipes. The letters are mainly exchanges between two of my Quaker ancestors who lived on either side of the River Humber and demonstrate the good education and literacy of Quaker women at that time. The ‘recipes’ include cures for malaria, gall stones and nervous complaints plus instructions for making cowslip wine, syrup of red poppies and gooseberry vinegar.

Notes by Susanne Young