TABLE 1: THE EARLY LAMBERT GORWYNS

  This table suggests a line of descent from the first Gorwyn to be associated with Lambert, the John Gorven who was renting Lambert in 1567, to the Lambert Gorwyns of the mid-1700s who we know to be our ancestors (and whose descendants are set out in the following tables). But much of what follows is based on speculation and may be quite wrong.

    I have assumed that John Gorven alias Lambert was the father of John Gorwyn the husbandman whose 1651 will survives, and that John the husbandman was also the John Gorwin alias Lampford who was paying manorial rent in the Manor of Lampford in 1644 (the second mention in the records of the use of the name Lambert). I have based this assumption on the fact that after John the husbandman’s death his widow was recorded in the Cheriton Bishop church accounts as paying church rate for Lambert, so it was presumably in the possession of her husband, and he would have inherited it from his father.

   John Gorwyn the husbandman’s children are listed in his 1651 will. The 1707 will of John Gorwyn of London mentions Spirelake, which is one of the properties mentioned in John the husbandman’s will, so I have assumed that he was a grandson of John the husbandman. The 1707 will mentions a number of Gorwyn cousins, and from the wording used and the properties mentioned I have tried to guess which cousin was born of which of John the husbandman’s sons. The other documents that I have used to deduce relationships are depositions made in a legal case Moalle v. Elizabeth and John Gorwyn (1718-21). All these documents are in the National Archives; the wills are also available online.

   In a few cases I have been helped by the Cheriton Bishop parish records of births, marriages and deaths. But the 17th century records are somewhat damaged and not always easy to read. Moreover, there seem to have been several Gorwyn/Gorven families in Cheriton Bishop at the relevant time, all busy baptising children, getting married or being buried. Unfortunately, they all had a fondness for certain names – in particular John, William and Richard – and it is therefore difficult to know which belongs to which family.

   Each generation below is numbered; John Gorven who was renting Lambert in 1567 is generation (1); his children are generation (2); his grandchildren generation (3) etc.

(1) John Gorven, who was renting Lambert in 1567 and asked for his sons William and John to be added as “lives”. He may be either the father or grandfather of the William below. He seems to have been a man of reasonable substance. He was one of only three people in Cheriton Bishop in 1569, when there was a muster roll of the militia that served as a sort of home guard (a Spanish attack was feared at the time), to be wealthy enough to have to contribute to the provision of arms, with goods worth £10-£20, which meant he had to provide 1 bow; I sheaf of 24 arrows; 1 steel cap; and 1 bill hook.

(2) William Gorwyne, yeoman. He presumably inherited the leasehold of purchased Lambert and then purchased it in 1590. Paying 5s in respite of homage to the Lord of the Manor in respect of Lambert between 1596 and 1600. Still paying 2/6d for Lambert in 1625. He could be the William Gorwyn who was buried in Cheriton Bishop on 14.3.1631 and whose will was proved in 1632; and on whose estate an inquisition post-mortem was done in 1635, his heir being his son John. It is possible, however, that there was an intervening generation and that the William who purchased Lambert in 1590 was the grandfather of the one who died in 1631.

m. Alice (mentioned in the deeds of Lambert).

(3) John Gorven als Lambert, mentioned in the deeds of Lambert as the son and heir apparent of William Gorwyn in 1613 (which was probably the date of his marriage). Noted in the Cheriton Bishop parish register as the father of a son called William who was baptised in 1615. He is also mentioned (as John Gorwyn) in manor court rolls in 1632 as holding Lampforde as of knight’s service. Paying manorial rent for Lampford in 1644. Probably the same John Gorwin alias Lampford who died 1652, described as John Gorwyn or Gorwin of Cheriton Bishop” and “husbandman” in his will. His will was proved in 1653 at Canterbury.

m. Alice. She was paying church rate for Bradley and Lambert after his death; and in 1660 paid poll-tax with an estate valued at £24. She, John Gorven senior (presumably her son), John Gorven junior (probably her grandson) and Alice Gorven junior (probably her grand-daughter) are grouped together as a family in the poll-tax list, so were presumably living together, possibly at Lambert.

(4) William Gorven, baptised 1615. He was probably either given Lambert by his father before his death, or it was entailed on him or he inherited it from his mother (who was his father’s residuary legatee). He was cut off with 5s. in his father’s will. He appears to have died about 1659-60, as an inquisition post-mortem in 11 Chas I found that he owned Bradleigh and Lambert and that John Gorwyn was his heir. So the brother who inherited Bradley must have died or taken over another of the family estates. He is probably the William Gorven senior who was living with William Gorven junior and his wife, Mary Gorven and Wilmot Gorven at the time of the 1660 poll-tax. He had goods of £8.

m. (poss) Elizabeth.

(5)  John Gorwyn. Buried (poss) 1709 in Cheriton Bishop. Owned Lambert, presumably inheriting it from his father. He could be the John Gorwyn senior buried in Cheriton Bishop in 1709.

m. Judith Orchard in Hennock in 1686. She died in 1716. They had no surviving issue.

(5) William Gorwyn, born probably in 1644 in Cheriton Bishop (CBPR). He rented Lambert from his brother John, and came into the freehold after John’s death (according to the Moalle case). Listed as one of the three freeholders in Cheriton Bishop in 1711. He died in 1711/12 and was buried in Cheriton Bishop described as “William Lambert alias Gorven, yeoman”. His will was proved in the same year; in Fry’s list of Devon wills, his name is given as “William Gorven alias Lambert”.

m. Elizabeth Ponsford in 1695 at Cheriton Bishop (parish records). She lived with her husband at Lambert and after his death continued there, renting it from her brother-in-law George. They left no surviving issue. She could be the Elizabeth Gorwyn who was overseer at Honeyford in Drewsteignton in 1730/31 and who died 1733 and is buried in Drewsteignton, although it is odd she is not buried with her husband (parish records). Her will was proved in Exeter in 1733.

 

(5) George Gorwyn.  Died about 1716. He inherited the freehold of Lambert from his brother William. He left no issue. He bequeathed a 21-year lease of Lambert to his friend Robert Moalle of Ashcombe. As he had no brothers or male descendants, on his death the freehold of Lambert was divided between his three sisters. Will proved in Exeter 1717.

 

(5) Julyan Gorwyn (1648-1685) bpt. 1648 in Cheriton Bishop, d.1685. Inherited 1/3 of Lambert from her brother George.

m. William Strong of Cheriton Bishop, yeoman; he d. 1709

(6) Julyan Strong

m. Richard Bragg of Cheriton Bishop, yeoman; he d. 1748

(7) Elizabeth Bragg, died 1757 unmarried.

(5) Alice Gorwyn d. 1730. Inherited 1/3 of Lambert from her brother George.

m. Amos Bragg, yeoman of Cheriton Bishop, in 1687 or 12.5.1689 (parish records). He died 1700. They had no issue.

(5) Wilmot Gorwyn. Inherited 1/3 of Lambert from her brother George.

m. Peter Luxton or Luxen of Upton Hellions on 17.8.1664 at St Paul’s Cathedral Exeter

(6) Peter Luxton

(7) Mary Luxton

m. Richard Stone

(8) William Stone

(4) Alice Gorwin, possibly born in 1622. She was bequeathed 20s. in her father’s will, but may already have  received a dowry from him when she married.

m. Thomas Collington.

(5) Agnes Collington and other children. Agnes inherited 5s from her grandfather; the other children 2s.

(4)  John Gorwyn.  He was bequeathed Bradley by his father, but on the understanding that if he married before Bradley became free (it appears to have been in the hands of a family called Caselegh), he should have Bowden. This may well have happened, as Bradley seems to have come into the hands of his eldest brother William. However, the estate of a John Gorwyn of Crediton was administered in 1700 (Fry’s Devon Wills) and that could be him.

(5) Thomazin Gorwyn, baptised in 1668 described as the daughter of John Gorwyn. She was bequeathed an annuity of £3 by her cousin John Gorwyn, cooper of London, to be paid out of the rents of Spirelake, provided that John’s leasehold of Spirelake was still extant on his death. She was also bequeathed half a crown to bar all claims to Spirelake.

m. Samuel Morrice in 1703 in Tedburn St Mary.

 

(5) John Gorwyn.  This is speculative, but it seems likely that the John Gorwyn of Bowden mentioned in the will of John the cooper of London was the son of the John to whom Bradley was bequeathed; he may have taken over Bowden because Bradley was not free when he married. It seems likely that when Bradley came free, he decided not to move, and bought out his cousin’s interest in Bowden, and so ended up with both farms.

m. (possibly) Mary Ann Cooper in 1684.

(6) Mary Gorwyn, dau of ?John Gorwyn and Mary, buried at Cheriton Bishop 1685, presumably died in infancy.

 

(6) Richard Gorwyn bpt 9.1.1688/9 at Cheriton Bishop described as son of John Gorwyn and Mary. Later known as Richard Lambert alias Gorwyn (at his burial and in his will). Bequeathed half a crown in John the cooper’s will to bar all claims to Spirelake.

m. Mary Ponsford 

(7) John Lambert alias Gorwyn of Lambert. SEE TABLE 2 (Lambert Gorwyns of Lambert).

(8) William (1750-1797) of Wallon. SEE TABLE 3 (Lambert Gorwyns of Wallon)

 

(8) George (1763-1837) of Spreyton. SEE TABLES 4 AND 5 (Lambert Gorwyns of Spreyton and Descendants of Richard Lambert-Gorwyn).

 

(8) 7 other children. SEE TABLE 2 (Lambert Gorwyns of Lambert).

(6) John Gorwyn, baptised 3.3.1690/91 at Cheriton Bishop, described as the son of John Gorwyn and Mary.  Inherited Spirelake from his father’s cousin, John Gorwyn the cooper of London. He also seems to have inherited Bradleigh, as by his death he was described as “of Crediton” and his son lived there.

m.  Joan Morrice 24.12.1717 in Cheriton Bishop. They are described as being both of the parish of Cheriton Bishop. She was buried 24.12.1721 at Cheriton Bishop, presumably as a result of complications in childbirth, described as the wife of John Gorwyn of Crediton .

 

(7) Mary Gorwyn bpt. 6.10.1718 at Cheriton Bishop and buried there on 27.3.1720, described in both cases as the dau. of John Gorwyn and Joan, both of the parish of Crediton.

 

(7) John Gorwyn alias Lambert, bpt. 5.4.1720 at Cheriton Bishop, described in the parish records as the son of John Gorwyn and Joan, both of the parish of Crediton. He had 6 children. SEE TABLE 6 (Children of John Gorwyn alias Lambert of Bradleigh) for his descendants.

 

(8) William Gorwyn of Spirelake (1750-1815)

(9) William Gorwyn of Bradleigh (1780-1845) SEE TABLE 7 (Lambert Gorwyns of Bradleigh) for his descendants.

 

(10) John Lambert Gorwyn of Coxland (1828-1893) (his youngest son). SEE TABLE 9 (Coxland Lambert Gorwyns) for his descendants.

(9) George Gorwyn of Medland (1784-1862). See TABLE 7 (Medland and Hittisleigh Lambert Gorwyns) for his descendants.

(7) William Gorwyn bpt. 21.12.1721 at Cheriton Bishop and buried there on 2.1.1720/1, described in both cases as the son of John Gorwyn and Joan, both of the parish of Crediton.

 

(6) William Gorwyn, bpt. 6.2.1694/5 at Cheriton Bishop, described in the parish records as the son of John Gorwyn junior and Mary.

 

(6) George Gorwyn, born at Cheriton Bishop on 8.10.1696 and baptised 22.10.1696, described as son of John Gorwyn junior. He may have died young as he is not mentioned in John the Cooper’s will.

 

(6)  Mary, bpt. 1.10.1700, described as daughter of John Gorwyn. Bequeathed half a crown in John the cooper’s will to bar all claims to Spirelake.

 

(6) Elizabeth, bequeathed half a crown in John the cooper’s will to bar all claims to Spirelake.

(4)  Richard Gorwyn. He inherited the leasehold of Bowden under his father’s will, but with the proviso that if his brother John married before Bradley was free, John was to have Bowden and if Richard married before John had left it, he should have Spirelake and release it to his youngest brother Daniel when Bowden was free. It is not clear what actually happened. He is probably the Richard Gorven who was recorded in the 1660 poll-tax list as living with his wife and seven others (probably labourers and servants). He had goods of £11.

m. Mary (poll-tax record)

(5) (poss) Alice Gorwyn, born in 1672 (from the wording of the will of John the cooper, she was not the sister of  the John of Bowden mentioned in that will, so her father must have been another of the brothers). She was bequeathed an annuity of £3 by her cousin John Gorwyn, cooper of London, to be paid out of the rents of Spirelake, provided that John’s leasehold of Spirelake was still extant on his death.

m. Emmanuel Harvey in 1696 in Hittisleigh.

(4) Daniel Gorwyn, baptised in Cheriton bishop in 1633, described as son of John Gorwine. Bequeathed the leasehold of Spirelake by his father.

m. (poss) Elenor .

(5) John Gorwyn, cooper of London. His 1707 will was proved in 1716, so he presumably died in that year or the previous one. He seems to have had no issue.

m. Elizabeth Harris at St Katherine’s by the Tower, London, on 5.12.1705.

 

(5) Margaret Gorwyn, baptised in Cheriton Bishop in 1667.

(4) Wilmot Gorwyn, inherited £100 from her father.

(2) John Gorvan

m. (poss) Maria Hore, daughter of John Hore of Rifford in Chagford and Elizabeth Kelly, around 1590 (1620 Heralds Visitation of Devon)