William Symes, of Poundisford

2nd Generation 

• William Symes born Nov 1544 in Sandwich, Kent, England; died on 27 Jul 1597 in Poundsford, Somerset, England.
• Parents: John Patrick Symes (1515-1563) & Jane Petty (1509-1563) Married

1. Elizabeth Hill in 1570 Pitminster, Somerset, England. She was born 1551 in Somerset, England; died 1598 in Charde, Somerset, England.  Known children are:  
2. Margery Payne 1570 –  
3. Rev. William Symmes 1570 – 1627 
4. John Symes 1572 – 1661 
5. Henry Symes 1573 – 1599 
6. Margaret Symes 1576 – 1599 
7. James Symes 1579 –  
8. Eleanor Symes 1581 –  
9. Alice Symes 1582 –  
10. Elizabeth Symmes 1596 – 1628  

2. WILLIAM SYMES, was b. c. 1550 England. He m. (when?) (where?) ELIZABETH HILL.10 He lived at Chard,11 Somerset, Eng.12 He was granted arms in 1591.13 Owens (p. 3) says he, "was a merchant of Poundesford [Poundisford14], Somerset, England. He owned a mill in West Coker and lands in Taunton. According to his will he owned manors of Barwick,15 Boure,16 Stoford,17 Somerset, and [Frankham],18 Dorset, and the one he lived in in Charde. Obviously he was a man of means. His coat of arms was given him in 1591. ..." He d. before 27 July 1597 19 at Pound[i]sford, 20 Somerset, Eng. His will was dated 4 June and proved 27 July 1597.21

William Symes of Poundsford (in Pitminster22), co. Somerset, merchant. Will dated 4 June and proved 27 July 1597 by Elizabeth Symes the relict. (66 Cobham.) Poor 23 of Chard & Pitminster. Rt Hon. Sir Ed. Seymour, Knt. Lord Seymour of Pomeroy, Devon, by deed of 29 Nov. 31 Eliz. hath granted me an annuity of 100 marks out of the demesne of Bury Pomeroy for 99 years, if Eliz. my wife & Hen. & James my sons shall so long live. To my s. John Symes £2000 according to the covenants betw. me & Sir John Popham, Knt., Chief Justice, & Tho. Horner, Esq. To my s. Hen. 1000 marks. My s. Robt £500. My s. Wm. £500 at 21. My d. Eliz. 1000 marks. My dau. Margt 1000 marks at 21 or marriage. My dau. Margery Pyne 1000 marks. Jasper Pyne my s.-in-l. living in Charde. My Manors of Barwick, Bowre, 24 & Stoford, co. Som., & Frankham, co. Dorset. Mill in West Coker & lands in Taunton. My manor house in Charde to Eliz. my wife for her life, & she to be Ex'trix. John Pyne, Esq., Roger Hill, Gent., & my bro. in l. Hugh Hill, Gent., to be Supervisors.25

He was presumably the man mentioned on p. 115 of Antigua: "1588. Armada list of subscribers. "Maye William Symes of Chard, tercio Maii, £50.'"

Notes

• The Symes family in Somerset was documented as early as 1623 in the Visitation of Somerset, and that Symes pedigree was published in 1876 in Harleian Society Publications, volume XI, 4 p. 110. The family is also documented in the History of the Island of Antigua, coincidentally also on p. 110 (and continuing on page 111). Generations 1 4 of the lineage detailed in this document are shown clearly in the chart on pp. 110 111 of Antigua, although it must be noted that the line connecting John Symes of Barwick and William Symes of Chard is a dotted line, obviously implying lack of proof. 5 It is understatement to say that the reference to Gen. 5 is minimal in Antigua: it says on p. 111 only "William Symes, living 1675" on the chart (but the 1675 will of his spinster sister Elizabeth, on which that "living 1675" statement is based, is abstracted in Antigua, p. 112).

References

• THE PURPORTED DESCENT OF THOMAS SIM(M)S OF CULPEPER CO., VIRGINIA, FROM JOHN SYMES OF BARWICK, SOMERSET, ENGLAND 1- Draft 1998
• http://genforum.genealogy.com/sims/messages/6412.html
• https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=262345213797778

Supporting data

• Abstracts of Somersetshire wills, etc: copied from the manuscript ..., Volume 1 By Frederick Arthur Crisp, Frederick Brown
• http://books.google.com/books?id=PElFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=J...
• Pg. 52.
• B.110. WILLIAM SYMES, of Poundsford, Somerset, Merchant. Will dated June 4, 1597, proved July 27, 1597, by Elizabeth Symes the relict. [66 Cobham.] Poor of Chard & Pitminster. The R't Hon. Sir Edward Seymour, Kn't. Lord Seymour of Pomeroy, Devon by deed, Nov. 29, 31 Elizab: hath granted me an annuity of 100 marks out of the demesne of Bury Pomeroy, for 99 years, if Elisabeth my wife, & Henry & James my sons shall live so long. To my son John Symes, L2000, according to certain covenants between me & Sir John Popham, K't, Chief Justice, & Thomas Horner, Esq. To Henry my son, 1000 marks. To my son Robert, L500. My son William, L500, at age of 21. My daughter Elizabeth, 1000 marks. My daughter Margaret, 1000 marks at age of 21 or marriage. My daughter Margery Pyne, 100 marks. Jasper Pyne, my son in law, living in Charde. My Manors of Barwick, Bowre, & Stoford, Somerset, & Frankham, Dorset. Mill in West Coker, & lands in Taunton. My manor house in Charde, to Elizabeth my wife, during her life, Extrix. Supervisors, John Pyne, esq., Roger Hill, gent., & my brother in law, Hugh Hill, gent.
• Pg. 67
• A. 33. B. 50. ROBERT HILL, of Taunton, Somerset, Esq. Will dated Apr. 21, 1581, proved Jun 15, 1581, by Elianor(3) the relict. [26 Darcy.] Poor of Taunton, Hillbrishe & Pytminster. To my son James Hill, my estate in the Capital Messuage called Pownsforde alias Lodge, in Pytminster, & lands which I hold in common with Sir Henry Portmant, K't, in Pytminster. Many pieces of plate. The spice plate of silver. One piece called the Nutt. To my wife Elynor, a messuage in Taunton, wherein William Awdey dwelleth, & one in Fore Street, wherein Julian Greye dwelleth, &c. To my son John Hill, an annuity of L10 from my farm called Heydon, & also an annuity of L20 to my son Hugh, & after the death of my wife Elynor, the farm of Haydon to Hugh Hill, & to James Hill if he pay L30 per ann. to Hugh Hill. To my daughter Jane, L200, & "a pott of silver called the Skynkinge pott," &c. To my daughter Margaret, L200, & my silver beere jug. My goddaughter Rachel Portman, daughter of Sir Henry Portman, an old roiall of gold. To my other goddaughters 12d each. A marriage intended between my son James Hill and Ann Moryce, daughter of M'r Moryce, of Coxwell, Berks, esq., he to pay me L300, of which L200 to be paid to my wife, for the advancement of my daughters. My son in law, William Symes,(5) one silver spoon gilt, & 6/8 to their children. My wife, Extrix. Sir James Marrven, K't, my brother in law, M'r Nicholas Wadham, my son, James Hill, M'r John Walker, of Stowey, & M'r Thomas Davidge, of Taunton, Supervisors. March 31 1593, Admon. was granted to William Wigsted, of Fontmell Gifford, Wilts, yeoman, on decease of Elianor, Relict of Robert Hill.
  • (3) Daughter of Sir James Mervyn, and second wife of the testator.
  • (5) William Symes, of Chard, married Elizabeth, daughter of the testator by his first wife, Alice Clark. __________________________________
• SYMES, John (1573-1661), of Poundisford, Pitminster, Som.; later of Frampton Cotterell, Glos.
• b. 4 Mar. 1573, 1st s. of William Symes, merchant, of Chard, Som. and Elizabeth, da. of Robert Hill† of Taunton, Som.1 educ. Exeter Coll., Oxf. 1588, BA 1591; L. Inn 1589.2 m. settlement 29 Dec. 1595, Amy, da. of Thomas Horner† of Cloford, Som., 3s. 8da. suc. fa. 1597.3 d. 29 Oct. 1661.4 sig. Jo[hn] Symes.
• Offices Held
  • J.p. Som. 1608-26, 1627-45;5 commr. sewers, Som. 1610, 1616, 1625; gov., Huish’s almshouses, Taunton 1616;6 sheriff, Som. 1626-7;7 commr. disafforestation, Roche forest 1627, enclosure, Sedgemoor, Som. 1628, oyer and terminer, Western circ. 1629-43, knighthood compositions, Som. 1630-2;8 dep. lt., Som. c.1637-42;9 commr. assessment 1641-2, array 1642, rebels’ estates (roy.) 1643.10
• Symes’s father was a successful merchant or, in the words of one of his opponents of more genteel ancestry, ‘a pedlar, and a base fellow’. He acquired lands in Devon, Dorset and Somerset and was granted arms in 1591. Symes himself married the daughter of a former knight of the shire, and in his father’s will he was left £2,000 according to an agreement made with his bride’s father and her grandfather, lord chief justice Sir John Popham†. Symes also inherited some of his father’s business instincts, acting both as a moneylender and as a charitable trustee.11 .... etc.
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/sy... ________________________
• The visitation of the county of Somerset in the year 1623 (1876) Vol. XI.
• https://archive.org/details/visitationofcoun00byustge
• https://archive.org/stream/visitationofcoun00byustge#page/n63/mode/1up
• Pg.50
  • Hill.
• William Hill. = Eleanor. ; ch: Roger (m. Margery . . . . ) Hill.
  • Roger Hill of Taunton. = Margery d. and h. of . . . . ; ch: Robert (m. Alice Clark & Eleanor Marvyn), Mary, John, Margaret (m. Alex. Togwell) Hill, (Pg.51 William (m. Ann Trowbridge & Lucy Ryves) Hill)
    • Robert Hill of Yard n'r Taunton. = Alice d. of Clark. ; ch: Eliz. (m. Wm. Symes) Hill; = Eleanor d. of Sir James Marvyn. 2nd w. ; ch: James, John, Hugh (m. Mary Bond), Jane (m. Tho. Brereton), A dau. (m. Tho. Martyn) Hill
      • Eliz. = Wm. Symes of Chard. ; ch: John (m. Amy Horner) Symes.
        • John Symes. = Amy d. of Tho. Horner of Mells co. Som. ; ch: John (m. dau. of Arscott) Symes.
          • John Symes. = d. of Arscott in co. Devon.
• https://archive.org/stream/visitationofcoun00byustge#page/n123/mode...
• Pg.110
  • Symes.
• (THEY HAVE THIS IN ERROR)
• Robert Hill of Yarde n'r Taunton. = Alice d. of Clarke. ; ch: William (m. Eliz. Hill), John (m. Amy Horner) Symes.
  • William Symes of Chard in com. Som. = Eliz. d. of Robert Hill. ; ch: Robert, William, Jane (m. Roger How), Alice (m. Wm. Hodges), Eliz. (m. Wm. Mallett), Mary (m. Rob. Hendey) Symes.
  • John Symes of Poundsford in com. Som. Esq. living 1623. = Amy d. of Thomas Horner of Mell co. Som. ; ch: John (m. Abigail Arscott), Henry, Thomas, Jane (m. John Seymour), Eliz. (m. Nich. Martyn), Suzan, Katherine, Amy, Elinor, Dorothie, Edith Symes.
    • John Symes s. and h. living 1623. = Abigail d. of Arthur Arscott of Tetcott in com. Devon. ; ch: William, Grace, . . . . (twyn with Grace) Symes. _______________________
• William Symes
• Birth: unknown
• Death: 1597
• William Symes, merchant, of Poundisford. Died testate with a will dated June 4, 1597 which was proved July 27, 1597.
• He acquired lands in Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, and was granted Arms in 1591.
• Family links:
• Spouse:
• Elizabeth Hill Symes*
• Children:
  • Margery Symes Pyne (____ - 1621)*
  • Jane Symes Pole (____ - 1654)*
  • John Symes (1573 - 1661)*
  • Henry Symes (1575 - 1599)*
• Burial: St. Andrew and St. Mary Church, Pitminster, Taunton Deane Borough, Somerset, England
• Find A Grave Memorial# 103260284
• From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=103260284 ________________________
• 'Hill06'
• This family is still being researched.
• Most likely connected to the above families, but how is not known, was...
• William Hill
• m. Eleanor
  • 1. Roger Hill of Taunton Visitation (Weaver, Somerset, 1551+1575+1595, Hill) identifies Roger's wife and mother of her children as Alice Towse, Visitation (1623) shows the mother of Roger's children as a Margery so we prsume that Alice Towse was Roger's 2nd wife.
  • m1. Margery
    • A. William Hill of Poundsford, Somerset
    • m1. Ann Trowbridge (dau of John Trowbridge of Clyton)
      • i. Roger Hill of Poundsford
      • m. Mary Hasard (dau of John Hassard or Hansard Lyme)
        • a. William Hill of Poundsford (a 1623)
        • m. Jane Young (dau of John Young of Collumpton) The following comes from Visitation (Somerset & Bristol, 1672, Hill of Pitminster).
          • (1) Roger Hill of Poundsford (b c1606. bur 23.04.1667, judge)
          • m1. Mary Greene (dau of Giles Greene of Corfe Castle)
            • (A) William Hill of Poundsford (b c1636, a 1672)
            • m. (c08.1668) Hester Muschamp (dau/heir of Agmondisham Muschamp of Rowbarns)
            • (B) Jane Hill
          • m2. Abigail Gourdon (dau of Brampton Gourdon of Assington)
            • (C) Sir Roger Hill of Denham, Sheriff of Buckinghamshire (d 29.12.1729, MP) The following comes from Commoners (vol 4, Way of Denham).
            • m. (11.06.1667) Abigail Lockey (dau of John Lockey of Holmes Hill)
              • (i) Lockey Hill (b 07.09.1671, d 06.02.1729)
                • (a) Roger Hill (d 1721)
                • (b) Abigail Hill (dsp)
                • m. Mathew Powell of Lantillo
              • (ii) William Hill (d before 29.12.1729)
                • (a) Mary Hill (dsp)
                • m. William Denny, Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania
              • (iii) Roger Hill (b 06.07.1685, dsp 29.12.1729)
              • m. Martha Shard (dau of Sir Isaac Shard)
              • (iv) Hester Hill of Denham (b 05.07.1669, dsp 22.02.1742)
              • m. Henry Probert of Penalt
              • (v) Abigail Hill (d 26.02.1673-4, d 17.03.1757)
              • m1. Edward Lockey of the Middle Temple & Holme Hill, Hertfordshire (d 1711)
                • (a) Abigail Lockey, heiress of Denham
                • m. Lewis Way of Richmond Denham passed into the Way family.
              • m2. Charles Edwin of Lincoln's Inn
            • (D)+ other issue - Gurdon, Mary
          • m3. Abigail Barnes (dau of Thomas Barnes of Albone Hatch, widow of John Locky of Holmes Hill & Josias Berners of Clerkenwell)
          • (2) John Hill of Taunton (b c1618, 3rd son)
          • m. Jane Strode (dau of John Strode of Ryme)
          • (3)+ other issue (a 1623) - William (b c1610, d young?), Mary (b c1605), Ann (b c1607), Jane (b c1608), Elizabeth (b c1613), Sarah (b c1622)
        • b. Elizabeth Hill
        • m1. George Sampson
        • m2. Jos. Long
        • c. Amy Hill m. Robert Chute of Bridgwater
        • d. Frances Hill
        • m1. Thomas Chaplin
        • m2. Simon Gibbins
        • e.+ other issue - Roger of Taunton, John of Dorchester, Temperance, Mallet, Philippa (dsp)
      • ii. Alexander Hill of Taunton
      • m. Alice Hassard (dau of John Hassard of Lime)
        • a. Robert Hill of Hollyland, Taunton
        • m. Anne Young (dau of John Young of Devon) The following comes from Visitation (Somerset & Bristol, 1672, Hill of Taunton).
          • (1) Alexander Hill of Taunton (b c1613, a 1672)
          • m. Dorothy Michell (dau of John Michell of Kingston Ruseell)
            • (A) Alexander Hill (b c1668, a 1672)
            • m. Elizabeth Searle
              • (i) Alexander Hill (b c1671)
            • (B)+ other issue - John, Robert, Bernard, Elizabeth
          • (2)+ other issue - Robert, Edward, Lucy, Mary
        • b. Mary Hill
        • m. Hugh Godsall of Taunton
        • c.+ other issue - William of Bridgwater, Roger (dsp), Anne (dsp), Lucy (dsp)
      • iii. Elizabeth Hill
      • m1. __ Hobbs
      • m2. __ Murifey
      • m3. __ Martin
      • iv. Eleanor Hill
      • m. __ Gravit of Berkshire
      • v.+ other issue (dsp) - William, Robert, Henry, Ambrose, Gabriel, Susan
    • m2. Lucy Ryves (dau of John Ryves of Dorset)
      • xi. Lucy Hill
      • m. William Lawrence of Dorset
      • xii.+ other issue - Benjamin, Thomas, John
    • B. Robert Hill of Yard near Taunton
    • m1. Alice Clark
      • i. Elizabeth Hill
      • m. William Symes of Chard
        • a. John Symes
        • m. Amy Horner (dau of Thomas Horner of Mells)
          • (1) John Symes
          • m. __ Arscott of Devon
    • m2. Eleanor Martyn (dau of Sir James Martyn)
      • ii. Hugh Hill of Splot 'of Yard'
      • m. Mary Bond (dau of Sir George Bond of London)
        • a. James Hill
      • iii. Jane Hill
      • m. Thomas Brereton
        • a. Thomas Brereton of Yard
        • m. __ Anketil of Dorset
      • iv. daughter
      • m. Thomas Martyn of Devon
      • v.+ other issue (dsp) - James, John
    • C. John Hill (dsp)
    • D. Margaret Hill
    • m. Alexander Togwell
  • m2. Alice Towse (dau of John Towse of Somerset (by Joan Combes), m2. Sir Thomas Grenville of Cornwall)
• From: Stirnet.com
• http://www.stirnet.com/genie/data/british/zwrk/hill06.php ____________ Will dated 4 June 1597 and was proved 27 July 1597 by Elizabeth Symes.

The Manor House in Chardes was left to Elizabeth for her life time.