EDITOR'S NOTES:
This section will contain the entire contents of the handwritten book of research on Fleetwood Pedigree by Frank Fleetwood Buss. Published during February 2006 this is the first time these pages have ever been seen by anyone for many years other than myself. There is a total of 115 pages in this volume, including press cuttings and images of varying quality.

A major source is, of course, the published Fleetwood Family Records by R. W. Buss to whom frequent reference is made. But woven into this record is material not included in Buss' work.

Family trees and larger images can be accessed by clicking the links as you reach them.

Many thanks to Mike Parker who has begun the work of transcription. All other offers welcomed.

Contact Michael Buss. View the original documents here.

Facing page 1 - scanned photo of “Grant of Arms” document.
Caption reads:
FLEETWOOD
From a Photograph of the original Grant of Arms to Thomas ffleetwood of London, a Gentylman, Comptroller of the Mynte of Southwarke, and Surveyour of the King’s Majestie’s possessions within the Countie of Chester; July 4, second year of Edward the Sixth. Now in the possession of Christopher Lethbridge Cowlard, Esq., together with other Fleetwood and Penderel relics, and obtained from Miss Georgiana Fleetwood, who died 1916.

PART I.

The Family of the Fleetwoods

Etymology. The name Fleetwood signifies “the wood by the river crossing” or according to R.W.B. “the arm of the sea.” It is variously spelt eg. Fletewoode, Fleetwoode, but most frequently Fleetwood.

Origin of Family. The family of Fleetwood appears to have sprung originally from Lancashire. R.W.B. says that they came originally from Little Plumpton, a small village between Blackpool and Kirkham. According to the same authority, Henry Fleetwood was Lord of the Manor there in the reign of Edward III, and was succeeded by his son John Fleetwood, who was living at Little Plumpton in 1394.

History of Family. The Fleetwood family seems to have remained for the most part in Lancashire, their name having been traced according to R.W.B. in no less than 80 parishes in this County, but no place so called can be found there except the Port of Fleetwood, which takes its name from Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood who founded it in the year 1836.

But in the reign of Henry VIII the Fleetwood family began to spread to other parts of England. William Fleetwood of Heskin Co. Lancashire had three sons viz: John Fleetwood of Penwortham who remained in his native County, and Thomas & Robert Fleetwood both of whom migrated to London, where they founded various prolific branches both in London and in the Home Counties. Of these two brothers, Thomas Fleetwood became Master of the Mint to Henry VIII, purchasing the Manor of the Vache, Chalfont St. Giles in 1564, & becoming a Knight of the Shire and High Sheriff for the County of Bucks. He gave use to the Fleetwoods of the Vache, the last of the family to hold the Manor, being Colonel George Fleetwood, the Regicide. Besides the direct line, younger descendants of the same family founded branches in Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Hampshire, Stoke-Newington.

Robert Fleetwood, the youngest of the three brothers, settled in Fleet Street, London and became a Scrivener & Public Notary. His son, William Fleetwood, became Recorder of London, and purchased Missenden Abbey, Bucks in 1571. He became the ancestor of the Fleetwoods of Great Missenden, some of whom figure in the Registers of St. James Clerkenwell. He was a distinguished man in his day, as besides being Recorder of London, he was M.P. for the City, and Queens Sergeant in 1592. His town house was situated in St. Olaves Silver Street, where according to McMurray (the Vestry Clerk of S. Anne & S. Agnes) he died in 1594. Others say he died at Great Missenden, where he was buried together with many other members of his family in the Parish Church.

William Fleetwood. 1535 – 1594
He was educated at B.N.C. Oxford, called to the Bar of the Middle Temple and became Recorder of London in 1571. In 1576, he was for a short time committed to the Fleet prison for breaking into the Chapel of the Portuguese Ambassador in an over-zealous search for Popish Recusants. He died at his house in Noble Street, Aldersgate. A house previously belonging to him was Bacon House, Foster Lane.

Thomas Fleetwood – younger son of the Recorder also of the Middle Temple became Attorney to Henry, Prince of Wales.

The Fleetwood Arms are still to be seen set over the door of Milton’s Cottage at Chalfont St. Giles, and also set into the floor of the Church at Great Missenden. These latter arms are a portion of the altar tomb referred to by Lipscomb. The family died out in the male line in the 18th Century.

The Fleetwood Arms

Arms. Party per pale nebule, or and azure, six martlets counterchanged
Crest. A wolf parsant, regardant, argent, wounded in the breast gules.
Motto. Homo Homini Lupus (MDP: “Man is a wolf to man”)

On facing page:
Illustration of  “Arms of Fleetwood” by Septimus Buss
 “Fleetwood of  Poulton, Lancashire”
 “Fleetwood of Calwich or Caldwick”

Our Traditional Descent from the Family of Fleetwood - [p5]

It has always been the tradition in our family handed down by my grandmother Frances Buss (née Fleetwood) and her sister Elizabeth that we were descended on the female side from General Charles Fleetwood, who married Bridget Cromwell. The same tradition, however (says R.W.B.), is common in many branches of this family on quite insufficient evidence. I conducted two enquiries on this subject with useful assistance from my uncle Octavius Buss and we both arrived at the conclusion that the descent from the Parliamentary General could not be proved.

In the first enquiry we worked downwards from the known branches of the Fleetwoods and in every case encountered a cul-de-sac. In the second enquiry I tried to ascertain all the facts about our ancestors John Fleetwood senior and junior and to work upwards from the known to the unknown. The results of these two enquiries are embodied in the present volume. R.W.B. “surmises but cannot prove” that our family is descended from the Fleetwoods of Great Missenden, and I am inclined to agree with him. In that case, however, the descent must be through some younger and perhaps unmentioned members of this family. It is known that certain members of this branch settled in London and perhaps it is from one of these that our family is descended, but at present, proof is wanting. I agree both with R.W.B. and O.B. that any descent from Charles Fleetwood either by his first wife, Frances Smith, or through Bridget Cromwell is practically impossible.

I  Pedigree of John Fleetwood of Penwortham, Lancs. (Click to see the tree.)
Note: The four elder branches of the family viz: Calwich (Staffs), and Penwortham, Rossall and Kirkham (Lancs) may be dismissed so far as our own pedigree is concerned.

The Fleetwoods of the Vache - [p7]

Note: Many of the Fleetwoods of the Vache are buried in the Church of Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks, which I have visited more than once. Thomas Fleetwood, the ancestor of this branch, was twice married, first to Barbara Francis, by whom he had four children, and then to Bridget Spring, who presented him with a family of no less than fourteen. By his first wife he became the ancestor of the Hesketh Fleetwoods of Rossall and the Fleetwoods of Kirkham, Lancs: both of which families for the purpose of our Pedigree may be dismissed.

His second wife, Bridget Spring, was the daughter of Sir John Spring, Knight of Suffolk, who according to R.W.B. can trace a royal descent from Edward I on the female side through the Waldegraves, Wentworths and Despencers. This very prolific union also gave rise to several flourishing branches viz: the Fleetwoods of Aldwincle and of Northampton; the Fleetwoods of Crawley (Hants); the Fleetwoods of  Stoke-Newington and Feltwell (Norfolk); also a branch in Westmeath, Ireland; and a Swedish Baron. This last mentioned Sir George Fleetwood was a distinguished man in his day who served with Gustavus Adolphus and was present at the Battle of Lutzen.

Thomas Fleetwood himself died in 1570 and was buried in the Church of Chalfont St. Giles. On the north side of the chancel may still be seen an altar tomb inscribed to his memory as follows viz:
“Here lyeth Thomas Fleetwoode Esquire, borne at Heskyn, in the Countye of Lancashire, Lord of the Vache, Treasurer of the Mynte, Knight of the Parliament for the Shire of Buckingham, and late Sheriff of the Counties of Bucks and Bedford, who had two wives, Barbara, the first, and Bridget, the seconde, being daughter of Sir John Springe, Knight. He had eighteen children, foure by the first wife, and fourteen by the seconde. Aged fyftie-two yeares, deceased the first day of November, in the year of our Lord God MCCCCCLXX”

II  The Descent of Thomas Fleetwood of the Vache

III. The Pedigree of Thomas Fleetwood by his first wife
Note: For further information see printed pedigree enclosed, which however does not seem to be very accurate. (This reference is still unclear - Ed)

IV. The Pedigree of Thomas Fleetwood by his second wife

On the South wall opposite is a monument to the son of Thomas Fleetwood thus inscribed, viz: “George Fleetwood, K^nt, and Dame Katherine, his wife, daughter of Henry Denny of Walham in the County of Essex. Sir George died 21^st Dec 1620. They had issue eight sonnes, viz: Arthur, Edward, Charles, George, Thomas, Henry, James and William; and six daughters, viz: Sibill, Bridget, Ann, Elizabeth, Honoria and Joyce.  Dame Katherine Fleetwood departed this life the 9^th March 1634.”

Notes on various members of the family of Thomas Fleetwood of the Vache - [9]

1. Sir Miles Fleetwood (of Aldwincle) – the grandson of Thomas Fleetwood of the Vache. He died in 1640 and was the father of three prominent men during the Civil Wars, viz: William, George and Charles (the Parliamentary General). He was Receiver of the Court of Wards.
    

2. Sir William Fleetwood son of the above Sir Miles Fleetwood. He was a confirmed Royalist, and became Cup-bearer to Charles I and Ranger of Woodstock. He died at Aldwinkle in 1673. He was twice married. By his first wife, Frances, he had a son, Miles, who succeeded him at Aldwincle. His second wife was Elizabeth Harvey, by whom he became the father of Charles Fleetwood who settled at Northampton and became the founder of another prolific branch of the family, many of whom are buried in the Church of St. Sepulchre, Northampton. In 1646, he took an active part in the defence of Oxford against the Parliament; but on his surrender he compounded and was heavily fined. The fine was, however, paid by his younger brother, Charles.  At the Restoration, he returned to his former position as Ranger of Woodstock.
    

3. Sir George Fleetwood, 2^nd son of Sir Miles Fleetwood, born in 1605. In 1629, he joined the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus and gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was knighted in 1632 and took part in the Battle of Lutzen. The letter he wrote to his father on this occasion is still extant and is preserved in the MSS Department of the British Museum. In 1640 Buta Gyllenstjerina. In 1654, he was created a Swedish Baron and was sent as Ambassador to Cromwell by Queen Christina. He died in 1667 and was buried with his wife in Sweden. He is pictured on the facing page.
   
   Francis Fleetwood Buss adds a note to a newspaper clipping pasted on the facing page:

   “Nobody acquainted with the Fleetwood Pedigree ever supposed that this family had any connection with Scotland. What Miss Dutton herself states is correct.

   THE SWEDISH FLEETWOODS
          Your Correspondent in Italy is correct in stating that the Swedish Fleetwoods were not of Scottish extraction. The Fleetwoods originally came from Lancashire. Thomas Fleetwood purchasing the estate of The Vache at Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks in 1564. He was treasurer of the Mint and Knight of the Parliament for Bucks, and died in 1570. General George Fleetwood, who signed the death warrant of Charles I forfeited The Vache in 1661, when it was given to the Duke of York, but it was James Fleetwood, chaplain to Charles I, who carried off the young Prices – Charles and James – to safety after the Battle of Edgehill. Milton was an intimate friend of Charles Fleetwood, brother of George, the regicide (who died in America), and on the cottage where Milton resided at Chalfont during the Great Plague may still be seen the Fleetwood Arms – Miss S. S. Dutton, Forum Club, 6 Grosvenor Place, S.W.1.

4. Charles Fleetwood (Our reputed ancestor).
   Charles Fleetwood was the third son of Sir Miles Fleetwood of Aldwincle. He was born in 1618 and entered at Grays Inn in 1638. In his entry, he is described as “the son of Miles Fleetwood of Wood Street, London, Kt.” He espoused the Parliamentary cause and was wounded at the first Battle of Newbury in 1644. He commanded a regiment of horse at Naseby, and assisted in the defeat Sir Jacob Astley at Stow-in-the-Wold. Fortunately for himself he took no part in the King’s Trial. In 1650, he helped by his skilful handling of the cavalry to win the victory at Dunbar, and further distinguished himself at the Battle of Worcester. He was sent by Cromwell as Lord Deputy to Ireland but was soon recalled. He was always a warm supporter of Cromwell, but sided with the army against the Parliament. At the Restoration, he escaped punishment owing to the efforts of his friends, but he was condemned to perpetual incapacitation from all offices of trust.  He was married three times, first to Frances Smith, then to Bridget Cromwell and once again to Mary Hartopp.  He had issue by his first two wives.  He died at Stoke-Newington in 1692.

Facing page:
Our Reputed Ancestor: Miniature portraits of Charles Fleetwood
(1618-1692: General of the Parliament)

Noble, who dislikes him, gives the following unfavourable estimate of him in his “House of Cromwell”, viz: “He was a strong Republican and hence opposed Cromwell being made King in 1657. He took a luke-warm part in the Restoration and escaped with a heavy fine, spending the remainder of his life in contemptible obscurity amongst his friends at Stoke-Newington. He was indebted neither to his skill nor to his capacity, but owed his influence in the camp entirely to his gift of praying. Praying, he thought, the best means of opposing the enemy, far better than trusting in carnal weapons and an arm of flesh. If his pious rhapsodies were not heard, he reconciled it by saying that “God had spit in his face.”  This expression was parodied in the coarse Cavalier doggerel(?) rhymes on the Rump(?) Parliament as follows viz:

“Then suddenly Fleetwood fell from his grace
And now he cries ‘Heaven has spit in his face’;
Though he smelt that it came from another place.”

5. James Fleetwood (1603 – 1683) the seventh son of Sir George Fleetwood of the Vache and grandson of Thomas Fleetwood. In 1642, he served the King with distinction at the Battle of Edgehill, and obtained the degree of D.D. as recognition. Later, he was appointed chaplain to Charles, Prince of Wales. After the Restoration, he became Provost of Kings College, Cambridge, and the Rector of Anstey, Herts, and Durham, Bucks. In 1675, he was appointed Bishop of Worcester. He died in 1683 at the age of (?)81. His name appears in the monumental inscription in the Church of Chalfont St. Giles among the eight sons of Sir George Fleetwood.
   
   From opposite page: He was educated at Eton and Kings College Cambridge. By his wife Martha, he had two sons, viz: Arthur and John, and four daughters. John subsequently became Archdeacon of Worcestor.)
    

6. William Fleetwood (1656 – 1723) was nephew to the Bishop of Worcester according to the statement of the Biographical Dictionary. But if so, to which of the eight sons of Sir George did he belong?  His father was Captain Geoffrey Fleetwood, and his mother Anne Smith. He was the youngest but one of six children, and was born in the Tower of London on Jan 1^st where his father voided in an official capacity. He became Bishop of St. Asaph and afterwards Bishop of Ely, where he died at the age of 67.

From opposite page: He was educated at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge. He was a Scholar and Writer and was regarded as the most eloquent Preacher of his day.

7. George Fleetwood eldest son of Charles Fleetwood of the Vache and consequently great grandson of Thomas Fleetwood. He was a cousin and contemporary of General Charles Fleetwood and became a Colonel in the Parliamentary Army. He was one of the Regicides who signed the death warrant of Charles I.
   
   At the time of the Restoration, he was put in the Tower and the Manor of the Vache was confiscated. He eventually retired to America, where he died, or as some say, was murdered by Royalists in the year of 1674.
   
   Facing page:
   The Regicide. Miniature portraits of Colonel George Fleetwood of the Vache (1622-1674)
   
   R.W.B. (see Notes and Queries between 1902-1906) has discovered a hitherto unknown Fleetwood family descended from Colonel George Fleetwood by his second wife Hester, whose baptisms and burials are recorded in the registers of S. Andrew Undershaft. There is no doubt as to the facts of this second marriage as in 1664 she petitioned against the deportation of her husband, the regicide, who was at that date still in the Tower.
   For particulars as to this Pedigree see below – Pedigree inserted between pages 40 – 41. Click here to see this document.

Regarding our own descent, it is impossible to say anything except that the evidence shows that we are unlikely to be descended from any of the better known branches of this family, but as in the case of the Great Missenden family, there is a possibility of descent from one of the younger sons either of Thomas or of  George Fleetwood.

The Fleetwoods of Missenden Abbey - [p16]

Facing page 16: Click here for Pedigree family tree

This family continued for six generations in the male line, but the manor then passed to John Ansell, the nephew of John Fleetwood, who died without issue in 1745. John Ansell himself also died without issue in 1761, and the estate next passed by Mary, their eldest daughter, to Thomas Goostrey. This family was prolific enough in its earlier stages, but did not succeed in establishing other known branches, like their cousins of the Vache. It is, however, quite possible, that one of its younger members established a branch in London from which our John Fleetwood was descended, but the proof is hitherto lacking. This branch is of some interest to us, because three children of William Fleetwood (ob: 1691) viz: John, William and Mary, were all three baptized at St. James Clerkenwell; but this appears to be nothing but an accidental coincidence as all three of them are accounted for in the County Pedigrees. It may be presumed that the farm-house of the Fleetwoods of Missenden Abbey was situated in the Parish of St. James, Clerkenwell. 

Lipscombe has the following interesting note about their family grave which formerly existed in Great Missenden churchyard viz: “In the churchyard was an altar-tomb (now entirely demolished) a small fragment only of the slab which covered it, retaining the name and arms of Fleetwood with the following inscription: ‘Here lies the body of Edward Fleetwood, son of Sir William Fleetwood and Anne, his wife by whom he had fourteen children (seven sons and seven daughters) of which this is the fifth son, who deceased 15^th March 1681 aged 65 years. Katherine Fleetwood, fifth daughter of the said Sir William and Anne his wife deceased Nov 4^th 1688 aged 81 years. Here also lies the body of Jane Fleetwood, seventh daughter of the said Sir William, who departed this life 5^th July 1684 aged 69 years.Cordelia, fourth daughter of the said Sir William, ob: Dec 2^nd 1685 aged 86 years.’”

Note by F.F.B. - [p18]
The Fleetwood Arms evidently part of the headstone of the grave are now inserted into the floor of Great Missenden Church. They formerly, until the last repairs, formed one of the steps leading into the churchyard to the Manor House. There is no other Monumental record there. 

Lipscombe records the following interments of this family taken from the Parish Registers, viz:

Interments

1.   1593 * William Fleetwood Esq. – The Recorder

2.   1598 Mr. James Fleetwood – Son of the Recorder (the variant line has been erased in the original MS)

3.   1621 Mr. William Fleetwood – Probably grandson of the Recorder

4.   1624 The Lady Ann Fleetwood – Anne (Barton), wife of Sir W^m. Fleetwood

5.   1629 Mr. Francis Fleetwood – Grandson of the Recorder

6.   1630 * Sir William Fleetwood – Son of the Recorder

7.   1639 * John Fleetwood Esq. – Eldest grandson of the Recorder

8.   1679 Mary, wife of Wm Fleetwood Esq. – Mary (Hoby), married great grandson of Recorder

9.   1681 Katherine d. of Wm Fleetwood Esq? – Daughter of W^m. F. and Mary (Hoby)

10. 1684? Edward Fleetwood Esq. – Fifth son of W^m. F. and Anne (Barton) of S. Martins Lane.

11. 1682 * William Fleetwood Esq. – Great grandson of Recorder

12. 1683 William (son of  W^m. Fleetwood Esq.) -- ?

13. 1684 Mrs. Jane Fletewode – seventh grand-daughter of Recorder (of S. Martins in the Fields)

14. 1684 Katherine d. of W^m. F. Esq. – d. of William F. (ob.1682) (?)

15. 1685 Mrs Cordelia Fleetwood – of S. Martins Lane, 4^th D. of Sir W^m. Fl. (ob:1630)

16. 1688 Mrs Katherine Fleetwood – of S. Martins Lane, 5^th D. of Sir W^m. Fl. (ob:1630)

17. 1691 * William Fleetwood Esq. – father of John, the last of this branch

18. 1711 Mrs Madam Sarah Fleetwood – Wife of W^m. Fleetwood (ob:1691)

19. 1717 Mrs Catherine Fleetwood – Wife of W^m. Fleetwood (?)

20. 1735 Henery (of Missenden Parva) – son of Willam and Anne Fleetwood

21. 1737 Mr William Fleetwood – (of Missenden Parva) – brother of Henry (?)

22. 1745 * John Fleetwood Esq. – the last of the Fleetwoods of Gt. Missenden

       ---------------------

23. 1761 John Ansell Esq. – son of Mary Ansell (nee Fleetwood)

24. 1780 Mrs Goostrey – niece of John Ansell and D. of Mary

Marriages

25. 1654 * William Fleetwood Esq. and Mary Hoby

26. 1715 Thomas Ansell Esq. and Mary Fleetwood

27. 1723 * John Fleetwood Esq. and Eliza Seare

Baptisms

28. 1716 Mary, daughter of Thos. Ansell Esq. (became Mrs Goostrey)

29. 1718 Thomas, son of Thomas Ansell Esq. (presumably pre-deceased Mary)

Note of the Fleetwood Entries in the Clerkenwell Registers

These are as follows, viz:

1. 1685 (March 9^th) John son of Mr. William Fleetwood and Mrs. Sarah, his wife

2. 1688 (Oct 4^th) Mary daughter of the above in similar terms.

3. 1689 (Oct 10^th) William son of William Fleetwood Esq. and Sarah his Lady.

These entries clearly show John, Mary and William as the children of William and Sarah Fleetwood, thus proving Lipscombe’s pedigree to be wrong in separating the children into two families and making Anne Randall the wife instead of the daughter-in-law of William Fleetwood (See. F.E.B. pp:12-17).

The facts relating to these children of William and Sarah are clear, viz:

1. John Fleetwood (1685 – 1745) inherited Missenden Abbey, being the sixth in descent from the Recorder. He married Eliza Seare and died without issue in 1745, the property passing to his nephew John, son of his elder sister Mary.

2. Mary, born 1688 and died before 1745. She married Thomas Ansell and her son John inherited Missenden Abbey, but died without issue. The property then passed to his sister Mary who became Mrs. Goostrey.

3. William (1689 – 1737) he married Anne Randall, who Lipscombe wrongly attributes to him as his mother (see F.E.B.). He seems to have had two sons according to the registers at Great Missenden, both of whom predeceased him. He died in 1737, and his widow is referred to in John Fleetwood’s will as his “sister-in-law”. He was admitted to Lincoln’s Inn in 1706.

4. Catherine (d.1741) is another daughter of William and Sarah Fleetwood whose name does not appear on Lipscombe’s pedigree; but her will was proved in 1741 and shows her clearly as a member of the same family. 

Note: - [p21] There is some obscurity about the designation of the above William Fleetwood (ob:1691) in the Clerkenwell Registers. His father (also William) died in 1682, presumably his son was then in full possession of Missenden Abbey.  Yet he is described in the Clerkenwell Registers in 1685 and again in 1688 as Mr. William Fleetwood. Only in 1689 do the Registers designate him as Esq. R.W.B., however, states that in 1688 he became High Sheriff of Bucks. 

The conclusion at which one is forced to arrive regarding our own pedigree is that any direct descent from the main line of the Fleetwood’s of Great Missenden is impossible, John Fleetwood (d.s.p. 1745) being the last of his family.  But as Sir William Fleetwood (ob:1639) had seven sons there is a bare possibility of our John Fleetwood senior being descended from one of the younger sons of this generation, but the proof is not at present forthcoming.

The Fleetwoods of Stoke-Newington and Feltwell - [p23]

The founder of this branch of the family was General Charles Fleetwood (1618-1692). For particulars of his ancestry and life (see above pp 11-14).  There has been considerable confusion in the Biographical Dictionaries as to the parentage of General Charles Fleetwood, who has been often mistaken for his nephew Charles Fleetwood of Northampton. The mistake seems to have arisen as follows, viz: Both uncle and nephew married ladies bearing the name of Smith and both of them named their eldest son Smith Fleetwood. Complicating matters still further, General Charles Fleetwood’s oldest grandson was also named Smith Fleetwood.

The National Dictionary of Biography states correctly that General Charles Fleetwood was the third son of Sir Miles Fleetwood of Aldwinckle, Northants; and this confirmed by Cox and Serjeantson in their history of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Northampton. Cassell’s Dictionary of English History wrongly calls him the son of Sir William Fleetwood, as does also the Imperial Dictionary of Biography, thereby confusing him with his nephew Charles Fleetwood of Northampton.

He was married three times; first to Frances Smith, daughter of Thomas Smith of Winston from whom was derived the property in Feltwell, Norfolk. After the death of his first wife, he married Bridget Cromwell, the widow of General Ireton. He had issue with both of these marriages. Then for the third time, he married Lady Hartopp by whom he became possessed of the house and property at Stoke Newington. She died in 1684 and was buried with her husband, who died in 1692 at Bunhill Fields.

Notes on the Fleetwood-Smith Pedigree 

I.      Burials at Stoke-Newington

(1)   1675. Charles Fleetwood – son of Smith Fleetwood

(2)   1676. Charles Fleetwood – son of Esq. Fleetwoof

(3)   1680. Mary, wife of Smith Fleetwood Senr.

(4)   1683. Anne Fleetwood wife of Smith Fleetwood Senr. (died in child-bed)

(5)   1683. Still-born child of Smith Fleetwood Senr.

(6)   1708. Smith Fleetwood (of Armingland) – aged 64 years

(7)   1728. Elizabeth Fleetwood – (Grand-daughter of General) – “in velvet coffin”

(8)   1731. Ellen Fleetwood (widow) “in velvet coffin”

(9)   1744. Carolina Fleetwood (Grand-daughter of General)

(10)  1749. Frances Fleetwood (Grand-daughter of General)

(11)  1761. Jane Fleetwood (Grand-daughter of General) – “in linnen”

 

II.      Other Fleetwood Internments in connection with the First Marriage

(12)  1690. General Fleetwood (aged 74) – at Bunhill Fields.

(13)  1651. Frances Fleetwood (wife of General) at S. Annes Blackfriars

(14)  1726. Smith Fleetwood (Junr.) aged (?) 58 – at Wood Dalling

(15)  1732. Elizabeth (D. of Smith Fleetwood Junr.) aged 22 – at Wood Dalling (Pedigrees describe her as sole daughter and heiress. She married Fountain Elwyn)

(16)  ____. Fleetwood Elwyn (d. young) – at Wood Dalling

(17)  1720. Mary (grand-daughter of Gen. Fleetwood) at Wood Dalling (Pedigrees say she married Rev. A Coveney and d.s.p.)

(18)  (?) 1728. Anne (grand-daughter of General Fleetwood) – at Boston (Pedigrees say that she married William Gosney and d.s.p. Wills of this family prove her to have been alive in 1726 and dead in 1728.)

III.      Notes on various people mentioned in the Pedigree

(1)   Smith Fleetwood (Senr), son of General Fleetwood (1644-1708)
He must be carefully distinguished both from his own son, Smith Fleetwood Junr., who died in 1726, and also from Smith Fleetwood (son of Charles Fleetwood of Northampton) who died in 1747 and was buried at S. Sepulchres in that town.

(2)  Charles Fleetwood (son of Esq. Fleetwood) d.s.p. 1676.
This Charles is somewhat of an enigma. Noble imagines him to be a son of General Fleetwood by Bridget, his second wife. I believe him to be a son of Charles Fleetwood of Northampton (commonly known as Squire Fleetwood) who died at Stoke-Newington. This would account for the curious entry in the Register viz: son of Esq. Fleetwood, which would be made to distinguish him from his uncle General Fleetwood, whose Christian name was also Charles. A reference to the wills of this family show that regular communication was kept up between the two branches of the family established respectively at Stoke-Newington and at Northampton.

(3)  Charles Fleetwood (son of Smith Fleetwood Senr.) – who died without issue in 1675 has remained hitherto unexplained. The will of his sister Elizabeth proves this Charles Fleetwood to have been alice up to the end of 1727; moreover, a codicil to the will of Ellen Fleetwood, described as his mother (? Step-mother) mentions the fact of his death between the time of the drawing up of the will and the addition of the codicil. In addition, his own will was proved in 1728, and in it, he refers to his late brother Smith Fleetwood (Junr) known to have died in 1726. There can be no doubt whatever that this Charles Fleetwood was the elder brother of Smith Fleetwood (Junr) and survived him, dying in or about 1728. This, however, leaves one absolutely in the dark as to who the other Charles Fleetwood whose name appears in the Stoke-Newington Registers as dying in 1675, can possibly be.

(4)  Ellen Fleetwood (d.1731). The Pedigrees here again have given rise to confusion. The S.N. Registers describe her simply as “widow”. Noble, quite erroneously, assigns her as daughter of Charles Fleetwood, the General, by Bridget. Fleetwood wills relating to this family, however, clearly show her to be the third wife of Smith Fleetwood (Senr). He married first Mary Hartopp, who died in 1680, then soon after her death he married Anne, who the S.N. Registers show to have died in child-birth in 1683, and lastly Ellen, who died in 1731. There is some doubt as to whether the eight children of Smith Fleetwood belong to her or to the first wife, but nearly all the Pedigrees assign them to Mary Hartopp.

(5)  The six daughters of Smith Fleetwood Senr. Of these, the four elder ones remained unmarried and continued in residence at Stoke-Newington. The two youngest, viz: Mary and Ann both married.  Mary married Rev. A Coveney and was buried at Wood Dalling 1720, while Anne married William Gosney and died at Boston. She is mentioned in the will of her brother Charles, which is dated 1726, but from the omission of her name from the will of Ellen Fleetwood (her step-mother) dated 1727 she probably died in the interval, ie. about 1727.
Of the unmarried sisters, Elizabeth died in 1728, leaving directions to be buried near her father and mother clearly Mary Hartopp; Ellen not being dead. Moreover, directly afterwards, she leaves a bequest to her “mother” Ellen. Carolina died in 1744, Frances in 1749, and Jane in 1761, all being interred at Stoke-Newington. They were all four members of a Nonconformist Tabernacle presided over by a Mr. John Asty who delivered the funeral sermon over Elizabeth, dedicating it to her three surviving sisters, Frances, Carolina and Jane. Jane, the youngest daughter, eventually inherited all the Norfolk property of this branch of the Fleetwood family, and devised them to her distant cousin ___ _____?

Conclusion as to our descent from General Fleetwood and Frances Smith

General Fleetwood had two sons by this marriage according to the Pedigrees, viz:

(1)      Smith Fleetwood (Senr) who married Mary Hartopp and died in 1708 and had issue.

(2)      Charles Fleetwood of the S.N. Register who d.sp. 1676 and is in all probability a son of Charles Fleetwood of Northampton.

P30 … to be continued.

Yet to do chart on P25L.

To be continued ...

Last updated: Sunday, 26 February 2006
Go to Home page