HANCOCK OF
HANDSWORTH
The records of West Jersey,
then part of the Province of New Jersey, include a bond made on 21 August 1678 between
John Wright of Beighton, Derbyshire, husbandman, and Godfrey Hancock of
Woodhouse in Handsworth, Yorkshire, yeoman, for the payment of £40 after the
death of Mary, wife of John Boardman of West Jersey.[1]
This helps to verify that Godfrey Hancock was the one of that name who later
the same year migrated to Burlington, New Jersey,[2]
with his wife Mary and some of their children, and that their daughter Phebe,
mentioned in Godfrey’s 1688 will as living in England, was the Phebe Hancock who
married John Wright of Beighton at Handsworth on 8 August 1678.
Chancery records of 1670 and
1673 confirm that the Godfrey Hancock of Handsworth Woodhouse who was married
to Mary was a son of another Godfrey Hancock and that the latter was the one
whose will was proved in 1658, mentioning his wife
Grace along with his son Godfrey and other children.[3]
Godfrey Hancock and Grace Billam were married at
Wales, a parish near Handsworth, in 1624. A chancery case of 1622 establishes
that Godfrey Hancock, “of the age of Eighteene yeares or thereabouts”, was the son of another Godfrey
Hancock (then deceased), and that the latter was a son of John Hancock and his
wife Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Revell who had held property in Handsworth
Woodhouse.[4]
I welcome comments on this
page. My e-mail address is on my home page.
HANCOCK
1
JOHN HANCOCK of Waleswood, Yorkshire, cutler, died on 1 May 1589.[5]
He married on 14 January 1560/61 at Handsworth, ELIZABETH REVELL,[6]
daughter of Thomas Revell.[7]
Elizabeth died on 27 January 1615/16.[8]
Children of John and Elizabeth (Revell)
Hancock:[9]
2 i GODFREY
HANCOCK (d 1606/07); m ELIZABETH WAINWRIGHT.
ii EDWARD HANCOCK of Thorpe Green,
Surrey, yeoman.
iii FRANCIS HANCOCK.[10]
iv MARGARET HANCOCK; m 20 Feb 1597/98,
Handsworth, ROWLAND HASLAM.[11]
v ANN HANCOCK, bap 9 Jun 1580,
Handsworth;[12] m
3 May 1603, Laughton en le Morthen,
CHARLES ROBINSON.[13]
2
GODFREY HANCOCK of Handsworth
Woodhouse died on 2 January 1606/07 and was buried on 4 January 1606/07 at
Handsworth.[14]
He married on 6 May 1595 at Handsworth, ELIZABETH WAINWRIGHT,[15]
who was buried on 28 June 1611 at Handsworth.[16]
Illegitimate child of Godfrey Hancock:
i THOMAS,
bap 12 Dec 1590, Handsworth.[17]
Children of Godfrey and Elizabeth
(Wainwright) Hancock:
i ANN
HANCOCK, bap 3 Feb 1595/96, Handsworth.[18]
ii HANCOCK, bur 22 Jun 1599, Handsworth.[19]
iii HANCOCK, bur 16 Jan 1599/1600, Handsworth.[20]
iv HANCOCK, bur 12 Dec 1601, Handsworth.[21]
3 v GODFREY HANCOCK (1603-1655); m
GRACE BILLAM.
vi HANCOCK, bur 6 Jul 1604, Handsworth.[22]
3 GODFREY HANCOCK of Handsworth
Woodhouse, yeoman, was born on 12 August 1603, baptised on 6 July 1604 at
Handsworth,[23]
and buried on 6 July 1655 at Handsworth.[24]
He married on 8 June 1624 at Wales, GRACE BILLAM,[25]
daughter of Thomas Billam (see here). Grace was
baptised on 25 February 1603/04 at Wales and buried on 24 November 1660 at
Handsworth.
Children of Godfrey and Grace (Billam) Hancock:
i JANE
HANCOCK, bap 11 Sep 1625, Handsworth,[26]
bur 30 Sep 1655, Harthill;[27]
m 17 Jun 1645, Harthill, THOMAS TAYLOR.[28]
ii MARY HANCOCK, bap 13 Jul 1628,
Handsworth;[29] m
ROBERT STACY.[30]
4 iii GODFREY HANCOCK (1630-1688); m
MARY.
iv ELIZABETH HANCOCK, bap 9 Nov 1630,
Handsworth;[31] m
JOHN BIRKES.[32]
v JOHN HANCOCK of Whiston, yeoman,
bap 17 Feb 1632/33, Handsworth,[33]
d ca 1660;[34] m
14 Nov 1657, Sheffield, MARY MARSH.[35]
vi WILLIAM HANCOCK, bap 26 Nov 1635,
Handsworth,[36]
bur 28 Nov 1635, Handsworth.[37]
vii ANN HANCOCK, bap 15 Jan 1636/37,
Handsworth,[38]
bur 26 Jun 1652, Handsworth.[39]
viii THOMAS HANCOCK, bap 10 May 1640,
Handsworth,[40]
bur 19 Mar 1646/47, Handsworth.[41]
ix WILLIAM HANCOCK, bap 4 Dec 1642,
Handsworth,[42]
bur 2 Feb 1644/45, Handsworth.[43]
x ANTHONY HANCOCK, bap 4 Dec 1642,
Handsworth,[44]
bur 2 Apr 1643, Handsworth.[45]
xi GRACE HANCOCK,[46]
bur 14 May 1697, Eyam;[47]
m 2 Oct 1668, Eyam, JOHN STANLEY.[48]
4
GODFREY HANCOCK of Handsworth
Woodhouse and of Burlington County, New Jersey, yeoman, was baptised on 9
November 1630 at Handsworth[49]
and died in 1688.[50]
He married about 1659, MARY.[51]
Children of Godfrey and Mary Hancock:
i PHEBE
HANCOCK, bap 7 Sep 1660, Handsworth,[52]
bur 17 Mar 1728/29, Beighton;[53]
m 8 Aug 1678, Handsworth, JOHN WRIGHT[54]
(see here).
ii GODFREY HANCOCK, bur 8 Dec 1662,
Handsworth.[55]
iii JOHN HANCOCK, bap 12 Apr 1664,
Handsworth,[56]
bur 27 May 1664, Handsworth.[57]
iv GODFREY HANCOCK of Burlington
County, yeoman, bap 29 May 1665, Handsworth,[58]
d ca 1688.[59]
v JOHN HANCOCK, bap 14 Jun 1666,
Handsworth,[60]
bur 22 Jan 1666/67, Handsworth.[61]
vi JUDITH HANCOCK, bap 5 Jan 1667/68,
Handsworth;[62] m(1) 31 Dec 1691, Burlington, GILBERT MORRELL;[63]
m(2) 2 Nov 1692, Burlington, JOHN TUELIE.[64]
vii MARY HANCOCK, bap 14 Jan 1669/70,
Handsworth.[65]
viii GRACE HANCOCK, bap 14 Jan 1669/70,
Handsworth,[66]
bur 21 Jan 1669/70, Handsworth.[67]
ix JOHN HANCOCK[68]
of Burlington County, d ca 1733;[69]
m ANN FISHER.[70]
[1] William Nelson, ed., Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703 (Paterson, 1899), 422.
[2] Samuel Smith, The History of the Colony of Nova-Cæsaria, or New-Jersey (Burlington, 1765), 108-09.
[3] National Archives, C 8/222/55, C 8/225/64, PROB 11/267/699.
[4] National Archives, C 2/JasI/H8/33.
[5] National Archives, C 142/353/80.
[6] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[7] National Archives, C 2/JasI/H8/33; Sheffield Archives, MD5782/1.
[8] National Archives, C 142/353/80.
[9] National Archives, C 2/JasI/H8/33.
[10] In view of his brother Edward’s residence, known from chancery records (National Archives, C 2/JasI/H8/33), it seems likely that Francis was the Francis Hancock of Thorpe, Surrey, yeoman, whose son Francis was apprenticed in 1619: London Apprenticeship Abstracts, 1442-1850 (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[11] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). National Archives, C 2/JasI/H8/33, does not name Margaret’s husband but mentions her son Michaell Haslame.
[12] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[13] Laughton en le Morthen parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); National Archives, C 2/JasI/H8/33.
[14] National Archives, C 142/353/80; Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[15] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). She was probably a near connection of William Wainwright of Rotherham, yeoman, son of William, who is named in a grant of 1613 involving property in Handsworth Woodhouse: S.O. Addy, “Documents Relating to Handsworth Woodhouse”, The Yorkshire Archæological Journal, 20(1909):6-19, at 16.
[16] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[17] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). He is described in the entry as “Thomas the illegittimate Sonne of Godfrey Hancocke” but his mother is not named.
[18] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[19] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk): “Godfrey Hancocke Sonne Buryed”.
[20] Handsworth bishop’s transcripts (online at www.findmypast.co.uk): “Buried a Child of godfrey hancokes”. There is a chance that this was the Ann baptised in 1595/96.
[21] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk): “Godfrey Hancockes Childe Buryed”. There is a chance that this was the Ann baptised in 1595/96.
[22] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). Following the baptism of Godfrey Hancock on 6 Jul 1604, the next entry, on the same date, is “Godfrey Hancocke other Sonne Buryed”.
[23] National Archives, C 142/353/80; Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[24] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); will dated 4 Jul 1655, proved 12 Sep 1658 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury, National Archives, PROB 11/267/699).
[25] Wales parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk): “Godfrey Hanckocke and Grace Billa~”. Wales in this instance is the parish of that name near Handsworth.
[26] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[27] Harthill parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[28] Harthill parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). The relevant page seems to be missing from the original register, but there is a transcription made in 1720. The will of Godfrey Hancock (National Archives, PROB 11/267/699) names “Jane Tayler my daughter” and the will of Grace Hancock written in 1660 (Chancellor of York with Laughton, Borthwick Institute) names “Thomas Tayler of Hartill my sonne in Law”.
[29] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[30] The will of Godfrey Hancock (National Archives, PROB 11/267/699) names “Mary Stacy my daughter” and the will of Grace Hancock written in 1660 (Chancellor of York with Laughton, Borthwick Institute) leaves “unto Robert Stacye & Mary his wife the some of Twentie shillinges in full satisfaction of all their claime or demand to any p[ar]te or p[ar]cell of my p[er]sonall estate”. Robert Stacy of Handsworth Woodhouse later migrated to Burlington. See “Catalouge of Eighty-Seven Public Friends”, Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, 31(1979-80):114-21, at 117, 121.
[31] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[32] The registered copy of the will of Godfrey Hancock (National Archives, PROB 11/267/699) names him as “John Bicke”, but chancery records confirm that the wife of John Birkes of Handsworth Woodhouse was a sister of John Hancock and Godfrey Hancock (National Archives, C 8/222/55). The 1660 will of Grace Hancock (Chancellor of York with Laughton, Borthwick Institute) mentions “John Birkes & Elizabeth his wife”.
[33] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[34] There was a “John Sonne of Godfrey Hancocke” buried on 27 Jan 1659/60 at Handsworth. Whilst this would be an accurate description of this John, it would be an unusual way to describe a married man whose father was already deceased, and the wording would more plausibly refer to a young child of Godfrey and Mary Hancock. Nevertheless, the John baptised in 1632/33 did die in late 1659 or early 1660, as confirmed by chancery records (National Archives, C 8/222/55).
[35] Sheffield parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk); National Archives, C 8/222/55.
[36] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[37] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[38] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[39] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[40] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[41] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[42] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[43] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[44] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[45] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[46] The will of Godfrey Hancock (National Archives, PROB 11/267/699) and the 1660 will of Grace Hancock (Chancellor of York with Laughton, Borthwick Institute) both name “Grace Hancocke my youngest daughter”.
[47] Eyam parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com).
[48] Eyam parish registers (online at www.ancestry.com). The 1680 will of Elizabeth (Billam) (Peigham) Rogers (Lichfield and Coventry Wills and Probate 1521-1860, online at www.findmypast.co.uk) mentions Elizabeth Birkes immediately followed by Grace Stanley. Evidently these were two of the daughters of Grace (Billam) Hancock, the testator’s sister. The Eyam parish registers state that Grace Hancock was of Handsworth Woodhouse when she married John Stanley in 1668.
[49] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[50] Will dated 31 Jul 1688, proved 21 Aug 1689: William Nelson, ed., Calendar of New Jersey Wills, vol. 1, 1670-1730 (Paterson, 1901), 205. At a court on 7 Nov 1688, it was noted that Godfrey Hancock senior was deceased: H. Clay Reed and George J. Miller, eds, The Burlington Court Book (Washington, 1944), 94.
[51] An indenture of 29 Apr 1659 concerns the jointure of Mary Hancock, the “now wife” of Godfrey Hancock of Handsworth Woodhouse. The other parties were John Bingley of Blyth, Nottinghamshire, and George Wollen of Rotherham, and it was sealed in the presence of John Hancock, John Thompson senior and John Thompson junior (Sheffield Archives, MD5782/4). Mary is also named in Godfrey’s will, among other records: William Nelson, ed., Calendar of New Jersey Wills, vol. 1, 1670-1730 (Paterson, 1901), 205. She was apparently still living in 1719 and may have had a granddaughter named Phebe Leeds although the exact connection is not clear: John David Davis, West Jersey, New Jersey, Deed Records, 1676-1721 (Westminster, Maryland, 2005), 194, 210. There was a link with the Leeds family through Robert and Mary (Hancock) Stacy.
[52] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[53] Beighton parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[54] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). A bond dated 21 Aug 1678 was made between John Wright of Beighton, husbandman, and Godfrey Hancock of Woodhouse in Handsworth, yeoman: William Nelson, ed., Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703 (Paterson, 1899), 422.
[55] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[56] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk). The entry indicates that this was a burial, but given another burial the following month of a John, son of Godfrey Hancock, it seems likely that the event on 12 Apr 1664 was a baptism.
[57] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[58] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[59] Will dated 18 Sep 1688, proved 21 Aug 1689: William Nelson, ed., Calendar of New Jersey Wills, vol. 1, 1670-1730 (Paterson, 1901), 205. At a quarterly sessions on 5 Feb 1688/89, it was reported that a coroner’s inquest had found Godfrey Hancock junior to have died a natural death: H. Clay Reed and George J. Miller, eds, The Burlington Court Book (Washington, 1944), 95.
[60] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[61] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[62] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[63] John E. Stillwell, Historical and Genealogical Miscellany, 5 vols (New York, 1903-32), 2:17, 2:39.
[65] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[66] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[67] Handsworth parish registers (online at www.findmypast.co.uk).
[68] John is named in his father’s will: William Nelson, ed., Calendar of New Jersey Wills, vol. 1, 1670-1730 (Paterson, 1901), 205.
[69] Will dated 4 Feb 1732, proved 10 Apr 1733: A. Van Doren Honeyman, ed., Calendar of New Jersey Wills, vol. 2, 1730-1750 (Somerville, 1918), 220. His residence in Mansfield is confirmed by William Nelson, ed., Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703 (Paterson, 1899), 506.