GRINTER TREES

Ancestry of Joseph Grinter

Before Joseph Grinter (circa 1710) and Elizabeth Style - a possible solution.

Background:

The lineage back to the marriage of Joseph Grinter and Elizabeth Style in 1731 has been traced by a number of genealogists and there is generally speaking broad agreement on the various family trees that originate with this elusive couple.
The problem has always been that, due to the loss or destruction of certain parochial records, it has not been possible to establish the link to earlier generations.
Much work was carried out in the 1970's, on behalf of James Thomas Grinter, by the College of Arms during which his pedigree was authenticated back to Joseph and Elizabeth. A number of Grinters prior to Joseph and Elizabeth were researched during that study but the vital link could not be proven. It did, however, refer to the existance of 4 generations of Grinters who were tenants of Charles Goodwin, the Lord of the Manors of Barramores Knowles and Neeles in the parish of Muchelney.
More recently Dennis Hollyman has been working with these Manorial Records. With the help of archivists at the Somerset Record Office the relevant documents have been transcribed. This, together with earlier information from James Grinter's studies has enabled a lineage to be established from about 1620 into the 1700's.
Unfortunately the one vital link to Joseph is still missing and so the following family tree (together with the source information which enabled its construction) is being set out for debate and comment.

Dennis has also looked into the availability and existance of the 'Bishops Transcripts' but only some 24 years between 1600 and 1700 exist and they are indecipherable scraps of brown paper.

Scroll down to see the documents section and the suggested family tree.

Documents:

Scanned images of manorial records and the text reproduced from Dennis Hollyman's document "A Search For The Lost Grinter Generations In The 17th C. Parish Of Muchelney, Somerset, England."

The images of the manorial records (pages 3, 4, 5 & 6) are partial scans, with only information relevant to 'Grinter' research being shown. This is to enable reasonably fast opening of the web pages. 

A Possible Family Tree:

The family tree which appears on page 16 of Dennis Hollyman's document is reproduced here in an editable format and with comments on the right to stimulate feedback.

Beneficiaries of the will of kinswoman Joane Rooke of Pitney, 1661

If Joane Rooke was a spinster (sp. in the will),then she may have been John's sister-in-law. John's wife would have been a Miss Rooke