Theophilus Eaton (et al) background
Gotta run, but:
Don't know what happened to my one a.m. posting, but the bottom line is that I found a clear connection between Theophilus Eaton and the Shropshire de Eytons in Blakeways "Sheriffs of Shropshire." I believe Joe has posted about Blakeway in the past. In any event, I read both 19th century volumes and there is a good deal of information there, including a descendancy directly from Robert de Eyton I will post detail when possible about all the many Eatons/Eytons who were Sheriff. Many kin held the post as well, suggesting that, if not hereditary exactly, the post was very close to that. I have not studied in the depth that would enable me to state this firmly, but there is a suggestion, as a result of changes in the office, that politics did have an impact on the "appointment." One appointment, however, was for life and lasted thirty uears.
Why this was not well known by subsequent researchers, I do not know. Alan Garner has insisted, and properly so, that there is a relationship. If Blakeway is correct, this is additional confirmation.
Now, here's a bit more that was passed on to me from Barbara many months ago.
It is from George Eaton, descendant of Theo's son, Theo, Jr. with some info and contains some great bio information of Theo, Sr.
>From Cheshire to Denmark:
The wealthiest living landowner in England is the Duke of Westminster
(family name Grosvernor) who country seat is at Eaton Hall in Cheshire.
Visitors to London will be familiar with the many addresses in the Chelsea
area incorporating these two names, such as Eaton Road, Eaton Place, Eaton
Terrace, Grosvenor Crescent, Grosvenor Hill and Grosvernor Square, the
address of the American Embassy.According to information supplied by Miss
Annette Kennett, Archivist of the City of Chester, Eaton means farm by a
river, and comes from ea tun.
Eaton Hall came into the possession of the Grosvenor family during the reign
of Henry VI (1422-61) when Raufe Grosvenor married, Joan, only child and
heiress of John de Eaton.The first house on the present site was built
between 1675 and 1683 and there have been many changes between then and the
completion of the present Eaton Hall in December 1973.
RSE note: I think that the information about the first house may be wrong, as there is an archaeological dig being conducted now that suggests a far, far earlier date for the first "development." However, within miles of each other, there are both an Eaton Hall and an Eaton Manor and one or the other of us may be confused as to which is which. The Earl lives in Chester in a reputedly magnificent manor. I have seen it only on the web. The Grosvenors settled, after marrying our Joan Eaton) at the manor now occupied by another family. Sharon and I will see it while in the UK.
Great Budworth lies northwest of Chester and between it and Manchester.
Richard Eaton was vicar of Great Budworth Parish from 1561 to 1591 and his
son Richard Eaton BD, was Vicar from 1604 to 1616.
Richard Eaton BD, graduated from Oxford in 1585/6 and married Elizabeth O'Kell in April 1589.He was Minister at Trinity Church, Coventry from 1590 to 1604 when he was appointed Vicar of Great Budworth in succession to his father.In 1607 he was also appointed Prebendary of Lincoln. His will dated July 11, 1616 was made only a few days before his death and it was proved on
January 14, 1617 by his son Theophilus in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.Included in his bequests was Pow House and Poe House to his son Theophilus, but these properties were to pass only after the death of his
wife.
There are many sources of basic information about Theophilus, who was to make his mark in Denmark and in America.His life was the subject of a 150 page privately published book, Theophilus Eaton New England's Glory
1637-1657 by Genevieve L. Davis of Charlotte, North Carolina.In this work, which has almost as many pages of detailed appendices, Davis states that:
"Eaton left no private testiment or journal.The files in the Yale Library yield no letters or personal; papers to reveal his thoughts."
Theophilus was born in 1590 at Stony Stratford on the borders of Exfordshire
and Buckinghamshire, the eldest son and one of the nine children of the
Reverend Richard Eaton.Some say that at school he became an intimate and
lifelong friend of John Davenport, who was seven years his junior.
Davenport's father was Mayor of Coventry and Eaton's father a Minister at
Coventry.Eaton's parents are said to have been reluctant to allow him
become a merchant but after the death of his father, he helped maintain his
brothers and sisters and maintained his mother until she died.
When his family moved from Coventry to Cheshire, Theophilus went to London
and began his apprenticeship.When he completed it in 1612, he was made a
Freeman of London and he became a member of the Eastland Company.This was
a Company chartered by Queen Elizabeth in 1579, and made up of a group of
merchants who carried on trade in the Baltic Sea area and Scandinavia.
It seems that Theophilus traded much with Denmark and Germany and became
fluent in both languages, as well as becoming acquainted with the social and
official customs of these countries.So successful was he that James I
appointed him his agent at the Court of Denmark, and accordingly, he took up
residence in Copenhagen.
Theophilus married Grace Hiller on December 3, 1622 in London and they lived
for two years in Copenhagen, at which stage King Christian wrote to James I
saying that "... we have constituted the bearer, Theophilus Eaton, as agent
to conduct our business in your Majesty'[s Kingdom . . . ."
His first daughter Elizabeth was baptised on September 19, 1624 and less
than two years later, his wife Grace died on February 27, 1626.There is
evidence of the birth of a second daughter Mary, but no evidence of a
baptism, and it has been suggested that Grace may have died at her birth.
In 1627 Theophilus married Ann Lloyd Yale, daughter of George Lloyd, Bishop
of Chester and widow of Thomas Yale, son of David Yale, Vicar General to the
said Bishop Lloyd.Ann and Thomas had three children, David born 1614, Ann
born 1615 and Thomas born 1616.On marrying, Theophilus and Ann had a
family of five children and moved to Colman Street, London in the parish of
St. Stephen.The Reverend John Davenport had been made Vicar of St. Stephen
Church in November 1624.
More Replies:
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Re: Theophilus Eaton (et al) background
6/11/01
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Re: Theophilus Eaton (et al) background
Barbara Fitzsenry 11/02/05
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Re: Theophilus Eaton (et al) background
Alan Brook 10/25/05
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Re: Theophilus Eaton (et al) background
Rick Eaton 6/15/01
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Re: Theophilus Eaton (et al) background