WASHBURN ANCESTRAL PHOTOS - England

Washbourne Coat of Arms at Wichenford Church

Washbourne Estate at Wichenford

Manor House at Washbourne Estate at Wichenford

Little Washbourne

Great Washbourne

The following information was copied from a typescript prepared by Mary Barton Larsen. The source is unknown, it may be that B.F. Larsen visited these places on one of his trips to Europe.

OUR HERITAGE FROM ENGLAND

I. Friday August 15, 1924, after lunch.

1. London to Gloucester, Great Northern Railroad

2. Explored cathedral grounds.

II. Saturday August 16, 1924

1. Called upon publishers of Notes and Records of the Washburn Family by Peach.

2. Called on Washburn Wine Merchants

3. Proprietor sold me a copy 10' 6d

4. Went to Worcester

5. Registered at Great Western Hotel

III. Sunday August 17, 1924

1. No buses to Wichenford

2. Went great nahem [?] Climbed Beacon Hill or Worcester Beacon

IV. Monday August 18, 1924

1. Went by bus to Wichenford

2. Visited Wichenford Court (Old manor house)

3. Wichenford Church

a. Tombs

b. Carved effigies

V. Tuesday August 19, 1924

1. By train to Beckford

2. Walked to Little Washbourne and Great Washbourne

VI. To Northampton in the evening

1. At a temperance hotel

a. By candle light

VII. Wednesday August 20, 1924

1. To Pytchley, 18 miles northwest from Northampton

a. No buses to the village

b. Walked 2 1/4 miles each way.

c. Pytchley came to Washburns by marriage

d. Noted for the hunt

e. Visited the village

2. The Pitchley Church

a. Washburns buried within the altar rail.

b. In chancel in front of the altar.

Nash's History of Worcestershire. Vol II, p 203.

John [Washbourne]High Sheriff of Worcestershire

Justice of Peace sixty years

Tomb to himself and his father in Wichenford Church

Died 1633

The Old Manor House at Wichenford, built in 1262

Wichenford was one of the largest mansions in Worcester with a moat, drawbridge, etc.
It stands near Wichenford Church.
About six miles northeast of Worcester and about twenty miles from Great Washburn (Stanford).
Parish contains 2762 acres.
Wichenford came to the Washburns through the marriage of John Washbourn with Margery Poher, commonly called Power - 1397.
Through the male line failing, it was sold from the family in 1712.
Interior older than exterior.
Dexter panel contains a shield with the Washburn coat of arms.

It was in this old Washburn Manor-house of Wichenford that one of the Bourbon Princes was confined and is said to have been put to death by Lady Washbourne in the absence of her husband. When Owen Glendower was camped on Woodbury Hill in the reign of Henry IV. Genealogical notes of the Washburn Family by Mrs. Julia Chase Washburn - 1898.

Wichenford Church - Tombs of the Washburn Family

Erected by John Washbourne Esq. In pious memory of his father, Anthony Washbourne Esq., as also of himself and his two wives, the first Mary, daughter of Francis Savage of Elmley Castle, Esq. And the second Elenor, daughter of Richard Lygon of Madresfield, Esq. Descended from one of the co-heiresses of Lord Beauchamp of Powick.

John Washburn being at the time of this inscription 1632 of the age of 84 years. He died in 1633. On this tomb are effigies of John Washbourne and his father Anthony, probably both armed except the head, at their feet a lion. Above these in niches in the wall are two gentlewomen kneeling, being portraitures of his two wives. Between them are Washbournes being argent on a fess between six martless gules [??]. Three quatrefoils of the first. The tomb is on the north side of the channel.

Washburn Record

II. English Sources
1. The Domesday Books
2. Titles and Entails
3. Provision for guarding royal grants
4. The transmission of entailed land and estates. Extensive records.
5. The doings and records of the established church. The church authority over every individual in the kingdom.

(1) The Conqueror Domesday Books
1085 at Christmas time, Richard gathered a stock taking Council. This inquisition handed in information concerning the kingdom before 1087. The inquisition established in each county or division.

A sworn jury consisting of the Sheriff, the lords of the manors, priests, baillifs, heads of hundreds and six village tenants.

William's Doomsday [sic] book most unique and trustworthy. It included land, animals, etc., at the time.

(2) Records of Entails

Passage or property from one person to another. A jury of inquisition examined sound health of person making a will, extend of transactions, integrity of the parties, etc.

(3) Royal Records and Titles

The Royal power to bestow patents and titles of nobility.
Royal department of heraldry.
College of arms and commissions.

(5) [#4 is left out in Mary Larsen's copy] Activities of the Church

In earlier days the rule of a church established by law and even above the law was universal.
In their periodical Visitations, the bishops' agents looked into the property, investigated the property owners, made records of their families, arranged records for their tithings, the goods of the land owners, or property owners.

The Time and Customs of the Early Washbournes

1. The Dark Ages
2. The Renaissance
3. The City States - Soldiers and Peasants
4. The growth of nations
5. Divisions in the Church
6. Customs and Costumes

Our Washbourne Inheritance

1. Earliest known ancester
2. A good soldier
3. We know a teacher by his students - an ancestor by his posterity.
4. The soldier's rewards
a. Knighted on field of battle
b. Given Little Washbourne and great Washbourne

The Time in History

Invasion from Normandy
The Dark Ages
The time of chivalry
Tribal government
City State
Beginning of central governments
Great invasions
War - the Gentlemen's profession

Our Ancesters' Challenge to Us.

Notes made by B.F. Larsen