The Family of Kemmis
Edition 3.3 - 5 June 2020
Kemys of Syston and Oldbury
In the "Visitation of Gloucestershire taken in the year of 1623 by Hen. Chitty and Jno.Phillipot as deputies to Wm. Camden, Clarenceaux King of Arms", edited by Sir Jno. Maclean F.S.A. and W.C. Heane, M.R.C.S. is a descent of Kemys subscribed by Roger K(emys) with emendations according to the Official record in the Herald's college; the Arms therein given are (151);-"Quarterly 1 and 9, vert, on a chevron argent, 3 pheons sable, Kemys. 2. Gules, a chevron argent between 3 organ rests or, Arthur. 3. zure, gutt{e, (argent, 152) a castle or, (gules, gutt{e, or, a tower of the second. -Harleian M.S.S. 1041. fol.82b). Reynward, or Keniward. 4. Argent, on a fesse sable, 3 chevronels palewise, points to the dexter, or, (argent, 152) Trenoth. 5. Argent, a chevron between 3 escallops, able, Tregothin. 6. Sable, a chevron ermine between 3 wings, Argent,152) Nanfant. 7. Argent, on a chevron sable between 3 torteaux, 5 bezants, Tregayne. 8. Gules, s{mee of acorns, (or, 152) a lion rampant regardant, (argent 152), Chesundert.-Harleian MSS., 1543, fol. 61. Visitation of Glouc: 1583-1623 "Kemys of Wickwick, Glouc:-Crest, on a mount vert, an unicorn sejant, azure, maned and armed or." In the Visitation of Somersetshire taken in the years 1551 and 1575 other pedigrees of this branch are to be found; Harl: M.S.S. 1559. ff. 230-2, or 132 b, and 1041. fo. 82b. "Kemys of Westwick and Bedminster Co. Somerset."
The genealogical line followed is that given in the official record, supplemented by information from other sources.
- XIV. John Kemys: 3rd son of Jevan ap Jenkin Kemeys (XIII) of Began by his wife Christian: one of the gentlemen of the Co. Gloucester returned by the Commissioners of Oaths 12 Henry V. 1434: (153) a free tenant in Wentloog 1447: married Agnes, daughter of Sir William Stradling, Knt. of St.Donat's, Glamorganshire, who bore "Paly of six argent and azure, on a bend gules 3 clinque foils or". Father of
- 1. John.
- 2. Thomas: whence Kemeys of Slough. (see which branch).
- (? 3.) David: instituted to the living of Woddeborough, Wilts, 1458. Resigned 1466. (154)
- XV. John Kemys: of Syston (155) Manor and advowson as well as of other lands in Gloucestershire: of Kyneston-Russel Manor and advowson with other lands in Co. Dorset; (156) M.P. for Gloucestershire: and executor of the will of William Lord Botreaux in 1462-66: died 1476. In 1477 by inquisition (157) he was found to have died seised of "Clifton maner et edvoc' ecc'. (158) Pokelchurche maner' membra (159) Auste medietas manerii. (160) Hanbury maner' membra (161); all in Gloucestershire. "Kyngeston-Russel maner' et advoc' ecc'. Horsyngdon maner' membra; (162) Lytton medietas manerii it advoc' ecc'. (163) chewe maner' membra"; (164) all in Dorsetshire: married by Crown license dated 12th December 1422 Margaret, widow of Sir Gilbert Denys, Knt. (165) of Derham, Co. Gloucester, who bore "Gules, a bend engrailed azure, between 2 leopards' faces, jessant de lis, or", and eldest daughter of Sir Maurice Russell, Knt. of Kingston-Russell, by Joan, whose 2nd husband was Sir John Stradling, Knt.: and co-heiress of her brother Sir Thos. Russell, who died 10 Hen. VI; prior to 1451 license was granted to John Kemeys and his wife Margaret, and S. Haitfield and Isabel his wife, 2nd. daughter of Sir Maurice Russell, to grant 1/3 of the Manor of Kingston and 1/3 that of Horsinton to John Stradling and Joan his wife as the latter' dower (166.) Father of,
- XVI. Roger Kemys: of Syston and other lands in Cos. Gloucester and Dorset: of Bedminster, (167) Co. Somerset, 2. Rich; III: M.P. for Borough of Westbury, Wilts: there were many Commissions of Array and of the Peace issued to him between 1462 and 1479 for Co. Gloucester: (167a) released to Wm. Sewey, alias Stoweford, all his rights and lands in Swainswicke (168) Co. Somerset: in 1461 Roger Kemmes, Roger Phelipot and others released to John Adams their rights in the lands called "Colyns" in Thornbury, Co. Gloucester: 1473 commissioned with others to enquire into certain farms for lands granted and other sums of money due to the King in Co. Gloucester but fallen into arrear. Roger Kemys became a lunatic and died insane 3rd January 1484. On 11th November 1485 by inquisition post mortem (169) he was found to have been seised at his heath of "Barton Regis maner (170): Clifton maner, Derham (171), Henton: Gerdelersten (172) in Barton Regis, et Oldbury juxt@ Stapleton"; (173) all in Co. Gloucester; his father had entailed upon him 1/3 of Oldbury and a messuage called "Wildhous" (173): marriage settlement 1450 with
Alice, daughter and co-heiress of Wm. Arthur of Bishopswell in Bedminster (175), who bore "gules, a chevron a, between 3 rests (or Clarions) or." Issue,
- 1. John.
- 2. Arthur: whence Kemys of Bedminster.
- XVII. John Kemys: of Oldbury: probably inherited also other lands (176) in Gloucestershire held of the king in capite: died ante patrem and prior to 1482: married Joan, daughter of Edward Blount of Magersfield, Co. Gloucester, who bore "Argent, 2 bars axure, over all an escarbuncle of 8 rays, or. " (177) Father of,
- XVIII. John Kemys: a minor at the death of his father, being 8 years of age in 1485, and placed by the king in the wardship of his uncle Arthur 10th March 1485: of Oldbury and other lands of Gloucestershire: mentioned in the will of John Browne of Bristowe, gent, dated 20th August 1538, wherein he directs "maister Geo. Norton to have the preferment
of leases, which I hold from John Kemys" (178). Inquisition post mortem in Co. Gloucester dated 1540: married Jane, daughter of Philip Grene of Bristol. Issue,
- 1. John.
- 2. Hugh: ? died s.p. inquisition post mortem in Co. Gloucester dated 1557, and inquisition in Co. Somerset 1562.
- 3. Thomas: of Cannington, (179) Co. Somerset: will dated 3rd September 1581 and proved 6th July 1582, in which he mentions his eldest brother John Kemys of Cucklington and other brothers and sisters and desires to be buried at Cannington.
- 4. Probably Walter: born at Axbridge, Somerset: Rector of Compton Bassett, Wilts, in the diocese of Sarum: will dated 6th November 1587 and proved the 14th of the same month in London, by which he left #20 to his godson Walter, son of Roger Kemys of Bedminster, Gent: also #20 to the Chamber of Salisbury to be lent and distributed yearly at the discretion of the Mayor and his brethren to ten poor decayed craftsmen, from craft to craft, and other charitable bequests. (180)
- (?5). Robert: prebendary of the Stall of Whitelakington, Diocese of Bath and Wells, in 1551. (181)
- 6. Daughters.
- XIX. John Kemys: of Oldbury, on which Manor with his brother Hugh he levied a fine, in 1551, to Wm. Geo. and Geo. Overton (182): afterwards as it appears of Cucklington, Somersetshire, (183): living 1581. Father of,
- XX. Robert Kemys: of Cucklington: had lands in the parishes of Wincaunton and Marshe: will dated 17th June and proved 3rd July 1587 in London, the overseers of it being Mathew Evens Esq., Alexander Evens and Hugh Nicholls, gents and his on Hugh his executor (184): inquisition post mortem in Co. Somerset 1588: married Elizabeth, daughter of....? Peter of Monckton Deverell. Father of
- 1. Hugh.
- 2. John: of Cucklington: father of a son Thomas to whom he left all his goods and chattels. His nuncupative will was proved in London 6th August 1597.
- 3. Robert.
- 4. Thomas.
- 5. Mary: married Thomas Hussee.
- 6. Frances.
- 7. Margaret: married...Ivye.
- 8. Honor: married Wm. Graie.
- 9 A daughter: Married Geo. Kalwage.
- XXI. Hugh Kemys: of Cucklington: plaintiff in an action against John Kemys, Robert Kemys, and several others to redeem a messuage and lands in the parish of Wincaunton the estate of his father for his life, the reversion in fee after a term of 99 years to laintiff, and alee a capital messuage in Cucklington, called "Shanks", and lands thereunto belonging in the parish of Wincaunton, his estate in fee, all which were mortgaged by him to John Kemys (185). ? Grandfather of Hugh Kemys whose will was proved in London April 1651 and who probably married the Mabel Kemys, whose will as "Widow of Cucklington" was proved in London 1658. No relatives are mentioned in this will, but it seems probable that this branch remained in existence for some years later, as in March 1750 and July 1759 the wills of a Mary and a Barbara Kemish were proved in London. In Biglands Gloucestershire, Vol. 1, p. 369 reference is made to a flat stone in St. John's Church, Cirencester, bearing the inscription "Mary Kemish, Spinster, died December 5th. 1749 aged 63. Barbara Kemish, Spinster, died June 8th 1759. aged 72. Jane Kemish, Spinster, died Feb. 21st. 1760, aged 70."
Footnotes to Kemy of Syston and Oldbury
- (151) The arms are the same in the official record, except that there are two additional quarterings. 2. Argent, on a chief gules, 3 bezants, for Russell. 5. Paly of six gules and or, on a canton argent a cross pat{e, sable.
- (152) According to the official record.
- (153) Taken from an old M.S. on Co. Glouc. in the Bodleian Library; the name is entered "joh. Kemmys".
- (154) Institutiones Clericorum in Com: Wiltoniae-Sir Thos. Phillipps.-Richd. Earl of Warwick was patron of this living.
- (155) Syston or Siston parish lies in the hundred of Puckle Church, 6 miles N.E. from Bristol.
- (156) Kyneston, or Kingston Russel is situated in Uggescombe hundred in the Dorchester Division.
- (157) "Calendar inquisition post mortem, sive escaetarum" Vol. I.V.p.37.
- (158) Clifton in the hundred of Barton Regis is 1 1/4 miles W. from Bristol.
- (159) Pucklechurch Manor adjoins Syston.
- (160) Aust is a tything in the parish of Henbury.
- (161) Hanbury or Henbury a parish on the Severn, 4 miles N. of Bristol.
- (162) Horsington parish lies in Somerset, not Dorsetshire; 4 miles S. by W. from Wincanton.
- (163) Litton is in the same hundred as Kingston-Russel.
- (164) Chewe Magna, is in the hundred of Chewe, Co. Somerset, 6 miles S. from Bristol.
- (165) Sir Gilbert Denys and his wife Margaret had a suit concerning the Manor of Dyrham with Margaret wife of Morgan Gwyn, whose 2nd husband was John Kemeys of the Vaendre. Margaret was Sir Gilbert's 2nd wife, his first having been Joan, daughter of Jenkin Kemeys of the Began and widow of Jenkin David.
- (166) Hutchin's "History of Dorset", Vol.II, p. 191. From a reference in the Patent [rolls of 16th June 1463 to John Kemeys and "Eleanor" his wife, it seems probable that John Kemeys married a second time.
- (167) Bedminster is a parish situated 1/2 mile S.W. from Bristol.
- (167a) Cal: Paten{ Rolls.
- (168) Swainswick is 3 miles N.E. from Bath.
- (169) The writ is extant in the Public Record Office.
- (170) Barton Regis is in the parish of St. George and hundred of Barton Regis, 2 miles E. from Bristol.
- (171) Derham is a parish 10 miles E. from Bristol, in which Henton is a hamlet.
- (172) Gerdelersten, or Gerdelars, a tenement in the Manor and hundred of "Bertune at Bristow". Rudder's Gloucestershire p 455.
- (173) Stapulton, or Stapleton, a parish in the hundred of Barton Regis 2.5 miles N.E. by N. from Bristol. "the Kemeyses succeeded the Veals in Oldbury", Rudder's "Gloucestershire", p. 755. Bigland in his account of the Co. Gloucester, states that Roger Kemys died seised of "two parts of Oldbury Manor, with Wild house, Stapleton, and other messuages."
- (175) "An indenture of covenantes" was made "between John Kemys and Will'm Arthur of Bedmynster for a marriage between Roger his son and the dau. of the said W'm." 28 H.VI. Vide "Visitation of Gloucestershire".
- (176) of Syston, according to Bigland.
- (177) Vide, "Visitation of Gloucestershire", 1623 and also Sir Thomas Philip's MS. No. 13433.
- (178) "Somersetshire Wills" from the MSS. of Rev. F. Brown.
- (179) Cannington 3.5 miles N.W. from Bridgewater: "a praty uplandish towne, " as described by Leland.
- (180) Hatcher's History of Modern Wilts: p.288.
- (181) Le Neve's Fasti Angliae (Hardy). Vol.1.p.188.
- (182) Rudder's "Gloucestershire" p.755.
- (183) Cucklington is 2 3/4 miles W. from Wincaunton. The latter parish lies in the hundred of Norton Ferris, Somersetshire.
- (184) "Somersetshire Wills" p.24.
- (185) "Calendar of Pleadings in Chancery, temp. Elizabeth" Vol. II.p.119.
Beginning of Document
Table of Contents
Kemeys of Llanblethian
Kemys of Bedminster and Wickwick
John L. & Irene Kemmis
E-mail: john.kemmis@kemmisfamily.info