Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Simon Bensley and Alice Parker," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."
Simon Bensley was from the area in or around East Carlton,
Norfolk, England. His parents' names are not known with any
certainty. Richard L. Bush surmised, based on the typical
naming patterns in that time and place and the fact that Simon wasn't
mentioned as a son in any of the wills in Norfolk during that period,
that Simon's parents may have been named Thomas and Joane.
However, this is still very uncertain.
It is known that he was the grandson of Thomas
Bensley and Agnes . In his will, Thomas stated a bequest:
"I give to Symon Benslen my belchilde [grandchild] a cowe..."
Simon married Alice Parker 22 September 1566 in Mulbarton,
Norfolk, England. Alice was most likely the daughter of John
Parker and Elizabeth and probably came from the area in or
around Barton Bendish, Norfolk, England. She was mentioned in the will
of Thomas Parker as his sister (along with members of the Elwyn family)
and Simon's will mentions Thomas as Alice's brother. According to
Richard L. Bush, a search of wills in that area at that time turned up
only two wills that include siblings named Thomas and Alice Parker, that
of Richard Parker (who mentions his siblings Thomas and Alice) and of
widow Elizabeth Parker (whose children include a Thomas, Alice, and
Richard). A widow Elizabeth Parker is also found being granted
administration on her husband John's estate.
Simon's will was dated 5 February 1595/6 and proved 1 March 1595/6. He
was buried 11 February 1595/6 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. Alice's
will was dated 26 June 1622 and proved 8 August 1622. She was buried 20
July 1622 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England.
Simon and Alices children are:
| 1 | Elizabeth
Bensley, baptized 7 Sep1567 in Caistor, Norfolk, England,
buried 21 Sep 1567 in Caistor, Norfolk, England. |
| 2 |
Alice
Bensley, baptized 3 March 1568/9 in Caistor, Norfolk,
England, married Banaby Fiddell 2 Mar 1589/90 in South
Walsham, Norfolk, England. Husband: Barnaby Fiddell, son of Robert and Agnes Fiddell, bur. 5 Feb 1628/9 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 3 | Elizabeth
Bensley, probably baptized 12 Nov 1570 in Caistor,
Norfolk, England, married Thomas Elwyn 24 Sep 1591 in
Heigham, Norfolk, England, buried 12 Jan 1605/6 in Heigham,
Norfolk, England. Husband: Thomas Elwyn, bapt. 1 May 1566 in Heigham, Norfolk, England, son of William and Alice Elwyn, operated a tannery but later referred to as a gentleman, m. 2) Dorothy , d. 2 Dec 1648 in Heigham, Norfolk, England, bur. in Heigham church. |
| 4 | Probably Joane Bensley,
buried 12 Aug 1572 in Caistor, Norfolk, England. |
| 5 | Thomas Bensley,
baptized 23 Sep 1573 in Stoke, Norfolk, England, buried 26 Nov
1573 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 6 | Thomas Bensley,
baptized 21 Feb 1574/5 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England, buried 29
Jul 1598 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 7 | John Bensley, baptized
20 Mar 1576/7 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England, buried 13 Mar
1599/1600 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 8 | Robert
Bensley, baptized 30 Jan 1579/80 in Ranworth, Norfolk,
England. |
| 9 | Joane Bensley,
baptized 18 May 1581 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 10 | Edward Bensley,
baptized 16 Jan 1585/6 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 11 | Simon Bensley,
baptized 21 Apr 1588 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 12 | Henry Bensley,
baptized 13 Jun 1591 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England, buried 22 Sep
1600 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
Summary of Sources
- Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 15381973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: England, Marriages, 15381973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
- Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
- Ancestry.com. Norfolk, England, Church of England Baptism, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Church of England Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England.
- Moriarty, G. Andrews, "The Elwyns of Norfolk," Miscellanea Genelogica et Heraldica, 5th series, Vol. 6, London: Mitchell Hughes and Clarke, 1926-28, pgs. 17-32.
Records related to Simon and Alice (Parker) Bensley but not copied below due to copyright considerations:
- Bush, Richard L., "The English Ancestry of Michael and Sarah (Elwyn) Metcalf of Dedham, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 166 (Jan 2012), pgs. 28-39.
