Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Thomas Bensley and Agnes ," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."
Thomas Bensley was a yeoman of Dunston, Norfolk, England. Thomas married Agnes . His will was dated 12 August 1555 and proved 14 October 1558. He mentions wife Agnes, sons William and James, grandchildren Simon, Agnes, and others not specifically named.
Simon and Alices children are:
| 1 | James
Bensley, probably the James Bensley who married Joane ,
resided in Belaugh, Norfolk, England, a husbandman, will dated 17
Mar 1563/4 and proved 7 Apr 1564, will mentions sons John and
Richard and daughters Emma, Anne, Bathsheba, Alice, and
Agnes (may also have had a son Thomas buried in
1559 in Wroxham, Norfolk, England). Wife: Joane . |
| 2 |
William
Bensley, married Joane , resided in Barnham Brome,
Norfolk, England, will dated 25 May 1575 and proved 26 Nov 1575,
will mentions sons Robert and William and
daughters Emma, Susan, and Elizabeth (a son Thomas
is mentioned in parish registers who died young), will also
names his brothers John and Henry. Wife: Joane . |
| 3 | John Bensley, married
Alice , resided in East Carleton, Norfolk, England, will
dated 20 Apr 1590 and proved 17 Oct 1590, will mentions sons Thomas,
George, and John and daughters Hammond (m.
Chapman), Margery (m. Day), Thomasine
(m. Myles), Jane (m. Carter),
and Agnes, will also names his brother Henry. Wife: Alice . |
| 4 | Henry Bensley, married
Emma , resided in East Carleton, Norfolk, England, a
yeoman, will dated 20 Mar 1592/3 and proved 20 Jun 1593, will
mentions sons Richard and Matthew and daughters Joane
(m. Hayward), Agnes (m. Balliston),
and Marie (married in Henry's will but married name was
illegible). Wife: Emma . |
Thomas and Agnes also had grandchildren by an unknown son (not likely to any of the above sons, as none of them mentioned the following children):
| 5 | Simon
Bensley, mentioned in Thomas' will ("I give to Symon
Benslen my belchilde [grandchild] a cowe."), married Alice
Parker 22 September 1566 in Mulbarton, Norfolk, England,
will dated 5 Feb 1595/6 and proved 1 Mar 1595/6, buried 11 Feb
1595/6 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. Wife: Alice Parker, likely dau. of John Parker and Elizabeth , will dated 26 Jun 1622 and proved 8 Aug 1622, bur. 20 July 1622 in Ranworth, Norfolk, England. |
| 6 | Agnes Bensley,
mentioned in Thomas' will ("I give to Agnes Benslen his sister [Simon's
sister] one cowe and I will thees two neate be at my wiffes
assignment to the behofe of thees my two bellchildern until they
shall come to the age of xvii yeares."). |
Summary of Sources
Records related to Thomas and Agnes 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.