Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Thomas Elwyn and Elizabeth Bensley," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."
Thomas Elwyn was baptized 1 May 1566 in Heigham, Norfolk,
England, the son of William Elwyn and
Alice —. Thomas and his brother John were partners in the
operation of a tannery established by their father William in Norwich,
Norfolk, England (see NEHGR 166:37).
Thomas married Elizabeth Bensley 24 September 1591 in Heigham,
Norfolk, England. Elizabeth was the daughter of Simon
Bensley and Alice Parker (relationship confirmed in the
wills of Thomas Parker of Stalham, Simon Bensley of Panxworth, and Alice
Bensley of Panxworth—see NEHGR 166:29-30). She may have been the
Elizabeth Bensley who was baptized 12 Nov 1570 in Caistor, Norfolk,
England.
Elizabeth was buried 12 January 1605/6 in Heigham, Norfolk, England.
Thomas married second Dorothy —. Thomas died 2 December 1648 in
Heigham, Norfolk, England and was buried in Heigham church. The burial
record in the parish register refers to him as a gentleman (see NEHGR
166:36).
Thomas and Elizabeth’s children are:
| 1 | Sarah Elwyn,
baptized 17 Jun 1593 in Heigham, Norfolk, England, married Michael
Metcalf 13 Oct 1616 in Heigham, Norfolk, England, arrived in
Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts “three days before Midsummer” 1637
on the John and Dorothy with husband, nine children, and a
servant, died 30 Nov 1644 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts. Husband: Michael Metcalf, b. abt. 1590 in Tatterford, Norfolk, England to Leonard and (Amy?) Metcalf, a dornix weaver, m. 2) Mary —, d. 29 Dec 1664 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, will proved 1 Feb 1665. |
| 2 |
William
Elwyn, baptized 16 Feb 1594/5 in Heigham, Norfolk, England,
married Elizabeth —, died in 1655 in Heigham, Norfolk,
England, called a gentleman in his burial record (see NEHGR
166:36), operated the tannery in partnership with brother Drue and
Richard and Peter Elwyn (son and grandson of uncle John,
respectively). Wife: Elizabeth —, b. abt. 1600, d. 1666. |
| 3 | Thomas Elwyn, baptized
16 Jan 1596/7 in Heigham, Norfolk, England, buried 7 Oct 1603 in
Heigham, Norfolk, England. |
| 4 | Elizabeth Elwyn,
baptized 5 Jul 1601 in Heigham, Norfolk, England. |
| 5 | Drue Elwyn, buried 10
Nov 1603 in Heigham, Norfolk, England. |
| 6 | Margerye Elwyn,
baptized 12 May 1603 in Heigham, Norfolk, England. |
| 7 | Drue Elwyn, baptized
22 Sep 1605 in Heigham, Norfolk, England, operated the tannery in
partnership with brother William and Richard and Peter Elwyn (son
and grandson of uncle John, respectively). |
Thomas and Dorothy's children are:
| 8 | Marye
Elwyn, baptized 20 Nov 1611 in Heigham, Norfolk, England. |
| 9 | John Elwyn, baptized
29 Nov 1612 in Heigham, Norfolk, England. |
Summary of Sources
- 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.
- Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.
- Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
- "The Founders of New England," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 14, No. 4, Oct 1860, 325.
Records related to Thomas and Elizabeth (Bensley) Elwyn 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.