Windham/Wyndham Descending from Felbrigg, England- Background

Background

There are male Windham/Wyndhams both in the United States and around the world who have matching DNA markers to three (3) male Wyndhams with proven lines of descent from the John Wyndham who purchased Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, England in the 1400's. These three Wyndham lines of descent are identified as the Canada, Dalwood and College Wyndham lines. All three of these lines have multiple forms of proofs for each and every generation back to John Wyndham of Felbrigg in the 1400's. These proofs are recognized by and required by genealogical societies around the world in proving a line of descent.

Several members of this group have requested that their individual DNA markers not be made available to the public at large. That request is being honored.

Members of this group upon entering their individual Kit # and password on the Family Tree DNA website will be able to view and confirm if they indeed match the DNA markers of the above three Wyndhams. Individuals who have received their DNA markers from other testing companies may contact the administrator of this group at jnw223581@gmail.com for further assistance. Matching markers will serve as confirmation of a DNA match to Wyndhams with a proven descent from Felbrigg, England.

Male Windham/Wyndhams who join this group and whose DNA markers do not match the above three Wyndhams will learn that they do not have a DNA match to the Felbrigg, England line.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR WINDHAMS IN THE UNITED STATES

Based on matching DNA markers, there are male Windhams living in early South Carolina who shared a common ancestor with the three male Wyndhams who have proven lines of descent from Felbrigg. Family Tree DNA places the probability as exceeding 99% that they shared a common ancestor in the 17th generation.

In the 17th generation that common ancestor was Sir Thomas Wyndham. Sir Thomas married first Eleanor Scrope. It is from this first marriage that the three Wyndhams described above descend.

Sir Thomas married secondly Elizabeth (Wentworth), widow of Richard Darcy. Henry VIII granted them a license to marry on the 4th day of August, 1509.

It is from this second marriage that male Windhams found in early South Carolina are believed to have descended. Knowing that there is over a 99% probability of having shared a common ancestor in the 17th generation allows a researcher to either prove or disprove the possible ancestor or ancestors of the South Carolina Windhams. This was done by researching what happen to each and every known male descendant in the generations following the 17th. By doing so, it became possible to identify with a high degree of certainty who or whom could have been the ancestor or ancestors of the male Windhams found in early South Carolina.

Through research both in the United States and in England the below line of descent has been proven. Multiple forms of proofs for each and every generation were used. These proofs included but were not limited to independently published and recognized research works, wills and estate records and parish records. Visitations from the Heralds of the College of Arms were also used. Every proof is in the public domain and available to any researcher wishing to prove the line of descent themselves. Any researcher wishing to verify the below line of descent is requested to contact the administrator of this site at the email address jnw223581@gmail.com. You will be provided with the locations and names of the records and sources needed to prove the line of descent.

BEGINNING WITH THE 17TH GENERATION

17th Generation - Sir Thomas Wyndham and his second wife Elizabeth Wentworth. They had only one proven son Thomas.

16th Generation - Sir Thomas Wyndham and his wife Mary Everard. They had only one proven son Henry.

15th Generation - Sir Henry Windham and his wife Bridget Mancock. They had only one proven son Thomas.

14th Generation - Thomas Windham and his wife Susan Clere. They had five proven sons Thomas, Henry, Francis, Edmund, and Edward. Through research it has been proven that the only possible son who had a proven male descendant that could be the ancestor of the Windhams in the United States is Thomas.

13th Generation - Thomas Windham had proven sons Charles, Thomas and Robert. Robert left the Church of England and joined the Society of Friends. Robert with his wife and their daughter migrated to New Jersey where he died without having a son in 1674. Thomas died a bachelor.

12th Generation - Charles Windham and his wife Elizabeth Clarke had two proven sons Clere and Charles. Charles married Elizabeth Berney and had two proven daughters and one son who died young.

11th Generation - Clere Windham and his wife Catherine Wall had proven sons John, Charles and Robert.

10th Generation - Either Charles Windham or his brother Robert. In the will administration for Clere Windham in 1712, his wife Catherine and the male heir John granted guardianship of Charles and Robert to Charles Wood. At the time guardianship was granted, Charles was described “as a minor beyond the seas”. In 1716, when Charles Wood died, Charles Windham is still described “as a minor beyond the seas”. In 1736, in South Carolina is found a Charles Windham with proven sons Amos and Daniel. Believed sons are John and William.

There are both proven and believed male descendants of Amos, Daniel, John and William who have matching DNA markers to the male Wyndhams with proven descents from the Wyndham/Windham Family of Felbrigg, England.

From these ancestors, the migration of their descendants reached into Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi by the early 1800’s. By the later part of the 1800's it also extended into Coryell County Texas.