BENTLEY and RELATED FAMILIES

Chapter 16: The TAYNTON Family of Bushley

The Taynton line is the furthest back in to history that we have managed to trace any family history. The name derives from the parish of Taynton just south of Newent in Gloucestershire. In addition to the village the parish includes the hamlets of Kents Green and May Hill. Toady there are still cottages made from local stone and also properties dating back to Elizabethan times in the village. The old church at St. Lawrence was burnt down during the Civil War, but was replaced in 1650. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli owned Taynton Court at one time.

John Teynton/Taynton was born in Bushley, just north of Tewkesbury, in about 1556, three years in to Mary I’s rein. The daughter of Henry VIII, Mary was a strong catholic supporter, which, following the Reformation lead by her father, resulted in a significant rebellion and the deaths of nearly 300 people for heresy. John Teynton/Taynton had a sister Elizabeth who was born three years later. The earliest confirmed date is 24 Nov 1580 when Elizabeth married John Dowdeswell in Bushley parish church. By then England was more stable under Elizabeth I the last of the Tudor monarchs. John Dowdeswell was born in Bushley in about 1555. By that time the Dowdeswells were well established in Bushley. They were to remain there for many future generations and later became associated with Pull Court in the parish. William Dowdeswell (1721–75), of Pull Court served in the ministry of Lord Rockingham as chancellor of the Exchequer from July 1765 to July 1766. He was a Whig leader in the House of Commons with a special interest in taxation and trade. In 1830 John Edmund Dowdeswell of Pull Court was an MP.

John Taynton married Frannces/Fraunces Jesope in Bushely on 14 Aug 1581. They had six children born between 1581 and 1599. The first, a daughter, was baptised on the day following her parent’s marriage! Their only child who’s fate is known is An(ne); she married James Woodford (Chapter 12) in Alderton, Gloucestershire on 10 Oct 1607.

John TAYNTON b.c1556 m.Frannces JESOPE

….Elizabeth TAYNTON b.1581

….John TAYNTON b.1582

….An(ne) TEYNTON/ TAYNTON b.1586 m.James WOODFORD(Chapter 12)

….Thomas TEYNTON b.1589

….Henry TEYNTON b.1593

….Frauncys TEYNTON b.1599

Elizabeth TAYNTON/TAUNTON b.c1559 m.John DOWDESWEL