WILLIAM PASSMORE
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
William Passmore I was born between 1633 &
1636 to Ellen Winch
and Thomas Passmore most likely in Bray,
Berkshire, England. Ellen was of
an old family of Berks made up of Yeomen and
Gentlemen. There are a number of sources
for the story, one being "A Quaker Family Through Six
Generations. The Passmores in America" by
Robert Houston Smith written 1992. Mr.
Smith states that Thomas' will refers to William's
father as the Clothier of Bray.
Bray sits on the Thames River just northwest of
Windsor. A lovely village with half timbered houses
and really good restaurants. Being a clothier so
near to Windsor probably meant Thomas Passmore
was a well to do merchant, and William was raised
in a pleasant home with servants.
William was 19 when his father died. He was
one of the older of the 7 children born to Thomas.
The wedding date for William is in Jan. At
that time the year in Jan was a combo of just past and
future. Apparently, in material found it was
given as Jan 6, 1654. That could either be 1653/4,
or 1654/5. I don't know which - DO YOU??
Margery Ball was born in Hurst, Berkshires, England and christened Jan 27, 1634/5. Her father was Rafe Ball, from Hurst Berkshire Parish Registers, 1622-1641 film number 1279460.
Various statements are found on line that I cannot
verify. One says William was said to be a "Clerk",
which at the time meant a Scholar, Teacher or
Cleric. Any of course were possible with his
family.
The Hurst Parish Register did list four possible
children as "son of or daughter of William Passmore.
" They were listed as:
Eedy buried May 7, 1668
Thomas , buried March 10, 1667
Elizabeth buried Sept. 24,1676
William buried Nov. 11, 1697 this one
was not listed as son of
We are reasonably sure that they also had son William Passmore II born 1655
- which would have been their first child. As
the only ones from historic records are those buried,
there very well may have been others that became adults.
The Probate Court of Dean of Salisbury has a
record of Margery Passmore, widow Margery Passmore
going before the court because of the death of her
husband, William, but I can't make out what for nor
results. No children were named that I could tell.
But does confirm relationship.
William Passmore in 1697 would have been 64.
The Hurst Parish Records also listed
Marg Passmore, widow buried March 1, 1720/21.
Margery would have been 86.
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