THE GENEALOGY OF SENSION - ST. JOHN A study on the family of Matthias I Sension, born 1604, whose descendants represent the American
ST. JOHN line. The
surname 'St. John' may have derived from a place called 'St. John' in Normandy. The Sension
surname origins prior to 1604 are
unknown - could be France or Britian.
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| St. John
Family Motto "I will live for those who love me, For those who know me true; For the Heaven that smiles above me; And waits my coming, too; For the cause that needs assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do." From the Samuel b. 1756 St. John Family Taken from reunion papers of 1882 |
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The History of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, where Thomas & Mark Sension were baptized - sons of Matthias & Mary Tinker Sension |
"St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, was named
from 'Cole Abbey', from 'Golden Abbey', or from 'Cold Abbey', or
'Cold-by', from it's cold or bleak situation." [source: "Old & New
London" by Thornbury & Walford
In the year 1666 the old church was destroyed in the
Great London Fire, but
was rebuilt 1671-1681.
Click here for the "Inhabitants of London in 1638 at St. Nicholas Cole Abbey"
Click here for the "Inhabitants of London in 1638 at St. Nicholas Cole Abbey"
"The name Cole Abbey is generally thought to be a corruption of “Cold Harbour”, a medieval type of lodging house for travelers which most likely was located close to the church. In the Victorian era it was sometimes called St Nicholas Cole Hole Abbey because the smoke from steam engines in the newly built underground came through a vent and blackened the building. Dedicated to St Nicholas, the fourth century Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor who became the patron saint of travelers and seamen, St Nicholas Cole Abbey is first mentioned in a letter of Pope Lucius II in 1144 and is considered to have been founded in that year . From the late 13th century the church is recorded as St Nicholas-behind-Fish Street and is clearly associated with the fish trade. A fish market existed in this part of London well before Billingsgate Market was founded; with the development of the fish trade during the reign of Richard I, a fish market was established near the church and fishmongers in the 16th century were buried in the church’s burial ground. During the reign of Elizabeth I, a lead and stone cistern fed by lead pipes from the Thames was set up against the north wall of the church; it was donated by a wealthy fishmonger who gave £900 “to bring Thames water (…) for the care and commodity of the fishmongers in and about Old Fish Street.” Until the Reformation the church had three chantries served by three chantry priests, and, as it was dedicated to St Nicholas, it preserved the tradition of a boy bishop officiating on the Feast of St Nicholas. With the reintroduction of Catholicism in England under Mary, following the reign of Edward VI, St Nicholas Cole Abbey was the first church in which the Mass was celebrated in Latin once again with a cross s and candles on the altar. A century later, however, the church passed into the patronage of the Puritan Colonel Hacker who commanded the guard at the execution of Charles I. A devastating event in the life of St Nicholas Cole Abbey was the Great Fire of London in 1666 when it was burned down." Source: http://www.culham.ac.uk/coleabbey/assets/pdf/nc_building1.pdf
| To Betty: Perhaps you don't know that in England "St John" is pronounced "Sin-jin", which I believe accounts for the spelling variations. Thanks for all the info. We must be distant cousins. Kathy |
The surname 'St. John' derived from a place called 'St. John' in Normandy', according to "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register", page 61. |
No
one really knows how long the ancestors of the Sension family lived
in England before coming to America. Matthias Sension and his wife,
Mary Tinker Sension, left London from the vicinity of St. Nicholas Cole
Abbey,
and came to New England sometime
between June 10, 1633 and September 3, 1634. Records show that this
family was still living in London on June 10, 1633, this from baptismal
entries for their son, Marke, at St. Nicholas Cole Abbey. Matthias
Sension was made a Freeman on September 3, 1634 at Dorchester,
Massachusetts, and we would like to imagine that Mary Sension did not
set sail until she and the baby was making healthy progress after his
birth.
There are stories that say the Sension family, before residing in
England, came from France. Perhaps they were Huguenots, but no records
have been found to support that theory as I know of currently. A great
many French protestants [Huguenots, starting about 1550] fled to
England as they were being persecuted in France. J.P. Brooke-Little
remarked that, "St. John is a very common parish name in France, and
would probably sound like Sension." It is quite possible that the
Sension name originated in France, as there is at least one record of a
similar name being linked to France:
"John Senjohn under the command of General Disbrowe and in his own troop having obtained leave from the said General to go into France my own native country having been absent from thence this 15 years, now considering that my urgent occasions doth require my presence there for a certaine tymes and from thence by God's will to returne into England..." Various bequests were made to friends. No family connections were mentioned. Dated 7 April 1654, probated 29 March 1660."
"John Senjohn under the command of General Disbrowe and in his own troop having obtained leave from the said General to go into France my own native country having been absent from thence this 15 years, now considering that my urgent occasions doth require my presence there for a certaine tymes and from thence by God's will to returne into England..." Various bequests were made to friends. No family connections were mentioned. Dated 7 April 1654, probated 29 March 1660."
Matthias
SENSION, as the American St. John family name was originally spelled,
and his wife, Mary Tinker, came
to New England before Sepember 1634, but after June 10, 1633. They
settled first at Dorchester,
Massachuetts. Matthias was made a freeman there on September 3, 1634.
They soon after, removed to Windsor, Connecticut in about
1640, and then to Wethersfield, CT around 1648. In 1654 they moved to
Norwalk, CT where his will was made on 19 October 1669 - recorded on 10
March 1669.
The will mentions his wife, but does not name her.
The Will of 1623 of Robert Tinker, father of Mary Tinker Sension, and her sister Ellen, states that they were to share the legacy of a house in Winkfield, Berkshire, England, following their mother's death or remarriage. Matthias and Mary (Tinker) Sension resided in the parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, where he was a chandler. They immigrated to New England, and were living at Dorchester by 3 Sept. 1634 when he was made a freeman of the Massachuetts Bay Colony. On 4 Jan 1635/6, the Town of Dorchester granted Matthias Sension a "great lot" of 20 acres "betwixt Roxbury and Dorchester at the great hill." On 16 Jan 1636/7, the Town ordered Matthias Sension and Thomas Sampford to "keepe the Cowes this yeere" and to "have for their pay in keepeing 5 shill[ings] the head." Some time in or before 1637, "Mr. Sention" was granted 2 acres of meadow land "beeyond the Naponset river." On March 18, 1637/8, called Matthew Sension, he received 3 acres in the neck and 2 acres of cow pasture. Shortly before 23 April 1638, Matthias sold his house in Dorchester to Mr. Henry Withington, and on that date, the Town ordered that Withington should have the swamp above and the swamp beneath adjoining the said house "that was Mr. Sensions." Withington also acquired Sension's three acres at the neck. Soon afterwards, Matthias and his family moved to Windsor, CT, where he resided on a one-acre home lot inside the Palisado, bounded by the burying place and the lands of Thomas Parsons and William Hill. He also owned a 6 acre home lot outside the Palisado, a 2 1/2 acre meadow tract, 3 1/4 acres in the great meadow , a 4-acre tract in Hoyt's meadow, 24 acres in the woods near Rocky Hill, and another tract on the east side of the Connecticut River. By 1648, Matthias Sension sold his land holdings in Windsor to Walter Gaylord and removed to Wethersfield, where he had a house lot at the extreme north part of the Commons (by the present Cove). He is doubtless "Sentyon the baker" of Wethersfield who owed an unspecified amount to the estate of Isaac Grosse of Boston in 1649. In about 1654, the Sension family moved once again, to Norwalk, CT, where Matthias Sension died January 1670, when his inventory was taken. He left a will dated 10 Oct. 1669, naming his youngest son, James, and "my wife his mother", sons Samuel Sention and Ephraim Lockwood, and leaving the residue of his estate to son Matthias (a double portion), and sons Mark, Samuel and Ephraim Sention. Source: For more information, see Jacobus, Old Fairfield, and the St. John genealogy.
The Will of 1623 of Robert Tinker, father of Mary Tinker Sension, and her sister Ellen, states that they were to share the legacy of a house in Winkfield, Berkshire, England, following their mother's death or remarriage. Matthias and Mary (Tinker) Sension resided in the parish of St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, where he was a chandler. They immigrated to New England, and were living at Dorchester by 3 Sept. 1634 when he was made a freeman of the Massachuetts Bay Colony. On 4 Jan 1635/6, the Town of Dorchester granted Matthias Sension a "great lot" of 20 acres "betwixt Roxbury and Dorchester at the great hill." On 16 Jan 1636/7, the Town ordered Matthias Sension and Thomas Sampford to "keepe the Cowes this yeere" and to "have for their pay in keepeing 5 shill[ings] the head." Some time in or before 1637, "Mr. Sention" was granted 2 acres of meadow land "beeyond the Naponset river." On March 18, 1637/8, called Matthew Sension, he received 3 acres in the neck and 2 acres of cow pasture. Shortly before 23 April 1638, Matthias sold his house in Dorchester to Mr. Henry Withington, and on that date, the Town ordered that Withington should have the swamp above and the swamp beneath adjoining the said house "that was Mr. Sensions." Withington also acquired Sension's three acres at the neck. Soon afterwards, Matthias and his family moved to Windsor, CT, where he resided on a one-acre home lot inside the Palisado, bounded by the burying place and the lands of Thomas Parsons and William Hill. He also owned a 6 acre home lot outside the Palisado, a 2 1/2 acre meadow tract, 3 1/4 acres in the great meadow , a 4-acre tract in Hoyt's meadow, 24 acres in the woods near Rocky Hill, and another tract on the east side of the Connecticut River. By 1648, Matthias Sension sold his land holdings in Windsor to Walter Gaylord and removed to Wethersfield, where he had a house lot at the extreme north part of the Commons (by the present Cove). He is doubtless "Sentyon the baker" of Wethersfield who owed an unspecified amount to the estate of Isaac Grosse of Boston in 1649. In about 1654, the Sension family moved once again, to Norwalk, CT, where Matthias Sension died January 1670, when his inventory was taken. He left a will dated 10 Oct. 1669, naming his youngest son, James, and "my wife his mother", sons Samuel Sention and Ephraim Lockwood, and leaving the residue of his estate to son Matthias (a double portion), and sons Mark, Samuel and Ephraim Sention. Source: For more information, see Jacobus, Old Fairfield, and the St. John genealogy.
Our Robert Tinker? doubtful, but
interesting
Robert Tinker b: abt 1565 in New Windsor,
(now Windsor Castle), Berkshire, England, Died 02 Jun 1624 at New
Windsor, Berkshire, England. At the time of his death, owned
property in Clewer, Winkfield, Berkshire, Burnham, Buckinghamshire,
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, and New Windsor. married first to Agnes
Anne Berrington b: 10 Oct 1568 in
Datchet, Buckinghamshire, England. Father: Thomas Berrington, Mother:
Dorothy Mathew. married second to Mary Merwin b: 1575 in Amersham,
Buckinghamshire, England. Father: Thomas Merwin. Matthias
Sension's wife was Mary Tinker, a daughter of Robert Tinker and second
wife, Mary Merwin. Mary Tinker was baptized 6 August 1606 at the
parish of New Windsor, in the town of Windsor, Berkshire. She married:
Matthias Sention on 1 November 1627. Their first child, Matthias
II, was baptized there on 30 November 1628.
Click
on the names below for an image about the person. Hope to someday have
every person listed
for the 1st 4 generations, and have an image of record for each one [if
possible]. If you see any errors or additions to make please do contact me by going to the genform
site.
Descendants of Matthias
I (Sension) St. John - 4 generations
prepared by Betty Rhodes 2007
Generation
1: Matthias I Sension, Born
1604 - of St. Nicholas Cole
Abbey, London, England. Lived in Dorchester, MA> Windsor, CT>Norwalk, CT. Died after 19 Oct
1669 at Norwalk, Fairfield Co.
CT. Married Mary Tinker, born 06 Aug 1606, New Windsor,
Berkshire,
England. She died after 1670 in Norwalk, CT, the daughter of Robert
& Mary [Merwin] Tinker of Windsor, England.
Generation 2: Matthias II Sension, born 30 Nov 1628 at New Windsor, Berkshire, England. He died Dec 1728 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co. CT. He married Elizabeth - no further information on Elizabeth.
Generation 3: John St. John, born abt 1654 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT. Married Joran Knutsdatter
Generation 4: Rebecca Hyatt b: 07 Oct 1678
Married Edward Camp, born 08 Jul 1650 New Haven, CT. 2nd Husband: Sam Galpin, Born 1650 Died 1701
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THE
MATTHIAS SENSION MYSTERY
by Betty Rhodes
The St. John family tree has to be one of the most
confusing lines to
research, due mainly because records show two separate individuals for
Matthias SENSION a.k.a. Sention, both born in the same year [1604], in
England. If that were not confusing enough, there is also a spelling
variation of Senchon and Senjohn, and then finally the family settled
on the spelling of St. John sometime in the 1700’s. SENSION may be the
French version of Saint Jean, which in English, is St. John.The following is what I have gleaned from the many research articles, quotes, etc., that my St. John cousins from around the country have sent me. Some quotes are from Orline St. John Alexander; some facts from James N. Churchyard; an article written by Robert Leigh Ward; Virkus Vol. IV and VII; and other related articles. After reading over some of these quotes and entries, I have come to an opinion about the mysterious Matthias SENSION/St. John. According to Mr. Ward, there appears to be two separate Matthias SENSIONS living in England at the same time, but at separate Parishes. The first Matthias, found living at St. Botolph’s Bishopsgate, was a shoemaker, and was married to Sarah, surname unknown. This Matthias and wife Sarah, had a son named William, baptized on August 23, 1629, and two daughters - Elizabeth baptized on November 1, 1631, and Sarah baptized on September 1, 1633. These children were baptized at the St. Botolph’s Parish. Matthias and his wife Sarah evidently moved from this location after their last child was born, as there were no other children baptized at this parish. A William Senshon, a cord wainer, was married there on January 29, 1654/5, but there is no proof that this William was the son of Matthias and Sarah, although it looks reasonable that he was. William’s whereabouts from 1633 to 1654 are not known to my knowledge. Now the second Matthias SENSION is found at St. Nicholas Cole Abby. This Matthias was married to a Mary, and was a chandler (a dealer, trader, candlestick maker, or a candle maker). This Matthias, while living at St. Nicholas, had two children baptized there - Thomas on October 24, 1631, and Marke on June 10, 1633. Other records show that this Matthias was married to Mary Tinker on November 1, 1627. If this is indeed their true wedding date, I wondered why no children were baptized before 1631??? Perhaps they lived elsewhere before 1631. It would seem that this Matthias had a brother by the name of James SENSION, who remains at this parish site until at least 1652 - when his last child was baptized. The lack of entries in the parish records after 1633 for Matthias would indicate however, that Matthias and his family no longer resided at this location. There was also a Dorothy St. John, whose death is recorded there in September 16, 1631; no age for her is given. Here then, are the two Matthias SENSION/Sention’s, found at separate parishes, both seeming to have left their dwelling places at the very same time, which was in 1633/34; or rather, both simultaneously stopped having children baptized at the very same time. They (the two Matthias Sensions), both must have been born at about the same time as well, around 1603-06. Therefore, if we suppose that one of these Matthias SENSION’s was indeed the son of Oliver St. John, and his wife Sarah Bulkeley, and when tracking the Bulkeley’s, we find the Bulkeley family, and the St. John family, both came to Massachusetts in the 1630’s. Rev. Peter Bulkeley, Sarah’s brother, came to Concord, MA sometime between 1617 and 1640. Peter had a son Thomas, born in England on April 13, 1617, so Peter (at least his wife), was in England up until 1617. Thomas’ daughter Sarah was born in Concord, MA in 1640, and died in New Haven, CT in 1723. Thomas died in Fairfield County, Connecticut in 1658. Did you notice that? Fairfield County is the same county where Norwalk is located, and Norwalk is the place where ‘our’ Matthias SENSION lived, had his younger children, and died. Therefore, it would seem that the St. John’s, the Bulkeley’s, and the SENSION’s were all found in the same place - Fairfield Co. CT at the same time in history. That is quite revealing. Elizabeth St. John, a daughter of Sir Oliver and Sarah Bulkeley St. John, was born in England on January 12, 1605. Elizabeth married Rev. Samuel Whiting in 1629, while still in England. Their children, born before 1637, were born in England, their children born after 1637 were born in MA, so they came to MA sometime in the 1630’s as well. Elizabeth died in Essex Co., MA on March 3, 1677. Orline St. John Alexander, in his 1907 book, claims that ‘our’ Matthias Sension was in Dorchester, MA in 1631-2, and was made a freeman there on September 3, 1634. Well he could have gone back and forth to England for baptisms, but then his wife/wives could have handled that task on her/their own, as both Matthias’ had children baptized during these vital years - 1631 and 1633. It is interesting that Matthias was in Dorchester, MA and so was the Bulkeley family (could they be relatives?). Both there at the same time and place – a co-incidence? In my opinion it is not mere coincidence that the Bulkeley’s moved to Connecticut, same county, as ‘our’ Matthias SENSION. There is definitely a connection between these three families. Many pedigrees include a Matthias St. John in the list of children for Sir Oliver and Sarah Bulkeley St. John. I have written to a few of these submitters for the source of their data, but have not received anything concrete as of yet. They state that the Bulkeley Pedigrees show a Matthias as a son of Oliver and Sarah Bulkeley St. John. There were several Oliver St. Johns who might be cousins, living in England during this time, but with this ‘Oliver’, we have the Bulkeley influence, which follows our Matthias to CT. What do I make of all of this? I think there was only ONE Matthias SENSION in England. I am supposing he had two wives, however concurrently. He lived at two separate parishes, and had two families. Why else did the parish records stop at the same time for both of these families? Furthermore, what ever happened to the ‘other’ Matthias? I believe Matthias was the son of Sir Oliver St. John and Sarah Bulkeley. I think Matthias came to Massachusetts with the Bulkeley family, and then later and together, both sides of the family went to Connecticut. Someone had written me saying that Matthias # I was buried in a cemetery in Connecticut along with some of the Bulkeley family, but I have misplaced this letter. If anyone knows about this, please write and let me know. One more thing... on the list of children for Oliver and Sarah St. John, I have a Dorothy St. John, born 1602. Could this be the Dorothy St. John listed for a September 16, 1631 burial at the St. Nicholas Parish? Oliver being a Knight or Sir, came from a long line of Knights/Sirs, and I could not help but notice that in the St. Botolph’s register, there is listed a Sir Paulett Senjhon – a native of France. Perhaps a relative of Matthias Sension? I have included below a copy of the ‘will’ that was recorded by Oliver St. John. It does not mention a son by the name of Matthias born around 1604, but it does mention a son Oliver, and son’s Edward and John. John was born to Oliver’s second wife. I think for some reason Matthias changed his given name, and altered the spelling of St. John to a French sounding St. Jean – which turned out, in English to be spelled, SENSION. Matthias is a Christian name, whereas Oliver and Edward are English names. Matthias for some reason wished to acquire a separate identity from his father, Oliver. Matthias could have been either Oliver or Edward. There is also a Nicholas St. John that is sometimes added to Oliver’s list of children. If this is true, Nicholas is not mentioned in the will of Oliver. Nicholas came to America at age 13, and when he was in his 50’s, he had been accused of sodomy several times and arrested – perhaps his family disowned him afterward. |
  St. John surname origin: EnglishCoat of Arms Blue shield with a red bar at the top two gold stars Bar = One who sets the bar of conscience, religion, and honour against angry passions and evil temptations Mullet (Star) = Divine quality from above; mark of third son, Star = (estoile or mullet) Celestial goodness; noble person Gold = Generosity and elevation of the mind Red (Gules) Warrior or martyr; Military strength and magnanimity Blue (Azure) Truth and loyalty Crest: A falcon Falcon = One who does not rest until objective is achieved Motto: Data fata secutus |
Note: there is no evidence to suggest that the
Sension bloodline connects with Oliver, or any other St. John of
England.
Genealogical Gleanings in EnglandGenealogical Gleanings in England by
Henry Waters 1907.
Oliver St. John of Bleishoe in the County of Bedford, gen. 13 march, 1625, proved 1 May 1626. To wife Alice (certain household stuff) and the desk in the chamber where she and I do usually lie, being over the kitchen, wherein many writings are, both of indentures and other things (the great trunk which was my first wife’s and the painted clothes only excepted). Certain bedding in the chamber where my mother did ly while she lived, called now my son Oliver’s chamber. Certain silver whereon her name and mine is set, or letters for the same, being bought by my brother (in-law), Mr. Robert Haselden. Furniture in house in Camoyes wherein Edward Clarke now dwelleth which I bought of Mr. Thomas Ansell when I purchased the said house and ground of him. She to have the use of those things during her life and to leave them in good order and repair to my son Oliver. To Dorothy Westland, my daughter, my great white silver beaker. To my daughter Judith two hundred pounds, one hundred in six months next after my decease and the other hundred at the day of her marriage or at the age of six and twenty years, also my lesser white silver beaker. To my daughter Elizabeth one hundred pounds, in two years after my decease, and four years parcel of my term of years which I have yet to come in my farm at Ripton which I hold of the Right Hon. the Earl of Bollingbrook; the lease to be kept by my loving brother in law Mr. Peter Bulkley, her uncle, one of my overseers. And I do further give unto the said Elizabeth St. John, my daughter, a little silver tun which we usually use which was her own mother’s. I do give unto Mary and Anne my two daughters, to either of them three score and six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence in eighteen months after my decease, to be paid into the hands of my loving father in law Mr. Thomas Alleyne of Gouldington, my brother Mr. William Haselden and my good and loving wife their mother; which hundred marks apiece is in consideration of one hundred pounds which I received from my said brother William Haselden as part of the increase of one hundred pounds by him employed to my use in the East India adventure. Other gifts to them at eighteen or days of marriage. Certain real estate to son John St. John. And my executors are to pay unto my said wife (natural mother unto the said John) five marks yearly towards his education. To son Edward an hundred and three score pounds, three score to be paid unto him at the time of his coming out of his apprenticeship and the other hundred two years later. To my sister Frances Weales, to make her a ring, thirteen shillings four pence. To my mother in law Mrs. Mary Alleyn a double ‘duckett’. Gifts to brothers Mr. Robert Haselden and Mr. William Haselden. I do give to my loving brother Mr. Peter Bulkley my black mourning cloak which he hath at his house and thirteen shillings four pence in money to make him a ring. My loving friend Mr. Thomas Dillingham. The poor of Heyshoe and of Blettsoe. The poor of Over and Lower Deane. My eldest son Oliver St. John to be sole executor. And I do humbly desire the Right Hon., my Honorable Lord the Earl of Bollingbrook, together with my kind and loving friends Mr. Thomas Alleyn of Gouldington my wife’s father in law, Mr. Peter Bulkley, Mr. William Haselden and my loving nephew Mr. Samuel Browne to be my overseers. Wit: Peter Bulkeley, Judith St. John, Elizabeth St. John, Lawrence Mathewe.
1 [1] Oliver (Sir) St. John Born: 1575 Keysoe, Bedfordshire, England - Died: 23 Mar 1625/26 Keysoe, Bedfordshire, England
. Married Sarah Bulkeley Born: 1580 Cayshoe, Bedford, England Died: 1611 Keysoe, Bedford, England Father: Edward Bulkeley Mother: Olive Irby
2 Kathryn St. John Born: 20 Mar 1597/98 England
2 Oliver Jr St. John Born: abt 1600
2 Dorothy St. John Born: 1602 Died: 16 Sep 1631 St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London, England
... Married Richard Westland Born: abt 1600 Died: 1646 Boston, MA
2 Elizabeth St. John Born: 12 Jan 1604/05 Cayshoe, Bedfordshire, England Died: 03 Mar 1676/77 Fairfield, Fairfield, CT
... Married Rev. Samuel Whiting Born: 20 Nov 1597 Boston, Lincolnshire, England Died: 11 Dec 1679 Lynn, Essex Co, MA Father: John Whiting Mother: Margaret Bonner
2 Edward St. John Born: 20 Jul 1606
2 Judith St. John Born: 1609 Cayshoe, Bedfordshire, England
*2nd Wife of [1] Oliver (Sir) St. John:
. Married Alice Haselden Born: abt 1590 Father: Haselden Mother: Jane Neale
2 John St. John Born: abt 1612
2 Mary St. John Born: abt 1614
2 Anne St. John Born: abt 1616
Looking
at the various was to spell Senchon, Sension, Sention, or even Senjohn,
this surname could have French Origins
Saint-Jean with French OriginsSource: http://houseofnames.com
Coat of Arms: A blue shield with a bell held by two gold lions combatant.
Crest: Description not available
Origin: French
Spelling
variations of this family name include: Saint Jean, Jean, Geon, Jeans,
Jeane, Geans, Gen, Le Jean, Des Jeans, De La Geon, Saint-Jon,
Saint-Geans and many more.
First found in Languedoc, where the family was seated since ancient times.
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peter Gustavus Saint Jean settled in Philadelphia in 1848; Jean Antoine Jean settled in Louisiana in 1752; Pierre Armin Jean settled in Philadelphia in 1753.Most surnames have experienced slight spelling changes. A son may not chose to spell his name the same way that his father did. Many were errors, many deliberate. During the early development of the French language, a person usually gave his version, phonetically, to a scribe, a priest, or a recorder. Prefixes or suffixes varied. They were optional as they passed through the centuries, or were adopted by different branches to signify either a political or religious adherence. Hence, there a many spelling variations of the name Jean, including Saint Jean, Jean, Geon, Jeans, Jeane, Geans, Gen, Le Jean, Des Jeans, De La Geon, Saint-Jon, Saint-Geans and many more.
First found in Languedoc, where the family was seated since
ancient times.
Henry St. John Born: October 1608 at Battersea, Surrey
Viscount Bolingbroke
Died: December 1751 at Battersea, Surrey
 Ship's
Log on the good ship, "Elizabeth and Anne"Sailed from London to Boston Captain: Roger Cooper/Cowper Eliza (Elizabeth) & Anne Date sailed: 17 April, 1635 Quoted text: "IN the ELIZA and ANE, sd RO. COOPER, for New England - THOMAS HEDHALL.........47 years. IN the ELIZABETH and ANN, ROGER COOPR., Mr. Theis pties. here under expressed are to be embarqued for New England, having taken the oath of allegeance and supremacie, and likewise brought certificates from the Ministers and Justices where their abidings were latlie of their conformitie to the discipline and orders of the Church of England, and that they are no subsidy men."
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SENSION, Nicholas, Windsor, CT. He came from England in company with Joseph Alsoppe in a vessel called the 'Elizabeth and Ann', and was an early settler in Windsor. Other spellings noted are Senchion and St. John.
The
most famous sodomy case in New England was that of Nicholas Sension
of Windsor, Connecticut. In 1677, Daniel Saxton, a citizen of
Windsor,
Connecticut, charged Nicholas Sension with sodomy. Saxton was a
neighbor and
former employee of Sension. It was not until he was released from
his position at the Sension household that Saxton came forth with the
charge
against his former employer. Although he denied that coupling
with
Sension, Saxton did bear witness to the fact that Sension had committed
sodomy with another servant, Nathaniel Pond.
Sension had moved to Windsor, Connecticut in 1640. In Windsor, Sension became a prosperous merchant and farmer. He married a local woman in 1645, and was soon recognized as a prominent member of the Windsor community. For three decades, Nicholas Sension lived what appeared to be a normal life, according to Puritan standards. However, while all seemed normal on the surface, something was amiss in the Nicholas Sension household. Thirty years before he was tried for sodomy, Sension had been approached by the town elders. On this occasion, in the late 1640s, William Phelps had contacted a Horskins in regards to Sension. Phelps was concerned about the fact that Sension had been making sexual advances towards his younger brothers, Samuel and Nathaniel Horskins It came to light in the 1677 trial that this matter was dealt with in private at the house of Henry Clark. Horskins and Clark, both representatives of Windsor to the General Court, confronted Sension. Sension explained that he had acquired his “sodomitical” ways while at school and promised to control himself. Believing that Sension was sincere and felt remorse, the matter was then dropped.
Since Saxton had not engaged in sexual activity with Sension, the court pursued the question of Sension’s relationship with Nathaniel Pond. A difficulty for the prosecution was the fact that Pond was killed two years earlier in Metacom’s War, and therefore the only witness, other than Sension, was dead. Another difficulty for the prosecution was the fact that as the trial progressed it began to center on whether the act of sodomy had actually occurred. During the course of the trial, several young men came forward to testify about Sension’s sexual tastes and practices.Nicholas was only convicted of attempted sodomy. He was
whipped, forced
to stand in public with a noose around his neck, and briefly imprisoned.Nicholas
Sension was able to live within the community with only being
reprimanded twice in nearly forty years before being tried for sodomy.Sension had moved to Windsor, Connecticut in 1640. In Windsor, Sension became a prosperous merchant and farmer. He married a local woman in 1645, and was soon recognized as a prominent member of the Windsor community. For three decades, Nicholas Sension lived what appeared to be a normal life, according to Puritan standards. However, while all seemed normal on the surface, something was amiss in the Nicholas Sension household. Thirty years before he was tried for sodomy, Sension had been approached by the town elders. On this occasion, in the late 1640s, William Phelps had contacted a Horskins in regards to Sension. Phelps was concerned about the fact that Sension had been making sexual advances towards his younger brothers, Samuel and Nathaniel Horskins It came to light in the 1677 trial that this matter was dealt with in private at the house of Henry Clark. Horskins and Clark, both representatives of Windsor to the General Court, confronted Sension. Sension explained that he had acquired his “sodomitical” ways while at school and promised to control himself. Believing that Sension was sincere and felt remorse, the matter was then dropped.
Since Saxton had not engaged in sexual activity with Sension, the court pursued the question of Sension’s relationship with Nathaniel Pond. A difficulty for the prosecution was the fact that Pond was killed two years earlier in Metacom’s War, and therefore the only witness, other than Sension, was dead. Another difficulty for the prosecution was the fact that as the trial progressed it began to center on whether the act of sodomy had actually occurred. During the course of the trial, several young men came forward to testify about Sension’s sexual tastes and practices.Nicholas was only convicted of attempted sodomy. He was
MY QUESTION IS THIS:
Why is it that the Church saw fit to hang WOMEN for having premonition dreams and declared a witch deserving of hanging; while male sodomists only got a whipping?
ANSWER:
Because most of the Church fathers were also molestors and sodomists themselves - by now you recognize that age-old pattern of church fathers.
Why is it that the Church saw fit to hang WOMEN for having premonition dreams and declared a witch deserving of hanging; while male sodomists only got a whipping?
ANSWER:
Because most of the Church fathers were also molestors and sodomists themselves - by now you recognize that age-old pattern of church fathers.
Manor of Bletsoe [Source] St. John of Bletsoe Arms: Argent a chief gules with two molets or therein.
The Victoria County History asserts that the
Manor of Bletsoe
was the 2 ½ hides owned by Hugh de Beauchamp and that Judith's
tenant
Osbern was probably the same as Hugh's man Osbert. It suggests that
Judith's holding was absorbed by another manor and disappeared from
history. Whether this was so, or not, it is known that Osbert de
Breuil's descendant Robert de Broi granted land in Bletsoe to the
Hospital of Holy Trinity, Northampton in the early 13th century. His
daughter Margery married Walter de Patishull. Bletsoe Manor next passed
to Simon de Patishull, their son, who between 1247 and 1253 quitclaimed
land to John de Berdefeude. His grandson, also Simon de Patishull, died
in 1295 having previously enfeoffed his daughter Agnes and her husband
John de Pabenham the manor for their lives. On Agnes' death in 1313 the
manor passed to John de Patishull, son of Simon. John was succeeded by
his son William in 1349, who passed Bletsoe Manor to his sister Sybil,
wife of Roger de Beauchamp in 1359.
Roger de
Beauchamp was succeeded by his son Roger in 1379 - 1380, who was
followed in 1406 by his son John. John died in 1412, and his son John
was still underage when he died in 1420 - 1421 and the Manor passed to
his 11 year old sister Margaret. She died in 1482 and the manor passed
to John St.John, her son by her first husband. It passed to his son of
the same name in 1525, then to his son Oliver St.John in 1559. When he
died in 1581 - 1582 Bletsoe Manor passed to his son John, then in 1596
to John's brother Oliver, and in 1618 to Oliver's son, also called
Oliver.
This Oliver St.John was created Earl of Bolingbroke in 1624. He was a
Parliamentarian and his son Oliver died in 1642 from wounds received at
the battle of Edgehill. As a consequence Oliver was succeeded by his
grandson Oliver, the son of Sir Paulet St.John. He died without issue
in 1687 and his title and estates passed to his brother Paulet St.John,
third Earl of Bolingbroke and sixth Lord St.John. When he died
unmarried in 1711 the Earldom of Bolingbroke became extinct.
The Barony of St.John continued and devolved upon the last Earl's
cousin Paulet, who died in infancy, and was followed by his three
uncles William, who died unmmarried in 1720, Rowland, who died
unmarried in 1722, and John, who died in 1757. The latter's son John
succeeded him and held the title until his death in 1767. His son Henry
Beauchamp died in 1805 without male issue and the manor passed to his
brother St.Andrew St.John. He died in 1817 and his son St Andrew
St.John succeeded at the age of six and died in 1874 at Melchbourne
Park. His son of the same name died in 1887, after which the title went
to his brother Beauchamp Moubray. A full list of the Barons St.John of
Bletsoe and Earls of Bolingbroke appears below:
Barons St.John of Bletsoe
1. Oliver St.John, created 1559, died 1582;
2. John St.John, died 1596;
3. Oliver St.John, died 1618;
4. Oliver St.John, created Earl of Bolingbroke in 1524, died 1646
Earls of Bolingbroke and Barons St.John
1 & 4. [i.e. 1st Earl and 4th Baron] Oliver St.John
0 & 5. Oliver St.John, died 1642 [predeceased the first earl];
2 & 6. Oliver St.John, died 1688;
3 & 7. Paulet St.John, died 1711
Barons St.John
8. Paulet St.Andrew St.John, died 1714;
9. William St.John, died 1720;
10. Rowland St.John, died 1722;
11. John St.John, died 1757;
12. John St.John, died 1767;
13. Henry Beauchamp St.John, died 1805;
14. St.Andrew St.John, died 1817;
15. St.Andrew Beauchamp St.John, died 1874;
16. St.Andrew St.John, died 1887;
17. Beauchamp Mowbray St.John, died 1912;
18. Henry Beauchamp Oliver St.John, died 1920;
19. Moubray St.Andrew Thornton St.John, died 1934;
20. John Moubray Russell St.John, died 1976;
21. Andrew Beauchamp St.John, died 1978;
22. Anthony Tudor St.John, born 1957
Early ST. JOHNS taking on their
mother's maiden name
Husband: Adam De PORT
Born: ABT 1151, Basing, Northamptonshire, England
Died: 25 Jun 1213
Notes: This feudal baron was governor of the castle of Southampton in the 15th (1213-14) King John, and in the 22nd Henry II [1176] he was fined 300 marks for trespassing in the king's forests. In the 26th of the same reign [1180], he gave 1000 marks to the King for livery of his wife's inheritance in Normandy, and that he might be restored to the king's favour and do his homage. He m. Mabel, dau. of Reginald De Aurevalle, and grandchild and heir through her mother, Muriell, of Roger De St. John, and Cecily his wife, dau. and heir of Robert De Haye, Lord of Halnac, co. Sussex, and his posterity ever afterwards bore the surname of St. John. By this lady he had two sons, William and Robert. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd., London, 1883, p. 466, St. John, Barons St. John, of Basing]
Father: John De PORT
Mother: Maud St JOHN
Married 1: Wife: Mabel De AUREVALLE
Children:
1. Alice De PORT
2. William De St. JOHN
3. Robert De St. JOHN
Married 2: Wife: Sibyl De BRAIOSE (w. of William De Ferrers, E. Derby) AFT 1190, Bramber, Sussex, England
By John Burke Published 1831 Original from Oxford University
ST. JOHN— BARONS ST. JOHN, OF STANTON ST. JOHN, IN THE COUNTY OF OXFORD.
By Writ of Summons, dated 24th December, 1264, 49 Henry III,
Lineage:
THOMAS DE ST. JOHN, of Stanton St. John, in the county of Oxford, was father of ROGER DE ST. JOHN, who, in the 22d Henry II., was amerced one hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eightpence, for trespassing in the king's forests, in the county of Oxford. This Roger was s. by his son, JOHN DE ST. JOHN, who was s. by his son, ROGER DE ST. JOHN. This feudal lord having taken up arms with the barons against King Henry III., was summoned to parliament after the victory of those lords at Lewes, on the 24th December, 1264, and appointed governor of the castle of Oxford. He was slain, however, the following year, at Evesham, where his party sustained so signal a defeat. His lordship m. — , sister of Richard de Lucí, by whom he acquired a moiety of the lordship of Wolnestede, to the county of Surrey, and had an only son, JOHN, who was never summoned to parliament, nor were his descendants. The BARONY OF ST. JOHN, OF STANTON, EXPIRED therefore with the first lord.
ARMS.— Ar. on a chief gules, two mullets or, and a file of three points of the field.
ST. JOHN— BARONS ST. JOHN, OF BASING.
By Writ of Summons, dated 29th December, 1299, 28 Edward I.
Lineage. At the time of the General Survey,
HUGH DE PORT held five lordships of the crown, in Hampshire, whereof BASING was one, and the head of the barony. He had also lands in the counties of Dorset and Cambridge. In the reign of Rufus, he took the cowl at Winchester, and was succeeded in his worldly affairs by his son. At the time of the General Survey. HENRY DE PORT, Lord of Basing, who was s. by his son, JOHN DE PORT, who, in the 12th of Henry II., contributed for his knights' fees (seven in number) to the assessment for marrying the king's daughter, fifty-seven marks. He was s. by his son,
ADAM DE PORT, Lord of Basing. This feudal baron was governor of the castle of Southampton, in the I5th of King John; and in the 22d Henry П., he was fined three hundred marks, for trespassing in the king's forests. In the 26th of the same reign, he gave a thousand marks to the king for livery of his wife's inheritance in Normandy; and that he might be restored to the king's favour, and do his homage. He m. Mabel, daughter of Reginald de Aurevalle, and grandchild and heir of Roger de St. John; and his posterity ever afterwards bore the surname of ST. JOHN. By this lady he had two sons, William and Robert. The elder, WILLIAM DE ST. JOHN, assuming that surname, wrote himself Willielmus de Sancto Johanne filius et haeres Adae de Port, and in the 15th John, gave five hundred marks to the king for livery of all the lands of Adam de Port, his father. The two following years he executed the sheriff'ss office for the county of Southampton : but was subsequently in arms with the other barons against the crown, and did not return to his allegiance until some time after the accession of HENRY III. He made his peace, however, effectually, for we find him in the 11th of that king, appointed governor of the islands of Guernsey and Jersey. He m. Godchild, daughter of N. Paganell, and was s. by bis son,
JOHN DE ST. JOHN, Lord of Basing, who succeeded likewise to the governorship of Porchester Castle. This baron acquired high military reputation in the wars of EDWARD I. ; and in his capacity of lieutenant of Acquitaine, achieved some important conquests. In 1296, he took the city of Bayonne by assault, and its castle surrendered after a siege of eight days. Thence marching to BELLEGARD, at the time invested by the Earl of Arras, he was made prisoner, and conveyed to Paris ; being, however, redeemed, (it was said, by Alfonsus*, King of Castile,} he was again in the wars of Gascony, as well as in those of Scotland ; and was afterwards deputed ambassador to France, with John, Earl of Warren, and other persons of rank. He m. Alice, daughter of Reginald Fitz-Piers, and had issue, JOHN, his successor; William, who obtained from his father the castle of Beaumont, in Glamorganshire, and is considered the ancestor of the St. Johns of Bletshoe. The elder son, JOHN DE ST. JOHN, had been summoned to parliament as a BARON, in the life-time of his father, from 29th December, 1299, to 12th November, 1303, under the designation of "John de St. John, Junior," but afterwards as " St. John of Basing." This nobleman was eminent in the wars of Scotland, temp. Edward I. and Edward II. His lordship espoused Isabel, daughter of Hugh de Courtenay. and d. in 1329, was s. by his son,
HUGH DE ST. JOHN, second Baron St. John, of Basing, who d. in 1337, leaving, EDMUND, his successor; Margaret, m. to John de St. Philibert, and had a son, John, who d. in infancy; ISABEL, m. first, to Henry de Burghersh, who died s. p., and secondly, to Lucas de Poynings, who was summoned to parliament, it is presumed, "jure uxoris," 24th February, 1368. His lordship was s. by his elder son,
EDMUND ST. JOHN, third Baron St. John, of Basing, who dying in minority, 21st Edward III.. then a ward of the king, his sisters, MARGARET and ISABEL, became his heirs. The elder sister, Margaret, did not long survive, and her only issue, John de St. Philibert, dying an infant, the whole of the inheritance centered in the younger sister, Isabel, then married to her second husband, LUCAS DE POYNINGS, who in her right was summoned to parliament, and the BARONY OF ST JOHN, of Basing, was thus conveyed to the family of Poynlngs (see Poynings, Barons St. John).
ST. JOHN—BARONS ST. JOHN, OF LAGEHAM. By Writ of Summons, dated 21st September, 1299, 27 Edward I.
Lineage
In the 46th HENRY III.
ROGER DE ST. JOHN obtained licence to fortify his house at Lageham, in the county of Surrey, and so to hold the same, whilst himself and his heirs should continue loyal to the king ; but within two years he joined the baronial standard, and, after the battle of Lewes, was one of the nine barons chosen to form the council of state. To this turbulent feudal lord succeeded, JOHN DE ST. JOHN, who had summons to parliament as BARON ST. JOHN, of Lageham, from 21st September, 1299, to 6th October, 1315. This nobleman was actively engaged in the Scottish wars, temp., Edward 1. and Edward II. His lordship d. in 1316, and was s. by his son, JOHN DE ST. JOHN, second baron, summoned to parliament from 1st August, 1317, to 18th September, 1322. His lordship was in the expedition made into Scotland, 11th Edward II., and dying in 1322, was s. by his son,
JOHN DE ST. JOHN, third baron, summoned to parliament from 1st August, 1327, to 18th February, 1331. This nobleman m. Katherine, daughter of Goffrey de Say, and d. in 1349, was s. by his son, ROGER DE ST. JOHN, fourth baron, who in the 25th Edward III, released to Sir Nicholas de Lovoyane, Knt., and Margaret, his wife, all his right in the manor of Lageham, and died shortly after, (in 1353,) issueless, leaving PETER DE ST. JOHN, his kinsman, his next heir: but none of the family were subsequently summoned to parliament. ARMS.—Ermine, on a chief gules, two mullets or.
Lineage.
SIR OLIVER ST. JOHN, of Penmark, in the county of Glamorgan, (of the family of St. John, of Stanton St. John,) m. Margaret [This lady espoused, secondly, John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, K.G., by whom she was mother of Lady MARGARET BRAUFORT, who m. Edward Tudor, Earl of Richmond, and had a son, Henry, EARL OF RICHMOND, who ascended the throne as HENRY VII. The Duchess of Somerset m. thirdly, John, VISCOUNT WELLES, K.G.], daughter of Sir John de Beauchamp, and sister and heir of John, Lord Beauchamp, of Bletshoe, and was father of
SIR JOHN ST. JOHN, K.B., of Bletshoe, whose great grandson, OLIVER ST. JOHN, was elevated to the peerage, in January, 1559, as BARON ST. John, of Bletshoe. The grandson of this nobleman, OLIVER ST. JOHN, fourth Lord St. John, of Bletshoe, was advanced, by letters patent, dated 26th December, 1624, to the dignity of EARL of BOLINGBROKE. His lordship m. Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Paulet, grandson of St. George Paulet, a younger brother of William, first Marquess of Winchester, and had issue,
Oliver, Lord St. John, made Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of King Charles I. This nobleman fell, fighting under the royal banner, at Edgehill, 23rd October, 1624. He had m. Lady Arabella Egerton, daughter of John, first Earl of Bridgewater, and left four daughters, viz: Frances, m. Sir William Beecher, Knt., of Howberry, in the county of Bedford; Elizabeth, m. to George Bennett, Esq., of Cotsback, in Leicestershire; Arabella, m. to Sir Edward Wyse, K.B., of Sydenham, Devon; Dorothy, m. to Francis Carleton, Esq., of Apley Castle, Salop.
PAULET (Sir), made Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of King CHARLES I.; m. Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Rowland Vaughan, of the Spital, near Shoreditch, in the suburbs of London, and dying before his father. He left, OLIVER & PAULET - both successively Earls of Bolingbroke; Francis, d, unmarried; Anthony, m. , ___daughter of Kensham, Esq., of Tameford; Dorothy, m. to John Carey, Lord Rochford, eldest son of Henry, Earl of Dover. His lordship d. in 1646, and was s. by his grandson, OLIVER ST. JOHN, second Earl of Bolingbroke, and fifth Lord St. John, of Bletshoe. His lordship m. Lady Frances Cavendish, daughter of William, Duke of Newcastle, but dying s.p., 18th March, 1687-8, was s. by his brother, PAULET ST. JOHN, third Earl of Bolingbroke, and slxth Lord St. John, of Bletshoe, This nobleman d. unmarried, 17th October, 1711, when the Barony of St. John, of Bletshoe, passed to the heir at law, Sir Andrew St. John, of Woodford, in the county of Northampton, and the Earldom of Bolingbroke, became extinct. Arms - Ar. on a chief gules two mullets pierced or.
ST. JOHN - BARON TREGOZE, OF HIGHWORTH By Letters Patent, dated 21st May, 1695.
Lineage: SIR OLIVER ST. JOHN, Baronet of Lydiard Tregone, was created Viscount Grandison, in the peerage of Ireland, temp,. James I., first president of Munster, and afterwards constituted lord deputy of that kingdom. His lordship returned, in the 20th of the same monarch, and by his majesty's successor, was made a peer of England, 21st May, 1696, in the dignity of BARON TREGOZE, of Highworth, in the county of Wilts. His lordship m. Joan, daughter and heir of Henry Roydon, Esq., of Battersea, and widow of Sir William Holcroft, but had no issue. He d. in 1629, when the Barony of Tregoze became extinct.
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St. John
Genealogy and History
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