Anybody know of a good source for info on Lyneham/Lineham. Is it a house, a castle, a small town? I potentially have 2 lines (Crocker & Churchhill) who owned the/a Lineham estate in Devon 1400-1500s.

Seeking ancestry, biographical info. of Edward Crocker, born abt. 1734 of Totnes, Devon, England. Daughter: Ann Crocker or Coker. Ann Married Henry Winsor, b. 17 Dec 1758. Does Edward Crocker tie into the Crockers of Devon that you are researching?

Yes, it is familiar. That Crocker is probably a relative of mine somewhere on the tree. All the Crockers seem to originate from Devon area, but I can't trace my own direct line back that far. Others have done more research on the Crockers of Devon than I. And, I don't much about my Churchills in England yet, so I don't know if she is from the same Churchill family. I have read that my Churchill immigrant used the same seal as the prominent Churchills of England (I believe family from whom Winston descends). Some authors say that doesn't prove anything but others, and I agree with latter, say that seals were taken very seriously in those days and it does likley indicate a relationship.

I have a John Croker of Hele (Hale) living in 18 Rich II (1394) married Agnes Churchill dau of Giles Churchill of Lyneham, Devon. This Churchill line is believed to have ended at this point, the Crokers inheriting the estate. Is this familiar?

Contact me by direct email please, and we'll see if we can make any connections, but it's almost certainly there somewhere.

There were missuses of seals and coats from time to time. That is what prompted Herald visitations; however, according to my understanding if a valid relationship existed a Crocker coat or seal could have incorporated characteristics of the Churchill coat. What time period are you talking about? The Marlborough coat was somewhat different than a 14th century Churchill coat. What was the description of the Crocker seal? Devon

The article on the CROKERs in the Herald and genealogist VII pp377-391 by Robinson mentions the Agnes heir of Giles CHURCHILL of Lineham and gives his arms as: Sable, a lion rampant argent over all a bendlet gu. It gives the CROKER arms as Argent, a chevron engrailed gules between three ravens, two and one proper, quartering CHURCHILL, FARWAY (?), and DAWNEY.

I think the SPENCER-CHURCHILLs started out as SPENCERs not CHURCHILLs.

Nick

Nick you are not entirely correct in saying that the Churchill Marlborough line (Spencer-Churchills) started out as Spencer. I am not an expert on Marlboroughs but it happens that I can relate the Spencer-Churchill story.

A John Churchill the son of the first Sir Winston Churchill (b. 1620) became the first 1st duke of Marlborough on 9 April 1689 and died in 1722. His only son John Churchill had died at age 17 in 1703. Upon Duke John's death, his eldest daughter Henrietta (Churchill) Godolphin then became heir and inherited the title Duchess of Marlborough. In her own right she then became the 2nd duke of Marlborough by act of parliament passed in 1722.

Upon Henrietta’s death in 1733 the Marlborough title passed to her nephew Charles Spencer, 5th earl of Sunderland who then also became 2rd duke of Marlborough. In 1807 George Spencer the 5th duke of Marlborough was authorized to take and use the name of Churchill, in addition to and after that of Spencer. This was in order to perpetuate the Churchill family surname in this line. I believe that subsequent Marlborough descendents (of the Marlborough main line) use the surname Spencer-Churchill to the present day.

For information, the Churchill ascendancy is controversial prior to about 1270. However, the Churchill line can be traced back to around 980. The Marlborough Churchills are only one branch of several modern Churchill family lines. I, by the way, am not a descendent of the Marlborough line.
Devon message

I TOO HAVE BEEN TRACING THE SPENCER CHURCHILL LINE AND THE HOLE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH LINE, i AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH DUKE, PARTICULARLY A PHOEBE SPENCER CHURCHILL MARRIED TO A WILLIAM GREATSINGER WHOM WAS OUTCASTED FROM THE FAIMLY BECAUSE OF HER CHOICE IN MEN.I AM RELATED AND HAVE BEEN SEARCHING LONG AND HARD FOR ANY INFORMATION ON THE MARLBOROUGH LINE

Sorry Melody, I do not have a listing of the children of George and Susan other than George the 6th duke. Was this Phoebe married to a William surname Greatsinger or was he William Great a singer?