An early Ginn - Band of Brothers

William Ginn of Great Hormead who died in 1568 (see post of 26th June 2012  ) had five sons who survived him: Thomas, Jonas, Henry, Richard and Michael, all of whom deserve and receive a mention here.

Thomas

Was his father's heir and inherited the tenement known as "Ginns".  He also bought  a freehold cottage or two in Great Hormead and is known to have married Martha Wigg (from a numerous and ancient local family) in 1572.

In 1583, poor old Thomas and Martha were burgled.  Two well known local burglars were apprehended and charged having "burgled the house of Thomas Gynne at Great Hormead and stolen a diaper tablecloth (value 6s 8d); a pair of linen sheets (5s); a towel (6s 8d); a felt hat (2s 6d); a pillow bar (2s 8d); 4 silver bells (4s); and a whistle with a coral (16d)".  (See Assize records).  The suggestion being that he and Martha lived in some passing comfort, their being able to afford such trinkets for the children. 

Unfortunately (for a Ginn historian) Tom and Martha only had a series of daughters, which rather ended their Ginn line, and of those none are known to have had children either so descendants are doubtful today.  Tom died in 1623 aged 79, the fate of Martha is unknown.

Jonas

He moved to Standon and was some kind of tradesman, but more I do not know. He does not seem to have married and had no issue.  I owe the man a debt because in his will of 1605 (National Archives - he was about 50) Jonas mentions all his siblings and helped me a great deal.

Henry

He married Rachel Wigg (sister of Martha) in 1585.  Henry was a Tailor and had one son and two daughters.  The Wigg girls had a brother Henry who died in 1617 and mentions the Ginns in his will.

Henry Ginn here died in 1606 aged about 50 and Rachel in 1615.  Their one son Henry would seem to have been in Chelmsford Gaol in 1613 as a vagrant and I think it unlikely there are descendants.

Richard

On Family Search etc this guy would seem to have not existed, but exist he did and he may even be the ancestor of the Ginn family of Ware, I frankly do not know.

Richard Ginn here was a Tailor. He is mentioned in his brother Jonas' will and I have managed to deduce lived in Stocking Pelham (whose registers have not survived for the time) by the 1580s through to 1592 - I researched him - where he is mentioned in manorial records as a juror (originals at Cambridge Record Office) and signed his name in the manorial rolls.  He was alive in 1605.

We know for definite that he had a substantial family and that his son Henry or Harry was the Harry Ginn of Cheshunt who will be discussed in the next post.

Michael

He is the known ancestor of the Ginns from this band of brothers alive today.  A labourer/husbandman - he married Agnes Shed at Great Hormead in 1580 and had a good number of children.  He owned what was later to be called "Bradbury House" in Hare Street and died in 1618, his original will (ERO) with his mark being below. He was 60.  Agnes died in 1623.  Their descendants will be discussed in later posts.