Henry Ginn of Datchworth d.1632

Son of John of Aston (see post of  29th July ) I first read Henry's will at the start of my research (in 1990).  I had not got a clue who he was, but suspected that he might be “Henry Ginn the Collier" referred to in the will of his uncle Arthur (of Anstey) in 1630.  But Henry of Datchworth is only ever referred to as a Yeoman in the records.

In 1993, I was extracting Chancery actions in the Public Record Office/National Archives.  I suddenly came across one from 1662.  It was between a George Ginn of Watton and the Boteler family.  George recited his ancestry: describing how he was the son of George of Datchworth, the son of Henry of the same, who was the son of John Ginn - of Aston.  So here was Henry Ginn the Collier!  Later the same year, I researched both of Henry's sons (George and Francis) and discovered that both were Colliers, i.e. Charcoal burners.

What I know of Henry comes mainly from the court case involving his grandson, and what can be made of the other records. Henry was born in 1560.  At that time, his father owned Jaretts and its 240 acres and had the deeds to the same.

Between 1561 and 1564 we know that these were purloined by the Boteler family.  As a toddler, indeed, as a young man: Henry can never have expected to inherit much.  He was not his father's heir.  In addition, after 1564, his father had lost the copyhold deeds and only held a lease of Jaretts (and forty acres) from 1573.  However, Henry's elder brother Robert had died by 1592, and Henry now unexpectedly found himself the heir.  In fact, he really only inherited a lot of trouble.

Henry’s father died in the same year, i.e. 1592.  He inherited the Lease, the claim to the copyhold land (now lost) but at least still held the Jaretts farmhouse.

George the grandson knew that Henry occupied Jaretts (but was ignorant of the lease) and he tells us that during his lifetime Henry was very active in tring to get the ancestral lands back.

 By 1594, Henry was in Datchworth.  He would appear to have lived in Burnham Green.  He used both Welwyn and Datchworth churches, and his uncle John was in Burnham Green.  Henry probably needed family support.  It was a good area for colliers, being highly wooded.

I know that he sold the Lease, and I even know when and who to.  There is a deed at the HRO (dating from 1640).  It deals with the assignment of a number of Aston leases.  The Vendor is a gentleman's wife, formerly Rose Kent (widow).  She sells the properties to Trustees, to be held for Thomas Kent (Gent.) her son, and occupier of Jarretts in the 1662 court case.  Rose Kent was the widow of John Kent (Gent.) of Aston.  They married there in 1615.  It is (in my view) impossible that John bought the Lease before his marriage, so we know that Henry must have owned Jarretts until at least 1615.  How much Henry got for the Assignment is something I don’t know.

Henry married Jane at about the time he inherited.  I have never found a marriage entry and doubt it survives.

Henry Ginn died in 1632; he was 72.  He left a will (which is an original - HRO and with his signature is shown below)  He clearly adored Jane and wanted above all to see that she was comfortable, leaving her forty pounds, three of his best cows, ten of his best sheep, two ready fatted hogs, her choice of the household goods, and (if she dwelt alone- ie did not remarry or live with a son) ten bushels of wheat "until harvest next" and five bushels of malt on the same terms and then yearly to take her choice of the produce of one acre of wheat, one of barley and two of oats "to be reaped and layd in the barne" for her. The boys were also to make sure that she received two cart loads of firewood a year.  So Henry may have been a charcoal burner but he obviously farmed a fair bit as well.  Jane died in 1633, although her Administration Bond (to son Francis) was not granted until 1635 (HRO).

Henry and Jane had a number of children:

Thomas & Ann - both died in infancy and buried on the same day in 1597.  There was an outbreak of what was called "spotted fever" that year.

George - see later post

Elizabeth - married Ralph Nash at Codicote in 1640. Elizabeth had an illegitimate child, Dorcas, at Datchworth in 1628.  In 1628, this was considered quite shocking, particularly for a yeoman’s daughter.  It did her no favours in the marriage stakes either.  Dorcas does not appear to have died in infancy, but is untraced.  Henry left Elizabeth some £40 and 2 cows and ten sheep for her dowry .

Francis - see next post