Unknown (Unknown) Smythe (abt. 1505)

Wife of William Smythe — married 1533 in England

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gordon Simpkinson [send private message]

Disputed Wives

According to the two journal articles cited below claimed to be the current state of research on this topic by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants as of 2014^[1] William Smythe of Hatfield, Yorkshire, England had one known wife: Catherine and he had one unknown wife. There is no evidence that he had a wife named Agnes Simkinson, Joan Allen or Cynthia Rawls. Therefore after discussing this on G2G he has been disconnected.^[2][3]

Married

1. Say 1524 to Catherine (--------) b ca 1504 died before 1533^[3]
2. Say 1533 to an Unknown Second Wife^[3]  

The second unknown wife is the ancestor of the Mayflower passenger.

Biography

Possibly the mother of John and William Parke by a previous marriage.^[4]

"Elder" William Smythe was born 1494 in Hatfield, West Riding, Yorkshire, England and died between 25 January 1559 and 2 May 1560 in Hatfield, West Riding, Yorkshire, England.  He was was buried at the Church of our Lady of Hatfield, England.^[3]

• Parents: Unknown^[3]

Married

1. Say 1524 to Catherine (--------) b ca 1504 died before^[3] 1533
2. Say 1533 to an Unknown Second Wife^[3]  

Children of Catherine Unknown^[3]

1. Thomas Smythe1 b. say 1525
2. Jennet Smythe2 b. say 1527
3. John Smythe b. say 1529, d. after 8 Aug 1592
4. Agnes Smythe b. say 1531, d. after 8 Aug 1592

Children  of Second Unknown Wife^[3]

1. Cuthbert Smythe1 b. say 1534, d. before 2 Oct 1551
2. Mary Smythe+3 b. say 1536, d. after 1566
3. Margaret Smythe b. say 1538, d. after 8 Aug 1592
4. Sir Francis Smythe b. say 1540?, d. 1604?
5. Richard Smythe b. say 1542, d. before 8 Aug 1592

According to the 2014 Edition of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants "Silver Book:^[1]

Merrick, Barbara Lambert, and E. Virginia Hunt. William Brewster of the Mayflower: and his descendants for four generations. (Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2014), p 1-2, 2014. The GSMD "Silver Book"^[1]

This book calls these two articles ***the current state of research on this topic:***

1. John G Hunt, "New Light on the Brewsters of Scrooby and New England" in The American Genealogist (Demorest, Habersham, Georgia, United States: D.L. Jacobus, 1965) Vol 41 p 1-5 link^[2]
2. John G Hunt "The Mother of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower" in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1970) Volume 124 p 250-254 link^[3]

His marriage to Catherine is recorded in Joseph Hunter’s South Yorkshire: The History and Topography of the Deanery of Doncaster (London, 1828-1831), vol. 1, p. 150:

Orate pro animabus Willielmi Smith et Catherinae et Agnetis uxorum ejus.;

His will 25 Jan 1558 Proved 2 May 1560 is reviewed in NEHGR 124:252;

The two articles listed above review:

1. Probate records by and regarding his son John Smith of Hull and the Symkinson and Mann families. We also have several key documents concerning the children of Prudence (Brewster) Peck's children and William Brewster supposed half-brother James Brewster vicar of Sutton cum Laude.
2. The will of Thomas Symkinson Alderman of Doncaster dated 29 Jan 1558 Doncaster, Yorkshire, England proved 2 May 1560 names John Simkinson and his two children Dorothy and Thomas Simkinson as well as Thomas Smythe, John Smythe of Hull, William Smythe and Alice widow of Chirstopher Mann among others.
3. The will of Maude's brother Christopher Mann dated 11 Oct 1558 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England was witnessed by John Symkinson who was the first husband of Mary Smythe, the mother of Thomas Sinkinson of Hull by her first husband and the mother of William Brewster the Mayflower passenger by her second husband William Brewster of Scrooby.
4. These show that William Brewster married first Mary Smythe daughter William Smythe of Stainforth parish in Hatfield. She was sister of John Smythe of Hull and widow of John Simkinson of Doncaster.
5. The will of John Smythe of Hull dated 8 Aug 1592 in Hull, Yorkshire, England made it evident that Elder William Brewster and the younger Thomas Smythe of Hull were maternal half-brothers when he named "my nephews" William Brewster, John Smythe and Thomas Simkinson executors of his estate.
6. The Bill of Complaint by William Brewster and Mary his wife, the late wife of John Symkinson late of Doncaster, Yorks. The said John was seized of lands in Doncaster and in his lifetime did convey them to the said Mary then his wife for the term of her life and afterwards he died at Doncaster.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Merrick, Barbara Lambert, and E. Virginia Hunt. William Brewster of the Mayflower: and his descendants for four generations. (Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2014), p 1-2, 2014. The GSMD "Silver Book"
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} # John G Hunt, "New Light on the Brewsters of Scrooby and New England" in The American Genealogist (Demorest, Habersham, Georgia, United States: D.L. Jacobus, 1965) Vol 41 p 1-5 link
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9} John G Hunt "The Mother of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower" in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1970) Volume 124 p 250-254 link
4. ↑ Hunt, John G. "The Mother of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower" in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 124 (Oct 1970) pages 250-254. (Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-present). Online with subscription at AmericanAncestors.org.