Are there any descendants of Prior Richard MOONE of Bolton Abbey still alive today?

Question

My father Charles Maurice MOON  was born in Ilkley, Yorkshire, England, in 1915.  This is just 6 miles from Bolton Abbey. Richard MOONE was the prior of Bolton Abbey at the time of King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries.  Many of my ancestors are buried there in a plot of ground fenced of specifically for burials of the MOON family.  I want to find out if I am a descendant of his.

The ancestors that I have found to date are:

Charles MOON (1869-1924) md Sarah NUTTMAN NORTH at Ilkley (my grandparents)

Joseph MOON (1835-1908) md Ann SMITH at Addingham (Gt Grandparents)

Charles MOON (1809-1881) md Elizabeth HIRD at Skipton (Gt x2 Grandparents)

Joseph MOON (1763-1832) md Margaret CLEMIE at Bolton Abbey (Gt x3 Grandparents)

James MOON (1718-1794) md Margaret PETTYT at Bolton Abbey (Gt x4 Grandparents)

James MOON (bn c 1691) md Mary PEARSON at Bolton Abbey (Gt x5 Grandparents)

Comments

Information on Prior Moon:

http://www.bgwaters.co.uk/petyt5.htm

The Hey Diddle Diddle nursery rhyme is about his family: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ENG-LIN-AXHOLME/2002-01/1011265985

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I have just found two brothers Robert and John Moon, they both lived at Hazlewood.  John eventually moved to Brownhill, and died there. John was a Quaker and his children John Joseph and Jacob were baptised as quakers.  Robert and John were buried at the Quaker burial ground at Farfield Nr Addingham.  Robert died 1698 and John 1715.  I think that they had connections with the Pettit family as John mentions a Thomas Pettyt in his will.  After the baptism of Jacob Moon there is no mention of him and due to the dates involved I am hopeful that it could be the same person that was living in Haworth.  Does anyone have any more information on this family

Answer 1

My name is Richard Moon still living at Draughton 2 miles from Bolton abbey and decendant from the prior moon family yes the nursery rhyme hey diddle diddle is about the two Bolton abbey families hey' s and moons both of whom still live in the area  moons at one time from hospital farm at Bolton abbey

Comments

Hi Richard

Do you recognise any of the names from my list of Moon ancestors from your research?  I find it hard to believe that we have no relationship.  Are you prepared to share your tree with me to compare?

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Yup I recognise many of the names as pettyt live in the same village as our family in draughton near Bolton abbey I believe my parents did some research into the family tree so would have to consult them on further information

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Hi Richard

Back again - I tend not to come into this website very often.

How do you relate to Prior Richard MOONE?  

I have still not been able to find the linking record between my family and his/yours.  I guess I will have to come up to Ilkley, from Hampshire, to look at local records to get any closer.

If your parents are prepared to share any information regarding the MOON(E) family at the time of the dissolution of the monestaries I should be delighted.

Answer 2

A prior is a term for a monastic officer in charge of a priory or ranking next below an abbot of an abbey.  Richard may have very well been a monk and if so, he may not have had any descendents.

Comments

He was definately the man in charge - I have a copy of his will.

I believe he married after the dissolution and had some children.  I have difficulty in finding these.

Answer 3

My 6 x Gt Grandfather James Moon who lived and died in Haworth.  I can't find his birth but I think it must have been about 1672, and I havn't been able to find a marriage.  He had children 1 called Alice who married Jeremiah Whitham in Addingham.  I have just ordered a will for Thomas Moon and a marriage bond.  I think he was probably born in Bolton Abbey but I have no proof.  Any advice please.

Answer 4

Hi there

Richard Moone was my 15th great uncle and his sister, Alice, was my 14th great grandmother.

Comments

Hi Piri

Thanks for responding.

Are you prepared to share your links Richard MOONE?

I suspect that my connection may be with a member of his family rather than with him but I truly do not know.

Gerry MOON

Answer 5

Hi Gerry

Just doing my family tree . My ancestors are James Moon and Margaret Petty and Joseph Moon and Margaret Clemie .Would love to share info

Comments

Hi Jo! 

Many thanks for your response.

James MOON (1718-1794) & Margaret PETTYT (1728-1790) are my 4x great grandparents; Joseph MOON (1763-1832) & Margaret CLEMIE (1767-1850) are my 3x great grandparents. All are buried at Bolton Abbey.

James MOON (b.c1691) &  Mary PEARSON (b. c1698) were James' parents.

Following Joseph and Margaret C comes their son Charles MOON (1809-1881) & Elizabeth HIRD (1807-1879) - my 2x great grandparents; Joseph MOON (1835-1908) & Mary Ann SMITH (b. 1844) my great grandparents; Charles MOON (1869-1924) & Sarah NUTTMAN (1875-1965) my grand parents.

My father, Charles Maurice MOON (1915-1980) was born in Ilkley. during WW2 he moved to Norfolk and met, and married, my mother.

I, Gerald Michael 'Gerry' MOON, was born in Norfolk Feb 1944.

I would love to be able to trace relatives back to Prior Richard MOONe but have so far been unsuccessful, despite my ancestors having been buried there for many centuries.

I have a copy of his will in which he mentions children and siblings but I am unable make the link.

Please feel free to contact my at my email address     merrygoon22244@gmail.com

Have a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2020

Your distant cousin

Gerry MOON