George Miner

Born [date unknown] in England

Died [date unknown] in England

The Fraudulent Story

"Edward the third going to make warre against the French, tooke a progresse through Somersett; and coming to Mendippi Colles Minerarij, -- Mendippe hills in Somersett, where lived one Henry Miner ... who with all carefullness and Loyalltie" gathered his domestic and menial servants, armed them with battle axes, and offered himself and them to his King's service; making a complete hundred. He was then given his "coat armorial" Gules A Fesse betwixt three plates Argent.^[1]

Henry, Edward, Thomas and George Miners were fictitious children named as sons of an equally fictitious Henry.

"The Curious Pedigree of Lt. Thomas Miner"

The true pedigree was uncovered about 1979, when it was discovered that the arms attributed to Henry Miner were false.

From at least 1859, and perhaps earlier, descendants of Lt. Thomas Minor have accepted a pedigree and arms starting with the armigerous Henry who died in 1359. On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of Thomas’ departure for America, a group of descendants placed a plaque in St. Andrews Church where Thomas was baptised. His coat of arms was to be placed above the plaque, but proceedings were held up pending approval by the bishop who wished to obtain the usual search and recommendation by the College of Arms. Search by the College of Arms was unable to find references to Miners of Chew in any of the Herald’s visits. Subsequent study by historians and genealogists, has proved most of the pedigree to be untrue.^[2]

The only accepted ancestry of Thomas the immigrant is:

Clement Myner -- father born estimated about1562

Thomas Myner -- grandfather born estimatedbetween 1530 and 1535

William Myner -- great-grandfather born estimated between 1484 and 1500

Sources

1. ↑ “PEDIGREE OF MINER. An Herauldical Essay Upon the Surname of Miner.” New England Historical and Genealogical Register 13:161. (1859) at Archive.org
2. ↑ Miner, John A. and Robert F. Miner, The Curious Pedigree of Lt Thomas Miner New England Historical and Genealogical Register Vol 138 pages 182 - 185, (1984) link at American Ancestors