Vernon Name Study

Profile managers: One Name Studies WikiTree [send private message], Tony Vernon [send private message], and Caroline Verworn [send private message]

How to Participate

Please contact the Study's coordinator Tony Vernon or post a comment at the foot of the page. If you have any questions, just ask. Thanks!

Goals

This is a One Name Study to collect together in one place everything about one surname and the variants of that name. The hope is that other researchers like you will join our study to help make it a valuable reference point for people studying lines that cross or intersect.

Of particular interest are the three brothers Thomas, Randall, and Robert Vernon who settled in what is now PA in 1682, their descendants, and their origins in Cheshire County, England.

Members

Here are the current members of the Study. Please reach out to Tony Vernon if you would like to join publicly to collaborate.

• Tony Vernon: Tony Vernon
• Caroline Verworn: Caroline (Vernon) Verworn
• Alice Thomsen: Alice (Stephens) Thomsen Staff Sgt.

yDNA Study

Recently, a yDNA Study on the origins of the Vernon family is underway. Of particular interest would be individuals who descend from Vernon family branches that are NOT Quaker Vernons. Please reach out to me Tony Vernon if you are interested in participating.

Quaker Vernon Brothers

Thomas Vernon was the eldest of the brothers that came to PA in 1682. Randall Vernon is the middle brother, and Robert Vernon the youngest. There is a deed that proves that they were brothers (please see attachment 'AR Justice Research' on any of these pages).

Much of the Quaker Vernon descendants through the late 1700's are enumerated in Futhey & Cope's History of Chester County available here: https://books.google.com/books/about/History_of_Chester_County_Pennsylvania_w.html?id=jcYxAQAAMAAJ

While the origin of the Quaker Vernon brothers is definitely in Cheshire County, England, it is unproven beyond that generation. We are hoping that collaboration will find the origin of the Vernon brothers and their link to the wider Vernon family.

Task List

Of immediate concern is trying to track down the origin of the Quaker Vernon brothers. Evidence is missing for James Vernon as the father although that is the accepted ancestry both here and in other sources such as the 'Vernon Vignettes'. An examination of contemporaneous wills from Cheshire County, England in the 1600-1680 range may yield good results.

We have begun downloading and transcribing these wills. If you are willing to assist with transcribing, please contact Tony Vernon so that he can coordinate efforts.

Vernons around the world

There are branches of the Vernon family in most British Commonwealth nations. In Canada, many Vernons are descended from American Loyalists that fled what is now the United States during or following the Revolutionary War. There are also some families with the surname Vernon in France, presumably due to the Norman town Vernon from which the English family draws its name due to its founders holding that town under William the Conqueror at the time of the Norman Conquest. As the Vernons first settled at Haddon Hall in northwest England, there are English, Scottish, and Welsh branches of the family.

Research thus far

2 September 2023 author: Tony Vernon [Vernon-484]

The commonly accepted view that the father of the Vernon brothers was James is completely unsupported by any contemporaneous evidence. There is no James born at the right time in Cheshire, where we know the brothers are from. It is therefore necessary to review possible families that would contain the three immigrant brothers in the order of their birth. We do know from a Revolutionary War era deed that the brothers are in fact brothers. This is the collaborative place where we are now based on my own research with the help of others.

Here are individuals and how I think that they fit in. This would explain the Quaker Vernon brothers’ origin in Cheshire, and their ancestry 4 generations back. A couple of things of note. The (apparent) start of the line here has a Latin variant of Randall who seems to have died around 1579. Birth records start in 1538 in Staffordshire (more on that connection in a bit) so we may not be able to get a baptism for him. 3 and 4 generations down in what I THINK Is our lineal descent, there's Randle / Randull twice. Also, the Randull that I THINK is the Quaker Vernon father named daughters Elnor and Joane, and his apparent father's family (James / Jacobus, apparently born in Audley, Staffordshire) had daughters Elnor and Joane who both died in infancy. I think it's likely that Randull is our father, in part because there's a record of him being born in Tarporley and dying in Whitegate (where Robert was born) but also that there's a Joane Vernon (there is a daughter of that name born to him in Tarporley) who died in Whitegate - and there are very few Vernons in Whitegate so it makes sense that this daughter stayed with him after the family moved from Tarporley to Whitegate. Assuming that he moved from Tarporley to Whitegate, that would allow for a family with the three Quaker Vernon brothers in the right birth order with the same father's name. This is the only combination of the three Vernon brother's names and a single father. A recent addition to the puzzle is the will of one Thomas Vernon Thomas Vernon (abt.1600-bef.1637). He appears to be the brother of Randall Vernon, based on the him naming his nephew Thomas, Ellnore, and Joane. It is very likely that his father was James Vernon of Tarporley, supporting that Randall's father was James of Tarporley. Please see research notes on this Thomas's page for more information.

As to the jump from Audley, Staffordshire to Tarporley, Cheshire, it is about 20 miles as the crow flies. I have no idea why James Vernon, the potential Vernon brother's grandfather, might have gone, but it is not an insurmountable distance even in those days. It is very possible that he moved to be with another branch of the Vernon family that is related by blood or marriage, as there are many Vernons in Tarporley. Another possibility is that he inherited or purchased some land from the family. Randull Vernon (d. 1579) has a mention of land in Cheshire in his will. There is also litigation between Thomas, Randall's brother, and Thomas's son James, regarding land in Cheshire and Staffordshire.

There is a will dated 1599 from James Vernon of Audley, Staffordshire. That will does NOT reference a younger James, although there was a James son of James in Staffordshire from the right time period. It is possible that he was written out of the inheritance and that is how he ended up in Cheshire, as there seem to be very few men with the first name ‘James’ in the extended Vernon family. It is also possible that he received his inheritance before the elder James died, and used that money to relocate to Cheshire. As James the elder died in 1599 and James the younger was married in Cheshire in 1594, the inheritance could have financed the move and/or been a wedding gift. My understanding is frequently the inheritance was paid out at the time of marriage so that may be the case here. Also, James the elder had another daughter who was not included in the will, so he may have proceeded this way with two of his children.

The lawsuit in 1577 was over the inheritance of the manor house in Audley. There is a branch of the Vernon landed gentry that held land in Staffordshire. As of this writing this and several other lawsuits are on order from the UK National Archives for review to determine if they can shed some further light on the Staffordshire Vernons. Considering how many litigations survive among branches of the Vernon family, it is also possible that James lost his inheritance somewhere along the way and left to Cheshire, but that is pure speculation at this point.

From William Vernon and his son Randall Vernon, the Hanbury Vernons became quite prosperous. According to the family lore this branch of the family (and therefore ours) is descended from the Whatcroft Vernons, which was founded by Nicholas Vernon, 4th son of Warine (II) Vernon, Baron of Shipbrook who died c. 1288. According to Nash, we are descended from one Hugh Vernon of that family. From a tree I found in the British Library the line would then be

Nicholas Nicholas Radulphus Hugh Warin (alive 1364/5)

There is also a William and an Oliver Vernon of Whatcroft who were alive in 1472. It is unclear how they may be related to Warin previously to them, or to Thomas below. Simply by the way that names tend to repeat in families it seems likely that William (2nd generation below) is related to WIlliam of Whatcroft, but that is pure speculation at this point.

Theory:

1st generation:

Thomas Vernon of Newcastle, dates uncertain - "younger son of Vernons of Wh(e)atcroft" - Nash

2nd generation: William Vernon, dates uncertain - referenced in James Vernon's litigation with Randall Vernon as grandfather, as well as in Visitations

2nd generation: Father: Thomas Vernon, alive 1536, died 1557. Randall Vernon, d. 1579, father of Hanbury Vernon line, subject of litigation from Thomas and James

3rd generation: Father: Jacobi (James) Vernon born 30 Nov 1547 Audley, Staffordshire ^[1] 1599 will for James

Riccus Vernon Baptism 06 Dec 1549 Audley, Staffordshire ^[2] No will Note: lawsuit of 1577 of Elizabeth and James Vernon vs. Randall Vernon - need to get copy

4th Generation: Children of Jacobi (James) Vernon:

Randus (Randle) Vernon baptism 4 June 1567 Audley, Staffordshire ^[3] Will 07 February 1609 - National Archives

Father: (NOTE THIS IS NOT PROVEN) Jacobus (James) Vernon baptised 23 Feb 1568 Audley, Staffordshire 11 buried 23 Nov 1627 Tarporley ^[4]

Symon Vernon Baptism 12 Sep 1571 Audley, Staffordshire ^[5] No will

5th Generation: Children of James Vernon of Tarporley - (? Audley, Staffordshire?)

Elnor Vernon christened 19 Dec 1595 14 burial 21 Dec 1595 ^[6]

Father: Randull christened 15 Jul 1598 Tarporley buried 16 dec 1674/5 Whitegate9, ^[7]

Jane Vernon christened 17 Nov 1600 13 burial 22 Nov 1600 ^[8]

Thomas Vernon Thomas Vernon (abt.1600-bef.1637)

6th Generation (and family of Quaker Vernon brothers):

Children of Randle / Randull Vernon of Tarporley

Elnor Vernon c. 8 Mar 1628 Tarporley ^[9] ? married 1 jan 1665 Minshul Barker ? 1677 and 1681 wills

Joane / Jane christened 25 Mar 1632 Tarporley buried 4 Jan 1659 Whitegate ^{[10] [11]}

Thomas christened 1 Mar 1634 Tarporley ^[12]

Hugh christened 3 Oct 1637 Tarporley ^[13] - Randull? Couldn’t find burial record

Randle christened 27 Oct 1639 Tarporley ^[14]

Robert christened 15 Mar 1645 Whitegate ^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL32-KL9H : 16 March 2018), Jacobus Vernon, 30 Nov 1547; citing Baptism, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,321.
2. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3J-LHFT : 16 March 2018), Riccus Vernon, 06 Dec 1549; citing Baptism, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,321.
3. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3J-R9SQ : 16 March 2018), Randus Vernon, 04 Jun 1567; citing Baptism, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,321.
4. ↑ "England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVP-954 : 10 December 2017), James Vernon, 23 Nov 1627, Burial; citing , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,751,853.
5. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3J-GKMN : 16 March 2018), Symon Vernon, 12 Sep 1571; citing Baptism, Audley, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,321.
6. ↑ "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7BF-XN1 : 12 February 2018), Elnor Vernon, 21 Dec 1595, Burial; citing 124, , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,106,813.
7. ↑ "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7WR-Q5B : 7 December 2017), Randle Varnon, 16 Dec 1675, Burial; citing , , Whitegate, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,106,822.
8. ↑ "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7BF-XN1 : 12 February 2018), Elnor Vernon, 21 Dec 1595, Burial; citing 124, , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,106,813.
9. ↑ England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVP-SZ8

   10 December 2017), Elnor Vernon, 08 Mar 1628, Christening; citing , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,751,853. 2

10. ↑ "England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVP-7P6

    10 December 2017), Jane Vernon, 25 Mar 1632, Christening; citing , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,751,853.

11. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3J-GK9F : 16 March 2018),
12. ↑ "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQDC-Z2R : 7 December 2017), Thomas Vernon, 01 Mar 1634, Christening; citing it 10 p 82, , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,106,812.
13. ↑ "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQDC-6ZN : 7 December 2017), Hugh Vernon, 03 Oct 1637,
14. ↑ "England, Cheshire Bishop's Transcripts, 1598-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NHVP-ZHS : 10 December 2017), Randle Vernon, 27 Oct 1639, Christening; citing , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,751,853.
15. ↑ "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQDH-7XJ : 7 December 2017), Randull Vernon, 15 Jul 1598, Christening; citing it 10 p 35, , Tarporley, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,106,812.