Foreword from The Prism. The book, The Prism is a one-of-a-kind project that came about due to the seemingly silent stand taken by past fathers…
By: Lorel G. Morrison (July 2008)
Presented at the Annual Family reunion meeting, July 2008, Montego Bay, Jamaica. W.I.
As mentioned in the book The Prism, in 1972 as I noticed that my maternal grandfather had died, seemingly leaving very little information on his past life, I started wondering what was his history.
His death signified a physical absence, leaving no clue of strong family connection.
The first question that came to mind, asked, “Why should I care about such a loss and why pursue that knowledge?” I certainly did not have great answers then, but today after an interesting stretch of time, 36 years and hundreds of research hours, I know that fact after fact got me grounded to the Giscombes. I have a sense of worth and connection, as I became a bearer of an ultimate gift to reveal the Giscombes. At times this quest seems an elusive goal.
Other questions back in 1972 were: Who were Darius G. Giscombe, my grandfather’s parents and his grandparents? Where did the name ‘Giscombe’ come from and why are there varied complexions (skin color) in the family?
Today, I must reveal that we are much closer in answering almost all those questions. But do understand that as we seek, other questions have evolved. One example is, what village, town or county in England did our European forefathers come from?
Did you notice I said England? I did not see the excitement in your eyes, probably because many of you have heard that same statement before. Probably, too many of us, have been hoping for an answer so long, that we have lost hope in truly wanting to know.
Our late uncle, John Aaron Giscombe, stated that he was told that the European side of the family emigrated from England. A researcher, Colin Parry, I used in some of the leg work for the book, The Prism, stated in December 1994, I quote, “I do not think the surname Giscombe/Giscomb is other than of English origin. The place-name element Combe (Comb or Coombe) is found in very many English place-names and in old English as Cumb, meaning a ‘valley.’ Almost every county has one or more names containing this element. For example, there is Swanscombe in Kent, Ilfracombe in Devon, and Castle Combe in Wiltshire and so on. The element also stands alone as Coombe in Hampshire and Combe in Gloucestershire, and it is from these places that the surnames containing the Combe element will have been derived.”
Christina Giscombe (in London), on the other hand, in a letter in October 2005, states that: “In Devon and Cornwall ‘Gist’ was a nickname that meant ‘stranger’ from the French ‘Giest’ and there are a few ‘Gists’.”
Hence the formula to the meaning of Giscombe looks like, ‘Gist equals Stranger and Combe equals Valley- therefore we are most likely, ‘Strangers from the Valley’.
It is truly a long time researching around one topic, only to revert to what was stated by Uncle John. However it is worth the time to seek, as now I am convinced that up to a certain time in history, our Giscombe roots lie some where in England.
My deduction is based on the following facts:
a. We now have documents of birth, death, marriage, baptism, wills, deed to land that point us accurately to James Giscombe, born circa 1668. His name shows up on many wills and the 1715 census of Barbados. Wills include names like Oliver Lamberte-1687, Edwards -1693, Phipps-1700 and Swinho-1702. Census documents made it clear that he was ‘white’ as in race, as opposed to other persons’ descriptions that state ‘free’, ‘mullato’and ‘slave’.
b. James’ name appears in a land deed of 1685, with a Judith Swinho, selling James as her grandson, two acres of land, for a grand total of thirteen (13) English pounds.
c. The family in Barbados communicated and drew up legal documents in the English language and named their kids with English names.
d. James Giscombe’s associates were prominent English folks. Men like Capt. James Swinho (who I strongly presume to be his grandfather), seemed to be an experienced military person. He seemed to have appeared in Barbados after fighting in the battles at Tadcaster, Adwalton Moor and Marston Moor. As per research by Christina Giscombe in London in 2007, a James Swinhoe took over the military operations on the death of a Mr. Calverings and was drawn into Carlisle garrison. We strongly assume that this is the same James Swinhoe that shows up in the Barbados records of 1685 and in a land deed drawn up by Judith Swinho, who professed to be his widow.
e. We do know that other friends of James Giscombe came directly from England. Men like Thomas Cuddugging and Oliver Lambarte shows up as passengers from England and also on the list of part of Colonel Simon Lambart’s troops to Barbados (1679/80 census – Barbados). Clearly they were military men.
f. I must point out that James Giscombe was just 14 years of age in 1679 based on information he gave in the 1715 Barbados census (later we will report his true date of birth). Therefore, the question is, “did he travel at such a young age to Barbados or was he born there?” I more believe that he traveled to Barbados, because the name ‘Giscombe’ did not seem to appear in the 1679/80 -census.
g. Twenty years ago in the late 1980s, the closest name in spelling to ‘Giscombe’ found in the English records was ‘Discombe’. As time passes, we find that more information is coming to light. In a 2007 trip to England, my daughter Kareen and I along with information from Christina Giscombe, came across the actual Giscombe name. These names are in the records for Devon, a county in southwest England and Gloucester, west central England. In those records there is an entire family, with Grace Giscombe as the mother, born 1828, William as the father, born 1833, Hannah, born 1862 and William R. Giscombe, born 1866. We also found a Samuel Giscombe, born 1811 and married to a Palince, living in Gloucestershire. Other names we saw were James Goscomb b. 1791 and William Goscomb in Matson b. 1798, Jas Goscomb in Matson b. 1781, Eliz Goscombe in Matson, Gloucester b. 1799, Richard Goscombe b. 1799 Gloucester. We also found records of a Mark Gascombe, married to Anna Wiseman on October 20th, 1639 in Cambridgeshire, England.
Having been told that the name ‘Giscombe’ derives from a place-name with the suffix ‘Combe’ meaning valley and knowing that there are many places in England, especially in Devon, Gloucester and London with the word ‘Combe’, I must draw the conclusion at this point in the research that the name Giscombe is truly English, at least back to the year 1500. Before that date it is possible it could well be of Norman (French) origins, even being part of William the Conqueror’s Norman conquest of Great Britain.
As we move back into history, revealing more facts about the Giscombes we will be pulled into the many twists and turns of the facts surrounding this family. Based on the book The Prism we have now shown that the Giscombes settled in Jamaica. Report #1 shows that they migrated from Barbados. See report #2, Path into the Past – Part 2; it will show their connection to England.
By: Lorel G. Morrison
Article Dated: August 21, 2013
Report Date: July 26th, 2014; Savannah, Georgia. USA
Since the last report to the family on July 22nd, 2011 in Miami, Florida, lots of air mileage has been added to our (Lorel’s and Kareen’s) worldwide travel, in quest of family history and data.
Research was conducted through the Internet, by land mail, telephone calls and on-site archival library document readings.
As reported on July 2011, we had stumbled across the name of one Elizabeth Gissome in Ancestry.Co.uk. This information has since lead us to Maidstone, Medway and Gloucester – all locations in England, in March 2013.
After a week of research, it occurred to us that a cousin by the name of Christine Giscombe who lives in England had sent us information some time back, on the Gissome family, pertaining to Bills of Complaint from Seventeenth Century Chancery Proceedings; for example a 1613 case – Gissome v. Shave C9/240/90 (corrected date as per Lorel is 1653). It is a wonderful sample to read as it points to some of the main issues, feelings, tensions and social family matters that brought these family members to court. These cases can be located at National Archives at Kew – in Charles I Chancery Index 1625-1649. James Gissome on behalf of himself and his sibling brought the cases to court. He sued different persons, including members of his family in an attempt to receive the inheritance their grandfather had left them.
These cases along with the birth, marriage and death records of the time seem to authenticate the existence of the Giscombes in England, under the name Gissomes before 1550.
The journey into the past came to light just after the renaissance period. A time when European culture blossomed and new ideas and ways of life burst onto the scene just after Christopher Columbus made his grand new discovery of the Americas.
Around 1500 A.D., England too flourished as the people exhibited art, letters and music – a given fact to the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer and William Shakespeare’s plays.
The heads of the English crown were mainly men with the exception of two women, Queen Mary I in 1553 and Elizabeth I in 1558. Men like Henry VII 1485 – 1509; his son, Henry VIII 1509 – 1547; his son Edward the VI 1547 – 1553 all ruled at various times. Henry VIII’s daughter, Mary, eventually helped to make England one of the most sophisticated cultures of Europe.
This royal group represented the core part of the family of Tudors. The members had family roots in France who incidentally continued to dominate the English crown like William the Conquerer in 1066.
One can most likely deduce that if the English Crown was so heavily influenced by France, then too French nobles, barons, fiefs and traders were also encouraged to migrate to England and be granted or purchase large tracks of land.
Hence by 1585 at Hoo on the Cliff, there appeared in the Anglican Church records of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths, the name of a family by Gissome, spelled as Gyffome in old English. One of the earliest names recorded, was that of a Thomas Gafsom, who was joined in matrimony unto Anne Wilson on the 9th or 10th of April 1587 (Item # 53 in Cityark-Medway. Gov –Po94-01-4). In subsequent records, a man by the name of William Gyssome appeared.
William who died in 1644, turned out to be the patriarch of that branch of the family in Higham and Cliff at Hoo, Kent. As per his will, he appears to be wealthy. He owned large tracks of farmland and pasture around Cliff and lower Highham, all districts in the county of Kent, England. William also owned different tenements (houses) in Higham.
His will spelled out who was to inherit what sections of land and who was to be given money.
The surname Gyssome seems to posses a French sound to it. Keeping in mind that it is already established that just before and during this period of history, England was being inundated with French families, one can likely deduce that the Gyssomes migrated to England as part of a war movement, commerce or royal decree. The family’s limited historical information does not speak strongly of royalty but more of military experiences. All this deduction is based on the marriages they conducted with other military families for example the Swinhoes of Northumberland.
The family of Gyssomes prospered during the reigns of Henry the VIII 1509 – 1547 through Oliver Cromwell during the commonwealth period of 1649 – 1653. By the restoration of Charles II as King of England in 1660, the Gyssome’s family name seems to have dwindled to just a few persons in and around Kent.
By the 1670s, the few family units with the name in spelling and phonics close to Gyssome seemed to have adopted a more Anglo-spelling. Names such as Guscombe, Giscome, Goscombe, Guiscombe and Giscombe sprang up in different places like Devon, Glouchester and even Barbados, the most precious English island in the blue waters of the West Indies.
From the Guiscombe, Giscomes or Giscombes of Barbados starting from 1668, it is clear that all persons with that name seem to come. It is now important to surmise or prove that all persons with that name and similar sound and spelling since 1558 have evolved or descended from the Gyssoms of Higham and Cliff, Kent, England.
The genealogical path is clear, starting from William Gyssome of Cliff and Higham. He had a son, also named William the Younger who died in 1641, before his father who died in 1644. The elder William in his will left land for Jane his latest wife. There are death records of a Dorothi, wife of a William Gyssome of Higham, who died in 1636 and was buried in or at the church at Cliff on the 25th day August, which implies that she was Williams’ of 1644, wife. William senior’s will, further stated that Jane his wife and a James a grandson who was just 5 or 7 years old at the time of William’s death were the sole executors.
Land was given to Jane the new wife and James one of the grandsons, while money was designated to two other grandchildren, a William and Dorothy in the sum of one hundred pounds each, currency of England. The tenements in Higham were given to Jane.
As the grandchildren grew older and reached age, which was twenty-one years old, Jane who was also their guardian successively married more than once and so intentionally or unintentionally did not grant or distribute especially the monies as per the will to William and Dorothy. James seemed to have inherited his portion of the estate in the form of land but, being the eldest grandson, sued Jane, her successive husbands and others in the family in a series of cases, on behalf of his siblings, record of which can be found in the Seventeenth Century Chancery Proceedings (see actual copies of case proceedings in supporting documents).
The cases seem to have lingered on for over twenty-five years.
The main plaintiff was James Gissome who happens to be the husband of the Elizabeth Gissome the young lady that died November 14th, 1668, at the age of 19 years old. We have now confirmed that Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter, also named Elizabeth, who was baptized on 21st March 1666. Elizabeth the mother went on to give birth to a son named James, baptized on November 25th 1668. In contrast to that date, Elizabeth the mother was buried on November 25th, 1668 in the St. Helen’s Anglican Church of Cliffe at Hoo, Kent England (Ancient records shows that a Saxon Church stood on that very church site in AD 747). In that church it is reported that there is a brass plaque with her effigy and burial information on it. A reference to the recorded document can be found in the Kent Archaeological Society’s Publication Archaeology Cantiana page 307- quote – Heare lyeth the body of Elizabeth Gissome late wife of James Gissome of this parrish who departed this life the 14 day of November 1668 being aged 19 yeares & 10 months Vivit post funere virtus- end of quote. A visit to the church proved that the plaque was possibly covered over with construction that took place in 1970s. But an image can be seen at Google Search under Kentish Brasses – William Douglas Belcher book 2 –under Cliffe inscription #115 in the book (also see attached). As one can view, the charcoal rubbing of the brass image shows the written inscription up top, with the image of a skull at the bottom.
At this juncture in time, a parallel was drawn between the surprising death of Elizabeth Gissome, as wife and mother and James Gissome the husband from the Bills of Complaints, and a theory in that the families of Gissome and Giscombe are the same.
It is clear that the name Gissome is spelled differently from Giscombe. The big question at this time is: Did the Gissomes become the Giscombes at a certain time in history? I, Lorel, Kareen and Christina do believe that is what indeed happened. The Gissome name was spelled, as Gyffom in old English and over the years seems to have gotten anglicized to Giscombe, especially with the adding of a ‘b’.
In fact we can see from a short history of the family around this period from c. 1580s through 1690 that different spellings of the Gissome name were used. Some examples in old English with the translation are as follows: Giffom = Gissom; Geifsom = Geissom; Gifsome =Gissome; Gossum = Gossum; Gafsom = Gassom; Gisham; and Gysfom = Gissom.
If our assumption is correct, that the Gissomes and Giscombes are the same, then we have finally discovered one of our family’s links in England.
The family links as follows will show two branches, with one lineage from the Swinhoes of Northumberland and the other from the Gissomes of Cliffe and Higham, Kent.
(Note: As per research by Christina Giscombe in England the first Swinhoes came to Northumberland, England with ‘William the Norman’ conquest in 1066. The name of that Swinhoe was Sir Gylbert de Swynhoe. Knight.)
The following information will attempt to convince the skeptical minds. At the end, one will notice that the ultimate link and proof is still missing between the Gissomes of Cliffe and Higham in the county of Kent, and the Swinhoes of Cornhill in the county of Northumberland; that is due to the missing fact of what was Elizabeth Gissome’s last name before her marriage to James Gissome. The following explanation will certainly repeat facts previously stated above, but now tries to expand the information to give a clearer picture.
The picture for the link to the Swinhoes, first starts to unfold with the Deeding of land to James Guiscombe in Barbados on the 6th of October, 1690- Ref# RB3- Vol 4 – page 616. In that document the grantor was Judith Swinhoe who clearly states that she, and I quote: ‘I Judith Swinhoe of the parish of St Lucies the (? Relict) and window of James Swinehoe deceased, [Judith had indeed became widowed as her husband James was killed in a duel with an Andrew Carr in Northumberland England in 1672] send greetings in our Lord God Everlasting. Now know ye that I the said Judith Swinehoe out of the natural love and affection which I bear unto my Grandson, James Guiscombe of the same place planter (as ?) in consideration of the sum of thirteen pounds current and lawful money of this island to me in hand paid by the said James Guiscombe and for (divers) other good causes and consideration me here unto moving have given granted bargained sold released and confirmed to by these present do for me my heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely freely and clearly give grant bargain sell release and confirm unto the said James Guiscomb his heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever a certain part or parcel of land containing two acres be the same more or less’- end of quote.
A 2013 Google search for Swinhoes of Northern/Surtees which carries ‘The Publications of the Surtees Society- with the History of Northern England, starting on page 113, tells of a Lawrence Dalton’s, professionally called a Herald (recorder) visited the region in 1558 and recorded the Pedigree of a William Swinhoe, who was described in the present tense as if then living, was part of the King’s English force assembled at Berwick to keep the Scots in check. William was later slain at Cornhill, where he lay with his garrison on December 22nd 1558 (Queen Mary also died the same year- 17th Nov, 1558- the funeral took place in London on the 12th of Dec 1558). Pedigree links, historically had to be established before an individual was given the privilege to fight for the crown. Usually a shield of Arms is shown but is left blank in the manuscript in the case of the Swinhoes. In this document, Dalton interviewed a Gylberte Swynnoe who stated that his grandfather was Rauphe Swynnoe- born -1432, died 1470 and William as his father. The records indentified William’s siblings as William, Thomas, Sir Andrew a priest and Knight, Katheryn, and Margaret. Gylberte Swinhoe, who supplied the pedigree died 3rd June 1560, at Raine, North Durham (P.1840). Two of the sons of Gilbert namely William Swinhoe and Ralph Swinhoe each commanded 100 horsemen on the border of Scotland and England in 1558. The last named, Ralph, before he died, along with another brother named James, joined the rebellion in 1569, and were named in the subsequent ‘Act of Attainder’ but both escaped execution. (See pedigree chart).
From a Google Books search we confirm that James Swinhoe was really one of the 1569 rebels who later became the father of Gilbert Swinhoe of Chatton.
Information comes from ‘Records of the committees for Compounding ETC: With Delinquent Royalists in a Google Book search ‘ Yearly Value before the war Y.V.B.W. page 352, starting with Gilbert Swinhoe of Chatton’.
Also from www.Ebooksread- Great Britain – Committee for Compounding with delinquency we find Gilbert Swinhoe of Chatton. Cal.V. P.3250. Quote: 1646 April 16. Under the date, is a list of imperfect cases, i.e. of persons who petitioned to compound- (Then on Page 237)– Points to a pedigree of the family of Swinhoe of Goswick, in Islandshire, and Cornhill on Tweed – Gilbert, above was a son of James Swinhoe of Berwick by Margaret, daughter of George Orde of Easter New- bigg in gent, and grandson of Gilbert Swinhoe of Cornhill and Goswick. Gilbert married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Tuevara or Guevara, Knight of Berwick, descendant of a Spanish mercenary who settled in England under Philip and Mary. Gilbert was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1642, and as such was included in the list of those who were charged with having raised the ‘Posse Comitatus’ against the Parliament, was by resolution of the House of Commons Oct 3rd, 1644, excluded from employment. The following year under circumstances that are not recorded he was taken prisoner and shipped to London, as appears by the Commons Journal, under the date Sept 27, 1645, whence it is stated that a letter from the Commissioners of both Houses, from Berwick, of Sept 16, was read, announcing that by Captain Robert Carre, in the (Samuel Journal)? of London, they had sent up a prisoner Mr. Gilbert Swinhoe, sometime High Sheriff of Northumberland, with a desire to have a special care taken of him, in regard of his interests and ill-affections. The house committed him to the tower of London, there to remain a prisoner during their pleasure- end of quote. He happened to die around that time, whether in jail or not, was not clear.
Gilbert the father and Sheriff had issue with Dorothy they were Dorothy, James and Gilbert. Gilbert the son became an author, his book ‘The Tragedy of the Unhappy Fair Irene’ was a well know play. James Swinhoe another son of Gilbert, as a Captain, was a (Marquis of Newcastle’s Foot) rose to the rank of Colonel and even took over on Colonel Clavering’s death.
James at the rank of Colonel and while married to Judith also appears to have lived in Barbados as a family: their children were a girl (name to be proven) and two boys George and Thomas. Whether they were born in Barbados or not is yet to be proven. This girl, I (Lorel) am quite certain is the mother of James Guiscombe, remembering that Judith refered to James as a grandson. This bit of history is yet to be proven that she was the young Elizabeth that died at the age of 19, and at the time was married to James Gissome of Cliffe.
Before I switch to the Gissome/Guiscombe lineage I must point out that James Swinhoe when he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the army in 1643, was appointed the executor of his mother’s estate who was Lady Dorothy Tuevara or Guevara of Duddo, she died on 7th of October 1630, as indicated in a her Will dated 29th September 1630 (Ref: DPRI/1/1630/G8/1-2 -7th October 1630). Probate granted at Wooler to James Swinhoe, to whom was also granted the tuition of Elloner Claveringe, granddaughter of the deceased and daughter of James Claveringe of Chatton Gentleman, executor, 10 Mar 1631 (Tuition was also granted to Dorothy Swinhoe –daughter to the deceased. James on a visit to Northumberland in 1672, possibly from Barbados, was pulled into a conflict with one Andrew Carre Gentleman and James’ brother, Gilbert the author. Carre, who happened to kill James on 23rd Feb at Chillingham, challenged James, who seemed to have defended his brother, to a duel (This statement was taken from a deposition by Richard Hendersone, details are also in Surtees. Soc. Pub. 40-P.187. Raine (111.l. Xortli Durham) End of Quote.
This sudden death of James Swinhoe seems to indicate the reason for a non-existence of a will in Barbados.
In an effort to present more evidence as to who was this James Swinhoe we take information once more from –www.ebooksred.com. Quote: James Swinhoe of Chatton. 1649. May 2. James Swinhoe compounds for his delinquency in assisting the forces raised against Parliament, in the first and last engagement. He has been beyond the seas for 6 months past. Particulars of his estate: For life, with various remainders, the manor of Barrington, Y. V. B. W (Yearly Value Before the War) 120 pounds, after expiry of a lease for 5 years; a tenement or messuage with several tenements and land called Cornhill, parish of Norham, Y. V. B. W. 10 pounds; a messuage or tenement and lands called Crookehouses, parish of Kirknewton, Y. V. B. W. 30 pounds; a tenement and lands in Chatton, Y. V. B. W. 10 pounds; a tenement and lands in Kirknewton, Y. V. B. W. 2 pounds; several cottages in Holy Island MD, Y. V. B. W. 1 pound, all in fee. Craves allowance of the following seems charged upon Berrington by deed dated June 22nd, 1637: 600 pounds to the Earl of Suffolk, with 12 years interest; 200 pounds to Thosmas Welford, Esq., with 7 years interest; 100 pounds to William Bradley with 7 years interest; 100 pounds to William Turney, gent, with 8 years interest; 100 pounds to Mark Bradley with 7 years interest; also one pound per annum for ever to the Castle of Norham, out of Cornehill; also his mother’s third, 31 pounds per annum, out of all the lands except Berrington, 1649 Aug 9, fine 393 Pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pennies.
1651, July 22nd- Compounder complains that, although he has paid his fine and had his discharge, he is threatened with re-sequestration by the (Court?) Commission unless he brings in his composition money to Mr. Ledgard of Newcastle, treasurer for compositions there. Order that he be no further molested, End of Quote.
To show the other lineage, we start with a 1644-probated Will for William Gyssom (the older) of Higham, Kent, who died in 1643-44. In his will (Ref: # DRB/PWr/22.601 (601 being the page #) or DRB/PW/31- from the records at Kent History and Library Center) he granted land as stated before, it seems to his wife at the time, named Jane (previous wife seemed to be a Dorothi who died 25th day of Aug 1636) and a grandson James Gissom; also one hundred pounds each to two other grandchildren William and Dorothy.
All grandchildren were minors at the time of William’s death. Jane and young James were appointed executors. Apparently Jane was expected to grant the grandchildren their portion of the estate when they grew up, meaning reaching the age of 21 years, but apparently she didn’t and so caused the series of suites for over 25 years with James trying to right the situation. The following is a list to date, of documented cases: 1613 Gissome Vs. Shave, wid. C9/240/90 (Corrected date by Lorel is 1653); 1668 Gissome v. Norton Widow .C9/130/119(Corrected date seems to be 1660); Gissom v. Cart. G4/16 and Gissom by Guardian v. Gissom. G12/60. In future, other cases might possibly come to light, as more information is uncovered.
William Gyssom was quite rich, with land holdings at Cliffe and Higham, and tenements at Higham. From the book, “Ancestral Trails, The complete Guide to British Genealogy And Family History-Second Edition by Mark Herber, there is a section titled ‘Kent Hearth Tax Assessment Lady Day 1664, Edited By Duncan Harrington. On page five there is a list of homeowners from Higham Lower Borough in which is listed William Gyssom as having a house with three hearts and taxed as such. His only son on record to date was also called William, but more correctly called William the younger. William the younger died Nov 8, 1641. William the younger had four children whom seem to have died very young. The ones that lived longer were James, William and Dorothy, all mentioned in the suites.
James Gissom one of the children mentioned above, was baptized on May 8th 1636, seem to have died in 1685 (see family chart). He was married to Elizabeth and had a daughter also called Elizabeth, baptized March 21, 1666, and a son James Gisom, christened Nov 25, 1668.
It is more of an assumption than fact that it seems with the sudden death of Elizabeth on the 14th of November 1668, James the father some short years later in 1679 shipped off his two young children to Barbados to live with their grandmother Judith Swinhoe.
I Lorel proposed that the young James christened Nov 25, 1668 is the same James Guiscombe that was granted land by his grandmother, Judith Swinhoe in 1690. James later appeared in the 1715 census in Barbados as James Giscom.
Our readers will note and question the birth date of James Guiscombe of 1668 verses the suggested date of 1665 as shown in the 1715 Barbados census. We can explain that difference, by pointing to the fact that most men of the time would round up their ages to the nearest tenth.
James went on to play a comprehensive roll in the life of the Giscome family and social matters, in Barbados, even up to his death in 1726 (see family trees).
In concluding, we propose that the Giscombes were once Gyssom, Gissom, Gussom and Gissomes. The records of the family by name of Goscombe that were discovered in Gloucester can well be an offspring of the Gissome, they were of a younger age. In subsequent years the ‘b’ was added to the name to Anglo – sized it. We think that the main root of the family of Gissome, did not spring from Cliffe or Higham, but possibly came from France with the coming or just after the arrival of William the Conquer in 1066 or Holland, as recent research now shows that the origin of the word ‘Combe’ is from that country. In the future we will continue to look at the records of Devon England and then on to France and Holland, in an effort to prove that theory.
By: Lorel G. Morrison
July 22nd, 2011—Miami, Florida
Since the July 2008 family report in Montego Bay, Jamaica, research has been made in the quest into our family’s history.
I am reminded of the old T.V. show ‘ The Fugitive’ that showed this determined man who, having suspected another man for killing his family, would night after night pursue this alleged murderer.
The film showed this husband in each episode getting closer and closer in catching this fellow, but seeming to fail in capturing the killer at the end of each show.
I feel like that father at times, as I seek genealogical facts around the Giscombe family. Each time I seem to get closer in revealing our European connection, to both country and place; I fall just short to fully prove that fact.
Along the way I (Lorel) and now helped by my anthropology-trained daughter, Kareen Morrison, have been enjoying the climactic moments of high, when we do come across information that is invaluable. Those very emotions were again experienced on our recent trip to Barbados.
I have in recent years come to believe that the island of Barbados holds family secrets, just anxious to be released.
In an effort to exhaust all possible information in the archives on the island, we ventured out on the trip in March 2011. Before going we came across the name Elizabeth Gissome in the files of Ancestry.co.uk. Elizabeth’s name in the record, pulled our attention for many reasons. For one, the spelling of the name is remarkably close to today’s spelling. Her name and death announcement were permanently placed on the walls of the parish church in Cliff, England. This information allowed us to come to the conclusion that she was very important or at least married to a highly-ranked gentleman.
Elizabeth’s death record says November 14th, 1668, at the age of 19 years old. She was the wife of a James Gissome. She was therefore born in 1649 and could easily have been the mother of James Giscombe. According to the Barbados census of 1715, James Giscombe was born in 1665. But in fact in the same set of documents for the death of Elizabeth Gissome, we find the baptism records for a James Gissome, baptized on November 25th, 1668. James would have been an infant when Elizabeth died.
Now this is where I sometimes speculate and do bare with me. I can now assume because of Elizabeth’s death, efforts were made to send her son James to his grandmother Judith Swinhoe in Barbados, around the year 1679. All these persons were real, but do remember I am only assuming the connection between Elizabeth of Cliff, England and James of Barbados at this time for research reasons.
In going back into our records, the Swinhoe family chart indicated that the Giscombes are connected to that family. Remember Judith Swinhoe had said that James Giscombe was her grandson and James Swinhoe was her husband. In the Barbados records we have now found out that James Swinhoe was a very early settler and landowner as indicated in a 1638 list of landowners. This land was even documented on the first map of the island, which was created by Ligon, a 17th century historian, in 1640. It is a fact that Barbados was first settled in 1627, so a man owning land in 1638 certainly shows that he was a very early settler.
Ligon’s map interestingly indicates that James Swinhoe’s property currently houses section of the land that The University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus is built on.
For this extensive 2011 search, it was wonderful that Kareen went with me. Frankly having an expert meant we would most likely gather more information. The old saying two heads are better than one. With two of us there, it reduced the chance for us having to return in the near future.
Our main objective on this trip was to explore all possible handles. Viewing and reading all documents to possibly lead us to a better understanding of who we are as Giscombes.
While the dozens of Wills, Deeds of Land, Money and Goods, Birth, Death, Baptism and Marriage records indicated a culture of life in Barbados, they did not concretely point the Giscombes to a particular place and country in Europe. Remember the research and records we have so far, does point us to England, but we are still seeking a more definite location.
However two documents we found gave us a lot; on one hand, lots of questions and on the other, joy.
In a deed of Katherine Swineho (record code- RB3/4 p189) in 1685 that deed two slaves, Pumy a man and Wheelah a woman, to her daughter now named Katherine Simons, indicated that one of the witnesses to this document was one John Giscomb. This finding posed a big question. For one, I (Lorel) strongly believe that only a James Giscombe should be in Barbados at this time. We (Lorel and Kareen) think and hope that the use of John was a mistake in record keeping. A ‘John’ did not appear again in any records until in the 1715 Barbados Census and again in the 1725 will of James Guiscomb/Giscombe.
The other document, a Will for Mary Pooler (RB6/22 P.242) entered February 24th, 1729, made the whole trip worthwhile. In it Mary revealed who her children were and who her mother was. Wrapped up in this document one can hear the nearness of the end of life in her language and her concern for her children as she instructed friends and family to make sure the children live with her mother, Frances Giscombe, in Mary’s house, after Mary’s death. Frances, if I may point out, is also the wife of James Guiscomb/Giscombe of 1665 – 1726.
Do reference the family tree and wills as needed.
We can safely conclude that the Giscombes, Swinhoes and Poolers in Barbados were all interwoven as family members.
We strongly believe that the Swinhoes are of English roots given the information from other documents. It is a fact that some members of the Swinhoes settled in Barbados at a very early stage of that country’s development, others in Virginia, USA. We know a James Giscombe settled in the island of Barbados, around 1679. If we conclude that James Gissome is the same James Giscombe, then, he was close to if not 11 years old, when he migrated to Barbados.
From here on we have a clear connection of the family from Barbados with links to Jamaica and now the world.
We will continue to seek.
Thank you for your time and attention and to Kareen for her keen sense and sharp eyes.
Stay tuned for ‘Path into the Past’—Part 3. This report will clearly connect the Giscombes to England as we accept that the Giscombes were once Gissomes.
Lorel G. Morrison.