Notes From My Grandmother | Twining Lineage and Genealogy, Part One

Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light!

The Twining papers

The Twinings held a special fascination for my Grandmother. Her middle name was Twining. Her mother was a Twining. She drank Twining's tea, as did the rest of our family. I'm unclear as to the link between our family and the Twining's Tea Company, however. Our Twining ancestor came to the 'New World' c.1640 and has been recorded in the small book Genealogy of the Twining family : descendants of William Twining, Sr, who came from Wales or England.   

Of all the research I inherited, the Twining collection is by far the most expansive. My grandmother wrote 'stories' and typed up other little sketches on them. I will present them to you here, as written by her.

Our XVII Century Ancestor

William Twining

William Twining, Sr. (Esquire) came from Wales or England and died at Eastham, Massachusetts, 1659; born c. 1594.

He "is the central figure around a multitude of living characters comprising the generations of descendants measured by a distance of nearly two hundred and fifty years." (this from 'Twining Family Genealogy' published 1890)

At my accepted membership, summer of 1981, into the Williamsburg Chapter Century XVII Colonial Dames there are now five more generations. I am proud to be able to prove the ancestral line for membership into this organization.

William, as he first appears in New England's history on the shores of Cape Cod, was an important personage. Family tradition asserts that he came from Wales. Milestones hidden in the dead past causes one to ponder over problems in the world's history in that era. To have intelligence and courage to grasp and speculate on one's future and his family. William began a new life.

Information relating to historical and genealogcal matters, Mr. William Twining, Sr (Esq.) was in Massachusetts 1600's. Yarmouth records set his daughter's marriage at 1641. He also had a son, William. It is believed that he (Sr) touched shore at Plymouth among others, who became dissatisfied with the location and sought new homes along the Cape Cod coast. That he was a man of more than ordinary character was shown by the title which prefices his name in the early records.

The "History of Massachusetts Bay" tells us that first settlers of these colonies were very careful that no title or appellations be given where not due! Not more than half a dozen of principal gentlemen of the Massachusetts Colony took title of Esquire; and in a list of one hundred freemen, not more than four or five were distinguished by a Mr., although they were generally men of substance. Goodman and goodwife were the more common appellation.

The church at Plymouth regretted their departure for they who went out from here were among the most respectable of all the inhabitants of Plymouth. In 1643 William Twining was included in a "list of them able to bear arms" at Yarmouth. The records at Yarmouth 1643 ranked him among the militia which consisted of fifty soldiers.

In 1645 he was one of five soldiers sent out against the Narragansett. In 1645 he likely followed Governor Thomas Prence to Eastham and he was elected constable.

The Orleans, a portion of the oldest of 'Old Eastham', records had Annie Doane's marriage as 1652 to William Twining; records as death February 27, 1680. William's death occurred at Eastham April 15, 1659. He was probably more than sixty-five years old. William was a member of the Congregational Church.

Elizabeth P Thomas

                     9/81

#69 Driftwood Pl

16321 Pacific Coast Hwy

Pacific Palisades, CA 96272

.................to be continued....................

©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved
©1981 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection