Monday, January 23, 2017

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


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.

Family of Twining

Name: "It is to be remembered that 'TWYN' is an Anglo-Saxon word for 'doubt'; suggesting a descent from the skeptical Thomas. Another, among the mountains of Wales, finds the word meaning 'bush'. One wildly received view makes it a local appellation, derived from the Saxon words meaning 'two meadows'. His (William Twining) family is regarded as taking it's designation from a locality in Gloucestershire, England; where on the Avon, a few miles from Tewkesbury, is a village bearing the name and a ferry know as 'Twining Fleet'. Richard Twining of London holds to the theory that the name had it's origin at the junction of the Servon and Avon, from whence it is claimed members of the family emigrated to other countries."

Twining Crest: serpent twined around the arm.

Twining Coat of Arms: on background of silver, a black gate across the center with two stars above it. At the top,a circle above a horizontal line - as sun or moon rising or setting above and beyond the horizon.

At "Carnegie American Art" - a picture of "Residence of David Twining" in 1787 by Edward Hicks. (as a child Hicks was adopted by Twining, a devout Quaker) The residence still stands in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (?)

*****     *****     *****

The Twining family came to New England from southern England. Little is known of their earlier history. The name whether of Celtic or Anglo-Saxon origin is not absolutely clear, though more apt to be the latter than purely of Welsh or Celtic origin. The ancestors of the American Twining family were Anglo-Saxon and Puritan. They were met in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Canadians whose ancestors were natives of Wales. In great Britain the name Twining appears in Gloucestershire, Wales, vicinity of St Mary's Isle, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. (as found in 'The Twining Family' genealogy)

The name Twining, like others ending in 'ing' is understood to be of Anglo-Saxon origin. One view has derived from Saxon meaning 'two meadows'; another that 'ing' on words gives names to places rather than the reverse. ('ing' or meadow is a local prefix as in Ingham

Little is known of the first ancestor in America prior to his voyage across the Atlantic. Family tradition asserts that he came from Wales, another that he came from Yorkshire, England. An aged spinster spoke of a 'taint of French blood'. He had married before sailing to America. His son carried the same name. (see lineage record) William Twining Esq. settled in Yarmouth and Eastham. The New England genealogy states "in Yarmouth 1643". Other records imply 1641. (date of daughter's marriage) He was in the militia 1645, one of five sent against Narragansett. Twining was constable of (Congregational) Eastham 1651 and was a member of the Congregational church.  He was a steadfast Puritan. While some of the family went to Pennsylvania, he may have been content with that 'barren waste' which had produced so many noble men and women who blessed the world for having lived. Whatever as his motives, it remains to his credit that he was a man who transmitted to his descendants those qualities which has made their names an honor wherever they have gone. Many have filled professions of distinction. The cause of Christianity has been greatly blessed by their devotion. 

The family that went to Pennsylvania became Quakers.

*****     *****     *****


GENEALOGY

William Twining Sr. b. c. 1594
                                 d. 4/15/1659
                                  m. (1st)  to UNK; (2nd) 1652 to Anne Doane
                                                                                b. UNK
                                                                                d. 2/27/1680

Children: (known)

WILLIAM Jr b. UNK d. 11/4/1703 m. to Elizabeth Deane
Isabel b. UNK d. UNK m. 6/17/1651 to Francis Baker
  


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





***editor's note: this is a transcript of research completed in 1982 based on information available at that time. I have not yet researched this family further, but suspect there is more information/clarification available to us today. I will follow up at a future date with fresh data. ***


©2017 Anne Faulkner - AncestorArchaeology.net, All Rights Reserved
©1980-82 Elizabeth Twining Potwin Thomas - private collection



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