The Tryon Family In America

Author: Wesley Tryon

INTRODUCTION

Since our thirteen years of searching have produced no printed history of any magnitude on the Tryon Family in America, we feel there is a need for such a work. We have delved into many places, starting with the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the National D. A. R. Library in Washington, D.C., and extending to the Capitol Library in Hartford, Conn., the State Library in Montpelier, Vt., and the public libraries of Columbus, Ohio, and Fort Worth, Tex. All of this has necessitated the traveling of many miles and the expending of numerous of our meager retirement dollars, not to mention the reams of correspondence with members of the family and numerous others interested in the subject all over the United States, plus the placing of ads and inquiries in several genealogical publications.

As a result of our research, we have come up with bits and pieces in great numbers, mostly in connection with the genealogies of other families, all of which information we have filed and processed through our more or less computerized mind, and have been able to piece together most of the parts of the giant jig-saw puzzle. This book is intended to show, as a result of all this work, as complete a picture as we have been able to construct. There are still many pieces with no indication as to where they belong.

As somewhat of a reward for our efforts, we are led to the conclusion that very few of the descendants of William of Wethersfield have in any way dishonored the Tryon name. The record of the family as a whole is that of a sturdy, energetic, strong-willed, and dependable race, possessed of determination of purpose, patience, prudence, and patriotism. Many have achieved some degree of affluence during the almost 300 years in this country, but not one, so far as we have been able to discern, has yet joined the Millionaire's Club. Practically every male has served in the wars of their times, most of them on the side of the U. S.

Starting with the theory that William of Wethersfield was the first of the name in this country, we have numbered him 1.1, and his children 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.1c, etc. Then their children in turn are numbered in the same fashion, starting with 3.1a, 3.1b, and so on, thus the number before the period indicates the generation, while the number following the period indicates their place in that generation. This is our own individual system of numbering, and seems necessary to keep in proper perspective the numerous members of the family over the past thirteen generations. Each person is numbered at the place of his or her birth, and again at his or her private paragraph. All spouses are in italics.

At this point I want to pay tribute to my very broadminded and helpful wife, whose assistance and forbearance has been put to a supreme test many times during the hours, days, and years spent on this project.

Bibliography, credits, and index by names are at the back of the book.

Ten years later: This book has been enlarged, corrected, and revised. Materials received from many sources since the first publication have been added, and the book has been almost doubled in names added, but, of course, it is not yet complete. Also the numbering system has been somewhat changed from the first edition.

HISTORY

History establishes the fact that the original Tryon family, from which we all spring, was well established in Holland, being prolific, influential, and wealthy for more than a hundred years prior to the capture of that country by Spain, when it became known as the Spanish Netherlands. We find that some time after the middle of the Sixteenth Century, great numbers of the population of Holland began changing from Catholic to Protestant in their religious feelings, angering the King of Spain to the point that he sent as his emissary to suppress this transition, a trustworthy member of his court in the person of the Duke of Alva. The Duke was vehement in fulfilling his mission and put such pressure on the inhabitants that many who were able financially and otherwise, gathered their worldly goods, as much as possible, and migrated with their families to England, while many who could not escape were put to the sword.

Thus it was that in about 1563 three families of Tryons, then spelled Trioen or Tryoen, namely Peter, Francis, and William arrived in England, emigrants from Wulverghem or Nulmedgren in Flanders. The first mentioned and apparently the most important of these was Peter, who was married to Mary (---), and according to letters of denization granted to him on Feb. 4, 1563, was "Pieter Tryoen from the dominion of the King of Spain." He had been a successful merchant, and, "holding to the reformed doctrine, was so well advised as to remove himself and his family out of the reach of the claws of Inquisitor Titelmann." (quote from an article "The Huguenot Families in England" published in the Ancestor.)

Peter was a deacon in the Dutch Church in London in 1580, and lived in a house called "Worm on the Hoop", in the parish of St. Christopher-le-Stocks. He was made a Baronet in 1600, and purchased fine estates in Northamptonshire. He was quite wealthy and contributed and later bequeathed large sums of money to Dutch churches in Norwick, Colchester, and Sandwich. William Camden, Clarencieux, granted him in London on July 1, 1610, a coat-of-arms inscribed "azure une fesse embattellee entre six estailes de or" with a crest reading "Caput ursi nativo colore septem stellulis aurieis aspersum," translated as "a blue belt with six six-curved point stars of gold," and the crest "a bear's head in black, dotted with six six-pointed stars of gold." The family motto reads: "In Cruce mea spes," meaning "In the Cross is Hope." The same crest and motto, with slight variations, we find connected to the three branches of the family.

Peter died Mar. 29, 1611, and by an inquest taken on Dec. 6, 1611, it was found that his son and heir was Moses, aged 30 years and upwards. He had made a will dated Jan. 20, 1609, describing himself as "Peter Trioen borne at Wulverghem in Flanders in the parts beyonde the seas, now dwelling in the parishe of Saint Christofer nere the Stocks in London, and free denison of England."

This will made his son Moses heir to all his lands in Flanders, plus 5,000 pounds. To his sons Samuel and John, 5,000 pounds each, to his daughter Mary, wife of Sebastian Harvey, and to his daughter Hester, wife of William Courten, 4,000 pounds each. To his grandson Peter, son of Moses, 300 pounds. To Peter, Mary, and Sara, children of his late daughter Sara and her husband David Le Maire, 4,000 pounds amongst them, plus 100 pounds more to Peter, who was his godson. To his god-daughters Sara Trion, daughter of Moses, and to Hester Courten, daughter of Hester, 100 pounds each. To Anthony Trioen, if he should be a bachelor at the testator's death, 50 pounds. He gave legacies to the poor of the Dutch and Flemish churches in London, and to the Dutch churches in Norwich, Colchester, and Sandwich, and to the poor of Rickmansworth and St. Christopher's parishes. The will was proved on Mar. 30, 1611. He was buried in the Church of St. Christopher on Apr. 15, 1611. His wife Mary, probably also Flemish, died Jan. 3, 1619, in London, and was buried beside her husband in St. Christopher's on Jan. 16, 1619. Their family consisted of eight sons and four daughters:
2 Abraham,
3 Moyses or Moses,
4 Mary,
5 John,
6 Sarah,
7 Hester or Esther,
8 Samuel,
9 John,
10 Daniel,
11 (---),
12 Daniel,
13 Peter.

Abraham Trioen or Tryon 2, son of Peter and Mary, was a merchant in London. He married Leonora Vierendeels, daughter of Adrian Vierendeels, a citizen of Antwerp, at Austin Friars on Oct. 16, 1599. After his death, she married second, Gregory Downehall, master in Chancery, and third, Sir John Bennett knight of Uxbridge. She died in 1638, and was buried in Uxbridge Chapel.

Moyses or Moses Tryon 3, of Harringworth, county of Northants, esquire, son of Peter and Mary, was christened in the Dutch Church at Austin Friars on Dec, 21, 1572. He married Sarah van der Peele, of Sandwich, at Austin Friars, on June 3, 1600. He was a high sheriff of Northamptonshire. They had four sons and four daughters:
14 Mary,
15 Sarah,
16 Peter,
17 Elizabeth,
18 John,
19 James,
20 James,
21 Joan.

Mary Tryon 4, daughter of Peter and Mary, was christened at the Dutch Church on Mar. 25, 1575. She married first Sir Sebastian Harvey, of London, knight and Lord Mayor, in 1619, by whom she left one daughter, name unknown. She married second, Sir Thomas Hinton, of Wanesborough, county of Wilts, knight. She died about 1630, and was buried at Wanesborough.

John Tryon 5, son of Peter and Mary, was christened at Austin Friars on Sept. 15, 1577, and died young.

Sarah Tryon 6, daughter of Peter and Mary, was married at the Dutch Church on Feb. 9, 1592, to David le Maire, of London, son of James le Maire, of Tournay. They had three children:
22 Peter le Maire,
23 Mary le Maire,
24 Sara le Maire.

Hester or Esther Tryon 7, daughter of Peter and Mary, was christened at the Dutch Church, Dec. 13, 1579. She married Sir William Courten, knight, at the Dutch Church on July 17, 1604. He was born in London in 1572, and died on May 27, 1636. She was his second wife. His first wife was Catharina Crommetin, a deaf mute, daughter of Pieter Crommetin, and heir to her father's fortune of 60,000 pounds. The daughter of Esther and Sir William was:
25 Hester Courten.

Sir Samuel Tryon 8, of Halstead, county of Essex, baronet, son of Peter and Mary, was born in England and christened at Austin Friars, Mar. 25, 1582. He was knighted by King James at Newmarket, Apr. 25, 1613, and was made a baronet on Mar. 28, 1620. He married Elizabeth Eldred, daughter of John Eldred of London. Sir Samuel died at Boys Hall on Mar. 8, 1627, and was buried on the north side of the chancel of Halstead Church. Elizabeth married second, Sir Edward Wortley, knight, and second son of Sir Richard Wortley, of Wortley, county of York, baronet. Sir Samuel and Elizabeth had only two children:
26 Samuel and
27 Elizabeth.

John Tryon 9, son of Peter and Mary, was christened at the Dutch Church on Apr. 19, 1584, and was buried at St. Christopher's on Sept. 14, 1612.

Daniel Tryon 10, son of Peter and Mary, was christened at the Dutch Church on Aug. 28, 1586, and died young.

(---) Tryon 11, daughter of Peter and Mary, was married before 1603 to Levinus Munke, a Dutch merchant in London, and they had children, names not known. She died before Dec. 29, 1607.

Daniel Tryon 12, son of Peter and Mary, was christened at the Dutch Church on Apr. 8, 1588, and died young.

Peter Tryon 13, son of Peter and Mary, was christened at the Dutch Church on May 20, 1602, and died young.

Mary Tryon 14, daughter of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars, Jan. 10, 1603.

Sarah Tryon 15, daughter of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars, June 23, 1603.

Peter Tryon 16, of Bulwick, county of Northants, esquire, son of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars on Dec. 16, 1604. He married Judith Cullen, daughter of Sir Abraham Cullen, of Sheen, county of Surry, baronet. After Peter's death, she married second, Thomas Cole, of Lisse, county of Hants, esquire. Peter and Judith had two sons and two daughters:
28 Mary,
29 Sarah,
30 James,
31 Samuel.

Elizabeth Tryon 17, daughter of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars, Oct. 19, 1606. She married John Huxley, son of George Huxley, of Edmonton, esquire. He was born about 1599, and died Apr. 30, 1627.

John Tryon 18, son of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars, Jan. 22, 1608, and was buried at St. Christopher'le Stocks on Mar. 27, 1632.

James Tryon 19, son of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars on Nov. 11, 1610, and died soon after.

James Tryon 20, son of Moses and Sarah was christened at Austin Friars on June 21, 1612.

Joan Tryon 21, daughter of Moses and Sarah, was christened at Austin Friars, May 8, 1614, and married John Crooke, esquire, at Allhallows- in-the-Wall on Nov. 20, 1634.

Peter le Maire, 22 son of Sarah and David le Maire, no date.

Mary le Maire 23, daughter of Sarah and David le Maire, no date.

Sara le Maire 24, daughter of Sarah and David le Maire, no date.

Hester Courten 25, daughter of Hester and Sir William Courten, no date.

Sir Samuel Tryon 26, of Halstead, baronet, son of Sir Samuel and Elizabeth, was born in April of 1616, and was christened at St. Christopher's on Apr. 28, 1617. He married first, Bridget Lee, daughter of Sir Harry Lee, of Quarrendon, county of Bucks, baronet, and Eleanor (Wortley) Lee. He married second, Susan Harvey, daughter of John Harvey, of Newton, county of Suffolk, gentleman. She survived him and married second, Timothy Thornbury, of London, gentleman. She died "in Michallmus after the great frost." Sir Samuel and Bridget had one son and one daughter:
32 Samuel,
33 Eleanor.
Sir Samuel and Susan had five sons and one daughter:
34 Samuel John,
35 Sir Samuel John,
36 John,
37 Moses,
38 Moses,
39 Anne.

Elizabeth Tryon 27, daughter of Sir Samuel and Elizabeth, was christened at St. Christopher- le-Stocks on Apr. 29, 1619, and was buried there on June 2, 1620.

Mary Tryon 28, daughter of Peter and Judith, was born about 1650, and died Jan. 13, 1679. She married first, Sir Samuel Jones, of Courteenhall, county of Northants, knight, in June of 1669. After his death, she married second, (Charles Bertie, of Uffington, county of Lincoln. He was a son of Montague Bertie, Earl of Lindsey, and was born in 1640. He died Mar. 22, 1711, in his 71st year.

Sarah Tryon 29, daughter of Peter and Judith, was born about 1651, and married John Savile, of Methley Hall, county of York, esquire, in June of 1666, she then being "a spinster of age 15 and living at Lisse with her mother Judith Cole who consents." He was christened at Methley on July 11, 1644, and died and was buried there on Feb. 12, 1717, leaving children, names not known, from whom descended the Saviles, Earls of Mexborough. Sarah and John had an only daughter: 40 Jane Savile.

James Tryon 30, of Bulwick, county of Northants, esquire, son of Peter and Judith, no birth date shown. He married Margaret Styldolfe, daughter of Sir Richard Styldolfe, of Norbury in Mickleham, baronet, in January of 1688. She survived him and married second, Richard Savage, Earl Rivers, Commander-in-Chief of the forces of England, who was born in 1660 and died Aug. 19, 1712. She died about 1690. James was buried at Harringworth. He and Margaret had two sons:
41 Charles,
42 James.

Sir Samuel Tryon 31, of Collyweston, county of Northants, gentleman, son of Peter and Judith, was born about 1656. When 24 years of age he married first, Elizabeth Hoste, daughter of Theodorus Hoste, of Mortlake, county of Surrey, gentleman, in December of 1680. She was born about 1662, died at age 33, and was buried at Harringworth on May 10, 1695. They had five children:
43 John,
44 Samuel,
45 Peter,
46 Charles,
47 Jane.
Sir Samuel married second, Christian Wenyeve. His will was dated Sept. 15,1711, and was proved Mar. 1, 1712. He was buried at Harringworth. The will of Christian was dated Feb. 27,1718, and was proved June 6, 1718. She also was buried at Harringworth on May 27, 1718. They had five children:
48 George,
49 Mary,
50 Anne,
51 Elizabeth,
52 Christian.

Sir Samuel Tryon 32, of Halstead, third baronet, son of Sir Samuel and Bridget, died unmarried about 1671.

Eleanor Tryon 33, daughter of Sir Samuel and Bridget, was born about 1673, and married Sir Richard Franklyn, of Moor Park, county of Harts, on Mar. 30, 1661, at St. James in Clerkenwell, she "being then of Halstead and a spinster, aged about 18." He was born about 1636, and died in 1685. They had children, but names are not known.

Samuel John Tryon 34, son of Sir Samuel and Susan, died young.

Sir Samuel John Tryon 35, son of Sir Samuel and Susan, succeeded his half-brother as fourth and last baronet in 1670. He married Mary Bownds, daughter of Robert Bownds, of Chelmsford, a draper. Sir Samuel John died in "poor circumstances'' on Apr. 24, 1724. They had two daughters: 53 Mary,
54 Susan.
Thus, having no son, the title lapsed, but came to the family again, being conferred on William 62.

John Tryon 36, son of Sir Samuel and Susan, died young.

Moses Tryon 37, son of Sir Samuel and Susan, died young.

Moses Tryon 38, son of Sir Samuel and Susan, died young.

Anne Tryon 39, daughter of Sir Samuel and Susan, died young.

Jane Savile 40, daughter of Sarah and John Savile, no date.

Charles Tryon 41, of Bulwick, county of Northants, esquire, eldest son of James and Margaret, was born about 1678. He married his cousin, Jane Savile 40, daughter of Sarah and John Savile, in February of 1701. She was christened at Methley, Dec. 27, 1675, and was buried at Harringworth on June 9, 1743. They had a son:
55 Charles.

James Tryon 42, of Norbury Hall in Mickleham, county of Surrey, esquire, son of James and Margaret, was born about 1682. His will was dated Jan. 12, 1723, and was proved Jan. 29, 1723. He was buried at Harringworth on Jan. 24, 1723.

John Tryon 43, of Collyweston, son of Samuel and Elizabeth, was an executor of the will of his cousin Charles 41, of Bulwick in 1705. John married Sarah (---). His will was dated June 15, 1747, and was proved June 1, 1751. He was buried at Collyweston on Apr. 14, 1751, and Sarah was buried at the same place Aug. 20, 1771. They had three children:
56 Sarah,
57 Elizabeth,
58 Susan.

Samuel Tryon 44, son of Samuel and Elizabeth, was christened at Collyweston on Nov. 13, 1688, and died in 1711.

Peter Tryon 45, son of Samuel and Elizabeth, was christened at Collyweston, June 14, 1691, and died in 1711.

Charles Tryon 46, son of Samuel and Elizabeth, was christened at Collyweston, May 14, 1693, and was buried at Harringworth, Oct. 22, 1713.

Jane Tryon 47, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth, was christened at Collyweston, July 3, 1697, and died in 1711.

George Tryon 48, son of Samuel and Christian, was christened at Collyweston, July 29, 1699, and was buried at Harringworth, Nov. 3, 1699.

Mary Tryon 49, daughter of Samuel and Christian, was buried at Harringworth on May 21, 1699.

Anne Tryon 50, daughter of Samuel and Christian, was christened at Collyweston, Feb. 23, 1701. She was nick-named "Nanny."

Elizabeth Tryon 51, daughter of Samuel and Christian, was christened at Collyweston, Feb. 1, 1703. Her nick-name was "Dedle."

Christian Tryon 52, daughter of Samuel and Christian, was nick-named "Kitt."

Mary Tryon 53, daughter of Sir Samuel John and Mary, married Thomas Da vy, of Shipdam, county of Norfolk, gentleman, date not known.
Susan Tryon 54, daughter of Sir Samuel John and Mary, no date.

Charles Tryon 55, of Bulwick, county of Northants, esquire, was the only son of Charles and Jane. He was born Sept. 17, 1702, and married Lady Mary Shirley, daughter of Sir Robert Shirley, knight and first Earl Ferrers, at Fulham Chapel on July 3, 1722. She died May 17, 1771, and was buried at Twickenham. Charles died Jan. 27, 1788. They had four sons and three daughters:
59 Charles,
60 Robert,
61 James,
62 William,
63 Mary,
64 Sophia,
65 Anne.

Sarah Tryon 56, daughter of John and Sarah, was christened at Colleyweston on Apr. 16, 1719. She was buried at the same place on Jan. 7, 1750.

Elizabeth Tryon 57, daughter of John and Sarah, was christened at Collyweston on Mar. 5, 1727.

Susan Tryon 58, daughter of John and Sarah, was buried at Harringworth on Jan. 1, 1736.

Charles Tryon 59, of Bulwick, county of Northants, esquire, eldest son of Charles and Lady Mary, was born about 1724. He married Rebecca Bennett, daughter of James and Rebecca Bennett, of Potton, county of Bedford. His will was dated Aug. 29, 1767, and proved Dec. 9, 1768. He died Nov. 28, 1768. They had two sons before marriage, no names shown.

Robert Tryon 60, clerk in holy orders, rector of Seaton, county of Rutland, second son of Charles and Lady Mary, was born about 1727. He married Rebecca (---), who survived him. He died Jan. 27, 1774. Two children reported:
66 Charles,
67 Mary.

James Tryon 61, son of Charles and Lady Mary, was buried at Harringworth, Feb. 25, 1733.

Sir William Tryon 62, son of Charles and Lady Mary, was born about 1725( ?). He married Margaret Wake, of Hanover Street, who brought him 30,000 pounds. He became Governor of North Carolina on July 20, 1765, and built a Governor's House at New Bern, after crushing a riot in 1770. It was later destroyed by fire, with the exception of one wing of the stables. It has been restored and is seen by many visitors annually. He exchanged offices with the Earl of Dunsmore, thus becoming Governor of New York on July 8, 1771. The Governor's House in Fort George (N.Y.) was destroyed by fire on Dec. 29, 1773, and his daughter Mary was seriously burned. In 1774 he visited England, and returned to find the colony in rebellion, so he governed from a ship in the North River. He resigned as Governor in 1778, and was promoted to Major General in America, and led a foray into Connecticut. Ill health caused him to return to England in 1780, where he died in Upper Grosvenor Street on Dec. 27, 1788. He was buried near his mother in Twickenham churchyard. Margaret died in February of 1819. They had two daughters
68 Anne,
69 Mary S.
Sir William, leaving no son, the title again lapsed, to be conferred later upon Admiral Sir George, a Vice Admiral in the British Navy, son of Thomas Tryon, of Bulwick Park, Northamptonshire, who, while on maneuvers off Tripoli on the coast of Syria, caused two battleships to collide on June 22, 1893, drowning 358 officers and men, including himself. In recent times, we find another member of this family serving as "keeper of the privy purse" for Queen Elizabeth II. His name was Charles, and he died in 1976.

Mary Tryon 63, daughter of Charles and Lady Mary, was christened at Harringworth, Oct. 23, 1738. In 1761 she was appointed Maid of Honor to the future Queen, and died in her apartment in St. James Palace on Mar. 18, 1799, having been "a maid of honour" for 38 years.

Sophia Tryon 64, daughter of Charles and Lady Mary, was born Sept. 3, 1739. She married Richard Bulstrode, of Hounslow, esquire.

Anne Tryon 65, daughter of Charles and Lady Mary, was living unmarried in November of 1787.

Charles Tryon 66, son of Robert and Rebecca, was born in March of 1763, died at the age of seven months, and was buried at Harringworth on Nov. 28, 1763.

Mary Tryon 67, daughter of Robert and Rebecca, was given the revision of her father's lands after her mother's death.

Anne Tryon 68, first daughter of Sir William and Margaret was born in 1740, and died July 10, 1822, aged 82 years.

Mary S. Tryon 69, second daughter of Sir William and Margaret, was born in 1761, and died unmarried on July 29, 1791, aged 30 years.


Anthony Tryon, mentioned by Peter in his will of 1609, and probably his nephew, lived in Middlesex, Stepney. He gave to the Dutch congregation, had no children, and his will was proved in 1639.



Francis Tryon, brother of Peter, of St. Christopher's settled in Norwich in 1564. He commanded the Flemish troops organized by Queen Elizabeth I, and was a great man in the community of Flemish weavers in which he lived. wealthy and influential. He had but one child, a son
Francis,
who became a very wealthy merchant in London. His (the son's) name appears in Pepy's Diary in connection with a robbery committed on him. He was born in Norwich, England, and gave to Dutch churches in Colchester and Norwich, and to the Cathedrals of Rochester, Chichester, and St. Pauls in London. He died in 1666, and his will bequeathed "To the College of Surgeons in London, 250 pounds, of which 50 pounds to be under the direction of Dr. Harvey, as I have instructed him." He died childless so, because of lack of male descent, became extinct with the passing of the third generation, so far as the Tryon name was concerned.

William Trioen, according to most authorities, a cousin of Pieter and Francis, settled at Bibury or Bybury, in Gloucestershire. Not nearly enough is known of him and his family, but one singular circumstance goes to strengthen the supposition of the relationship of the Peter and William families in England. A pearl necklace, according to tradition, was bequeathed by a lady of the Peter family to one of her relatives, but was for a considerable length of time in the William family, and subsequently was again in the Peter family. Here is the legend: "Peter, grandson of Peter, willed an oriental necklace of pearls, which was his mother's to his son James on June 26, 1660. James willed the same to his son Charles in 1685. Charles makes no mention of it; neither does his son Charles. Nothing further was heard about it in the Peter line until the will of Mary, wife of Thomas, son of William, a nephew of Thomas, son of William of Bibury. This Mary, in her will of 1784, conveyed her original necklace of pearls to Saville Finch to be left at her decease to Elizabeth Sill, daughter of Henry Skrine, who married Sarah, daughter of John Tryon, son of Samuel Tryon of Collyweston, who was a son of Peter, son of Moses, son of Peter."

There is another tradition in the Tryon family which tells in various forms this story: The first Tryon to come to America belonged to a noble family and was heir to a large estate in England. He was probably the second or third William of Bibury. He was seized by a press-gang and carried to sea. When his captors learned who he was, they became frightened and took measures to prevent him from ever returning to England. He finally made his way back, but found his younger brother in possession of the estate. The brothers denounced him as an imposter, but he had a ring on his finger which, together with other proofs, convinced his mother that he was the rightful heir, and she so acknowledged him. This possibly explains, at least to some extent, how he became "the sober, honest, industrious mechanic, and father of a large family" described by his son Thomas, an author of considerable note, several of whose books may still be found in old English libraries. This Thomas and two nephews of his, William and Rowland, remained in England and became very wealthy. The father of these two nephews was undoubtedly William of Wethersfield, son of the second or third William of Bibury, from whom it is alleged that all the Tryons in this continent are descended, and a brother of Thomas, the author.

Thomas Tryon, son of William of Bibury and his wife Rebecca, and brother of William of Wethersfield, was born in Bibury on Sept. 6, 1635, left home at an early age, went up to London, where he obtained wealth, wisdom and distinction. He sailed twice to the Barbadoes. He wrote several books, one entitled "Man's Self-Knowledge," in which he gave his ideas on vegetarianism, of which he was an advocate. Benjamin Franklin, in his autobiography, refers to this work and for a period of his life he was a Tryonite, or vegetarian. Kenneth Roberts, in "Rabble in Arms," also refers to Tryonites or vegetarians. A portrait of Thomas hangs in a London Gallery. His will was proved in 1711.

As a result of the great fire in London, many valuable records were destroyed, which is very likely the reason we have been unable to find full genealogical records of the family, and are dependent almost entirely upon wills, and the many elaborate monuments and epitaphs to the memory of Tryons of whom no other record can be discovered.

Much of the above history was uncovered in 1862-63 as a result of a family council held in Connecticut. This investigation was prosecuted in America by Mrs. Annie M. Whittlesey, a descendant of David Tryon, while the search in England was pursued by Rev. Mr. H. R. Sherman as an agent of the family. Many wills were read and copied, and the material thus collected was studied for many years by Rev. Issac Tryon 7.21a, and was summarized and written by him when he was well over 80 years of age. Also, a goodly portion of the above information came from a genealogical publication, the Ancestor.

In a letter from Mr. Boswell Belcher, of Bibury, England, to James L. Tryon 7.312a, dated Apr. 21, 1913, he encloses a copy of the church records of Bybury of the early 1600's:

"Rebecca, ye daughter of William Tryon of Bibury, was baptized ye 24 of September 1619."

"Cathalina Trian filia Willielm et Rebecca Trian baptized Feb. 23, Anno 1632".

"Edward Trian filius Willielm Trian bap. Sept. 25, 1634."

"Jacob Trian filius Willielm bap. mo.-February 1638."

"Thomas ye son of Thomas Trione of Byburye was baptized the fifth of Jannuerie 1643. (This is the last entry I could trace. The word Jannuerie is indistinct, but that is what it appears to be, though the author states that he was born on the 6th of September, 1634, and the son of William Tryon.

Here is a copy of a newspaper clipping, also sent by Mr. Belcher, from a publication in 1640. It says: "In one sense the register was kept only too well; in another it was not kept at all. Many of the parishioners testified that Mr. Knowles had inconvenient peculiarities. The said Robert Knowles, clerke from the year 1629 to this present tyme (1640) has been and now is vicar of the parish church of Bybury. Robert Bennett said that Mr. Knowles neglected to register the names of divers children and wedded couples, and burials, and that he did send the parish clerk divers times to divers of the parishioners their divers years."

The last entry of William and Rebecca's children in Bibury was dated 1643, indicating that William's name was not entered, because other records show that he was born about 1645, thus making William a younger brother of both Edward and Thomas.

Edward Tryon or Tryhern, son of William of Bibury and his wife Rebecca, born in England Sept. 25, 1643, came to America with or about the same time as his younger brother William. He settled in Stamford, Conn., married Sarah (---), and was the father of one daughter, name not known, who married John Webster. Sarah died Sept. 2, 1702. and Edward died on May 14, 1714, both at Stamford, thus ending this family as far as the Tryon name is concerned.

Willam Tryon, youngest son of William of Bibury and his wife Rebecca, was born in England in the year 1645. That he was the father of the two nephews of Thomas seems evident from the fact that he did not give any of his six American sons the names of William or Rowland, and both of these names appear among his grandsons, and that he did name one of his sons Thomas, presumably after his brother Thomas, the author. The most reasonable assumption is that he married quite young in England, that his wife died there, and that he left his two young sons in the care of their uncle Thomas, and came to America. We have found nothing to indicate that either William or Rowland ever came to this country. In fact, Rowland became a wealthy West Indies merchant, and purchased Frognal in Chiselhurst.