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THE WOODLEY FAMILIES OF ESSEX
This is a comprehensive catalogue of the Woodley families that originated or settled in Essex and the neighbouring counties of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and London. There appears to be no connection with the seafaring Woodleys of Devon and the Carribean, nor the Woodleys of Berkshire.
The Woodleys of Essex have been clustered here into thirteen different family clans.
THE MAIN FAMILY
FAMILY H - ROGER WOODLEY OF HENHAM (HENHAM-CHESTERFORD-ELMDON-WIDDINGTON)
This is the oldest known family, originating in Henham, near Saffron Walden and spreading across the area south to Bishops Stortford to become the biggest clan of Woodleys in the region. It branched into five sub-families :
.1 FAMILY R - RICHARD OF RICKLING (RICKLING-WIDDINGTON-STANSTED)
Mainly settled in Manuden, Littlebury, Bishops Stortford, Saffron Walden and London. The principal family is that of Richard Woodley 1628 and Frances Eve. Also marriages to Collin, Searle, Pamphilon and Wood.
Family R is further divided into :
.1A FAMILY B (MANUDEN - Sandford).
Family B includes marriages to Grey, Watts, Dearsley, Richardson and Thurgood.
.1B FAMILY N (MANUDEN - Hammond)
Family N includes marriages to Hammond, Livermore, Gibbs, Seamer and Gregory.
.2 FAMILY D - MARTIN WOODLEY AND ANNA (DEBDEN-NEWPORT-GT WALTHAM-STISTED)
Part of this branch stayed in Debden Another branch featured marriages to Gastin, Wollis, Huggons, Nightingale.
.3 FAMILY E - WILLIAM WOODLEY AND AGNES PURCAS (RADWINTER-CASTLE CAMPS)
Mainly settled in Stisted, Radwinter, Saffron Walden, Ashdon and Castle Camps. Surnames include Young, Greenleaf, Downham, Pomfret, Chapman, Free and Dison.
.4 FAMILY G - CAMBRIDGESHIRE (G) (FOLWMERE)
Originally found in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, not far from Saffron Walden. Records go from 1586 to 1734 and another isolated family later appears in Cambridge City.
.5 FAMILY J - SOUTH-WEST OF CHELMSFORD (J) (INGATESTONE-ORSETT)
Mainly settled in Ingatestone, Mountnessing, Ockendon and other villages to the south west of Chelmsford The earliest records arte from 1560 but there are no records betwen 1620 and 1750
OTHER WOODLEYS OF ESSEX FAMILIES
These families may be related to the 'Main' family above, but any connection is far from clear.
ASHDON
FAMILY A - CITY OF LONDON AND ASHDON (A) (ASHDON)
This established City of London family (not necessarily wealthy) became the dominant family of Ashdon in Essex when John Woodley and Ann Senior moved to Ashdon from London in 1739. The key families in this clan are William Woodley and Jane Norris, James Woodley and Elizabeth, and John Woodley and Mary Weard. Other surnames are Goodwin, Augur and Coote, and the convict Charles Woodley. The start of this family is the marriage of Charles Woodley (#6000) and Helena Price (#6001) in St Johns Duke Place London in 1687.
FAMILY M - WADLEYS OF ASHDON (M) (ASHDON)
A family based in Ashdon, but seemingly unconnected to other Woodleys, they tended to use alternate and inconsistent spellings such as Wadley and Wodle.
COLCHESTER
FAMILY C - STEPNEY AND KELVEDON (C) (KELVEDON)
A member of an established family of Stepney, East London moved to Kelvedon near Chelmsford. Associated surname is Holliday. The family was recorded in Stepney as early as 1650 but moved to Chelmsford in 1731. There was already an established family in Kelvedon. Alas, there being no male heir the Woodley line ceased.
FAMILY F - COLCHESTER (COLCHESTER)
This family of Woodleys based in the peninsular area east of Colchester,. The earliest record is 1752. Includes Gt Bentley and Harwich.
BRAINTREE
FAMILY K - BRAINTREE (BRAINTREE)
An area where various spellings were common - such as Wadley and Wodle. Could be related to family H.
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