Appleton

   "Appleton" is an English surname: it's a habitational name from all parts of England. For example, in Cheshire, Oxfordshire, and North Yorkshire, have villages named in Old English as æppeltun (‘orchard’—literally ‘apple enclosure’).
   With so many different strains, the genealogy of the "Appleton" family is extremely complicated. The spelling would change from father to son, and even brother to brother (Appilton, Apulton, etc.), but the families all stayed closely associated, allied in small areas for hundreds of years. As a result, it becomes unclear which immediate family each Appleton was born to, and how they were all related to the other Appletons. Then, after emigrating to New England, they intermingled with different Appleton strains, and made tracing family histories even more confusing.
   The "Appleton" surname was first found in the county of Lancashire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. (A seat, or family seat, was the principal manor of a medieval lord, which was normally an elegant country mansion and usually denoted that the family held political and economic influences in the area.)
   British Birth and Marriage Certificates in England only go back to 1837, when Civil Registration began. For baptisms, marriages and burials prior to this date, the only records were kept by the church (the only literate people of the time were in the church). Parish Registers were and still are maintained by each church, the earliest records dating from 1538 when Registration was introduced by King Henry VIII. Many of the early registers were recorded on poor quality paper and have not survived. Many others have succumbed to fire, flood or civil war and been destroyed.
   Researchers say that the line that we are related to can be traced back to SIR GEOFFERY DE APPLETON in 1215 A.D., a Baron of the Magna Charter. But our line's genealogy traces back to JOHN APULTON (Death: 1416), living 200 years after Sir Geoffrey, who was registered as living in Waldingfield, Magna, England, in 1396. This village existed all the way back to the Bronze Age and the Roman occupation of Britain. The first record of the village's existence is from the Domesday Book of 1086, in which the village was listed as Walingafella Magna with three Saxon manors and an area of around 3,000 acres.
   John Apulton's spouse is unknown, as are the dates of her birth and death.¹ John died in 1416, at Great Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. He was buried at Parish church, Great Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England.

Wellinge

   Although we don't know the name of John's wife, we do know she bore him a son, JOHN APULTON II (1380 - June, 1459), of Waldingfield Parva, England. His spouse is also unknown, but he also had a son, JOHN APULTON III, (Death: 21 Apr 1481) of West Parva, England. On 6 Apr. 1437, John Appulton granted to John Appulton, his son, and his son's wife, a tenement with a garden and certain land in Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England.
   John III married MARGARET WELLINGE (b: 1468 to either ROBERT WELLINGE of Lavenham Co. Suffolk, or RICHARD WELLINGE. Wellinge is an English name, first found in county Norfolk, where William de Wellynge was recorded in 1273).
   On March 14, 1433, William Ryngefeld of Little Waldingfield granted to John Apilton, jr., and others the lands and tenements in Great and Little Waldingfield called Holbrokes. This was the manor of Holbrook Hall, which remained the home of the Appleton family for two centuries.
   Robert Wellyng of Lavenham leased to John Appulton and others a tenement called Smythis with a garden and two crofts of land in Great Waldingfield on May 8, 20 Henry VI (1442).
   He received a tenement from his father in 1437. Prior to that, on the 14th of March, 1433,    John III died in 1481 at Little Waldingfield, England. There was formerly a stone in the church at Little Waldingfield on which was inscribed in Latin a request to pray for the souls of John Appulton and Margaret his wife, which John died on April 9, A.D. 1481, and Margaret in July, 1468.
   John and Margaret raised the following children:

CHILDREN OF JOHN APPLETON III AND MARGARET WELLINGE

JOHN APPLETON, b. Abt 1440, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. According to the Harleian ms. pedigree he was the eldest son and heir, had two wives, Elizabeth and Alice, a son John who d. s.p. and three daughters. The other printed authorities do not mention him, unless he was the John, Appleton, senior, of the lease of 1483, mentioned above.

THOMAS APPLETON, b. Abt 1442, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England.

Nigel, the third son, was heir of Robert de Montbrai, or Mowbray, his first cousin, whose wife he married during the lifetime of her husband by licence of Pope Paschal, and for some time treated her with respect out of regard for her noble parents; but on the death of her brother Gilbert de l'Aigle, having no issue by her, he craftily sought for a divorce on the ground of that very kinship which he exerted so much influence to induce the Pope to overlook, and then married Gundred, daughter of Gerrard de Gournay, by whom he had Roger, who assumed the name of Mowbray, and transmitted it to his descendants, Dukes of Norfolk and Earls Marshal of England; and Henri, ancestor of the line of Albini of Cainho."

MARGARET APPLETON, b. Abt 1444, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. m. Thomas Spring of Lavenham, co. Suffolk, a wealthy clothier, who is credited with building the vestry of Lavenham church. In his will, dated March 29, 1486, and proved Sept. 12, 1486, he left three hundred marks toward the building of the church tower, and names his wife Margaret and son Thomas Spring executors. This younger Thomas Spring was "the rich clothier of Lavenham," whose widow was in 1524 the wealthiest person in Suffolk, after the Duke of Suffolk. From Thomas and Margaret Spring descend the Spring family of knights and baronets, of Pakenham. In Rushbrook church, co. Suffolk, the Spring arms impaled with the arms of Appleton (of co. Lancaster), *argent*, a bear salient *sable*, crowned *or*, were found on an old altar tomb in 1816. This may indicate that the Appletons of Suffolk had not assumed their own coat in 1486 and that for the purposes of the tomb an obliging antiquary supplied the Springs with the blazon of the Appletons of Lancaster."

   John III and Margaret had a son, predictably named JOHN APULTON, IV of W. Magua, England. He married ALICE MALCHIER (daughter of THOMAS and AMY MALCHIER) of the same village. He died after 1483, in Great Waldingfield, England. There is a lease of the year 1483 by Alexabder Cressener, Richard Rysing and John Appulton, sr., of Great Waldingfield, to Thomas Appulton (his son), Margaret, his wife, and others of two closes in Great Waldingfield.

Crane

   That son, THOMAS A. APPULTON (1442 - 1507), was born in Waldingfield Parva, England. From HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167a: "Thomas Appulto~ obijt 1507, 2 filius." Also, in margin: "Orate pro anima Thome Appulto~ natyve de waldingfild maga qui Thomas ab [hac] luce migravit Anno Dn~i 1507, 4 die mensis octubris."
   He married MARGARET CRANE of Stoneham, England (daughter of ROBERT CRANE—the family was found in Suffolk where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.)
   The Crane family of Little Stonham and Chilton, co. Suffolk, entered a pedigree in the visitation of Suffolk of 1561, but the Appleton-Crane marriage does not appear in it. In another pedigree, Margery Crane is placed as only daughter and eventual heiress of Robert Crane by his wife ANNE (OGARD), Lady Arundel. By the will of her husband, Thomas Appleton, however, we know that Margery had a sister, the Abbess of Bruisyard, and in this pedigree "Elizabeth, 3 dau., a nun at Brusyard" is placed as daughter of a senior Robert Crane, the father of the man who married Lady Arundel. That Margery (Crane) Appleton was in fact the daughter of the senior Robert Crane and sister of the younger Robert is fully proved by the latter's will of August 4, 1500, in which he leaves "to my suster Appulton my Releqwikis aboute my nek,: which must have been holy objects in a little case, and appoints "my brother Thomas Appulton gentleman" executor. The inquest on the estate of the younger Robert Crane, taken in 1501, states that "he died without heir of his body begotten," and in her will of 1508 his widow, Anne, Lady Arundell, names Arundell children but no Crane children. Finally, the inquest shows that Robert Crane and Lady Arundell were not married until 1477, when Margery Crane must long have been Thomas Appleton's wife.
   "Thomas Appullton of Little Waldyngfeld in the diocese of Norwich" made his will on January 20, 1504/5. He directed that he be buried in the church of St. Lawrence in Waldyngfeld, near his wife, and that a priest should sing for four years for him, his father and mother, his wife, his kinsfolk and his benefactors. To the church he gave a vestment "of such coor and price as shall be thought metely and convenient." To the nuns of Malling, L4 in four years for masses to be said on the day of his obit. To Dame Anne, his daughter (a nun), 13s. 4d. yearly out of the lands and tenements in Kersey, Grotton and other towns which he had given to his son William Appulton. To his son Gilbert Appulton, seven horses with the plow and cart and all the harness thereunto belonging, eight kine, a mass book with a challis, altar cloths and vestments. To his son the parson of Laneham (Lavenham), his gilt cup with the covering and his best salt. To Robert Appulton, his other salt of silver. To his son William Appulton, his flat piece of silver and the covering to the same. To Robert Appulton, three goblets of silver and a standing mazer. His napery, bedding and all other household stuff were to be divided between his son Robert and his (Robert's) brother Richard. Whoever had his manor of Holbrook should have his farm of Branston Hall for "myn yers" (that is, the remaining years of his leasehold). William Appulton was to have the plate and jewels which he had given to his mother, that is, a ducat of gold of the value of 46s., a ring of ducat gold after the fashion of a hoop, a flat piece of silver whereof the brim be gilt, a maser "that I drynk of daiely" and a new long carpet that he sent his mother. "And thies ben the Jewells that I and his moder geve him"—a ring with a blue stone that the Abbess of Brassyard (Bruisyard) her sister gave her at the time of her decease, and half a dozen silver spoons with great gilt knobs on the end of every spoon that he did make for his mother. The residue to his executors, toward the mending of the highway leading from his manor of Holbrook to the well. Executors: his sister Margaret Spryng, his son Thomas Appulton, parson of Laneham, and his son William Appulton, Supervisor: his nephew Thomas Spryng, to whom, for a remembrance, a signet of gold graven with St. John's head. Proved February 9, 1508.
   Margery died 4 Nov 1504 (From HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167a: "Margeria [Crane] sola filia et heres." Also, separately: "Orate p. an~a Margerie Appulto~ que obijt 4. die novembris Anno Dn~i 1504, cuius anime ppitietur Deus.), and Thomas on October 4, 1507, according to the inscription formerly on a stone in Little Waldingfield church, asking the reader to pray for their souls. According to the inquisitio post mortem taken on his estate in 23 Henry VII (about 1508), his manors of Holbrook and Branston Hall and other lands passed to his son Robert Appleton, aged 30. Here are all of their known children:

CHILDREN OF THOMAS A. APPULTON AND MARGARET CRANE

ROBERT, b. 1470, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England.

ANNE, b. Abt 1472, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England; a nun, mentioned in the will of her father in 1504 and in that of her brother William in 1512.

WILLIAM b. Abt 1474, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England.

RICHARD, b. Abt 1476, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. For him his brother William bought the manor of Hunston Hall in Hunston, co. Suffolk, in 1509, converying it to feoffees and appointing John Coket of Ampton to receive seisin on Jan. 18, 1509. From Richard Appleton the manor passed to *Elizabeth*, his daughter, who m. Henry Ryckes, who with her conveyed the manor to Robert Ashfield.)

THOMAS, b. Abt 1478, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. The rector of Lavenham;; parson of Lavenham, co. Suffolk, in 1500 and 1504.

GILBERT, b. Abt 1480, Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England; named in his father's will in 1504; probably married and left descendants of the yeoman class. In Lavenham between 1561 and 1588 a John Appleton had eight children baptized, including a Gilbert."

   Deeds and leases confirm that Thomas owned lands in Edwardstone, Suffolk Co., as well as in Great Waldingfield.
   William Appulton is mentioned in his will (translated to modern English) as follows: "To Dame Anne (William's sister, a nun), 13s. 4d. yearly out of the lands and tenements in Kersey, Grotton and other towns which he had given to his son William Appulton...To his son William Appulton, his flat piece of silver and the covering to the same,...,his plate and jewels which he had given to his mother, a ducat of gold of the value of 46s., a ring of ducat gold after the fashion of a hoop, a flat piece of silver whereof the brim be gilt, a maser "that I drynk of daiely" and a new long carpet he had sent his mother (it sounds as if William is being given back gifts he sent his parents), plus a ring with a blue stone and a half dozen silver spoons with great gilt knobs on the ends (that he had made for his mother).
   The main heir was Robert Appulton, who received a salt of silver, three goblets of silver and a standing mazer. Thomas' napery, bedding and all other household stuff were to be divided between Robert and his (Robert's) brother Richard. In addition to other bequests to his other children, the will finally stated that whoever had Thomas' manor at Holbrook should also have the farm at Branston Hall for the remainder of its leasehold. The records of the estate show that these lands passed to Robert.

Mowntney

   Thomas and Margaret had a son, ROBERT APPULTON, who was born on the 17th of August, 1526, in England.
   He married MARY MOWNTNEY (daughter of THOMAS MOWNTNEY. The family was first found in Essex where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor).
Note that some genealogies state that Robert was the father of William and Edward Appleton. However, the research of Walter Goodwin Davis, an esteemed genealogist, shows that Robert had no children and left his estate to the oldest child (William) of his brother WILLIAM. He was apprenticed in 1490 to George Bulstrode of London, draper, was made free of the Drapers' Company in 1497, and was a liveryman of the company in 1504. At some point, however, he must have learned the goldsmith's trade, for his father's will states that William made many silver and gold items for his mother. His will, made 20 July 1512, divided his estate into three parts: one for his wife, the second to the performance of his legacies and the third to be divided between his two living sons and a child not yet born. Robert died on 27 Aug 1526.

CHILDREN OF ROBERT APPULTON AND MARY MOWNTEY

WILLIAM APPLETON, Gent., b. Abt 1510, London, England.

Edward Appleton, Gent., b. Abt 1511, London, England. m. Alice Rokewood, daughter of Firmin Rokewood of Euston, co. Suffolk, who m. secondly in 1581 Edmund Waldegrave of Hitcham, co. Suffolk; d. s.p. in 1580. He was presumably the Edward Appleton who was apprenticed to Thomas Perpoint of the Drapers' Company, London, in 1529. He lived in Edwardston, co. Suffolk, where he, gentleman, was taxed on L20 in lands in the subsidy of 1568.

(Child) Appleton, b. Abt 1512, England.

...OR...

   Walter Goodwin Davis, in his book "Massachusetts and Maine Families," has this Robert as brother rather than father of the following William APPLETON. Davis's entry for Robert is as follows: "ROBERT, b. in 1470; m. Mary Mountney, daughter of Thomas Mountney of Mountnessing, co. Essex, who m. secondly Roger Martin, Esq., of Melford, co. Suffolk, who, in his will of 1535 desired to be buried beside her in Melford church. ..... In Little Waldingfield curch there was a gravestone asking the reader to pray for the souls of Robert Appulton and Marie his wife, which Robert died August 27, 1526, The stone contains brasses of both Robert and Mary Appleton, hers being reproduced in The Memorial of Samuel Appleton, and an armorial brass of Appleton quartermartlets or. For the Appletons to quarter the arms of Crane was, according to the rules which were already taking form at that period, improper heraldry, inasmuch as Margery Crane, Robert Appleton's mother, was not an heiress. Her brother John Crane, who inherited Little Stonham and Chilton from their brother Robert, was the ancestor of a lengthy line.
   The Appleton pedigree gives Robert and Mary Appleton two sons, William and Edward, and traces the descent of the Appletons of Holbrook Hall through William. Robert Appleton did not leave a will and no inquisitio post mortem has thus far been found. His next younger brother, William Appleton, did leave a will and by it he is proved to have been the father of two sons, William and Edward. It seems most like that Robert Appleton died s.p.m., and that his heir was William Appleton, son of his brother William, the London draper. It is particularly pertinent that Roger Martin, second husband of Mary (Mountney) Appleton, does not mention any Appleton sons of his wife in his very long and highly genealogical will."
   WILLIAM APPLETON was probably born in the family home at Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, about 1474. He was apprenticed in 1490 to George Bulstrode of London, draper, was made free of the Drapers' Company in 1497, and was a liveryman of the company in 1504. He must have learned the goldsmith's trade, however, for before 1504/5 when he was a young man, he had made and given to his mother, to whom he was devoted, "half a doseyn of silver sponys with grete gilte knoppes on the ende of every spone" as his father fondly states in his will. He was, however, a draper when he made his own will. He married Elizabeth -----, who survived him.
   The will of William Appulton, citizen and draper of London, was made July 20, 1512, and proved April 30, 1513. He directed that his estate be divided into three equal parts, one to go to his wife Elizabeth according to the custom of the city of London, the second to be devoted to the performance of his legacies and the third to be divided between his sons William Appulton and Edward Appulton and the unborn child his wife was then carrying. To the high altar of Allhallows Barking in Tower Street, London, 3s.4d. To the work of the body of the church at Little Waldingfield, 40s., an honest priest to pray for his soul for three years. :My brother Richard Appulton hath delivered me in gage all his evidences concerning Honston Hall the which my cousin Edward Stubbes hath in keeping. I constitute William Strode, merchant, my cousing Edward Stubbes, gentleman, and William Roche of London, draper, my executors to see the premisses truly executed." To his wife, his lands in the parish of St. Mary Axe, London, for life and likewise all his lands and tenements that he had of the gift of his father in Kersey, Grotton, Hadley, Semer and Whatfield in the county of Suffolk, until his son William should come to the age of twenty-one years, when William and the heirs of his body should have the lands forevermore. His sister, Dame Anne Appulton, was to have 13s. 4d. out of the lands yearly in accordance with his father's will. In default of issue to William, a remainder to his son Edward, and in default of issue to Edward, a remainder to the unborn child. If all of his children should die without heirs, the lands should wholly remain to his brother Richard Appulton.
   They had the following children:

CHILDREN OF WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH APPULTON

WILLIAM APPLETON, Gent., b. Abt 1510, London, England.

Edward Appleton, Gent., b. Abt 1511, London, England. m. Alice Rokewood, daughter of Firmin Rokewood of Euston, co. Suffolk, who m. secondly in 1581 Edmund Waldegrave of Hitcham, co. Suffolk; d. s.p. in 1580. He was presumably the Edward Appleton who was apprenticed to Thomas Perpoint of the Drapers' Company, London, in 1529. He lived in Edwardston, co. Suffolk, where he, gentleman, was taxed on L20 in lands in the subsidy of 1568.

(Child) Appleton, b. Abt 1512, England.

Sexton

   WILLIAM APPLETON, of Waldingfield, Parva, England, in about 1510, (or in London, depending on who the father was). He succeeded his father (or uncle), Robert Appleton, in the family estates in Suffolk in 1526. Around the year 1530, married ROSE SEXTON (daughter of ROBERT SEXTON. Their family was first found in Lancashire where they were seated from early times, and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.)
   William died in on August 24, 28 Henry VIII (1538), the date given in the inquisitio post mortem taken on his estate, but, from the date of his will, September 20, 1538, obviously wrong. His widow, Rose, married as her second husband Robert Gurdon of Assington, co. Suffolk, and became the common ancestress of the New England families of Appleton and Saltonstall. In his will made April 3, 1578, Ribert Gurdon left 20 marks to his daughter Appleton (Mary, wife of Thomas Appleton) for the use of her son Isaac Appleton, who was then a baby of three years. Rose (Sexton)(Appleton) Gurdon survived her husband and lived in the Gurdon parish of Assington.
   In his will, made September 20, 1538, and proved May 2, 1539, William Appleton of Little Waldingfield, gentleman, directed that he be buried in his parish church, and that on the day of his burying there be a dirge and mass sung for him and certain money distributed amongst the priests, clerks and poor people "as it may stand with the King's laws." To his wife Rose, the lease of the manor of Branston Hall in "Mykill Waldingfelde." To his brother Edward Appulton, all of his apparell. He stood bound to Mr. Perpoynte of London for the payment of twenty marks for his said brother Edward Appulton. The residue of his goods to his wife and executrix, "instantly requiring said wife to be good to Frances my daughter during her nonage."
   William is buried at Parish church, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England.

CHILDREN OF WILIAM APPLETON AND ROSE SEXTON

Thomas (1538-1603).

FRANCISCA (FRANCES) APPLETON. m. in 1566 William Littlebury of Dedham, co. Essex, and d. s.p. before July 20, 1571, when her husband made his will, mentioning his late wife's brother, Thomas AppletonFrom HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167a: "Francisca nupta N. little Berry de Dedham."

Isaac

CHILDREN OF THOMAS APPLETON AND MARY ISAAC:

JUDITH APPLETON, b. Abt 1570, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. She died in infancy. From HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167: "Juditha obijt infans."

MARY APPLETON, b. Abt 1572, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. died in 1629. She was born in Baptized 1574. From HARLEIAN MS. 1196, FOL. 167a : "Maris 1 filia nupta Roberto Ryece de preston." Also, in a torn place: "Maria filia A ..... nij Cage. armigero." from the Parish Register of Little Waldingfield. In 1615, Mary Ladee Appleton, wife to Mr. Lawrence Cutler, buried. [Footnote to word "Ladee": "If a woman once marry a Lord or Knight, by which occasion she is called My Lady, with the Sirname of her husband, if hee dye, and she take a husband of a meaner estate, she shall still be called Lady, with the surname of her first husband, and not of the second. *Smith's Commonwealth.*"]

JUDITH APPLETON, b. Bef 10 Oct 1574, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. baptized 1578. From HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167a: "Juditha 2 filia nupta Lodovico Baylyve Theollogo."

ISAAC APPLETON, b. Abt 1576, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. m. Mary Cage "the unfortunate daughter of Sir John Cage," who married secondly Lawrence Butler of Great Grandsdon, co. Hunts.; d. in 1608 or 1609; "Mary, Lady Appleton and wife to Mr. Lawrence Butler" was buried at Little Waldingfield June 14, 1615. (P) Isaac Appleton was knighted at Whitehall on July 23, 1603, before the coronation of King James I. He and Richard Saltonstall were among over four hundred Englishmen who then received this honor, many of them much against their wills, because the fees were a welcome addition to a depleted royal purse. He died in 1608 or 1609. HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol 167a: Mss is torn here: only the word "miles" (Latin for soldier) remains.

SARAH APPLETON, b. Bef 1580, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England

JOHN APPLETON, b. Bef 1582, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. Baptized 1582. HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167a: "John~es Ap: 2 filius." m. (1) a wife who d. s.p.; m. (2) about 1618 Frances Crane of Chilton. According to the pedigree signed by his son, he lived at Chilton Hall, and in his will, made Jan. 8, 1622, and proved May 17, 1631, he calls himself "of Chilton." At his death he owned the manor of Chatford Hall in Capell, devised to him by his father, and in an inquisition post mortem, taken in 1634, his son Robert, aged 14, was found to be his heir. (P) In his description of the church at Chilton, Robert Ryece, the Suffolk antiquary, says: "There in the Isle lyeth burried John Appleton gent, second brother of Sr [sic] Isaac Appleton of Holbrocke Hall in Little Waldingfield And [sic] Isaac Appleton the Eldest son of Robert Appleton, Esq., of Chilton Hall unfortunately tenant there to John Lord Belasys." (P) Children: 1. *Robert*, b. in 1620; licensed on April 27, 1649, as Robert Appleton of Gray's Inn, Esq., bachelor, 28, to marry Mrs. Martha Moore, about 17, who was a daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Moore, gentleman, of St. Jermyns, co. Norfolk; m. (2) Bridget (Bull) Alabaster, widow of John Alabaster of Hadleigh. He was a barrister-at-law and lived at Preston, co. Suffolk, probably on the Ryece estate inherited from his brother John. By his first wife he had a daughter Martha, and by his second wife a son Isaac and two daughters, Bridget and Anne. Under the title Appleton of Preston, he entered and signed a pedigree in the visitation of Suffolk of 1664-1668, naming his grandparents Thomas Appleton and Mary Isaac, his parents John Appleton and Frances Crane, his own wives and children. 2. *John*; the highly favored legatee of his uncle-in-law Robert Ryece of Preston."

THOMAS APPLETON, b. Abt 1585, England. Baptized 1585. HARLEIAN MS. 1196, fol. 167a: "Thomas A: 3 fi." Died "apais" (= childless, Greek).

SAMUEL APPLETON, b. Bef 13 Aug 1589, Little Waldingfield, Suffolk Co., England. SAMUEL APPLETON, ancestor of the American family, b. Holbrook Hall, Little Waldingfield, England, 1586; d. at Rowley, Massachusetts, June, 1670; emigrated to Massachusetts Bay, 1635; took the Freeman's Oath 25th May, 1636, given the title of Mr. on the records; the same year settled at Ipswich, receiving grant of 460 acres between Ipswich River and the Miles River, land which is still in the possession of his descendants; was chosen Deputy to the General Court; m. at Preston, England, 24th January, 1616, Mary [should be Judith] EVERARD." --- George Mackenzie, Colonial Families of the United States of America, v 5 p 13, 1912 (rep 1966, 1995)

   The will of Thomas Apleton [sic], esquire, was made March 1, 1603, and proved May 16, 1603. He appointed his wife Mary his executrix and bequeathed to her all his goods and chattels, "knowing that she will have as great a care of my children as I have." Also to his wife he left all of this lands and tenements except those otherwise specified. To his son John, the manor of Caple after his wife's death. To his daughter Judith, his farm at Glensforde in Suffolk called the Courte and the lands in the occupation of Osborne, immediately after his death. To his sons Thomas and Samuel, L100 each when they shall come out of their apprenticeship. To Mr. Robert Welch of Waldingfield, L10. "I will that my son and heir and his heirs shall pay and satisfy to the poor people inhabiting Little Waldingfield ten loads of wood every year and to their successors for ever." This will was read to the testator by John Wincoll in the presence of Thomas Colman, Anne Colman and John Woolnowe.
   He named his children JOHN, JUDITH, THOMAS, JR., and SAMUEL in his will; but those weren't all of his kids. His children Judith and MARY were named in the visitation of Suffolk in 1577; and in 1604 his son SIR ISAAC and his widow Mary were named in a legal suit.
   In 1604 Mary Appleton and her son Sir Isaac were in legal difficulties the exact nature of which has not been investigated. They, Mary Appleton, widow, of Littlewaldingfield, co. Suffolk, & Isaac Appleton of Etherston, co. Suffolk, Kt., had been sued in Chancery by one Thomas Gwyne. Losing the case and being in contempt of court by failing to obey the decree, Mary Appleton was imprisoned in the Fleet and Sir Isaac went into hiding. On December 18, 1604, they had a change of heart, gave recognizances to obey the decree and "Mary is to be enlarged of her imprisonment out of the Fleet where she remaineth" and "Sir Isaac is also discharged from the pursuivant which should apprehend him."
   Mary Appleton lived in the parish of Saint Bridget's in London at the time of her death. About the 18th of February, 1612, "being moved to make her will in the time of the sickness whereof she died," she said that she would give everything to her son Samuel Appleton, except two gowns and other apparell which were to go to her two daughters.
   Mrs. Lewes, Elizabeth Cheape and others were present when she made this nuncupative will, which was proved and administration granted to her son Samuel on June 11, 1613.
   SAMUEL APPLETON was baptized in Little Waldingfield Aug. 13, 1586. He was apprenticed to Samuel Doughty of the Draper's Company, London, on July 16, 1604. He married Judith Everard on January 24, 1615/6, at Preston, co. Suffolk, the home of his sister Mary Ryece. His brother, Sir Isaac, had died and Lady Appleton had remarried, and it is probabe that Samuel Appleton and his bride went to live in the family home, Holbrook Hall, in Little Waldingfield, where their first five children were baptized. Judith (Everard) Appleton was a daughter of John Everard, a London goldsmith.
   Through a combination of Puritan inclination and economic pressure (and an outbreak of Bubonic plague in 1626, which reduced the village population by at least 10%, going from 513 in 1611 to 459 in 1631), Appleton became interested in emigration to New England, and from a reference in one of Governor Winthrop's letters it seems probable that he had intended to cross the Atlantic in the great fleet of 1630. Writing from New England to his son John, who was still at Groton, co. Suffolk, Winthrop says: "For Mr. Appleton take no money of him. He can have no cows; there came not on shore one helf of them."
   In 1635, Samuel Appleton, gentleman, and Judith, his wife, sold to Richard Gildersleeve, and John Boreham certain lands in Groton and Combs for L60. In the Easter term of 1636 the Appletons with Richard Turner and Joanna, his wife, sold a messuage and seventy acres of land in Mildren and Monks Eleigh, to William Barwick, clerk, and Daniel Cage. In January, 1635/6, a fine was levied between Richard Pepys and Samuel Browne, deforciants, and Samuel Appleton and Judith, his wife, deforciants, of lands in Great Canfield, co. Essex. This latter document disposed of Judith Appleton's rights in the estate of her grandmother Everard, who was born a Wiseman of Great Canfield, and all the sales were in preparation for the family's departure.
   It was the late winter of 1636, however, before Appleton left England with his family. By May 25, when he took the Freeman's Oath, the voyage was ended and the Appletons were established in Ipswich in Massachusetts. Appleton had brought with him certain books which his brother-in-law, Robert Ryece, was sending to Winthrop. Ryece died in 1638 and by his will left lands in Monks Eleigh to Samuel Appleton, and to facilitate the management and disposal of them, Appleton had Thomas Lechford, the Boston notary, draw up a power of attorney in 1639 giving the necessary authority to six men, including his nephew Isaac Appleton, armiger, of Little Waldingfield, his kinsman John Gurdon, armiger, and his brother-in-law Rev. Henry Smith, D. D., Master of Magdalen College at Cambridge.
   Ipswich granted Mr. Appleton an eight acre homestead lot in the cillage and a farm of four hundred and sixty acres bounded on one side by Ipswich river and on another by Mile brook [sic] on December 20, 1638. In her will of 1636, Mrs. Sarah Dillingham named Appleton and Richard Saltonstall executors, and left to Appleton L5 and to his wife a silver porringer. In his final account, entered in 1645, Saltonstall refers to "my cousin Appleton."
   Appleton was one of of Ipswich's deputies to the General Court in 1637 but did not serve in this capacity again. Considering his position, this is surprising, and it is reasonably suggested that he may not have been in sympathy with the official attitude in the Hutchinson controversy, which would have made him unacceptable to authority. In 1637 he also served as a justice of the county court for the first and last time. His only other public office was as a member of the Essex grand jury in 1642. He was released from military training on account of age in 1650.
   It is not known when Judith Appleton died. Samuel Appleton spent his last years in Rowley, presumably with his daughter Mrs. Phillips, and there he died in June, 1670. He left no will and there are no administration papers in the Essex Probate Court.
   From the NEHGS Register, v 147 Jan 1993 p 10: "Mary Isaac's son, Samuel Appleton, emigrated to New England by 1635 and died in June 1670 at Rowley, Massachusetts. A number of his American descendants are traced in William Sumner Appleton, A Genealogy of the Appleton Family (Boston, 1874)." Also decended from Thomas Appulton, Samuel Appleton and Judith Everard Appleton is (John) Calvin Coolidge (Jr.), 30th President of the United States, and Mrs. Franklin Pierce (Jane Means Appleton), wife of Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States.
   The records of the Suffolk Appletons are extremely confusing: There were a LOT of Appletons in Suffolk by this point. And the records are incomplete. So either Thomas, his son Samuel, or one of his brothers, or cousins, gave us our ancestor:

Gildersleeve

   JO ANNA APPLETON (1601 - 1677) was born at the dawn of the 1600's. Whether she was the daughter of Thomas or Samuel or another Appleton is hard to say, but she married the previously mentioned RICHARD GILDERSLEEVE (1601 - 1681), also of Suffolk, England. He was a devoutly religious man who sailed to America with Jo Anna, to Massachusetts, then helped create Hempstead, New York. You can read a long article about him here.
   Richard and Jo Anna had a daughter named ELIZABETH GILDERSLEEVE (b. @1620), who married JEREMIAH WOOD (b. 1620) in Yorkshire.³ Her son Jeremiah Jr., was given some land by Mr. Gildersleeve, to be his after Mr. Gildersleeve's decease.
   They had the following children:

KIDS OF RICHARD GILDERSLEEVE AND JO ANNA APPLETON

ELIZABETH GILDERSLEEVE, b: ABT 1620. Married JEREMIAH WOOD between 1642 - 1644.

RICHARD GILDERSLEEVE, JR., b: 1626, married a woman named DORCAS. He died in 1691.

ANNE GILDERSLEEVE was born 1630. She died in Hempstead, Queens County, NY.

SAMUEL GILDERSLEEVE was born 1631.

GENEALOGY

JOHN APULTON (Death: 1414) begat...

JOHN APULTON II (d: June, 1459), who begat...

JOHN APULTON III, (d: 21 Apr 1481), who married MARGARET WELLINGE (b: 1468) and begat...

JOHN APULTON IV (d: 1483), who married ALICE MALCHIER and begat...

THOMAS A. APPULTON (1442 - 1507), who married MARGARET CRANE and begat..

WILLIAM APPLETON SR. (1474 - 1512), who married ELIZABETH and begat...

WILLIAM APPLETON JR. (b. 1510), who married ROSE SEXTON and begat...

THOMAS APPLETON (1538 - 1601), who married AMY ISAAC and begat...

SAMUEL APPLETON (1586 - 1670), who married JUDITH EVERHARD and begat...

JOHANNA APPLETON (b. 1601), who married RICHARD GILDERSLEEVE (1601 - 1681) and begat...

ELIZABETH GILDERSLEEVE (1620 - ?), who married JEREMIAH WOOD (b. 1620) and begat...

JOSEPH WOOD, who married EUNICE JARVIS in 1680 and begat...

JOSEPH WOOD, JR. (1680 - ?) who married MARGRIET (MARGARET) WOOD and begat...

JONATHAN WOOD (1720 - ?) who married JOHANNA CROMPTON (1725 - ?) and begat...