END OF LINE: DEAD END: One of the Church’s LDS Accredited professional researchers has cleaned up and extensively researched this family. Please be so kind to not make any changes except with absolute credible sources and only after reading that research so that guess work and speculative data from incorrect secondary sources are not perpetuated. If you want to add a lead, please do so in the “Notes” section. The location of that research can be found under “Collaborate” above.
Letters Patent dated Westminster, 2 Jan. 6 Edward VI [1552/3]; Thomas Reve and George Cotton of London, gent.; Tithes of Abbey of Elstow in Ion [Gravenhurst] in occupation of Thomas Whytebreade. Parties, Tho. Reve and George Cotton; John Whitbread of Gravenhurst and to his heirs and assigns; dated 20 Feb. 7 Edward VI [1552/3]. Source: The American Genealogist Whole Number 127 Volume 32, No. 3 July 1956 The Whitbread Family of Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England by Clarence Almon Torrey, Ph.R., of Boston, Massachusetts
TAG 127[July 1956]:129-142 "The Whitbread Family of Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, England," by Clarence Almon Torrey:
"In the TMG(27.84) it is stated that Gerard Spencer married at Upper Gravenhurst, co., Bedford, England, 10 Nov 1600, Alice Whitebread or Whitbred. They were thOne of the Church’s LDS Accredited professional researchers has cleaned up and researched this family. Please be so kind to not make any changes except with absolute credible sources and only after reading that research. The location of that research can be found under “Collaborate” abovee parents of the four Spencer Brothers who came to New England. The Spencer ancestry, prepared by the Editor is found in the same magazine, beginning at page 79, Volume 27. It was the present writers's purpose to prepare a similar account of the Whitbread ancestry. The result of the investigation is not entirely satisfactory, as some greatly desired records were not found. It is hoped that other Whitbread descendants will seek additional information in English records. Members of the Whitbread family Gravenhurst, co., Bedford, are mentioned in very early records. The records are fagmentary before 1500. After 1500 records of two branches of the family were found. The first shown Thomas was born, presumably, by 1500, and the second Thomas, it is believed, about 1522. Circumstancial evidence indicates that these men were closely related, but how related is left ofr subsequent research of others to determine, if indeed records exist to make positive conclusions possible.
The Second Thomas Whitbread Line:
1. Thomas Whitbread is supposed to have been born about 1522; married, presumably about 1546, a wfie whose name has not been found. They may have serveral children, but the name of only one child is known. Death dates of Thomas and his wife cannot be stated. He may perhaps be the Thomas buried at Upper Gravenhurst 6 June 1585, though this record may refer to a young child of his son John.
No record has been found of this Thomas, who heads the second line, during his lifetime. The authority for his existence is a land transaction in 1639, many years after his death. This important record is as follows:
Conveyance of Wm. Whitbred of Ion alias Ine, Upper Gravenhurst, gent; Henry Whitbread of the same, get (son and heir apparent of Wm.)and Elizabeth his wife; Wm. Carter of Offley, Herts, gent; and John Shepard of Upper Gravenhurst, yeoman; to Wm. Aleyn, citizen & grocer, of London; for 2,200 pounds paid to Wm. and Henry Whitebred; with convenat to levy a fine. A capital house or manor house in the tenure of Wm. and Hen.Whitbred; 4 cottages in Upper Gravenhurst (names of occupants are given). Covenant as to "tytles troubles charges incumbrances and demands whatsoever heretofore donne or wittingly suffered by them the said Wm. Whitbred and Hen. Whitbred or either of them or by John Whitbred deceased father of the sd. Wm. Whitbred or by Thomas Whitbread his deceased grandfather." 8 October 1639. (Whitbread Collection at Bedford Record Office, particulars supplied by Anthony R. Wagner, Richmond Herald.) From this record we learn that Thomas was father of John, who was father of William, who was father of Henry. That this Thomas was a near relative of the older Thomas who heads the First Line, seems ceretain, but it is idle to speculate in the absence of records whether he was a son, nephew or other connection.
Child: 2 - John (2), b. say ca. 1548; m. Eleanor _____."
