I had often surmised where did the Symonds ancestors come from. Leaving aside the matter of where our first footprints were found, this headline question I ask myself regularly. Most, I am sure, have recognised the effects wrought on the spelling by illiterate people giving their names to parish recorders such as the local clergyman.

                Lots of variants exist but, to give just a few here they are; Symons, Simons, Simmons, Symmons, Symonds, Simonds, Symmonds. Quite a few of these appear in the family history, sometimes in the same family, perhaps indicating that the parish recorder was changed during the expansion of a particular family.

                Although my line is about Somerset and Dorset, it may seem awkward to have to admit that Symonds is not a name with its origins there. The original view was that it was quite probably Norman and came to England with William the Conqueror, as least in many cases.

                In the early days of the search for family background, a well-known Somerset researcher was asked if he could assist with information on several family names. He indicated that he would not be interested in Symonds as much as several local names, as it was not local, nor even Devonish or Cornish for that matter; Nevertheless, he remarked that our ancestors from Somerset would most certainly have had a good mixture of blood from those with "true“ Somerset/Dorset names after all the intervening generations; so let us call them West Country anyway.

                Perhaps the most interesting collection of material about the Symonds derivation is in letters that John Addington Symonds wrote to a friend (see Brown, Horatio, John Addington Symonds, A Biography, Nimmo c.1865):

                “Though obscure at present we happen to have a very long and full and varied pedigree dating from Adam Fitz Simon who was a large holder of lands in Herts, Essex and Norfolk under Bishop Odo. … The family Symonds, one branch of which I represent, is supposed to have descended from Adam Fitz Simon, Lord of St. Sever in Normandy. This Simon of St. Sever is said to have been brother of Richard de Goy, Viscount of Arranches who was the father of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester. The pedigree prior to the conquest of England is traced to Raungwalder of Moax and the Orcades in the 9^th century. Simon of St. Sever died in 909 and was buried in the church of his fief…

                Adam received lands and manors in Threxton in Norfolk and Almeshoe in Herts and died sometime before 1118. In the third generation after him, the family divided into two branches; the eldest continued to flourish for many generations in Herts and Essex. Its most distinguished member was Richard Fitz Simon, one of the founders of the Order of the Garter. The second branch settled in Norfolk at threxton, Suffield, Ormesbury, Runham Hall, and Cley by the Sea. Already in the beginning of the 14^th century, they Englished their patronym to Symonds.”

                Here JAS notes that Fitz Simon does not mean Son of Simon but Son of Sigmund:

                “Our name is probably derived from Sigmund and not from Simon. This accounts for the short ‘y’ and for the ‘d’ which survives in the termination.Fitz Symond was the son of Siegmund and the accent fell upon the last syllable –

‘Beke et Biroune

Sanzpour et Fitz Simoun’

In the course of time the ‘I’ of biroune and of Simoun hardened and the accent was thrown back so that the pronounciation settled into Byron and Symon (with a short ‘i’) that cannot rhyme.

                … Though a numerous family, the Fitz Simons of Essex and Herts expired (it seems that the main line produced a great batch of daughters only, at one point), and they are now only represented by the Cornish Symons of Hatt and the Irish Fitz Simons. Richard Fitz John, uncle of Sir Richard Fitz Simon K.G., married an heiress of the house of Tregarthyn in Cornwall and settled there about 1297….”

                There are many interpretations available, but that of John Addington Symonds appears to be the most extensive representation of the Symonds derivation, out of Sigmund. 

 I have been researching my family tree for nigh on 30 years now - mine is the Dorset branch, - but as is the way, researches turn up all sorts about other branches and dead-ends.

 I have discovered that the Oxford Symondses came from Shropshire; The Essex stock were at Black Nosley in that county. One of them - Rev Edward Symonds wrote a well-known pamphlet on Charles I.

 The Norfolk family were at Clay and Stockley,. their pedigree is, I believe, in the Proceedings of Norfolk Archaeological Society. I read it many years ago but cannot remember the precise reference to it. I fear nothing actually useful came out of it.

 The Cornish family have always spelled their name without a "D", as we, in fact, did in the 18th century as a rule. G.Boase's "Collectanea Cornubiensia*" contains much information as to Symons of that County. Unfortunately, Boase did not give authorities for the various descents that he prints and it may be that some of them are more or less apocryphal. I have always thought it quite possible that we descended from a branch of the Cornish clan, but have never found a link that satisfied me even approximately. The Parochial History of Cornwall deals with the Symons of Hall.

  * I would caution anyone to regard Boase's pedigree with some degree of scepticism. It is an interesting document that, unfortunately, gives no historical references by which the various descents can be tested. A serious fault when a genealogist is dealing with a period before the earliest parish registers, say 1540 or thereabouts. The persons mentioned by Boase probably existed, but whether they were related by blood in the manner stated by him is quite another question! I regard some portions of the pedigree, when unverified by external evidence, as being distinctly untrue, invented or of doubtful authenticity.

 For example, with regard to one Thomas of Woodsford (d.1566), Boase has hitched him onto the bottom of the Cornish pedigree without showing any reason for so doing, beyond the fact that the date was suitable.

 We should remember that Hutchins was printed before Boase wrote his book; it is therefore not impossible that the latter author simply "lifted" Thomas Symonds from Dorset into Cornwall! Another point, Hutchins pedigree is itself wrong, I fear, as regards the earliest persons mentioned, because the compiler has confused men of the same Christian names who were living in the same part of Dorset at the same date. I have satisfied myself that there were at least two Thomases and two Giles in the district around Woodsford at the material date when Hutchins starts his pedigree. The Thomas who died in 1566, according to Hutchins, was a bastard son of Strangways; consequently he cannot be presumed to be identical with the Thomas mentioned in the visitation of Gloucestershire about 1620 (see Harleian Society).

The question of the Grants of Arms to various members of the Symonds family in Dorset is similarly confused, but I shall not deal with this issue now. At all events, I have no evidence whatsoever that we are connected in blood with any of the persons mentioned above.

 If you are interested, you may also care to consult the autobiography of Simonds D'Ewes whose mother was a Symonds of Chardstock, the daughter of Richard Symonds of Coxden in that parish. D'Ewes discusses his mother's ancestry in various pages of the first three chapters of the book.

 I know little or nothing about North Country genealogies, but one day it would be worth searching the proceedings of (a) The Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society; (b) The Lancashire & Cheshire Historical Society; (3) the appropriate County Histories; (4) The Herald's Visitations in the Counties named (Printed by the Harleian Society.)

I have mentioned above that Brown's biography of John Addington Symonds, states that his family originally came from Shropshire, however, it is also worth mentioning that Hutchins (II, 237) records that a daughter of Giles Symonds of Woodsford, Dorset, married a man from "Hodnet" in Shropshire.

What has all this to do with Dowlish Wake and Edward Symonds? I hear you ask. Well, it will be remembered that in the 18^th century each parish supported its own poor, tended the sick and aged who needed help and provided the necessary funds by a rateable levy on the parishioners. In Dowlish Wake a house was set apart for the purpose and the accounts of the overseers of the poor were balanced every month, showing the disbursements in the parish, the sum collected by rates and the “stock” remaining in hand, if any. The book was produced from time to time at a meeting of the parishioners who signed and “allowed” the account as being correct.

When in 1903 a forbear of mine examined these records, and made a few extracts the first entry in the earliest volume ran as follows:- “This book was begun April 23^rd in the year of our Lord 1769 by Mr Giles Symonds, overseer”; he prepared the first account which was signed on October 15^th by himself and approved by Abraham Rooke, John James, William and Richard James and other persons. In November 1769 the signature of John Symonds was among those assenting. 

In April 1770 Abraham Hull as overseer presented his account that was agreed and allowed by Honour and Giles and Edward Symons, with others. It was here that was found an unusual instance of a woman overseer, namely Honour Symonds who held that office in 1771, her account being signed by John and William James and by Edward and Giles Symons; the signature of the last named appeared again in 1772.

In 1788 John Symonds acted as overseer and also subscribed the figures for the years 1789 and 1790. A resolution in 1792 was signed by one Giles Symonds - not identical with the earlier Giles of 1769-72 -  but rather the latter’s nephew, as the handwriting differed. Edward Symonds similarly approved the reckoning for 1796, but here again he should not be confused with the Edward who appended his name in 1771 and died in 1785. The account for the year 1796 was the latest in which was noticed the signature of any member of the family, but some names continued in the list of ratepayers until 1817 when they presumably ceased to be resident in Dowlish although they still owned certain lands.

Today, alas, these memorials of village economics are no longer in existence. When in 1921 my forbear wished to amplify the brief notes taken in 1903 he was informed by the assistant-overseer, who was almost in tears, that the old books together with loose papers in the chest had been destroyed by burning in the course of an uncontrolled “spring-cleaning” in the church. Such was the untimely fate of the parish civil records, which included apprenticeship bonds, and the returns from Dowlish in connexion with the defence of Somerset in 1803 (Som. & Dor. N. & Q. x. 169). It was therefore a happy chance that led him to the village church on the occasion when the foregoing extracts were made; otherwise any knowledge of the interesting contents of those records would now of course be unobtainable. The lamentable destruction of the books and papers, other than the church registers which most fortunately were kept in another place, caused my forbear to make further enquiries from the rector in 1924 when he learnt that the earliest surviving rate book begins in 1834, in which year John Symonds owned just over 13acres in the parish, of an annual value of £18 4s 0d. The rector also confirmed the nature of the fate of the manuscripts in the parish chest during the incumbency of his predecessor. 

With regard to the church itself, we as a family are concerned only with two visible records, but with how many invisible appeals to memory? There is a mural tablet to the brothers Richard and William James, and another to Edward Symonds over the south door in the nave, the inscription on which is:

 “To the memory of Edward Symonds of East Dowlish who died aged 51, 20 march 1727,  this tablet has been placed here in 1907 by one of his descendants.”

                             In the churchyard lies an Altar tomb of Ham stone, inscribed:

         “ Here lieth the body of Edward Symonds who died March 20, 1727, aged 51 years.

Here I am laid down in ye dust

All men that live here too they must

Death took its stroke you plainly see

Therefore prepare and follow me.

Here also lies ye body of Ann Symonds wife of ye aforesaid Edw. Symonds who departed this life the 14^th day of December 1745 being in the 74^th year of her age.

In memory of Edward Symonds junr. He died ye 4^th day of July 1752, aged 45.

A faithful friend

A husband dear

A loving father

Lieth neare.

Here lies the body of Ann Symonds who departed this life the 4^th day of march 1739 being in the 2^nd year of her age. Here lies also the body of Edward Symonds who departed this life the 9^th day of August 1739 being in the 4^th year of his age. Also here lies the body of John Symonds son of Edward & Ann Symonds & father of the two children aforesaid who departed this life the 21^st day of January 1741 being in the 27^th year of his age.

Underneath lieth the remains of Giles Symonds of Pilsdon, Dorset, gent. Who died 27 June 1819, aged 75 years. Also in memory of Ann wife of the said Giles Symonds who died 22 ugust 1821, aged 72 years.”

 

On a flat stone near the altar tomb:

“In memory of Sarah daughter of Giles and Ann Symonds of Pilsdon, Dorset,

who departed this life the 6^th of June 1793. aged 8 years.

Near this place lieth the body of George Symonds son of Giles and Ann Symonds

who died January 23, 1829, aged 35 years.”

  The bells in the tower are now 5 in number, the 5^th having been added in 1906. One of the bells, cast in 1634, bearing an inscription “Mr John Simons: Mr James Bulgin: wardens 1736” “Geo Rooke gave this bell 1634” was recast in 1736 when John Symonds was the senior churchwarden. Without doubt many of our forbears were wardens at one time or another, but as there is not a list of those who held that office and as the churchwardens’ accounts are no longer extant, the evidence derived from the bell is more than welcome. We may perhaps regard it as a probability that the donor of the bell in 1634 was an ancestor of Abraham Rooke of the same parish who married a Symonds bride in 1757.

Having regard to the long association of my family with the mill and the adjoining land it will perhaps be fitting to chronicle some stray facts that are within my knowledge. Although this little mill cannot show a record beginning in Domesday Book, like its neighbour in Donyatt parish, nevertheless corn was being ground in feudal times and most probably on the same site. I have seen an ancient charter by which a bishop of Bath confirmed a gift by Ralph Wac (Wake?) of the mill at Duvelicium (Dowlish) to the monks of Ferleia in Wiltshire. The deed is undated and the bishop’s name is denoted only by the letter R, but the Ralph wake therein mentioned may be the member of the family who was living in 1285 and Lord of the Manor, as the script is of that period.

A long interval then elapses, during which the manor passed to the Keynes family and subsequently by marriage to the Spekes. In the days of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth the depositions in a Chancery suit yield a few particulars: one witness states that in 1651 the life-hold property included the dwelling house, the mill house and tenements, a back-side (yard) and a close of 3 acres, which were worth together about £24 yearly. The miller John Davys, then aged 51, deposed that he occupied the mill-house and a garden plot from which he paid 6 shillings rent weekly to the holder of the other part. The buildings then needed repair and a tree had been provided for the purpose, but the defendant objected and consequently £9 was spent on the timber. (Hutchins vs. Moore, Chan. Dep. Mitford 640/35).

 In 1680 the miller was William Vincent; he was succeeded about 1688 by William Milbourne, my ancestor, whose daughter Anne married Edward Symonds. Thenceforward our kinsfolk successively held the mill in  lifehold tenure during a long period. When an invasion by Napoleon was threatened, returns were called for, in all parishes in maritime counties, as to their resources in men, animals and food. The tithingman of Dowlish made a return in July, 1803, stating, among other things, that there was a miller in the parish but that the want of water prevented him from engaging to supply a greater quantity of meal than his usual customers consumed; if there was no scarcity of water he could supply tem quarters of meal weekly, over and above his usual needs (Som. & Dor. N. & Q. x, 169).

The existing stone walls and main timbers of the dwelling-house and the mill-house, which face each other across a yard, can be dated as 17^th century work, if not a little earlier; the modern slate roofs being doubtless substituted for the original coverings of thatch. In each building there is a large open fireplace framed with oak, one being 7ft 9 ins wide; alongside the fireplace in the mill-house is a small arched recess in the masonry 14 ½  in, x 11 in., perhaps for a food vessel when heated, which suggests that this portion of the building was formerly used as a dwelling, not improbably by John Davys in 1651 as above mentioned.

Until recently there was an inscribed block of Ham Hill stone in the exterior face of the north gable of the mill-house, about 12 feet above the ground level. On examining the inscription it read as follows:

S

E           A

1710

 

My forbear was allowed to remove the stone, and it remained one of his cherished possessions until his death. The meaning of the inscription is sufficiently clear, namely, that Edward Symonds having married Anne Milbourne became, through his wife, the yeoman miller; then having altered the mill-house, he caused his own and his wife’s initials, with the date, to be cut upon the stone (18 in. x 17 in.).

One final word of caution, recently through the internet I have been contacted by various  relatives claiming descent with wildly different origins - hence my scepticism. One said we were former Dutch jews escaping 18th cent persecution, and our name originally was Sijmons (where the i and the j in the Dutch name has been angliscised into y), and another claimant says we were Hugenots fleeing the French persecutions. There is certainly a case for deeper research so I began the exploration  further on this absorbing matter. I started with the Dutch suggestion, and found that perhaps there was a Dutch connection, but not Jewish. Let me explain.

            As I have been thus far unable to find any record of our Grand-sire Edward’s birth (Edward A1 on chart), despite an intensive search in both Somerset and Dorset Records offices, parish records, and other archives, I am just wondering whether he was actually born overseas – particularly in the Low-Countries, and perhaps my researches ought to be continued over there.

My reasoning behind this theory is based on old family folk-lore whereby (or so oral history would have us believe) we originally stemmed from Thomas Symonds of Woodsford Castle (died 1566) who married Alice, daughter of John Bond, living 1566 and had a son, another Thomas (died 1576) having married Agnes, daughter of Richard Femel “a wealthy Dutchman” and had 5 sons, William, Richard, Thomas, Laurence, and Robert. Through these lines descended the clan further, with one offspring marrying into the D’Ewes family, and others into the Small and Pybus lines. Suffice it to say that, without delving too deeply into these lines, we eventually get to the Civil War during which the Symonds’ clan sided with the King and consequently suffered the humiliation of defeat and banishment, the Castle having been “slighted” by the Parliamentary forces, or in the words of an observer of the time “The castell is nowe allmost ruinated, and the neighbour inhabitants have a tradition that it was beseiged and beaten downe with ordnance; as a testimonie wherof they will show you not farre offe in the warren, Gunhill, where they sawe the ordnance planted, and whence it tooke that name”.

Might I suggest, therefore, that having escaped to Holland, possibly in the wake of Prince Charles’ flight thereto, they became impoverished. This is all pure supposition, but did they re-establish contact with their Dutch kinsmen, the Femels, and was Edward, perhaps, a grandson of these original “Cavaliers” and having been born in Holland in 1676, returned to Somerset to eventually marry a miller’s daughter and himself become a miller in turn?

A survey of family Surnames was recently carried out in the Netherlands and, whilst it might only be considered circumstantial evidence, it is nevertheless interesting that among those names, Symonds (together with its Dutch version, Sijmonds whereby the letter “y” has been divided into its original constituent letters “i” and “j”) figured prominently in the survey. The map below shows the distribution of our family name as number of namesakes per municipality, - the areas of darkest colouration representing the densest population.

 Edward may well have retraced his family roots back to England, but it may well also be that others of his clan decided to remain in Holland and subsequently thrived there.

 Enough speculation methinks, so I shall leave the thought there for the time being.

 OLD LETTERS COME TO LIGHT

A selection of letters have come to light which were written in the 1860s from Mary Sarah Symonds Roper (nee Hull) to her brother John Hull in New Zealand from which have been extracted the following snippets:

 25 March 1862: "John Symonds’ mind in London is become quite a wreck - he was lost from his family for a week and at last found in Smithfield. He is now under medical treatment and placed with a keeper and it is feared he will never regain his reason".

 25 May 1865: "Uncle John is still alive, he does not speak at all now. He is getting weaker but no prospect of the nearness of death yet"...."Did I tell you of a young Coppock, Mr W Symond's nephew, being near Auckland? He is rather young, gone out as an adventurer, feels the lack of suitable society and has written to me for your address".

 26 June 1865: "Poor Uncle John is gone at last and was buried last Wednesday at Bradpole. A large funeral of course - died very well off, they say given each of his children £8000 and they number eight.......I am talking of going to Weymouth next week for a little change with Aunt Symonds with Mrs Vidler and Mrs Davis [Anne and Jane] and shall take one of the children with me"......."I saw Mrs W Symonds in Weymouth. She hopes young Coppock will meet with you, they have given him your address".

 18 October 1865: "Aunt John has now left and gone to Birmingham with Mrs Udal. I have been very busy lately; they have had a sale of furniture and I was left in charge to clean up and I am glad it is now all over".

18 January 1866: "I have heard from Aunt John today, she appears happy and well in her home at Birmingham. The air suits her [sic!] and her health is certainly better - she had promised me as a legacy poor soul a pair of handsome plated tea canisters, but today they are come thinking I suppose there is nothing like executing her own wishes if possible.  I shall value them much - she had given me before a photograph framed of aunt, uncle and six sons and 3 daughters taken in a group when they met after being married 50 years, it is an interesting picture".

 

The Narrative or Paragraph History continuing from John Symonds, D12, to be read in conjunction with the notes found from page 33..

X. John Symonds, D12, born Pilsdon 1788. Sometime a land agent and farmer at Broadwindsor and Symondsbury. He died at Bridport 1865 and was buried at Bradpole (M.I.), having Married at Stoke Abbott, 1811, Mary, daughter of Daniel & Hester Stone of Brimley, who was born 1791, and died at Rye, Sussex, 1881, (?1883) aged 91 (see Stone’s descendancy chart). They had issue,

1.Giles Symonds, E12, born Broadwindsor 1812. About 1837 he was a cornet in the 4th Hussars, and afterwards in the Dorset militia. He studied law and was a solicitor at Dorchester in partnership with his maternal uncle Joseph Stone, whom he succeeded as town clerk, and subsequently held many public appointments. In 1892 he was buried at Dorchester cemetery (M.I.), having married first Jane, daughter of Col. Charles Stickland, who died 1877, aged 61, and secondly Martha-Mary, daughter of Edward Pope of Great Toller who died 1916, aged 76. By his first wife only he had issue,
1. Edward-Coleman, born 1842, died in infantcy.
2. John-Charles, F13, born 1844. He was a cornet in the 17th Regiment of Lancers (Commission obtained 25th June 1862), and then a First Lieutenant in the 6th Dragoon Guards upon promotion on 16th October 1866. He also served in the 2nd Somerset Militia. Died 1912 without issue, leaving a widow Mary-Jane, nee Hall.
3. Emily Jane, died in 1845 in her first year (family bible)
4. Edward, died in 1858 in his 10th year. (family bible)
5. Kate, born 1850; died 1862 (family bible)

6. Henry, F14, born 1851. Sometime a solicitor in Dorchester, succeeding his father as town clerk. Died at Bournemouth 1912, having married first Bethia-Anne Morrison who died in 1908, and secondly Kate Jeremy who died 1936. By his first wife he left issue,
i. Michael Henry, G6
ii. Arthur, G7, died 1917.
iii. Nora-Bethia, G8
iv. Charles Stickland, G9. Married Edith Margaret Pratt and left issue,
v. Violet, G10
vi. Percy Giles, G11
vii. Francis George, G12
viii. Edward, G13, married (x ?) and left issue.

7. Mary, F15, born 1853. Married in 1876 to George John Cree (formerly Stone) of Owermoigne, who died 1902. They had issue,
i. George-Cecil O’Shaughnessy Cree, G14, married (x?) and left issue,
ii. Aubrey McMahon Cree, G15, R.N.
iii. Adrian-Victor Cree, G16, killed in France 1916.
iv. Evelyn-Mary, G17, married Robert Jocelyn Pickard-Cambridge, They resided in Ringwood and had issue.

8. Harriett, F16, born 1857, married Henry Anthony Huxtable, of Dorchester, now deceased, by whom she had issue,
i. Gerald Constantine Huxtable, G18, born 1883, died 1904
ii. Dorothy-Kate, G19, born 1885; married Percy Minton Haynes who died in 1957, They lived formerly in Weymouth, and later in Upwey. They left issue,
iii. Charles Hubert Anthony Huxtable, G20, OBE. DSO. MC (2 clasps), born 1888; Educated Harrow School, served in Royal Dorset Garrison Artillery Territorial 1906-12; Went to FMS to plant rubber in 1912; At outbreak of the War he returned to England to join the 79th Brigade Royal Field Artillery in April 1915, and served until the end of the war; T/Capt (A/Major), Despatches, London gazette 30th March and 23rd Dec 1918; DSO., London gazette 16th September 1918.
Charles won his Military Cross on 30th June 1916, “… for conspicuous gallantry under very heavy shell-fire at close range. He repeatedly went to one gun detatchment after another to direct the fire, and also went to the Infantry Headquarters for information. For three days and nights he went without sleep, and set a fine example of devotion to duty…”
For the first clasp to his M.C., awarded on 18th July 1917, the citation read “…For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in rescuing the wounded pilot of one of our aeroplanes. The enemy had ranged upon the fallen aeroplane and without any hesitation this officer plunged into the most intense and accurate shellfire and with the aid of a signaller brought the pilot into safety…”
His second clasp to the M.C. he was gazetted on 18th January and 25th April 1918 for “…. Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of his battery on several occasions. When all the officers and several NCO’s of a neighbouring battery were wounded, he organised the detatchments and inspired the survivors to carry out their night-firing task with reduced numbers….”
He was also awarded a DSO, gazetted 16 Sept 1918 “… For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the whole of three week’s operations. On one occasion, when his battery was in the thick of a heavy barrage he kept his gun firing despite casualties. He directed the evacuation of the wounded and himself worked one gun single-handed. He kept touch with Brigade Headquarters during the whole time, and found a new position, less exposed, where he swiftly moved his guns during a lull…”
On 27th Feb 1939, he was still listed as Major RA (TA) in the Admin Office, but he eventually became a Lieut. Colonel. He married (1919?) Helen Mary, daughter of Revd. P.W. Bates., and has issue.

iv. Nellie Georgina, G21, (1892- ) married Gerald Venables-Kyrke (d.1932) and had issue.

9. Arthur-George, F17, born 1861. died 1945. Formerly a town-clerk, he was articled in December 1883 as a member of Symonds & Sons of Dorchester, Dorset, and became highly respected solicitor in that town; He was mobilised in August 1914 as a major in the 4th battn Dorset regt. He served in India between November 1914 and February 1916, and between July 1916 to May 1918. He also served in Mesopotamia between February and July 1916; He married Gertrude Frances Lindsay and has issue,
i. Arthur Giles Crawford Symonds, G22 (b 1924), married Lorna Maureen Cockram and had issue.

2. John Symonds, E13. born Broadwindsor 1815. died 1862; Sometime in the Civil Service; married Theodosia Marriner. There is a poem in existence dedicated to the pair, written at the time of their wedding:
May providence send to the fortunate pair.
With the brightest of weather, the farest of gales,
While in quest of the anxiously sought son and heir,
On the billows of hymen the Mariner sails.

They had issue,

1. Mary Theodora Marriner, F18, born 1847. died 1883, having married Archibald Mitchell, by whom she left issue.

2. John Wellesley Valentine, F19. born 1851. died 1893. Emigrated to Australia and bought a property of 90 acres on the Hunter River, about 20 miles upriver from Newcastle, and built a house which he named Symondsbury. He married Alma Adelaide Cross (1862-23rd Jun 1919).He is buried at Raymond Terrace, on the Hunter River, 15 Miles from Newcastle, NSW. They had issue.
i. Eva Constance Mildred, G24 (1881-1953), who married in 1904, George Henry Norman (b.1879), son of Henrietta Anne Cornish and Frederick Norman, of Pimlico. She had issue.
ii. John Wellesley Symonds, G25 (1883-1956). He had a serious illness in 1929 in Ceylon whilst on his way to England. He returned to NSW and took Holy Orders. He was subsequently a Canon of St Matthew’s church, Wauchope and retired in 1949. He died suddenly on 11th October 1956 of a coronary occlusion. He had married Jeanie Barnet Shutz and had issue.
iii. Lillie Leek Miriam, G26 (b 1885), married Arthur Stanmore, but had no issue.
iv. Stella Theodosia, G27 (b. 1887), married Percy Vine (d.1923) but had no issue.
v. Clarence Victor Leopold, G28 (1889-1957, married Florence Smith. He died suddenly in hospital of Pulmonary cancer.

3. Mary-Anne, E14, born 1817. She married at Broadwindsor in 1836 her cousin William Udal of Edgbaston, a merchant and factor in Birmingham who was at one time in partnership with his brother-in-law Henry Symonds, E16. She died 1879; her husband died 1880, aged 78, leaving issue.

4. Daniel Symonds, E15, born Broadwindsor 1819. For many years a farmer at Winterborne Ashton. He died at Dorchester 1892 (M.I. Cemetery), There is a plaque in Broadwindsor Church near Bridport, in his memory. He married Mary-Anne (born 1834), daughter of John Allen Pope of Sutton Poyntz, who survived him and died 1912. They had issue,
1.Daniel-John, F20, Born 1857 at Ashton. He not only farmed part of the Symondsbury estate and lived in a big white house outside the Manor gates, and also Ashton Farm, nut he also carried on his father’s business of Land Agents and Valuers. They were known as “Big” Dan and “Little” Dan. He died at Upwey in 1905, having married in 1885, Catherine Sarah Flower Flower who survived him and by whom he had issue,
i. Catherine Mary, G29, Born 1886, married first (in 1907) Reginald Maxwell Mason (1867-1939), and then secondly Cecil Bertie Howard Knight M.C. (born 1883) and had issue.

ii. Daniel George, G30, ( 1885-1932) articled in February 1911 and was managing clerk of Symonds & Sons, Dorchester. He was mobilised August 1914 as a lieutenant in the 4th Battn. Dorset Regt., and later promoted to captain. The 4th Dorsets; sailed for India at the outbreak of hostilities and was the first territorial regiment to see active service abroad during the 1914-18 war. He served in Mesopotamia, was twice mentioned in despatches, and attained the rank of acting Major at various times. He married Anthea Irene Gibson (born 1897), and had issue.

iii. William Flower, G31, born 27th September 1890 at Symondsbury, and later when his father rented Ashton farm from the late Sir Edwin Pope, the family resided at Upwey until his father’s death in 1905 when they moved to Weymouth. He first went to school at Casterbridge, in Cornwall road, Dorchester, and then to Stubbington, near Portsmouth, going on to Marlborough and Oundle (Crosby House 1908-9).Upon leaving school, he was articled to his brother-in-law, Reginald Mason, a chartered accountant specialising in brewery accounting and who was a relative of the Mr mason one time partner of the late Alfred Pope at Dorchester Brewery. In 1914, within a week of taking his final examinations as a Chartered accountant, he entrained at Dorchester en-route for India with the 2/4th Battalion Dorsetshire regiment, to which he had been commissioned with the rank of 2nd lieutenant; On arrival in India he very soon found himself in charge of nearly all the accounts of the regiment including a savings bank which he organised for the benefit of those who wished to save up some of their pay for future use. At Ahmed-Naggar he was appointed Machine-Gun officer to the battalion, but in those days there were no machine-guns to train with and therefore his men had to carry out exercises with a dummy gun and tripod made in the pioneer shop to his specifications. Then, it seemed, he found plenty to occupy his time, so much so that if one of his junior officers depicted him on guard duty they gave the cartoon the caption “The Sub of all work RESTS from his labours.” Towards the close of 1915 he was married at Bombay cathedral to his cousin Grace Augusta Flower Bartlett (1891-1981) of West Knighton, and in the middle of the following year he was sent to Mesopotamia to rejoin the Machine Gun Corps. He had not been there a month before he was “discovered” by the Financial Advisor to the GOC and appointed Local Audit Officer to the Force, which post he held until he left Basra in 1919 enroute for Blighty and demobilisation,.his activities in the meanwhile having been acknowledged by a Mention in Despatches. Upon returning home he resumed his study of brewery accounting under Mr Mason until he was appointed Secretary of the Colchester Brewery Co in 1921, to which town he had moved After that firm was absorbed into Ind Coope in 1926, he rejoined Mr mason as a partner in the firm of Mason and Son of which firm he eventually became a senior partner. In March 1921 his first son was born and he moved to Croydon where he remained until 1934. He then moved to Reigate, and in the same year was appointed a Director of Eldridge Pope & Co Ltd in succession to his uncle William Pope Symonds. When the war of 1939-45 broke out, he was nearly 50, too old to rejoin the armed forces on active duty, so he joined the Reigate Borough constabulary as a Special Constable and served for the duration. In 1960 he retired from Mason & Son and returned to Dorsetshire, where he died peacefully in 1979. He left issue.

iv. Nora Winifred, G32 (1892-1964) married Captain Adam Borridale Bell (d.1946), leaving no issue.

v. John Frederick, G33 (1894-1975). Was educated at Weymouth College and Oundle School, and spent most of his early life farming in Canada. He married Kathleen Mary King (1902-1969) and had issue.

vi. Philip Reginald, G34 (1897-1970) , Educated at Weymouth College and at Oundle (1912-15 Crosby House)In 1915 he was commissioned straight from school into the Dorset Fortress Engineers, but transferred to the Indian Army, serving with Queen Victoria’s Own Sappers & Miners, seeing service in Mesopotamia and Persia until invalided out after the war. In 1923 he founded the Cotswold Game farm in Stroud, Gloucestershire, , which became known as the best game farm in Europe. He introduced an entirely new system of game feeding and rearing. During the 1939-45 conflict he was in charge of a Civil defence over an area covered by three local authorities, He was also deputy Chief warden and Head Special Constable the district and wa awarded a bar to his police medal. He compiled a local official history of the war. He married Vivien Frederica Stenhouse 1900-1973), and had issue.

2. Edward, F21, born 1859, died 1950. M.A., Merton Coll. Oxon. Vicar of Havering-atte-Bower, Romford. He married Ellen Mary Callis and had issue,
i. Edward Noel-Callis, G35, MBE, MC, MA. - RFA, died at Aldershot 1927.
ii. Mary-Theodora, G36.
iii. John-Walton-Callis, G37 (b.1902), who married Marion Sonia Hatfield (b.1911) and had issue.
iv. Christopher-Henry Callis, G38, (b.1904) married firstly, Evelyn Annie Mary Meredith (d.1930), and secondly, Aileen Mary Thompson (b.1907) and had issue.
v. Edith Monica, G39 (b.1908), married Lt. Commander Ronald Montague Haig Sowden, RN. (d.1941 on active service) and had issue.
vi. David George Callis, G40 (b.1910) married Eula Elizabeth Carr (b.1913) and had issue.

3. William Pope, F22, born 1860, died 1934. A solicitor formerly practising at Kettering and now living at Sturminster Newton. He married first Mabel Charlotte Scott who died 1927 leaving two daughters,

i. Evelyn-Mabel, G41, born 1892, who married Eric Duke Scott at Montreal.

ii. Mildred Frances Glynn, G42.

4. Maria, born 1861, died in her first year.

5. Arthur, F23, born 1862, died 1937. Of Charminster, Dorset (although Kelly’s handbook of the Landed gentry has him coming from Wolfeton Manor). He married first Elizabeth Cornick and secondly Alice-Jego Symonds. By his first wife he had a son Arthur, G43, who was killed in action 1917.

6. Henry, F24, born 1863. died 1943. Sherborne School 1880-2, MD., MRCS.Eng. He lived at Kimberley, South Africa, and served in the RAMC with the South African troops in France. Married first Frieda Tyrrell, by whom he had issue, and secondly Jessica Linnell, by who he had no issue.
i. Marian-Freda, G44, who died 1918 having married Arthur M. Brewer (1891-1932), by whom she had issue.
ii. Helen-Margaret, G45, (d.1967), married Sherwood Willoughby Watson.
iii. Astley Henry Paston, G46, married first to Alexandria (Lexie) Hall, and secondly to Enid Giddy, and had issue.
iv. Gwendoline-Mary, G47.(b.1902) married firstly to heyn Oosterbrook (b.1901) and secondly to ? Fitzsymons (b.1937), by whom she had issue.
v. Ina-Kathleen, G48, (b.1904) married Felix Jacobus de Wet (b.1898) and had issue.
vi. Thelma-Enid, G49 (b.1908) married Ian Henry Campbell Lake (b.1908) by whom she had issue.

7. Marcia, born 1864, died in her first year. (family bible)

8. Septimus, F25, born 1865. died 1950. MA. And late scholar of St. Catherine’s Coll. Cambridge. Vicar of St. Mark’s Church, Cambridge. He married Mary Caroline Tindall and had issue,
i. Edward Tindall Symonds, G50, M.A. (1895-1978), became a Wing Commander, married Hilda Mary Spence. No issue.
ii. Ethel-Mary, G51 (b.1896) .
iii. Catherine Gertrude, G52 (1898-1983)
iv. Victoria Winifred, G53, MRCS., LRCP. (b.1900)
v. Alec Arthur, G54, M.A. (b.1902) Emmanuel College, Camb. Married in 1930 to Doris Maud Parsons. No issue
vi. Walter Herbert, G55, B.A. (1904-1984) Queen’s College, Camb. Clerk in Holy Orders. Married Ona Crofton. No issue.

5. Henry Symonds, E16, born Broadwindsor 1821. Educated at Honiton. Lived for many years at Edgbaston and was a merchant in Birmingham, being at one time a partner of William Udal; also director of a Bank there. He was a keen collector of tokens of Dorset, and was the chief rival of William Udal who also collected tokens. It is also said he sported mutton-chop whiskers; He died at Edgbaston (M.I.) 1879, having married at Milverton, Somerset, in 1857, Mary-Eliza, eldest daughter of George and Jemima J. Leekey (See Leekey descendancy chart), who died 1891. They had issue,

1.Henry, F26, (1859-1933). Rugby School. Sometime in partnership with William Udal the younger and Edward Udal. Afterwards called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn 1888, Midland Circuit; FSA (The author of the family lineage book) He married Florence Annie Whitfield of Edgebaston and had issue,
i. Henry-Herbert, G56, (1885-1959). Exhibitioner Rugby School; Scholar & MA. Oriel College, Oxon. Ordained at Bristol 1909. Assistant master at Clifton and Rugby, and later Headmaster Liverpool Institute. He married firstly in 1911 Charlotte Gwendolen Wortley Watson, BA Oxon, formerly of Bothenhampton, and has issue. She died in 1939, and he then married Ruth Beatrice Wortley Williams (b.1889). He died in 1959 and a memorial service was held in Cartmel Priory. His ashes were released into the wind from the summit of Scafell where those of his wife’s fell.

2. Florence-Mary, F27 (b.1863), married Henry Burman Lowe (1859-1915). She died 1923 (M.I. Barnt Green), leaving two sons,
i. John-Burman Lowe, G57 (b.1889), educated Uppingham School, MB. MRCS., late Major RAMC, Medical officer of Health in Wiltshire; married Frances Champion (b.1899) and has issue.
ii. Geoffrey-Burman Lowe, G58, (b.1892) MA, MRCS, late temporary Surgeon Lieutenant RN, He was also in the medical profession and retired in 1954. He had in his possession a miniature portrait in oils of Jemima Craze. He married Gwendoline Laura Towse (b.1899) and has issue.

3. Ethel-Margaret, F28, born 1865, She married Capt Charles George Nurse of the Indian Army and died 1929 without issue.

4. George-Herbert, F29, born 1871. Died 1884 (A painted window in St Alban’s church, Leamington, commemorates him).

5. George, born and died 1860.
6. George, born and died 1861.

6. Anna-Maria, E17, born Broadwindsor 1824; married there in 1848 to John Amon Vidler of Rye, Sussex, who died 1856. She died at Rye 1897 (M.I.) leaving issue,

1. John Symonds Vidler, F30, born 1851; died 1912 having married Caroline Louisa de Lacy Selmes, nee Smart, by whom he had a son

i. John-Lionel-Symonds Vidler, G59.

2. Marian Vidler, F31. died 1938. Unmarried.

7. Frederick Symonds, E18, born Broadwindsor, 1826. Sometime a manufacturer at Lichfield. He died 1898 having married in 1851 Annie, daughter of William Mynors of Elford, Staffs., by whom he had issue,

1. Frederick-William, F32, He joined the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1906, and was discharged in 1920. He married Isobel White.

2. Ernest John, F33, educated at Rugby and married Annie Elizabeth Power, and had issue
i. Mona Evelyn, G60, married Alan Tell Osbourne, and had issue.
ii. Kathleen Power, G61, married Henry Dowding.
iii. Muriel Olive, G62
iv. Leslie William, G63, married Grace Anna Smallridge, and had issue.

3. Agnes-Annie, F34, unmarried.

4. Arthur-Henry, F35; educated at Rugby, and married Blanche Mackinlay.

5. Reginald-Wynne, F36, married Margaret Dagmar Rasmussen., & had issue
i. Margery Dagmar Mynors Symonds, G64.

6. Georgina-Jane, F37, married William Towers Mynors, a cousin, and had issue
i. Monica Mynors, G65.
ii. Humphrey Mynors, G66.

7. Richard-Dyott, F38.

8. Jane, E19, born 1828; married at Symondsbury in 1851 to Robert Coker Nash Davies, MRCS., who died at Rye 1891. She also died at Rye 1911, without issue. (There is a painted window in that church in memory of her mother and husband.)

9. George Symonds, E20, born Broadwindsor 1832, a twin with William infra. He was sometime a farmer at Symondsbury and Winterborne Monkton, and died in 1906 having married Mary-Lowman, daughter of William and Caroline Fry of Curry Rivel, who died 1927, aged 90, the last survivor of that generation. They had issue,
1. Mary, F39, born 1859. Unmarried.

2. Annie, F40, born 1860, married Sydney Guest.

3. Caroline-Lowman, F41, born 1861, Unmarried.

4. John, F42, born 1865, married, …..Rugby and has a son, i. Arthur, G67.

5. George, F43, born 1868, married Mildred Saunders.

6. Florence, F44, born 1869; died 1907 unmarried.

In addition to the forgoing there were three children of John and Mary Symonds, D12, who died young and unmarried, namely George, died 1824; Ellen-Amelia, died 1831; and William, a twin, died 1857.

An interesting snippet of information worthy of a mention here is one found in the front of an old family photograph album belonging to Daniel John Symonds. It ran:
“My (Daniel John’s) grandfather John Allen Pope had three wives (Dunning, Willmot, and Wood). His sister had three husbands (Morse, Moody, & Rossiter). He and his two brothers married three sisters (Wilmots). His three sons who married had two wives each, and two of such sons living in the village of Sutton Poyntz did not go out of the parish for their second wives. His other two sons did not marry alleging that no woman would take the risk of being first wife!”