Symond Ffyske1,2,3,4

M, b. circa 1397, d. before 26 February 1464
FatherHugh Ffyske
     Important Notes: There are various sources from different time periods with different original documentation on which to base their conclusions, and from all of this, there are even a larger variety of descents from the progenitor, Symond Ffyske of Laxfield to the emigrants that came to New England before 1640. In the following generations we have made reference to some of the sources we know have been used. After much time spent in analyzing the works that have been done, we are of the opinion that G. Andrews Moriarty in his final work done on the Fiske family in 1938, and published in the NEHGR. In this final piece, he brings to light new primary sources from County Suffolk, and we believe he has put together the correct lineage. That is, from Symond, son of Hugh, to Robert, the ancestor of those immigrating to the New World, to his great grand children who settled in New England. - KLM.

Symond was born circa 1397 in Laxfield, County Suffolk, England.5 He was Lord of the Manor of Stradbaugh. He was living in the reign of Henry IV [1399-1413], Henry V [1413-1422], Henry VI [1422-1461] & Edward IV [1461-1483]. Symond married Susanna Smyth in England. Symond's wife, Susanna, died circa 1433 in the Manor of Stradbaugh, Laxfield, County Suffolk, England, leaving him a widower. Symond married 2nd Katherine (?) circa 1434. Symond made his will on 22 December 1463.

Simon Fiske of Laxfeld [Laxfield, co. Suffolk]. He was to be buried in Laxfeld church, whereof I am a parishioner. To the high alter 3s. 4d. To the stipend of the chaplain of the Gild of St. Mary in Laxfeld 6s. 8d. yearly for sixteen years. For the health of my soul and my friends' souls I will that a chaplain shall celebrate in Laxfeld church for one year. For three trentals for my soul 30s. To the new bells in Laxfeld 20s. To my wife Katherine my utensils and moveables live and dead. To each of my three daughters £10 within a year of marriage; but, if any of them remain single, she shall enjoy her portion. To my son William 40s. To my son Geoffrey 40s. To my elder son John 40s. To my daughter Margaret Deusing 40s. To my son Edmund 40s. If any of my sons bring any action against my executors for lands in Laxfeld and Eston Bavent [Baston-Bavent, co. Suffolk], he shall lose his portion of 40s. Residuary legatees and executors; my wife Katherine, my younger son John, John Noloth, and Nicholas Noloth.
To my wife Katherine lands in Laxfeld for life, with remainder to my younger son John, except 2 acres called Semams to my wife absolutely. If my younger son John, be disturbed, he shall compensate himself from my lands in Eston Bavent. After his mother's decease he shall give my executors ?30. For the health of my soul 10 marks.6,7,8

Symond departed this life in Laxfield at the Manor of Stradbaugh. He was buried there in All Saints Churchyard. His will was probated on 26 February 1464 by his widow, Katherine & young son, John..

Family 1

Susanna Smyth d. c 1433
Children

Family 2

Katherine (?)
Children

Citations

  1. [S1142] Henry Ffiske, Fiske Family Papers, page 36.
  2. [S1144] Frederick Clifton Pierce, Fiske and Fiske Family, page336.
  3. [S1141] Albert A. Fiske, The Fiske Family, A History of the Family of William Fiske, Sen. of N.H., page vi - The English Pedigree of Fiske - Compiled from the Registry of Herald's Visitations, and the “Candler Manuscripts” on file in the British Mueum.
    Symond Fiske, Lord of the Manor of Stradbaugh, parish of Laxfield, county of Suffolk, Eng.; lived in the reigns of Henry 4th and 6th, (From A.D. 1399 to A. D. 1422.) married Susanna, daughter of Smyth, his wife.
    Their son William Fiske, of Stradhaugh; lived in the reigns of Henry 6th, Edward 4th, and Henry 7th.; married Sarah, daughter of Lynne, his wife
    Their son Richard Fiske , of Laxfield. His pedigree in full is not in the compiler's possession, but by the testimony of most credible authorities he was third in descent from Simon Fiske. According to Cotton Mather, also, he lived in the reign of Queen Mary, and endured grievous persecutions. [Wife unknowm]
    His son Robert Fiske, of the parish of St. James, South Elham married Sibyl, daughter of Gold. [From Robert & Sibyl are the descendants that emigrate to New England.]

    Pages 8-9 - [Notes - It must be stated that according to the will of Johan, the wife of Willam Fiske, son of Simon, the couple did not have a child named Richard. In a series of articles by G. Andrews Moriarty, on the Fiske Family in the NHGR states Richard's father to be Geoffrey, son of Geoffrey, son of Simon. - KLM]

    "ROBERT FISKE, of Laxfield, eldest son of Richard, and fourth in descent from Simon Fiske, of the same, married SIBYL GOLD, and had sons WILLIAM, Jeffrey, Thomas and Eleazer. These parents were the progenitors of all the Fiskes that settled in New England, so far as known, before 1640. William Fiske, eldest son of Robert, married Anna Austye, and had children JOHN, Nathaniel (who died young), Eunice and Hannah, the last of whom married William Candler, and was the mother of Rev. Matthias Candler, who was born 1604, educated at Cambridge University, and settled a minister at Codenham, England. It is principally from his papers, now on file in the British Museum, and known as the " Candler Manuscripts," that the materials of the early history of the FISKE FAMILY have been compiled.

    JOHN FISKE, the eldest son of William, above, and grandson of Robert and Sibyl Fiske, married Ann, a daughter of Robert Lantersee, and had children John (born 1601), WILLIAM (born 1614), Anne and Martha, all of whom, with their mother, embarked for America in 1637. Their father had died previously (in 1633), and during the passage their mother died also. The two brothers, having married in England, settled with their families in Wenham, then a part of Salem, Mass., about 1640. John, who had been already ordained In the-English Church, became a noted and influential minister in the colony, and a brief memoir of him, chiefly derived from the " Magnalia," is given elsewhere in this volume. His brother, WILLIAM FISKE, with whose descendants we are chiefly here concerned, became also a man of some mark, filled various public offices, but died in the prime of his powers and usefulness, under forty years of age. Both were able and useful men, zealous Puritans, and left descendants who perpetuated their good for several generations."
  4. [S1159] Genealogy of Fiske, pages 3-4 - The oft-quoted manuscript, believed to be the work of Matthias Candler, and numbered 6071 of the Harleian collection in the British Museum, mentions several persons of the name of Fiske, who emigrated from the county of Suffolk to New England. Extensive researches concerning this family have been made by Mr. H. G. Somerby, and the present account is prepared from his collections, with the help furnished by various other sources of information. The earliest recorded ancestor is Simon Fiske, who was of Stadhaugh in the parish of Laxfield, Suffolk, in the times of Henry IV., V. and VI. He had two wives, Susan Smith and Katherine, and died 1463-4. He left by his first wife four sons, William, (2) Jeffery, ( 2) John(2) and Edmund,(2) and a daughter, Margaret (2) Dowsing.
    William(2) Fiske, the eldest son, married Johan Lynne, and lived till the reign of Henry VII. He left six sons. Thomas, (3) William, (3) Augustine, (3) Simon,(3) Robert(3) and John,(3) and two daughters, Margery,(3) and Margaret.(3) Simon(3)Fiske was of Laxfield, and had four sons, Simon, (4)William, (4) Robert (4) and John. (4).
    Simon,(4) the eldest son, died in 1535, leaving eight sons, Robert, (5) John, (5) George, (5)Nicholas (5)Jeffrey,(5) Jeremy,(5)William,(5) and Richard, (5) and three daughters, Joan,(5) Gelvne,(5) and Agnes. (5)
    Robert (5)Fiske ,the eldest son, fled for religion's sake in the days of Queen Mary, but was afterwards of St. James', South Elmham. He married Sybil, daughter of ___Gold, and widow of ___Barber, and died in 1602, leaving four sons, William,( 6) Jeffrey, (6) Thomas, (6) and Eleazer, (6) and a daughter Elizabeth (6) Bernard.
    [Note - The ancestry of Robert Fiske who married Sybil, differs from source to source. It is important to read the will of Johan, the wife of William, who was the son of Simon, to see who their children were. Some sources have named the father of Robert to be Richard and others Simon. These sources need to be analyzed. - KLM]
  5. [S1156] G. Andrews Moriarty, The Fiske Family, page 178 - 18 Henry VI [1440], At Laxfield, Charter of Thomas, son of Robert Cone, and Roger Smyth of Laxfield to William Cone, brother of said Thomas. William le Hawe and Thomas Bas all of Laxfield, cites a feoffment of land in Stodhaugh and parcels of land in Laxfield next the King's Highway and adjoining Sir Robert Wingfield, Knt., made by Nicholas Taylour and Simon Fiske then aged forty years.
  6. [S1150] G. Andrews Moriarty, The Fiske Family, page 408 - Will of Simon Fiske of Laxfeld [Laxfield, co. Suffolk], dated: 22 December 1463 & Proved at Laxfeld 26 February 1463/4 by the widow and John Fysk, the younger son. (Archdeaconry of Suffolk [Ipswich Probate Registry], book 2, folio 127.).
  7. [S1147] Nora Emma Snow, The Snow-Estes Ancestry, page 345 - Will of Simon Fysk dated: 22 December 1463 and probated: 26 February 1564.
  8. [S1857] Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Re-Examination of the Fiske Families of Suffolk, England, Ancetral of Some Early New England Families, page 229. - www.americanancestors.com.