A new theory of our English forebears

Scruggs Family Association, based on

Presentation at 12th SFA Reunion, June 25, 2011

John Linge claimed Virginia headright in 1655 for transporting Richard Scruggs and 5 more. ◦ Headright was 50 acres per transported person.

Unfortunately, just like Melchizedek, Richard of 1655 is currently “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” (Hebrews 7:3) SFA wants to change that!

“Richard Scruggs, Sr., who came to Virginia about the middle of the 17th century A.D. – age 58 – accompanied by his two sons – Richard and Henry (of whom Ethel Scruggs Dunklin published in 1912 A.D. all she could then learn of their descendants) – was of the Bedfordshire (England) family.”

Where did Ethel Scruggs Dunklin (or Margaret Scruggs Carruth) get her information?

Mrs. Dunklin provides no source citations, which is typical of the time that she published (1912).

Where did Ethel Scruggs Dunklin get her information? Letters to individuals

Where did Ethel Scruggs Dunklin get her information? Letters to individuals

Published books

Where did Ethel Scruggs Dunklin get her

information? Letters to individuals Published books

While she deserves our gratitude for her impressive work, contemporaneous documentary proof has not been found for a number of Mrs. Dunklin’s parent-to-child connections, despite many years of research. Some of these assertions could be her guesswork, especially those dating beyond the time when her correspondents would have direct, personal knowledge of the relationships.

Always suspicious of Carruth’s assertion due to Richard’s age in 1655

Always suspicious of Carruth’s assertion due to Richard’s age in 1655

Over the years, SFA collected basic information on other Richard Scroggs of more likely age for an immigrant.

Always suspicious due to age

Over the years, collected basic information on other Richard Scroggs of more likely age

Scruggs v. Scroggs lawsuit information on Bedfordshire family highlighted numerous Scroggs/Scruggs sons.

1. Mine Searching for Scruggs for any information on the English family.

2. Use additional sources available online.

3. Visit a library!

1537 Scroggs Richard Birth Hertford Albury Scroggs Thomas son Jane son Propst+S1

9/1

1597 3-Jul Scroggs Richard Baptism Bedford Northill Scroggs Alexand

er son

Propst+S1/1+Gen

Bdfds 212

1599 or

1600 Scroggs Richard appt Sheriff Bedford Renhold S19/1

1602 Scroggs Richard Death Bedford Renhold Scroggs multiple sons/dau

Son of Thomas

of Patmore

TNA Probate 11/99

1602 Scroggs Richard heir/executor Bedford Renhold Scroggs Richard son TNAPrb11

/99

1602 19-Jan Scroggs Richard marriage Bedford Tingrith Bundle Elizabeth spouse Propst

1603 3-Jul Scroggs Richard Christened Bedford Tingrith Propst

1603 3-Jul Scroggs Richard Burial Bedford Tingrith Findmypas

t

Richard Scruggs

◦ Baptized 1627 in Middlesex, just outside London

He would have been 28 in 1655!

Richard Scruggs

◦ Baptized 1627 in Middlesex, just outside London

◦ Son of Robert and Elizabeth Stannett Scruggs

Richard Scruggs

◦ Baptized 1627 in Middlesex, just outside London

◦ Son of Robert and Elizabeth Stannett Scruggs

◦ Apprenticed to a master vintner when he was 13

Worshipful Company of Vintners

Only one Robert in the spreadsheet, apparently, with 7 entries.

Only one Robert in the spreadsheet, apparently, with 7 entries.

As an adult, 6 entries: ◦ Always at All Saints Parish, Edmonton, Middlesex

◦ Always spelled as Scruggs.

Only one Robert in the spreadsheet, apparently, with 7 entries.

As an adult, ◦ All Saints Parish, Edmonton, Middlesex

◦ always spelled as Scruggs.

A single entry found for a child named Robert: ◦ Robert Scroggs, son of William, baptized July 28,

1583, St. Giles, London.

◦ Would be 33 at time of marriage to Elizabeth

Only two possibilities on the spreadsheet:*

◦ On April 7, 1576, William Scroggs married Alice

Marten at St. Martin Church, London.

◦ On August 3, 1579, William Scroggs, a butcher, married Rachel Prentice at Christ Church, London.

Caveat: Newly transcribed archival information is being placed online almost daily. SFA must stay alert to the possibility of additional candidates.

Late 12th century, two charters between: 1. Robert de Scrogges and David de Lyne, and

2. Their sons, Simon de Scrogges and Robert de Lyne.

Charter of 1208: Simon has sold the land. He has two brothers, Huttig and William.

King Edward I of England requires 2000 Scottish nobles to swear allegiance to him in 1296. The so-called Ragman Roll includes:

Adam del Skrogges, freeman of Haddington

William del Skrogges, county of Peebles

Other instances of the surname appear in 1357, 1398, 1436, and 1439. The latter three are all in Aberdeen.

Last is Alexander

Scroggs, master of

the ship Nicholas.

Beginnings in London:

Richard Scroggs, citizen and pasteler, 1475

THEORY: Shipmaster Alexander Scroggs of Aberdeen or one of his sons moved to the busier port of London.

NOTE: Alexander is a name passed down through English Scroggs.

By 1518, Thomas Scroggs had married a young heiress Agnes Harleston of Patmore Hall, Albury, Hertfordshire.

◦ The master of Patmore had the surname Scroggs for almost 200 years.

◦ Thomas’ two younger sons, Alexander and Richard, go to Bedfordshire.

Scrugges v. Scrogges breaks out in Bedfordshire in 1601.

◦ Both the land transfer due to King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church and the Penal Laws designed to cripple resistance to the change in religion appear to play a role.

◦ Multiple charges develop: fraudulent deed, assault, jury tampering

1475: 1st Scroggs in London, England

1494-1558: Only Hertfordshire documents

1558: 1st Bedfordshire document

1561: 1st London document

Subsequently, a mixture. See map of locations of Scroggs/Scruggs documents on upcoming slide.

Is there evidence of connections to London?

Yes! Both Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire lines have London connections.

See Summer 2011 article in Searching for Scruggs.

Age 28 in 1655

Scruggs spelling in both England and Virginia

By 1622, wine was being shipped from Virginia to England.

The Vintners fell into disfavor with the victors of the English Civil War (1642-49).

Corroboration?

Debunking?

Alternate theories?

Please share ideas with Scruggs Family Association! Curious minds want to know . . .