Francis Vernon, husbandman of Perry Head & Sparrowpit in Peak Forest, Derbyshire, d. 1649
Francis Vernon was born in Derbyshire, the son of Francis Vernon of Tideswell. His baptism precedes parish registers, but his mother's name is thought to be Grace, since she is named in a record with his father Francis of 1586.
Francis first appears in records in 1626, when resident at Ford in Chapel-en-le-Frith. By this time he is married to Alice and their stillborn child is buried at St Thomas Becket, Chapel-en-le-Frith on 12 Feb 1626.
George Vernon was also resident there in 1629, and a Richard Vernon died in the town of Chapel-en-le-Frith in 1620. These are almost certainly his immediate relatives, but their exact relationship cannot be confirmed. One theory is that Richard and George were younger children of Francis's grandfather George Vernon of Tideswell from a second marriage, meaning they would be Francis's (half) uncles. They could equally be his brothers, first cousins or even second cousins.
The residence at Ford of Francis and George Vernon is crucial in unravelling the story of the family, since Francis's father Francis Vernon senior, gentleman of Tideswell, had inherited a share of the Ford property from his father George (and he in turn from his father Richard Vernon junior esquire of Hazlebadge). Francis Vernon senior, of Tideswell, had sold his share of the Ford property in 1586 and the remainder in 1596, but the residence at Ford of Francis and George 1626-1629 confirms they still had some interest in the property.
In or slightly before 1629 Francis has moved to the area known as Perry (including Perry Foot and Perry Head) near Sparrowpit in Peak Forest. He was a husbandman, and in September 1648 a lease was granted "to Francis Vernon of the Peak Forest husbandman of the tenement at Perry Head and enclosed land of ten acres one rood, in the Peak Forest.
Francis and Alice and seven children in total, but it appears that only their two sons John 1630-1695 (a yeoman of Peak Forest) and his younger brother Francis 1736-1706 (a husbandman of Smalldale, Peak Forest) appear to have survived into adulthood. Francis's wife Alice died in July 1645 and was buried at Chapel-en-le-Frith on 7 July - "Alice, the wife of Francis Vernon of Peak Forest".
Francis himself died four years later at Perry Head, in 1649 and was buried at Chapel-en-le-Frith (the burial record that confirms this appears to have been lost, but I was told by a contact that he had spoken to woman who used to work with the registers and had seen it).
A pedigree published in the Derbyshire Reliquary on this part of the Vernon family (researched by Henry Kyrke in the 19th century, who in 1785 had married Mary Vernon, a descendant of Francis Vernon 1736-1706 of Smalldale) indicates that this Francis Vernon was living in 1660 and that it was his father Francis who died in 1649, but this is impossible given that Francis Vernon senior was born around 1542.
Francis first appears in records in 1626, when resident at Ford in Chapel-en-le-Frith. By this time he is married to Alice and their stillborn child is buried at St Thomas Becket, Chapel-en-le-Frith on 12 Feb 1626.
George Vernon was also resident there in 1629, and a Richard Vernon died in the town of Chapel-en-le-Frith in 1620. These are almost certainly his immediate relatives, but their exact relationship cannot be confirmed. One theory is that Richard and George were younger children of Francis's grandfather George Vernon of Tideswell from a second marriage, meaning they would be Francis's (half) uncles. They could equally be his brothers, first cousins or even second cousins.
The residence at Ford of Francis and George Vernon is crucial in unravelling the story of the family, since Francis's father Francis Vernon senior, gentleman of Tideswell, had inherited a share of the Ford property from his father George (and he in turn from his father Richard Vernon junior esquire of Hazlebadge). Francis Vernon senior, of Tideswell, had sold his share of the Ford property in 1586 and the remainder in 1596, but the residence at Ford of Francis and George 1626-1629 confirms they still had some interest in the property.
In or slightly before 1629 Francis has moved to the area known as Perry (including Perry Foot and Perry Head) near Sparrowpit in Peak Forest. He was a husbandman, and in September 1648 a lease was granted "to Francis Vernon of the Peak Forest husbandman of the tenement at Perry Head and enclosed land of ten acres one rood, in the Peak Forest.
Francis and Alice and seven children in total, but it appears that only their two sons John 1630-1695 (a yeoman of Peak Forest) and his younger brother Francis 1736-1706 (a husbandman of Smalldale, Peak Forest) appear to have survived into adulthood. Francis's wife Alice died in July 1645 and was buried at Chapel-en-le-Frith on 7 July - "Alice, the wife of Francis Vernon of Peak Forest".
Francis himself died four years later at Perry Head, in 1649 and was buried at Chapel-en-le-Frith (the burial record that confirms this appears to have been lost, but I was told by a contact that he had spoken to woman who used to work with the registers and had seen it).
A pedigree published in the Derbyshire Reliquary on this part of the Vernon family (researched by Henry Kyrke in the 19th century, who in 1785 had married Mary Vernon, a descendant of Francis Vernon 1736-1706 of Smalldale) indicates that this Francis Vernon was living in 1660 and that it was his father Francis who died in 1649, but this is impossible given that Francis Vernon senior was born around 1542.