Marnes Family History

Last updated 23rd March, 1999

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MARNES

The Marnes family in Longborough go back to the early 16th century, when they were tenants of Hailes Abbey which then owned much of Longborough.

In 1533 the farmers were entering into an agreement with the Abbey for "common pasture and breaking up of the Abbey's waste ground", i.e. early Enclosure of land. The Abbey was only concerned with making a profit and not about the tenants, who beieved that they were to be dispossessed and the land given over to sheep.

The tenants petitioned Parliament, claiming that the Abbot of Hailes was daily following his cruel intentions to destroy the tillage of the Lordship, and "the destruction of your power oratours". In fact, this never happened in Longborough, as the Abbey was demolished by Henry VIII and the manor was given to the LEIGH family, which kept it until 1921.

The MARNES, who became carpenters and wheelwrights, seem to have remained as tenants of the LEIGHs, although at one stage they were described as freeholders. The MARNES appear in Gloucestershire directories until 1876 as carpenters. The Apothecary's Accounts Book of Dr. Richard ARCHER of Stow-on-the-Wold in the early 1800s also reveal one MARNES at Lower Swell and possibly one at the Talbot, Stow-on-the-Wold.

The LEIGH Papers, held by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, show payments to various MARNES carpenters, including £5 for ten wheelbarrows and large sums for fence-building.

Name
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Place of birth
1. Nicholas MARNES c.1731   Longborough, Glos.
m. Ann MEADOWS 1775 bap. 22 Mar 1752   Longborough, Glos.
   2. Mary MARNES 1771   Longborough, Glos.
   ? m. William JONES 1793      
   2. Richard MARNES c. 1776   Longborough, Glos.
   ? m. Catherine BENNY 1806      
   2. Ann MARNES 1780   Longborough, Glos.
   ? m. Nathan RYLAND 1802      
   2. Susanna MARNES 1788 1870s Longborough, Glos.
   m. John MARSHALL 1807 bap. 4 Nov 1781 1850s Longborough, Glos.

 

Nicholas had fathered two illegitimate children in 1771: Mary, his daughter by Ann MEADOWS, and Stephen, his son by Elizabeth CLARKE. Ann was the daughter of Francis & Constantia MEADOWS. I find myself wondering about their feelings about Ann and Nicholas' eventual marriage in 1775! Relief, perhaps?

The "Last of the Name" Richard Nicholas MARNES, died in 1927 aged 76 and is buried in Longborough Churchyard.

 

To MARSHALL Family History

To MEADOWS Family History

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To Surname references on censuses, registers etc.

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