This is a well-researched history written in an easy to understand style based on the 'Burke's Landed Gentry' format. The story starts with the origins of the Humfrey family in the Parish of Blewbury in Berkshire in the 14th century and ends with William Humfrey of the Holt, near Wokingham, Berkshire, 1752-1831. The history also touches upon the Ilbury and Coleman families.

My father Bernard Rawes purchased a photographic copy of the typed manuscript deposited in the Library of the Society of Genealogists in London. My father has written on the copy "From SOG box Recum NY 1951" - Society of Genealogists, box in library, Franz von Recum, New York, 1951. The 8-page copy was poor and therefore had to be re-typed to enable it to be replicated as a webpage document.

Franz von Recum was the descendent of Susanna, the second child of Frederick and Susanna Whitaker of Bampton and therefore sister of Elizabeth Whitaker, the wife of Cabel Roope, from whom descends our branch of the family. Susanna Whitaker was the daughter of William Humfrey of the Holt.

The family of Humfrey was seated at Blewbury in Berkshire before the year 1340. In the 14th year of the reign of King Edward the Third an assessment was made showing one WILLIAM HUMFREY living at Blewbury. The Parish Registers of Blewbury begin at the end of the Sixteenth century & from these & the early Wills of this family, the following pedigree has been compiled.

NICHOLAS HUMFREY, Yeoman, & his wife MARTHA were living at Blewbury in the beginning of the Seventeenth century. They had seven children. Nicholas Humfrey made his Will at Blewbury on Sep. 14, 1627, which was proved in P.C.C. on Oct. 10, 1627. He died either on the 14th or 15th of September 1627, as he was buried in the churchyard of Blewbury on Sep. 16, 1627.

By his Will he left the sum of £5 to his married daughter Elizabeth Hanson, £20 to each of his five unmarried children & £10 to his eldest son John Humfrey. The residue of his estate he bequeathed to his wife Martha Humfrey with the proviso that should she remarry, she should pay £20 to their eldest son & £60 to each of their unmarried children.

Martha Humfrey died in May 1645. She made her Will at Blewbury on May 12, 1645, which was proved in P.C.C. July 8, 1645. She desired to be buried in the church at Blewbury & left the following bequests to her children: £10 to Elizabeth Hanson, 20 shillings to Mary Ilbury, £10 to Anne Wilmot, £25 to Frances Hanson as also one coverlid which had already been given to her, also one brass pan, £25 to Thomas Humfrey with one coverlid of red & blue cover, a feather bed with bolster & pillow and to Nicholas Humfrey she left the £20 bequeathed to him by his father, another £40 within two years of her death or the mortgage of Toby Hicks' house at Blewbury with the four acres of land belonging thereto & another £20 within three years. The residue of her estate she left to her eldest son John Humfrey. This Will was sealed with a coat of arms, which is unfortunately not distinct enough to be read clearly, but it bears a chevron between three lozenge type figures & on the chevron bears some figures also. Martha Humfrey was buried at Blewbury on May 20, 1645. Nicholas & Martha Humfrey had the following seven children:

1. ELIZABETH, who was baptized at Blewbury on April 23, 1604. She married at Blewbury on Feb. 2, 1622 JOHN HANSON, who was buried at Blewbury on May 25, 1673. She was buried at Blewbury on March 8, 1662.
2. MARY HUMFREY, who was baptized at Blewbury on Dec. 12, 1605 & married there on June 17, 1631 NICHOLAS ILBURY, the son of Nicholas Ilbury, Yeoman of Blewbury by his wife Jane, who was baptized at Blewbury on Feb. 13, 1597. He had married at Upton, Berks., on Nov. 26, 1621 Elizabeth Harbert, who after giving birth to one child died & was buried at Blewbury on Oct. 24, 1623. Mary Ilbury had four children & was buried at Blewbury on Feb. 13, 1662. Nicholas Ilbury made his Will on March 23, 1662 & died in May 1663. He was buried at Blewbury on May 25, 1663. As his granddaughter Anne Ilbury married her cousin John Humfrey, I give here the issue of Nicholas Ilbury:
   1. RICHARD ILBURY, the only child of Nicholas & Elizabeth (Harbert) Ilbury, was baptized at Upton, Berks., on Sep. 16, 1622 & married Anne ...
   2. NICHOLAS ILBURY, son of Nicholas & Mary (Humfrey) Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on March 20, 1632 & died in infancy.
   3. NICHOLAS ILBURY, son of Nicholas & Mary (Humfrey) Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on May 3, 1635 & married MARY ... They had the following five children:
      1. MARIE ILBURY, daughter of Nicholas & Mary Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on Feb. 1, 1659 [1669?] & died young.
      2. MARY ILBURY, daughter of Nicholas & Mary Ilbury, was baptized at Didcot, Berks., on March 23, 1663 & died young.
      3. ANNE ILBURY, daughter of Nicholas & Mary Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on May 7, 1668 & married at Wantage, Berks., on Feb. 1, 1697 her cousin JOHN HUMFREY (1645-1735), see hereafter.
      4. EDWARD ILBURY, son of Nicholas & Mary Ilbury was baptized at Blewbury on July 2, 1670.
      5. MARY ILBURY, daughter of Nicholas & Mary Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on June 21, 1673.
   4. MARY ILBURY, daughter of Nicholas & Mary (Humfrey) Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on July 25, 1638.
   5. TOBITT ILBURY, son of Nicholas & Mary (Humfrey) Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on Feb. 2, 1642 & buried there on Aug. 4, 1654.
   6. THOMAS ILBURY, son of Nicholas & Mary (Humfrey) Ilbury, was baptized at Blewbury on June 10, 1653.
3. JOHN HUMFREY, eldest son of Nicholas & Martha Humfrey, see hereafter.
4. ANNE HUMFREY, daughter of Nicholas & Martha Humfrey, was baptized at Blewbury on Feb. 22, 1611 & married about the year 1633 RICHARD WILMOT, who was baptized at Blewbury on July 28, 1611 & buried there on May 22, 1646. Anne Wilmot was buried at Blewbury on March 20, 1647.
5. FRANCES HUMFREY, daughter of Nicholas & Martha Humfrey, was baptized at Blewbury on Sep. 1, 1614 & married about the year 1646 LEWIS HANSON, who was baptized at Blewbury on Nov. 23, 1600. They moved away from Blewbury.
6. THOMAS HUMFREY, son of Nicholas & Martha Humfrey, was baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 22, 1616.
7. NICHOLAS HUMFREY, son of Nicholas & Martha Humfrey, was baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 10, 1624.

1. NICHOLAS HUMFREY, who was born about the year 1633, was buried at Blewbury on July 31, 1649.
2. ELIZABETH HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 3, 1636 & married there on Aug. 1, 1659 WILLIAM PINKE, who had been baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 6, 1610.
3. JOHN HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 28, 1638 & had died before 1645.
4. MARIE HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Sep. 17, 1640 & was buried there on Aug. 30, 1643.
5. THOMAS HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Nov. 13, 1642 & probably died young.
6. JOHN HUMFREY, 1645-1735 see hereafter.
7. ROBERT HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on April 4, 1647.
8. MARTHA HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on June 18, 1649 & was still living at Blewbury in 1735.
9. ANNE HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on April 4, 1650 & died in infancy.
10. ANNE HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on June 25, 1651 & was buried there on March 24, 1726.
11. NICHOLAS HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on June 21, 1653.
12. MARIE HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on May 22, 1655 & died after 1735.
13. FRANCES HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on March 18, 1656.
14. SARAH HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Aug. 6, 1660 & buried there on Aug. 18, 1731.

1. WILLIAM HUMFREY, who was born at Blewbury at the end of 1697 or at the beginning of 1698 *[see Notes below]. The baptismal records of Blewbury are missing for this period. He became a Cooper & resided in the Parish of St. Mary Somerset in London. On Oct. 19, 1724 he married at the Church of St. Mary le Bone, London, FRANCES GRAINGE, the widow of HENRY COLEMAN, of the Parish of St. Margaret's Westminster. Later on they lived near Hendon on the Thomas & here William Humfrey died in November 1765 & was buried at Hendon on Dec. 1, 1765. Frances Humfrey, of the Parish of St. Clave's in London made her Will on Dec. 3, 1765, which was proved in P.C.C. on June 13, 1770. She died June 1770 & was buried at Hendon on June 12, 1770. WILLIAM & FRANCES HUMFREY had three children who follow:
   1. MARY HUMFREY, who was baptized at St. Mary's Somerset, London on Feb. 27, 1726 & was buried there on March 14, 1726.
   2. WILLIAM HUMFREY, 1730-1803, see hereafter.
   3. MARY Humfrey, who was baptized at St. Mary's, Somerset, London, on Feb. 11, 1733 & was buried there on June 12, 1733.
   WILLIAM HUMFREY, son of William & Frances (Grainge) Humfrey, was baptized at St. Mary's Somerset, London, on Jan. 23, 1730 & married in London in 1758 ANNE BAILEY, the daughter of the Rev. William Bailey, Rector of Queenhithe, London, & his wife Anne Chamberlain. She had four children & died at London in September 1799. William Humfrey died in 1803. WILLIAM & ANNE HUMFREY had the following four children:
   1. WILLIAM HUMFREY, who died in infancy & was buried at Hendon on June 13, 1762.
   2. ELIZABETH HUMFREY, who died in infancy & was buried at Hendon on Nov. 15, 1765.
   3. FRANCES HUMFREY, who died in infancy & was buried at Hendon on March 6, 1766.
   4. MARY HUMFREY, who was born at Hendon on April 21, 1768 & married there on Sep. 7, 1797 WILLIAM LOADEN, who was born on Jan. 6, 1770 & died at North Bideford on March 17, 1845. Mrs Loaden died at London on Sep. 25, 1849 & with her this branch of the Humfrey family became extinct. Her daughter CAROLINE LOADEN (1807-1896) married in 1847 Admiral WILLIAM BENJAMIN SUCKLING, R.N. (1788-1865)* [see Notes below] & were the parents of FLORENCE HORATIA SUCKLING (1848-1923) the wife of her cousin Captain THOMAS SUCKLING, R.N., late of Highwood, Romsey, Hants.
2. ILBURY HUMFREY, second son of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was born at Blewbury about the year 1699 & married at Blewbury on Feb. 3, 1731 MARY THATCHER, who was born in 1707 & died at Oxford on May 4, 1790 having had eight children. Her body was brought back to Blewbury & buried in the church there. Ilbury Humfrey died at Blewbury & was buried there on June 12, 1754. ILBURY & MARY HUMFREY had the following eight children:
   1. WILLIAM HUMFREY, who was baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 2, 1732 & married SUSANAH ..., who died at London on May 21, 1768. He died at London on Nov. 4, 1788. They had no surviving issue & were buried at Blewbury.
   2. JOHN HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Oct. 4, 1734.
   3. EDWARD HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Aug. 14, 1736 & married there on Dec. 26, 1758 MARY ALDER, who was baptized at Blewbury on Oct. 1, 1736 & had seven children. Edward Humfrey was buried at Blewbury on Jan. 6, 1807. EDWARD & MARY HUMFREY had the following seven children:
      1. MARTHA HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Dec. 29, 1759 & married there on April 15, 1779 RICHARD BADCOCK, She died at Chipping Wycombe on Jan. 4, 1841.
      2. ILBURY HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Aug. 30, 1761. He married at Blewbury on Aug. 20, 1787 MARY SMITH, whom he had had one illegitimate son, WILLIAM, born on July 29, 1783 at Blewbury. With him the Humfrey's of Blewbury became extinct.
      3. SUSAN HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on Sep. 6, 1764, died young.
      4. MARY HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on Sep. 26, 1768, died young.
      5. SARAH Humfrey, baptized at Blewbury on Oct. 4, 1770, died young.
      6. HANNAH Humfrey, baptized at Blewbury on Aug. 9, 1773 was buried there on Aug. 11, 1773.
      7. ANNE HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 10, 1775.
   4. MARY HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Sep. 23, 1738 & married there on Jan. 9, 1772 RICHARD ROBINSON.
   5. THOMAS HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Oct. 29, 1740. He died without issue.
   6. ILBURY HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Oct. 10, 1742. He died without issue.
   7. ANNE HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Oct. 23, 1744.
   8. SARAH HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on June 19, 1747 & died at London on May 22, 1795. She was buried at Blewbury.
3. THOMAS HUMFREY, third [second] son of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was born at Blewbury in 1700 or 1701. He married at Wantage, Berks., on July 30, 1722 ELEANOR YOUEN. He died vitae patris & was buried at Blewbury on Dec. 16, 1732. Eleanor Humfrey was buried at Blewbury on March 27, 1738. They had four children. THOMAS & ELEANOR HUMFREY had the following four children:
   1. THOMAS HUMFREY, who married at Upton, Berks., on Nov 26, 1750 JANE GAMMON, who died at Blewbury & was buried there on March 8, 1788 having had four children. Thomas Humphrey was buried at Blewbury on Feb. 9, 1788. THOMAS & JANE HUMFREY had the following four children:
      1. JANE GAMMON HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on Dec. 5, 1752, married there on Dec. 26, 1774 WILLIAM GODDARD.
      2. ELEANOR HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on Nov. 28, 1754.
      3. THOMAS HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on June 17, 1750, died young.
      4. FRANCES HUMFREY, baptized at Blewbury on Sep. 18, 1760, was buried there on July 4, 1778.
   2. JOHN HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on June 14, 1725, died young.
   3. FRANCES HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on Jan. 18, 1728 & was buried there on Feb. 19, 1734.
   4. ELEANOR HUMFREY, was baptized at Blewbury on March 5, 1731 & married there on April 9, 1752 JOHN ELDRIDGE, who was buried at Blewbury on Feb. 2, 1758. She remarried at Blewbury on Oct. 3, 1762 WILLIAM LUDLOW.
4. MARY HUMFREY, fourth [third] child of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was baptized at Upton, Berks., on June 20, 1702 & married at Blewbury ob Sep. 13, 1730 ROBERT WITHERELL, who was baptized at Blewbury on ... buried there on Oct. 23, 1760. Mary Witherell was buried at Blewbury on Jan. 29, 1761.
5. NICHOLAS HUMFREY, fifth [fourth] child of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was baptized at Upton, Berks., on Jan. 12, 1704. He died young.
6. EDWARD HUMFREY, sixth [fifth] child of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, (1705-1780) see hereafter.
7. JOHN HUMFREY, seventh [sixth] child of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was living at the time of his father's Will in 1735, but died without issue.
8. ANNE HUMFREY, eighth [seventh] child of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was baptized at Upton, Berks., on Oct. 17, 1708.
9. SARAH HUMFREY, ninth [eighth] child of John & Anne (Ilbury) Humfrey, was baptized at Upton, Berks., on April 11, 1711.

Elizabeth Coleman came from a family of London Merchants. THOMAS COLEMAN of St. Giles in the Fields, London, & his sister MARIA COLEMAN of the same Parish & later of St. Margaret's, Westminster, were born during the second half of the 17th century. Maria Coleman did not marry & made her Will in London on April 2, 1707 disposing of real estate she owned in the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields. She died in February 1708 & her Will was proved in P.C.C. March 1, 1708. THOMAS COLEMAN, Gent of St. Giles in the Fields & later of St. Margaret's Westminster, owned property in Tuttle [Street] & Chappell Street of that Parish & in the Manors of Edgeware & Kingsbury. Near Kingsbury was situated his country place "Roo Green". He married in London on Feb. 21, 1694 ELIZABETH ...., the widow of ... ORAM, by whom she had one son, William Cram. Thomas Coleman made his Will on Sep. 29, 1726, which was proved in P.C.C. Nov. 3, 1726. To his wife he left the property of Roo Green at Kingsbury & two houses in Tuttle Street, Westminster to Frances, the widow of his son Henry Coleman, he left four houses in Tuttle Street & two in Chappell Street, Westminster. He died probably in October 1726. Elizabeth Coleman made her Will on Sep. 2, 1728, which was proved in P.C.C. on Nov. 9, 1728. THOMAS & ELIZABETH COLEMAN had five children:

1. EDWARD COLEMAN, of St. Giles in the Fields, died a bachelor in 1715 & the administration of his estate was granted to his father on Nov. 21, 1715.
2. MARY COLEMAN married Mr. ... NORRIS.
3. THOMAS COLEMAN, a Chandler, married ELIZABETH ... & moved shortly before his death to Shrewsbury, where he died in April 1731. They had had one child Henry Coleman, who was baptized at St. Giles Somerset, London on March 22, 1730 & buried there on May 19, 1730.
4. ELIZABETH COLEMAN married Mr. ... WOOD.
5. HENRY COLEMAN married FRANCES GRAINGE & died before his father probably in 1722 or 1723. I have not been able to find any further information regarding Frances Grainge's family. She had one brother SAMUEL GRAINGE, Gent. of Hyde, Kingsbury, who made his Will on Oct. 1, 1777 in which he desired to be buried at Hendon "as near to the bones of my late sister Frances Humfrey as may be" & left his three leasehold houses in Tuttle Street & Broad Way, Westminster to William Humfrey of Hendon (1730-1803) & to William Humfrey of Red Lion Street, London (1752-1831) in trust to pay legacies to some of his relatives. After the death of Henry Coleman his widow Frances remarried in London on Oct. 19, 1724 WILLIAM HUMFREY (see above) & died in June 1770. She was buried at Hendon on June 12, 1770. HENRY & FRANCES COLEMAN had two daughters:
   1. ELIZABETH COLEMAN who married EDWARD HUMPHREY
   2. FRANCES COLEMAN who married first Mr. ... BLOOM & then RICHARD HALL.

1. FRANCES HUMFREY, who died in childhood between 1765 & 1772.
2. WILLIAM HUMFREY (1752-1831) see hereafter.
3. MARIA HUMFREY, was born in London & baptized at St. George the Martyr, Holborn, on March 26, 1755 & died between 1765 & 1772.

William Braffett died in London in September 1783 & was buried at St. John's Cemetery, Hampstead. He made his Will on Dec. 11, 1782, which was proved in P.C.C. on Sep. 23, 1783 & left all his property to his only surviving daughter Susanna Humfrey. His wife Elizabeth had died in London in September 1758 & was buried on Sep. 17, 1758. They had the following four children:

1. MARY BRAFFETT, was baptized at St. George the Martyr on Sep. 2, 1748 & died before 1782.
2. ELIZABETH BRAFFETT, was baptized at St. George the Martyr on June 28, 1750 & died before 1782.
3. WILLIAM BRAFFETT Jr. was baptized at St. George the Martyr on Jan. 18, 1753 & died in London on Sep. 21, 1782. He was buried at St. John's Cemetery, Hampstead.
4. SUSANNA BRAFFETT, was baptized at St. George the Martyr, Holborn, on Nov. 2, 1755 & as we have seen married William Humfrey. They had four children. She died in childbed in London on Dec. 4, 1757 & was buried by her father & brother in St. John's Cemetery, Hampstead on Dec. 12, 1787.

William Humfrey died at the Holt in his 60th year on Nov. 16, 1831 & was buried in the Cemetery of All Saints Church, Wokingham, Berks. The tombstone, in the shape of an altar, still stands & bears inscriptions to the memory of William Humfrey, his second wife, her mother Mrs. John Morton, his two sons by his first marriage & his four children by Mary Child. Mary Humfrey died at the Holt at the age of 78 years in June 5, 1840. She made her Will on Sep. 27, 1831 with various codicils, the last of which was dated May 17, 1840. As she had no relatives of her own, she left the bulk of her fortune to the Whitaker family, in to which her two stepdaughters had married. She bequeathed to Frederick Whitaker of Bampton (1787-1854) & his wife Susanna Humfrey £1,000 & the residue of her estate. She left her pearl necklace to Marie, the daughter of Frederick Whitaker, some silver to Alfred Hanbury Whitaker & £700 to William Henry Whitaker. WILLIAM HUMFREY had the following children by two marriages:

1. SUSANNA HUMFREY, who was born at Red Lion Street, Holborn, on Sep. 6, 1783 & married in London in 1810 FREDERICK WHITAKER, Esq. of Bampton Manor, Oxon., who was born at Bampton on Dec. 5, 1787 & died there on April 7, 1854. She died at Bampton on Jan. 7, 1862.
2. MARIA HUMFREY, who was born at Red Lion Street, Holborn, on June 10, 1785 & married on Oct. 10, 1834 WILLIAM HENRY WHITAKER, Esq. of Fyfield, Berks. She died at Fyfield on Aug. 2, 1839.
3. WILLIAM HUMFREY, who was born at the Holt, Wokingham, on Nov. 24, 1786 & became a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He married on March 5, 1817 Miss ... ONGLAR & died without issue on Jan. 23, 1818. His grave is at Wokingham.
4. EDWARD WHITAKER, was born at Wokingham on Nov. 6, 1787 & died there on Nov. 10, 1787.
5. GEORGE HUMFREY, was born in 1793 & died at Wokingham in September 1806.
6. SOPHIA HUMFREY, was born in 1795 & died at Wokingham in July 1797.
7. AMELIA HUMFREY, was born in 1798 & died at Wokingham in November 1802.
8. FRANCES SOPHIA HUMFREY, a twin of Amelia's, was born in 1798 & died at Wokingham in December 1802.

[For the subsequent life of Susanna Whitaker (1783-1862) and her descendants, from whom our branch of the family are descended, please see Mr Franz von Recum's history of the Whitakers of Bampton (f006).]

Notes:-

1. *My father (Bernard Rawes), who obtained this manuscript, has indicated on his copy that "William Humfrey was born 1689 and is not a son of John & Anne Humfrey."
2. *SUCKLING: Burke's Landed Gentry, 1900, p1523, under Suckling of Barsham. William Suckling Col. 3rd Dragoon Guards, b.27 April 1762. M. 1787, the grand-dau. of G. Wybrew, and had issue, 1: William Benjamin, of Highwood Romsey, Hants., Vice-Admiral, sailed with his godfather Admiral Lord Nelson, in 1803, and was in the Victory at Trafalgar. B. 1788; mar. 1847, Caroline, dau. of W. Loaden, and d. 1865, having by her (who d. 1896) had issue, Florence Horatia Nelson, m. 6, Sept. 1876, Capt. Thomas Suckling, R.N. J.P. Hants. b. 8, Aug. 1844. She died 1877. These were cousins of Nelson whose mother was Catherine Suckling, b. 9, May 1725 and granddau. of Rev. Maurice Suckling, Rector of Bresham, b.1676. The above was added by my father Bernard Rawes.
3. For further information on the Humfrey family please see the site:- http://www.humfrey.me.uk/family-tree.png