John GAY of Midsomer Norton

[Old Bristolian]

Thanks pz40,

Paul and I have seen this and consider it most likely to be John's first marriage (after Mary's death he married Anne Jones in 1714 at High Littleton). Sadly there are so many defiencies in some registers in the period that finding John's baptism may prove impossible. I'm not convinced that John the cordwainer and the John Gay, gent. who died in  1729 are one and the same, but there aren't many other possibilities

Steve

[pz40]

Hi Steve

Good to hear from you - and that the Stanton Prior marriage is considered a possibility - though, I agree, it is by no means conclusive.

I am also an old Bristolian!

[Old Bristolian]

Good to see another OB on the board. I wonder if we may have been contemporaries - I was at the Lower School 1953-7 and Upper School 1957-63. My name (quite memorable) is the first one in my list of interests,

Steve

[pz40]

I meant an old Bristolian in the more general sense!  We are more or less contemporaries - but I was at the Red Maids' School from 1951 - 1958!

[RGay]

John Gay of Midsomer Norton was my 7th Great Grandfather.  My second great grandfather, also named John fought in the war for southern independence, America's civil war.  I don't have much information past that except when we came to America the Gay's had a plantation in North Carolina. 

Roy Gay   

[Old Bristolian]

Hi Roy,

Are you descended from John Gay's sons Henry or John? My descent is from Henry who was also a shoemaker like his father. Recently I've looked again at the burial record of John Gay in 1729 and I'm now certain it does not say "gent" but "senr" ie. senior,

Steve

[RGay]

Descendant of Henry.  My Great Grand father was also named Steve.  Steve Sherrod Gay.  We haven't figured out where Sherrod came from.

Roy

[RGay]

I erroneously said that the Gay family had a plantation in North Carolina.  I was thinking of the Litton clan.  The Gay's arrived in Virginia I believe.

The Litton's have been traced back 17 generations.  One married a Windsor.   

[Andrew RM Hayes]

I seem to remember a mural tablet to some Gays in the church at Midsomer Norton.
Unfortunately it's always locked these days, so I have been unable to check it out.
I also remember being told in the '60s by the vicar that they were related to the Gay who was involved with the Beggar's Opera, although he provided no further details.
Incidentally I have a Gay in my ancestry, John Gay, buried Hemington 8th May 1702. Wife; Edith, buried Hemington 15th May 1689.
He was a bailiff, and seems to have rather exploited his office, if the 1670s cases in the Somerset Quarter Sessions are to be believed.
I don't know whether there is any connection between the families, it's not that far between the two parishes.
 I have not been able to trace a baptism or marriage for my John Gay. His first children was born 16th January 1653/4, according to the Hemington PR.