The family of Pontifex was researched by Claud Pontifex and published in "The family of Pontifex of West Wycombe, Co. Buckingham, 1500-1977”. The earliest Pontifex he found in the direct male line was John Pontifex, of West Wycombe, whose will was made in February 1588/89. He named two sons, William and Edward, and his wife was Alice. He was born around 1540.
I have found several earlier Pontifexes in the plea rolls of the Court of Common Pleas. These and other legal records going back to the 13th century can be found at the AALT site:
http://aalt.law.uh.edu/IndexPri.htmlJohn Pontifex of Hughenden, cook, and Joan his wife are found in Common Pleas 1551 to 1553. Since this parish is adjacent to West Wycombe, I think it likely that these are the parents of John Pontifex of West Wycombe. He was born possibly 1500-1520.
Before that there were three Pontifexes in East Claydon. John Pontifex, of East Claydon, husbandman, is found in Common Pleas 1489 to 1512. William Pontifex of East Claydon, husbandman, is found in 1509. And Robert Pontifex, of East Claydon, husbandman, is found 1505 to 1512. It seems likely that John is the father of Robert and William, and it's possible that one of these two, born around 1480, is the father of John Pontifex of Hughenden.
