SAYER FAMILY HISTORY

This page is dedicated to the history of the branches of the Sayer family from Bowes and Romaldkirk, North Yorkshire.

Historical background

The Sayer family flourished in the Bowes and Romaldkirk parishes from at least the mid-sixteenth century onwards, with Henry Sayer appearing to be the ancestor of all the later local lines. Henry died at Loup House in 1602 and his wife Ann died in 1604. Loup House was about a mile north of Stoney Keld on the border between the two parishes. Sayer families continued to live at Loup House for more than fifty years before spreading out more widely in the parishes. In the sixteenth century there were also Sayer families nearby at Barnard Castle , Croft and Marrick but to date no connection to these families has been established.

Following Henry Sayer at Loup House was John Sayer (~1565 – 1647). It is presumed therefore that John was Henry’s son. He was a man of some property as was confirmed by his inventory and will which mentioned his sons Henry and George, his grandson Henry and his son-in-law Charles Hutchinson.

John’s son George (~1589 - >1644) must have lived at Loup House for some of his life as one of his children was described as of Loup House in 1612 and John’s other son Henry (~1611 - >1654) had a child Henry described as of Loup House in 1654. This Henry was ancestral to the Romaldkirk Sayers.

?John Sayer (~1610 - ?1662) and his wife Elizabeth (~1622 – 1687) appear to be ancestral to the Bowes Sayers but how they are linked to the Sayers of Loup House is purely conjectural. It is
not known where John lived in Bowes but his son James (~1664 – 1716) lived at Stoney Keld very close to Loup House. John’s eldest son appears to have been George (~1650 – 1734) and by tradition the eldest son would probably be named after the paternal grandfather so it is possible that John was the son of George(~1589 - >1644). Finally the fact that the will of John Sayer (~1565 – 1647) was included in a list of early wills contained in a volume of the Bowes parish registers suggests that it was relevant to Bowes families.

Supposed relationship between Loup House, Romaldkirk and Bowes Sayers

?Henry Sayer (~1530 - 1602) & Ann ? (~1532 - 1604) 
|   John Sayer (~1565 - 1647) & ? ? ( - <1644)
|   |   Mary Sayer (~1586 - ) & Charles Hutchinson (~1582 - >1644) 
|   |   |   9 children B: 1610 - 1627 in Romaldkirk
|   |   Henry Sayer (~1588 - ~1648) 
|   |   George Sayer (~1589 - >1644) & ? ? (~1593 - ) 
|   |   |   ?John Sayer (~1610 - ?1662) & Elizabeth ? (~1622 - 1687)
|   |   |   |   >>Bowes Sayers
|   |   |   Henry Sayer (~1611 - >1654) & ? ?
|   |   |   |   >>Romaldkirk Sayers
|   |   |   Alice Sayer (1612 - ) 
|   |   |   George Sayer (1616 - 1616) 
|   |   |   Frances Sayer (1618 - ) 
|   |   |   Phillis Sayer (1620 - 1635) 
|   |   |   Annas Sayer (1623 - ) 
|   |   |   Margaretta Sayer (1625 - ) 
|   |   |   ? Sayer (1629 - 1629) 

Anyone interested in further details of this branch of the Sayer family, or who is able to provide additional relevant information, 
is invited to contact the coordinator for this page Laurel Sayer.