The Turney Genealogy

Our Turney ancestry traces back to an English colonist named Benjamin Turney (c.1597-1648), a yeoman of Soulbury in Buckinghamshire, England, who came to New England circa 1637-1638. Benjamin's ancestors held lands along the Buckinghamshire/Bedfordshire border in a lineage that reaches back to the mid- to latter 1400s. In records of the late 1400s and early 1500s, the surname is spelled Tornay and Turnay, but as the surname is of Anglo-Norman origin, the earliest form of the surname was De Tournai, meaning a family from Tournai in Normandy. An interesting, and no doubt garbled, local tradition in Slapton, Buckinghamshire, which was home of the Turneys from time out of mind, maintains that the Turneys were originally called De Tournai, and that they were granted the Church Farm in Slapton in the time of William the Conqueror, holding the farm continuously until the mid-1970s.

The earliest appearance of someone in England bearing the toponymic designation of "de Tournai" is in the Domesday Book in A.D. 1086: namely, GEOFFREY DE TOURNAI, a "man of Count Alan," meaning he was a knight in service to the Breton Count Alan Rufus who came over from Brittany at the time of the Norman Conquest. Geoffrey de Tournai is listed at Stenning in Swineshead, in Lincolnshire -- Count Alan was the tenant-in-chief there, Healfdene of Stenning was the tenant, and Geoffrey de Tournai was a sub-tenant. It has been proposed that Geoffrey de Tournai was the founder of the Turney family in England, which is certainly possible even if it cannot be proven. In fact it may be that more than one man came from Tournai during the century after the Norman Conquest, resulting in several unrelated Turney families in England. Certainly by the late 1200s there were English Turneys living in different English counties, and while all those men may have belonged to the same family, we cannot be sure that, say, our Buckinghamshire Turneys were cousins of those who lived in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, or Yorkshire.

In the account of the village of Oving, Buckinghamshire, included in George Lipscombe's 1847 The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, vol. 1, on page 371 it is noted that "Robert de Oving held two fees here belonging to the Manor of Newport-Pagnell, in 1 Ed. I. [1272-1273] having married the eldest of seven sisters whose names are not recorded, but who shared Oving amongst them; another [sister] was married to one of the family of Tournay or Turney; Robert Justine or Justice married another." The villages of Oving, Slapton, Cheddington, and Soulbury are all within a few miles of each other -- these are the lands where our Turney family appears as sub-tenants and leaseholders in the 1400s and 1500s, so Lipscombe's reference to a Turney marrying one of seven Oving sisters is the earliest notice of the Turneys in their ancient Buckinghamshire home. A WILLAM DE TURNEY is also recorded in the Nottinghamshire Hundred Rolls in 1273 -- perhaps the Turney who married one of the seven sisters. In addition a RICHARD DE TURNEY is found in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire the same year.

Lipscombe includes a further notice of our Turney family on page 373 of the same above quoted volume, where Lipscombe has an undated reference to Oseney Abbey Lands in Oving that the Abbey "acquired partly by the gift of Robert [de Oving?] or William de Turney, of his share of the inheritance of the ancestors of his wife, and confirmed by William his son, and partly by other benefactors. Robert de Oving gave a cottage to this Convent, and Robert Juvene, Justine, or Justice, gave half an acre of land here, to the same foundation." This gift to the Abbey by William de Turney and its confirmation by his son William are recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire and the Latin Register of Oseney Abbey. This additional notice of the Turney family clarifies that it was the elder William de Turney who had married one of the seven Oving heiresses.

It was perhaps the younger Willam de Turney above mentioned who appears on 9 Feb. 1307 in the Feet of Fines (CP 25/1/205/15, number 76) in a plea of covenant with Joan de Dunton regarding lands in Ewhurst in Hampshire, some 50 miles from the Buckinghamshire lands of the Turney family. Following is an abstract of this plea of covenant:

County: Hampshire.
Place: Westminster.
Date: One week from the Purification of the Blessed Mary, 35 Edward I [9 February 1307].
Parties: William de Torny, querent, and Joan de Dunton, deforciant.
Property: 1 messuage, 60 acres of land, 1 acre of meadow, 1 acre of wood and 2 acres of pasture in Iuhirst [Ewhurst].
Action:	Plea of covenant.
Agreement: Joan has acknowledged the tenements to be the right of William, as those which he has of her gift.
For this: William has granted to Joan the tenements and has rendered them to her in the court, to hold to Joan, of the chief lords for the life of Joan. 
          And after the decease of Joan the tenements shall remain to Margery, daughter of the same Joan, and the heirs of her body, to hold of the chief 
          lords for ever. In default of such heirs, remainder to the right heirs of Joan, quit of the other heirs of Margery.

This Anglo-American Legal Tradition image of a 1307 Feet of Fines plea of covenant names 'William de Torny' (fourth line, third word from the left), perhaps a member of the Buckinghamshire Turney family.

In the following century, the Roll of Writs and Returns for the Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire for the year 1333-1334 shows a JOHN DE TURNEY of Cheddington, Buckinghamshire. Our Turneys later were leaseholders of Cheddington during the 1500s (see below), so this John de Turney was no doubt the ancestor of our Turney family. The Calendar of Close Rolls for the reigns of Edward II and Edward III also has several references to a John de Turneye, evidently John de Turney of Cheddington. At this same period we find a priest or religious brother named SIMON DE TURNEY, Chantry Chaplain for Thurstan Keswick's Chantry in Hanslope, Buckinghamshire, about 20 miles northwest of Slapton (The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham, George Lipscombe, vol. 4, on page 178). No doubt Simon was a member of our Turney family and was related in some way to John de Turney of Cheddington.

Our knowledge of our Turney ancestry depends on the research of Helen Turney Sharps, who with the help of Donald Lines Jacobus published in the latter 1930s two studies on the ancestry of the colonist Benjamin Turney. Sharps' studies are entitled, "The Ancestry of Benjamin Turney of Concord, Mass., and Fairfield, Conn.," published in The American Genealogist, Oct. 1936, pp. 125ff., and "Turney - Odell," published in The American Genealogist (April 1938), vol. 14, page 224ff. The following account of our Turney lineage is derived chiefly from Sharps' published studies.

1. JOHN TURNEY, with whom our Turney lineage commences, bought the property in Hollingdon, Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, from Roger Lovet in 1493. His wife was named AGNES. He died 18 March 1502. In her 1936 study, pages 125-126, Helen Turney Sharps describes a brass inscription in an ancient sepulchral slab of All Saints Church in Soulbury that requests prayers for the souls of John and his wife Agnes:

"Brass at Soulbury Parish Church, in the nave: A man and woman with half-turn to each other, laid in a small new stone. The man long-haired with loose flat-cuffed fur sleeves, etc. Woman with pedimental headdress, with long-ended buckled girdle, roughly ornamented and with a very a large tab. Inscription plate with 'Pray for ye souls of John Turnay & Agnes his wife ye which John decessed ye xvij day of March ye yere of oure Lord Mye & ij (1502) on whos soulis ihue [Jesu] have mercy amen."

It is uncertain whether John Turney is the ancestral patriarch of our Turneys, or rather is only an ancestral uncle. In his 1936 study, page 125, Sharps comments:

"Unless [John] was exceptionally old at death, a close analysis of the dates makes it questionable whether he could be the father of James Turney who follows, but if not father, he was probably a brother or other close relative."

Thus, the line continues with John's successor, perhaps his son or nephew or cousin:

     2.  JAMES TURNEY, born circa 1445.

2. JAMES TURNEY, son, or perhaps brother or other close kinsman, of John Turney, born circa 1445, died 14 Feb. 1519/20 in or near Slapton, Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire. Turney held lands throughout Buckinghamshire and neighboring Bedfordshire, and from him descended numerous Turney families in those counties. A prominent and wealthy gentleman, James was named a Yeoman of the Crown to King Henry VIII. His rank is depicted on his brass effigy in Holy Cross Church in Slapton, which shows James in the symbolic dress of a Yeoman of the Crown, wearing a crown on his left should. His brass effigy shows his two wives Amy and Elizabeth at his right and left, with an inscription asking the reader to pray for the repose of the souls of James, Amy, and Elizabeth in Purgatory.

In her 1936 study, pages 126-127, Helen Turney Sharps provides this sketch of James Turney's life:

"James Turney, born say about 1445, died 14 Feb. 1519/20, and has a brass in Slapton Church. He had two wives, Amy and Elizabeth, and five sons, from whom most if not all of the Turneys of that part of Buckinghamshire and adjacent parts of Bedfordshire descended. He had a sister "Elyn" of London, which is probably the surname and a form of "Allyn"; for the will of John Turney of Cheddington in 1534, whom we place as son of James, gave legacies to "Joan Elyn" and "Alice Olyn," perhaps relatives through this aunt. James Turney owned lands in several parishes in Buckinghamshire, and also in Leighton Buzzard and Husborne Crawley in Bedfordshire. His will, which we print almost in full, indicates that he was a man of great piety as rated by the standards of his day, and is of great interest for the light it throws on social, economic and religious conditions of the period."

Certainly James was a pious and devout Catholic Christian. Even so, despite Sharps' qualifying remark "as rated by the standards of his day," the Catholic devotion that he exhibited in his support for his parish church and in his will was not at all unusual for his day, but was fairly standard among Catholic gentled families in the generations prior to Henry VIII's unlateral decision to destroy the Catholic beliefs and customs of his subjects.

Sharps' sketch of James' life includes this list of his children:

     Children by which wife unknown:
     John, of Cheddington, Bucks, Will dated Dec 1534 proved 21 Jan 1534/35, named wife Alice, sons James and Thomas
         daus Elizabeth Seare and Jane, and others (Archdeaconry of Bucks, Register 1532-1539, of. 68)
     William, received land in Soulbury, Bucks
     Barnard
     Thomas, received land in Leighton Buzzard, Beds.
     Richard, b. say abt. 1475; received land in Hollingdon.

     --  JOHN TURNEY, born circa 1467, died circa Jan. 1534/5 in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire, England, married Alice (NN).
     --  WILLIAM TURNEY, born circa 1469.
     --  BARNARD TURNEY, born circa 1471.
     --  THOMAS TURNEY, born circa 1473.
     3.  RICHARD TURNEY, born circa 1475.

3. RICHARD TURNEY, son of James Turney, born circa 1475, died between 1520 and 1524 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England. In her 1936 study, pages 131-132, Helen Turney Sharps offers these remarks on Richard and the Turney lineage during this period:

"Richard Turney, born say about 1475, is a somewhat shadowy figure, but he received from his father in 1520 the life use of a tenement and land in Hollingdon, which at his death were to go to Richard's son John in fee simple. Richard probably died before 1524, when John (but not he) was taxed in Soulbury. John Turney of Hollingdon, who died by 1540, great-grand-father of Benjamin Turney, was undoubtedly a grandson of James Turney of Slapton, and it seems reasonable to identify him with the John son of Richard named in the will of James, both because this John was to receive the Hollingdon land at the death of Richard, and because the name Richard was given to a son by William Turney, probable son of our John."

Richard was thus the father of:

     4.  JOHN TURNEY, born circa 1500 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.

4. JOHN TURNEY, son of Richard Turney, born circa 1500 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died before 10 Nov. 1540 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England. John likely married twice, and his older sons William and James were probably born of his first marriage. He later married circa 1530 to ALICE [SHEPPARD?] GURNEY, born perhaps circa 1490, died in early Jan. 1552 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, probably a daughter of William Sheppard the Elder of Littlecott. Alice was the widow of Thomas Gurney of Broughton Abbots in Bierton, Buckinghamshire, England, with whom she'd had five sons and at least one daughter (perhaps three daughters). Alice was the mother of John's three younger childrem. If Alice was a Sheppard, she may have been related to her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Sheppard, who married her son Barnard (see below), and probably was related to the later family of Cotton-Sheppard of Thornton Hall, Baronets.

In her 1936 study, pages 131-132, Helen Turney Sharps provides this overview of John's life and family:

"John Turney, of Hollingdon, a hamlet in Soulbury, was born probably about 1500, and died by 1540. His will, which might have told us much concerning his family, was unfortunately recorded in a lost Register. John was taxed in 1524 and 1525 (see Subsidies of those years), and his widow Alice in 1542. His death by 1540 is proved by a Rental of the possessions of Missenden Abbey, dated 10 Nov., 32 Henry VIII [1540], which shows among the copyholds at Broughton (in Bierton) "Alys Torney wydowe holdith a messuage with certeyn londys welding by yere . . . xxvj s. viii d." [P. R. O.--E. 315, vol, 405.] The will of John Turney is referred to in that of his widow Alice, made 31 Dec. 1551, proved 16 Jan. 1551/2, which is printed in full below. Alice was widow of Thomas Gurney of Broughton Abbots in Bierton, Bucks, who died 1528-9. She was probably a Sheppard of Littlecott. She had several Gurney children: Richard, Henry, John, William, and Thomas."

"It seems likely that John Turney was a widower with children when he married the widow Alice Gurney, and there are reasons for placing William and James hypothetically as his sons by a first marriage."

Sharps' sketch of John's life concludes with this list of his children:

     Probable children by a first wife:
     William, b. say abt. 1523. ...It may have been his widow, Cecily, whose will, dated 24 July 1576, proved 21 Nov. 1578, named sons Richard and James, and daus.;
         she named James Turney the elder and Barnard Turney as overseers. When Richard Turney died in 1584, he made Barnard Turney trustee for one of his two daus.
     James, b. say abt. 1525; will dated 25 Dec. 1584, proved 23 Feb. 1584/5; m. Margaret -----. He made Barnard Turney, senior, an overseer of his will.
     Children by Alice (Sheppard?) Gurney:
     Barnard, . . .
     John, of Stoke Hammond.
     Alice.

John Turney thus had these four sons and two daughters:

     --  WILLIAM TURNEY, born circa 1523 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, perhaps married Cecily (NN).
     --  JAMES TURNEY, born circa 1525 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, married Margaret (NN).
     5.  BARNARD TURNEY, born circa 1531 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  JOHN TURNEY, born circa 1533 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  ALICE TURNEY, born circa 1535 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.

5. BARNARD TURNEY, son of John and Alice Turney, born circa 1531 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died July 1612 in Hollingdon, Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, buried 12 July 1612 at Hollingdon. Barnard is known to have married twice. His first wife was ELIZABETH SHEPPARD, born circa 1535 in Wavendon, Buckinghamshire, England, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sheppard of Wavendon. Barnard and his first wife had four sons and a daughter. His second wife was ELIZABETH MEADE, from the village of Bragenham in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, died 1625, with whom Barnard had a daughter.

In her 1936 study, pages 136-139, Helen Turney Sharps provides these remarks on Barnard's life:

"Barnard Turney was eldest son of John Turney by his second wife, the widow Alice Gurney. He lived at Hollingdon in Soulbury, where he was prominent to the end of his long life. He was born about 1531, and was buried at Hollingdon 12 July 1612. He had older half-brothers, about whom our knowledge is deficient because of the loss of the will of his father, John Turney. Barnard Turney is stated to have married twice: first, to Elizabeth Sheppard, daughter of John of Wavendon; second, to Elizabeth Meade of Bragenham in Soulbury, who died in 1625."

Barnard's will is dated 25 Nov. 1611 at Hollingdon in Soulbury and was proved 14 Nov. 1612, four months after Barnard's death. Sharps abstracted the will as follows:

"Abstract of the will of Bernard Turney of Holindon in Sulbery dated 25 Nov. 1611, proved 14 Nov. 1612. Unto the pore people in Sulbery & Holindone 40 s. to be geven unto them at my buriall. To Thomas Turney my sonne my house lands & leases in Sulbery. Unto Inocente Turney my sonne twoe steares & one cow bullocke. Unto Barnett Turney my sonne one two yeere old sterebulocke. Unto John Turney my sonne one little stere bullocke. Unto Joan my daughter one cow-buloke. Unto Alice my daughter one cowe. Unto all my childrens children iij s. 4 d. a peece. Unto all my servants that doe dwell with me att my decease iij s. iiij d. a pece. Unto Barnett Web iij s. iiij d. Residue to Eliz. my wief & Thomas Turney my sonne whome I make my sole executors. Witnesses: Jo: Cripps script, Thomas Turney. [Archdeaconry of Bucks, Register 1611-12.]"

Sharps' sketch of Barnard's life concludes with this list of his children:

     Children by first wife:
     Thomas, b. say abt. 1560.
     John.
     Barnard, settled in Wavenden, m. and left issue.
     Innocent, of Surcott (or Southcott), later of Great Brickhill and Linslade.
     Joan or Alice, probably m. Edmund Stevens of Southcott (d. 1603), who called Barnard Turney his father-in-law in his will.
     Children by second wife:
     Alice or Joan, m. Lawrence Buckner of Soulbury. [This surname is now usually spelled in that region in the form "Bunker."]

The six children of Barnard Turney were as follows:

     6.  THOMAS TURNEY, born circa 1560 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  JOHN TURNEY, born circa 1562 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  BARNARD TURNEY, born circa 1564 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  INNOCENT TURNEY, born circa 1566 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  JOAN TURNEY, born circa 1568-70 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, married twice.
     --  ALICE TURNEY, born circa 1568-70 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England.

6. THOMAS TURNEY, son of Barnard and Elizabeth Turney, born circa 1560 in Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1624 in Hollingdon, Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England. Thomas' wife was very probably JUDITH HARRIS, born circa 1564 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1610 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, daughter of Henry and Judith (Jasper) Harris of Soulbury. In her 1936 study, page 139, Helen Turney Sharps explained the basis for identifying Thomas' wife as Judith Harris:

"The will of Henry Harris of Soulbury, dated 10 Aug. 1623, made Thomas Turney an overseer of his will; and in a list of debts owing by the Harris estate appears, 'Imprimis to Judith Turney of Hollingdon, xl s.' Quite likely this Judith was the wife of Thomas Turney, Sr., for three of his sons gave the name Judith to a daughter, although the name had not previously been used by the Hollingdon Turneys. [Archdeaconry of Bucks, Register 1623-5, fol. 2b]"

Helen Turney Sharps' 1936 study, pages 139-141, shows this genealogical sketch of Thomas Turney's life:

"An important reference to Thomas Turney is found in the will of his half-cousin, Elizabeth widow of John Hickman. She was daughter of Henry Gurney, half-brother of Barnard Turney. Her will, dated 7 April, 1603, has this passage: 'Item, my will is that Thomas Torneye of Surcott shall have use & enjoye to his owne behoofe my parte & porcion of a certayne messuage or tenement with the appurtenances scituate in Abbots Broughton in the Com' aforesaid nowe in the tenure and occupation of the said Thomas Tormey for and during the full tearme of tenn yeares from the feaste of the annunciation of the blessed virgin Marye last paste before the date hereof, Keeping the same in good and sufficient repayre, having Tymber sufficient allowed by mye Executor for the repayringe thereof, uppon condicion that he the sayd Thomas shall paye or cause to be payd to my fower daughters Elizabeth, Jacquement, Margaret and Charetye, or to there assignes the summe of xx li of lawfull monye of Englond' etc., with further long directions as to the manner and time of payment."

"Thomas Turney was undoubtedly an influential man in Buckinghamshire as he was named as executor, overseer or guardian in a number of wills. His name appears in several Bierton rentals until the year 1627. It also appears in several lawsuits relating to this property and other lands and houses in Broughton Abbots. Upon the death of his father, Barnard Turney, at Hollingdon (buried there 12 July 1612), it becomes clear that Thomas abandoned his land and farm at Surcott to his sons Robert and Barnard, the latter presently moving away to Cublington and leaving the house to Robert, who was evidently the eldest son. Thomas himself moved to his father's house at Hollingdon in Soulbury, and he was churchwarden at Soulbury in the following year (1613), whereas in 1612 his son Robert was church warden at Linslade. The latter could not well have happened if Thomas had still been at Surcott. From the year 1610 his name in fact entirely vanishes from Surcott and Linslade, but it may be suspected that in the year 1624 (missing in the Transcripts) his burial may have been recorded. The last positive mention of him as living is that, already mentioned, in the will of Henry Harris of Soulbury in 1623, and it was the estate of this Harris which was indebted to Judith Turney of Hollingdon, whom we place as probably the wife or widow of Thomas. The Subsidy list for 15 Mar. 1624/5 reveals the brothers Robert and Barnard Turney still at Surcott (Linslade), and Robert was again taxed at Hollingdon (Soulbury). No Thomas Turney was named at either place, and he was apparently dead and succeeded by his son Robert at both places. No other adult Robert Turney was living at this date in either village. Thomas Turney was therefore probably still alive on 10 Aug. 1623, and dead by 15 Mar. 1624/5."

Sharps' sketch of Thomas' life concludes with this list of his children:

     Robert, of Southcott in Linslade, b. abt. 1594; will in 1661, proved 2 Mar. 1661/2 [Arch. Bucks.]; m. (1) 11 July 1614, Agnes Ligo of Bencott in Wing; m. (2) Joan -----.
     Thomas, of Southcott in Linslade, will 1671, proved 1676 [Arch. Bucks.]; m. Philippa, widow of John Tokefield of Southcott.
     Barnard, of Cublington, will 7 Feb. 1648, proved 19 Apr. 1654 [P. C. C., 286 Alchin]; m. Katharine -----.
     Benjamin, b. probably before 1600.
     A daughter, name unknown, but possibly Judith.
     Edward, bapt. 28 Feb. 1600/1.
     Agnes, bapt. 1 May 1604.
     Jane, bapt. 6 Oct. 1606.
     Elizabeth, bapt. 24 Mar. 1608/9; d. in 1609.
     Elizabeth, bapt. 1 Apr. 1610.

According to Sharps, then, the five sons and five daughters of Thomas Turney, presumably all by Judith Harris, were as follows:

     --  ROBERT TURNEY, born circa 1591 in Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1661 in Buckinghamshire, England, married twice.
     --  THOMAS TURNEY, born circa 1593 in Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1676 in Buckinghamshire, England, married Philippa Tokefield.
     --  BARNARD TURNEY, born circa 1595 in Southcott, Linslade, Bedfordshire, England, died 1654 in Cublington, Buckinghamshire, England, married Katherine (NN).
     7.  BENJAMIN TURNEY, born circa 1597 in Southcott, Linslade, Bedfordshire, died before 1683 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Thomas Sherwood Jr.
     --  [JUDITH?] TURNEY, born circa 1599 in Southcott, Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
     --  EDWARD TURNEY, baptised 28 Feb. 1600/1 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
     --  AGNES TURNEY, baptised 1 May 1604 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
     --  JANE TURNEY, baptised 6 Oct. 1606 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.
     --  ELIZABETH TURNEY, baptised 24 March 1608/9 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England, died 1609 in Linslade, Buckinghamshire, England.
     --  ELIZABETH TURNEY, baptised 1 April 1610 in Linslade, Bedfordshire, England.

7. BENJAMIN TURNEY, son of Thomas and Judith Turney, born circa 1597 at Surcott near Linslade, on the Bedfordshire side of the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire border, England, died before 6 June 1648 in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Other researchers say Benjamin was born at Hollingdon, near Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, but Benjamin's parents were certainly living at Southcott during the years when Benjamin was born, though they held land in Hollingdon and Benjamin's children were baptised at the church in Soulbury near Hollingdon. Various family trees exhibit confusion regarding the identity of Benjamin's parents. Some trees says Benjamin's parents were Robert and [?Judith] Turney of Southcott and Hollingdon in Soulbury -- this Robert Turney was the older brother of Benjamin's father Thomas Turney. Again, although Thomas' wife was very probably Judith Harris, daughter of Henry and Judith (Jasper) Harris of Soulbury, some online family trees mistakenly show Benjamin's mother as Philippa Tokefield, widow of John Tokefield of Southcott -- but Philippa was the wife of Benjamin's older brother Thomas.

Benjamin married on 12 July 1630 at Salford, Bedfordshire, England, to MARY ODELL, baptised 10 Nov. 1604 in Salford, Bedfordshire, England, died before 1659 in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, daughter of John and Joan Odell. The identity of Benjamin's wife Mary and of her parents was confirmed by Helen G. Thacker of London, whose discovery was announced in the 1938 article, "Turney - Odell," published in The American Genealogist (April 1938), vol. 14, page 224, as follows:

"Since the publication of the ancestry of Benjamin Turney of Fairfield . . . the identity of the emigrant's wife was found by Miss Helen G. Thacker of London. Their marriage was entered in the register of Salford, Bedfordshire, the home of the bride: "Benjamin Turney and Marie Odell were married the twelfth of Julie 1630." On a recent trip abroad, I visited Salford, and obtained the following Odell records, which indicate that Benjamin Turney's wife was daughter of John and Johan (Bingley) Odell and granddaughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Perst) Odell . . . ."

Benjamin and Mary had six daughters and two sons. As noted above, they had their children baptised at the church in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire. Benjamin was a prominent man at Soulbury and was the churchwarden there. However, after the baptism of his daughter AGNES (Ann) on 8 Jan. 1636, Benjamin no longer appears in Soulbury records. He next appears on record in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, on 16 Feb. 1639, when he had his daughter REBECCA baptised. Thus, he and his family had left Soulbury, England, and settled in Concord, Massachusetts, at some point between those two dates. Benjamin and Mary had two more children in Concord before moving in 1644 to Fairfield, Connecticut.

Donald Lines Jacobus in his "History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield ," 1930-1932, vol I., pages 618-19, shows the following genealogical sketch of Benjamin Turney's life:

"He settled in Concord, Mass., by 1639, and was made freeman, June 1641; and removed, we suppose in Sept. 1644 with Rev. Mr. Jones, the Wheelers, and others, to Fairfield. Here he d. in 1648; and it may be guessed that he or his wife was closely related to Ann wife of Thomas Wheeler, Sr., for in her will 1659, which was witnessed by Robert Turney, Mrs. Wheeler gave her best hat to Rebecca Turney. . . .

"He m. Mary -----, who m. (2) Joseph Middlebrook.

"Inv. 6 June 1648, presented by Mary Turney, 10 Nov. 1648. Ages of children: Mary 17, Robert 15, Judith 13, Ann 11, Rebecca 8, Sarah 6, Ruth 4, Benjamin 3. Receipts were given to Joseph Middlebrook in 1661 by Nathaniel Seeley in behalf of his wife and for use of sister Sarah; John Wheeler in behalf of his wife and for use of sister Ruth Turney and bro. Benjamin Turney and sister Rebecca; and Stephen Sherwood who m. the said Rebecca acknowledged receipt of her portion; also Thomas Sherwood receipted to Middlebrook for his wife's portion. John Wheeler by 1673 purchased from Stephen and Matthew Sherwood all their interest in right of their wives, the daus. of Benjamin Turney dec'd. . . ."

As Jacobus noted, Benjamin died in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1648, some point prior to 6 June 1648 when an inventory of his estate was taken. After his death, his widow Mary remarried on 24 March 1656 to JOSEPH MIDDLEBROOK, born circa 1610 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England, died prior to 22 Nov. 1686 (when his will was inventoried) in Fairfield, Connecticut. Mary died circa 1659 in Fairfield, as is known from the fact that Joseph was remarried by 1660.

The known children of Benjamin and Mary Turney were:

     --  MARY TURNEY, baptised 18 Sept. 1631 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died 19 Dec 1675 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Nathaniel Seeley.
     --  ROBERT TURNEY, baptised 13 June 1633 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died circa Jan. 1690 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Elizabeth Holly.
     --  JUDITH TURNEY, born circa 1635 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died circa 1672 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married John Wheeler Sr.
     --  ANN TURNEY ("Agnes"), baptised 8 Jan. 1636 in Soulbury, Buckinghamshire, England, died before 1683 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Thomas Sherwood Jr.
     8.  REBECCA TURNEY, born 16 Feb. 1639 in Concord, Massachusetts, married Stephen Sherwood, younger brother of Thomas Sherwood Jr.
     --  SARAH TURNEY, born 11 Dec. 1641 in Concord, Massachusetts, died before 1670, married Matthew Sherwood, younger brother of Stephen Sherwood.
     --  RUTH TURNEY, baptised 28 Jan. 1643/44 in Concord, Massachusetts, died before 7 Nov. 1666 in Richard Bouton.
     --  BENJAMIN TURNEY JR., born circa 1645 probably in Fairfield, Connecticut, died before 28 Nov. 1694 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Rebecca Keeler.

8. REBECCA TURNEY, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Turney, born 16 Feb. 1639 in Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, died before 1688. At some time prior to 1661, Rebecca married in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, to STEPHEN SHERWOOD, born circa 1638 in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, son of Thomas and Mary Sherwood, born circa 1638 in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Rebecca was just one of three Turney sisters who married three Sherwood brothers. Rebecca's sister Ann (Agnes) married, as his second wife, Stephen Sherwood's older brother Thomas Sherwood Jr., while Sarah Turney, sister of Ann and Rebecca, was the first wife of Matthew Sherwood, younger brother of Thomas and Stephen.

Stephen is recorded as a freeman of Fairfield in 1664. In 1668, he bought John Coe's house and homelot on the north side of Manursing Island in Rye, Westchester County, New York (then in Connecticut. Stephen bought the remainder of the north neck of Manursing Island (totaling 46 acres) from John Banks Sr. in 1680, and then in 1685 he divided his neck of land on Manursing Island between his sons Stephen Jr. and Joseph.

The known children of Stephen and Rebecca Sherwood are:

     --  STEPHEN SHERWOOD JR., born circa 1663 in Fairfield, Connecticut, died Aug. 1711 in Rye, Westerchester County, New York.
     --  MARY SHERWOOD, born 1667 in Fairfield, Connecticut, died 1696 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Daniel Burr.
     3.  ELIZABETH SHERWOOD, born circa 1668 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut.
     --  JOSEPH SHERWOOD, born 1669 in Fairfield, Connecticut, died 1748 in Rye, New York, married Elizabeth Bloomer.
     --  DANIEL SHERWOOD, born 1670 in Fairfield, Connecticut, died 1715 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Tabitha Bennett.
     --  NATHANIEL SHERWOOD SR., born 1672 in Rye, New York, died 1733 in Rye, New York.
     --  RUTH SHERWOOD, born 1673 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married (NN) Merritt.
     --  JABEZ SHERWOOD, born 1674 in Fairfield, Connecticut, died 1704 in Greenwich, Fairfied County, Connecticut.
     --  JONATHAN SHERWOOD, born 1676 in Rye New York, died 1731 in New York.
     --  SAMUEL SHERWOOD, born 1676 in Rye, New York, died 1742 in New York, married Sarah Higgins.
     --  JOHN SHERWOOD, born 1680 in Rye, New York, died 1740 in Rye, New York.
     --  JEHU SHERWOOD, born 1687 in Fairfield, Connecticut, died 1 Nov. 1757 in Fairfield, Connecticut, married Hannah (NN).

Turney Genealogy Resources:

Mindrum Family History, with information on Benjamin Turney and his ancestry.
We Relate: Benjamin Turney, information and ancestry.
Find-A-Grave Memorial of Rebecca (Turney) Sherwood, with links to her parents, husbands, and children.
Parishes: Slapton, British History Online.
Holy Cross Church at Slapton in Buckinghamshire
Parishes: Soulbury, British History Online.

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