GAYERS in CORNWALL 1500 and 1600
All name variants of Gayer and Gayre have been included as transcribed from the original parish record
Distribution of Gayers in Cornwall by region.
North Coast Group
All name variants of Gayer and Gayre have been included as transcribed from the original parish record
Distribution of Gayers in Cornwall by region.
North Coast Group
1500s
• Francis Gayer was born about 1550, his son Roger Gayer about 1570
• Phillip Gayer of Lesnewth. Would have been born about 1555, he married in 1578 to Wilmote Robye
• Phillip and Samuell Gayer of St Minver probably born about 1580/85 (Could be sons of Phillip of Lesnewth or of Francis, Minster)
1600s
• Roger Gayer of Minster, sons were born about 1610-1625: Martin, William, John, Samuell & Benjamin.
• Phillip and Samuell Gayer of St. Minver had sons Ralph and Phillip Gayer in 1615 and 1618
• Benjamin Gayer of Lanteglos by Camelford died 1697. Probably born between1620-40. Descendents were William and Samuell.
No firm conclusion can be drawn. However, it is possible that Francis and Phillip were brothers. Lesnewth and Minster/Forrabury are close together.
North Coast Group - Communities
Lesnewth
In the church at Camelford there is the following inscription:
Benjamin Gayer of Lanteglos by Camelford paid a Hearth Tax in 1664 on 5 fireplaces (a sign of wealth).
The relationship between Benjamin and the other Gayers in the North Coast communities is not known but there was a connection. National Archives has a document which mentions Samuel Gayer of Stratton and Benjamin Gayer of Camelford.
National Archives CONFIRMATION:1673
(i) Benjamin Gayer of Camelford, gent and William his son
(ii) Samuel Gayer of Stratton, gent
Poundparke etc in Camelford [in Lanteglos by Camelford].
Benjamin and Catherine of Lanteglos by Camelford had at least one son William. The next recorded births in Lanteglos by Camelford are in the early 1700s to William, Samuel and Benjamin (probably sons of William).
There was a birth of Susanna to Samuel Gayer in Lanteglos by Camelford in 1709 (mother Susanna). A William Gayer, of Lanteglos by Camelford married Ann and had William, Mary and Samuel between 1727 and 1734 [Source: Cornwall OPC]
St Minver
- Phillip Gayer of Lesnewth marrried Wilmote Robye, Sept 1578. [Source Cornwall OPC] Lanteglos by Camelford (near Tintagel)
- Catherine Gayer died November 1688
- Benjamin Gayer died March 1697
- Thomas Gayer died Jan. 1805
- Anna Maria died 1824
In the church at Camelford there is the following inscription:
“On an altar tomb circumscribed:
Here lyeth the body of Catherine Gayer. She was bvried the 17 day of November in the
year of our Lord God 1688.
Against the head:
Nere this place lyeth the body of Beniamen Gayer Gent which was bvried the 31 day of
March Anno Domi 1697.
Against, the foot:
Contiguous this tomb are deposited the remains of Thomas Gayer who departed this life the
17th day of January 1805 in the 25th year of his age.
Beneath this tomb are deposited the remains of Anna Maria Gayer, who departed this life
the 10th day Feb. 1824 in the 13 year of her age.”
Source: The Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor, in the County of Cornwall
Here lyeth the body of Catherine Gayer. She was bvried the 17 day of November in the
year of our Lord God 1688.
Against the head:
Nere this place lyeth the body of Beniamen Gayer Gent which was bvried the 31 day of
March Anno Domi 1697.
Against, the foot:
Contiguous this tomb are deposited the remains of Thomas Gayer who departed this life the
17th day of January 1805 in the 25th year of his age.
Beneath this tomb are deposited the remains of Anna Maria Gayer, who departed this life
the 10th day Feb. 1824 in the 13 year of her age.”
Source: The Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor, in the County of Cornwall
Benjamin Gayer of Lanteglos by Camelford paid a Hearth Tax in 1664 on 5 fireplaces (a sign of wealth).
The relationship between Benjamin and the other Gayers in the North Coast communities is not known but there was a connection. National Archives has a document which mentions Samuel Gayer of Stratton and Benjamin Gayer of Camelford.
National Archives CONFIRMATION:1673
(i) Benjamin Gayer of Camelford, gent and William his son
(ii) Samuel Gayer of Stratton, gent
Poundparke etc in Camelford [in Lanteglos by Camelford].
Benjamin and Catherine of Lanteglos by Camelford had at least one son William. The next recorded births in Lanteglos by Camelford are in the early 1700s to William, Samuel and Benjamin (probably sons of William).
There was a birth of Susanna to Samuel Gayer in Lanteglos by Camelford in 1709 (mother Susanna). A William Gayer, of Lanteglos by Camelford married Ann and had William, Mary and Samuel between 1727 and 1734 [Source: Cornwall OPC]
St Minver
- Roger Grrie (could be Gerrie) Jan 1613. Son of John
- Ralph Gayer b. 16 Jul 1615. Death 14 Nov 1615 Son of Philip Gayer
- Phillipp Gayer b. 01 May 1618 Son of Samuell Gayer
- Male Gayers in St Minver: Phillip and Samuell probably born about 1580/85
Whitstone
- Samuell Gayer of Launceston married to Grace Roe of Whitstone in 1689. No connection to other members of the Gayer family has been found although the names of their children are very similar to the names of the Gayer children in Week St. Mary and Whitstone:
- Samuell Gayer baptised Mar 1689,
- Honnor Gayer baptised 1691,
- Mary Gayer baptised 1693,
- William Gayer baptised May 1695,
- Elizabeth Gayor baptised Feb 1696
- Johan Gayer baptised Apr 1699.
- George Gearrye
- Dorothie Gearrye Aug. 1600
- Roger Gayre
- John Gayre Feb 1611
- Benjamin Gayer
- Johanna Gayer baptised mar 1663
- a daughter 1673
- Samuel Gayer baptised 1676
- John Gayer
- John Gayer baptised Aug 1676
- Benjamin Gayer baptised Jul 1683
- Sarah Gayer baptised Jun 1685
- Joseph Gayer baptised Jun 1688
- Joanna Gayer baptised May 1690
Week St Mary
- Marten Gaire
- Roger Gaire baptised Nov 1631
- John Gaire
- J... baptised Oct 1641
- John Gaire baptised May 1647
- Samuel Geare baptised Mar 1648
- Joseph Gair baptised Jun 1651
- Mary Geare baptised June 1659. Married Edmond Chapman Feb 1678
- Samuell Gayer baptised Dec 1664
- John Geare Buried 1645
- John Gerrie married Susanna Poynter Feb 1650
- Benjamin Gayer buried 1667
- Benjamin Gayer married Margerye Williams Sep 1669
- John Gayer married Margery Pearce Jul 1673
- John Gayre buried Jan 1685
Trevalga
- Mary Gayre married John Cottle Jun 1649
Land’s End
Group
Gayers in Paul, Penzance
- Frauncis Gere buried Oct 1613, St Pol de Leon
- Henry Gere
- John Gere, Baptised Feb 1608
- Elizabeth Gere, buried 1626
- John Gere married Joane ? 21 Jun 1628
- John Gere married Francis ? 21 Jun 1628
- John Gere
- John Gere Baptised Mar 7 1629
- Arthur Geare baptised Feb 1632
- Elizabeth baptised Gare 1641
- Philip Gayre Baptised 1643
- Jane Gere buried Mar 8th 1629
- Jone Geare buried Mar 1632
- John Gayre (he was probably born about 1612/16 married about 1636) Children:
- Honor Gayre b. 23 Jul 1637 d 29 Aug 1637;
- Alexander Gayre19 Sep 1638
- Alopaimen (Abraham?) Gaire 19 Sep 1638;
- John Gayre 28 May 1648
- Abraham Gaire baptised Sep 1650
- John Geaire buried 1655
- William Gayre and Constance Ustick Married Dec 1656,
- Constance Geaire baptised Nov 1655
- Charythy Gayer
(Charity?) 05 Dec 1663. Married William James Dec 1694
- Constance Geaire buried Dec 1663
- Jane Gayre 08 Jan 1659
- George Geare Buried 1636
- Phillip Geaire buried 1668
- John Geaire married Elizabeth Jacka Apr 1674
- Margaret 1687
- Martin Gearie (buried 1694). Married Christian Tonken Nov 1678. She died Apr 1695
- William Gearie baptised 1679
- Alexander Gearie Oct 1682
- Mary Gearie Oct 1685
- Paul Geare 20 Jan 1693;
- Isaac Geare 28 Jan 1693
- Margaret Gear buried Dec 1697
- Jane Gear married Isaiah Weaver 1699
Gayers in Phillack
- John
Gayre, married about 1560, born about 1535/40, son:
- Bennett Gayre 24 Jan 1562.
Gayers in Breage
- Johes Geare buried 1606 (male relative - Johis)
- Johis (John) Gayre:
- ...dye baptised 1607
- Johannes Gayre (male) 19 Nov 1609, died Dec 1609;
- Alexander Gaire 01 Jan 1616
- Johannes Gaire 09 Sep 1611
- Elizabeth Gear Sep 1605. Daughter of Jo..
Gayers in Camborne
- John Geare
- Humfrey baptised Feb 1559
- James Gear
- ? birth Gear Feb 1600
- Margeria Gear Aug 1608 died 1619
- William Geare 1611
- Elizabeth Geare a widow died Aug 1625
- Jane Geare bureid 1626
- Marten Geare
- Elizabeth baptised Apr 1632
- Jane Geare married [Ja]mes Joseph Aug 1632
- Christian Geare married Edward Phillip Aug 1633
- Synobie Geare
- James Geare Oct 1638 (illegit.)
- William Geare married Katherine Richards Aug 1645
- Anne Geare baptised 1646
- James Geare buried 1656
- Elizabeth Geare buried 1658
- Katheryn Geare burial 1669
- Margery Geare married William Berryman Nov 1673
- William Geare buried 1674
Madron
- Richard Geare married Margarett ? Nov 1647
- Lawrence Geare
- Mary baptised 6 Jun1663, buried 16 Oct 1663
- Dorothie baptised 6 Jun 1663, buried 18th Oct 1663
St Just, Penzance
- Jane Geer burial apr 1601
- Richard Geare burial 1621
- Anne Geare marriage to John Chinow Feb 1622
- Sarah Gear married Richard Ustick 1691
Ludgvan, Penzance
- Alis Geare married Jenkin Balye, July 1604
- Alice Geary married Pascoe Lassack Jun 1610
Padstow
- William Gayer married Margaret Peters Jul 1672
St Keverne
Group
St Keverne
Mawgan in Meneage
St Columb Minor
St Gluvias (Falmouth)
- Thomas (born about 1555/60) and Constance Gayre (married
about 1580), Children:
- Margeret Gayre 1583;
- James Gear 1586;
- Elizabeth Gayre 16 Dec 1587;
- Nycolas Gayre 30 Jul 1597
- John Gearr
- Elizabeth baptised Feb 1617
- Nicholas Geare buried 1642
- William Geare Buried 1619
- John baptised Mar 1610
- Richard Geare jan 1614
- Symon Geare
- Barbara Geare baptised. Nov 1611
- Maude Geare buried 1631
- Jane Geare buried Jan 1633
- Thomas Geare married Margerit Heard Jul 1635
- Dorithy Geare baptised 1636
- Philip Geare Baptised May 1639, buried 1640
- William Geare baptised Nov 1644. Buried Dec 1644
- Jane Gear buried 1688
Mawgan in Meneage
- Phillipe Gaire married Roger Robt 18th Jul 1631
- Margaryte Geare Married Richard Rowe Jul 1637
- Richard Geare married Barbara Chymder Jun 1639
- Thomasin Geare married Peter Harrys 1689
St Columb Minor
- Thomas Geare
- Johan baptised Apr 1642
Budock
- John Geare married Joan Raglan Mar 1676
- John Geare married Elizabeth Lanner Jan 1678
St Gluvias (Falmouth)
- Richard Gayre married Margarytt Johnson Feb 1604
- James Geare baptised Jul 1616
- Emanuell Geare Married Burgheart 1659
- Henry Geare (buried 1662) and wife Florence (buried JuL 1664)
- Marye Geare Baptised May 1620
- Jane Geare Baptised Nov 1627
- Mary Geare married Dec 1642
- Michael Geare buried 1642
- Jane Geare married William Taylder 1655
East Coast Group
Mevagissey, St Ewe, and St Austell
- William Geare
- John Geare baptised Jan 1600
- William Geare
- Johanna Geare Feb 1623
- Michael Geare married Jone Randell Aug 1607
- Judith Geare married Keverin Bennett Jan 1625
- John Geare marriage to Mary Corlyon Apr 1623
- Jane Geare buried May 1636
- Thomas Gear
- Elynor Gear baptised Oct 1657
Liskeard and Launceston
- John Gerry married Jara Waters in 1621
- Reginald Gayer: Children:
- John Gayer
- Johanna Gayer
Children of John Gayer:
- Otis Gayer,
- Stephen Gayer
- Reginald Gayer
Gayers listed in the Muster Roll of 1569 (1)
There were 12 Gayers (or Gayer name derivatives) in the 1569 Muster Rolls.
Gayers listed in the Protestation Returns of 1641 (2)
There were 11 Gayers (or Gayer name derivatives) in the Protestaion Returns who are also listed in the Gayer communuities above.
The Protestation Returns of 1641–1642
are lists of English males over the age of 18 who took, or did not
take, an oath of allegiance "to live and die for the true Protestant
religion, the liberties and rights of subjects and the privilege of
Parliaments."
Include in the list are Benjamin and Samuel Gayer of Stratton and John Gayer of Week St Mary
References:
(1) "The Cornwall Muster Roll 1569" edited by H L Douch published by T L Stoate 1984
(2) https://www.cornwall-opc-database.org