Posted By: robert f eardley <robtim@globalnet.co.uk> Buried at Williamsburg Virginia---several times Governor and gonvenor of the
first Legislative Assembly in America. Posted By: Robert Mayer In Response To: Sir
George Yeardley (robert f eardley) He also appears on the list of 'ancient planters'. Posted By: Robert F Eardley <robtim@globalnet.co.uk> This gentleman is a very important figure in the early history of
Virginia--the first British Colony.There is a brass rubbing of him in Bruton
church in Jamestown.He was responsible for making the tiny settlement prosper
and was governor several times and immensely popular.The link with the Offley
family--Staffordshire landowners near Audley----leads me to suspect a link with
us.We can all research this by going to www.yahoo.com and then typing sir george
yeardley in the space before the word 'search'.You will then have loads of info
to help unearth the secrets.You are invited to share your findings on this
board.Sir George has many Americans claiming to be related.Once we track him
down they will have a whole lot more.I can see a joint reunion in Williamsburg
sooner than we think. Posted By: Robert Mayer In Response To: Sir
George Yeardley (Robert F Eardley) This looks like good news! Brief genealogy:- The rest is history. Posted By: robert f eardley <robtim@globalnet.co.uk> In Response To: Re:
Sir George Yeardley (Robert Mayer) Robert.This is now becoming a very exciting story.George Yeardley set up the
first Legislative Assembly in the infant colony of Virginia and it was intended
to be rather like devolved government I suspect.However after three years James
1st ended it.Not really surprising given his philosophy on
kingship.Nevertheless,it means that our ancestor gave 'independence' to America
long before George Washington was born.Also it is worth noting for Eardleys who
don't know----our name in Audley Parish Register evolved over time from Yeardley
to Yardley and then to Eardley.Ihope you are not too confused!Anyone have an
idea how we can contact the American 'Yeardleys'? Posted By: Godfrey Eardley (Sonny) <geardley@mail.win.org> In Response To: Sir
George Yeardley (Robert F Eardley) Hi Robert F and Robert M . I read a book a few years ago that was on this
same subject George and Temperance Yardley . The name of the book is A DURABLE
FIRE by Virginia Bernhard . She is a history professor . I found it very
interesting . It was all about them settling in James Town Virginia . Thought I
would add my two cents worth.
Sonny Posted By: Robert Mayer In Response To: Re:
Sir George Yeardley (Godfrey Eardley (Sonny)) Apparently (I havn't read it); Regards Posted By: Robert F Eardley <robtim@globalnet.co.uk> Sonny.Nice to hear from you.Ithink it may be difficult to get hold of the
book you mention on this side----but obviously there seems to be no shortage of
info.Researching him is a big job--which is why I suggested we could share it by
taking a look at all the stuff on the internet which Yahoo or the main 'search
engines' reveal.Say hello to brother Robert in Jacksonville.
Robert M.Many thanks for the link to Eardley Hall.I know you have a
tremendous amount of researched data on 'the family'.Seems to me that Lord
Audley and the 'Yeardleys' moved from Staffordshire at about the same time.Sir
George married Temperance West(a good Puritain Girl I would imagine!)and since
this was a time of religious upheaval, I suspect this could have been a reason
for many of the moves which occured about this time.Robert--are you able to tell
us whether there are likely to be descendants of Sir George's siblings still in
UK?I'm sure that many US organisations e.g.Sons and Daughters of the Revolution
would be very excited to link up with us on this research---but it needs several
of us to share the effort.Yesterday I e-mailed the former editor of the East
Liverpool Review in Ohio.He has a high interest in these matters and he promised
to get on to it right away.Also many thanks to Linda Hollis for her e-mail of
support.She has visited Williamsburg and seen the Yeardley grave etc.Also to
Philip Eardley I would like to thank him most sincerely for bringing the whole
thing to my attention.Philip and his wife stumbled on the site quite by accident
when touring Virginia last year.
Date: Wednesday, 20 September 2000, at 5:07 a.m.
His daughter Elizabeth married into the Offley family which owned land in
Mucklestone.
Seems to me Sir George is one of ours!!!!!
Robert F
Date: Wednesday, 20 September 2000, at 7:33 a.m.
To qualify he arrived in Virginia before 1616,
stayed for three years and survived the massacre of 1622.
Date: Thursday, 21 September 2000, at 6:10 a.m.
Date: Tuesday, 26 September 2000, at 4:22 p.m.
Check the following web site: http://genforum.genealogy.com/yardley/messages/19.html
If we believe the messages on this site then George is an Eardley of Eardley
Hall.
Oliver Yardley Married Margaret Eardley has son;
John Eardley married Margaret Yardley has son;
John Eardley married Elizabeth Byrkes has son;
William Eardley - Elizabeth Moreton has son;
George (Y)Eardley
Date: Wednesday, 27 September 2000, at 11:11 a.m.
Date: Friday, 29 September 2000, at 10:03 a.m.
Date: Friday, 29 September 2000, at 3:42 p.m.
which gets quoted alot on the other web site,
also has lots of info on the Yeardleys.
Date: Monday, 2 October 2000, at 5:06 a.m.
Posted By: Sheri Eardley Slaughter <ridgwlkr@aros.net> In Response To: Re:
Sir George Yeardley (Godfrey Eardley (Sonny)) I just read all the messages about Sir George Yeardley of Virginia. My uncle
Edward P. Eardley (1911-1997) of Annandale, Virginia told me of Sir George about
20 years ago and since I am a genealogist he wanted me to find out if there was
a relationship with our Eardleys of Stoke-on-Trent. At the time I wanted to
concentrate on our Eardleys of the 19th C. so I never researched Sir George.
However, I did look up a few items about him which follow: Sir George, son of
Ralph (not John)Yeardley and Rhoda Marston, was born 23 July 1588 in Southwark,
Surrey, England. Ralph (1549-1603) of London was the son of William of
Staffordshire. George sailed to America in 1609 on the ship
"Deliverance." He married in Virginia in about 1613, Temperance
Flowerdew/Flowerdieu (not West) of London who had arrived in Virginia in 1608.
They had 3 children: Argall, Elizabeth and Francis. Francis married (c. 1647)
Sarah/Susan Offley (of London) who was the widow of Adam Thoroughgood. Sir
George died in 1627 and his widow married Francis West in 1628. Available at the
LDS Family History Library are several books which trace the descendants of Sir
George Yeardley. It should not be too difficult to trace and locate some of Sir
George's descendants. George had several siblings who remained in the London
area. Posted By: Robert Mayer I've lifted this straight off the Yardley Website, if this can be verified it
gives a definite connection to the Eardleys of Eardley End!
First verifiable Yardley record: June 15, 1218 WILLIAM YARDLEY,L.M. was a
witness to the signing of the first Magna Charta given by John I. to England.
No clear record of descent until following: JOHN YARDLEY, of c. of Stafford
m.1402 da.of Marbury, of Dadesbury,had a son: JOHN, of Killingsworth, c. of
Warwick, m. da. of Tickens, had da. Margeret (sole heiress) who m. JOHN YARDLEY,
son of OLIVER YARDLEY, of Yardley, a contemporary of Henry VI., had son &
heir:JOHN YARDLEY ofYardley,m.Elizabeth da. of William Birkes, had a son:
WILLIAM YARDLEY,living in 1583,m. Eliabeth, d. of William & Alice (Brereton)
Morton,of Morton,Cheshire; had 5 sons: 1.WILLIAM YARDLEY, m.#1 Margery Lawton,da.
of John Lawton,son JOHN; m.#2 Dorothy da. of Sir John Drake, son: WILLIAM
YARDLEY,of Ransclough b. 1632,m. Jane Heath;emigrated to America 1682,d. May 6,
1693, Bucks C.,Pa. after families death (pos. from Smallpox outbreak known to
have swept area),including married sons in early 1700's, nephew: -THOMAS,son of
THOMAS YARDLEY,of Rushton Spencer,c. of Stafford took over uncle's Pa. holdings
(senior THOMAS was another son thru Dorothy Drake) -RICHARD YARDLEY, came to
N.J. about same time as THOMAS (R. is supp. desc. of JOHN YARDLEY b. 1579
(another son of WILLIAM & Dorothy Drake ??) 2.RALPH YEARDLEY, of Caldecot,
of Chester, m. Elizabeth, da. of Randall Dodd, of Edge, c. of Chester. Was a
druggist in London in 1627 when administered estate of Sir George. 3.JOHN
YARDLEY, m. Mary, another da. of Randall; 4.SIR GEORGE YEARDLEY, of Virginia, m.
Temperance West; 5.RANDALL YARDLEY, no record; SIR GEORGE sailed for Virginia on
the"Deliverance," June 1609 but shipwrecked in the Bermuda Islands,
and did not arrive at Jamestown until May 1610. After departure of Gov. Dale for
England, he was made Dep. Governor. He was very popular and interceded for the
Colonists, against the Court Party, returning to England,and presenting their
case to King James I. The Court Party was overthrown, Yeardley was named
Governor General of the Colony of Virginia. He was sent for by the king, and
after a long interview, conferred the honor of knighthood, November 22,1618. He
sailed for the colony Jan 29 and arrived April 19 at Jamestown. In June he
summoned the members of the Council and ordered an election, the first in
America,for representatives of the people. On July 30,1619-they convened as the
first repr. body in America. SIR GEORGE YEARDLEY is therefore accorded the title
of "Father of Representative Government in America". He continued as
Governor General until 1621, was succeeded by Sir Frances Wyatt, remained a
"Councel of State" until 1626, named Deputy Governor Sep. 18, 1625
during Wyatt's absence, again commissioned Governor General by King Charles I in
April and assuming duties May 17, 1626 until his death in November of 1627. SIR
GEORGE m. 1618 Temperance West who had arrived in the "Falcon" in
1609. They were living at Jamestown with their three children, Elizabeth, Argall
and Francis, as of Jan. 1625, but at his death were living in James City. She
did not survive long after his death and both estates were administered. Posted By: Robert F Eardley <rteardley@hotmail.com> It seems that quite a few things are progressing. A number of you are getting
together to help each other find common ancestors and there seems to be a real
'togetherness' binding our worldwide family. I was pleased to see how Robert
Mayer had progressed the Sir George Yeardley link. How fascinating to see a
connection between Magna Carta which gave us our basic liberties and Sir George
Yeardley (three times Governor of Virginia) and convenor of the first
independent legislature in the New World. With a little imagination this
connection could be a huge plus not only for all those of us interested in
Eardley history but also for international organisations such as Daughters of
the American Revolution who may wish to extend their interest to include the
Audley Jamestown connection. As I mentioned elsewhere Audley Farm, Virginia
belonged to the George Washington Family until the 19th Century. It is now a
racing stable of high repute. George Washington's wife was Anne Custis (married
twice)---but Argoll Yeardley and the Custis family were related through
marriage. It's all on the Custis website although its several months since I
looked at it.In short, there's a real treasure trove of Anglo-American
historical connections of the very highest level waiting to be unearthed. Best
wishes to all, .Robert F. Posted By: Robert Francis Eardley <rteardley@hotmail.com> I have not posted for a while, but I can tell you that my relative Frank
Eardley from Walsall, and myself have been working on the Sir George Yeardley
connection, and are totally convinced that this 3-time Governor of Virginia was
indeed the grandson of William Yeardley of Eardley Hall.
Anyone wishing to pick Frank's brains on this subject should e-mail him at frankeardley@btinternet.com
An interesting titbit of information is that Sir George's wife, Temperance,
was related to Queen Elizabeth I through Anne Boleyn, and generations later, the
descendants of Sir George included the children of Martha Custis (the
stepchildren of George Washington).
With regard to Ann Smallwood (known as Mary Ann Smallwood), if the lady
seeking information would refer to the marriages on this website in the early
1800's,I believe she will find a reference to Mary Ann Smallwood's first
husband.
Incidentally, it is also my understanding that a descendant of the marriage
to the Eardley now lives in Fowie,Cornwall.
Date: Thursday, 12 October 2000, at 5:32 p.m.
Date: Thursday, 15 February 2001, at 3:03 p.m.
Date: Monday, 2 April 2001, at 8:11 a.m.
Date: Friday, 17 August 2001, at 8:15 p.m.
Home | Millennium Get-Together | Pictures | Heritage Link | Letters from the Eardleys | Contact