Regular visitors to our website
are already aware of the ongoing investigation of our family connection with
the three-time Governor of Virginia and "Father of Representative Government
in America', Sir George Yeardley. For those of you who enjoy detective stories
there is a wealth of evidence to sift through, and we would welcome the assistance
of every Eardley in piecing this fascinating family picture together.
It now seems certain that George was the grandson of William Yeardley of Eardley
Hall. Some of these Y(eardleys) moved to London after the marriage to one of
the Morton's of Morton Hall and did well. We suggest you re-read what we already
have on the website if you are a first time visitor to this area of our research
into the Yeardley story.
Sir George named a large tract of land after his wife Flowerdew. It is now a
privately owned museum-----The Flowerdew Hundred Foundation. It is there that
George had the very first windmill in America built, and it is interesting to
note that it was of a type similar to those of the English Midlands. Flowerdew
is 'home' to more than 250,000 artifacts, many of which have yet to be officially
classified. We have been quite frequently in touch with the museum's curator
Karen Shriver, and she and the Foundation seem willing to work with us in raising
the profile of the whole Yeardley Project. There is to be a Descendants of Flowerdew
Get-Together the 24th of August, 2002 later in this year and we are all invited.
Details will be made available to you all as and when we have them. Every Eardley
family considering taking an American holiday this Autumn will make this event
a 'must'. Robert Jack Eardley plans on being there with Frank Eardley and myself!
American Eardleys will of course find travel much more convenient and we are
sure you will swell our representation considerably.
Dennis Pickeral, the Flowerdew Historian has been in touch, and he has promised
he will do all he can to discover the secret of the naming of 'Audley Farm'
near Berryville, Virginia. It seems probable that there will be some connection
with our family! This farm belonged to the Washington Family until the 19th
century and Argall Yeardley, son of George, married a Custis from which line
came the stepchildren of George Washington.
We have invited Flowerdew to make a 'link' to our website and of course we will
reciprocate.
A special word of appreciation to Frank Eardley of Walsall who has devoted hundreds
of hours of research into the Yeardley Project. Without his meticulous sifting
through the evidence we would not be where we are today.
Another issue which we find intriguing is the probable interconnection of a
group of Staffordshire families who played significant roles in the history
of early America. The Vernon family-----one of the oldest families in Audley-----and
with South Cheshire origins-----appear to be related to Admiral Edward Vernon
after whom Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, is named. Also, Admiral Anson,
circumnavigator of the world, served on the same mission as Vernon on at least
one occasion. The Offley Family, one of whom married a Yeardley are a famous
Staffordshire Family, and there is a delightful hostelry in Madeley, near Audley,
named for that family. Colonel George Mason's Family owned land in Staffordshire.
The famous American University is named in his honour.
It seems probable that these families knew each other, though much of the socializing
would have taken place in London where the 'action' was, so to speak. At that
time Staffordshire was a county comprising small villages and a population of
a few thousand at most.
When William Penn led the 'Holy invasion' to what is now Pennsylvania Sir George's
nephew was there. He was from Ransclough, near Audley, and left there at the
age of fifty with his wife (formerly Jane Heath) and family and built Prospect
Farm , an imposing structure which stands today in Bucks County, Pa., though
developers are seeking to build on the farmland. A suburb of Philadelphia is
called Yardley----after this branch of the family.
Finally, it now seems probable (and currently we cannot be certain) that George's
brother Ralph had a connection with the Yardley of London Fragrance Company.
He was an apothecary, sure to have been interested in mixtures and chemicals
of all kinds. The
location is 'right' ----in the East End of London at Stratford leBow. There
are records of Eardleys married at the Church of St. Mary leBow and the company
is the oldest in England. Supposedly it was founded in the reign of Charles
I. Work is ongoing on this potentially important connection. Should any Eardley
have any helpful information on this issue please let us know.
You can research for yourselves on websites found from the search engines. The
Walke Family have an excellent one. Also, the Virginia records are a wonderful
source of information. It is fun to experiment with all kinds of historical
sites and you may pick up information none of us has found before. Should you
uncover some Eardley treasure do share it with us so that we can add it to our
ever expanding Eardley database.
As new information becomes available we will update you all on this section
of Eardley.org. In the meantime every Eardley is encouraged to participate in
this fascinating project. After the Dedication of the Window and the blessing
of the Eardley marriage on Sunday, 14th of July 2002 at the St. James Church,
Audley, England at which we expect a huge Eardley contingent------the work goes
on!
Robert Francis Eardley
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