FAMILY GROUP RECORD
OF
ADAM AND MARY CROWTHER
Adam Crowther was born in about 1610 of Knighton, Radnorshire,
Wales, the son of Brian Crowther and Alice Griffiths. He married
Mary in about 1630. Adam is listed as a freeholder in the manor
of Knighton. He is mentioned in a marriage settlement 22 January
1649: "Conveying mansion or dw. house wherein Richard Bull
and Thomas Davys dwell in town of Knighton between house of
Adam Crowther gent. on W., house of John Mason on E. adjoining
high street on N."
Adam and Mary had the following children:
1. Jeremia, christened 12 August 1632 in Knighton.
2. Maria, buried 29 July 1635 in Knighton.
3. Adam, christened 28 May 1636 in Knighton; buried 22
September 1636 in Knighton.
4. Elizabeth, christened 27 August 1637 in Knighton.
5. *Sage, christened 3 November 1639 in Knighton; married
Thomas Meyrick 20 July 1667 in Church Stretton, Shropshire.
(Thomas was born in Knighton-upon-Teme in Worcestershire, about
thirty miles away from the Welsh town of Knighton, Radnorshire.)
6. Margaret, christened 3 April 1643 in Knighton.
SOURCES: Knighton parish register.
FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
BRIAN CROWTHER AND
ALICE GRIFFITH
Brian and Alice had the following
children:
2. *Adam, born about 1610;
married Maria; buried 10 October 1679 in Knighton.
3. Richard, also shown as an
armiger; buried 2 December 1677 in Knighton; will proven 1678;
mentions loving wife, and two sons, the youngest being named
Richard.
4. Christian, buried 2 July
1628 in Knighton.
SOURCES: Knighton parish register;
will of Brian Crowther; will of Richard Crowther.
The Crowthers are found in early records of Knighton and nearby Ludlow. The Welsh Medieval Database Primarily of Nobility and Gentry records Crowthers in Knighton into the 1200s. Knighton is called Trefyclo in Welsh.
Adam Crowther of Knighton is mentioned in a bond of 26 April 1600.
Another document, or feoffment, 17 December 1616, mentions Adam Crowther: "Of manor or dw. house wherein David Tricke lately dwelled now in occupation of Richard Colhurst alias Busshope in the town of Knighton between the house of Adam Crowther gent. on W. and the new dw. house of Edward Mason on E., and adjoining the high street on N." There are similarities between this description and the description of our Adam Crowther's house in 1649, and it may be the same house.
Will of Bryan Crowther
Bryan
Crowther of Knighton, armiger, left a will dated 20
January 1632, leaving considerable property to family,
servants, and the poor of several towns. He does not
name a wife or children, but identifies other family
members. His age in the will is 82 years old, making him born in
1550.
In the will he mentioned:
- Elizabeth Bridgwater, kinswoman and late servant, and Thomas, her father.
- Cousin John Crowther, and his daughter Sarah Crowther
- Nephew Alexander Crowther
- John Crowther, son of Alexander Crowther is left a sum "for his maintenance at schoole and learning".
- Cousin Adam Crowther, his son Thomas Crowther.
- Cousin Thomas Crowther of Sparthford
- Godson Bryan Crowther: "And when there is a marriage between godson Bryan Crowther and Alice daughter of Thomas Price of Brecknocke Esq. I give to said Bryan and Alice my messuage and mansion-house wherein I dwell, and all my farm call Llonshaye to have and hold etc." "Household goods to remain in house until said godson Bryan attain full age of 22 years."
- In default, this is left to John Crowther son of nephew Alexander,
- Then to Thomas Crowther of Sparthford,
- Then to Thomas Crowther of Ludlow,
- Then to William Crowther of London, mercer, "brother of said Thomas Crowther",
- Then to Samuell Crowther, son of John Crowther, late of Ludlow,
- For want of issue, to Thomas Crowther son of Adam Crowther,
- Then to the son of Ffrancis Crowther of Bishop's Castle.
- Nephew Cresse Burton.
- Niece Damaris Mason, widow, and daughter to sister Anne Burton.
- Niece Ancilla Hockleton
- Bryan Powell son to sister Rose.
- Cousin Elizabeth Whichcoff a sum is left "for her pains taken with godson Bryan Crowther".
- Thomas Price of Brecknocke and godson Bryan are to be executors.
- John Crowther is one of the witnesses.
Brian Crowther married
Alice Pryse.
Born
about 1600 of Trefyclo, no parents listed
Note in Welsh
Medieval Database: Dwnn's 'Heraldic
Visitations of Wales' volume 1 page 259 makes him
the son of his brother Richard.
Medieval Crowthers
The following Crowthers are mentioned in the
Welsh Medieval Database:
Brian Crowther married Christiana March of
London
Brian
was born about 1500 of Trefyclo, the son of
Richard Crowther and Anne Longford, buried 1534 of
Trefyclo.
Children:
Richard Crowther married Anne Longford
Born
about 1470 of
Children:
3. Ann of Ludlow
4. Rose of Ludlow
5. John of Ludlow
6. Thomas of Ludlow
7. Alexander of Ludlow
8. Edward of Ludlow
9. Richard of Ludlow
10. *Brian, born about 1500 of Trefyclo
11. William of Ludlow
12. Lewis of Ludlow
Thomas married Elizabeth Hale
Born
about 1430 of
Children:
William Crowther married Julian Lacon
Born
about 1400 of
Children:
William Crowther married Blanche Burnell
Born
about 1370 of
1. *William, born about 1400 of Ludlow
2. Thomas
Richard married Jane Stretton
Born
about 1330 of
Children:
Richard married Elizabeth Butler
Born
about 1300 of
Children:
Richard
Born
about 1270 of
Children:
Richard
Born
about 1250 of
Children:
Sources:
Based on Heraldic
Visitations of
Welsh Medieval Database
Primarily of Nobility and Gentry
Genealogy of
Surname Meaning
This interesting name, with
spellings Crowder, Crowther, Crother, and Crewther, is
of early medieval origins. It is occupational and
describes a musician. It derives from the 12th
century word “croude”, related to the early Welsh
“crwth”, meaning a crowd. This however was not a
collection of people gathered together, but an early
and popular bowed stringed instrument, bearing some
resemblance to the later fiddle or even a violin. (www.surnamedb.com)
If you have additional information about
this family, please contact me at alice@boydhouse.com.