The document is important because it gives a detailed statement of how WEH believed that he was related to the Hingstons of Holbeton (Tree HD) and also how he believed the Aglish Line was related to them. Notably, it does not make reference to John Hingston, Cromwell's organist.
WEH was writing in 1880, and was clearly in contact with people born in the 1820s. They could be expected to have reasonable knowledge about their grandparents, which takes us back to the 1760s. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that this document is accurate for the later generations, but we have no way of knowing how accurate the earlier generations are. However, the chronology fits together better than other versions I have seen so I am rewriting Tree HN to replace the previous (2007 and earlier) version, using this document as the basis..
WEH had his own numbering system. It is tempting to assume that it is the same system that he employed 23 years later when the Vine Tree was written, but we have no way of knowing for certain.
There are however one or two things about which I am uncertain.
1. The James Hingston who had been a Major in the Army is far too late to have fought in the Civil War, although he could be the James Hingston referred to in John O'Hart's book, The Irish and Anglo-Irish landed Gentry, who received an estate under the Williamite Confiscations in 1688. WEH here refers toAglish being purchased in 1703 - it is possible that there were two estates purchased.
2. If this chronology is true, then there are links in several branches of Tree HN with Lynn, Massachusetts. This is not impossible, but may be a little improbable.
The document is in three parts.
1. WEH's summary of the lineage of John R Hingston, to whom the tree was sent.
2. WEH's summary of his own line.
3. The covering letter.
Anything in italics has been added by me, as have the links to other trees
Chris Burgoyne 5 Jan 2008
The following is as far back as I have been able to trace the family at the present. Should I find any more, I shall send you an account of them. Our name is derived from “Hingest”, the elder of the two Saxon brothers “Hingest and Horsa" who came to England A. D. 449 and established the Kingdom of Kent and for which reason we use the arm and Battle Axe on the shield and the spring of Holley for the crest.
Andrew H. (1) (HD#1) born before the year 1550 and the first Hingston I have any note of.
Walter H. (2) (HD#2) his son who was born about the year 1570 and died in 1627 leaving one son.
Andrew H. (3) (HD#3) of Scotscombe (Scobbiscombe) county Devon England. He married a relation a Miss Grace Hingston (129) from Cornwall in 1623 and died in 1643 leaving 5 sons and one daughter. Walter (4) (HD#4) born 1624 married in 1652 to Sarah Rowe (B.1) and died in 1684. James (5) (HD#5) born 1626 was married to Alice --- (B.2) and died in 1659 1eaving issue from which sprang the Devonshire branch of the family now living at Dodbrook co Devon. Josias (6) see below. Able (7) (HD#6) born 1637 died 1676. William (8) (HD#7) born 1642 and from whom I trace my decent. Jane the sister.
Josias H. (6) (Tree HD but not numbered) the third son born 1631. The father of Major James Hingston (see your letter) and from whom you are descended
James H. (136) (presumably born in the 1650s and thus too young to have been a Civil War soldier) a major in the Army son of Josias H (6) and father of James H. (137) of Cork who purchased the estate of Aglais in Cork at the great auction of forfeited estates in 1703. He married Helen Morley of Cork and by her had issue (This can be read two ways - in one way Helen Morley was the wife of James (136) which would make James (137) and William (138) brothers - alternatively Helen was the wife of James (137) which makes William (138) his son - I have followed the latter reading in the revised Tree HN)
William H. (138) (HN#7) who married Elizabeth Webb (B.58) and had issue James (140) and John (141) and one daughter (142) whose name I have not been able to get as yet.
John H. (141) the second son born at Old Castle Co Cork is father to Richard (183). (This differs from the original version of Tree HN which specifically stated that the John son of 7. William died unmarried.)
(The following people were not shown in the original version of Tree HN)
Richard H. (183) son of John (141) married Catherine Courtney (B.75) and is father of John (184) (see below) Thomas (185) David (186) Edmond (187) and Richard (188).
John H. (184) son of Richard (183) married Margaret Joice (B.76) and is father Richard (189) of Dunnianway Thomas (190) Catherine (191) Mary (193) and Margaret (193) he died in Lynn Mass 1867.
Richard H. (189) of Dunnianway Co. Cork was married in Lynn in July 1849 to Honora Barrett and died 9 Jun 1865 leaving issue John R.H. (194) (See below) MaryAnn (195) Margaret (196) and Catherine (197)
John R.H. (194) born in Lynn Mass 24 June 1851. Married 3April 1872 to Hannah Dooley (B.78) and by her who died 29 June 1877 has issue Richard (199) born 18 Jan 1873 Annie M (200) born 17 Jun. 1874 and Margaret (201) born 23 Sept 1876 John R H married 2ndly to Ellen McCarthey (B.79) 18 January 1880.
N.B. The figures in red ink (in parenthesis and typed above ) after the names are the numbers on the Register that I have made
Edward H (50) (HN#30) of Depford Co. Kent who was in the Royal Navy and was married in 1770 to Lucretia Sewell (B 23) of Depford and died 10 May 1813 at the Cove of Cork leaving issue Anna Margaret (52) Lucretia (53) Fannie (54) Dorah (55) William (56) (see below) Allen (57) Betsey (58) Mary Ann (59) Anne (60) Laurence (61) and Jane (62).
William H. (56) (HN#21) the eldest son born 6 Sept. 1778 got his father's commission in the navy and was afterwards appointed on the coast-guard service. He married 31 March 1807 to Jane Carroll (B27) of Old Court Co Cork and died in Buffalo 2 Nov. 1854 and had issue Edward (63) (my father) Mary Ann (64) Lucretia (65) Ann (66) Jane (67) William (68) John (69) Laurence (70) and Elisa (71). Of the above Mary Ann (64) is living in the Co Cork. Lucretia (65) died 23 Sept. 1838. Ann died in Lynn Mass. 10 Jan. 1871. Jane (67) died 4 Jany. 1847. William (68) is now 60 years old and lives in Buffalo with one son and three daughters. John (69) was drowned in Buffalo Creek 26 August 1879 leaving a widow, one son and two daughters. Laurence (70) lives in Rochester has two sons and two daughters and Eliza lives in Buffalo and has three sons and three daughters.
Edward H. (63) (HN#25) the eldest son was born 25 June 1809 married Eisabeth Jenkins (B33) my mother 2 Sept. 1841 and died in Thomastown Maine 4 January ‘44 leaving two sons the oldest myself and my brother (73) born l8 days after his death, that is the 22 January 1844.
W. Hingston (72) (HN#26) (the writer) born at Kingstown Co Dublin Ireland 28 July 1842 married to Eliza Hall B.41 8 Jan. 1811 and has four sons and one daughter. as follows. Anne Elizabeth (87) born in Dunluth Illinois 4 November 1871. Edward Clarence (88) 11 May 1874. George Irwin born in Buffalo N.Y. 21 April 1876. Francis Hall dv, 5 June 1878. William Henry (91) dv. 24 Jun 1880.
Office of
Hingston and Company
Manufacturing Chemists
Buffalo N.Y. 21 Aug 1880
John R Hingston
Dear Sir
Yours of July 15th came duly to (hand?) and was duly answered. I would feel (surely?) should it not have reached you or if anything has happened to prevent your writing. There was a Mr Richard Hingston who passed through this city a short while back who I think is your first cousin. I am hunting him up and soon expect to find him and from some other things I have traced up believe you and I are nearer related than I had at first though.
I also (????) there is a Allen or a Freke Hingston in in East Cambridge or Cambridgeport.
If you know the address of any of the family, or ????, anywhere please let me know and I will consider it a great favour.
Give my kindest regards to your Aunt Catherine and tell her I shall do myself the honor of calling upon her when I come to Lynn which I expect to do this Fall.
If you got my last letter please give me the answers as early as you can. And by the way can you favor me with a photograph of your self and I will send you one of my self in my? ????.
With kindest regards to your self and family I am yours,
William Hingston
This is one of the crests of our family. The motto reads in English “The country does not alter the race”.