Descendants of
ROBERT St. VINING & MARY ?
(Vinny, Venney, Vennen, Vineing, Vinnen, Vinning, Venning)

Wincanton Parish Church, Church of England (Church of our Forefathers supposedly)
of Wincanton, Somerset, England (PART 1)

Wincanton has much to offer in terms of unspoilt scenery and places to visit. It is believed there has been a settlement here since Roman times and the town is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Wincanton has always been the market town for this beautiful rural area. This has always been a busy staging post and many passengers stopped at one of the coaching inns for their warm hospitality. The "Great Fire" of 1707 destroyed many of the older thatched buildings. The more sturdy buildings remained, amongst them the original manor house called "The Dogs". Originally the main industry of the town was weaving and many of the "loom" windows can still be seen.

 


Karolyn Rae Roberts

The Vining Family comes from a small village called Wincanton in the District of Somerset. In 1556 in Wincanton, England, on the first Wincanton Charter that was granted appeared two names, John Vynynge and Richard Vyneing on the list of ten trustees. This looks like French spelling and could have become Anglisised. In "A History of Wincanton" published in 1803 records the period from 1636 to 1721 and 162 Vinings were buried in the village church yard. Also, a Vining is shown as having died in Wiltshire, England in 1501. The village inn, "The White Horse Inn on High Street," in Wincanton was owned by Robert Vining, and some times referred to as John Vining in documents. This Robert Vining was the father of our ancestor, John Vining, who with his brother William, came to Weymouth, MA in 1652. (To the Genealogy & Hist. of the Vining Families) John was born in 1636 in Wincanton and was baptized on April 17, 1636 in Wincanton (Bishops' Transcripts,Wincanton,SomersetEngland) John had a younger brother called William who is probably the William listed in the Directory of the Ancestral Heads of New England Families by Holmes. Other origins of Vinings are being discovered. There is thought that the Vinings orignally came from France to England. They could possibly be descendants of the Vikings or Norsemen who invaded and settled in the vineyards of France. (Vining History Origins Online) In the town records of Weymouth,MA it says that "John Vining came from Wincanton,England, in 'Mr. Stratton's Ship' [in 1652]. He was a cooper and about 16 years old. He settled in Weymouth, U.S., and was a 'select man' and held other public offices for many years, and amassed a fortune. He left in his will large property to his wife and eight children. One of the overseers of his will was his kinsman Joseph (Vining) Dyer." (Dyer is an alias name, possible maiden name)
The descendants of these two brothers have been traced in NH, MA, NJ, DE, NY & Ontario & MI. Many of our ancestors were promient and distinguished men in politics and was in the religious growth of the colonies. Those who were in MA and DE were very promient in Jucicial & Legislative branches of the government during the period of the 1st & 2nd Continental Congress. Many high offices were held in NY, and in the ministry of the Baptist Church. Many served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. (To the Genealogy & Hist. of the Vining Families)
Going back to the history of England prior to King James the 1st reign of England, the Roman Catholics dominated the land, then the Church of England. Then appeared a group of Congregationalists, Baptists, & Presbyterians. They were laborers, artisans, and farmers who separated themselves from the Church of England. In 1604, King James ordered the King James version of the Bible to be translated and it was completed in 1611. King James tried to make the Puritans to conform to the Laws of the Church or leave. Many were executed and some fled to Holland where they were for 10 - 12 years. They settled in the town of Leiden. 100 of them sailed in the "Mayflower" to start new homes in America. By 1630, there were more than 1,000 Puritans on the shores of America and they founded the State of MA. There is a record of a Vining in the State of NH as early as 1630, but no record on the Mayflower. They must have came on a later sailing. (To the Genealogy & Hist. of the Vining Families)


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RV - Robert St. Vining (In WFT: pedigree #193 v8, gives name as John) (son of John Vining?) b1610 Wincanton,Somerset,England (Dorothea Vining Barnes of Ontario, Canada, "The Vining Family," [1980, by The Beacon Herald Fine Printing Division of Stratford, Ontario, Canada]) - d1672 Wincanton,Somerset,England - mabt1635 Wincanton,Somerset,England Mary Reade b1604 Wincanton,Somerset,England (Ancestral Files) - d4/19/1672 Wincanton,Somerset,England (Bishop's Transcripts: Wincanton,Somerset, England; obtained by Stan Smith of Bountiful,Utah, 10/12/1969) - Burial: 4/19/1672 Wincanton,Somerset,England - Robert was owner of the White Horse Inn on High Street, Wincanton, England which was still in existance into the 1900's. Robert & Mary had 9 children, John, William, Abraham, Robert, William, James, Ellinor, George, & Sarah.

The John Vining that ran the White Horse Inn was still operating the White Horse Inn after 1652, followed by his son John, apparently more than one John Vining at this time period.

White Horse Inn History. On May 13, 1707, there was a great fire in Wincanton. As a result, a few years later many new houses of a better style were erected, among these the "Whte Horse" was built in 1733 (Date still above the door). In 1841, the feoffes put Peter Vining in charge of two fire engines, a position he retained for 23 years. The engines were kept in various places and at one time being at "The White Horse" yard for a few months. It is not known how the"White Horse" came by that name. In the vicinity of Wincanton on one of the chalk hills, there is a huge flat-sculptured white horse, visible for miles. George Sweetman, author of "History of Wincanton" says the name of "White Horse" first appeared in 1655 when John Vining was in possession, having succeeded his father, Robert Vining. Probably the last Vining to own the Inn was James Vining, who became one of the feoffes in 1725.

RV1 - John St. Vining, I b4/17/1636 (Date of Baptism also) Wincanton,Somerset,England (Register, 66:188; also states John is the son of Robert Vining)(Bishops' Transcripts,Wicnanton, Somerset,England) - d2/1685 at 50 years Weymouth,Norfolk,MA (Genealogies of the Early Families of Weymouth,MA,p705, Gen. Pub. Co.,Inc. supplied by John Milton Vining*) John came to Weymouth,Mass in 1652 on "Mr. Stratton's Ship" from Wincanton, Ireland when he was 16 years old. (Register, 8:162 quoted in History of Weymouth, MA, The Vining Family, by Chamberlain) - m3/11/1657 Weymouth,Norfolk,MA 1Margaret Read (Daughter of William Read b1605 Gillingham,Dorset,England & Avis Deacon b1626 England) baptized at Long Sutton,Somersetshire 1/20/1636 - d8/6/1659 Weymouth,Norfolk,MA - m11/22/1659/60 Wincanton,Somerset,England 2Mary Reed (Daughter of Philip Reed b10/1641 Weymouth,Norfolk,MA - dWeymouth,Norfolk,MA & Mary (Polly) (Online) Dyer; married on 10/26/1635 Long Sutton,Somerset,Eng - Mary died in Weymouth,Norfolk,MA) (Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers, v4,p374) (History of Weymouth,MA, The Vining Family by Chamberlain, v4,p567) (Reed Family, J. W. Reed 1861,p414) b1547 Weymouth,Norfolk,MA (Genealogies of the Early Families of Weymouth,MA,p705, Gen. Pub. Co.,Inc. supplied by John Milton Vining*)  - d9/2/1717(The Vining Family by Dorothea Vining Barnes;(Genealogies of the Early Families of Weymouth,MA,p705, Gen. Pub. Co.,Inc. supplied by John Milton Vining*) - Had 10 children all with Mary Reed. Samuel was the 4th child. John was about 16 years old and a cooper. He settled in Weymouth and was a 'select man' and held other public offices for many years and amassed a fortune. He left in his will large property to his wife and eight children, the new house went to his son, John. One of the overseers of his will was his kinsman Joseph (Vining) Dyer. (The Vining Family by Dorothea Vining Barnes, p21) Burial of John: Norfolk,MA - John became a *freeman in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on May 23, 1666 and already had land by then. (New England Ancestory by Dana Converse Backus) (The History of the Vining Families, Chap. III) (Jeremiah Clothier of England was an indentured servant for seven years to John, I suppose for paying his passage to America, etc.) Burial of John: Norfolk, MA (Ancestral Files)

*Freeman: Before a member of society could exercise the right of suffrage, or hold any public office, he must be made a freeman by the general or quarterly court. To become such he was required to produce evidence that he was a respectable member of some Congregational church. "This regulation was so far modified by Royal order in 1664, as to allow individuals to be made Freemen, who could obtain certificates of their being correct in doctrine and conduct, from clergymen acquainted with them." In 1631, a test was invented which required all freemen to be church members. This was upon the first appearance of a dissent in regard to religious opinions. But even this test, in the public opinion, required great caution, as in 1632 it was agreed that a civil magistrate should not be an elder in the church. -- Freeman's Oath - I being by Gods providence, an Inhabitant, and Freeman, within the Jurisdiction of this Commonwealth; do freely acknowledge my self to be subject to the Government thereof: And therefore do here swear by the great and dreadful Name of the Ever-living God, that I will be true and faithfull to the same, and will accordingly yield assistance & support thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound; and will also truly endeavor to maintain and preserve all the liberties and priviledges thereof, submitting my self to the wholesome Lawes & Orders made and established by the same. And further, that I will not plot or practice any evill against it, or consent to any that shall so do; but will timely discover and reveal the same to lawfull Authority now here established, for the speedy preventing thereof. Moreover, I doe solemnly bind my self in the sight of God, that when I shal be called to give my voyce touching any such matter of this State, in which Freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and suffrage as I shall judge in mine own conscience may best conduce and tend to the publike weal of the body, So help me God in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Source:List of Freemen of Massachusetts, 1630-1691 by Lucius R. Paige)

*John Milton Vining, member of 'The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America', the Massachusetts Society.  Thank you John for sharing with all the Vinings.

History of Weymouth Weymouth is the second oldest town in the Commonwealth first known as Wessagusset. Established in 1622 by a group led by Thomas Weston, a London merchant, the Wessagusset settlement soon ran into difficulties. Inadequate preparations for cold weather resulted in a food shortage which grew critical the first winter. Several men became ill and died, and other men were too weak to search for food. They also had alienated the Indians who became more aggressive. They abandoned Weymouth by some going to Plymouth and others returned to England. In the early autumn of 1623, Captian Roberts Gorges discovered the settlement and settled with a group. He left within the year. However, it wasn't long until more arrived from Weymouth, England and joined those already there. On Sept. 21, 1635, Wessagusset was incorporated into Massachursetts Bay Colony and officially renamed Weymouth. In 1639, The Old North Church became known as the First Church of Weymouth. Weymouth was a fishing and farming community for almost 200 years. In 1771 bog iron was found in the two town ponds, leading to the establishment of the Weymouth Iron Works in East Weymouth in 1837. For many years they were known for making nails, anchors, chains, and shovels until the steel mills of PA forced them out of business. Shoe manufacturing in Weymouth began in small shops and then larger factories by the end of the 1700's and by 1870 there were over 50 shoe factories employeing three quarters of the town. The Stetson Shoe Co. was the last remaining shoe factory when it closed its doors in 1973.

MILITARY HISTORY OF WEYMOUTH by Bradford Holmes? THE INDIAN WARS (A little segment of what Weymouth was like when our Vinings first settled into the area, the document goes on for 15 pages) It is with considerable diffidence that the writer undertakes to contribute to the history of the town of Weymouth a chapter upon the military history of the old town, knowing that there will be more or less omissions and inaccuracies. I have availed myself of all accessible sources of information upon the subject in hand and endeavored to make these errors as few as possible. As the causes of the several wars in which our country has been engaged are treated in any good history of the United States in a far more comprehensive way than I can hope to do, I shall confine myself to the briefest allusion to these causes compatible with the object of this work, and shall endeavor to show that w hen men or means were needed for the protection of the public welfare, Weymouth has never been backward in her contributions. Our town has the distinction - whether enviable or unenviable I do not undertake to say - of being the scene of the first armed co nflict in the eastern part of the country in which the white race took part. I refer to the fight between Myles Standish, with his little army of eight men, and the Indians. Weymouth, unlike the colony at Plymouth, appears to have had no man of military training and experience, and when the conspiracy among the Indians to exterminate the white settlers was discovered, called upon the Plymouth Colony for aid. This call was responded to by sending the undoubtable Captain Standish with his little force to quell the conspiracy. This was done so effectually that no further trouble from the Indians was experienced for several years. The next serious outbreak was the Pequot War in 1636-37. This war was fought mostly in Connecticut. Weymouth had at that time about three hundred and fifty inhabitants. The town was assessed and furnished five men, none of whose names are now known. A treaty of peace made between the Plymouth Colony and Chief Massasoit was strictly observed during the life of Massasoit. After his death, his son Philip succeeded to the chiefancy and assumed the title of King Philip. Philip appears to have been a man of far greater mental endowments than the average Indian of his time. He saw the forests through which his people had roamed and hunt e d disappearing beneath the axe of the settler, and the land being fenced in under the claims of the white man. He did not acknowledge these claims. He denied the right of their father toward the land of their people. Philip foresaw that with their widely d iffering modes of life the time was not far distant when his people and the whites could not occupy the same land in peace. As ? Indian these things he concluded that either the white man must perish from the land. Being a man of great sagac ity and force of character, Philip was able to secure the joint action of the several tribes in New England in an effort to exterminate or drive out the white settlers. The whole territory east of the Connecticut River was brought under the reign of terror occasioned by this war. The first blow fell in the town of Swansea on Sunday morning, July 4, 1675, as the people were returning from church. It may be of interest to note that Swansea was a part of the grant acquired under the name of Rehoboth to the Rev. Samuel Newman and his colony of about forty families who migrated from Weymouth in the year 1646, and was at that time a frontier town. The war was fought with the utmost ferocity on both sides; each knowing well that its result was to determine which should occupy the land. Thirteen towns were devastated, six hundred houses burned, and about that number of the colonists killed. About a thousand of the Indians is said to have been killed in one engagement. Weymouth was the scene of an Indian invasion on April 19 1676, in which eight houses were burned, one of which stood near where the house of Henry K. Loud, 563 Pleasant Street now stands. This was the nearest to Boston that the war left any marks. Philip was killed Aug. 12, 1676. He had conducted the war from his home on Mount Hope, R.I. The Indians were defeated, and with the death of Philip their tribal government east of the Connecticut River seems to have come to an end. It is difficult to glean from the scanty records of the time just how many men from Weymouth served in this war.

Other Vining Links

A New England "Clan" Chowder http://www.viningfamily.com
Vining Genealogy Exchange http://vining.cjb.net/

Additions, Corrections, etc. -- Contact Karolyn at krob@surfbest.net

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Saturday, February 02, 2008