FAG contributor diane goodboe adds:
Maria Unknown
b. 1580 in England
d. 19 March 1614 in Milbrooke parish, Bedfordshire, England.
Item: Included here is parish record of the burial of a Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., on 22nd of January 1605. This is most likely the wife of a male relative with the same name as THOMAS and does not refer to MARIA, the wife of the THOMAS STYLLES discussed here. The previous year THOMAS was still married to MARIA STYLLES - they had their infant daughter Joane baptized at the same St. Michael's church in 1604. A parish burial record exists for "THOMAS STYLLES, carpenter" on 6 (illegible) March, 1614. There is also a burial record for the "Wyddow Styles" on the 20th of March of 1614, which is presumed to be MARIA. Since they both died in the same month its lends weigh to the idea they lived under the same roof and possibly they both died from an infectious disease. Comparisons of parish records, genealogical records, and the passenger list of the shipChristian by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles in the 1800's led him to conclude there were three Stiles families in Millbrooke, one headed by Richard, one by Thomas, and one by a third man. The baptismal dates for the children of these men overlap, so they may have been brothers.
Nothing is known about THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES beyond the mentions of them in parish records of Millbrooke, England. The fact THOMAS was referred to as "the carpenter" makes sense considering that was the trade followed by at least three of his sons. The following is summarized from the personal papers of Stiles genealogist Dr. Henry Reed Stiles, who researched the family and visited the parish church to transcribe the records in 1881. He also hired a local genealogist in 1884 to review his work and all available records, which were then authenticated in a letter from the then-rector of St. Micheal's, Rev. Laurence R. Whigham. Portions of Dr. Stiles' manuscripts, journals, and genealogies were published in his book listed at the bottom under Sources.
The Connecticut Stiles are descended from three of the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES - Henry, John, Francis, and Thomas - who immigrated from London, England to Boston, MA in 1634. They left behind a brother, Christopher, and three sisters, Joan, Elizabeth, and Marie. Married names for the sisters are not known, and no one has yet been able to trace them based on information found online.
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES lived in Millbrooke, Bedfordshire, England, but whether they were born there is unknown. This town is about 55 miles north of London, south of Bedford, and slightly east of Milton Keynes in a lovely valley. On his visit to research the family in December of 1881, part of Dr. Henry Reed Stiles description of it reads:
"Millbrooke lies in a lovely vale, richly timbered, soft and dreamy in all its lines and curves. The little village street, or road, winds curving along the base of quite a high ascent, upon which stands the old church, dominating the whole landscape. In its few clustered homes - some of comparatively modern date, but mostly of the old stone-and-plastered, straw-thatched construction of bygone days, this street presents a scene of English rural life - exceedingly quaint, novel and interesting to the eye of an American. It needed little, or no, imagination to feel that it looks now, quite as it must have looked - two centuries and half ago - when our ancestor, 'Thomas the carpenter,' and his sons (the future ancestors of generations beyond the sea), dwelt here."
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES are known to have died in Millbrooke twenty years before their four sons left England. Both have burial records for March of 1614, although neither Henry Reed Stiles in 1881 nor his hired genealogist in 1884 mentions finding their actual graves. The parish records, both those transcribed for Thomas Stiles in 1634 and those requested in correspondence by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles and later verified by him on his visit to Millbrooke, show a Stiles family (with all the right given names) present in the area for only 54 years total, and none by that name in the nearby parish of Ampthill. The exact area of origin of the Stiles family in England is believed to have been Suffolk, but at the very least was in southeast England.
By the time the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA immigrated they had all left Millbrooke and become established with wives and children in London, being carpenters or master carpenters with portable skills. Before they sailed oldest brother Henry sent Thomas back to Millbrooke to get a copy of their baptismal parish records, probably to comply with the law at that time that required passengers to be accounted for as British citizens. A baptismal record was the only record of a birth. Henry kept this letter, which Rev. Ezra Stiles transcribed to his own notes in 1762 after having access to it from one of Henry's brother John's STILES descendants. It lists all the Stiles baptized in Millbrooke parish records at that time, and since Thomas signed with an X and their "loving Friend William Hawkins" added his signature, its probable Hawkins was a minister who wrote out the letter for Thomas, as follows:
Henrie Stiles was baptised the seven and Twentie of November one Thousand five hundred Ninetie Three.
John Stiles was baptised the five & twentie of December One Thousand five hundred Ninetie five.
Christopher Stiles was baptised the eight and Twentie of March One Thousand Six hundred.
Thomas Stiles was baptised the seven day of Februarie One Thousand six hundred and xij.
Marie Stiles was baptised the xii of March One Thousand Five Hundred and Ninetie One.
Joane Stile swas baptised the xiii of Januarie One Thousand Six hundred and four.
Elizabeath Stiles was bapt. the viij and twentie of December One Thousand six hundred and Seven.
"Brother my hearty love remembered unto you all hoping to God you eare in good health as I am at the wrighting hearof, and I would entreat to you to send me Worde the next Return of the Carrier when I shall come up and I am in Worke and I would stay as long as may be and I did ask Goodman Goddie for your Cow but he will not deliver it to me so with my love to you all I rest your loving Brother. (signed) Thomas Stiles [ X ] and your loving Friend William Hawkins
Ffeburarie the xv 1634"
Thomas may have been trying to get his brother Henry to help straighten out the business with "the Cow" before they sailed that year for New England. Sounds like Goodman Goddie hoped to hang onto her until the rightful owner was out of the country for good. Dr. Henry Reed Stiles' copy of these same records written out for Thomas is more complete and shows there were people of the name Stiles present in the parish before 1593:
1581, Rychard Stylles, sonne of Rychard Stylles, was baptized 20th of June
1591, Maria Stylles, daughter of Thomas Stylles, was baptized 7th March
1595, John Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was Christianed the 25th day of December
1600, Christopher Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 28th day of March
1602, Francis Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized 1st day of August
1604, Joane Stylles, daughter of Thos. Stylles and Maria his Wife, was baptized the 8th day of Januarie
1605, Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., was buried 22d of Januarie
1607, Elyzabeth Stylles, dau. of Thos. and Maria his Wyfe, was baptized 28th of December
1612, Thomas Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 7th of February 1614, Wyddow Stylles was buried ye 20th of March."
Sources (each available on Google Books online): "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Connecticut Family" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. "The History of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Including East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington, Prior to 1768" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. Much, if not most, of the foundation for Dr. Stiles' research came from the personal papers, memorandum books, and manuscripts of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale College and an avid researcher in the 1700's of Stiles genealogy.
Those interested in Stiles ancestry in Massachusetts should read: "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Massachusetts Family" by Mary Stiles Paul Guild, or the later edition of "The Stiles Family in America" on which she collaborated with Henry Reed Stiles to add information from Massachusetts.
Maria Unknown
b. 1580 in England
d. 19 March 1614 in Milbrooke parish, Bedfordshire, England.
Item: Included here is parish record of the burial of a Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., on 22nd of January 1605. This is most likely the wife of a male relative with the same name as THOMAS and does not refer to MARIA, the wife of the THOMAS STYLLES discussed here. The previous year THOMAS was still married to MARIA STYLLES - they had their infant daughter Joane baptized at the same St. Michael's church in 1604. A parish burial record exists for "THOMAS STYLLES, carpenter" on 6 (illegible) March, 1614. There is also a burial record for the "Wyddow Styles" on the 20th of March of 1614, which is presumed to be MARIA. Since they both died in the same month its lends weigh to the idea they lived under the same roof and possibly they both died from an infectious disease. Comparisons of parish records, genealogical records, and the passenger list of the shipChristian by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles in the 1800's led him to conclude there were three Stiles families in Millbrooke, one headed by Richard, one by Thomas, and one by a third man. The baptismal dates for the children of these men overlap, so they may have been brothers.
Nothing is known about THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES beyond the mentions of them in parish records of Millbrooke, England. The fact THOMAS was referred to as "the carpenter" makes sense considering that was the trade followed by at least three of his sons. The following is summarized from the personal papers of Stiles genealogist Dr. Henry Reed Stiles, who researched the family and visited the parish church to transcribe the records in 1881. He also hired a local genealogist in 1884 to review his work and all available records, which were then authenticated in a letter from the then-rector of St. Micheal's, Rev. Laurence R. Whigham. Portions of Dr. Stiles' manuscripts, journals, and genealogies were published in his book listed at the bottom under Sources.
The Connecticut Stiles are descended from three of the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES - Henry, John, Francis, and Thomas - who immigrated from London, England to Boston, MA in 1634. They left behind a brother, Christopher, and three sisters, Joan, Elizabeth, and Marie. Married names for the sisters are not known, and no one has yet been able to trace them based on information found online.
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES lived in Millbrooke, Bedfordshire, England, but whether they were born there is unknown. This town is about 55 miles north of London, south of Bedford, and slightly east of Milton Keynes in a lovely valley. On his visit to research the family in December of 1881, part of Dr. Henry Reed Stiles description of it reads:
"Millbrooke lies in a lovely vale, richly timbered, soft and dreamy in all its lines and curves. The little village street, or road, winds curving along the base of quite a high ascent, upon which stands the old church, dominating the whole landscape. In its few clustered homes - some of comparatively modern date, but mostly of the old stone-and-plastered, straw-thatched construction of bygone days, this street presents a scene of English rural life - exceedingly quaint, novel and interesting to the eye of an American. It needed little, or no, imagination to feel that it looks now, quite as it must have looked - two centuries and half ago - when our ancestor, 'Thomas the carpenter,' and his sons (the future ancestors of generations beyond the sea), dwelt here."
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES are known to have died in Millbrooke twenty years before their four sons left England. Both have burial records for March of 1614, although neither Henry Reed Stiles in 1881 nor his hired genealogist in 1884 mentions finding their actual graves. The parish records, both those transcribed for Thomas Stiles in 1634 and those requested in correspondence by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles and later verified by him on his visit to Millbrooke, show a Stiles family (with all the right given names) present in the area for only 54 years total, and none by that name in the nearby parish of Ampthill. The exact area of origin of the Stiles family in England is believed to have been Suffolk, but at the very least was in southeast England.
By the time the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA immigrated they had all left Millbrooke and become established with wives and children in London, being carpenters or master carpenters with portable skills. Before they sailed oldest brother Henry sent Thomas back to Millbrooke to get a copy of their baptismal parish records, probably to comply with the law at that time that required passengers to be accounted for as British citizens. A baptismal record was the only record of a birth. Henry kept this letter, which Rev. Ezra Stiles transcribed to his own notes in 1762 after having access to it from one of Henry's brother John's STILES descendants. It lists all the Stiles baptized in Millbrooke parish records at that time, and since Thomas signed with an X and their "loving Friend William Hawkins" added his signature, its probable Hawkins was a minister who wrote out the letter for Thomas, as follows:
Henrie Stiles was baptised the seven and Twentie of November one Thousand five hundred Ninetie Three.
John Stiles was baptised the five & twentie of December One Thousand five hundred Ninetie five.
Christopher Stiles was baptised the eight and Twentie of March One Thousand Six hundred.
Thomas Stiles was baptised the seven day of Februarie One Thousand six hundred and xij.
Marie Stiles was baptised the xii of March One Thousand Five Hundred and Ninetie One.
Joane Stile swas baptised the xiii of Januarie One Thousand Six hundred and four.
Elizabeath Stiles was bapt. the viij and twentie of December One Thousand six hundred and Seven.
"Brother my hearty love remembered unto you all hoping to God you eare in good health as I am at the wrighting hearof, and I would entreat to you to send me Worde the next Return of the Carrier when I shall come up and I am in Worke and I would stay as long as may be and I did ask Goodman Goddie for your Cow but he will not deliver it to me so with my love to you all I rest your loving Brother. (signed) Thomas Stiles [ X ] and your loving Friend William Hawkins
Ffeburarie the xv 1634"
Thomas may have been trying to get his brother Henry to help straighten out the business with "the Cow" before they sailed that year for New England. Sounds like Goodman Goddie hoped to hang onto her until the rightful owner was out of the country for good. Dr. Henry Reed Stiles' copy of these same records written out for Thomas is more complete and shows there were people of the name Stiles present in the parish before 1593:
1581, Rychard Stylles, sonne of Rychard Stylles, was baptized 20th of June
1591, Maria Stylles, daughter of Thomas Stylles, was baptized 7th March
1595, John Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was Christianed the 25th day of December
1600, Christopher Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 28th day of March
1602, Francis Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized 1st day of August
1604, Joane Stylles, daughter of Thos. Stylles and Maria his Wife, was baptized the 8th day of Januarie
1605, Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., was buried 22d of Januarie
1607, Elyzabeth Stylles, dau. of Thos. and Maria his Wyfe, was baptized 28th of December
1612, Thomas Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 7th of February 1614, Wyddow Stylles was buried ye 20th of March."
Sources (each available on Google Books online): "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Connecticut Family" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. "The History of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Including East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington, Prior to 1768" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. Much, if not most, of the foundation for Dr. Stiles' research came from the personal papers, memorandum books, and manuscripts of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale College and an avid researcher in the 1700's of Stiles genealogy.
Those interested in Stiles ancestry in Massachusetts should read: "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Massachusetts Family" by Mary Stiles Paul Guild, or the later edition of "The Stiles Family in America" on which she collaborated with Henry Reed Stiles to add information from Massachusetts.
FAG contributor diane goodboe adds:
Maria Unknown
b. 1580 in England
d. 19 March 1614 in Milbrooke parish, Bedfordshire, England.
Item: Included here is parish record of the burial of a Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., on 22nd of January 1605. This is most likely the wife of a male relative with the same name as THOMAS and does not refer to MARIA, the wife of the THOMAS STYLLES discussed here. The previous year THOMAS was still married to MARIA STYLLES - they had their infant daughter Joane baptized at the same St. Michael's church in 1604. A parish burial record exists for "THOMAS STYLLES, carpenter" on 6 (illegible) March, 1614. There is also a burial record for the "Wyddow Styles" on the 20th of March of 1614, which is presumed to be MARIA. Since they both died in the same month its lends weigh to the idea they lived under the same roof and possibly they both died from an infectious disease. Comparisons of parish records, genealogical records, and the passenger list of the shipChristian by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles in the 1800's led him to conclude there were three Stiles families in Millbrooke, one headed by Richard, one by Thomas, and one by a third man. The baptismal dates for the children of these men overlap, so they may have been brothers.
Nothing is known about THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES beyond the mentions of them in parish records of Millbrooke, England. The fact THOMAS was referred to as "the carpenter" makes sense considering that was the trade followed by at least three of his sons. The following is summarized from the personal papers of Stiles genealogist Dr. Henry Reed Stiles, who researched the family and visited the parish church to transcribe the records in 1881. He also hired a local genealogist in 1884 to review his work and all available records, which were then authenticated in a letter from the then-rector of St. Micheal's, Rev. Laurence R. Whigham. Portions of Dr. Stiles' manuscripts, journals, and genealogies were published in his book listed at the bottom under Sources.
The Connecticut Stiles are descended from three of the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES - Henry, John, Francis, and Thomas - who immigrated from London, England to Boston, MA in 1634. They left behind a brother, Christopher, and three sisters, Joan, Elizabeth, and Marie. Married names for the sisters are not known, and no one has yet been able to trace them based on information found online.
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES lived in Millbrooke, Bedfordshire, England, but whether they were born there is unknown. This town is about 55 miles north of London, south of Bedford, and slightly east of Milton Keynes in a lovely valley. On his visit to research the family in December of 1881, part of Dr. Henry Reed Stiles description of it reads:
"Millbrooke lies in a lovely vale, richly timbered, soft and dreamy in all its lines and curves. The little village street, or road, winds curving along the base of quite a high ascent, upon which stands the old church, dominating the whole landscape. In its few clustered homes - some of comparatively modern date, but mostly of the old stone-and-plastered, straw-thatched construction of bygone days, this street presents a scene of English rural life - exceedingly quaint, novel and interesting to the eye of an American. It needed little, or no, imagination to feel that it looks now, quite as it must have looked - two centuries and half ago - when our ancestor, 'Thomas the carpenter,' and his sons (the future ancestors of generations beyond the sea), dwelt here."
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES are known to have died in Millbrooke twenty years before their four sons left England. Both have burial records for March of 1614, although neither Henry Reed Stiles in 1881 nor his hired genealogist in 1884 mentions finding their actual graves. The parish records, both those transcribed for Thomas Stiles in 1634 and those requested in correspondence by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles and later verified by him on his visit to Millbrooke, show a Stiles family (with all the right given names) present in the area for only 54 years total, and none by that name in the nearby parish of Ampthill. The exact area of origin of the Stiles family in England is believed to have been Suffolk, but at the very least was in southeast England.
By the time the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA immigrated they had all left Millbrooke and become established with wives and children in London, being carpenters or master carpenters with portable skills. Before they sailed oldest brother Henry sent Thomas back to Millbrooke to get a copy of their baptismal parish records, probably to comply with the law at that time that required passengers to be accounted for as British citizens. A baptismal record was the only record of a birth. Henry kept this letter, which Rev. Ezra Stiles transcribed to his own notes in 1762 after having access to it from one of Henry's brother John's STILES descendants. It lists all the Stiles baptized in Millbrooke parish records at that time, and since Thomas signed with an X and their "loving Friend William Hawkins" added his signature, its probable Hawkins was a minister who wrote out the letter for Thomas, as follows:
Henrie Stiles was baptised the seven and Twentie of November one Thousand five hundred Ninetie Three.
John Stiles was baptised the five & twentie of December One Thousand five hundred Ninetie five.
Christopher Stiles was baptised the eight and Twentie of March One Thousand Six hundred.
Thomas Stiles was baptised the seven day of Februarie One Thousand six hundred and xij.
Marie Stiles was baptised the xii of March One Thousand Five Hundred and Ninetie One.
Joane Stile swas baptised the xiii of Januarie One Thousand Six hundred and four.
Elizabeath Stiles was bapt. the viij and twentie of December One Thousand six hundred and Seven.
"Brother my hearty love remembered unto you all hoping to God you eare in good health as I am at the wrighting hearof, and I would entreat to you to send me Worde the next Return of the Carrier when I shall come up and I am in Worke and I would stay as long as may be and I did ask Goodman Goddie for your Cow but he will not deliver it to me so with my love to you all I rest your loving Brother. (signed) Thomas Stiles [ X ] and your loving Friend William Hawkins
Ffeburarie the xv 1634"
Thomas may have been trying to get his brother Henry to help straighten out the business with "the Cow" before they sailed that year for New England. Sounds like Goodman Goddie hoped to hang onto her until the rightful owner was out of the country for good. Dr. Henry Reed Stiles' copy of these same records written out for Thomas is more complete and shows there were people of the name Stiles present in the parish before 1593:
1581, Rychard Stylles, sonne of Rychard Stylles, was baptized 20th of June
1591, Maria Stylles, daughter of Thomas Stylles, was baptized 7th March
1595, John Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was Christianed the 25th day of December
1600, Christopher Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 28th day of March
1602, Francis Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized 1st day of August
1604, Joane Stylles, daughter of Thos. Stylles and Maria his Wife, was baptized the 8th day of Januarie
1605, Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., was buried 22d of Januarie
1607, Elyzabeth Stylles, dau. of Thos. and Maria his Wyfe, was baptized 28th of December
1612, Thomas Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 7th of February 1614, Wyddow Stylles was buried ye 20th of March."
Sources (each available on Google Books online): "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Connecticut Family" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. "The History of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Including East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington, Prior to 1768" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. Much, if not most, of the foundation for Dr. Stiles' research came from the personal papers, memorandum books, and manuscripts of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale College and an avid researcher in the 1700's of Stiles genealogy.
Those interested in Stiles ancestry in Massachusetts should read: "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Massachusetts Family" by Mary Stiles Paul Guild, or the later edition of "The Stiles Family in America" on which she collaborated with Henry Reed Stiles to add information from Massachusetts.
Maria Unknown
b. 1580 in England
d. 19 March 1614 in Milbrooke parish, Bedfordshire, England.
Item: Included here is parish record of the burial of a Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., on 22nd of January 1605. This is most likely the wife of a male relative with the same name as THOMAS and does not refer to MARIA, the wife of the THOMAS STYLLES discussed here. The previous year THOMAS was still married to MARIA STYLLES - they had their infant daughter Joane baptized at the same St. Michael's church in 1604. A parish burial record exists for "THOMAS STYLLES, carpenter" on 6 (illegible) March, 1614. There is also a burial record for the "Wyddow Styles" on the 20th of March of 1614, which is presumed to be MARIA. Since they both died in the same month its lends weigh to the idea they lived under the same roof and possibly they both died from an infectious disease. Comparisons of parish records, genealogical records, and the passenger list of the shipChristian by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles in the 1800's led him to conclude there were three Stiles families in Millbrooke, one headed by Richard, one by Thomas, and one by a third man. The baptismal dates for the children of these men overlap, so they may have been brothers.
Nothing is known about THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES beyond the mentions of them in parish records of Millbrooke, England. The fact THOMAS was referred to as "the carpenter" makes sense considering that was the trade followed by at least three of his sons. The following is summarized from the personal papers of Stiles genealogist Dr. Henry Reed Stiles, who researched the family and visited the parish church to transcribe the records in 1881. He also hired a local genealogist in 1884 to review his work and all available records, which were then authenticated in a letter from the then-rector of St. Micheal's, Rev. Laurence R. Whigham. Portions of Dr. Stiles' manuscripts, journals, and genealogies were published in his book listed at the bottom under Sources.
The Connecticut Stiles are descended from three of the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES - Henry, John, Francis, and Thomas - who immigrated from London, England to Boston, MA in 1634. They left behind a brother, Christopher, and three sisters, Joan, Elizabeth, and Marie. Married names for the sisters are not known, and no one has yet been able to trace them based on information found online.
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES lived in Millbrooke, Bedfordshire, England, but whether they were born there is unknown. This town is about 55 miles north of London, south of Bedford, and slightly east of Milton Keynes in a lovely valley. On his visit to research the family in December of 1881, part of Dr. Henry Reed Stiles description of it reads:
"Millbrooke lies in a lovely vale, richly timbered, soft and dreamy in all its lines and curves. The little village street, or road, winds curving along the base of quite a high ascent, upon which stands the old church, dominating the whole landscape. In its few clustered homes - some of comparatively modern date, but mostly of the old stone-and-plastered, straw-thatched construction of bygone days, this street presents a scene of English rural life - exceedingly quaint, novel and interesting to the eye of an American. It needed little, or no, imagination to feel that it looks now, quite as it must have looked - two centuries and half ago - when our ancestor, 'Thomas the carpenter,' and his sons (the future ancestors of generations beyond the sea), dwelt here."
THOMAS and MARIA STYLLES are known to have died in Millbrooke twenty years before their four sons left England. Both have burial records for March of 1614, although neither Henry Reed Stiles in 1881 nor his hired genealogist in 1884 mentions finding their actual graves. The parish records, both those transcribed for Thomas Stiles in 1634 and those requested in correspondence by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles and later verified by him on his visit to Millbrooke, show a Stiles family (with all the right given names) present in the area for only 54 years total, and none by that name in the nearby parish of Ampthill. The exact area of origin of the Stiles family in England is believed to have been Suffolk, but at the very least was in southeast England.
By the time the four sons of THOMAS and MARIA immigrated they had all left Millbrooke and become established with wives and children in London, being carpenters or master carpenters with portable skills. Before they sailed oldest brother Henry sent Thomas back to Millbrooke to get a copy of their baptismal parish records, probably to comply with the law at that time that required passengers to be accounted for as British citizens. A baptismal record was the only record of a birth. Henry kept this letter, which Rev. Ezra Stiles transcribed to his own notes in 1762 after having access to it from one of Henry's brother John's STILES descendants. It lists all the Stiles baptized in Millbrooke parish records at that time, and since Thomas signed with an X and their "loving Friend William Hawkins" added his signature, its probable Hawkins was a minister who wrote out the letter for Thomas, as follows:
Henrie Stiles was baptised the seven and Twentie of November one Thousand five hundred Ninetie Three.
John Stiles was baptised the five & twentie of December One Thousand five hundred Ninetie five.
Christopher Stiles was baptised the eight and Twentie of March One Thousand Six hundred.
Thomas Stiles was baptised the seven day of Februarie One Thousand six hundred and xij.
Marie Stiles was baptised the xii of March One Thousand Five Hundred and Ninetie One.
Joane Stile swas baptised the xiii of Januarie One Thousand Six hundred and four.
Elizabeath Stiles was bapt. the viij and twentie of December One Thousand six hundred and Seven.
"Brother my hearty love remembered unto you all hoping to God you eare in good health as I am at the wrighting hearof, and I would entreat to you to send me Worde the next Return of the Carrier when I shall come up and I am in Worke and I would stay as long as may be and I did ask Goodman Goddie for your Cow but he will not deliver it to me so with my love to you all I rest your loving Brother. (signed) Thomas Stiles [ X ] and your loving Friend William Hawkins
Ffeburarie the xv 1634"
Thomas may have been trying to get his brother Henry to help straighten out the business with "the Cow" before they sailed that year for New England. Sounds like Goodman Goddie hoped to hang onto her until the rightful owner was out of the country for good. Dr. Henry Reed Stiles' copy of these same records written out for Thomas is more complete and shows there were people of the name Stiles present in the parish before 1593:
1581, Rychard Stylles, sonne of Rychard Stylles, was baptized 20th of June
1591, Maria Stylles, daughter of Thomas Stylles, was baptized 7th March
1595, John Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was Christianed the 25th day of December
1600, Christopher Stylles, the sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 28th day of March
1602, Francis Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized 1st day of August
1604, Joane Stylles, daughter of Thos. Stylles and Maria his Wife, was baptized the 8th day of Januarie
1605, Joane Stylles, wife of Thos. S., was buried 22d of Januarie
1607, Elyzabeth Stylles, dau. of Thos. and Maria his Wyfe, was baptized 28th of December
1612, Thomas Stylles, sonne of Thos. Stylles, was baptized the 7th of February 1614, Wyddow Stylles was buried ye 20th of March."
Sources (each available on Google Books online): "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Connecticut Family" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. "The History of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Including East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington, Prior to 1768" by Dr. Henry Reed Stiles. Much, if not most, of the foundation for Dr. Stiles' research came from the personal papers, memorandum books, and manuscripts of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, president of Yale College and an avid researcher in the 1700's of Stiles genealogy.
Those interested in Stiles ancestry in Massachusetts should read: "The Stiles Family in America: Genealogies of the Massachusetts Family" by Mary Stiles Paul Guild, or the later edition of "The Stiles Family in America" on which she collaborated with Henry Reed Stiles to add information from Massachusetts.
