David Bancroft

Notes:

John Bancroft was born 1633 in Etchells, Cheadle Parish, Cheshire. At the time of his death in 1699/1700 he was said to have been a Quaker "minister" for forty years. If this is so, he must have become a Quaker not later that 1659/60. Considering that 1652 is generally accepted as the beginning of Quakerism in England, John Bancroft must have been almost a charter member. He married Mary Janney of Wilmslow in 1663 in Handforth, Cheadle Parish. The birth of their children, Jacob, David, Dynah, Joseph, Mary, Sarah and John dated 1664 to 1682, all in Etchells, were recorded in the Quaker Quarterly Meeting Records for Cheshire. John was the son of Richard and Ellen (Burgess) Bancroft and had at least two brothers, Robert and Alexander and a sister, Mary. Richard Bancroft was a Churchwarden at Crossacres, Northenden Parish in 1630. He died in Northenden November 18, 1634 and in inventory of his estate was taken shortly after. The Bancrofts of Cheshire date back two more generations to John's grandfather, William who married Anne and wo lived at Scowhill. He left a will dated March 1631 and was mentioned in the wills of his father, William (1596), and brother Robert (1610). The earliest Bancroft record is for John's great-grandfather, William of Cheadle. William left a will dated January 26, 1596/97 and proved October 1600. [Source: Carmen J. Finley, "Hackney, Harlan & Heald - Our Quaker Ancestors", (Computer printed: C. J. Finley, Santa Rosa, CA, 1987), pg. 19,20]

Buried:
[28da 12mo 1699]

John married Mary Janney on 6 Sep 1663 in Pownall Fee, Cheshire, England. Mary (daughter of Randle Janney and Ann Knevett) was born on 6 Jan 1639 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England; died on 5 Mar 1706 in Stockport, Cheshire, England; was buried on 9 Mar 1706 in Stockport, Cheshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The most comprehensive work found on the Janneys is "The Quaker Janneys of Cheshire" by Miles White, Jr., compiled in 1904 and based on earlier work by Samuel M. Janney of Loudon County, VA. Much of the following is based on his work which was very carefully documented.

White gives many variations in the spelling of the Janney name. Included among them are Jeny, Jenny, Jenninges, Genys, Genynges (in York) and Janion, Janny, Jannye, Jannyon, Jannyne, Jannys, Jenion, Jenney, Jenny, Jennys, Jenyngs, Jenyus, Jenys, Guynes, Gynes, Gynney, Gynny, Yannes and Yannis (in Lancashire and Cheshire).

Mary (Janney) Bancroft of Wilmslow was christened 1639/40, daughter of Randle and Ann (Knevett) Janney of Handforth. Wilmslow records show there was also a younger child, William, christened in 1641. It is a bit puzzling that no other children of Randle and Ann were found in that they apparently, lived to an advanced age. The will of Ann Janney, of Ashton under Lyne, was proved in 1676, but there is no external evidence to lead to the supposition that it was the will of Randle's wife. Friends records show the death of an Anne Janney of Etchells February 28, 1698/99; and Etchells was where her daughter, Mary, was living at the time.

"Sufferings of the People Called Quakers" by Joseph Besse, published in 1753 in London, gives accounts of many persecutions of the Quakers because of their religious beliefs. Ann Janney, in 1663, is listed along with William and Thomas Janney as the subject of persecution and she 'suffered distress of goods.' It seems likely that this is the mother of Mary (Janney) Bancroft. White also believes Randle was not a Friend. It would appear that they may have lived elsewhere for a period and the records of other children have not been found. Mary's brother, William, was born in Staffordshire, and these records have not been searched. [Source: Carmen J. Finley, "Hackney, Harlan & Heald - Our Quaker Ancestors", (Computer printed: C. J. Finley, Santa Rosa, CA, 1987), pg. 21]

Buried:
[9da 1mo 1706]

Notes:

Married:
[6da 7mo 1663]

Notes:

Randle's father was also Randle Janney. He married Ellen Alrodd/Alredd July 14, 1602 at Wilmslow and they had children Thomas, Randle, Heline and Richard born between 1605 and 1613/14. While not much is known of Randle, Jr., a good deal of information is known about Randle, Jr.'s older brother, Thomas. Thomas was born and lived most of his life in Styall. He and his wife, Elizabeth Worthington, joined the Society of Friends a short time after it came into existence. Thomas is mentioned several times in the early annals of the Friends, and their meetings were sometimes held at his house. He suffered "distress of goods", was imprisoned and otherwise persecuted on account of his faith. Thomas, along with others, purchased and presented to the Meeting the burial ground at Mobberley. In his wil he left a legacy to the Poor of his town. He may have been the Thomas Janney who was Mayor of Stockport in 1639. His will, dated April 10, 1677, is on file at Chester; his estate amounted to L53, 19s, 10d. [Source: Carmen J. Finley, "Hackney, Harlan & Heald - Our Quaker Ancestors", (Computer printed: C. J. Finley, Santa Rosa, CA, 1987), pg. 21, 22]

It does not appear that he joined Friends.

Whether it was Randle's widow who married Thomas Cotley May 29, 1620, or whether she was the "Elen Jany Widdow" who was buried Jany. 13, 1644 is not now known. If Randle left a will it has been lost or destroyed, the inventory of his estate being all that is now to be found in Probate Registry. In 1601 he was one of the appraisers of his estate, and his name is given as Rondull Janyon. In 1607 he was churchwarden of Wilmslow Parish. His only daughter died in infancy, his three sons survived him, and all married and had families. [Source: "The Quaker Janneys of Cheshire and Their Progenitors", Article by Miles White, Jr., Baltimore, Md., pg. 196-211]

Randle married Ann Knevett on 16 Jul 1636 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. Ann (daughter of William Knevett and Ellen Cash) was born about 2 Nov 1617 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England; died on 28 Feb 1700 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England; was buried on 2 Mar 1700 in Mobberley, Cheshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ann Knevett, who married Randle Janney, was christened November 2, 1617 at Wilmslow, the first child of William and Ellen (Cash) Knevett. There was at least one other child, Robert. Both christenings show the family to be of Handford (Handforth). William Knevett's father was probably John Knevett. He is described as of Handford in the christenings of three children (1593/94, 1597, 1602) and of Hough when William was christened in 1594/95. The Knevett family appeared to have been somewhat prominent and the window in one of the county churches contains their coat of arms. There is an inventory for John Knivett, of Handforth prepared in 1624. [Source: Carmen J. Finley, "Hackney, Harlan & Heald - Our Quaker Ancestors", (Computer printed: C. J. Finley, Santa Rosa, CA, 1987), pg. 22, 23]

Buried:
[2da 1mo 1700]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 23 Feb 1579–80, Styal, Cheshire, England

Notes:

Randle Janney, Sr., father of Thomas and Randle, was christened February 23, 1579/80 at Styall, Wilmslow Parish, the eldest child of Thomas and Jone (Worthington) Janny. In 1601/02 he was one of the appraisers of his father's estate, and his name was given as Rondull Janyon. In 1607 he was Churchwarden of Wilmslow Parish. Randle, Sr. died in October 1613 and is buried at Styall. He is mentioned in his father's will.

In 1601/02 he was one of the appraisers of his father's estate, and his name was given as Rondull Janyon. In 1607 he was Churchwarden of Wilmslow Parish. Randle, Sr. died in October 1613 and is buried at Styall.

Randle married Ellen Allrod on 14 Jul 1602 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. Ellen (daughter of John Allred and Custance Higgenson) was born on 15 Aug 1583 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England; was christened on 15 Aug 1583 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England; died on 13 Jan 1643 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England; was buried in Jan 1643 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Traces have been found on the Alrodd/Allred family. Ellen Alrodd/Alredd was the second daughter of John and Custance (Higgenson) Allred christened December 29, 1580 at Wilmslow. John Allred was born December 10, 1564, also at Wilmslow, the son of John Alred, the second of three known children. [Source: Carmen J. Finley, "Hackney, Harlan & Heald - Our Quaker Ancestors", (Computer printed: C. J. Finley, Santa Rosa, CA, 1987), pg. 16]

William married Ellen Cash on 4 Jul 1615 in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. Ellen was born about 1599 in England; died about 1657 in England, United Kingdom. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]