Chirme Ancestors

Martha Cherme was born in about 1691. She married Thomas Tudor of High Ercall 14 April 1714 in Upton Magna, Shropshire. They had a son, Richard, born in High Ercall, Shropshire, then four daughters, Martha, Anne, Mary, and Ezabell, born in Rodington, Shropshire. Martha died and was buried 9 September 1761 in Rodington.

No christening record has been found for Martha Cherme, but the Cherme/Chirme name is found in the adjoining parishes of High Ercall and Wellington near Upton Magna. There are two good possibilities for Martha's parents, one in High Ercall, and one in Wellington. The first is the family of Richard Chirme in Wellington, and the other is the family of John Chirme in High Ercall.

It seems more likely that Richard is Martha's father. Martha's only son is named Richard. She also has a daughter, Anne, but no daughter named Jane or Joanne.

Richard Chirme was christened January 1648 in Wellington, Shropshire, the son of Thomas Chirme and Elinor Howle.

Baptismal record for Richard Chirme in Wellington:
"Richard the sonne of Thomas Churme & Elinor his wife baptised the ___ day of January"

Richard married Anne.

Richard died and was buried 25 June 1717 in Wellington.

Anne died and was buried as a widow 27 November 1722 in Wellington.

Richard and Anne had the following children:

1. Richard, christened 1686 in Wellington.

*2. Martha, born about 1691; married Thomas Tudor 14 April 1714 in High Ercall; buried 9 September 1761 in Rodington, Shropshire.

SOURCE: Wellington parish register on www.findmypast.co.uk.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
THOMAS CHIRME AND
ELINOR HOWLE

Thomas Chirme was christened 9 March 1617 in High Ercall, the son of John and Anne Chirme. He married Elinor Howle 15 May 1641 in Wellington.

Thomas Churme and Elinor Howle marriage

Elinor died and was buried 18 March 1661 in Wellington. Thomas died and was buried 13 August 1664 in Wellington.

Thomas and Elinor had the following children:

*1. Richard, christened January 1648 in Wellington; married 1) Anne; buried 25 June 1717 in Wellington.

2. (Male), christened 4 April 1652 in Wellington.

SOURCE: Wellington parish register on www.findmypast.co.uk.

John Chirme was christened 11 April 1591 in the townland of Tearne in the parish of High Ercall. No parents were recorded in the parish register, but he was likely the son of William Chirme.

Baptism record for John Chirme in High Ercall: "John Chearme of Tearne the xjth day"

He married Anne Downes 9 February 1613 in Wroxeter, Shropshire, about six miles south of High Ercall. John was a husbandman.

Marriage record for John Chirme and Anne Downes in Wroxeter:
"Johannes Chirme et Anna Downes matrimonium juncti Febr 9 1613"

John and Anne had the following children:

1. Samuell, christened 26 March 1615 in High Ercall; married Joanne. Father John was shown as "of Walton".

*2. Thomas, christened 9 March 1617 in High Ercall; married Elinor Howle 15 May 1641 in Wellington.

Thomas Chirme baptism

Baptism record for Thomas Chirme in High Ercall: "Thomas sonne of John Chirme of Walton and Anne his wief baptised the nynth day of March 1616"

3. Catherine, christened 12 March 1620 in High Ercall.

4. Benjamine, christened 3 June 1621 in High Ercall; married Sarah.

5. Richard, christened 12 December 1624 in High Ercall.

John's sons Thomas and Benjamin may have moved from High Ercall to Wellington. They are found having children christened in Wellington parish in the 1640s through the 1660s, while Samuell and Joanne his wife stayed and had children in High Ercall: John (1647), and Mary (1655). Thomas and Elinor had Richard (1651) and John (1652), both christened in Wellington. Benjamin and Sarah had a son (1650), Joyce (1652), Benjamin (1662), George (1665), a son (1657), and Jane (1666), all christened in Wellington.

SOURCE: High Ercall parish register; Wroxeter parish register.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
WILLIAM CHIRME

William Chirme was born in about 1550 of Tearne in the parish of High Ercall, the son of Richard Cherme. He was a husbandman in the townland of Tearne. No parents were listed in christenings in High Ercall in the 1580s and early 1590s, but the spacing of the christenings and the location of the townland of Tearne points to a single father, and William is recorded as the father of Anne in 1597 when father's names start to be recorded. William died and was buried 24 August 1625 in High Ercall.

Burial record for William Chirme in High Ercall: "William Chirme of Terne buried the xxiij day of August 1625"

William left a will dated 2 June 1625 and proven 21 April 1626. William's will lists his sons Ambrose, John and George, and daughter Anne.

Will of William Chirme 1625

In the name of God Amen, this second daie of June in ye first yeare of ye raigne of our Sovairgne Lord Charles by ye grace of God, Kinge of Great Brittaine, Ffrance & Ireland, Defender of ye Faith & and in ye yeare of our Lord God 1625, I William Chirme of Tearne in ye Countie of Salop, husbandman doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, ffirst I bequeath my soule unto ye hands of Almightie God my Maker, Redemer & Sanctifier, hoping & assureinge my soule to be saved by ye most p’tious bloodshedinge of my Saviour Christ Jesus and by none other means, and my bodie to bee buried in ye p’ishe church of High Arcall. As for ye rest of my worldly goods with which God hath blessed mee I give theym in manner & forme following:

Imprimis, I give unto my sonne Ambrose Chirme for his childe parte twelve pence. Item, I give unto my sonne John Chirme for his childe parte twelve pence. Item, I give & bequeath unto my sonne George Chirme for his childs parte twelve pence twelve pence. Item, I give & bequeath to everie one of ye children of those my three sonnes twelve pence a piece. Item, I give & bequeath all ye rest of my goods moveable & unmoveable unto my daughter Anne Chirme the true lawfull and sole executor of this my last will and testament. And I desire my friends Thomas Birmigeton of Tearne ad George Chirme of Hombridge to bee overseers that this my last will bee p’formed according to ye true meaning therein contained. In witness wherof I have hereunto put my hand & seale the daie and yeare first above written. In the p’sence and sight of Thomas Birmington mark, Robert Powford Sr.

The mark of William Chirme on his will

Inventory of William Chirme 1625

A trewe and perfecte invintorie of the goods of William Chirme of Terne, taken by Thomas Winnington, Thomas Coake, Simon Dunne and Roger Frien the xvijth day of September 1625

Imprimis, brasse and pewter xx-s

Item, bedding and napperie xxx-s

Item, trimon ware and iron ware xij-s

Item, one cupborde, two table bords, one chest, twoe coffers and twoe beddsteeds xij-l iij-s

Item, corne and hay in forte and tonone iij xiij iij iii-d

Item, towe and yarne xiij iiij-d

Item, three sheepe ij-s

Item, implements of husbandrie iij-s

Item, his wearing apparel xx-s

Item for anye thing left unpraysed or forgotten iij-d iiij

William had the following children:

1. Ambrose, christened 30 October 1585 of Tearne in High Ercall; married Isabell; mentioned in father's will of 1625.

2. Thomas, christened 12 May 1588 of Tearne in High Ercall.

3. Andrewe, christened 6 January 1590 of Tearne in High Ercall.

*4. John, christened 11 April 1591 of Tearne in High Ercall; married Anne; mentioned in father's will of 1625.

5. George, christened 30 June 1594 of Tearne in High Ercall; mentioned in father's will of 1625.

6. Anne, christened 6 January 1597 of Tearne in High Ercall; mentioned in father's will of 1625.

SOURCE: High Ercall parish register; will of William Chirme, 1626, on www.findmypast.co.uk.

Richard Cherme was born in about 1520 of Ercall Magna. He married Thomasen. He left a will dated 22 September 1588, naming his son William as his executor.

Will of Richard Cherme, 1588

In the name of God, Amen, the 22 daye of September in the yeare of our Lords God 1588, and in the thirtieth yeare of the Reigne of our Soverigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of Englande, Ffrance and Irelande, defender of the ffaith, I Richard Cherme of the pishe of Arcall Magna in the countie of Salopp, make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, Ffyrst I comende my soule into the hands of all mightie God and my bodye to the earthe to be buryed where it shall please my sonne William. And as concerning my wordlie goods I geve and bequeath them all unto William Cherme my sonne, and leave up to his discreson to geve to his sisters soe at his will, these being wyttnesses - Elizabeth Wynnyton and Elizabeth, servants to the sayd Richard, with others.

Richard also left an inventory, mentioning items such as oxen, kyne, sheepe, rye, barley, pots, pans, candlesticks, and pewter.

Inventory for Richard Cherme, 1588

A true inventorie of all the goods and cattell moveable and unmoveable of what names or properties soe they were that Richard Chirme of Terne of the pish of Ercall Magna possessed or injoyed at such tyme as he deceased prysed by Thomas Wilmington and Richard Wyming on the viijth day of Januarie 1588
Imprimis two oxen solde for vli xs viijd
Item v kyne – vili xixs
Item two calves – xxs
Item xxxvij sheepe – iijl vjs viijd
Item in geese and other pultrie named – vs
Item xxv strykes of rye – viijl vjs viijs
Item in barley and ots xij strykes – xxiiijs
Item a stryke of pesend – ijs vjd
Item in xxx vj loades – xxxs
Item half a dosen of sylver spoones – xls
Item one pott and a pan – xxxjs viijd
Item ij chaffing dishes and ij candlesticks – xs
Item xxiiij peeces of pewter – xxs
Item ij bedcoveringes and ij boulsters – xxs
Item j featherbed and ij twillsheetes – xs
Item all other lynnen or napery ware – vjs viijd
Item ij cobertes and iij coffers – xxvjs viijd
Item ii standes bowles and all other treen wares vjs vijd
Item j frying pan ij broches with all other yron stuff – xs
Item ij meale tables forms benches and stoles – iijs iiijd
Item one hand mill and kneading trowghe with all other things belonging unto the backhowse – xiijs iiijd
Sum xxxiijli xijs xid

Richard had the following children:

*1. William, born about 1550 of High Ercall.

2. Females, name unknown - mention is made of William's sisters in Richard's will, but the names and number of those sisters is not specified. There must have been at least two.

SOURCE: Will of Richard Cherme, 1588, on www.findmypast.co.uk.

William Cherme was born in about 1500 of High Ercall. He left a will dated 25 June 1566, and proven 30 September 1566. In the will he mentioned:

Godson Wylliam Cherme
Anne Cherme
John Gryffyes my sone in lawe and my doughter his wife
Wyllm Curiton my sonne in lawe and my doughter his wife
Thomasen Cherme my daughter in lawe
Rychard Cherme my sone

Will of William Cherme, 1566

In the name of God Amen, the 26^th daye of June in the yere of our Lorde God 1 thousand five hundred fifty five, I Wyllim Cherme of Terne in the pishe of High Ercall in the countie of Salop, husbandman, thankes be to Almightie God, beinge of good and pfecte mynde & remembrance considerynge the uncertantnes of thys worlde, do make this my last wyll and testament in manr and forme folowynge, ffyrst I bequeathe and comende my soule to Almyghthe God my only creator, savior and redeemer, and my bodye to be buried in the pishe churche of High Ercoll. And I geve and bequeath unto the same church for the reparations sayd nyd. Item, I geve and bequeath unto my godsone Wylliam Cherme my best panne and my best pott. Item I bequeath unto Anne Cherme the secunde best panne to be delivered after there fathers decease. Item I bequeath to John Gryffyes my sone in lawe and my doughter his wyfe 10s in money or goods. And to evrye one of there children 12p. Item I bequeath to Wyllm Curiton my sone in lawe and my doughter his wyfe 10s in money or money goods. And to every one of there children 12p. I bequeath to Thomasen Cherme my doughter in lawe 10s in money. Also I geve and bequethe unto the people within the same pishe of Ercall 10s. Also of my goods unbequethed my funeralle beinge discharged. And I brought some upon myne own goods, my wyll ys that my neighbors comynge to my burial shall have meade and drynke at some so manye as wyll come some. And all the rest of my goods unbequethed I geve unto Rychard Cherme my sone. Also I ordayne constitute & appoynte my said sone Ryc. and Wyllm Cherme my said godsone my true and lawfull executors for the pformannce of thys my last wyll and testament as my trust ys for the welth of my soule & safe beinge. Witnes Thomas Palyn Rycharde Thaunder John Puller of Roden

William had the following children:

1. Rychard, born in about 1520 of High Ercall; married Thomasen.

2. Daughter, married John Gryffyes.

3. Daughter, married Wyllm Curiton.

SOURCE: Will of William Cherme, 1566, on www.findmypast.co.uk.

The surname Chirme is not a common name: "This rare and interesting name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames...The surname Churm derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "cearm, cierm", noise, chatter, often used of birdsong, in Middle English "churme, chirme". As a nickname, this term would have been applied to someone considered to be particularly noisy, a "chatterbox". The surname is widespread in Shropshire and the West Midlands." (www.surnamedb.com)