Reverend (Vicar of Worstead) Henry Allred

  General Notes:

Great information about the Allreds in America at www.allredroster.com


Submitted by: Sharon Allred Jessop 01/21/1999

The Allred (Aldridge) Family of England and North Carolina The origin of this surname traces back to ancient Anglo-Saxon times. It is said to be a compound of the Anglo-Saxon "ald" or eald" meaning old and "rad" or "red" signifying wise counsel. In the old Gothic language, it appeared a ALDRED and in English as ELDRED or ALDRED.1 Another author terms ALDRED and ALDRIDGE as "undoubted survivors of Anglo-Saxon compounds" AETHELRAED or EALDRAED.2 A third explanation given is that the name had the signification of "all-dread" or "all-fear," since "All" and "Ael" in Old English and Saxon mean the same as the English"All," and "dred" is equivalent to our modern dread or fear.

This author then lists these equivalents: "ALDRED (Sax) All-fear "Aldridge (Sax.) The same as Aldred, of which it is a corruption."3 The interchangeable character of the surnames ALDRED and ALDRIDGE and of ELDRED and ELDRIDGE is shown in the history of the New England branches of these families. In the vital records of Dedham, Mass., one of the early settlers is recorded as HENRY ALDRIDGE or ALDRIDG. He is also called ALDRIDGE in the town records. In four entries of the church records he is called ALLRED in three of them; in the fourth (his burial) he is called HENERY ALLDRIDGE.4 1. Surnames As a Science, by Robert Ferguson, George Routledge and Sons, London, 1883, p. 41. 2. The Romance of Surnames, by Ernest Weekly, E. P. Dutton & Co., 1914, p. 72. 3. Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names, by William Arthur Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., New York, 1857, p. 50. 4. Dedham Vital Records, First Church Records.

Similarity WILLIAM ELDRED became a resident of Yarmouth ,Mass. In the second and third generation the surname of his descendants changed from ELDRED to ELDREDG, ELDREDGE, and ELDRIDGE, and so has continued to the present.5 SAMUEL ELDRED, of Cambridge, Mass., and Stonington, Conn., is believed to have been the brother of William of Yarmouth. Samuel came from Lavenham, Suffolk, England, according to Col. Edward Banks` Topographical Dictionary of English Emigrants to New England, page 157.

HENRY ALDRED OR ALDRIDGE of Dedham, Mass., was from Brampton, Suffolk, being of THOMAS ALDRED (called THOMAS ALDERED at marriage, May 3, 1624), who married Mary Chickeringe. She was the daughter of Henry Chickeringe of Rinesfeild, Suffolk. In his will dated July 11, 1626, the latter mentions his "daughter Mary, now wife of Thomas Aldred of Brampton." It is reasonable, therefore, to look to Suffolk and the adjoining county of Norfolk, England, for the origin of the Aldred-Eldred family. This area was in all probability the original home of the Aldreds. Evidences at hand probe that persons bearing this surname in its varied forms of spelling were living in this general locality from the time when surnames first came into general use.

THE ALDRED-ALDRICH-ALDRIDGE FAMILY OF WORSTEAD, NORFOLK, ENGLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. The first of this family recorded as living at Worstead, Norfolk, England, was the Rev. HENRY ALDRED, who was Vicar there in the year 1553. Blomefield, in his monumental History of Norfolk, Vol. 5, pp. 1455-14565, says the town of Worstead is situated in a flat country. Worstead stuffs have said to have taken their name from this town, from being first manufactured there.

The church is dedicated to St. Mary. He speaks of the priory of Bromholm, and of its dissolution on May 26, 6th year of Edward VI (1553), adding: "On the dissolution of the priory, the manor belonging to it, with the rectory, and the patronage of the vicarage, were granted to the dean and chapter of Norwich; and the vicarage is valued at 10 lb. Per anom. --Mr. HENRY ALDRED vicar." (P.1456)

Henry Aldred may have been father of the Rev. HENRY ALDRED, who was Vicar and Curate, at Marsham, Norfolk, and also at Worstead, villages about six miles apart. These entries relate to him: 5 Yarmouth Vital Records. "Henry Aldred, Clerke then Curate here, and Margrett Browne were married 4 day of June 1599." (Marsham P.R., p. 31). "Henry Aldred, Vicar of Worsteds, resigned 1603, then became Vicar of Rushall, presented by sir Edward Clere." (Henry W. Aldred: Suffolk Records, p. 54) In the Worstead Parish Registers appear several entries relating to him.

BAPTISMS: 1609 10 March: John s. Henry Aldred.

BURIALS:
1610 25 April: Margaret w. Henry Aldred, vicar of Worstead.
1618 2 June: Alise w. Henry Aldred, clerk.
1628 11 Jan.: Cicilie w. Henry Aldred, clerk.
1647 15 Apr.: Dorothy w. Henry Aldred, Vicar.
1648 1 Dec.: Henry Aldred, Vicar.

Probable children of Rev. Henry Aldred, Sr.:
I. JOHN ALDRICH, b. ca. 1558, of Worstead, Norfolk, England, m. There, 2/9/1583-4, AGNES ROLFE or Roffe.
II. (REV.) HENRY ALDRED, b. ca. 1564, Vicar of Marsham, Worstead and Rushall, Norfolk; buried at Worstead, 12/1/1648; m. (1) 6/4/1599, at Marsham, MARGARET BROWNE, (2) ALICE , buried 6/2/1618; (3) CECILIE , buried 1/11/1628; (4) DOROTHY , buried 4/15/1647.

Child: (First marriage)
1. JOHN ALDRED, chr. 3/10/1609, Worstead, Norfolk, England.

JOHN ALDRICH, probably son of the elder Rev. Henry Aldred of Worstead, was b. Ca. 1558. He m. At Worstead, 2/9/1583-4, AGNES ROLFE or ROFFE. (Another reading of this surname in the register gives it as ROSSE,) It would appear that John Aldrich or Aldridge had traveled, and his wife Anne (Agnes and Anne were often used interchangeably), thinking him dead, remarried EDMUND BOUTMAN, 2/2/1596.

The record of Bishop Redman's Visitation of the Diocese of Norwich, 1597, under Worstead, contains this presentment: "ANN ALDRIGE. For having two husbands living."

The Worstead Parish Registers contain these entries:

BAPTISMS:
1585 25 Dec.: Emma d. Johannis Aldrich.
1588 3 Oct.: Johannis s. Johannis Aldrich.
1590 8 Nov.: Gracia d. Johannis Aldrich.
1597 2 Jan.: Willmus s. Agnetis Aldriche.
1599 25 Feb.: Radelph s. Johannis Aldrich.

MARRIAGES:
1584 9 Feb. John Aldriche & Agnes Roffe (or Rosse or Rolfe).
1596 2 Feb.. Edmund Boutman & Anne Aldriche
1613 2 Feb.. Barthrum Seeke & Emma Aldrich.
1626 2 July Clement Aldrich & Susan Boswell.

DEATHS: (i.e.,BURIALS)
1610 11 Jan. Agnes w. John Aldrich.

Reverend married Margaret Browne on 4 Jun 1557. (Margaret Browne was born about 1540 and died on 25 Apr 1610.)