Genealogy Chat

My GtX6 Grandfather was Aquila Clapshoe! Ann Glos

That is such an unusual name. Where was he from? Anne-Marie.

From Froyle in Hampshire, an ancestor of my Webster family. And he seems to have been producing children with from 1738 to 1790. Ann Glos

Ann, I was just working on the BVRI discs and decided to type in that lovely name. I got 2 hits! Aquilla Clapshew christened 9 Feb.1714, Froyle, Hampshire. Parents James Clapshew & Anne. Aquilla Clapshoe christened 9 Apr.1751, Froyle, Hampshire. Parents Aquilla Clapshoe & Mary.

wow, thank you Margaret, that was not on the IGI, that explains the number of births, obviously there is a son who id the father of the later births. many thanks for that, i could have been searching for ages. what a great site this is. Ann Glos

Ann, the BVRI also has christenings of 4 children of Aquilla & Mary between 1741-1754 and 3 of Aquilla & Anne between 1776-1779. All in Froyle. Do you want them? Margaret Update, I might as well type them out while I've got the disc in the machine: Parents Aquilla & Mary James, 23 Feb.1741 John, 10 Oct.1744 Aquilla, 9 Apr.1751 Thomas, 26 Dec.1754 Parents Aquilla & Anne Charles, 12 Jul.1776 James, 22 Nov.1777 William, 16 Feb.1779 There are no marriages in Froyle on the discs. Margaret

Ann I assume you are already aware of www.froyle(*)com? http://www.froyle(*)com/srch(*)htm. If you type in 'Acquilla', and/or 'Clapshaw'. There's quite a few hits come up. Deeds to the cottages they owned, marraiges etc. Also hits for the alternative spellings 'Clapshew/Clapshoe' My own grandfather was born and raised in Froyle. I am planning a visit there some point later this year to see where he was born, so if there's anything you would like me to do or look into whilst there, would be happy to try.

http://www.froyle(*)com/cricket.htm There's a picture of Aquila Clapshoe too!

Hi Ann the name is possibly Spanish based Aquiles means Achilles...... Just a bit of daft info .... Jac

Other families in Froyle also seemed to be using it. From what I can see, googling, there's a few possible origins. Aquila is the name for the bird that belonged to Zeus in Greek Mythology. In learned circles anyway, in late 18th century and early 19th there was a huge revival of the classics. However seems a little bit early for that. It is also a biblical name, the name of one of the companions of the Apostle Paul, in Acts. So may just have been plucked from that. That said there's also an Aquila in Italy, capital of Abruzzi province . There's a William de Aquila and John De Aquila listed in the Heads of Religous houses, England and Wales 1216-1377. So the name did exist in England, however unusual. I think it's continued use may then be linked to the Catholic Church. Certainly wish I was related to him anyway, doesn't half make people easier to research when they have unusual names!

thank you again Margaret. And thank you Richard. I have looked at the site before but not since discovering this name so will look again. I will also bear your offer in mind, many thanks. Ann Glos

Richard, have revisited the site. Lovely photo of Aquila but I wonder which one it is !714 do you think? Ann Glos

What a lovely thread and lovely name. Was just about to mention Aquila in Italy.

I just keep thinking of The Hun!! But the family were Cricket bat makers and continued so until 1976 according to the excellent Froyle site. Ann Glos

Oooh good. Another lovely family to chase when I can't find mine at HRO. What a splendid name. Gwyn

Shall need a few verified Gwyn!!! so far all from IGI but a lot with christening dates, some on the Froyle site, but I have already found an error in a transcribed census on there so will still have to check them out sometime! Ann Glos

I did wonder which Aquila it is, Sr or Jr! . I'd say later. The clothing to me actually looks early-mid Victorian. I'm not an expert on this, but it reminds of me of photos and portraits of Queen Victorias husband Albert, and her son Edward. The hair style and clothe styling similar. That would date 1840-1860 ish. I wonder if there was an Aquila jr jr! You could try contacting Chris and Annette Booth who run the Froyle archive and website, as someone has clearly done research into the family before.

Ann, thought you might be interested in all of the Clapshoe christenings in Froyle from the BVRI to help you sort them out. James, 4 Apr.1701, parents James & Anne William, 30 Apr.1703, James & Anne Edward, 23 Mar.1711, James & Anne John, 20 Aug.1712, Wm. & Sarah Aquilla, 9 Feb.1714, James & Anne James, 14 Dec.1722, William & Sarah William, 24 May1725, William & Sarah John, 4 Apr.1738, William & Mary George, 13 Mar.1740, John & Mary James, 23 Feb.1741, Aquilla & Mary John, 12 Oct.1742, John & Mary John, 10 Oct.1744, Aquilla & Mary John, 10 Jul.1745, John & Mary Thomas, 19 May1747, John & Mary Aquilla, 9 Apr.1751, Aquilla & Mary Thomas, 26 Dec.1754, Aquilla & Mary William, 3 May1756, John & Mary Charles, 12 Jul.1756, Aquilla & Ann James, 22 Nov.1777, Aquilla & Anne William, 16 feb.1799, Aquilla & Ann