The Hoyt Family
The Seavingtons News - May 97
THE HOYT FAMILY FROM THE UNITED STATES
A few notes regarding their visit to Seavington and the service at St Mary’s Church on the 29th of June.
We are indebted to Mr Robin Bush who kindly provided copies of his research notes relating to the Hoyt family. His researches of the Bishopric, Parish and Manorial records found numerous references to the family variously names as Hoyt, Hoyte, Hoite, Hite, Hoyett and Hoyet. The family were mobile by standards of the time living at various times in Seavinyton St Mary, South Petherton, Stoke sub Hamdon and West Hatch.
Robin Bush’s notes are too lengthy to reproduce here but a few narnes and dates will be of interest.
Thomas Hoyte is named in the Manorial records of Hurcott and Seavington Abbot in 1528.
Walter Hoyte named in the Muster Roll of Seavington Abbot (one of the manors in Seavington).
Thomas Hoyte of Seavington St Mary died 1576. Will dated 1576. Isabel his widow. Will dated 1587.
Thomas and Isabel’s wills named 6 children. Two named Thomas, the elder and younger. They moved to Stoke in 1570 and 1575 respectively, numerous references to their families.
The Bishop’s transcripts relative to Seavinyton records the baptism of Roger, so Thomas and Agnes Hoyt on the 4/5/1637 and sadly the child’s burial on 24/5/1637.
Members of the family arrived in West Hatch and Robin Bush found many references to them. To quote his notes, “Simon Hoyte of West Hatch emigrated to New England in 1629 with his sons, Walter and Nicholas. Simon’s brother, John Hoyte, also possibly emigrated soon after and left a further crop of descendants Simon’s father, Michael had arrived in West Hatch shortly before 1599, probably from South Petherton where had had a daughter baptised in 1582. Michael was in turn the son of Thomas Hoyte of Seavincfton St Mary (Will dated 1576) by his wife Isabel (will dated 1587).”
It remains to be seen if the family have retained their Somerset accents! and we look forward to meeting them and extending a warm welcorne when they reestablish their ancestors links with Seavington and Somerset.