While researching the Pysden family I managed to get in touch with Chris Pysden in the USA who had done a lot of research into the Pysden family. He had a website about them and allowed me to see it. This is some of what he says:
THE STORY SO FAR
by Chris Pysden
The Danes landed in Kent around 800 AD. They established the eastern capital of their kingdom at the village named Eastry today. They also landed in Dorset and Yorkshire and Winchester became the western capital of their kingdom.
Recent DNA testing on a large scale shows that the Danes should not be called Vikings, as the adventurers originated from Norway and Sweden.
History shows that most of the fighting before the arrival of William the Conqueror in 1066 AD was away from Kent and it is a fair assumption that the Kentish Danes were mainly peaceful and integrated with the locals well. That is not to say that they did not take the lion’s share of the assets there, claiming large areas of land in their own right.
The tribe we originate from was called the Pysingae, How many in number decided to settle here after their centuries of pillaging Kent we do not know.
Presumably they thought that conditions here were better than in Denmark (then called Jutland) and decided that the trip over the sea was not worth making any more. So some of them stayed. Pysingae means “short fat people” in olden English. The Doomsday book of 1069 mentions some landholding near Eastry but it is my guess that the bulk of the tribe settled just south west of Canterbury on the Chilham Downs with some others of the family settling near the capital of Eastry. I cannot prove it but there are two indications that lead me to this.
In the 17th century, some still prospered and became Mayors of their towns, but by then the majority were agricultural labourers or the like on the verge of poverty. The downward trend continued throughout the 18th & 19th centuries and most of the family were on the poverty line. Two things then happened. Those few with enterprise left the UK for what was then called the Dominians and with hard work, all seem to have made a good job of establishing the family abroad. In the UK a piece of law was enacted making it obligatory for children to attend school, firstly to 10 years old, then 12, then 14 and now 16. This produced a mainly literate population some able to take apprenticeships and achieve skills that got them and their families off the bottom rung in life.
The spelling of the surname changes a lot over the years and has been spelled as Pissinge, Pising, Pysinge, Pisinge one has to allow for the changes as it was written as it sounded.
the first generation
THOMAS PYSINGE AND JONE
My 12 Great’s Grandparents
Thomas Pysinge was married to Jone and he died in January 1559 in Canterbury
Thomas and Jone had the following four children:-
1/ Richard Pysinge who married Johan on 3rd July 1569 in Petham, nr Canterbury. Richard died in 1589 after having six children
Richard and Johan who had the following six children:-
- Tomsine Pysinge born in 1570 in Petham and who died the same year
- Thomas Pysinge born in 1571 in Petham
- Robert Pysinge born in 1574 in Petham
- Marye Pysinge forn in 1579 in Petham
- Susana Pysinge born in 1582
- Christopher Pysinge born in 1585. He married Rebecca Whineyard on 26 January 1610 in St Paul’s Canterbury
- 2/ Elizabeth Pysinge
- 3/ A son Augustine Pysinge who married Silvester. Augustine died in February 1601 in Canterbury, Sylvester died in 1573 in Petham,
- 4/ Henry Pysinge
Second Generation of Pysinge
Augustine and Silvester Pysinge
My 11 Great’s Grandparents
Augustine and Silvester had five children
- A daughter Rachel born 1560, baptised 22nd March 1560 who died and was buried on 8th April 1560
- A son, Richard, born in 1563 in Petham. Richard married Mary Baker on 23rd December in St Paul’s Canterbury. Richard died in 1607 aged 44
- A daughter Elizabeth a twin with:
- Johan Pisinge both born 1564 and baptised on 30th May 1564 but Johan died and was buried on 13th June 1564.
- A son Thomas born in 1565 and who married Jane and had a son Isaack who was born in 1605 and died a year later. Jane died in 1608
Augustine died 1601 or 1602 and I have found a will proven in 1602 for Augustine using Henry (his brother) for the probate. Silvester died and was buried in Petham on 9th December 1573
The Third Generation
Richard Pysinge and Mary Baker
My 10 Great’s Grandparents
Richard, son of Augustine and Silvester, was born in 1563 in Petham. He married Mary Baker on 23rd December 1588 in St Paul’s Canterbury, They had eight children
- Elizabeth Pissinge born in 1589 in Barham, Kent. Elizabeth died in 1595 aged 6
- Christopher who was born in 1591 in Canterbury
- Marye who was born in 1593 and who died in 1595 being buried on 2nd June 1595 in Canterbury.
- Austine Pysinge was born in 1594 and baptised in Lower Hardres Church, Canterbury
- Jonas Pysing born in 1596 . Jonas married Annie Thompson on 17th December 1631 at St Andrew’s Church, Canterbury
- Ann Pissinge who died in 1601
- Stephen Pissinge who ws born in 1603 in Canterbury,
- Richard Pissinge was born in 1604 near Canterbury. He married Mary Gibson on 14th May 1627 in St Margaret’s Church, Canterbury, Richarde died in 1675 aged 71 and Mary died in 1636 only 9 years after they married.
- Ann who died in 1601
- Thomas
Fourth generation
richard pysinge & mary gibson
My 9 Great Grandparents
Richard was born in 1604 and married Mary Gibson in St Margaret’s Church, Canterbury 14th May 1627 when he was aged 23, They had three children that I have been able to find:
- Katheryn Pissinge who was born in 1631 and who married Peter Johnson on 26th September 1653 at St Paul’s Canterbury
- Thomas Pissinge born 1633 and who married Ann. Thomas died in 1685 and Ann died in 1636
- Richard Pising born in 1636 and marrying Ann Sumner
the fifth generation
thomas pising & Ann
My 8 Greats Grandparents
Thomas who was born in 1633 in Canterbury, married Ann. He died in 1685 and Ann died in 1694. They had the following nine children:-
- Joanna Pising who married Robert Atwells on 4th may 1670 at St Paul’s Church, Canterbury
- Mary Pising who married Thomas Blundell on 3rd January 1682 also in St Paul’s
- William Pising who was born in 1665 . William married Ann Osmore on 26th April in St Paul’s church, Canterbury
- Another son, Thomas born in 1667. He married Susanna (Anne) Kitchen on 30th November 1693 in St Paul’s and he died in1732 whilst his wife died in 1746. Thomas and Anne had two sons, Richard in 1700 and Thomas in 1702
- John Pising born in 1669. He married Elizabeth Sutton on 16th March 1695 in St Mary Magdalen , Canterbury. John died in 1716 aged 47 and Elizabeth died in 1742. John and Elizabeth had a son called John who was born in 1696 and who died in 1704.
- Richard Pising born in 1674, married Elizabeth Woodgate on 16th January in St Paul’s Canterbury. Richard died in 1741 aged 67 and Elizabeth died in 1752. Richard and Elizabeth had ten children.
- Ann Pysing was born in 1676 and married John Friend on 2nd November at St Paul’s Canterbury
- Henry Pysing born in 1677. He died in 1736 aged 59 having married Pleasant Gammon on 21st April 1709
- Margery Pising who married John Dress on 13th November 1684 in St Paul’s
Thomas and Ann appear to have done well having given birth to nine children who all survived to adulthood and married. Most unusual for those times.
the 6th generation
Richard PIsing and elizabeth woodgate
My 7 Greats Grandparents
Richard, born in 1674 married Elizabeth Woodgate on on 16th January 1695 at the age of 21.
They had ten children with the first one dying as a child.
- Anne Pising ws born in 1696 and died before 1703
- Thomas Pising was born in Petham in 1698. He married Ann Browning on 28th September 1718 in Chislet, Kent and died in 1758
- John Pysing who was born in 1701 and died the same year.
- John Pysing wo was born in 1702 and died in 1704
- Ann Pising born in 1703
- Richard Pysing born in 1705
- Elizabeth Pysing born in 1707 and who died in 1741
- Richard Pysing born in 1712 and who married Elizabeth Jarman on 18th March 1735 in Fordwich in Kent
- John Pysing born in 1714 in Chislet
- Ann Pysing born in 1717 and who died in 1719
Note: It was very common to call the next child by the same christian name as one who had earlier died as in the cases of John and Ann
The 7th Generation
Thomas Pysing and Ann Browning
My 6 Greats Grandparents
Thomas was born in 1698 in Petham outside Canterbury and he married Ann Browning on 28th September 1718 in Chislet, Kent. Thomas died in 1758 at the age of 60. He and Ann had seven children.
- A daughter, Ann was born in 1737 and died in Fordwich in 1810 at the age of 73
- Elizabeth Pysing born in 1739 and who died a year later.
- A son, John Pysing bon in Fordwich in 1741 and who also died a year later
- Richard Pysing who was born in 1743 and baptised on 19th June 1743 in Fordwich. Richard married Mary Quested on 21st November 1770 in Patrixbourne and who died in 1812.
- Thomas Pysing born on 1st September 1744 in Fordwich. Thomas married ann Hadaway on 12th October 1773 in Sturry
- Elizabeth Pysing who was born and died in 1748
- William Pysing, born in 1753 and married to Mary Ratcliff on 30th November 1779.
The seventh generation
richard pysing and mary quested
my 5 greats grandparents
Richard was born in 1743 in Fordwich to Thomas and Ann and baptised there on 19th June 1743. He married Mary Quested on 21st November 1770 when he was aged 27. They went on to have seven children who were:
- Thomas Pysing was born in Bekesbourne in 1771
- John Pysing who was born in 1775 and married Sarah Gibbs on 28th October 1799 in Bekesbourne,
- Daniel Pysing baptised on 12th March 1780 in Bekesbourne
- James Pysden born 1782 in Bekesbourne, who married Elizabeth Austin who was born in 1785 and who died in 1873 aged 88 (a great age in those days)
- Robert Pysing born in 1785 in Bekesbourne
- Elizabeth Pysing born in 1787 in Bekesbourne
- Richard Pysing born in Bekesbourne
the ninth generation
John pysing and sarah gibbs
My 4 Greats Grandparents
John was born in Bekesbourne in 1775 and married Sarah Gibbs there on 28th October 1799 when he was aged 24. They had three children that I could find:
- William Pysing who was born in Bekesbourne in 1799 and married Ann
- James Pysing who was born in 1801 and must have died soon after
- James Pysing born in 1804 in Sturry, Kent
The tenth generation
william pysing and ann
My Great, Great,Great Grandparents
William, born in 1799 and baptised on 15th December 1799 at Bekesbourne, married Ann (I have not been able to find her surname). William worked on Flete Farm, Margate, according to the census forms of 1851 and 1861, when he would have been aged 52 and 62 respectively. They had two sons that I have found”
- Thomas Pysden (my Great Great Grandfather) born in 1827 in St Peters, Broadstairs, Kent. Thomas married Martha Fasham on 30th December 1847 at St John’s Church, Margate
THOMAS PYSDEN BIRTH RECORD IN 1827
- Edward Pysden who was born in St Peters, Broadstairs in 1830. Edward married Sarah Browning Hewitt in St Peters Church on 28th August 1852. He became a blacksmith and was the St Peters village smith. In fact I have found that the smithy which was there until the middle 20th century was up a small alley way beside the house where Edward and Sarah lived in 12 Church Street, St Peters. I see this house every time I come out from playing bridge in the church hall.
Edward died in 1873 and is buried in St Peters churchyard, Sarah died in 1916 in Medway, Kent.
the eleventh generation
Thomas Pysden && Martha Fasham
My Great, Great Grandparents
Thomas was born in St Peters, Broadstairs in 1827 and married Martha Fasham on 30th December 1847.
Martha was the daughter of Stephen Fasham and Sophia Cowell and was born in 1825 in Margate. I have traced the Fasham family back to Walter Fasham born in Margate around 1580, thanks to someone called Barry White who, fortunately at tje time that I was doing the research, had posted all the records of St John’s Church, Margate online. It now seems to have been taken down.
In the 1851 census Thomas is working as an agricultural labourer on Flete Farm (with his father) and living with his parents on the farm. By the time of the 1861 census he is living at 9 Sparrow Castle, Margate and working as a bricklayers labourer. In 1871 he is living at 10 Sparrow Castle but has moved to 66 Milton Road, Margate by 1881. Sadly by 1901 he is in the Workhouse at Minster. He died in 1905 but I am unable to find out if he was still in the workhouse.
Thomas and Martha had 6 children:
- Thomas Pysden – My Great Grandfather- who was born in 1849 and married Alice Sarah Morrison in 1871
- A daughter, Martha, in 1851, who became a laundress.
- A daughter, Sarah, in 1853 who also became a laundress
- A son Edward, born in 1856 and who in 1871 was a blacksmith in Margate
- A third daughter, Emma, born in 1859
- A third son, George, who was born in 1871