Whitchurch Connections to the Past

For many years I have been aware of a tradition among Whitchurch descendants, that their Whitchurch ancestor was “the first printer of the King James Version of the Bible”.  Like many family traditions (myths) there are elements of truth, coupled with suspect interpretations.  In a previous blog post I took a look at Edward Whitchurch (c.1500-1561), printer of the Great Bible.  A period of more than one hundred and fifty years passes between  Edward Whitchurch, the sixteenth century English printer, and Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch who appears in late eighteenth century America, residing in New York.  This blog post looks at a few clues that could eventually provide an ancestral pathway connecting the two men. The path is tenuous at best.  Hopefully future work will reveal more.  Pam Garrett, 2021.

Edward Whitchurch lived during the first half of the sixteenth century, in the reigns of the English King Henry VIII and his progeny.  He was a prominent printer of London, and was noted for his enthusiastic support of the reforming protestant movement of his age, and for making available the Great Bible. Researchers record four children for Edward Whitchurch, three daughters and one son – Edward Whitchurch jr.  Beyond his name, no clear evidence has surfaced to define this younger Edward Whitchurch.

A large family of Whitchurchs were established at Frome in Somersetshire by the beginning of the seventeenth century. A significant collection of documents reflect that they were successfully pursuing the merchant, and related trades, of the period.  They appear on a list of men licensed to trade in Virginia tobacco (1634), and have connections to the East India Company.  A 1681 Will for William Whitchurch of Somersetshire establishes a group of brothers - William, Edward, James, Samuel, and Leonard Whitchurch.

A brief biography of James Whitchurch, Apothecary, living during the mid-1600’s, identifies him as the son of Samuel Whitchurch of Frome, “one of a prominent family of mercers, drapers and salters.” He left quite an amazing Will and codicil in 1692, highlighting his activities and possessions.  

Another curious player in the Whitchurch family story is James Whitchurch (1703-1786) of York House in Twickenham, London.  He is a descendant of the Whitchurchs at Frome in Somersetshire; a grandson of James Whitchurch, Apothecary. His business connections were extensive, and included trade in Virginia. He and his wife, Mary Rust, purchased York House in Twickenham about 1746, and it remained the Whitchurch home for almost forty years.  Mary predeceased her husband and died without issue.  James Whitchurch’s 1786 Will, with codicils, runs to fifteen pages, and introduces a broad spectrum of interesting people, connected by family, business and church. A mention of Matthew John Gilbert and his sister Elizabeth Gilbert in his Will, seemed worth pursuing.  But, there was nothing to suggest a connection between James Whitchurch of Twickenham and the Whitchurchs in America.

In the late years of the eighteenth century a man that Whitchurch researchers name as Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch shows up in New York City.  His wife is called Bethia, sometimes Bethia White, and he is noted as the ‘immigrant’ to America for a large family of Whitchurchs scattered throughout the United States today.  Evidence for Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch is scant. But, his likely children do present themselves more clearly – Thomas, John, Bethia, Mary, and William Whitchurch.

Descendants of Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch hold to the ‘Bible printing ancestor’ tradition. Hints and clues keep that story alive.  But, much further work needs to be done to strengthen the pathway.


For more details on Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch, visit his page at Family Stories, pamgarrett.com.

Further Reading:
Edward Whitchurch: Bible Printer; posted on the Family Stories Blog, 17 January 2022.
The Twickenham Museum website.  Places > Twickenham > York House

About the photo:
Mansion at Twickenham; print made by James Peller Malcom, 1782-1815; from the collection of the British Museum.  Note – The British Museum website gives the description “View of a large neo-classical villa . . “.  Other sources identify this illustration as “York House, 1808”.  A comparison with more recent photographs of York House in Twickenham suggests that they could be one in the same.  James Whitchurch lived at York House about 1746-1786.  

Moving back in time:  Otis Sylvester Garrett 1894 > Isaac Sylvester Garrett 1860 > Celia Whitchurch 1833 > William Whitchurch 1778 >Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch c.1750.
Thomas Gilbert Whitchurch is my husband’s 4xgreat-grandfather.