Dancy Family

The Dancy Family in Our Kentish Genealogy

There are approximately 487 people named Dancy in the UK. Approximately 8 out of every million people in the UK are named Dancy.

"Amongst the original followers of William the Conqueror at the 1066 invasion of England was William de Anesi, from the village of that name in Calvados, Normandy. He was later granted extensive land holdings in Hampshire and Wiltshire, and his name is perpetuated in the village of Winterbourne Dauntsey. The 1242 Fees Rolls of Wiltshire records that the village was held by Roger Dauntsey. Even by this date the name had developed several spellings, such as Dantesia, De Dantesie, De Andisie and De Anesy, the first "modern" form probably being that of Roger Danesi, in the Kent Rolls of 1210. " - The Internet Surname Database

Early Dancy records in Kent

A) If Danes is Dancy

The most promising genealogy trail postulates that earlier generations of our "Dancy" family called themselves "Danes/Daynes" I.e. - our Robert Dancey who married Ann Spice in Thurnham was a son of Robert Daynes from the same parish. This trail leads to some interesting antecedents:

• Adam Dane de Bredherst was one of the Kentish rebels who followed Jack Cade off to London in 1450.
• One of Kent's real estate transactions from 24 Henry VIII (1533/34) was "1107. Richard, George & Robert Danne to Steph Asten, Walt Henley, Jas Hales, Osmund Gay, Thos Rayne, Jn Furner, Jn Lurchyn, Wm Morrell, Wm Forman & Thos Asten. 4 mess, 50a land, 12a mead, 20a past & 4a wood in Yalding, Brenchley, Loose & Hadlow. £100. (28)"

• Thomas A Dane of Throwley, Husbandman and John Dane of Throwley, Husbandman, two of the sons and coheirs in gavelkind of Walter A Dame of Challock. 2 acres land in Challock, called 'Hamlets'. 4 1/2 acres woodland in Throwley and Challock, called ‘Londewes'. U3139/T1 Date: 24 Jan 1587/8 https://www.kentarchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/GB51_U3139_2_1

B) Real estate purchases by two William Daunceys. There were Numerous real estate records involving "William Dauncey" in Kent and the London area from 1520 until 1543. With one exception (in red), they may all have been made by the William who married Thomas More's daughter Elizabeth (purple). Alternately, everything not marked in purple may have involved the William who married Agnes(, or someone may have incorrectly written Agnes instead of Elizabeth!) The characters:

• William Dauntsey (c 1500 - 23 Apr 1543), the son of John Daunts, married Elizabeth More (1506-1564), the daughter of Thomas More, on 29 September 1525. William Dauntsey was a mercer, M.P. Thetford 1529-36; Master Mercers 1532; was alderman 1536 Hardy Died 23 Apr 1543; Will (PCC 28 Spert) 10 Apr 1542; proved 30 Nov 1543. William & Elizabeth lived at Canons Park, Middlesex and in London, then (1543+) at Cassiobury, Hertfordshire children: John (b.1525), Thomas, Bartholomew, William, Germain, Alice, and Elizabeth
• William Dauncey married Agnes - she may be the "Mrs William Dauncey" who a community contributed IGI entry states was buried in London 16 June 1542. There is no parish indicated, but the exact date would seem to indicate this entry was derived from some kind of record (like a parish register, monumental inscription, or family bible etc) .

The real estate transactions:

• (London) William Dauntesey, Robert Scrace, and William Goldyng, and Thomas Kempe, son and heir of Thomas Kempe, late of London, mercer, John Ederiche, William Ederiche, John Brent and John Nicollis. Premises in Hakeney, Shordiche, Norton Folyott, and in the parish of St. Botolph, without Bishoppesgate, London. Easter Anno 11. (1520/21)
• (Kent) 11 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 19/112)(Easter) - would be 1520/21 (item) 403. Jn Stede & wife Joan to Wm Dauncy, Ric Reynoldis & Wm Goldyng. Mess, 106a land & 6a wood in Strood & 'Hauksburgh'. £100. (5)
• (Kent) 11 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 19/112)(Easter) - would be 1520/21 (item) 426. Sir Edw Ferrers to Jn Parke, Wm Dauntesey & Mich Dormer. Manor of E. Farleigh w/200a land, 40a mead, 60a past, 40a wood & 40a marsh. in E. & W. Farleigh, Linton, Loose, Barming,Hunton, Frindsbury, Cooling & Cliffe. 200 mks. (28)
• (London area) Thomas Keyle, William Dauntesey, John Daunester, Robert Pakyngton, and Humphrey Pakyngton, and John Kynton, and Joan, his wife. Premises in Chelchehyth. Hil. Anno 13. (1522/23)
• (London area) Michael Dormer, Robert Dormer, William Dauntesy, Robert Smyth, and Robert Pakyngton, and William Hawkyns, and Mary, his wife. Premises in Fulham. Easter Anno 14. (1523/23)
• (London Area) John Danaster, Thomas Keyll, William Dauntesey, and William Lambert, and John Graynfield, and Letitia, his wife. Manor of Brampton Hall, and premises in Kensyngton, Chelchehith, and Fulham. Hil. Anno 17. (1526/27)
• (Kent) 17 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 20/118) - abt 1526/27 (item) 685. Jn Netter & wife Agnes to Jn Baker, gent, Baron Jn Hales, Chris Hales, esq & Wm Daunce, gent. 15a land in E. Farleigh. £30.
• (Kent) 19 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 20/120) - about 1528/29 (item# 760) Jn Porteley & wife Margt to Edw Dormer, Robt Dormer, esq, Wm Dauncy & Robt Pakyngton. 7 mess, 200a land, 10a mead, 40a past & 6a wood in Newington [nr Sittingbourne], Rainham & [Lower] Halstow & 'Hartclyff'. £240. (8)
• (Kent) 19 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 20/120) - about 1528/29 (item# 767)Sir Edw Guldeford to Jn Parke, mercer of London, Sir Jn Aleyn, Jn Baker, esq, Wm Dawncy, mercer of London & Ric Gresham, mercer of London. 80a land, 130a marsh & 100a waste & pasture for 1,500 sheep in Grain. £400.
• (Kent) 19 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 20/120) - about 1528/29 (item# 776) Robt Dartnold & wife Alice to Baron Jn Hales, Sir Jn Alen, Jn Baker, gent, Wm Dauncy, mercer of London & Jn Reynold. Moiety of 35a land in Maidstone. £30.
• (Kent) 22 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 21/124) - about 1531 (item #956) Wm Dawntesey & wife Agnes to Thos Alcok & Wm See. 2 mess, 140a land, 1a wood & 20a marsh in Woodnesborough. £100. (5)
• (London) William Daunsey, citizen and alderman, of London, and Sir Robert Kyrkeam, knight. A messuage in the parish of St. Clement Danes, London. Hil. Anno 33. (1542/43)

C) Sir John Dauncey's is cited in a number of Royal orders from 1513-14:

• " Wolsey's order to Sir John Daunce to deliver 8 mks. (to buy a horse) and 12 mks. (reward) to Arthoys king of arms of the Prince of Castile, going into Scotland. London, 5 Dec. Signed: Thomas Wulcy. Small paper, p. 1. Endd. with receipt dated 5 Dec. 5 Hen. VIII.
• Receipt 6 Dec. 5 Hen. VIII., from Sir John Daunce, by John Jenyns to the use of Robert Fouler, of 6l. laid out in conveying the King's treasure homeward from Sandwich to London.
• R.O.Receipt, 7 Dec. 5 Henry VIII., by Sir John Pecche, from Sir John Daunce, of 40s. for "conveyance of certain French prisoners from the King's field beside Turwyn to Ayre and from Ayre to the field again."
• 16 Dec. Stowe MS. 146, f. 107. B.M. Warrant to Sir John Daunce to pay Leonard Friscobald (on behalf of Jeronimo Friscobald) for twelve guns with their carriages (weight, &c., given) called "the Twelve Apostelles" delivered by his servant Hoste de Lescluze, to Sir Sampson Norton, master of the Ordnance, and Nicholas Merland, at Calais, 1,480l. 10s. st.; and for ropes and cables for the King's great carrack, received by Wm. Gonson and John Isham in Flanders by the hands of Adrian Jacopson, Arden Fryste and Deryk Derykson 112l. 13s. 6d. Fl., as appears by Isham's bill. Windsor Castle, 10 Dec. 5 Hen. VIII.
• S.P. Hen. VIII., 7, f. 40. R.O. "[Account of moneys remaining in t]he hands of divers accountants upon the end [of their several accounts t]aken and declared afore Sir Robert Southwell, [general auditor, of money spent in] the King's wars, that is to say":—
  • [John] Shurley [cofferer of] the King's [household], 15l. 3s. 1d.;
  • [John M]ikelow, Thomas [Byrkes] and Brian Roche, 11,198l. 15s. (whereof 8,000l. is paid to Mr. Daunce), 1,129l. 19s. 7¾d. and 2,506l. 15s. 2½ d.; Sir Ric. Sacheverell, late treasurer of wars in the King's vanguard, 4,510l. 10s. 5d. (pd. to Sir John Daunce);
  • Sir Tho. Wyndham, late treasurer of war of the King's army by the sea, 426l. 4s. 11¾d.;
  • William Keby, Will. Burwell, Henry Cales and Anthony Carleton, lately appointed, for taking and presting of ships for the conveyance of ordnance, victuals, &c., 428l. 15s. 9d. (paid to Daunce); Henry Smyth, clerk of the King's works, for provision of timber board, &c., for the brewhouses at Calais, ... ;
  • Walter Foster, clerk comptroller of the King's [works] appointed for provision of ... kettles and other necessaries for the ... and brewhouses at Calais, ... ;
  • William Andrewe, late commissioner in divers shires for taking horses and presting carters, 221l. 4s ... (paid to Daunce); John Ward, late commissioner in Yorkshire for taking horses and presting carters for the carriage of victuals, 114s. 8d.;
  • William Jekill, late commissioner for like taking of horses and presting of carters for the said voyage, 167l ... ;
  • John Ricroft, late appointed to provide malt and oats for the King's army in France, 927l. 17s. 9d. (whereof 629l. paid to Daunce) and 177l. 18s. 8d.; ... ppes for the ... Rereward ... [remaining in his] hands, 138l. 6s. 9d.
• "The Booke of the 'count of werres of Thomas Elderton," in 4 and 5 Hen. VIII. i. Account of 100l. received of Sir John Dauns, "by the name of John Dauns," by command of the King's Council, in September 4 Hen. VIII., for victualling of the "army by the sea towards the parties of Breten which afterward was disappointed"; showing how he laid out 107l. 12d. in beef, beer and biscuit, at Sandwich; and subsequently, upon a letter from Mr. Cofferer and John Heron, commissioners for victualling the said army in the port of London, sold it for 63l. 10s. 8d. Of this he laid out 14l. 12s. 8d., by command of the Council, in repairing a ship of the King of Denmark, called the Julyan, which was taken and hurt by the King's army in June 5 Hen. VIII., and so brought into the Camber, and there sank (details of payments to shipwrights, &c.).

Sir John Daunce's name also appears in a number of real estate transactions in Kent & the London area 1518-34:

• (Kent) 9 Henry VIII (CP 25(2) 19/110) - about 1518/19 (item 345). Geo Gaynesford, esq & wife Eliz to Wm Bond, Sir Jn Daunsey & Thos Heron, esq. 2 mess, 35a land & 3a mead in Cowden. £60.
• (London Area) Charles, earl of Worcester, Sir Henry Owen, knight, Sir Andrew Wyndesore, knight, Peter Stoner, Robert Fenrother, citizen and alderman of London, Christopher Wescote, John Laurence, and John Newdegate, serjeant-at-law, and Margaret Dawes, widow, Sir Robert Brudenill, knight, chief justice of the Common Bench, Sir John Daunce, knight, Sir William Butler, knight, John Rest, citizen and alderman of London, Anthony Fitzherbert, serjeant-at-law, George Treheyron, gentleman, William Botry, citizen and mercer, of London, Roland Philip, clerk, and Richard Broke, citizen and salter, of London. The manor of Astelam, aud premises in Astelam, Lalyngton, Laleam, Uppersheperton, Nethersheperton, Upperhalford, Netherhalford, Cherdyngton, and Sondebury. Warranty against William, abbot of St. Peter's, Gloucester. Easter Anno 14. (1523/23)
• (London Area) Sir John Daunce, knight, Sir Edward Doune, knight, Robert Dormer, esquire, John Hughes, gentleman, and Anthony Hussey, gentleman, and Henry, marquis of Exeter, and the lady Gertrude, his wife. Premises, and one "passage," in Woxbridge. Warranty against John, abbot of Westminster. Easter Anno 24. (1533/34)

D) John Dance & wife Alice (relationship to parties above unknown) (Kent Real estate purchase) 3 & 4 Edward VI - about 1550/51 NA (PRO): CP 25 (2) 59/446 Q: Wm Tomblyn. D: (ie seller) Jn Dance & wife Alice. 1 mess in Bapchlid. £10.