Ancient Upton and Boleyn families

Upton Family History

by Mark Upton, April 2023 (Upton Bell’s cousin)

Introduction

From the times of William the Conqueror, Uptons came from Normandy to Southern England. There are hints that some Upton were in Royal service as early as Edward III and VI, and Henry IV and VI. Uptons from Upton Castle and Trelaske manor House in Cornwall, Puslinch House and Lupton House in Devon and Stenbury Manor on the Isle of Wight had connections to royal Courts. In one account, Elizabeth Upton successfully pleaded with Elizabeth I to save the life of her Husband, Lord Edward Cromwell. Brother and sister Thomas and Anis Upton of Trelaske house, were agents of Lord Thomas Cromwell. There are direct relations to Capt. Thomas Boleyn of Dublin, (1630/40-1712) and his wife Jane Graves, their daughter Mary Boleyn and Col. Thomas Whitney, granddaughter Anna (Boleyn) Whitney and Rev. Ambrose Upton, Lady Anne (Boleyn) Newcomen + Sir Robert Newcomen 4th Baronet.

Irish Uptons were at Antrim, Dublin, Co. Tipperary at Olde Bailey Farm House, Ardaugh, Glenstar, Ashgrove, Bruree and Rossmore Houses, usually with other Boleyn descendant families: Fetherston, Ruxton, Shelton, Boylan, Bullen. As early as 1600's, Uptons traveled to Caribbean Islands, America, Brazil and later, the Pacific.

UPTON FAMILY HISTORY

In Summer of 2012, following the passing of my mother, Marie Theresa Tyksinski Upton, (1934-2011), I set out to learn if there was any genetic relation to Queen Elizabeth I through the Boleyn family. This relation had been spoken about once in 1971 while watching Glenda Jackson played The Queen on a PBS Masterpiece Theater series.

All through the following years, connection to Boleyn families has been a focus or common thread. Now it's known and confirmed by DNA and documentation, direct relations to Capt. Thomas Boleyn of Dublin, (1630/40-1712) and his wife Jane Graves, their daughter Mary Boleyn and Col. Thomas Whitney, granddaughter Anna (Boleyn) Whitney and Rev. Ambrose Upton, Lady Anne (Boleyn) Newcomen + Sir Robert Newcomen 4th Baronet.

Along with this relation came unexpected relation as 'DNA Great Grandparents' of 13 families in Ireland that adopted Boleyn boys, (See Adoptions List). Some of the male members in these families will test as Boleyn Y Males. More than likely, we share some more admixture Boleyn DNA from a few of these families. In addition, a 'halo' or 'cloud' of more DNA great grandparent surnames, (over 91+ families), adopted children between one another. All these relations are listed at the Adoption List.

At this point, it appears Boleyn relations from the Courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, remained in contact, marrying and having children in following centuries. Yet another 'cloud' of relations from Court are listed on the Surname DNA List, including; Cecil, Cranmer, Hatton, deVere, Seymour, Drake, Newton (Sir john of Craddock), Raleigh (Sir Walter directly by his aunt Johana as a Great grandmother with great grandfather, John Upton of Lupton House), among many others, their DNA is literally part of us. Finally, our Tudor DNA match includes de Luxembourg and Plantagenet DNA matches that place this DNA source within the nuclear family of Henry VIII through his sister Margaret Tudor and her descendant families in Ireland.

In summary, Uptons from Upton Castle and Trelaske manor House in Lewannick, Cornwall, Puslinch House in Yealmpton, Devon and Lupton House, Brixham, Devon and Stenbury Manor/Freshwater Isle of Wight had connections to royal Courts. In one account, Elizabeth Upton successfully pleaded with Elizabeth I to save the life of her Husband , Lord Edward Cromwell. Brother and sister Thomas and Anis Upton of Trelaske house, were agents of Lord Thomas Cromwell.

RESOURCES

In 1992, I received copied pages of a book from my mother's cousin Thomas, (uncle John Upton, son of William Cleary Upton). That book turned out to be "Upton Family Records"(1893) by William Henry Upton. Our direct relations are in the trees ion p. 105-199, 129-132 and text in p. 127, 367-380. William Cleary Upton is my great grandfather, my grandfather, William Bernard Upton, p. 380. This book can been seen for free at The Internet Archive by search “upton family records internet archive”. The book is also available from Higginson Rare Books of NH and Amazon. There’s a family story of my grandfather having a copy stuffed with cuttings and letters which may have gone to the family of his brother Edward who resolved his affairs after his death in 1946.

Another family history book of American Uptons by John Adams Vinton (1874) is listed in the book above and also available at The Internet Archive.

Pat Hill of Acton GA has produced comprehensive CDs on American Uptons.

In 2012, I was introduced to friend and fellow Upton/Archer/Trelaske historian, James Ashford and family at Trelaske House since 1959. James and I have worked together on these histories for over a decade across hundreds of emails.

About 5 years ago I became acquainted with Robert Liam Upton of WikiTree who has better and more extensive research and documents than I, all published at UPTON Genealogy WikiTree.

The Upton Surname DNA Project supervised by Dr. Gearoid Kingston M.D. (Neurophysiology at Berkshire Physicians Hospital, Berkshire UK), is at Family Tree DNA. Our line of Uptons are Group C, also known as one of several branches of 'Irish Uptons', as compared to 'American' or 'New England Uptons'.

For years now, I have been making Upton submissions to Darryl; Roger Lundy of "The Peerage " website. I consider this site a crucial resource in my recent explorations of bloodlines for Upton ancestors and relations because most all the surnames of wives are there to establish relation or study for DNA matches.

Lacking a proper, (and very expensive), family tree by Genetic Genealogist, our families trees are cobbled together by 1.) The book, 2.) UPTON Genealogy WikiTree, 3. Online resources at GENi, Ancestry, Miscellania Genealogica et Heraldica, Burke's Peerage, Failte Romhat Griffith's Valutaion of Ireland, and 4.) "The Peerage" website by Darryl Roger Lundy, (with over 164 Uptons listed to date and their many, many relations to other families and bloodlines within the peerage).

GROUPS of UPTONS

Ancient Uptons: Origins as Uppeton de Uppeton or L'Uppeton.

Once involved in research for several years, patterns began to emerge. The WHU (1893) does pretty good coverage of Utpons in the world but missed relation at IOW and Jamaica. From p. 105 and the times of William the Conqueror, Uptons came from Normandy to Southern England. The book hints that some Upton were in Royal service as early as Edward III, VI, Henry IV and VI (p. 105).

Tudor Uptons (Special Focus in The Courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I)

Discussed in resources above there are many stories from this time period.

Transitional Uptons

Accounts exist of Capt. William Upton of the sloop "Unity", (p. 89), Yarmouth IOW, making ferrying runs from England to America, (1635-1650), from Jamestown VA, Basse's Choice Plantation to New England. My brother Steve and I conducted a study at IOW with Simon Dear of The Isle of Wight County Records Office, finding 81 + individuals, (1540-1740) at various places on the island.

From Lupton House, Uptons are recorded in Dublin as early as the 1600's, living in both places at the same time.

Uptons from Lupton House are recorded at Ingmire Hall, Sedbergh, Cumbria as early as the 1600's, living there until the 1800's along with related families, (Cotrell-Dormer) and coming over to Castle Upton in Antrim.

Irish/American/Australian and New Zealand Uptons

As early as 1600's, Uptons traveled to Caribbean Islands, America, Brazil and later, the Pacific. WHU (1893) makes account of this and descendant still live in these far flung locations! More of my personal relations in our Irish line, Barrett, Holmes, Dallas, lived in Jamaica in the 1700's and 1800's.