Trant family of Lowther, Hemsworth & Leeds
The earliest Trant ancestor so far traced is GABRIEL TRANT of Lowther Cumberland.
Gabriel’s timeline:
1697 appt Schoolmaster Lowther
1698 married Mary Withers
1699 appt Curate Lowther
1703 appt Rector Beaumont & Kirkandrews
1705 death
Nothing is known about his family or early life.
There were Trant families in London and Devon as well as Ireland at the time but so far there is nothing to connect Gabriel to any of these. Closer geographically is the bpt of a James Trant, son of Joseph in Halifax on 30 March 1673 or the burial of a Maurice Trant in York on Aug 14 1687, but again nothing to connect to Gabriel.
A more definite indication of his origin comes in the parish register of Beaumont upon his appointment as Rector:
He was instituted June 23, 1703. Writing under date June 29, 1703, Bishop Nicolson says: --
Mr. Gab. Trant (a Frenchman, and one of ye Masters at ye new School of Lowther) instituted into both; [i.e., Beaumont and Kirkandrews].
An article on the school at Lowther has the following information:
“Gabriel Trant, a Frenchman and onetime Catholic priest, was the first headmaster, and his colleague was a Mr Withers.”
So was Gabriel French? How would an ex Catholic French priest end up in a remote area of Cumberland in the late 1600’s?
On the 15 August 1698, he married MARY WITHERS at Beetham Westmorland.
Mary’s parents are so far unknown, though her father was possibly Thomas Withers Vicar of Halton, Lancashire. She is known to have two brothers, one of whom was probably Gabriel’s colleague at Lowther.
At the time of their marriage, Mary was expecting their first child, Richard who was bpt at Lowther on 9 March 1699. Four more sons rapidly followed:
Thomas bpt 27 June 1700, William bpt 2 March 1702, Edmund bpt 28 Oct 1703, John bpt 29 March 1705.
Gabriel died in June 1705, and was buried in Lowther Parish Church on 23 June 1705.
Ten years after Gabriel’s death, Mary remarried – to George Rishton, Rector of Halton. The couple did not have any further children.
George died in May 1747 at the age of 70. Amongst the bequests in his will was £100 to his step-grand-daughter Mary Trant, daughter of Richard Trant of Barbados.
Mary died in May 1759 at Halton. Her will mentions, among others the children of decd. son Thomas, son William Trant and his son Edmund, Elizabeth daughter of son John Trant, brother-in-law Edward Rishton, grand-daughter Mary Barton,
Children of Gabriel & Mary Trant:
1 Richard bpt 6 March 1699 Lowther, Cumberland. Described as “of Barbados” in step-father’s will.
Married Mary Pook in a Clandestine Marriage ceremony in London on 4th July 1718 and had 4 children, all bpt in Barbados:
Mary Aug 1722, Married James Barton. Was living with grandmother Mary Rishton at the time of Mary's death
Agatha Jan 1724,
Gabriel May 1725,
Elizabeth Feb 1726.
Richard died in Barbados in Feb 1726 and was buried on the same day as his youngest daughter Elizabeth was christened.
2 Thomas bpt 27 Jun 1700 Lowther. See below.
3 William bpt 2 Mar 1702 Lowther. Studied at Christ’s College Cambridge. Sept 1723 appointed Schoolmaster at Cartmel School. Ordained as Priest 1726. Rector of Anstey, Hertfordshire. Married Catherine Smith on 27 Oct 1743 at St Christopher le Stocks, London. Had 4 children:
Catherine bpt Jan 1746 Anstey. Married Phillip Nind
William bpt 17 Mar 1747 Anstey
Edmund bpt 12 Jan 1749 Braughing Herts Married Mary Elizabeth Holland
Emma bpt 20 Mar 1752 Braughing Herts. Married James Hume Spry
William died in 1784 aged 82 and Catherine in 1804 aged 84
4 Edmund bpt 28 Oct 1703 Lowther. Appears to have been in Barbados with elder brother Richard as he is listed as godparent to some of Richard’s children. No marriage traced. Died aged 34 at Cartmel in 1737.
5 John bpt 20 Mar 1705 Lowther. Studied at Jesus College Cambridge. Ordained as Priest 1725. Sept 1726 appointed Schoolmaster of Cartmel School in place of his brother William.
Married Ann Brookbank on 23 April 1731 at York Two daughters: Julia Maria 1732 -1733 and Elizabeth born posthumously in 1734.
Died in 1734 aged 29. Buried at Cartmel 1st Feb 1734.
Gabriel’s timeline:
1697 appt Schoolmaster Lowther
1698 married Mary Withers
1699 appt Curate Lowther
1703 appt Rector Beaumont & Kirkandrews
1705 death
Nothing is known about his family or early life.
There were Trant families in London and Devon as well as Ireland at the time but so far there is nothing to connect Gabriel to any of these. Closer geographically is the bpt of a James Trant, son of Joseph in Halifax on 30 March 1673 or the burial of a Maurice Trant in York on Aug 14 1687, but again nothing to connect to Gabriel.
A more definite indication of his origin comes in the parish register of Beaumont upon his appointment as Rector:
He was instituted June 23, 1703. Writing under date June 29, 1703, Bishop Nicolson says: --
Mr. Gab. Trant (a Frenchman, and one of ye Masters at ye new School of Lowther) instituted into both; [i.e., Beaumont and Kirkandrews].
An article on the school at Lowther has the following information:
“Gabriel Trant, a Frenchman and onetime Catholic priest, was the first headmaster, and his colleague was a Mr Withers.”
So was Gabriel French? How would an ex Catholic French priest end up in a remote area of Cumberland in the late 1600’s?
On the 15 August 1698, he married MARY WITHERS at Beetham Westmorland.
Mary’s parents are so far unknown, though her father was possibly Thomas Withers Vicar of Halton, Lancashire. She is known to have two brothers, one of whom was probably Gabriel’s colleague at Lowther.
At the time of their marriage, Mary was expecting their first child, Richard who was bpt at Lowther on 9 March 1699. Four more sons rapidly followed:
Thomas bpt 27 June 1700, William bpt 2 March 1702, Edmund bpt 28 Oct 1703, John bpt 29 March 1705.
Gabriel died in June 1705, and was buried in Lowther Parish Church on 23 June 1705.
Ten years after Gabriel’s death, Mary remarried – to George Rishton, Rector of Halton. The couple did not have any further children.
George died in May 1747 at the age of 70. Amongst the bequests in his will was £100 to his step-grand-daughter Mary Trant, daughter of Richard Trant of Barbados.
Mary died in May 1759 at Halton. Her will mentions, among others the children of decd. son Thomas, son William Trant and his son Edmund, Elizabeth daughter of son John Trant, brother-in-law Edward Rishton, grand-daughter Mary Barton,
Children of Gabriel & Mary Trant:
1 Richard bpt 6 March 1699 Lowther, Cumberland. Described as “of Barbados” in step-father’s will.
Married Mary Pook in a Clandestine Marriage ceremony in London on 4th July 1718 and had 4 children, all bpt in Barbados:
Mary Aug 1722, Married James Barton. Was living with grandmother Mary Rishton at the time of Mary's death
Agatha Jan 1724,
Gabriel May 1725,
Elizabeth Feb 1726.
Richard died in Barbados in Feb 1726 and was buried on the same day as his youngest daughter Elizabeth was christened.
2 Thomas bpt 27 Jun 1700 Lowther. See below.
3 William bpt 2 Mar 1702 Lowther. Studied at Christ’s College Cambridge. Sept 1723 appointed Schoolmaster at Cartmel School. Ordained as Priest 1726. Rector of Anstey, Hertfordshire. Married Catherine Smith on 27 Oct 1743 at St Christopher le Stocks, London. Had 4 children:
Catherine bpt Jan 1746 Anstey. Married Phillip Nind
William bpt 17 Mar 1747 Anstey
Edmund bpt 12 Jan 1749 Braughing Herts Married Mary Elizabeth Holland
Emma bpt 20 Mar 1752 Braughing Herts. Married James Hume Spry
William died in 1784 aged 82 and Catherine in 1804 aged 84
4 Edmund bpt 28 Oct 1703 Lowther. Appears to have been in Barbados with elder brother Richard as he is listed as godparent to some of Richard’s children. No marriage traced. Died aged 34 at Cartmel in 1737.
5 John bpt 20 Mar 1705 Lowther. Studied at Jesus College Cambridge. Ordained as Priest 1725. Sept 1726 appointed Schoolmaster of Cartmel School in place of his brother William.
Married Ann Brookbank on 23 April 1731 at York Two daughters: Julia Maria 1732 -1733 and Elizabeth born posthumously in 1734.
Died in 1734 aged 29. Buried at Cartmel 1st Feb 1734.
THOMAS TRANT (1700 – 1758), Schoolmaster of Hemsworth, Yorkshire
Second son of Gabriel & Mary Withers, Thomas was baptised on 27 June 1700 at Lowther.
He studied at Jesus College Cambridge, and was ordained Deacon at York in 1723 and Priest in 1725
1725 appointed curate to the parish of Doncaster at a stipend of £30 p.a.
1727 appointed curate to Carleton in Linderic Notts
1732 appointed Schoolmaster of the Free Grammar School, Hemsworth
1740 appointed curate of Bolton upon Derne
On 6 Dec 1746 he married Alice Archdale (nee Sergeantson), a widow with two young children at Hemsworth. Alice was the eldest surviving daughter of Robert Sergeantson of Hanlith.
They had 8 children, all bpt at Hemsworth:
William Thomas bpt Sept 1747 see below
Mary bpt Sept 1747. Infant death
Mary bpt Jul 1749 married Cornelius Smelt
Sarah bpt Feb 1752 married Matthew Lucas.
Catherine bpt Dec 1752
Elizabeth bpt Dec 1755 married Joseph Eyre
Frances bpt Dec 1755
John Posthumus bpt Oct 1759 died Mar 1762
His duties as Schoolmaster do not seem to have been very arduous. In 1743 he wrote an account of his duties to ArchBishop Herring of York, having been absent for the Visitation.
He states the school had been set up under a legacy from ArchBishop Holgate to teach Latin Greek & Hebrew to the children of Hemsworth and several nearby villages. He said that he has never had any children from the surrounding villages and never more than two at a time from Hemsworth. Such students as he had been teaching, had followed him from Nottinghamshire and boarded with him. Since they left he had not taken on any more. He assured the Archbishop that he attended the parish of Bolton (of which he was curate) at least once every Sunday.
He was also very much involved in a scheme with the London Foundling Hospital by which foundlings (orphans) were sent from London into the country to be brought up and taught a trade.
Thomas died in December 1758 at the age of 58 and was buried on 2nd Jan 1759 at Hemsworth.
Alice did not remarry and died on the 20th May 1782 at the age of 67. She was buried at Hemsworth on 26 May 1762.
Second son of Gabriel & Mary Withers, Thomas was baptised on 27 June 1700 at Lowther.
He studied at Jesus College Cambridge, and was ordained Deacon at York in 1723 and Priest in 1725
1725 appointed curate to the parish of Doncaster at a stipend of £30 p.a.
1727 appointed curate to Carleton in Linderic Notts
1732 appointed Schoolmaster of the Free Grammar School, Hemsworth
1740 appointed curate of Bolton upon Derne
On 6 Dec 1746 he married Alice Archdale (nee Sergeantson), a widow with two young children at Hemsworth. Alice was the eldest surviving daughter of Robert Sergeantson of Hanlith.
They had 8 children, all bpt at Hemsworth:
William Thomas bpt Sept 1747 see below
Mary bpt Sept 1747. Infant death
Mary bpt Jul 1749 married Cornelius Smelt
Sarah bpt Feb 1752 married Matthew Lucas.
Catherine bpt Dec 1752
Elizabeth bpt Dec 1755 married Joseph Eyre
Frances bpt Dec 1755
John Posthumus bpt Oct 1759 died Mar 1762
His duties as Schoolmaster do not seem to have been very arduous. In 1743 he wrote an account of his duties to ArchBishop Herring of York, having been absent for the Visitation.
He states the school had been set up under a legacy from ArchBishop Holgate to teach Latin Greek & Hebrew to the children of Hemsworth and several nearby villages. He said that he has never had any children from the surrounding villages and never more than two at a time from Hemsworth. Such students as he had been teaching, had followed him from Nottinghamshire and boarded with him. Since they left he had not taken on any more. He assured the Archbishop that he attended the parish of Bolton (of which he was curate) at least once every Sunday.
He was also very much involved in a scheme with the London Foundling Hospital by which foundlings (orphans) were sent from London into the country to be brought up and taught a trade.
Thomas died in December 1758 at the age of 58 and was buried on 2nd Jan 1759 at Hemsworth.
Alice did not remarry and died on the 20th May 1782 at the age of 67. She was buried at Hemsworth on 26 May 1762.
WILLIAM THOMAS TRANT (1747 – 1821) Apothecary of Leeds
Eldest and only surviving son of Rev Thomas Trant & Alice Sergeantson, William Thomas was bpt at Hemsworth on 17th September 1747
On the 18 March 1771 he married Betty Tinsdale in St Peters Church, Leeds. Betty was the only daughter of Robert Tinsdale & Ann Waugh. Their first child, Thomas arrived just under a year later on the 9th Feb 1772. he was bpt on 23 Mar at St Peters. Two more boys followed but neither survived to childhood. William was bpt 12 Apr 1776 and buried 23 Aug 1776. Another William was bpt 24 July 1779 and buried 18 months later on 20 Jan 1781. The family lived first on Briggate in the centre of Leeds and later moved to Trinity Lane.
By profession, William Thomas was a Apothecary and later ran a Druggists / Chemist shop.
He would have trained by being apprenticed to an experienced Apothecary, but no record has been found of this - although in 1757 he was apprenticed to a John Bedford of Leeds who is described in the Register merely as "Merchant". He would have been about 10 years old when he started his apprenticeship. In 1767, at the age of 19 he was appointed Apothecary to the new General Infirmary in Leeds at a salary of £15 per year plus board & lodging. His duties would have included examining the patients in consultation with the Physician or Surgeon on duty as well as making up any medicines & treatments required. He stayed in this post for three years before leaving and setting up his own business as Druggist & Apothecary.
In 1795, he took his son Thomas into partnership and the business continued under the name of WT Trant & Son.
Betty (Tinsdale) Trant died 12 Jan 1810 aged 74
William Thomas died on 13 Dec 1821 aged 74.
Eldest and only surviving son of Rev Thomas Trant & Alice Sergeantson, William Thomas was bpt at Hemsworth on 17th September 1747
On the 18 March 1771 he married Betty Tinsdale in St Peters Church, Leeds. Betty was the only daughter of Robert Tinsdale & Ann Waugh. Their first child, Thomas arrived just under a year later on the 9th Feb 1772. he was bpt on 23 Mar at St Peters. Two more boys followed but neither survived to childhood. William was bpt 12 Apr 1776 and buried 23 Aug 1776. Another William was bpt 24 July 1779 and buried 18 months later on 20 Jan 1781. The family lived first on Briggate in the centre of Leeds and later moved to Trinity Lane.
By profession, William Thomas was a Apothecary and later ran a Druggists / Chemist shop.
He would have trained by being apprenticed to an experienced Apothecary, but no record has been found of this - although in 1757 he was apprenticed to a John Bedford of Leeds who is described in the Register merely as "Merchant". He would have been about 10 years old when he started his apprenticeship. In 1767, at the age of 19 he was appointed Apothecary to the new General Infirmary in Leeds at a salary of £15 per year plus board & lodging. His duties would have included examining the patients in consultation with the Physician or Surgeon on duty as well as making up any medicines & treatments required. He stayed in this post for three years before leaving and setting up his own business as Druggist & Apothecary.
In 1795, he took his son Thomas into partnership and the business continued under the name of WT Trant & Son.
Betty (Tinsdale) Trant died 12 Jan 1810 aged 74
William Thomas died on 13 Dec 1821 aged 74.
THOMAS TRANT (1772 - 1827) Druggist of Leeds
Eldest and only surviving child of William Thomas Trant & Betty Tinsdale. Born on 9 Feb 1772, bpt St Peters Leeds 23 Mar 1772.
Followed his father into the apothecary/druggist business and became a partner in 1795.
In 1803 he married Elizabeth Beverley, daughter of John Beverley & Elizabeth Slumbers. They had 11 children, many of whom died in infancy or childhood:
Beverley 1Jul 1804 - 1 May 1810 child death
Elizabeth 15 Aug 1805 - Sept 1812 child death
William 16 Dec 1806 - 1883. Married to Isabel Hirst 13 children
Edmund 1808 - 1811 child death
Henry 1809 - 16 Jan 1836 Possibly a ships doctor. Unmarried
Baron Beverley 1811 - 5 Jan 1811 infant death
Nicholas 5 Dec 1811 - Dec 1853 Married to Rachel Pariss 5 children Doctor /Surgeon
Catherine 12 Mar 1812 infant death 10 hours
Matilda 1814 - 13 Sept 1883. Married Dr Thomas Wainwright of Barnsley. 8 children
Julia 1817 - 1823 child death
Alicia 1821 - 1855 Married Peter Swires Horsman 3 children.
Towards the end of his life, Thomas retired to Filey and died there on 8 Aug 1827.
In his will (written 1827, proved 1829) he left £1000 to each of his children when they attain the age of 21 and his sons William Henry & Nicholas to share the residue.
Eldest and only surviving child of William Thomas Trant & Betty Tinsdale. Born on 9 Feb 1772, bpt St Peters Leeds 23 Mar 1772.
Followed his father into the apothecary/druggist business and became a partner in 1795.
In 1803 he married Elizabeth Beverley, daughter of John Beverley & Elizabeth Slumbers. They had 11 children, many of whom died in infancy or childhood:
Beverley 1Jul 1804 - 1 May 1810 child death
Elizabeth 15 Aug 1805 - Sept 1812 child death
William 16 Dec 1806 - 1883. Married to Isabel Hirst 13 children
Edmund 1808 - 1811 child death
Henry 1809 - 16 Jan 1836 Possibly a ships doctor. Unmarried
Baron Beverley 1811 - 5 Jan 1811 infant death
Nicholas 5 Dec 1811 - Dec 1853 Married to Rachel Pariss 5 children Doctor /Surgeon
Catherine 12 Mar 1812 infant death 10 hours
Matilda 1814 - 13 Sept 1883. Married Dr Thomas Wainwright of Barnsley. 8 children
Julia 1817 - 1823 child death
Alicia 1821 - 1855 Married Peter Swires Horsman 3 children.
Towards the end of his life, Thomas retired to Filey and died there on 8 Aug 1827.
In his will (written 1827, proved 1829) he left £1000 to each of his children when they attain the age of 21 and his sons William Henry & Nicholas to share the residue.
MATILDA TRANT (1814 - 1843)
Matilda was the ninth of 11 children of Thomas Trant & Elizabeth Beverley of Leeds . She was bpt on 4 th June 1814 at St Peter's Church Leeds.
The PR for 1823 mistakenly records her burial whereas the age given fits her younger sister Julia.
On the 14 Oct 1843 she married Dr Thomas Wainwright of Barnsley at Scarborough Parish church.
It is not known why the marriage took place in Scarborough.
Matilda was Dr Thomas's second wife and the couple had 8 children, 3 of whom died in childhood. Dr Thomas also had two surviving children from his first marriage.
Charles Henry 1845 - 1882 married Fanny Calvert 1 child
Johnson 1846 - 1848 child death
Annie 1847 - 1900 unmarried
Edward 1849 - 1917 married Margaret Bulloch 5 children
Thomas 1851 - 1867 child death
James 1852 - 1938 married Ellen (Taffinder) Chatterton 4 children
Matilda Trant 1855 - 1856 infant death
Emily 1857 - 1904 married Alexander Waddell 3 children
After the death of Dr Thomas in 1870, Matilda moved to Birkdale nr Southport Lancashire with her younger children.
She died 13 Sept 1883 at Birkdale, nr Southport Lancashire aged 69
Matilda was the ninth of 11 children of Thomas Trant & Elizabeth Beverley of Leeds . She was bpt on 4 th June 1814 at St Peter's Church Leeds.
The PR for 1823 mistakenly records her burial whereas the age given fits her younger sister Julia.
On the 14 Oct 1843 she married Dr Thomas Wainwright of Barnsley at Scarborough Parish church.
It is not known why the marriage took place in Scarborough.
Matilda was Dr Thomas's second wife and the couple had 8 children, 3 of whom died in childhood. Dr Thomas also had two surviving children from his first marriage.
Charles Henry 1845 - 1882 married Fanny Calvert 1 child
Johnson 1846 - 1848 child death
Annie 1847 - 1900 unmarried
Edward 1849 - 1917 married Margaret Bulloch 5 children
Thomas 1851 - 1867 child death
James 1852 - 1938 married Ellen (Taffinder) Chatterton 4 children
Matilda Trant 1855 - 1856 infant death
Emily 1857 - 1904 married Alexander Waddell 3 children
After the death of Dr Thomas in 1870, Matilda moved to Birkdale nr Southport Lancashire with her younger children.
She died 13 Sept 1883 at Birkdale, nr Southport Lancashire aged 69
