The origins of the CASWELL name
The origins of the CASWELL name STOP PRESS!!!!!!!! See the latest research on the name
To many folk the name Caswell means 'someone who lives near a watercress bed'. Others prefer to believe that it originates from the British War Lord CASWALLON, or CASSIVELLAUNUS as Julias Caesar named him. My own belief is a combination of both concepts, linked together by the county of Wiltshire
When Julias Caesar invaded England, (c.49 bc) he was viciously attacked by CASWALLON, king of the Celts, and was driven back, unable to successfully invade the country. Several years later Caesar, according to his diaries, invaded England again, this time with more force, and he was able to send CASSIVELLAUNUS and his men scattering for cover, never to be heard from again.
CASSIVELLAUNUS, being a 'king', would more than likely have fled from his fortress in Wheathampstead, along the main Celtic highway towards the west. The only major route in that direction was towards Avebury, Stonehenge and the 'Sanctuary', all ancient Celtic places where his Gods could be called on for assistance. Perhaps CASSIVELLAUNUS decided to stay around, and his family mingled into the background to avoid the Romans. We shall probably never know exactly. Four hundred years of Roman occupation would have changed both Roman and Celtic cultures forever, burying many of the old pagan Celtic ways, but I believe some still survive to this day, especially those regarding fertility rights and the Avebury stones.
The CASSWELL family of Wiltshire has lived around the Celtic stones since 1330.We have prove positive of that in the Wiltshire Records Office. They were recorded as having paid taxes when living in Yatesbury in 1332. This village is 'right next door' to the village of Calstone, where it is known a medieval watercress bed was operated. There seem to be no other connections to CASWELLS anywhere in England where such early dates and places with watercress beds match so well.
My most exciting find has been the village of CARSWELL MARSH in the neighboring county of BERKSHIRE.
Map of Carswell Marsh, Oxfordshire
This is a particularly interesting find, because our very first records from Yatesbury, make note of HUGH de CARSWELLE & Idonea, his wife. The village is mentioned in the Domesday book in 1088. Did our Hugh actually come from CARSWELL? IT would seem so, and, of course, it was not that far away
It is also interesting to see that the Wiltshire CASSWELL name was spelt with 'SS', as was CASSIVELLAUNUS, and it is proudly carried to this day by the American branch of the family, now resident in Oregon. Other CASSWELLs can be found in Lincolnshire and, like the Wiltshire family, have a profusion of Johns & Williams. I believe the Lincoln group is an offshoot of the Wiltshire family.
The USA Caswells of TAUNTON Ma. have a connection to the village of Yatesbury, through the POPE family of SALEM Ma. An old will (1638) of Thomas Arnold shows Caswells and Popes in Yatesbury, yet reference is made by other researchers that this will proves the origin of the Pope family of Salem. My 9th gt grandfather is mentioned in the will. If the connection between Wiltshire and Taunton Ma. can be made more positively, then it will account for most of the Caswell families in the United States.
The Canadian Caswells, as written about by Shirley Mayse, have been traced back to Blackwater, Ireland, an area famous for the export of pigs to London England. These pigs were driven across country, right past the front door of the CASSWELLS of Yatesbury, making them very aware of the goings on commercially in Ireland. It is also interesting to note that the Baskerville family lived in Yatesbury at this time (1770's) and is also reported in Blackwater alongside Caswells.
CARSWELL MARSH
Nestled in the southern part of Oxfordshire, near the border of Wiltshire, is the hamlet of Carswell Marsh. Mentioned in the Domesday book of 1088ad, Carswell Marsh fits all of the criteria most Caswells have been looking for.
SEE THE MAP OF CARSWELL MARSH OXFORDSHIRE
Many people say the name was developed from someone who lived near a watercress bed, which, of course would be grown in a wetland area such as a marsh.
STOP PRESS!!!!!!!! See the latest research on the name
A large and ancient Wiltshire family tree has been developed, with the first record in 1286ad stating:-
Abstracts of Feet of Fines relating to
Wiltshire for the Reigns of Edward I &
Edward II, ed R B Pugh.
14 Edward I (1286) Morrow of Ascension.
John de Colcestre & Alice his wife, plaintiff.
Hugh de Carswell and Idonea
his wife, plaintiff.
1 messuage and 14 acres of land in Yatesbury.
(A) pl to hold of imp, rendering yearly 4d, to wit 1d at
Michaelmas,
Christmas, Easter and St John the Baptist severally.
(Warranty) Consideration 1 sore sparrow-hawk.
'Sore' means 'from sorrel' a color, since a hawk's plumage is
reddish brown
in the first year.
Recent research has found the actual Manor House of Carswell Marsh, pictured below.
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St.Hugh's School |
Tel (from
the US): +44 1367 870223 Fax (from the US): +44 1367 870376 |
Here is what our professional researcher Mike Gallafent discovered!
The hamlet (too small for a village) is down a cul de sac off the main A420 road between Swindon and Oxford. The cul de sac is about a mile long, through a mixture of woods and cultivated fields. At the bottom there are two small cottages, perhaps 200 years old and Carswell Farm with it's own private road.
A quarter of a mile down the cul de sac from the main road
is Carswell Manor, a lovely old Jacobean building which is the
home of St.Hugh's, a private school, with pupils from 5 to 13.
The fees for this school will be high:)). I spoke with the
secretary of the school and explained my mission. She was kind
enough to provide me with a prospectus of the school and
explained that the school had arrived after World War II, and
hitherto, the house had been the home of the Niven family. David
Niven, the actor grew up here. The entrance hall was wood
panelled throughout and dated back to the 1600s.
More photos are on their way!
