PRESLEY COATS OF ARMS

(Ed. Note: Stephen J. Presley, 14 Argonne Dr., Greenville, South Carolina 29605 has generously shared with us this report from The College of Arms for which we are most appreciative.)

17 May 1983

I write to inform you of the outcome of the investigation I have made among the official records of the College of Arms concerning the surname of Presley or likely variants thereof.

In the first instance, I find that a grant of Armorial Bearings was made 2 February 1619 by William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms, to William Prestley of the City of London. These same Armorial Bearings, to be borne and used by William Prestley and by his descendants, may be blazoned as:-
Gules on a chevron between three turrets argent issuing from each a demi-lion gold three grappling irons sable;
and for the Crest:
Upon the lower half of a broken lance gold a cockatrice argent in the beak the upper part of a broken lance gold tipped silver.

The above William Prestley subsequently died 21 May 1620 and was buried at All ( Hallows Church, Bread Street, in the City of London, when the Heralds presided over his funeral. He was a Citizen and Merchant Taylor of the City.

At the Visitation of the county of Middlesex, carried out by the Heralds in 1634, the above Armorial Bearings were confirmed in favour of the son of the above William Prestlpy, this son being another William Prestley. At the same time, a pedigree was officially registered here, this pedigree being headed by William Prestley of London, the father of William Prestley, the grantee of 1619, who in turn was the father of the William Prestley in whose favour the confirmation was made in 1634. This William Prestley is shown as being married, with a son also named William Prestley. The offical records here state that the family originally came from Bettinge in the county of York.

Although I do not find any registration subsequent to 1634, unofficial material, maintained at the College of Arms, provides further information on the above family. This information shows that the William Prestley, in whose favour the confirmation was made in 1634, had two sons, namely, William who died without issue, and Thomas

(continued on page eighteen)

THE PRESLEY/PRESLAR/PRESSLY NEWSLETTER is a quarterly publication of the Presley/ Preslar/Pressly Family Research Association and is distributed to members and to selected genealogical libraries. President & Editor is Edwin C. Dunn, (address withheld). Vice-President is Betty Bostick, (address withheld). Treasurer is E.L. Singleton, (address withheld).
Queries and items for publication should be sent to the Editor and will be included in the newsletter at no cost as space permits. Back issues of the newsletter may be ordered from the Editor at one dollar each (only 3 issues were in volume one).
Applications, checks, and renewals for membership should be sent to the Secretary, Anne P. Greer, (address withheld). Applications should be accompanied by family group sheets for the Presley etc. family line. Dues are $10 per year; associate membership dues (spouses) $5 per year, payable on July 1st. New members receive all back issues for the current membership year Dues received after March 1st will be applied to the following year beginning July 1.
Inquiries concerning material in the Association archives should be addressed to the Research Director, James E. Anderson, (address withheld) and should be accompanied by a large self-addressed, stamped envelope.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
A very Merry Christmas and may you find the answers to all your genealogical questions in the New Year!
Two important new features make their initial appearance in this issue. The first concerns the military service and pension records which we have begun to acquire from the National Archives, about which you will find more later in these pages. The second concerns a reply by our Research Director, Jim Anderson, to queries which are submitted to the newsletter.
Jim has begun the computerization of records in our archives and has offered to search the archives for each query in the newsletter, and submit the results to your Editor for sharing in a subsequent issue. Obviously, as our database expands, these responses will become more comprehensive.
In the past few months we have been most concerned with how we can best and most rapidly expand our database, and how we can obtain greater member involvement (ie. help). Remember that unlike many other genealogical societies with a core-group of members living in a particular area who can do most of the work, we are all scattered across the country and need a special effort to pull together. Your officers have limited time and abilities to devote to the work to be done, so we need your help. Let us hear from you.

FROM THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
In order for any organization to exist it must grow. To be a viable Association we must have new members. We want the Association not only to exist but to perform a service to the members and gain an insight into the Presley/Preslar/ Pressly families arid the role they had in the developement and growth of this nation.
We are enlisting the aid of each member to spread the word concerning the goals and aims of this Association. Please contact anyone you Know or meet and urge them to become a part of this worthwhile endeavor.

Mary Landes

FROM THE RESEARCH DIRECTORbr> The thing that I would like to see is more members getting involved in resear ing the areas they live in, especially if they happen to live in an area of prime interest to members of the organization. They could also help ... in going through

records of interest for which there is no index and which will take too much time for me to research thoroughly.
Please encourage our members to supply as much information as they can when they send in their queries. One that I noticed did not have any dates at all. I will search our archives on each query in the newsletter ....

Jim Anderson

FROM THE SECRETARY
I would be delighted to mail out the membership list to whoever desires one for 25 cents plus a large SASE.

Anne Greer

ABOUT A THOMAS PRESLAR FAMILY COMMITTEE
Many of you have received questionnaires from Ed Singleton concerning the possible formation of a committee to work specifically on the records of the descendants of Thomas Preslar of Anson Co., N.C. Not everyone returned the questionnaire, and we do not yet have anyone to chair the committee. If you can direct or assist this project, you may be able to work with others in more speedily bringing to a conclusion the research on this particular branch of the family.
The committee would evaluate arid organize the data on hand, advise the Association on what additional research needs to be done, and work toward the eventual publication of a family history. Any volunteers?

PRESLEY COATS OF ARMS (Continued):
who was Sheriff of the county of Hertford in 1672 and died in 1720. This Thomas had three sons and two daughters. The three sons all died without issue, the last being William Prestley who died in 1744, when the male line descent from William Prestley, the original grantee of 1619, would appear to have become extinct. This being the case, I cannot therefore advise you of any later persons of the surname, or likely variant thereof, who could be entitled to bear and use the Arms and Crest in question.
On 31 July 1895, a grant of Armorial Bearings was made to Sir William Overend Priestley of Sherrards, Walwyn in the county of Hertford and St. George's, Hanover Square in London, knight, Doctor of Medicine of the University of Edinburgh and Honorary Doctor of Laws of the same University, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, he being the son of Joseph Priestley of Morley Hall, Batley, in the county of York. These same Armorial Bearings, to be borne and used by Sir William Overend Priestley and by the other descendants of his father, may be blazoned as:-
Gules on a chevron engrailed argent between two towers in chief gold issuing from the battlements of each a demilion argent in base a grappling iron argent a serpent nowed proper between two grappling irons sable;
and for the Crest:
In front of a mount thereon a cockatrice proper holding in the beak an arrow point downwards sable a serpent nowed proper.

On 23 December 1909 a grant of Armorial Bearings was made to Sir William Briggs Priestley of Rosemont House, Bradford in the county of York and Littledale Hall in Lancashire, knight, Representative in Parliament for Bradford, the son of Briggs Priestley, Representative in Parliament for the West Riding of the county of York. These same Armorial Bearings, to be borne and used by Sir William Briggs Priestley and by the other descendants of his father Briggs Priestley, may be blaz-oned as:-

Gules on a chevron argent between in chief two towers argent and in base a merino lamb proper three cockatrices gules;
and for the Crest:
A demi-lion rarnpemt argent resting the dexter paw on a grappling iron proper.

On 18 August 1920 a grant of Armorial Bearings was mada to Arthur Vickerman Priestley of Bankfield House, Huddersfield in the county of ^ork, in the Commission of the Peace for Huddersfield. These same Armorial Bearings, to be borne and used by Arthur Vickerman Priestley and his descendants, may be blazoried as:-
Argent on a chevron gules between in chief two towers and in base a lion rampant azure a grenade gold fired proper between two grappling irons gold;
and for the Crest:
A wyvern azure wings argent holding in the mouth a spear broken at the haft gold.

Unfortunately, no pedigrees have been registered here relating to the families of the last three mentioned grantees.

Only one Priestley pedigree has been registered here over the last three hundred years, this relating to the family of Joseph Priestley, the celebrated scientist and discoverer of oxygen. This pedigree is headed by William Priestley who was buried in 1619 at Hartshead in the county of York, the father oc Joseph Priestley, who was baptised at Hartshead 1624/5. This Joseph had, with other issue, a son Joseph Priestley who was born in 1660 and is described as "an eminent tradesman", being a maker and dresser of woollen cloth. This Joseph was born in 1660 and died in 1745, leaving, with other issue, a son Jonas Priestley of Birstal Fieldhead in the county of York, the father of Joseph Priestley, Doctor of Laws University of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Royal Society, and the above mentioned discoverer of oxygen. This Joseph Priestley emigrated in 1794 to New York, settled in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1804. Two generations of his Priestley descendants have been officially registered here. Again, no Armorial Bearings were vested in this family.

Unofficial pedigrees, lodged at the College of Arms, show that another family of Priestley was anciently established at Sowerby in the parish of Halifax in Yorkshire. One William Prestlay is recorded at Sowerby in 1531, he being the father of one Joseph Priestley. Fifth in descent from this Joseph Priestley was Henry Priestly, who married a daughter of Daniel Greenwood, Fellow and Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford. Descendants of this family are recorded down to the 19th century when they continued to reside in Yorkshire.

It seems clear that the surname of Presley is a variant of Priestley, and means one who dwelt near the Priest's wood, or one who simply derived his surname from a place name Priestley where he resided. The wood of a priest is likely to have been known as such for many centuries prior to the adoption of any surnames in the country. It is quite possible that this relates to a sacred grove planted by pre-Christian peoples, but though little is known of the Druid culture, it is certain that great emphasis was placed on trees and special groves may well have been planted.

It is also clear that the surname of Priestley or Presley was well established in the north of England, particularly in the county of York. However, it is likely that there was considerably more than one family of this surname.

P. L1. Gwynn-Jones, M.A.
Lancaster Herald
The College of Arms
Queen Victoria Street
London EC4V4BT

(Ed. Note: A second letter shared by Stephen Presley is from an English educator, writer, and historian (see The Authors &_ Writers Who's Who, 1971, the International Authors & Writers Who's Who, 1976, 1977, 1982, and Contemporary Authors, vols. 73-76, 1978).)

January 30th, 1980

I do not think there is any doubt at all about your name being a corruption of the original name Priestley. The College of Arms is certainly to be taken as correct on this point.

For the origin of the name you should consult the Dictionary of British Surnames edited by P.H. Reaney and available in most of the larger public libraries. I think (from memory) that he gives two places where the name originated, one in West Yorkshire, another in Wiltshire but the former I believe is more important and the bearers of the name originating here more numerous.

I was born within a few miles of where the West Yorkshire name originated, in a village between Bradford and Halifax. In my class at school were four boys all bearing my surname, none related one to the other at least within living memory, but all certainly of the scime original stock. The same goes for Dr. Joseph Priestley who was born at Birstal not far away, and of course for J.B. Priestley whose father was a schoolmaster in Bradford.

In the village of Coley is a small place called Priestley Gj/ecn, originally called Priest Ley - or Priests' Meadow, as far back as the llth century. In 1187 Jordan, son of Peter de Priestley conceded certain parcels of land in the area including Priestley (now Priestley Green) to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. Another dated 1497 records the sale of land by John Roker and Thomas Bentley "of Priestley" (Priestley Green) to a buyer. Coley by the way is one of the small villages between Bradford and Halifax.

I don't think from these records there is the slightest doubt as to where the name originated.

Harold E. Priestley, M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D
8 Loten Road
Benfleet, Essex SS7 5DD

(Ed. Note: From the Librarian of the City of Bradford are the following comments:)

17 May 1983

According to several books about surnames it seems that the name Presley is derived from Priestley.... In his book "Yorkshire West Riding" in the English Surname Series, published in 1973, Dr. G. Redmonds writes that the name Priestley originated in the Bradford and Halifax area in the fourteenth century. There is, however, a place named Priestley in Bedfordshire. H.P. Guppy in "Homes of Family Names in Great Britain", published in 1890, says that the name was most common in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Miss E.M. Willmott
Subject Adviser, Local Studies
Central Library
Prince's Way
Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 INN

(Ed. Note: Finally, here are some interesting observations by Stephen Presley, dated 21 Aug. 1986.)
In Wales is a mountain range, Preseli Mynydd. From here come the blue stones of Stonehenge - Prescellite (ophitic dolerite) - at Salisbury plain in Wiltshire. Presley-Priestley means one who dwells in a priests' wood or clearing. This sounds Druidic, the oak-worshipers who held ceremonies in circle clearings of oak forests,

mistletoe, etc. So, I wrote to Cambria House, Haverford West, Pembrokeshire SA61 1TP, and to the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland ( the archaeological authorities about Stonehenge) and found they knew nothing of for whom the mountains and stones are named.

(Ed. Note: And from the book, The Matter of Wales. Epic Views of a_ Small Country by Jan Morris, Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1984, p. 79, is the following:)
... the foothills of Mynydd Preseli, the Preseli hills of Dyfed. The Precelis are said to have been of such innate holiness to the ancients that huge pieces of them were dragged and floated to Wiltshire to form the bluestone megaliths of Stonehenge itself.

JOHN PRESLEY

John Presley was born in Jefferson Co., N.Y., Jan. 5, 1824. He became self-supporting at 13 years of age, and worked as a farm laborer until his marriage to Phylenia Bersie, Oct. 18, 1847. She was born in Jefferson Co., N.Y., and was a daughter of Henry Bersie, a native of Pennsylvania, and Parsena (Lawrence) Bersie, born in Vermont. Mr. Presley farmed and worked at ship-building in New York State until 1851, when he moved with his family to Muscatine Co., Iowa, remaining there eight or nine years; then came to Buffalo, where he has been engaged in fanning since. To Mr. and Mrs. Presley have been born four children, two living, viz.: . Eva W. and Ellen. The parents of the subject of this memoir were John and Almira (Raymond) Presley. He died in 1856. They reared a family of 14 children to maturity. Mr. John Presley, Jr., is a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge No. 7, at Davenport; also a member of the Corporation Board of Buffalo. He owns two lots and a nice residence on Second street, where he resides. Mrs. Presley's brother, Capt. Hiram Bersie, was for 22 years a captain of steamers on the Mississippi River. He died in Buffalo, in August, 1861, and is buried at Galena, Ill.
History of Scott Co., Iowa ..., Chicago, 1882, p. 1009

Compiled from The Compassionate Friends Newsletter
(Oct.-Dec. 1986), The Commuter (Oct. 1986), and
The Dispatch (Lexington, N.C./Nov. 1, 1986)

Time is hastening on and we
What our fathers are shall be,—
Shadow-shapes of memory!

(Whittier)
Genealogy As Pastime and Profession, Donald L. Jacobus, 1971

THE PRESLEY/PRESLAR/PRESSLY PRESS

The Palatine Families of New York. Henry Z. Jones, Jr., 1985.
p. 102-104. VALENTIN BRESSELER (Hunter Lists #82). Valentine Presler aged 40, with his wife, sons aged 6, 4, and \\, daughters aged 10 and 8, Roman Catholic, hu?bandman and vinedresser, were in the 1st arrivals in England in 1709 (London Lists)
Valentin Bresseler made his first appearance on the Hunter Lists with 4 pers. over 10 yrs. of age and 2 under 10 yrs. on 1 July 1710; the last entry for the family was 13 Sept. 1712 with 5 pers. over 10 yrs. of age and 2 under 10 yrs. Johan Valentyn Bresler and wife Anna Christiana of the Hoogduidsche Kerk joined the N.Y. City Ref. Church 1 June 1714. They had been listed earlier at N.Y. City as Valtin Bressler aged 41, Christina Bressler aged 36, Anna Eliz Bressler aged 14, Anna Gertrude Bressler aged 12, Andreas Bressler aged 9, Anthony Bressler aged 5, and Maria Agnes Bressler aged \, in 1710/11 (Palatines In N.Y. City). Faletyn Presser was in the North Co. of Col. Aug. Graham in the Richmond Co. militia in 1715 (Report of the State Historian, Vol. I, p. 548). The ch. of Valentin Pressler and wife Anna Christina France were:
1) Ann§ Elisabetha (Palatines in N.Y. City).
2) Anna Gertrude (Palatines in N.Y. City).
3) Andreas (Palatines in N.Y. City). Andries Preslaar, single man b. Germany, md. 21 April 1723 Antje Wels, single woman b. Staten Island (N.Y. C^ty Ref. Chbk.)
4) Anthony (Palatines in N.Y. City) and called s/o Valentine Presler when apprenticed to Theunis Montaine 25 Aug. 1721 (Indentures of Apprentices 1718-27, p. 144). Anthony Preslaer was in the foot company of the * , Highland in Ulster Co. in 1738 (Report of the State Historian, Vol. I, p. 615). He figured in a court case vs. Thomas Ellison in 1742 in the Kingston Court of Common Pleas. He md. a Neeltje (—) and had ch.:
i) Johan Matthias , bpt. ca. 1 yr. old 18 June 1729 at Qvassayk-kill in B. Mynder's barn - sp.: Johan Matthys Kienberg and wife Anna "' Maria (N.^. City Luth. Chbk.).
ii) Adriantje , b. 27 May 1730 and bpt. Qvassayk-kill - sp.: Adriantje
/ Quik and Lenard Lieuves (N.Y. City Luth. Chbk.).
iii) Mattheus , b. 20 May 1735 and bpt. at Pieter Lassings - sp.: Mattheus Van Keur and Coecilie or Seeltje, his wife (N.Y. City Luth. Chbk.)
iv) Thomas", bpt. 18 June 1738 aged 1 yr. old today - sp.: Thomas Quick and wife Mareitie (N.Y. City Luth. Chbk.).
v) Anna Margaretha , b. 18 Jan. 1741, bpt. Pieter Lassings - sp.: Ludewiq Muller and Anna Magdalena (N.Y. City Luth. Chbk.).
vi) Joseph , b. 28 April 1742 and bpt. at Pieter Lassings - sp.: Joseph Simsens and Seidje Trewilliker (N.Y. City Luth. Chbk.).
5) Maria Agnes, (Palatines in N.Y. City).
6) Haris Georg , bpt. 4 Dec. 1713 - sp.: Hans Juria Pechor and Elizabeth Roseboom2(N.Y. City Ref. Chbk.).
7) Martinus , bpt. 25 July 1716 - sp.: Johannes Keyser and Elizabeth Kerlag (N.Y. City Ref. Chbk.).
8) Peter , bpt. 8 Sept. 1717 - sp.: Pieter Van Pelt and wife Sara (Port Richmond, Staten Island Ref. Chbk.).
There was a Johannes Breslar and wife Elisabeth Kermer who had a son John bpt. 12 Feb. 1758 - sp.: Bastian Kortregt and Rachel Dekker (Deerpark Ref. Chbk.) who may have been related to Valentin (HJ). The estate of John Presler, late farmer at New Paltz, was probated 17 Jan. 1798 (Ulster Co. Administration Bk. B).

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QUERIES

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.... AND REPLIES
by Jim Anderson

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