WM Gayer Okehampton

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THE GAYERS OF CORNWALL

FRANCIS AND ROGER GAYER OF MINSTER

SONS  AND GRANDCHILDREN OF ROGER GAYER:

William Gayer of Okehampton, Devon

John Gayer, Week St. Mary;

Samuell Gayer of Stratton;

Benjamin Gayer of Stratton


NORTHERN IRELAND:

Rev John Gayer

Philip Gayer

Edward George Gayer

John Gayer of Dublin and children






William Gayer was the second son of Roger Gayer of Minster and Whistone.  In William's will dated April 1648 he leaves monies to the people of Whitstone mentioning that he was born in that place. He also leaves monies to the people of Stratton and Blaris and to the poor of Okehampton. His birth year is estimated as 1607.

William did not sign the oath of Protestation in Cornwall in 1641 as he had moved to Devon before that date.  He married Hester Bremelcombe, daughter of John Bremelcombe (a haberdasher in Okehampton, Devon), probably about 1633/36. William established a business in Okehampton as a mercer. In his will he mentions bequests to his brother Martin, sisters Mary Gayer and Penelope Pearce.  His father-in-law John Bremelcombe and his brother Samuel are named as assistants to the executrix, his wife Hester.

William and Hester Gayer had the following children (all of who are mentioned in William's will of 1648):
  • John Gayer.  Probably took over his father's business as he is recorded as being a mercer in 1665. Died 1696
  • Roger Gayer, matriculated (entered) New Hall Inn, Oxford University in 1656. He completed his B.A. in 1659 and his MA in 1662. He married Elizabeth Cottell (b. 1639) in 1662. Based on these dates it is likely he was born around 1638-40. He was a clergyman in N. Tawton just north of Okehampton (appointed 1662). He died in 1716
  • Ann Gayer
  • Robena (or Robina) Gayer
  • Mary Gayer
  • Joseph Gayer
  • Benjamin Gayer. He married Margery Williams in Week St. Mary in 1669. He became notorious in the Legend of Cranmere Pool He died in 1701, she died in 1713
William Gayer was the Mayor of Okehampton in1641.  In later years, his sons John and Benjamin also served as Mayors of Okehampton. The frequency with which the Gayer brothers were Mayor and Portreeve of Okehampton was noted on in "Some Account of the Barony of Okehampton, its antiquities and institutions", edited by W. H. K. Wright.

William Gayer died in 1648, Hester Gayer lived until at least 1679.











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