BoAr: FNQ: Wanty / Vantier

http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQ925.htm Latest edit 21 Apr 2008.

The Bourne Archive

FNQ

Fenland Notes and Queries. Edited by Rev. W.D. Sweeting, Rector of Maxey.

Part 52. January 1902.

This quarterly periodical took the form of a forum in which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of the Fens and the region’s environs and others replied with some sort of answer. Some ‘answers’ seem to have been spontaneous, so qualifying as ‘notes’.

The Wanty Family

925 – Wanty Family of Thorney. – The family of Vantier, Wantier, Wantie, or Wanty, were amongst the French speaking Hollanders, or Huguenots, who settled at Thorney. From the year 1750 to the present time I have a fairly complete record; but anterior to that date I can get but fragmentary notices of the family. In 1751 John Wanty, of Thorney Fen, died. He had three children who survived him:- (1) Nancy, who married (a) . . . .Usille, and (b) John Pank; (2) John; (3) Benjamin, who married Ann Baker, and had three children baptised at Crowland, Henry, 1763, John, 1754, and Jacob, 1756. In perusing some of the old Deeping Fen Books, in the custody of Mr Ashley Maples, of Spalding, I came across this entry:-

Indenture dated April 18^th, 1700, between certain Adventurers of the one part and Hon. Charles Bertie, Sir John Shaw, and others, of the other part . . . . “The said Adventurers transfer to them the following forfeited Lands, viz. the Lands of John Wanty, of March, forfeited for £14 9s. 4d. Were added to the old Estate of 220 acres as first laid out.”

Can any correspondent assist me to trace this family? or suggest and source to which I can apply? I have access to a copy of the French Register at Thorney Abbey; but it is during the period after that Register ceases that my information fails. I want to cover from 1650 to 1750, and more particularly the latter half of that period. Are there any Manorial Court Rolls to which reference can be made? In 1751 John Wanty devised lands in Fleet Fen, and in Gedney, to his children. I have some slight evidence which leads me to think that the early Wantys were engaged in the Drainage Works of the Great Level under Vermuyden.

Mount Pleasant, Liverpool. H. Peet, F.S.A.

The only entries in our Indexes to this family give Daniel Wantey in the Train Band at Whittlesey, 1716 Vol. II., p. 334); and Catherine Holmes, wife of Jacob Wantié, one of the sponsors at the baptism of Edgar, who was born 11 Dec., 1698 (Vol. III., p. 372). Have the wills in the Peculiar Court of Thorney, now in the district Registry at Peterborough, been searched? Ed.

Commentary

This query led to article 967.

FNQ