William Gayner

Open question: Who were William Gayner's parents?

William Gayner, a blacksmith of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, made his will in 1630 and is the earliest Gayner we can name, with his wife Margaret. His parents are unknown. A John Gayner made a will in 1560 leaving everything to his wife and 'John my son', and another John Gayner was buried in 1593 and another in 1596, so one of these Johns could be his father, but we put that at about one chance in three. The manor court rolls of Thornbury for 1580 to 1650 are mostly kept at the Staffordshire Record Office and have not been searched.

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