The story of these Trinder's who lived in Westwell starts with Charles Trinder, the son of a yeoman from Barnsley,Gloucestershire.
Charles came to Burford, Oxon to work for Henry Heylin, married his master's daughter and so became a gentleman. His arms were sable a fess or between three bucks trippant argent.
He bought most of the parish of Holwell and built the manor house there. Then he left this to his sons and retired to live at Westwell manor in 1634, as tennant of Christchurch.
He died in 1657 and his memorial on the north wall of the nave is the most prominent feature of interior of Westwell church.
It is an ingenious but charming monument, probably the work of a local craftsman. On it charles kneels facing his wife Jane, six sons behind him and eight daughters behind her, all kneeling.
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They were a remarkable family. Four sons survived their father, the two eldest John and Charles, were catholics. James II made John commissioner of the Revenue in Ireland; he became friend of the Pope and died in poitiers, France.
Charles, the son was lord of the manor of Bourton-on-the-water, and married Anne Greenwood, of a catholic family in Brize Norton, Oxon who were descendands of Sir Thomas More. When Anne died she was burried in the church at Brize Norton. Charles outlived his brothers and most of the family property passed to two surviving married daughters(1719).
Henry, one of the other sons became sergeant-at-law, and recorder of Oxford. He and his younger brother William, Linen Draper of London, were protestants.
When taken to Chancery by a jealous neighber for owning lands (forbidden to papists) the catholic brothers were able to show that they did not own any. They had sold the land to their protestant brothers (for a nominal sum), who when the case was dismissed, sold it back again for the same sum!
A fifth son can be named Giles, His memorial stone is in the floor of the church porch, next to the eldest daughter Elizabeth, who died a few weeks after her wedding.
The inscription reads-
Giles, youngest and 10th child of Charles and Jane Trinder died august 18,1641 aged 8 months.
Elizabeth, wife of john Wheeler and eldest daughter of Charles and Jane trinder died June 11, 1641 aged 17.
Both of these inscriptions are largely illegiable now, but they were recorded by Bishop Rawlinson in 1717.
Of the other daughters, Joyce married Richard Sackville esquire of Bibury and became mistress of the grand house, Bibury court.
Joyce died a year after her father and was burried at Bibury.
To be continued.
