While I have been able to trace Philip Clissett’s ancestry back to the 1690s, I've been aware for some time of two families of Clissetts in the City of Hereford from the 1560s onwards. Their details are easily available from the International Genealogical Index, though the surname, as usual, tends to vary quite a bit. The two families are almost certainly related, and one can be traced through to about 1650 in London. What happened to those who stayed in Hereford has not been clear, and how the Worcestershire Clissetts (Philip’s line) were related isn’t known.
Thanks to the interest and help of Jean Dobson of Hereford, it is now possible to put a little more flesh on the bones of the Hereford Clissetts. She has managed to show that the first adult male Clissett to arrive in Hereford was probably James Clissett who appears in the Herefordshire muster of 1542, and in tax lists for the City of Hereford in 1543 and 1545. It seems very likely that he was the father of John and William Clissett who headed the two known Clissett families, and who married in 1564 and 1571 respectively. He is also probably the father of Elenor, Margret and Christopher who married in 1568, 1575, and 1576.
There is not much evidence of occupations. Some of the Clissetts appear to have been quite well off, and a later James Clissett (1569-1610) was a Master Butcher.
The Clissetts disappeared from Hereford by the time of the Civil War. It’s really frustrating that we haven’t been able to discover where they went, and whether there is a link to the family at Earls Croome, Worcestershire in the 1690s.
I will (eventually) write up the early Clissetts in more detail. In the meantime, if you have an interest in Hereford, then you should keep an eye on Jean Dobson’s blog where she publishes all sorts of details of the townsfolk throughout history.
Thanks to the interest and help of Jean Dobson of Hereford, it is now possible to put a little more flesh on the bones of the Hereford Clissetts. She has managed to show that the first adult male Clissett to arrive in Hereford was probably James Clissett who appears in the Herefordshire muster of 1542, and in tax lists for the City of Hereford in 1543 and 1545. It seems very likely that he was the father of John and William Clissett who headed the two known Clissett families, and who married in 1564 and 1571 respectively. He is also probably the father of Elenor, Margret and Christopher who married in 1568, 1575, and 1576.
There is not much evidence of occupations. Some of the Clissetts appear to have been quite well off, and a later James Clissett (1569-1610) was a Master Butcher.
The Clissetts disappeared from Hereford by the time of the Civil War. It’s really frustrating that we haven’t been able to discover where they went, and whether there is a link to the family at Earls Croome, Worcestershire in the 1690s.
I will (eventually) write up the early Clissetts in more detail. In the meantime, if you have an interest in Hereford, then you should keep an eye on Jean Dobson’s blog where she publishes all sorts of details of the townsfolk throughout history.
RSS Feed
