The Rumney Family :
The Romenel/Rumney family reached England around the Norman Invasion of 1066; The Romenel Family lived in Kent, at Romney, from whence they took their name.
Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the largely illiterate middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Rumney family name include Rumney, Rumnie, Romney, Romny, Romenel, Romnay and many more.
First found in Kent where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor of Romney, anciently Romenel. At the time of the taking of the Doomsday Book, a survey of England initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England, the village of Romney was held by a Norman noble, Robert de Romenel, and as was the Norman custom, the second son of the family adopted the name of the village.
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland.
Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Rumney family to immigrate were: Thomas Romney who settled in Virginia in 1635; John Romney settled in Boston Mass. in 1767; George Rumney settled in Boston Mass. in 1766; John Rumney settled in Philadelphia Pa."
There is a New Zealand connection too.
William Rumney, was born around 1700s was a Farmer of Reld, Shap, Cumberland now Cumbria North England. Married to Mary ?? Had 10 children, here are some of their names Henry, Mathew, William and Nathan.
We know that William emigrated to Canada then America, Mathew and Henry went to Canada, another went to Australia, the rest probably stayed in England. Nathan left Penrith and boarding the ship “Pegasus” in London bound for Auckland, arriving 28Th March 1865. He worked as a laborer, and then on the 3rd of November 1866 he married Sarah Nicholson also from Cumbria, who had arrived in Auckland on the ship “Ida Zeigler” in 1866. About that time they Farmed at Pukerimu on the Bellair Surry.
Nathan had been conscripted into the 3rd Waikato Militia and at one time was required to help guard a Cambridge Bridge, probably at the end of the wars. Sarah and Nathan farmed this land for about 8 or 10 years, at which time it was sold for £5 an acre.. (This property is close to or part of The Allan Jones training track of to-day. With his £250 Nathan rode to Auckland to purchase the Romakorau land and to also purchase flour and other groceries. This land was on the north side of the Komaltorau Stream, one farm was bought for 2/6 an acre the other farm for 5/- an acre, 'the area being about 550 acres. Their first accommodation was a mud and slab house built on what was known as "The Old House" paddock and 'it would have been here where Sarah died on 1st August, 1876 at the age of 45 years. She was buried on 3rd August at Hamilton East Cemetery. Nathan Rumney would have been breaking this land be¬fore the advent of "Woodlands" which was managed by a Mr. John Gordon.
In the year 1878 Nathan at the age of 35 years married Margaret Elizabeth Stuart at Hopu Hopu. Margaret parents Janet and David Stuart came from near Edinburgh, Scotland. Via India, and lived for a time at Howick Village were on the 24th December 1858, David was allotted an acre of land, having served the required seven years with the Fencibles in N.Z.
Margaret was born at Howick in 1859 later coming to Hamilton with her family, then Taupiri where she met and married Nathan.
David Rumney’s house was built about 1914, and Jack Rumney’s about 1923, a house for Margaret was built about 1925-26, it was built of Totara trees that was growing on the property. The wood being sawn up at Kelly’s Mill, Jack Rumney had borrowed a flat top wagon and carted the cut wood home. It is unknown how many Children they had, but it is thought to be nine in all, and had attended the Hukanui School. The last crop of oats was planted about 1927, before turning to cattle to make their living, the farm already had a good name for Horses. Nathan had a chestnut mare that he was proud of, and was a sad day when he had to sell her to pay the rates. About half the property was broken in when Nathan died, at the age of 68, the year of the Halley’s Comet, 1911
There was still a lot of work to be done on the farm, draining of the swamps and marshes, after they were drained they were burned out, and grassed, in about 1937-38 the big heard of cows was sold at a clearing sale, and the farm stocked with more sheep, often taking prizes at shows. After Margaret’s death in 1949, the Rumney Estate was sold.
There has always been 2 tracks of thought, Sir Herbert Marshall~ in his book "The Makers of British Art" [1902], supports the theory of A.W. RUMNEY of Millfield, Watermillock, Cumberland that the name is derived from "Romany" and that all Rumney's and Romney's are descended from the gypsies who flourished in the Cumberland/Westmoreland and Scottish border regions. This theory has both positive and negative supporters. The wanderlust of the Romany's is evidenced in the Rumney's of today although there are many Rumney's still resident in the areas of the above mentioned forebears. The village of Aspatria in Cumberland is today largely comprised 'of Rumney's.
John Rumney's third-born, George [3], underwent his schooling at Dalton without any academic success. He was poor at writing and spelling. On leaving school he worked with his father on the farm during the years 1747 to, 1751. He had little interest in farming and was more interested in mechanics and drawing. At "work" he spent more time making sketches of his fellow workers than farming. He employed his leisure time in carving figures in wood and constructing experimental violins. George had a passion for music and read deeply on this subject. He made and sold many copies of Leonardo’s engravings. These were so good, and showed so much talent, that his father was finally "persuaded" to take his son to Kendal for apprenticeship training. On the 20th March 1755 George Rumney was apprenticed to Christopher Steele for 4 years at a premium of four pounds per year.
Steele was "dressy", so much so that he was nicknamed "the Count". He had studied in Paris under Vanhoo and although not without talent he was idle and extravagant and tended to neglect his student. George was not having a good time in his apprenticeship and often had to help his master out of difficulties. Steele owed George ten pounds. It was assistance from George which helped Steele to marry a young woman of wealth in Gretna Green in 1756. About this time George developed a fever and was nursed by a MARY ABBOTT of Kendal. The two became "attached" and were married on 14.10.1756 when George was 22 years old.
After Steele released George from his articles’ the indenture on redemption of the ten pound debt he set up his own studio in Kendal. His first commission was a sign for the Kendal post office - it featured a hand holding a letter. George earned most of his money by doing portraits for 2 guineas each to local Westmoreland family’s, these included Walter Strickland and Charles Strickland and their family’s But he started to gain recognition through his originals, one of these originals, a landscape, Titled “The Figures”, still hangs in Kendal.
His first exhibition in London was in 1768 with the "Free Society of Artists", it was then that his name changed. The catalogue, which was widely circulated around the London ~ art circles’, spelt his name "Romney". George accepted this and thereafter signed as Romney. He moved to York in late 1756, worked in Paris for a while and had' a longer stay in Italy. He eventually returned to London and bought a house in Cavendish Square late in 1775. This expense coincided with the necessity to help his brothers out of personal and financial difficulties. This resulted in some dire financial straits for himself, but they began to ease as he got more notable sitters.
As yet I have not given much information about the lives of the brothers. Chamberlains' book of 1910 indicates that both WILLIAM and LAWRENCE became merchants in Antigua. Lawrence, working for the firm of Sykes & Landfords, and became a resident there. William was unsettled and moved around and lost contact with his brother. Apparently he returned to London without notifying Lawrence. Lawrence wrote home to his family complaining that they were ignoring his letters and did not write. He later learnt that William had returned to London and had died in debt in 1768. Lawrence was grieved by the news and vowed to return to England and pay those debts. He also praised the progress of George as a painter. In 1772 however Lawrence suffered a fever. He was improving when a severe gale lashed his house and blew off the roof. He and his staff had to vacate the premises in heavy rain and the subsequent exposure caused Lawrence's death.
Meanwhile the Cumbrian base still provided home for the remainder of the Rumney family. A William Rumney lived at Spring Bank, Penruddock and ELLEN PIERCE [nee Rumney] at Pallet Dale near Penrith. William, John, James and George all lived in the Acton area of West London. There is a strong possibility that this may have some connection with a William Rumney born in 1780, He and his wife Elizabeth and their five children sailed to Tasmania, on the vessel “Berwick” arriving in Hobart on 21st June 1823.
William received a grant of 1000 acres of land in the Clarence Plains area in 1824. He was also appointed Pound keeper and District Constable at Cambridge. “Mount Rumney, just north of Hobart, is on his land and presumably bears his name. Several grants and purchases extended his properties. The house he built is called 'Acton Vale'. He and Elizabeth had 4 more children, all born at 'Acton Vale'. William "died on 26th November 1862, aged 82 years, Elizabeth died on 8.8.1839, aged 58.
The near Era
Going back in my family, we start with a James Rumney born 1863, who first showed up living at West Rainton as a Widower with his son, William Rumney, who was head of the household, William had married Jane Bulman, and they had 7 Children 2 girls and 5 boys. The 2 girls emigrated, Annie who had married a John Price, to New Zealand with her Family. Margret later moved to Cape Town South Africa to live with her daughter. William had 5 sons, Joseph, Fredrick, Henry Hall Rumney, (my Grandfather) James, and Francis J Rumney.
My grandfather Henry then met Dorothy Jane Erwin, born 1885, they married in July 29th 1905, and they in turn had 7 sons,
James Urwin Rumney, Born 26.06.1907. D- 16.06.1986 aged 79
William Rumney, Born 26.06.1910.
Albert Rumney, Born 04.11.1912.
John Edward Rumney, Born 12.09.1914(My Farther),
Joseph Rumney, Born 09.06.1921.
Fred Rumney, Born 27.07.1923.
Alan Rumney, Born 05.07.1925.
My farther then met Christina Bradford, Born 18.10.1924, they married, on the 16.8.1941 and in turn had 4 sons and 2 daughters,
Iris Rumney, - 29.03.1943.
John Rumney, - 25.09.1944.
James Bradford Rumney, - 09.11.1946.
Fredrick Alan Rumney – 20.01.1951.
Alyson Rumney. – 29.03.1956.
Steven Laurence Rumney (me), - 09.08.1957.
I myself have never been married, but I do have a Daughter, Stefanie Sherelle Munneke Rumney,Born 06.07.1994, from a Lesley Francis Slack/Munneke.
And that concludes my family history.
I will be posting updates, and a full family tree here soon for download. And will be updating this post. So keep looking in.
Thank you to Angela Rumney/Lofts for Help with the History.
slrumney51@googlemail.com
The Romenel/Rumney family reached England around the Norman Invasion of 1066; The Romenel Family lived in Kent, at Romney, from whence they took their name.
Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the largely illiterate middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Rumney family name include Rumney, Rumnie, Romney, Romny, Romenel, Romnay and many more.
First found in Kent where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor of Romney, anciently Romenel. At the time of the taking of the Doomsday Book, a survey of England initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England, the village of Romney was held by a Norman noble, Robert de Romenel, and as was the Norman custom, the second son of the family adopted the name of the village.
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland.
Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Rumney family to immigrate were: Thomas Romney who settled in Virginia in 1635; John Romney settled in Boston Mass. in 1767; George Rumney settled in Boston Mass. in 1766; John Rumney settled in Philadelphia Pa."
There is a New Zealand connection too.
William Rumney, was born around 1700s was a Farmer of Reld, Shap, Cumberland now Cumbria North England. Married to Mary ?? Had 10 children, here are some of their names Henry, Mathew, William and Nathan.
We know that William emigrated to Canada then America, Mathew and Henry went to Canada, another went to Australia, the rest probably stayed in England. Nathan left Penrith and boarding the ship “Pegasus” in London bound for Auckland, arriving 28Th March 1865. He worked as a laborer, and then on the 3rd of November 1866 he married Sarah Nicholson also from Cumbria, who had arrived in Auckland on the ship “Ida Zeigler” in 1866. About that time they Farmed at Pukerimu on the Bellair Surry.
Nathan had been conscripted into the 3rd Waikato Militia and at one time was required to help guard a Cambridge Bridge, probably at the end of the wars. Sarah and Nathan farmed this land for about 8 or 10 years, at which time it was sold for £5 an acre.. (This property is close to or part of The Allan Jones training track of to-day. With his £250 Nathan rode to Auckland to purchase the Romakorau land and to also purchase flour and other groceries. This land was on the north side of the Komaltorau Stream, one farm was bought for 2/6 an acre the other farm for 5/- an acre, 'the area being about 550 acres. Their first accommodation was a mud and slab house built on what was known as "The Old House" paddock and 'it would have been here where Sarah died on 1st August, 1876 at the age of 45 years. She was buried on 3rd August at Hamilton East Cemetery. Nathan Rumney would have been breaking this land be¬fore the advent of "Woodlands" which was managed by a Mr. John Gordon.
In the year 1878 Nathan at the age of 35 years married Margaret Elizabeth Stuart at Hopu Hopu. Margaret parents Janet and David Stuart came from near Edinburgh, Scotland. Via India, and lived for a time at Howick Village were on the 24th December 1858, David was allotted an acre of land, having served the required seven years with the Fencibles in N.Z.
Margaret was born at Howick in 1859 later coming to Hamilton with her family, then Taupiri where she met and married Nathan.
David Rumney’s house was built about 1914, and Jack Rumney’s about 1923, a house for Margaret was built about 1925-26, it was built of Totara trees that was growing on the property. The wood being sawn up at Kelly’s Mill, Jack Rumney had borrowed a flat top wagon and carted the cut wood home. It is unknown how many Children they had, but it is thought to be nine in all, and had attended the Hukanui School. The last crop of oats was planted about 1927, before turning to cattle to make their living, the farm already had a good name for Horses. Nathan had a chestnut mare that he was proud of, and was a sad day when he had to sell her to pay the rates. About half the property was broken in when Nathan died, at the age of 68, the year of the Halley’s Comet, 1911
There was still a lot of work to be done on the farm, draining of the swamps and marshes, after they were drained they were burned out, and grassed, in about 1937-38 the big heard of cows was sold at a clearing sale, and the farm stocked with more sheep, often taking prizes at shows. After Margaret’s death in 1949, the Rumney Estate was sold.
There has always been 2 tracks of thought, Sir Herbert Marshall~ in his book "The Makers of British Art" [1902], supports the theory of A.W. RUMNEY of Millfield, Watermillock, Cumberland that the name is derived from "Romany" and that all Rumney's and Romney's are descended from the gypsies who flourished in the Cumberland/Westmoreland and Scottish border regions. This theory has both positive and negative supporters. The wanderlust of the Romany's is evidenced in the Rumney's of today although there are many Rumney's still resident in the areas of the above mentioned forebears. The village of Aspatria in Cumberland is today largely comprised 'of Rumney's.
John Rumney's third-born, George [3], underwent his schooling at Dalton without any academic success. He was poor at writing and spelling. On leaving school he worked with his father on the farm during the years 1747 to, 1751. He had little interest in farming and was more interested in mechanics and drawing. At "work" he spent more time making sketches of his fellow workers than farming. He employed his leisure time in carving figures in wood and constructing experimental violins. George had a passion for music and read deeply on this subject. He made and sold many copies of Leonardo’s engravings. These were so good, and showed so much talent, that his father was finally "persuaded" to take his son to Kendal for apprenticeship training. On the 20th March 1755 George Rumney was apprenticed to Christopher Steele for 4 years at a premium of four pounds per year.
Steele was "dressy", so much so that he was nicknamed "the Count". He had studied in Paris under Vanhoo and although not without talent he was idle and extravagant and tended to neglect his student. George was not having a good time in his apprenticeship and often had to help his master out of difficulties. Steele owed George ten pounds. It was assistance from George which helped Steele to marry a young woman of wealth in Gretna Green in 1756. About this time George developed a fever and was nursed by a MARY ABBOTT of Kendal. The two became "attached" and were married on 14.10.1756 when George was 22 years old.
After Steele released George from his articles’ the indenture on redemption of the ten pound debt he set up his own studio in Kendal. His first commission was a sign for the Kendal post office - it featured a hand holding a letter. George earned most of his money by doing portraits for 2 guineas each to local Westmoreland family’s, these included Walter Strickland and Charles Strickland and their family’s But he started to gain recognition through his originals, one of these originals, a landscape, Titled “The Figures”, still hangs in Kendal.
His first exhibition in London was in 1768 with the "Free Society of Artists", it was then that his name changed. The catalogue, which was widely circulated around the London ~ art circles’, spelt his name "Romney". George accepted this and thereafter signed as Romney. He moved to York in late 1756, worked in Paris for a while and had' a longer stay in Italy. He eventually returned to London and bought a house in Cavendish Square late in 1775. This expense coincided with the necessity to help his brothers out of personal and financial difficulties. This resulted in some dire financial straits for himself, but they began to ease as he got more notable sitters.
As yet I have not given much information about the lives of the brothers. Chamberlains' book of 1910 indicates that both WILLIAM and LAWRENCE became merchants in Antigua. Lawrence, working for the firm of Sykes & Landfords, and became a resident there. William was unsettled and moved around and lost contact with his brother. Apparently he returned to London without notifying Lawrence. Lawrence wrote home to his family complaining that they were ignoring his letters and did not write. He later learnt that William had returned to London and had died in debt in 1768. Lawrence was grieved by the news and vowed to return to England and pay those debts. He also praised the progress of George as a painter. In 1772 however Lawrence suffered a fever. He was improving when a severe gale lashed his house and blew off the roof. He and his staff had to vacate the premises in heavy rain and the subsequent exposure caused Lawrence's death.
Meanwhile the Cumbrian base still provided home for the remainder of the Rumney family. A William Rumney lived at Spring Bank, Penruddock and ELLEN PIERCE [nee Rumney] at Pallet Dale near Penrith. William, John, James and George all lived in the Acton area of West London. There is a strong possibility that this may have some connection with a William Rumney born in 1780, He and his wife Elizabeth and their five children sailed to Tasmania, on the vessel “Berwick” arriving in Hobart on 21st June 1823.
William received a grant of 1000 acres of land in the Clarence Plains area in 1824. He was also appointed Pound keeper and District Constable at Cambridge. “Mount Rumney, just north of Hobart, is on his land and presumably bears his name. Several grants and purchases extended his properties. The house he built is called 'Acton Vale'. He and Elizabeth had 4 more children, all born at 'Acton Vale'. William "died on 26th November 1862, aged 82 years, Elizabeth died on 8.8.1839, aged 58.
The near Era
Going back in my family, we start with a James Rumney born 1863, who first showed up living at West Rainton as a Widower with his son, William Rumney, who was head of the household, William had married Jane Bulman, and they had 7 Children 2 girls and 5 boys. The 2 girls emigrated, Annie who had married a John Price, to New Zealand with her Family. Margret later moved to Cape Town South Africa to live with her daughter. William had 5 sons, Joseph, Fredrick, Henry Hall Rumney, (my Grandfather) James, and Francis J Rumney.
My grandfather Henry then met Dorothy Jane Erwin, born 1885, they married in July 29th 1905, and they in turn had 7 sons,
James Urwin Rumney, Born 26.06.1907. D- 16.06.1986 aged 79
William Rumney, Born 26.06.1910.
Albert Rumney, Born 04.11.1912.
John Edward Rumney, Born 12.09.1914(My Farther),
Joseph Rumney, Born 09.06.1921.
Fred Rumney, Born 27.07.1923.
Alan Rumney, Born 05.07.1925.
My farther then met Christina Bradford, Born 18.10.1924, they married, on the 16.8.1941 and in turn had 4 sons and 2 daughters,
Iris Rumney, - 29.03.1943.
John Rumney, - 25.09.1944.
James Bradford Rumney, - 09.11.1946.
Fredrick Alan Rumney – 20.01.1951.
Alyson Rumney. – 29.03.1956.
Steven Laurence Rumney (me), - 09.08.1957.
I myself have never been married, but I do have a Daughter, Stefanie Sherelle Munneke Rumney,Born 06.07.1994, from a Lesley Francis Slack/Munneke.
And that concludes my family history.
I will be posting updates, and a full family tree here soon for download. And will be updating this post. So keep looking in.
Thank you to Angela Rumney/Lofts for Help with the History.
slrumney51@googlemail.com
