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Submitted by the late John Gallant - Rest in Peace, John.
The Descendants of Richard Paynter and Ann Hacker
Generation No. 1
1. Richard1 Paynter was born 1773 in North Tamerton, Cornwall, England, and died 25 Apr 1854. He married Ann Hacker Abt. 1795. She was born Abt. 1775.
Notes for Richard Paynter:
The Paynters came to Prince Edward Island, Canada in the early 1880s and settled in the New England area, where they leased land in what is now known as Burlington, in Lot 20, and in Springbrook, Lot 21.
The oldest couple was Richard and his wife Ann Hacker from North Tamerton, Cornwall England. St, Denys, North Tamerton was their home Church, where they were married and all their children were christened. Several members of the family are buried in the adjoining cemetery.
Richard and Ann Paynter are buried in the cemetery at St. Thomas Church, Spring brook, Prince Edward Island.
Two of their sons, William and Bernard, also emigrated to Prince Edward Island and the ancestry of all Paynters on P.E.I. can be traced to these two men. William married Mary Ann Hacker and settled in Burlington, and Bernard married Susannah Taylor and Settle in Springbrook.
These early Paynters claim to have emigrated from Devonshire, England. This was correct until 1844, when a very small part of this parish, east of the Yamar River was transferred to Cornwall.
Above by: Mrs. Leigh M. Paynter
July 1999
The Ancient History of the Distinguished Surname Paynter
The history of the most ancient Anglo/Saxon surname of Paynter reaches far into the chronicles of the Saxon race. The Saxon Chronicles, compiled by the monks in the 10th century now reposes in the British Museum.
History researchers have examined reproductions of such ancient manuscripts as the Doomsday Book (1086 ),
the Ragman Rolls (1291-1296), the Curia Regis Rolls, the Pipe Rolls, the Hearth Rolls, the Hearth Roll , parish registers, baptismals, tax records and other ancient documents. They found the first record of the name Paynter in Cornwall where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.
Different spellings were encountered in the research of Paynter surname.
Throughout the centuries the name occurred in many records, manuscripts and documents but not always with the exact spelling of 'Paynter'.
From time to time the surname included the spellings Paynter, Painter, and these variations in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. Scribes and church officials, often travelling great distances, even from other countries, frequently spelt the names phonetically. As a result the same person would be recorded differently on birth, baptismal, marriage and death certificates as well as other numerous records recording life's events.
The Saxon race gave birth to many English surnames not the least of which was the surname Paynter.
The Saxons were invited into England by the ancient Britons of the 4th century.
A fair skinned people their home was the Rhine valley, some as far north as Denmark.
They were led by two brothers, General/Commanders Hengist and Horsa.
The Saxons settled in the county of Kent on the south east coast of England.
Gradually they spread north and westward, and during the next four hundred years forced Ancient Britons back into Wales and Cornwall in the west and Cumberland to the north. The Angles occupied the eastern coast, the south folk in Suffolk, north folk in Norfolk . Under Saxon rule England prospered under a series of High Kings, the last of which was Harold.
In 1066, the Norman invaded from France and were victorious at the Battle of Hastings.
In 1070, Duke William took an army of 40,000 north and wasted the northern counties, forcing many rebellious Norman nobles and Saxons to flee over the border into Scotland. Meanwhile, the Saxons who remained in the south were not treated well under the hostile Norman oppression.
Nevertheless, this notable English family name Paynter, emerged as an influential name in the county of Cornwall where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated as Lords of the manor of Lithney and estates in that shire, where there are many monuments to their existence. They also acquired the lands of Deverell in neighbouring Gwinear and also Trelissick in the parish of St. Erth. By the 13th century they had branched into Sprole in Norfolk, and Twidall in Kent. They flourished on their estates for several centuries. Notable amongst the family was William Paynter of Deverall.
The surname Paynter flourished during the turbulent middle ages, contributing greatly to the cultural development of England. During the 15th, 16th,17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by plagues, famine, and religious conflict. Protestantism, the newly found political fervour of Cromwellianism and democratic government, and the remnants of the Roman Church rejected all non believers, each jealously claiming adherents to their own cause. The changing rule caused burnings, hangings and banishments of sects all and creeds, first one then another. Many families were "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland, or to the "colonies". Some were rewarded with grants of lands, others were banished.
Some families were forced to migrate to Ireland where they became known as Adventurers for land in Ireland.
Protestant settlers "undertook" to keep their faith, being granted lands previously owned by the Catholic Irish.
There is no evidence that the family name migrated to Ireland, but this does not preclude the possibility of their scattered migration to that country.
The New World offered better opportunities and some migrated voluntarily, some were banished mostly for religious reasons.
Some left Ireland disillusioned with promises unfulfilled, but many left directly from England, their home territories. Some also moved to the European continent.
Members of the family name Paynter sailed aboard the huge armada of three masted sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships such as the Hector, the Dove and the Rambler, were pestilence ridden, sometimes 30% to 40% of the passenger list never reaching their destination, their numbers reduced by dysentery, cholera, smallpox and typhoid.
Amongst the first settlers in North America, which could be considered a kinsman of the surname of Paynter, or a variable spelling of that family name was Regina Paynter who arrived in Philadelphia in 1734 ; Thomas, Robert and William Paynter all settled in Virginia in 1643.
From the port of entry many settlers made their way west, joining the wagon trains to the prairies on to the west coast.
During the American War of Independence, many loyalists made their way north to Canada about 1790, and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
Contemporary notables of this surname, Paynter, include many distinguished contributors; Air Commodore Noel Paynter; Thomas Paynter, Union Leader.
During the course of our research we also determined the many Coat of Arms granted to different branches of the family name.
The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms was:
... Blue with three silver squares each charged with a ring.
The Crest was :
... Three broken arrows
The ancestral church parish for the Paynter family is St. Marks, St. Stephens, North Tamerton, Boyton, Devon(now Cornwall); St. Denis.
More About Richard Paynter:
Burial: St. Thomas Church, Spring Brook Cemetery
More About Ann Hacker:
Burial: St. Thomas Church, Spring Brook Cemetery
Children of Richard Paynter and Ann Hacker are:
+ 2 i. William2 Paynter, born 1807 in North Tamerton, Cornwall, England; died 4 May 1880.
3 ii. Bernard Paynter, born Abt. 1810 in North Tamerton, Cornwall, England. He married Susannah Taylor Abt. 1830; born Abt. 1810.
Notes for Bernard Paynter:
Bernard settled in Springbrook, PEI
Generation No. 2
2. William2 Paynter (Richard1) was born 1807 in North Tamerton, Cornwall, England, and died 4 May 1880. He married Mary Ann Hacker 12 Apr 1835 in New London, PE. She was born Abt. 1810.
Notes for William Paynter:
William settled in Burlington, PEI
Children of William Paynter and Mary Hacker are:
4 i. Isabella3 Paynter, born Abt. 26 Jun 1836 in Springbrook, PE; died 1876. She married Dougald Henry Abt. 1857; born Abt. 1835.
+ 5 ii. Richard Paynter, born Abt. 24 Dec 1837 in Springbrook, PE; died 11 Oct 1898.
+ 6 iii. William Paynter, born Abt. 1 Mar 1840 in Springbrook, PE; died 29 Apr 1904.
7 iv. Elizabeth Paynter, born Abt. 16 Oct 1842 in Springbrook, PE.
8 v. John Thomas Paynter, born Abt. 3 Nov 1844 in Springbrook, PE.
9 vi. Thomas Hacker Paynter, born Abt. 1 Aug 1847 in Springbrook, PE; died 1931. He married Susan Matilda Payne Abt. 1870; born Abt. 1848.
+ 10 vii. John Hacker Paynter, born 29 Jul 1848 in New London, PE.
11 viii. Charles Paynter, born Abt. 12 May 1850 in Springbrook, PE.
12 ix. Mary Ann Paynter, born Abt. 18 Apr 1852 in Springbrook, PE.
+ 13 x. Edwin Paynter, born 11 Sep 1853 in Springbrook, PE.
14 xi. Sophie Jane Paynter, born Abt. 19 Jul 1857 in Springbrook, PE. She married John Henry Pidgeon 5 Dec 1889 in Kensington, PE; born Abt. 1856.
Generation No. 3
5. Richard3 Paynter (William2, Richard1) was born Abt. 24 Dec 1837 in Springbrook, PE, and died 11 Oct 1898. He married Martha Godfrey Abt. 1860. She was born Abt. 1838.
Children of Richard Paynter and Martha Godfrey are:
15 i. George Godfrey4 Paynter, born Abt. 28 Oct 1875 in Springbrook, PE.
16 ii. Hedley Vicars Paynter, born Abt. 14 Jul 1878 in Springbrook, PE.
17 iii. Edgar Huestis Paynter, born 7 Aug 1881 in Springbrook, PE.
18 iv. Chester Paynter, born 12 Apr 1885 in Springbrook, PE.
19 v. Lesley Thomas Paynter, born Abt. 8 Sep 1888 in Springbrook, PE.
6. William3 Paynter (William2, Richard1) was born Abt. 1 Mar 1840 in Springbrook, PE, and died 29 Apr 1904. He married Matilda Mann Abt. 1850. She was born Abt. 1830.
Notes for William Paynter:
Its not known if William and Matilda are the correct parents of Bernard or not. A Bernard Paynter, son of William Paynter and Matilda Mann, was christened at Springbrook 26 June 1853, so there is the chance that these are the correct parents.
Children of William Paynter and Matilda Mann are:
+ 20 i. Bernard4 Paynter, born 12 Dec 1852; died 21 Sep 1903.
21 ii. Caroline Paynter, born 18 Jul 1855 in Springbrook, PE. She married John Parsons Jan 1878 in New London, PE; born Abt. 1855.
Notes for Caroline Paynter:
Christened 18 July 1855 ant Springbrook.
22 iii. Wellington Nelson Paynter, born 1860; died 1928. He married Mary Amelia Beairsto Abt. 1884; born Abt. 1862.
Notes for Wellington Nelson Paynter:
Christened at Irishtown, Queens, 18 July 1861
+ 23 iv. Herbert Reid Paynter, born 1861; died 1938.
24 v. James A. Richey Paynter, born 1868 in Long River, PE.
25 vi. Rosella Paynter, born Abt. 26 May 1872.
Notes for Rosella Paynter:
Christened at Irishtown, Queens, 26 May 1872.
26 vii. Anna Evangeline Paynter, born Abt. 1 Mar 1876.
Notes for Anna Evangeline Paynter:
Christened at Springbrook, 1 Mar 1876.
27 viii. William John Paynter, born Abt. 1 Oct 1876; died 1936. He married Margaret Catherine McKay Abt. 1899; born Abt. 1877.
Notes for William John Paynter:
Christened at Springbrook. 1 Oct 1876.
10. John Hacker3 Paynter (William2, Richard1) was born 29 Jul 1848 in New London, PE. He married Charlotte Godfrey Abt. 1875. She was born Abt. 1850.
Child of John Paynter and Charlotte Godfrey is:
28 i. Florence May4 Paynter, born 13 Dec 1880 in Burlington, PE.
13. Edwin3 Paynter (William2, Richard1) was born 11 Sep 1853 in Springbrook, PE. He married Isabelle Evans 15 Nov 1880 in New London, PE. She was born Abt. 1855.
Children of Edwin Paynter and Isabelle Evans are:
29 i. Mary4 Paynter, born Abt. 13 Feb 1881 in Springbrook, PE.
30 ii. Lauretta Paynter, born Abt. 8 Dec 1887 in Springbrook, PE; died 1965. She married Samuel Borrows Moase Abt. 1910; born Abt. 1886.
31 iii. William Nelson Paynter, born Abt. 24 Apr 1890 in Springbrook, PE.
32 iv. Albert Harold Paynter, born 14 Mar 1894 in Springbrook, PE.
Generation No. 4
20. Bernard4 Paynter (William3, William2, Richard1) was born 12 Dec 1852, and died 21 Sep 1903. He married Serenah Alice Ashton Wickett Jul 1878. She was born 1860, and died 1950.
Child of Bernard Paynter and Serenah Wickett is:
+ 33 i. Thomas Andrew5 Paynter, born 1894 in Springbrook, PE; died 1980 in Freetown, PE.
23. Herbert Reid4 Paynter (William3, William2, Richard1) was born 1861, and died 1938. He married Elmira May Bernard Abt. 1881. She was born Abt. 1862.
Notes for Herbert Reid Paynter:
Christened at Springbrook, 1 March 1863.
Children of Herbert Paynter and Elmira Bernard are:
34 i. Oliver5 Paynter, born Abt. 1885.
35 ii. George Paynter, born Abt. 1888.
36 iii. Blanche Paynter, born Abt. 1892.
37 iv. Everett Paynter, born Abt. 1894.
38 v. Francis Paynter, born Abt. 1898.
39 vi. Ada Mae Paynter, born 30 Jun 1901 in Long River, PE; died 1979. She married (1) Earl Adams Abt. 1924; born 27 Apr 1893 in Seaview, PE; died 28 Nov 1931. She married (2) John Geddie Clark 25 May 1939 in Summerside, PE; born 20 Jun 1875 in Darnley, PE; died 18 Mar 1963 in Kensington, PE.
More About Earl Adams:
Burial: St. Stephen's Anglican Cemetery, Irishtown, PE
More About John Geddie Clark:
Burial: Kensington Peoples Cemetery, PE
Generation No. 5
33. Thomas Andrew5 Paynter (Bernard4, William3, William2, Richard1) was born 1894 in Springbrook, PE, and died 1980 in Freetown, PE. He married (1) Bessie Pickering Abt. 1914. She was born 1896, and died 24 Jun 1928 in Long River, PE. He married (2) Elsie McPhee Abt. 1934. She was born Abt. 1910.
Notes for Bessie Pickering:
Died in a house fire.