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The Frauncis Jasper of the preceding chapter would
seem to have been of good family (or his father-in-law was less particular
than the generality), and it would be satisfying if we could place him
at the head--or would we say the root?--of the family tree.
A statement to the effect that he was a direct ancestor "would lack
nothing except historic proof," and this we must leave to others to supply.
This chronicle, therefore, is no record of the doings
of the squirearchy, but a simple tale of yeoman farmers, and later of tradesmen,
who did no more for their country than make two ears of corn or two blades
of grass grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before. We are
not armigerous,--the statements of the previous chapter shew that the Crusader
who bore "vert, an anchor argent" with the motto "j'éspère"
is a mere figment of the imagination; we have not even so much heraldry
as a crest to redeem us from mediocrity; "we are hopelessly middle-class."
Who said "It is to the middle-class we must look for the safety of England?"
In 1636, John and Mary Jasper were living on Duton
Hill, a small hamlet three or four miles north of Dunmow (where the flitches
come from!), in Essex; possibly they were married the previous year, but
our hurried search of the Great Easton and Tilty registers failed to reveal
a record. To them were born children:--
Elizabeth Jasper, Born 1636, died 1639.
John Jasper. Born 1641--whence us--of whom more anon.
James Jasper. Born 1647, married Susan....., and had a large family; his descendants continued to live in the district until recently, the last being William Jasper, who died January 10th, 1899, and is buried in Tilty Churchyard. They retained the original spelling, though it is interesting to note that in the case of one or two members of the family the Church Registers give the "e," and one female actually signs the marriage register "Jesper."
Before proceeding with our own branch, it might be
well to dispose of the Jaspers.
In the parish of Shalford, some three miles as the
crow flies from Braintree, is the little village of Jasper's Green." This
is not much more than a hamlet consisting of a few farms, a smithy, a shop
or two, and an iron church. We have failed to trace the eponymous hero
from whom it derived its name, but the Church registers shew that there
was a family or settlement of Jaspers contemporary with our Duton Hill
Jaspers. We are indebted to the courtesy of the present incumbent of Shalford,
the Rev. Arthur J. Law, for the following extracts from the registers between
1645 and 1670. The original peculiarities of spelling have been preserved,
and it is interesting to note that the "a" and "e" are used practically
indiscriminately:--
1645
Elizabeth Jasper, daughter of William Jasper,
was baptized the XXVth day of March, 1645.
1646
Richard Jesper was buryed the six and twenty
day of March.
Elizabeth Jesper, the daughter of William Jesper,
was baptised the nine and twenty day of March. [This may be the same child
as that referred to in the first entry (which looks as if it had been interpolated
at a later date); on the other hand, the first Elizabeth may have died
soon after baptism, and the same name may have been given to her sister].
Joan Jesper, widow, was buryed the ninetene day
of June, anno pdicto.
Mary Jesper, the daughter of Hanna Jesper, now
widow, was baptised the sixt day of September, ano pdicto.
1648
Old ........ Jesper was buried on the 21 Apr.:
anno pdicto.
[This entry is very quaint: the writer had evidently
forgotten, or had never known, the Christian name of the ancient gentleman,
and left the blank to be filled at Felix's convenient season.]
Ralph Jesper, the sonne of John Jesper, was buried
9th May. ann. pdict.
1668
William Jasper was buryed November 1st.
There are still Jaspers in Essex; the directory shows at least three, near Colchester, Bishop's Stortford, and Stansted respectively, but we have had no communication with them.
Evidence is not wanting of other colonies of Jaspers in other parts of England. The Rev. Philip Jasper, of Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wilts., who very kindly furnished us with details of his own branch for several generations, tells us they came originally (about 150 years ago) from Cornwall, where the name is still not uncommon.
A careful investigation of the Essex Church Registers, deeds, and archives generally would no doubt yield much interesting material bearing on the family history, but this we must leave to others more favourably situated as regards leisure and means than ourselves.
CHAPTER IV-THE CHILDREN OF JOHN
CHAPTER V-THE CHILDREN OF THOMAS