The various Templer families
The Somerset, Devon and Dorset Templers
Our Templer family can trace its roots to the Templers of North Petherton in Somerset. Early records show a large number of Templers in this area and it is from the marriage of Alexander Templer to Agnes Symons in 1573 that our line of Templers descend.
Rootsmagic Database for the Templer Family
Do visit the following website for more information regarding the our Templers
https://commonancestortales.co.uk/
The Honychurch Family
Henry Line Templer Jr had a liaison with Frances Elizabeth Honychurch. From this Harry Line Templer Honychurch was born just before Henry Line Templer drowned of the coast of Cameroon. He was never to know his son. See Henry Line Templer Jr
We would be very interested in contacts with this family.
The Meredith Family
Just recently, as a result of DNA testing we believe that an unknown Templer was the father of Frederick Meredith born in 1763 in the UK
The Frederick Meredith Descendants Group is trying to find the parents of Frederick Meredith born in 1763 in the UK. Five Australian Meredith males have DNA matched with Templers in Devon by the look of things.
The DNA names that are connecting with families in Australia are Seymour, Tatton, Meredith, Brereton, Cholmondeley and Templer. We believe maybe a Meredith woman and a Templer to be the parents of Frederick Meredith born in 1763. Frederick came out to Australia with the First Fleet on the Scarborough so there could be a naval connection. He could read and write and carved his initials in rock at Garden Island in Austrralia.
If you have access to any Templer Family records that might indicate Fred's parentage that would be greatly appreciated.
The London Templers
This family came from Alphington, the home village of the Salmon Pool side of the family. It migrated to London and many of the stories that have been passed down through the family match up with the main branch. We just can't make the link between the two families.
Rootsmagic Database of London Templers
The Devonport Templers
William Templer married Mary Roach in 1826 at Devonport, Devon and then emigrated to Australia with his family. Where did William come from?
DNA analysis would seem to indicate that this is family is not related to the Salmon Pool and Stover Templers.
Our American friends
What seems strange is, that so far we don't have records of any of our Templers emigrating to the United States, until the last few years, although we would love you to prove us wrong. If you are searching for American Templers it may be worth checking out this Templer family website
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Wiltshire Templers
There is a family of Templers who can trace their heritage to the above counties. Until recently, I have never researched these families as I have always considered them to be a separate branch. I am know starting to build up family trees for these families but if anybody has done this previously, please get in touch. I am not sure if these families are directly related to each other or maybe to the Somerset Templers. Maybe DNA analysis will give us an answer.
The Hampshire Templers
This family started with the marriage of Edward Templer and Elizabeth Elms in 1775 at Lymington, Hampshire. We would love to know more about this family.
The Perry Purpill Templers
Perry Purpill (Purple) Templer seems to be very influential in Madras, India, having originated from London. We thought at one time the may have associated with James Templer of Stover as he was suppose to have made his fortune in India. We are now sure that James never went to India and has no connection to Perry.
The Knight Templars
We are often asked if we are related to the Knight Templars? This organisation of military knights was formed in 1119 to protect pilgrims on their way to visit Jerusalem. It was a dangerous time as the pilgrims were subjected to murder, rape, enslavement and robbery, during their journey. A permanent guard for travellers called the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ was set up by the Pope and Hugh of Paynes, who became the first Grand Master of the Knight Templars. Why Templars? In Britain they are known as Templars, probably due to the influence of Sir Walter Scott’s (1771-1832) book “Ivanhoe” (1820). In most countries where the Knight Templers had any influence such as France, Spain etc. they are always spelt with an ER, but in Britain (and sometimes in America) it is often spelt AR.
The Knights Templar became very rich for a number of reasons. Knights who joined the order had to take a vow and would often give money and land to the organisation on joining. In addition they were often bequeathed large amounts of land and money from the king and other rich families. Another method where the Templars made much money was being the earliest bankers, when a rich person went on pilgrimage, rather that taking large amounts of money with them, they deposited this with the Templers, say in London, to which they were given letters of credit, which they then could use to draw money from the Templars on their way out and back. Naturally they had to pay for the privilege.
As a result of this the Templars held large swaves of land. It is my understanding that around North Petherton / Taunton the Knight Templars had an estate. I can’t find any specific reference to the exact place, so I would be interested to hear from you if you have any further details. I know of Temple Guiting, and Temple Cowley but these are some distance away from North Peatherton,where our family seems to have originated from. I know that there was another similar estates in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire where other branches of Templers started
The Knights were (supposed to be) a celibate order so our Templer family could be:
- Illegitimate offspring of the Knights.
- Foundlings taken in by the Knights and given the surname Templer.
- Sergeants or Squires (who were allowed to marry) of the Templer order who took the Templer name.
- or more likely they were surfs of the Templar estate who took the surname of Templer when surnames became more common.
The Knight Templars became so rich that the King of France owed the order so much money that he could no longer pay them back, so with the connivance of the Pope, the order was accused of heresy and this led them to be excommunicated and banned. Now what makes no sense is that a family kept or adopted this name, based on an order that had been banned.
Although occasionally you will find a record of our name being spelt Templar and it is very likely that this was due to a mis-spelling. The name usually reverts back to Templer by the next generation.
Most people who spell their name Templar or Temple are likely to be foundlings who were often given the name of the local ward or church. Over 100 foundlings baptized in the Temple in London between 1728 and 1755 were given the name Templar or Temple. We think that they were given the name Templar to distinguish between the established Templer families already in the London area.