Rogers Ancestors, acc. Hill

Thomas Mathew Rogers, b. abt. 1565 in the north of England or Scotland, m. abt. 1586 a McMurdocke. There were a number of children, among them *Thomas, Edmund, William, George, John.

Bernard Rogers, b. 1543 at Wittenberg, Saxony. He was educated in Germany and returned to England, crossing over into Scotland where he resided for a time, and married there about 1564. His known issue was Thomas Mathew Rogers called after the "nom de plume" used by the martyr in publishing the "Byble".

Rev. John Rogers, b. 1507 at Deritend near Birmingham, Co. Warwick, Eng. He was educated at Cambridge, leaving there about 1525, he took holy orders in the Roman Catholic Church about 1526, and from this time on his life was one of turmoil and strife in the religious world. He became a leader of the Anglican Reformation, and paid the penalty by being burned at the stake on Feb. 4, 1555, his children being forced to witness the ordeal. Rev. John Rogers m. abt. 1586 Adriana Pratt, alias de Weyden, niece of Jacob Von Meteren. According to Chester in his history of the Martyrs family, 1861, there were eleven children, as follows: I. Susan, b. Brabant (Antwerp) m. John Short, II. John, b. Saxony (Wittenberg) m. Mary Leete, III. Daniel, b. Saxony abt. 1740, d. Jan 1590, IV. Ambrose, *V. Bernard, b. 1543 at Wittenberg, Saxony, VI. Samuel, VII. Philip, VIII. Augustine, IX. Barnaby, X. Elizabeth, m. James Proctor, XI. Hester, m. Henry Ball.

John Rogers, of Deritend, b. 1485 at "Bradford," m. Margaret Wyatt abt. 1505/6 dau. of Sir Henry Wyatt of Abington Castle. Sir Henry was quite prominent at the Courts of Henry VII and VIII. The Sir Thomas Wyatt who led the uprising against the marriage of Queen Mary to Philip of Spain, and paid the penalty by losing his head, was a nephew. They made their home at "Deritend" in the parish of Aston, Warwick Co. They had children: *Rev John, b. 1507 at Deritend, William, Edward, Eleanor, m. Robert Mylward, and Joan.

Thomas Rogers, Sergeant at Law Esq., b. 1435 probably at Benham Valence, a Furneaux mansion, d. at Bradford on the Avon, Wilts 1489. He was buried there. He was a man of influence, but of small means. m. 1st 1479 Cecilia Besill of Bradford, and had son William; m. 2nd 1483 Catherine de COUBTNEY dau. of Sir Philip de Courtney, and had Sons George and John Rogers. Catherine de Courtney is the 8th gen. in direct line from Edward I, King of England, through the deCourtneys, de Bohuns, etc.; and from Edward I is in direct line to King Alfred. The historian Gibson states that the House of Courtney is "one of the most illustrious races among the English nobility".

Thomas Rogers Gent, b. 1408 at Ashington, Somerset, in a Furneaux mansion. m. 1st abt. 1433/4, had son Thomas; m. 2nd late in life.

Sir John Fits Roger, Knt. b. abt. 1386/7.

John Fits Roger, b. abt. 1335 Eng. m. 1385/6 Elizabeth, b. 1330, dau. of Sir Symon de Furneaux of Ashington, wid. of Sir John Blount. She was a very wealthy heiress, sole heir of her father, and of the 9th gen. in direct line from ODO DE FORNELL b. abt. 1040 in Normandy who came to Eng. with the Conqueror.

Robert "Guiscard," b. 1015, became a great General, commanding Norman troops in Italy, and was created Duke of Apulia 1059; King of Naples and had other honors, He d. 1085. His brother Rogers became Grand Count Roger I 1089-1102 of Sicily. He was b. 1030, d. 1101/2. Duke Robert and his brother Grand Count Roger were primarily responsible for the Norman conquest of Sicily, and the Fitz Roger name in South West England is alleged to have sprung from descendants of these brothers. Conditions in Sicily of a religious nature becoming delicate, an Aaron John Fitz Rogers, a merchant of Rome, was forced to flee to London where he engaged in business. The Rogers Family have the right to bear the coat of arms accredited to Grand Count Roger I of Sicily. Aaron Rogers was b. Italy abt. 1260/70.

Sir Tancred de Hautville, b. abt. 970. d. aft. 1058, a nobleman of Hautville near Cautauces, Normandy. m. 1st abt. 992 Moriella; m. 2nd abt. 1013 Fredistand, There were a number of sons, among them Robert, Roger and William.