Pontifex


1446 William Pontifex of London, nephew of Sir Roger Celle, chaplain of St Albans. Celle's will dated 1446 names his nephew as above.

William Pontifex, a priest, of St Christopher's church, London, and chaplain of St Mary Magdalen, East Ham, Essex. Inducted the vicar of West Ham in 1511. Will proved 10 July 1518. To be buried in churchyard of St. Mary Magdalen. Niece Agnes Guge, her husband Thomas, their sons Thomas, John, William.

Courts of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham 1483-1523.
1483-85. East Claydon, Bucks. Richard Merston vicar of East Claydon. Thomas Palmer,
Johannes Pontifex 'yconomi comp.

About 1550, East Claydon. A messuage called Pontifex purchased by Simon Love

1523 William Pontifex, accidentally killed in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, 15 May 1523, while armed with a dagger, intervening between two burghers of that town who were quarreling. Patent Roll: grant of parden given to Thomas Germyn.

Temple Manor Court Rolls, High Wycombe
Folio 52 11th July 2nd Eliz.(1559)
The next presentment is of a cottage in Frogmore which John Pontifex held in socage
(i.e. freehold) & had sold to Rowland Eeles alias Witmall & the bailiff commanded to distrain for 12d. a relief.

John Pontifex of West Wycombe, buried there. Will proved April 1589. Wife Alice.
Children William and Edward.

Nicholas Pontifex of Heybridge, Essex, labourer, on 22 June 42 Elizabeth there took a shirt worth 12d., a pair of stockings worth 12d., a jerkyn worth 12d. and 2os. in money of John Cornyshe. Convicted.
Calendar of Essex Assize File, Assizes held at Chelmsford 30 June 1600
Recognizance of John Cornishe of Heybridge shoemaker to evidence against Nicholas Pontifex of the same

John Pontifex of Wormley, Herts, died 1595

Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, IGI
1600 William son of William Pontifex
1602 John son of William Pontifex
1603 Thomas son of William Pontifex
1604 Robert son of William Pontifex
1605 Elizabeth daughter of William Pontifex
1612 Marie daughter of William Pontifex
1613 George son of William Pontifex

1618 April 18. William Pontifex and Joan Francis married in Cheshunt
1623 Jan 28 Joan Pontifex and Humphrey Court married in Cheshunt

1619 Rose daugher of William Pontifex and Joan

1623 Anne daugher of Thomas Pontifex and Alice

Coats of Arms
(General Armory)

Pontifex: Argent two palets azure between three mullets in chief of the last, a chief gules.
Crest: A tower ensigned with a crescent gules.

Pontifex (Bath, Somerset) Granted to Edmund Pontifex. Azure in base barry wavy of four argent and of the fieeld a bridge of three arches embattled proper a chief of the second, thereon two pallets between as many mullets of the field.
Crest: A tower proper charged with a cross moline azure and surmounted by a rainbow proper.
Motto: In hoc signe vinces.

1. John¹ Pontifex¹ was born abt. 1545 in West Wycombe, Bucks, and died 1588 in West Wycombe, Bucks. He married Alice ?.

Notes for John Pontifex:
According to a family legend, the Pontifex family was descended from Pope Martin V, originally Oddo Colonna (1368-1431), a Prince of the house of Colonna. He was married and had two sons who went to England and took the name Pontifex, of the Pontiff. He was ordained after the death of his wife.

Children of John Pontifex and Alice ? are:
+ 2 i. William² Pontifex, born 1570 in West Wycombe, Bucks; died 1630.
3 ii. Edward Pontifex, born Abt. 1575.

2. William² Pontifex (John¹) was born 1570 in West Wycombe, Bucks, and died 1630. He married Agnes ? 1601.


Children of William Pontifex and Agnes ? are:
4 i. Jane³ Pontifex, born 1602 in West Wycombe.
+ 5 ii. William Pontifex, born 1604 in West Wycombe, Bucks; died 1682 in Burnham.
6 iii. Ann Pontifex, born 1608 in West Wycombe.
+ 7 iv. Matthew Pontifex, born 1612 in West Wycombe; died 1673 in Bradenham.
8 v. Mary Pontifex, born 1614 in West Wycombe.

5. William³ Pontifex (William², John¹) was born 1604 in West Wycombe, Bucks, and died 1682 in Burnham. He married Ann ?.

Children of William Pontifex and Ann ? are:
9 i. John⁴ Pontifex, born 1627 in West Wycombe.
10 ii. John Pontifex, born 1632 in West Wycombe.
11 iii. Jane Pontifex, born 1637 in West Wycombe.
12 iv. Sarah Pontifex, born 1637 in Hughendon.
+ 13 v. William Pontifex, born Abt. 1640 in Burnham; died 1723 in Burnham, Bucks.
14 vi. Daniel Pontifex, born Abt. 1645; died 1725 in Burnham, Bucks. He married Sarah Higgens 1680.

7. Matthew³ Pontifex (William², John¹) was born 1612 in West Wycombe, and died 1673 in Bradenham. He married Elizabeth Quey.

Child of Matthew Pontifex and Elizabeth Quey is:
+ 15 i. Daniel⁴ Pontifex, born 1654 in Bradenham; died 1721 in West Wycombe.

13. William⁴ Pontifex (William³, William², John¹) was born Abt. 1640 in Burnham, and died 1723 in Burnham, Bucks. He married Mary ?.

Children of William Pontifex and Mary ? are:
16 i. Sarah⁵ Pontifex, born Abt. 1695; died 1718 in Burnham. She married (1) James Style. She married (2) John Devonshire 1708.
+ 17 ii. Daniel Pontifex, born 1695 in Burnham; died 1775 in Iver.
18 iii. Mary Pontifex, born Abt. 1696. She married Richard Dell 1718.

15. Daniel⁴ Pontifex (Matthew³, William², John¹) was born 1654 in Bradenham, and died 1721 in West Wycombe. He married Mary Sherwood 1679.

Children of Daniel Pontifex and Mary Sherwood are:
19 i. Mary⁵ Pontifex, born 1681.
+ 20 ii. Edward Pontifex, born 1684 in West Wycombe; died 1736.
21 iii. Daniel Pontifex, born Abt. 1686.
22 iv. Elizabeth Pontifex, born 1689.

17. Daniel⁵ Pontifex (William⁴, William³, William², John¹) was born 1695 in Burnham, and died 1775 in Iver. He married Sarah Batten 1718, daughter of John Batten.

Children of Daniel Pontifex and Sarah Batten are:
23 i. Daniel⁶ Pontifex, born 1719 in Burnham, Bucks; died 1750 in Iver. He married Sarah Hedger 1749 in Upton Cum Chalvey, Bucks.
24 ii. John Pontifex, born 1720 in Burnham; died 1753 in Iver. He married Elizabeth ?.
25 iii. William Pontifex, born 1722 in Burnham, Bucks; died 1773 in Iver. He married Sarah Style 1745.
26 iv. Sarah Pontifex, born 1736 in Iver. She married John Russell 1752.

20. Edward⁵ Pontifex (Daniel⁴, Matthew³, William², John¹) was born 1684 in West Wycombe, and died 1736. He married (1) Mary ?. He married (2) Martha Oxlade 1707, daughter of Thomas Oxlade and Martha Clarke.

Children of Edward Pontifex and Mary ? are:
27 i. William⁶ Pontifex, born Abt. 1730. He married Mary Oliver 1753.
28 ii. Ann Pontifex, born Abt. 1734. She married James Irving 1752 in West Wycombe.
29 iii. Ralph Pontifex, born 1735 in West Wycombe; died 1815.

Child of Edward Pontifex and Martha Oxlade is:
30 i. Mary⁶ Pontifex, born 1708.

1. Claud E. C. Pontifex, The family of Pontifex of West Wycombe, Co. Buckingham, 1500-1977.