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Three maps are available but be warned !! View the 3 with descriptions. Bicknell genealogy in the making
The Bicknells are of Teutonic blood. Crossed the river Rhine and invaded France before the Christian era. The original name was De Pavilly, a baronial family of a town called Pavilly (north of Rouen). The family manor was established in Normandy by Lord Amalbert de Pavilly in 664AD. Some came to England with William the Conqueror as part of the Norman invasion of Britain. Our English home was Beacon Hill in Somerset County England. Aluric, a Saxon was the first holder of the manor. After 1066 William gave the manor to his 1/2 brother Robert (Earl of Cornwall) who passed it on to William del'Estra. In 1260 William's daughter Johanne married Robert de Pavilly of Normandy, Bykenhulle came as a dower. They were involved directly in much 12-13th century events - Reginald died in first crusade, Ralph witnessed a charter in the reign of Henry I, Henry III sent money to Thomas for travels, Reginald attend the king in council as baron in 1260, Richard and Sir John were priors of the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem in 1361, Sir Walter was one of the founders of the Knights of the Garter. By 1281 John (son of Johanne and Robert) had changed his name to de Bykenhulle. Over the years 47 separate spellings have occurred as English evolved (e.g., Byhenhulle, Bikenoll, Bykenyll, Bickenhill, Bickernoll, Biconyll, Bycknell, Byconyll, Biknell,...). Bignall, Bignell, Bignold, and Bucknell are in no way related. Pavilly-Bicknells were a powerful, wealthy, and influential family in the 14'th and 15'th centuries. A very close relationship existed with the Roman church. As time passed the rapacious and capricious Henry VIII and harsh dogmatic Edward VI' confiscated, appropriated money and treasure of churches and monastery, and that 'gifts and donors were involved in one common doom', 'and henceforth the history of the Pavilly-Bicknells recedes into medieval twilight' I have personally visited the area that was believed to have been the site of Bykenhulle, now marked on maps as Bickenhall. The present day inhabitants of the few farms around Bickenhall were unable to confirm the 'Beacon Hill' but again it can be assumed that it is now known as Staple Hill.
The next records are far from complete and have been compiled from contributions from the following people Roberta Bicknell Piper, Laura Bicknell, my own visit to Barrington and Jim Robertson (A very kind genealogist from Austrailia who has been helping me with my research) From the information gained on my Barrington
Visit He and Agnes along with their son John (aged 11), made a great decision in 1635, boarding a ship sailing from Plymouth harbour, from the exact spot that the Mayflower sailed in 1620, to Boston, Massachusetts, MA, USA on May 5, 1635. The family moved a few miles south to Wessaguscus (renamed Weymouth). Also on board were 25 families led by Rev. Joseph Hull. Rich promoters promoted the emigration, many of them merchants hoping for rich returns on their investments. Reasons for leaving not religious. The Bicknell's were farmers and had a need for more land and estates. The family also took their servant, John Kitchin, (then aged 23) in reality a friend of Zachary. This helped to lower the expenses of emigration. The Kitchin family did well. They settled in Salem MA, in 1640 and became freemen in 1643. A shoemaker by trade, he married and had seven children. One son named Robert who attended the noted Harvard College. One descendant was the Hon. William Kitchin. He became governor of the state of North Carolina. His brother a lawyer and a member of the House of Representatives in North Carolina. The Bicknells also flourished. Temperate to middle class they all showed great pride and love of family life.
That is all I can offer at this early stage. I hope this has stirred some interest. If you are a Bicknell and haven't already done so, please e-mail me your family history as far back as you can go. With DOB/DOD, Birth place, Marriage detail and Offspring information. I'm adding all this data into a Family Tree Maker database and hope to link as many of us Bicknell's as possible.
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Set in the floor is a black engraved slab that marks the resting place of
Nicholas Bicknell who died in 1611. He was possibly Zachary's Uncle, although these family
ties are as yet unconfirmed.