Acknowledgement: Much of the following information comes from the written notes of Marie Watkins Culbreth, Great Granddaughter of Lt. Col. Francis Tennille, distinguished officer in the American Revolution.
The original settlements of the Tennille family are located by F. Brousseau in his book, "French Family origins in the Province of Brittany Bretagne." In the year 1204 A.D., Raoul Tennille is noted in Carnot's " Land Rolls of Brittany" as being under tenant on the lands of the Duke of Jocelyn.
The family name meant barrel-maker or cooper. One of the earliest known Tennille's of whom there is any knowledge is Geoffroi Tennille. He was an architect of castles in the Loire Valley in 1208.
Kiecir was the German name for Tennille and Kezia or Kizzie was a name used a lot by the family in the 1200's.
In the Monastic and Ecclesiastical registers 1200-1500 A.D., the following are noted: Pierre Tennille gave land of 34 acres to the church at St. Brieuc in 1217 A.D., Andre Tennille gave land of 25 acres to the church at Laigle in 1218 A.D. These are the earliest mention of the name Tennille in documents written or printed. In 1290 A.D., Francois Tennille gave lands to the church at Dinan.
In records from "Chateau of Brittany" by J. Sorbier, the following are listed as Chateau owners: In 1408 Geoggroui Tennille of Laval, in 1429 Leon Tennille of Nantes, in 1455 Henri Tennille of Rennes.
The Calendar of French State papers shows Tomas Tennille as court Treasurer to the King of France in 1532
In L. Barzel's " Early French Builders" is noted Gerard Tennille as master mason in the building of the famous Chateau of Blois on river Loire.
Following the preaching of Calvin and Luther, the first Protestant church was opened in France in 1538 A.D. A search of Huguenot records shows in 1600 A.D. five Tennille Branches in Angers, seven in Nantes, four in Paris, seven in Marseiilles, eight in Lyons. At Pontivy in Brittany, Phillipe Tennille was burned to death in 1566 for refusing to renounce Protestantism.
The name Huguenot originated from a city gate at Lours called that after King Hugo, a Catholic Preacher, stated the Protestants came out at night like King Hugo, and this appellation was used thereafter.
These Huguenots were the most skilled craftsman in France. In 1608, Jules Tennille owned a weaving factory at Lorient ( Brittany). The Tennilles were also doctors, accountants, architects and merchants, often in the service of the French kings.
Because of persecution in some areas, Tennille branches immigratred to Germany, Holland, and England in the 1600's. From these countries, between 1820-1870, 35 branches are recorded in sailing list as immigrants to the U.S.A and Canada. (See Note 3)
It is suggested, but certainly not proved, that our Tennille ancestors left their homeland of Picardy, France and are believed to have emigrated to the Isle of Man or Ireland where they came under the protection of Sir Philip Sidney, Earl of Leicester. Please note: Algernon Sidney, born 1622 was the second son of Robert Sidney, second Earl of Leicester. The use of Algernon among the descendents of Lt. Col. Francis Tennille is noteworthy.
We do know that the name was Anglicized to Tenneil, as in Sir John Tenneil, illustrator of Alice in Wonderland.
Apparently not all the Tennilles left France. At the Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia, there is a monument to the French dead at the Battle of Yorktown. Included is the name of Andre Terville. An examination of the records showed that the script "nn" had been misinterpreted by someone as "rv" when the engraving was done.
From the reference, Virginia Settlers and English Adventurers, Volume II: Abstracts of Wills, 1484-1798, we find a Thomas Tinell listed in a will of Gregory Pratt of London, 13 May 1632. Thomas Tinell is shown as a brother in law to Gregory Pratt, Esq. (See Note 1). On 4 July 1644, there is another will, that of Dame Elizabeth Clare which lists Cousin Thomas Tinell and his sons, Edmond, Thomas, and Francis. Another cousin, James Tinell and his son, Robert are also listed. She was a widow, from Cotton, Suffolk, England and was buried in Bexley Churchyard, Kent, near her brother Sir Peter Wroth. (See Note 2). It is interesting to see the name, Francis Tinell, appears at this early date. Perhaps these are distant relatives or forebears of Francis Tinnell of Prince William County Virginia, who died there about 1777. For purposes of this report, Francis Tinnell of Prince William County is considered the first generation, since no connection can be made to the earlier people cited here.
1. VIRGINIA SETTLERS AND ENGLISH ADVENTURERS, By Noel Currer-Briggs, Volume II, Wills - Part II, Section 41, page 280:
"643. GREGORY PRATT; PCC 92 Coventry; 13 May 1632; Proved: 13 June 1640
Gregory PRATT of London, Esq. Sir Roger PRATT, brother-in-law Thomas Tinell, Esq., son-in-law Edmund WEST, nephew Edmund PRATT, Esq., Ex-or: Gilbert HAVERSE, Gent.; Witnesses: Colliott LINGE, William CHILD."
2. VIRGINIA SETTLERS AND ENGLISH ADVENTURERS, By Noel Currer-Briggs, Volume II, Wills - Part II, Section 60, page 346:
"843. DAME ELIZABETH CLARE; PCC 117 Riven; 4 July 1644; Proved: 4 Sept 1645
Dame Elizabeth CLARE of Cotton, Suffolk, Widow. To be buried in Bexley churchyard, Kent, near brother Sir Peter WROTH Kt. and Aunt Shirley. Anthony WROTH, second son of Peter WROTH, Brother Sir Thomas WROTH, Children of Sir Peter WROTH:- John WROTH, eldest son, Peter WROTH third son, Henry WROTH fourth son, Thomas WROTH fifth son; Elizabeth WROTH eldest daughter, Jane WROTH second daughter, Frances WROTH third daughter. Mr. Francis BACON, my worthy and special good friend. Dame Margaret WROTH, widow of Sir Peter, and her sister, Mrs Frances DEERING. My cousin Martha COLE, widow, and her son William COLE. Cousin Dorcas CRABBE, widow. God-daughter Elizabeth HURREY. Cousin Thomas MAY and Sarah his wife and their daughter Elizabeth MAY. Cousins Mathias MAY, Cornelius MAY. Goddaughter Elizabeth YARDLEY. Goddaughter Elizabeth WRAGGE. Goddaughter Clare PRETTYMAN. Godson Henry HARVEY. Cousin Robert MYNNE. Cousin George MYNNE. Cousin Henry WROTH, son of Sir Robt. WROTH dec'd. Cousin Richard GODWARD. Cousin Thomas HURREY. Cousin Robert HURREY. Cousin Christopher HURREY and his brother George HURREY. Cousin John HURREY, Clerk, and Thomas HURREY his son. Godson Stephen LANCASTER. Godson Justinian CLAIBORNE. Goddaughter Clare FISKE. Cousin Thomas GOODYARD. Cousin Thomas TINELL and Edmond TINELL, Thomas & Francis TINELL his sons. Cousin James TINELL Esq. and Robt. TINELL his son. Friend Sir Simon D'EWES. Mr. Edward HEYWARD of Norfolk, Mr. Francis HEYWARD his brother. Mr. Richard IRELAND, Minister of St Edmund Fishergate in Norwich. Servant Anne ALLISON. Exor: Anthony WROTH, nephew. Witnesses: William LINSTEAD, Robert REDWALL, Richard CORBOLD".
3. INTERNATIONAL ANCESTRY GUILD, LONDON, ENGLAND; ARCHIVE NUMBER LF-766
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