Over the last few weeks I have been engaged in researching the ancestry of Mary Nightingale (1650-1718), the wife of John Redshaw, of Layston, Herts. 'Nightingale' has been used multiple times between 1674 and the modern day as a Christian name in the Redshaw (which morphed phonetically over time into 'Racher' over time) family. The origin of the use of 'Nightingale' as a Christian name in this family has long been a mystery, and I believe that I may be the first to have found the answer. In so doing I have pieced together the following pedigree of the Nightingale family. I post it here to make it available to others, but also to seek any comments or corrections from any interested party. Best wishes Robert O'Connor roconnor@es.co.nz __________________________________ NIGHTINGALE OF YELLING & CAMBRIDGE REV. LEONARD NIGHTINGALE, M.A., of Yelling, Co. Hunts., Born c. 1545. That the Nightingales of Yelling & Cambridge were related to the Nightingales of Newport is evidenced by Leonard Nightingale (d 1660) of Yelling, due to his having no surviving children, devising all his lands at Yelling & Graveley, Co. Hunts. to Geoffrey Nightingale (d 1681) of Kneesworth, in the Parish of Bassingbourn, Co. Cambs. Educ. Clare College, Cambridge University. His entry in ‘Alumni Cantabrigienses’, Part 1, Earliest Times to 1751’ reads as follows – “Nightingale, Leonard. Matric[ulated] pens[ioner] from Clare, Easter, 1563. B.A., 1566/7; M.A., 1570. Ord[ained] deacon (Ely) Aug 24, 1566; priest, March 23, 1566/7. V[icar] of Stapleford, Cambs., 1567. R[ector] of Little Barford, Beds., 1571. R[ector] of Yelling, Hunts., 1585-1612”. He was ordained a priest by Richard Cox, Bishop of Ely, 23 March 1566/7. Appointed Rector of Little Barford, Co. Beds., 20 June 1571. M before 13 Jan. 1584/5 Mary (Born c. 1555. She was mentioned in the will of her maternal uncle Rev. Thomas Parkinson (d 1586) with her mother & siblings as follows – “I give & bequeath to Margaret Slater my natural sister & her children viz Henry Ridley, Mark Ridley, Marye [sic] Nightingale, Susan Cranforth & Elizabeth Cole all such sume [sic[ or sumes [sic] of money as Robert Siston of Hemingforth do at present instant owe unto me to be distributed unto them at the discretion of George Slater Doctor of Divinity & my cozen [sic] Christopher Parkinson”, which will was witnessed by her husband Leonard Nightingale, 13 Jan. 1584/5), d. of Rev. Dr. Lancelot Ridley, D.D., M.A., of Stretham, Co. Cambs. & his wife Margaret Parkinson. He was recorded as acting as a witness to the will of his wife’s maternal uncle Rev. Thomas Parkinson (d 1586), of Willingham, Co. Cambs., 13 Jan. 1584/5. Appointed Rector of Yelling, Co. Hunts., 22 Sept. 1585. At the baptism of his son Mark he was recorded in the Yelling baptismal register as “Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”, 20 Feb. 1587/8. At the baptism of his son Roger he was recorded in the Yelling baptismal register as “Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”, 12 Feb. 1589/90. At the baptism of his daughter Katherine he was recorded in the Yelling baptismal register as “Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”, 9 Jan. 1591/2. Recorded as “Mr Leonard Nightingale, Rector of Yelling”, 27 Sept. 1597. At the baptism of his son Luke he was recorded in the Yelling baptismal register as “Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”, 18 Oct. 1597. Died 1625. Admon. Granted at the Archdeaconry Court of Huntingdon, 1625. He had issue: 1.John, of Yelling., Born c. 1585. M Magdalene (She was mentioned in her husband’s will as “my lovinge [sic] wife Magdalene”, 19 May 1626). Will dated 19 May 1626 – in which he was described as “John Nightingale of Yelinge [sic] in the County of Hunts Gent[leman]” & provided “I doe [sic] give & grant unto my said wife duringe [sic] her natural life one annuity or yearlie [sic] rent of tenn [sic] pounds of lawful money of England to be charged out of my farme [sic] in Yellinge [sic] aforesaid which was my fathers towards the bringinge [sic] up of my children William & Magdalene until [sic] they shall attaine [sic] to their several ages of one & twentie [sic] yeares”, & “I give & bequeath unto my sonne [sic] Leonard & his heirs my farme [sic] in Yellinge [sic] which was my fathers with all the lands meadows pastures profitts [sic] commofities & appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonginge [sic] called by the name of Osburnes, upon condition that my sonne [sic] Leonard pay unto my said wife the said annuity or yearly payment of tenn [sic] pounds as aforesaid…” & “I give & bequeath to my brothers Roger & Luke to either of them tenn [sic] poundes [sic] to be paid within tenn [sic] years next after my decease”. Died 1626. Will Proved at P.C.C., 7 July 1626. He had issue: 1a.Leonard, of Yelling, Co. Hunts & Graveley, Co. Cambs., Born c. 1610. Educ. Magdalene College, Cambridge University. His entry in ‘Alumni Cantabrigienses’, Part 1, Earliest Times to 1751’ reads as follows – “Nightingale, Leonard. Matric[ulated] sizar from Magdalene, Easter 1625”. M Parradine. In ‘The Victoria County History of Cambridgeshire’ article for the Parish of Graveley it was recorded as follows – “In the 16th & early 17th century the Wiseman family held c. 200 acreas, divided & sold c. 1650. Half passed through Robert Pepys (d. 1661), an uncle of the diarist, to the Brookes. Leonard Nightingale of Yelling (Hunts.), who bought the other half in 1650, devised it in 1660 to his kinsman Geoffrey Nightingale of Kneesworth. The estate, 157 acres after 1660, descended in that family until Sir Charles E. Nightingale, Bt., in 1807 sold the 175 acres allotted at inclosure to the Londoner Richard Haighton (d. 1813)…”. Will dated 13 Jan. 1659/60 – in which he was described as “Leonard Nightingale of Yelling in the County of Huntington [sic] Esquire”, mentioned “my daughter Anne” to whom he devised all his lands at Yelling & Graveley, but provided that if she did not survive him & attain the age of 21 years they were to pass to his kinsman “Jefferie [sic] Nightingale of Kneesworth in the County of Cambridge Esquire” provided that “he shall paye [sic] or cause to be paid unto Roger Nightingale the eldest sonne [sic] of Roger Nightingale of Cambridge in the Countie [sic] of Cambridge & servant in King’s College the full summe [sic] of Twentie [sic] pounds of lawfull [sic] money of England when he attaine [sic] to his full age of Thirtie [sic] years”. Died 1660. Will Proved at P.C.C., 27 March 1660. He had issue: 1b.Anne, Bapt. 10 May 1654 at Yelling – recorded in the baptismal register as “Anne daughter of Leonard & Parradine Nightingale”. She was mentioned in her father’s will as “my daughter Anne”, 13 Jan. 1659/60. As her father’s lands at Yelling & Graveley passed to Geoffrey Nightingale (d 1681), of Kneesworth, she must have died young. 2a.William, He & her sister were recorded in their father’s will as “my children William & Magdalene”, 19 May 1626. 3a.Magdalene, She & her brother were recorded in their father’s will as “my children William & Magdalene”, 19 May 1626. 2.MARK, of whom we presently. 3.Roger (Rev.), of the Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, London., Bapt. 12 Feb. 1589/90 at Yelling – recorded in the baptismal register as “Rogerus [sic] son of Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”. In Church of England clergy records he was recorded as being ordained as a deacon, 20 Jan. 1616/7, & as a priest, 22 March 1616/7, by John Overall, Bishop of Lichfield & Coventry. He was a Gentleman [priest] of the Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, London – initially appointed in extraordinary [on a temporary basis], 29 June 1619, & then in ordinary [on a permanent basis] 20 July 1620. He was mentioned with his brother Luke in the will of his brother John who provided “I give & bequeath to my brothers Roger & Luke to either of them tenn [sic] poundes [sic] to be paid within tenn [sic] years next after my decease”, 19 May 1626. M 1st 1631 (marriage settlement dated 9 June 1631) Margaret (Born at Glaston), d. of Richard Bedoe, of the Parish of St John, Glaston, Somerset. It was recorded in the ‘Report of the Commissioners for inquiring concerning charities’ made in 1825 concerning the Parish of Glastonbury in Somerset as follows – “It appears also, by an indenture, dated 20th February 1634, an abstract of which is subjoined, that one Roger Nightingale, & his wife, granted an annuity of £6 8s 6d for the benefit of the poor people in the said alms houses. By indenture of this date, made between John Wrinkmore, the elder, of Glaston, in the county of Somerset, yeoman, & Mary, his wife, of the first part; Roger Nightingale, clerk, one of the gentlemen of his Majesty's chapel royal, & Margaret, his wife, born at Glaston aforesaid, daughter of Richard Bedoe, then late of the parish of St. John, there deceased, of the second part; & Edward Dyer, esq. Thomas Brooke, esq. Christopher Preston, gentleman, Christopher Hopkins, mercer, John Gutch, mercer, Nicholas Mapson, clothier, John Wrintmore, the younger, clothier, John Poode, yeoman, Richard Hall, yeoman, Richard Bound, yeoman, Thomas Jenkins, white-baker, & John King, yeoman, of the third part; It is witnessed, that said Wrinkmore & wife, for themselves, & the heirs of the said John, in consideration of £120 paid to the said Wrinkmore by the said Nightingale, at the entreaty of his wife, according to a covenant or agreement contained in certain articles made on the marriage of the said Nightingale & wife, dated 9th June, 6th Charles [1631], did give, grant & confirm unto the said Edward Dyer, &c. one annuity, or yearly rent-charge of 6 l.2s. 6d. issuing & going forth out of all that tenement or inn in Glaston aforesaid, called or known by the name or sign of the Crown, & out of all the lands, tenements, feedings, &c. &c. to the said tenement or inn belonging, or in anywise appertaining; to hold the said annuity or yearly rent-charge unto the said Dyer, &c. their heirs and assigns, for ever; to be paid at or upon the High Cross in Glaston aforesaid, at two of the most usual feasts or terms of the year, viz. at the feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, & St. Michael the Archangel, by even & equal portions, the first payment to be made and to begin at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, then next ensuing..”. It was recorded in ‘The History of the English Dramatic Poetry to the time of Shakespeare’ as follows – “By a similar warrant, of the 20th of April 1641, we find that the following was the establishment of the Chapel Royal. Subdean – Stephen Broughton. Chaplains – Anthony Kirby, Richard Cotton, Ezechiel Wade, Edmond Nelham, Roger Nightingale, & John Frost…” In ‘The Musical World’ it was recorded that “During the civil wars & the interregnum which followed, the members of the chapel were dispersed throughout the country, seeking protection from those who were often ill able to afford it to them…” According to Sir John Hawkins in his ‘A General History of the Science & Practice of Music’ – “Roger Nightingale, a clergyman, & one of the chapel at the restoration, was then an old man. He had been of the chapel to Charles I, & even before the commencement of that King’s reign, distinguished as a singer. He dwelt with Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, at Budgen in Huntingdonshire, the episcopal seat: & when that prelate was translated to York, he took Nightingale with his to Cawood Castle, & as a mark of his favour, gave him a lease worth £500 to be sold”. It was recorded in the ‘The Marriage, Baptismal & Burial Registers of the Collegiate Church or Abbey of St Peter, Westminster’ as follows – “He was sworn as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in ordinary 29 June 1619, & succeeded to the next vacancy 20 July 1620. In the Cheque Book he is described as “a Base from St. Paul’s”, & as in holy orders. He was sworn Confessor to His Majesty’s Household in June 1660, & died 25 Nov. 1661, being succeeded in that office by Rev Philip Tynchare, the preserve of the old Abbey Register”. It was recorded in Rembault’s ‘The Old Cheque Book, or Book of Remembrance, of the Chapel Royal. From 1561-1744’ as follows – “1661. Roger Nightingale, one of the Gentlemen of His Majesties Chappell [sic] & Confessor to his Majesties Household, died November 25, 1661, into whose place as gentleman was admitted Roger Hill, as Confessor Philip Tucker, one of the Gentlemen of His Majesties Chappell [sic]”. Died 25 Nov. 1661. Bur. 28 Nov. 1661 in the East Cloister, Westminster Abbey, London – recorded in the burial register as “Mr Roger Nightingale, one of the Gentlemen of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, & Confessor of His Majesty’s Household”. 4.Katherine, Bapt. 9 Jan. 1591/2 at Yelling – recorded in the baptismal register as “Katherina [sic] daughter of Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”. 5.Luke, of Cambridge., Bapt. 18 Oct. 1597 at Yelling – recorded in the baptismal register as “Lucas [sic] son of Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”. He was mentioned with his brother Luke in the will of his brother John who provided “I give & bequeath to my brothers Roger & Luke to either of them tenn [sic] poundes [sic] to be paid within tenn [sic] years next after my decease”, 19 May 1626. M -- . At the burial of his son Luke he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge burial register as “Luke Nightingale”, 2 June 1643. He had issue: 1a.Luke, M.A., Educ. Trinity College, Cambridge University. His entry in ‘Alumni Cantabrigienses’, Part 1, Earliest Times to 1751’ reads as follows – “Nightingale, Luke. Adm[itted] pens[ioner] at Trinity, July 9, 1635. Matric[ulated], 1635. B.A., 1639/40. M.A., 1643. Fellow, 1640”. At the burial of his son Luke he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge burial register as “Luke Nightingale, M.A”, 2 June 1643. Bur. 2 June 1643 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the burial register as “Luke Nightingale, M.A., son of Luke Nightingale” MARK NIGHTINGALE, of Cambridge, Co. Cambs., Bapt. 20 Feb. 1587/8 at Yelling – recorded in the baptismal register as “Marcus [sic] son of Leonardi [sic] Nightingale”. M 1st c. 1620 Elizabeth (Bur. 11 May 1639 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the burial register as “Elizabeth the wife of Marke [sic] Nightingale, Gent”). At the baptism of his son Roger he was recorded in the Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge baptismal register as “Marke [sic] Nightingale”, 21 Oct. 1621. At the burial of his 1st wife Elizabeth he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge burial register as “Marke [sic] Nightingale, Gent”, 11 May 1639. M 2nd 1640 at Barton, Co. Cambs., Ann Aspland (Died 9 Nov. 1645 – as recorded in the burial register. Bur. 10 Nov. 1645 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the burial register as “Ann the wife of Mark Nightingale, gent, died 9 Nov.”). At the baptism of his son Benjamin he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge baptismal register as “Marke [sic] Nightingale”, 18 May 1641. At the burial of his 2nd wife Ann he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge burial register as “Mark Nightingale, Gent”, 10 Nov. 1645. Bur. 26 Nov. 1649 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the burial register as “Marke [sic] Nightingale”. Admon Granted at P.C.C., 1649. He had issue by his 1st wife: 1.ROGER, of whom we presently. Mark Nightingale (1588-1649) had further issue by his 2nd wife: 2.Benjamin, Bapt. 18 May 1641 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the baptismal register as “Benjamin, son of Marke [sic] Nightingale”. ROGER NIGHTINGALE, of King’s College, Cambridge, Co. Cambs., Bapt. 21 Oct. 1621 at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge – recorded in the baptismal register as “Roger, son of Marke [sic] Nightingale”. M Mary (At the burial of her son Roger she & her husband were recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge burial register as “Roger & Mary Nightingale”, 6 June 1649). He was granted administration of the estate of his father Mark Nightingale, 1649. At the burial of his son Roger he & his wife were recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge burial register as “Roger & Mary Nightingale”, 6 June 1649. At the baptism of his daughter Mary he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge baptismal register as “Roger Nightingale”, 28 May 1650. At the baptism of his son Roger he was recorded in the St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge baptismal register as “Roger Nightingale”, 28 April 1652. He & his son Roger were mentioned in the will of his 1st cousin Leonard Nightingale (d 1660), of Yelling, Co. Hunts., who devised all his lands at Yelling & Graveley to his daughter Anne, but provided that if Anne did not survive him & attain the age of 21 years that those lands were to pass to his kinsman “Jefferie [sic] Nightingale of Kneesworth in the County of Cambridge Esquire” subject to Geoffrey Nightingale being required to “…paye [sic] or cause to be paid unto Roger Nightingale the eldest sonne [sic] of Roger Nightingale of Cambridge in the Countie [sic] of Cambridge & servant in King’s College the full summe [sic] of Twentie pounds of lawfull [sic] money of England when he attaine [sic] to his full age of Thirtie [sic] years”, 13 Jan. 1659/60. He was sued in the Court of Chancery by his kinsman Geoffrey Nightingale (d 1681), of Kneesworth, in the Parish of Bsssingbourn, Co. Cambs. in respect of “property in Yelling & Hemingford, Co. Hunts.”, 1660. When his son Roger was apprenticed to Robert Thodey, Vintner [Wine Merchant], of London his son was recorded as “Roger Nightingale, son of Roger Nightingale, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Gentleman, deceased”, 3 Sept. 1667. Died before 3 Sept. 1667. He had issue: 1.Roger, Bur. 6 June 1649 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the burial register as “Roger, son of Roger & Mary Nightingale”. 2.MARY, of whom we presently. 3.Roger, of London., Bapt. 28 April 1652 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the baptismal register as “Roger, son of Roger Nightingale”. He & his father were mentioned in the will of his 1st cousin once removed Leonard Nightingale (d 1660), of Yelling, Co. Hunts., who devised all his lands at Yelling & Graveley to his daughter Anne, but provided that if Anne did not survive him & attain the age of 21 years that those lands were to pass to Leonard’s kinsman “Jefferie [sic] Nightingale of Kneesworth in the County of Cambridge Esquire” subject to Geoffrey Nightingale being required to “…paye [sic] or cause to be paid unto Roger Nightingale the eldest sonne [sic] of Roger Nightingale of Cambridge in the Countie [sic] of Cambridge & servant in King’s College the full summe [sic] of Twentie pounds of lawfull [sic] money of England when he attaine [sic] to his full age of Thirtie [sic] years”, 13 Jan. 1659/60. In the ‘London Apprenticeship Abstracts, 1442-1850’ it was recorded as follows – “Name – Roger Nightingale, Livery Company – Vintners’ Company, Details – Roger Nightingale, son of Roger Nightingale, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Gentleman, deceased, apprenticed to Robert Thodey, Vintners’ Company, London”, 3 Sept. 1667. Bur. 29 May 1687 at Layston, Co. Herts. – recorded in the burial register as “Roger Nightingale, Citizen of London”. MARY NIGHTINGALE, Bapt. 28 May 1650 at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge – recorded in the baptismal register as “Mary, daughter of Roger Nightingale”. That Mary, the wife of John Redshaw (d 1721), of Layston, was the daughter of Roger Nightingale, of Cambridge, is evidenced by (1) her naming her eldest son “Roger” & her second son “Nightingale”, (2) Roger Nightingale (described in the burial register as “Roger Nightingale, Citizen of London”, which indicates that he was a member of one of the London Livery Companies) being buried at Layston in 1687, where she was then living with her husband & children, (3) Roger Nightingale (d 1687) being described at the time that he was apprenticed to Robert Thodey, of the Vintners’ Company, London, as “Roger Nightingale, son of Roger Nightingale, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Gentleman, deceased”, & (4) baptisms being recorded at St. Benedict’s Church, Cambridge in 1650 & 1652 for Mary & her brother Roger respectively, & they being therein recorded as children of Roger Nightingale. M c. 1669 JOHN REDSHAW, of Layston (near Buntingford), Co. Herts. (Born c. 1645. Bur. 3 Sept. 1721 at Layston, Co. Herts. – recorded in the burial register as “John Redsher [sic], Wooll-comber [sic]”). At the baptism of her son Roger she & her husband were recorded in the Layston baptismal register as “John Redsher [sic] husbandman & Mary his wife”, 19 Feb. 1669/70. At the baptism of her son Nightingale she & her husband were recorded in the Layston baptismal register as “John Redshower [sic] & Mary his wife”, 13 Feb. 1673/4. At the baptism of her son John she & her husband were recorded in the Layston baptismal register as “John Redshaw & Mary his wife”, 3 July 1677. At the baptism of her daughter Mary she & her husband were recorded in the Layston baptismal register as “John Reedshaw [sic] & Mary his wife”, 2 Nov. 1679. At the baptism of her son Nightingale she & her husband were recorded in the Layston baptismal register as “John Radshaw [sic] & Mary his wife”, 8 June 1682. At the baptism of her son Joseph she & her husband were recorded in the Layston baptismal register as “John Redshear [sic] & Mary his wife”, 7 Nov. 1686. Bur. 20 June 1718 at Layston – recorded in the burial register as “Mary the wife of John Redshere [sic]”. She had issue.