Bezants of Bridgwater.
In the 17th Century a family of Bezant's were living near
Bridgwater and the use of the name Blaze/Blois was a connection between the
generations.
Blaze Beasant, a church warden at Baudrip in 1649 and Widow Beasant exempted
from Baudrip Heath Tax 1670 and 1674.
This section of the family history is set against a backdrop of Charles 1st
civil war of 1642-1646 much of which centred on the West Country, Bristol July
1643, Langport July 1645 and the fall of Bristol 11th September 1645. The
unrest continued through Charles II's civil war of 1650-1651 and the Battle of
Worcester and came to a head during the Monmouth uprising and the Battle of
Sedgemore July 1685.
The geographical location of Baudrip, now called Bawdrip, some four miles north
of Bridgwater and on the main route from the South West to Bristol, will have
resulted in large troop movements and intense military activity which could
well have involved much of the local population. Because of this records of
this period are very fragmented and the accurate placement and displacement of
families is very difficult to trace.
From Blaise; one who comes from the region of Blois in France or could be
derived from the Latin, 'to stammer' but the connection with Blois, situated
between Tours and Orlan, is more likely as Blaze Besant (1626) named his son
Blois.
Mary Mason
Updated
Jan 2004
May 2005
Feb 2006
First Generation
----------------------------------------
1. BEZANT.
Children:
2 i. Blaze
(Blois) (ca1600-)
ii. Edith.
In 1629 Edith married Samuel HALL, in Bawdrip.
iii. Nicholas.
On 4 Sep 1615 Nicholas married Edith EDWARDS, in Chedzoy.
Second Generation
----------------------------------------
2. Blaze (Blois) BEZANT. Born around 1600.
On 6 Oct 1626 when Blaze (Blois) was 26, he married Mary
HURTON, in North Petherton.
They had the following children:
i. Thomas was born on 2 Sep 1627 in North
Petherton.
3 ii. Jonathon
(1629-1697)
4 iii. Blaze
(ca1629-1665)
iv. Joane.
On 24 Nov 1666 Joane married Richard REYNOLDS, in Nether
Stowey.
5 v. Nicholas
(ca1630-)
Third Generation
----------------------------------------
3. Jonathon BEZANT was born on 11 Oct 1629 in North
Petherton and died in Milverton on 23 May 1697, he was 67 years old.
On 5 Jun 1658 when Jonathon was 28, he married Eleanor, in
Milverton.
They had the following children:
6 i. Jonathon
(1659-1708)
ii. Grace. Born in 1660 in Milverton.
iii. Jonathon. Born in 1662 in Milverton.
iv. Eleanore. Born in 1664 in Milverton.
4. Blaze BEZANT born around 1629. Blaze died in Nether
Stowey on 9 Jul 1665, he was 36 years old.
On 2 Dec 1654 when Blaze was 25, he first married Elizabeth
WALKER, in Crowcombe. Elizabeth died on 23 Jul 1662 in Nether Stowey.
They had one child:
i. Blois was born on 26 Jan 1660 in Nether
Stowey.
On 6 Sep 1664 when Blaze was 35, he second married Joanne
CABELL, in Nether Stowey.
5. Nicholas BEZANT. Born around 1630.
Children:
7 i. John
(1662-)
ii. Thomas. Thomas died on 25 June 1662 in
Bawdrip.
Fourth Generation
----------------------------------------
6. Jonathon BEZANT was born in 1659 in Milverton and died in
Milverton on 11 April 1708, he was 49 years old.
On 3 Nov 1693 when Jonathon was 34, he married Honour
MARTIN, in Milverton. Honour died on 16 Nov 1701 in Milverton.
They had one child:
i. Joan. Born in 1694 in Milverton.
7. John BEZANT/BESSAM. Born on 28 Mar 1662 in Bawdrip.
On 4 Nov 1688 when John was 26, he married Mary PENNY, in
Bridgwater. Mary died on 23 Aug 1702 in Bridgwater.
They had the following children:
i. John. Born on 11 Aug 1689 in Bridgwater.
ii. Thomas. Born on 5 Nov 1692 in Bridgwater.
Index.
Eleanor spouse of 3
BEZANT
UNNAMED 1
Blaze (ca1629
- 1665) 4
Blaze (Blois)
(ca1600 - ) 2
Blois (1660 -
) child of 4
Edith child of 1
Eleanore (1664
- ) child of 3
Grace (1660 -
) child of 3
Joan (1694 - ) child of 6
Joane child of 2
Jonathon (1629
- 1697) 3
Jonathon (1659
- 1708) 6
Jonathon (1662
- ) child of 3
Nicholas child of 1
Nicholas
(ca1630 - ) 5
Thomas ( -
1662) child of 5
Thomas (1627 -
) child of 2
BEZANTBESSAM
John (1662 - ) 7
John (1689 - ) child of 7
BEZANTBESSOM
Thomas (1692 -
) child of 7
CABELL
Joanne spouse of 4
HURTON
Mary spouse of 2
MARTIN
Honour ( -
1701) spouse of 6
PENNY
Mary ( - 1702) spouse of 7
WALKER
Elizabeth ( -
1662) spouse of 4