Introduction

St Andrew's, Plymouth which has seen many of the early baptisms, marriages and funerals of the Yonge family from the 1600's.

Introduction

Interior of St Andrew's, Plymouth 18th century

I am frequently adding to the stories of individual family members so do come back another time and check the tabs on the left. The latest update was 27th June  2022 when an article "A Catholic Convert" was added. Now for the story of the Family.

Ian Yonge 

iyonge@legalisp.net

 The Yonge's of Puslinch, Newton Ferrers, Devon

The Yonge's of Puslinch in the parish of Newton Ferrers Devon, near Plymouth, England is the family this website covers. The family had become established at Puslinch where James Yonge 1679-1745 married Mary Upton the last survivor of the Upton's of Puslinch. This marriage was a symbol of and the cause of the family's rise to the world of English gentry.

This James Yonge was the son of Dr James Yonge a noted Plymouth surgeon and doctor of his day who wrote a fascinating journal about his life which was published some 60 years ago.

Members of the family still live in the area and the Puslinch branch is treated as the senior branch of the family now although the family is spread all over the English speaking world in The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The earliest member of the family who can be identified with certainty is John Yonge who was born early in the 17th century and who married Joanna Blackaller from a local Dartmouth family, in Dartmouth in 1640.

It is probable that the family prior to then had been of humble origins and so will be impossible to trace back further. Where the family came from is the great quest of my continuing research. For more information on the current state of this quest (March 2020) click on the tab on the left of the Home Page under “FAMIY ORIGINS”

There are four other distinct unconnected families with the name "Yonge" namely:

1) Of Caynton Manor Egmond near Newport Shropshire.

2) Of Charnes Hall Staffordshire.

3) Of Sturminster Newton Abbot Dorset and Colebrook, Devon known to go back to the 1530`s. 18th century accounts which refer to the family coming from Colebroke are incorrect. This is a mistake.

 4) Of Colyton, Devon. They are first recoded in in Bristol first reference is in the mid 14th century when the family were well established Bristol merchants. Then they moved to London and Basildon in Berkshire, then to Colyton in Devon and other places such as Axminster and Upton Hellions. Several published works (including the unreliable Burkes Landed Gentry) and derivative internet sources state that the Puslinch Yonge's and the Colyton Yonge's are connected. This is a complete fallacy. Repetition does not make it correct!

The American Yonge's of the 18th century south and Florida are not connected

Two biographies of Charlotte Yonge refer to a family tradition that a Yonge left Norfolk for the more remote West Country to avoid paying for a knighthood being forced on him by James 1st. There is however no evidence to support this.

 YONGE which is pronounced as “young” is simply one of the old English spellings of the adjective "young". The details are not clear but it seems that in the 17th century a family row concerning religion led to one brother adopting the spelling "Young" or depending which version you believe another brother adopting the spelling "Yonge". The “Young” branch has now died out on the male line.

Some of the "Youngs" became noted Royal Navys in the great age of sail. One in the late 18th century received £40,000 prize money from the capture of a Spanish treasure ship.

The family have never been rich or famous, with some exceptions, but is typical of many country gentry families, living a comfortable life and sending their sons into the professions and the four corners of the Empire and marrying their daughters into similarly placed local gentry families.

Though marriage the family became connected with many West Country families such as the Fortescue, Upton, Mudge, Colborne and Duke which last is still a popular Christian name in the family. In Australia several family members have adopted the surname “Duke-Yonge”.

 Over many years through research at the National Archives in Kew, The British Library the Society of Genealogists, many county record officers especially the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office and “Ancestry” and “Find My Past” , I have amassed  a large volume of documents, letters, photographs and other records.

Large in the number of names and space it takes up, it measures some 30cm by 63cm family tree has been compiled. It has not been included in this website.

Accompanying the tree are brief biographical notes of many of the family members over the years for family history should be more than just a list of names. Each individual lives in their own time and their lives are a reflection of those times and in turn influence those times.

The tab “BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES” contains these brief biographical notes but only of deceased family members. Other tabs contain fuller biographies of some of the more interesting characters from the family story.

 Over the past 400 years this family has seen and participated in many  historical events and witnessed massive social changes. This continuing saga has now passed to the current generation .

 If you have any questions or information, original documents or photos which will add to the story of this family, I would love to hear from you..

Ian Yonge

March 2020

Email iyonge@legalisp.net

  CIRCUMSTANCE

 By Alfred Lord Tennyson

 Two children in two neighbouring villages

  Playing their pranks along the healthy leas

  Two strangers meeting at a festival

  Two lovers whispering by a garden wall

  Two lives bound fast in one with golden ease

  Two graves grass green beside a grey church tower

  Washed with still rains and daisy blosommed

  Two children in one hamlet born and bred

  So runs the round of life from hour to hour

Dr James Yonge junior who married Mary Upton

Julian Hastings 27.10.2022 10:41

Hi Ian....Has taken me a while but finally found your website. Brilliant. Will be in touch. Julian Hastings

Michael Oberhardt 19.06.2022 23:35

I am the Great-Great Grandson of Walter Francis Duke Young. This is such a great website and so interesting to read about the Yonge family history!!

Mario Farrugia 12.02.2022 16:28

I am current researching the life of Colonel Henry Anderson Morshead R.E. of Widey Court who was married to Elizabeth whose mother was Elizabeth Yonge sister to

Pat Beardmore 23.05.2021 17:49

Found a book dated 1901 signed by Ambrose Yonge (I have also e-mailed you) contact me if interested, all the best, Pat Beardmore

Glenn Armstrong 10.02.2021 10:23

Hello Ian - trying to get in touch but your email mailbox appears to be full
Hope you're well

mark tyksinski upton 26.12.2020 19:31

Ian Yonge Esq.,

Have questions on Biotech IP law and family history, offer of investment partnership?).
Mark Tyksinski Upton
Olympia WA USA

Elizabeth McGlone 06.09.2019 06:55

It is good to read about The Yonge's of Puslinch through this article. I will share this with my dad after my https://www.goldenbustours.com/new-york-ny-tours/

Dr Melissa Hardie 25.09.2018 09:30

I am researching the life of the Rev James Carne, DD, and have found James Yonge MD of Plymouth as one witness to JC's Will in 1830. Can share more.

Jacqui Henness 24.02.2017 20:37

Do you have any info about the family's time at Basildon Park? I volunteer at Basildon Park and am trying to build a picture of the early days of the estate.

Ian Yonge 27.03.2016 11:51

Could be interested. Who is it from and what price did you have in mind?

Ian Yonge

Joyce Langley 26.03.2016 16:26

To whom it may be of interest. I have a letter dated 1667 which I am about to put up for sale, relating to land owned by John Young / Yonge of Plymouth.

Guy 23.10.2015 19:49

Hi, I've been lucky enough to acquire the WW1 medals of John Arthur Yonge (Jack) - I'd love to get in touch? Regards

Nick Simpson 22.02.2015 22:45

I am researching HMS Orpheus 1863 and I was wondering if anyone had a photograph of Duke Douton Yonge (1840-1874) who was a survivor from this vessel

( Dr ) Hugh W. L . Weir 15.02.2015 10:16

I hope to be in touch before too long but at present wish to be incommunicado due to difficulty in finding time to achieve fulfilment of present commitments.