The Studley Vizes

The Studley VIZEs is the cluster of VIZE family members in western Warwickshire and Worcestorshire, predominantly in the villages of Studley, Warwickshire and Ipsley, Worcestershire.

Studley is a large village not far from Strateford upon Avon and 4 miles from the Worcestershire county border. It is best known as being a centre for manufacturer of sewing and surgical needles, and some of the VIZEs recorded were in this trade. This dates back to the settlement of Huguenot refugees settled during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Nearby Ipsley straddles Warwickshire and Worcestershire, a parish containing a number of smaller villages. Needle and fishhook manufacturer was also historically conducted here.

The earliest record for VIZEs in the parish records in this area is for the marriage of John VIZE and Sarah YARNOLD on 10 April 1694 in Studley. It is probably that John was originally from Ipsley as he was living there at the time of his marriage. John (the same John) again appears in a second marriage on 1 July 1696 in Studley, when he married Ann LEWES. No children were recorded for John and Sarah so it seems probable that Sarah died between 1694 adn 1696.

John (1) and Ann had four children baptised in Ipsley: Edward (1700), Mary (1703), Thomas (1705)(1) and Joseph (1709). There is also a John VIZE (2) who baptised children from 1727 in Ipsley and may have been the son of John and either Sarah or Ann.

John (2) married Mary and they had six children, all baptised in Ipsley: Thomas (1727)(2), Mary (1730), John (1731) (3), Sarah (1734), Timothy (1737) and Elizabeth (1744). Another daughter, Lydia (married 1769) may be John's daughter or niece.

Edward may have had a son John.

Mary married Richard PETFORD on 19 February 1727 in Ipsley.

Joseph married Katherine (Catherine) RAWLINS on 11 April 1737 in Coughton, Warwickshire. Joseph and Katherine had five children baptised in Studley: Edward (1737), Joseph (1740), Hannah (1743), Thomas (1746)(3) and William (1748).

John (3) had four children baptised in Ipsley: John (1765)(4), William (1767), Thomas (1769)(4) and James (1771).

Thomas (3) married Catherine and they lived in London. Three children were baptised in Holborn: Edward (1795), Catherine (1796) and Matthew (1798); and one in St Martin in the Fields: Joseph (1802).

Thomas (1) may be the same as the Thomas who married Mary and baptised eight children in Studley: John (1735)(5), Ann (1739), Alice (1741), Thomas (1743)(5), Mary (1745), James (1748), Elizabeth (1750) and Alice (1754).

John (5) married Elizabeth and had children Mary (1760) and Sarah (1763) baptised in Studley.

Many VIZEs appear in Birmingham, Warwickshire from the late 1700s through early 1800s and some of the Studley VIZEs may have migrated there.

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