My DNA Link to West Midlands

Ancestry.com has updated my ancestral regions and I have a very strong connection with the West Midlands. This is the first time my DNA has been so strongly linked to any part of England. This does not discount the possibility that the point of origin of my ancestors John Gaulding and Mary Steward were from Westbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire before immigrating to America.

My DNA profile has determined that my earliest ancestor may have come from the West Midlands. That is not inconsistent with the records of the period as far as the surnames Goulding and Steward are concerned.

Any connection to my original immigrant ancestor from England would be on my father’s side, because I don’t know of any close connection to any other place in Europe that he might have been connected to except Germany. As far as I know, none of his ancestors came from Scotland or Ireland but his Great Grandparents were both immigrants from Oberellenbach in Hesse, Germany.

West Midlands is a very large area in England. My DNA region stretches from Manchester in the North all the way to Gloucester in the South. The area is approximately 135 miles north to south.

Wiltshire and Westbury are south of this region, but the distance is not that great.

Gloucestershire is within the southwestern portion of this West Midlands region. Westbury and Westbury-on-Severn are not the same place. Westbury is located in Wiltshire.

Gloucester in England

Thomas “of Gloucestershire” Steward and Elizabeth Bennett were married in Gloucester Cathedral in 1669 and they were both from Westbury. There is a church in Westbury-on-Severn that has historic ties to Gloucester Cathedral. It is the parish church of St Mary, St Peter & St Paul, which has historical and ecclesiastical ties to the Diocese of Gloucester. While not directly governed by Gloucester Cathedral, the church is part of the Diocese of Gloucester, and its nave falls under that jurisdiction.

Interestingly, the chancel and sanctuary of the church are officially in the Diocese of Hereford, a quirk dating back to the time of Henry VIII, when diocesan boundaries were redrawn. This dual affiliation makes the church quite unique.

The church itself is over 700 years old, with a separate stone bell tower and a striking wooden spire. It played a role during the English Civil War and has architectural features dating back to the Crusades.

Source: National Churches Trust, "St Mary, St. Peter & St. Paul", https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-mary-st-peter-st-paul-westbury-severn

Thomas Steward and Elizabeth Bennett, both of Westbury, were married in Gloucester Cathedral

There are actually two places named Westbury in England, which can cause some confusion:

✅ Westbury, Wiltshire: This is a town in southwest England, known for the famous Westbury White Horse carved into the hillside. It’s located near Trowbridge and Warminster.

✅ Westbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire: This is a village in the Forest of Dean district, near the River Severn. It’s distinct from the Wiltshire town and has its own historical and architectural significance. The Parish Records of Gloucestershire state very clearly that Elizabeth Bennett died in Westbury-on-Severn, so it is evident that after their marriage, that is where they settled.

Elizabeth Bennett died and was buried in Westbury-on-Severn on 9 April 1671

Westbury-on-Severn is located only 9.6 miles from Gloucester Cathedral, which is located in the city of Gloucester.

Did Thomas Steward and Elizabeth Bennett have to meet any specific requirements before they could be married in Gloucester Cathedral?

In the mid-1600s, Gloucester Cathedral—like other Church of England parish churches—was primarily reserved for Anglican ceremonies, including marriages. Here's who could be married there during that period:

👰 Eligibility for Marriage at Gloucester Cathedral (circa 1650s)

Members of the Church of England: The cathedral functioned as a parish church (Holy Trinity), so Anglican parishioners were eligible to marry there. It is therefore impossible for Thomas Steward and Elizabeth Bennett to have been members of the Quaker Church.

Residents of the Parish: Couples typically needed to reside in the cathedral’s parish or have a strong connection to it. This could include those baptized or regularly attending services there.

By Banns or License:

Banns: Announced publicly in church on three Sundays before the wedding. This was the standard method for most couples.

License: Wealthier or higher-status individuals could obtain a marriage license, allowing them to marry more quickly or outside their home parish.

Social Class Considerations:

Nobility and Gentry often married in prominent churches like cathedrals for prestige. These unions were frequently arranged to secure wealth or alliances. Commoners could marry in the cathedral if they met parish requirements, though many married in smaller local churches.

🕊️ Exceptions and Notes

Nonconformists (e.g., Puritans, Baptists): Were generally excluded from marrying in Church of England buildings unless they conformed to Anglican rites. Some may have married elsewhere or unofficially.

Civil War and Commonwealth Period (1640s–1660): Church records from this time can be incomplete due to political upheaval. During the Commonwealth (1649–1660), some marriages were performed by civil magistrates rather than clergy.

Elizabeth Bennett died in Westbury-on-Severn.

Could the daughter of parents who were members of the Church of England become a Quaker?

If Mary Ann Steward was indeed the daughter of Thomas Steward and Elizabeth Bennett of Westbury-on-Severn, even though her parents were members of the Anglican Church of England (or they never could have been married in the Cathedral), there is no reason why she could not have become a Quaker when she reach adulthood.

Many early Quakers in the mid-1600s were originally members of the Church of England or other Protestant denominations. The period was marked by intense religious upheaval, especially during and after the English Civil War (1642–1651), which created fertile ground for dissenting movements like the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Here’s how a Church of England daughter could have become a Quaker:

🌿 Historical Context

Religious ferment: The Church of England was the established church, but many people—especially women and younger generations—felt spiritually unfulfilled and sought more direct, personal experiences of faith.

Rise of dissenters: Groups like Puritans, Baptists, and eventually Quakers challenged the authority and rituals of the Anglican Church.

George Fox’s ministry: Beginning in 1647, Fox preached a radical message of inner light and direct communion with God, which resonated with many—including women who felt excluded from traditional church roles.

👩‍🦳 Real Example: Elizabeth Hooton

Born around 1600 in Nottinghamshire, she was originally a Baptist and likely raised in a Church of England context. She became one of the first Quaker converts and the first female Quaker preacher, joining George Fox’s movement in the 1640s. Despite persecution—including imprisonment and beatings—she traveled widely to spread Quaker beliefs.

💡 Why It Was Possible

Quakerism welcomed women as spiritual equals and preachers.

Conversion was personal: Many joined after hearing Fox or other preachers speak, often in public squares or even after Anglican services.

Family ties didn’t prevent conversion: Even if a father was a Church of England member, daughters could—and did—convert, sometimes causing family rifts.