The Washington herald., 1917-06-10
THE MARKHAM FAMILY.

Markham Cesf-of-Arms Used by wuI-
fnm, n Member Of william Penn,s
Governer's Ceuncft-JsAn Marshall
was Deseenaez frsua John Markham,
Of New York ana virginis--Help Of
fered for Jenkins and Sims Csrre-
spondents-First Dennis IN America
Came over viii Geyerner wintkrop.
So far from being all descended from
q single first settler OF the name the fact
seems to be that the Markhams Of
Colonial families In this country are
sprung from no less than seven distinct
progenitors, al OF whom apparently
came from Great Britain some time be-
tween 1901 and 173o.
There can be no disputing the fact that
the first Markham in this country was
Robert Markham who, In 1907, explored
the James River with Christopher New
port. Twenty-efght years later came
Robert Markham with his two brothers,
John. who settled in Alexandria, va,
and Lewis who made his home in West
moreland In the same colony.
The following year, In 1886, Thomas
Markham landed and made his home In
Henrico County, Virginia Probably the
next Of the name was William Markham.
who settled In Connecticut In 1850. About
that time came William, Markham, who
arrived In Pennsylvania in the company
of William Penn, whose kinsnan he was
He was also q member Of the Govern
cr's Council for william Penn. The coat
of arms here depicted belongs to the
family descended from this Pennsylvania
family. The coat-of-arms Is described
thus: Azure on a chief or a demi lion,
rampant issuant gules. The crest is a
lion Of ST. Marks. sejant. guardant rest
ing the dexter forepaw on shield ar
GENT. This Pennsylvania William Mark
ham r. supposed to have come from Not
kNezaT snwla - m11
Daniel Markham. who settled in Cam
bridge, Mass. IN 1855
Deacon Daniels descendants crossed
the Rockies among the early pioneers and
one OF them was Ex-Governor Markham,
of California. They are also to be found
in Georgia and other parts of the South
as well as in New England. 1t would
seem that more is known of the origin
Of this family than Of any Of the others
Daniel the migrant reached this country
from Enlabd in 1855. He was a freshman
in 1914. and later removed to MiddIetown
His wife was Elizabeth Wetmore and
their children were Daniel and JONES
His second wife was Patience Harris
Daniel the emigrant was the son of
Daniel OF England whose father was Sir
Robert Markham, of Hottinghsnshire,
England. He was a brother OF Mat
thew Markham. one time mayor OF Nor
wich. Sir Robert was seventh in descent
from Sir John Markham, Lord Chief
Justice OF England who died, so the
records go. in East MARKHAM. on St Sill
Vester's- day in 1903: and he in turn was
tenth in descent from Claron de Mark
ham, the Saxon chief Of West Markham,
the first of his name, who flourished
about 1886 when William, the Norman
conquerer, made his memorable trip from
Normandy to England.
The last OF this group of Colonial
Markhams seems to have been John Mark
ham. who came from England in ITeO. He
settled first In New York State where
he married Catharine Matthews, daugh-
ter of the governor Of the colony. John
eventually left New York and settled in
Chesterfield. Virginia, in which State he
and his descendants have since then
made their home.
His sons were Bernard John, Vincent
and George. Bernard, the eldest OF these
sons. was born in I737. Little Is known
OF him except that he was a Revolution
airy soldier and that he married Mary
Harris. Strangely enough Daniel Marx
ham had taken a Patience Harriss as his
second wife almost a century earlier
Bernard had the following many children:
Martha, John. Catherine. Bernard. Mary.
- Elizabeth, william, George, Judith and
Sarah.