Unraveling the Mystery of John Done | Researching English Paper Trail | The Whitebaker Lawsuits

1. MR JOHN DONEWHO WAS HE?

2. ` WHAT IS THIS TALK ABOUT? • Answering the question: “JOHN DONE –WHO WAS HE?” • A question first asked by GILBERT DOANE in 1972 • My talk is about WHO he was BEFORE he left ENGLAND • (Some of you will have heard some of this before) • Later, STEVEN MORRISON will talk about his life here IN PLYMOUTH

3. ` WHAT IS THS TALK ABOUT ? • Documentary research - (The ENGLISH Paper trail) • Other work that HELPS us FIND OUR MAN • DICK DOANE’S Y-DNA Project (already presented) • STEVEN MORRISON’S Report on JOHN DONE in PLYMOUTH • My THOUGHTS before handing over as COMMITTEE CHAIR • Time for QUESTIONS and DISCUSSION

4. ` WHO AM I ? • DEREK DONE (Surname spelled the way DEACON JOHN spelled it) • Resident in ENGLAND Living near to THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES • Member of the GUILD OF ONE-NAME STUDIES GUILD MEMBER responsible for RESEARCHING the DONE name • CHAIR of the DFA’s DEACON JOHN DONE RESEARCH Committee

5. ` A WORD OF WARNING • Will we ever know EVERYTHING about JOHN DONE’s background? • The LIFE of SHAKESPEARE has been widely studied • (Some Universities have spent years on the task) • CONTROVERSY still exists about him (even the spelling of his name)

6. ` A WORD OF WARNING • SHAKESPEARE was ALIVE when JOHN DONE was a YOUNG MAN • We are researching EVENTS that took place at around the SAME TIME • We may NEVER KNOW EVERYTHING about JOHN DONE’s EARLY LIFE

7. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The search for ‘candidates’ • In 1972, GILBERT DOANE suggested SIX CLUES to be followed up • These CLUES POINTED to men, of whom ONE MIGHT be OUR MAN • We CHECKED out ALL these ‘CANDIDATES’ and many others

8. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The search for ‘candidates’ SOURCES consulted for anyone named DONE: • BOYD’S Register of LONDON CITIZENS • ENGLISH PARISH RECORDS of Births and Marriages • COURT RECORDS of Lawsuits • Other Sources

9. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The search for ‘candidates’ WHY ENGLISH SOURCES? • HIGH PROBABLITY that JOHN DONE was from ENGLAND • He COULD have come from FLINTSHIRE in WALES (Ruled by the English Monarch) - But UNLIKELY • PLYMOUTH was an ENGLISH Colony • SCOTLAND was a DIFFERENT COUNTRY UNION of CROWNS was in 1603 ACT of UNION was not until 1707

10. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The search for ‘candidates’ • ONE LAWSUIT pointed to the family of JOHN DONE - ‘WHITEBAKER’ In 1603 and 1604 he was ‘MASTER’ ( the senior position) in the WORSHIPFUL COMPANY of BAKERS • He was a WEALTHY property owner • He DIED in 1624, leaving a WIDOW - AGNES

11. ` THE PAPER TRAIL Background to the ‘whitebaker’ lawsuits • We are looking at ENGLAND in the 17th CENTURY, with several DIFFERENT LEGAL SYSTEMS • ECCLESIASTICAL (Church) COURTS (e.g. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury dealing with disputes over WILLS) • Proceedings in LATIN, not understood by most people • CIVIL COURTS (e.g. the Court of Chancery) • Proceedings in ENGLISH, promising a faster and fairer result

12. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The ‘whitebaker’ lawsuits • 1628 – 1632: Several LAWSUITS over the ‘WHITEBAKER’S estate AGNES DONE • Although ILLITERATE, she was EXECUTOR of the ‘WHITEBAKER’s ESTATE • Possibly a VICTIM of her LAWYERS

13. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The ‘whitebaker’ lawsuits • AGNES DONE said she was VICTIM of a CONSPIRACY • She said there was a FRAUDULENT CLAIM to the ESTATE of her husband JOHN DONE ‘WHITEBAKER’ • She named JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ as the main CONSPIRATOR

14. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The ‘whitebaker’ lawsuits • JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ REPLIED that he was the TRUE HEIR to the ESTATE • BUT - JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ was NOT NAMED in the will of JOHN DONE ‘WHITEBAKER’ • BUT - JOHN DONE ‘WHITEBAKER’S Will was later ruled to be INVALID

15. ` THE PAPER TRAIL The ‘whitebaker’ lawsuits • AGNES DONE DID NOT PURSUE HER CLAIM IN the CHURCH COURT • She said lawyers had ADVISED her NOT to APPEAR • SO - The Church Court EXCOMMUNICATED her for not appearing • SO - The ‘CORDWAINER’ said: ‘I DO NOT NEED TO ANSWER HER ACCUSATIONS’

16. ` THE PAPER TRAIL Result of the ‘whitebaker’ lawsuits • 1629: The WILL of JOHN DONE ‘WHITEBAKER’ was ruled to be INVALID • 1630: JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ was granted permission to ADMINISTER the ESTATE of JOHN DONE ‘WHITEBAKER’

17. ` THE PAPER TRAIL Other lawsuits • OTHER LAWSUITS involved those named DONE/ DONNE/ DOWNE • DFA Volunteers helped TRANSCRIBE old HANDWRITING • Two cases involved CLAIMS on WHITEBAKER’S estate • NEITHER CASE ALTERED earlier conclusions

18. ` THE PAPER TRAIL THE LAWSUITS - SUMMARY The Other LAWSUITS did not HELP OUR SEARCH BUT the ‘WHITEBAKER’ LAWSUITS suggest that the ‘CORDWAINER’ COULD BE OUR MAN

19. ` THE PAPER TRAIL IS THE CORDWAINER OUR MAN? • There is STRONG CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE that HE IS THE MAN who BECAME the DEACON • WHAT IS THAT EVIDENCE?

20. THE PAPER TRAILIS JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ OUR MAN?THE EVIDENCE

21. THE PAPER TRAILIS JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ OUR MAN?THE EVIDENCE

22. THE PAPER TRAILIS JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ OUR MAN?THE EVIDENCE

23. THE PAPER TRAILIS JOHN DONE ‘CORDWAINER’ OUR MAN?THE EVIDENCE

24. THE PAPER TRAILOTHER THEORIES

25. THE PAPER TRAILIs John Done ‘cordwainer’ our man? SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE

26. PAPER TRAILWHO WAS THE CORDWAINER? • What is a ‘CORDWAINER’ • A cordwainer is a LEATHER WORKER or SHOEMAKER • This was the name given by AGNES DONE to her adversary • BUT - She may have called him that to RIDICULE his STATUS • This ‘CORDWAINER’ came from ALVECHURCH (pronounced Allchurch) in WORCESTERSHIRE

27. ` THE PAPER TRAIL So who was the Cordwainer? If his claims were true: • He was BORN in ALVECHURCH in WORCESTERSHIRE • The WHITEBAKER’S FATHER was his GREAT UNCLE • His GREAT UNCLE lived in HENLEY-IN-ARDEN

28. ` THE PAPER TRAIL So who was the Cordwainer? • BOTH VILLAGES are NEAR SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE in WARWICKSHIRE • ALVECHURCH is 20 miles from STRATFORD-UPON-AVON John Done of Alvechurch would not have been the first person from that part of England to go to London to better himself

29. WHERE IS ALVECHURCH?

30. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT Why this project? • DICK DOANE, the PROJECT LEADER, explained it in his earlier presentation • Many DFA MEMBERS wish to CONFIRM their DESCENT from the DEACON • But THIS PROJECT also helps us in our efforts to DISCOVER more about him

31. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT Why this project? • It SUPPORTS our PAPER RESEARCH • We hope it will help us FIND a FAMILY who SHARE an ANCESTOR with the DEACON? • We hope to find a FAMILY NOT DESCENDED from the Deacon, but with ROOTS in ENGLAND • That FAMILY PEDIGREE would suggest WHERE in ENGLAND to look for the DEACON’S ROOTS

32. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT What did we do? • We WROTE to MEN with the DONE SURNAME (and variants) • We wanted to TEST MEN who were NOT DESCENDED from the Deacon • We asked them to PROVIDE a DNA sample for ANALYSIS FREE of CHARGE

33. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT What did we do? • We sent around 350 LETTERS, mainly to members of DONE/ DONNE families • We sent to ENGLAND, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND and SOUTH AFRICA • ONLY around 25 of these agreed to be tested – a very POOR RESPONSE

34. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT What did we find? • We DID NOT EXPECT to find just ONE SINGLE FAMILY who would provide the pedigree we wanted • Our research confirmed that THERE are indeed MANY DIFFERENT genetic DONE FAMILIES • So far we have identified: • SEVEN separate FAMILY GROUPS • NINE SINGLETONS • THREE UNGROUPED INDIVIDUALS

35. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT What did we find? • We have found MATCHES with people with DIFFERENT SURNAMES • THE MATCH we were looking for has NOT BEEN FOUND • HAS the LINE from the Deacon’s immediate ancestors DIED OUT?

36. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT What is still to do? • We still want to find the particular family that has the Deacon’s DNA • Where did they live? • How did they live? • What did they do?

37. ` THE Y-DNA PROJECT What is still to do? • Dick will now check MATCHES with people with OTHER SURNAMES • Why? Because in ENGLAND, SURNAMES were only RECENTLY generally adopted (less than 1000 years ago – recent in genealogical terms) • The COMMON ANCESTOR whose other descendents we are looking for may have LIVED BEFORE THEN • THE SEARCH CONTINUES

38. ` JOHN DONE IN PLYMOUTH His early days in America • The subject of STEVEN MORRISON’S talk • He has systematically analyzed the EARLY COLONIAL RECORDS • He has identified ALL REFERENCES to OUR JOHN DONE • This research tells us more about his LIFE in PLYMOUTH

39. ` JOHN DONE IN PLYMOUTH His early days in America • STEVEN’SREPORT has also IDENTIFIED MORE CLUES about the DEACON’S ENGLISH ORIGINS • These clues suggest AREAS for MORE RESEARCH: • ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES. Did he attend any of these Colleges? • LONDON UNDERTAKERS. Was he associated with these financial backers of Plymouth Colony? • Did he make MORE THAN ONE TRANSATLANTIC JOURNEY? • Were there RELATIONSHIPS between the Deacon and others BEFORE and AFTER he travelled to America?

40. ` FUTURE RESEARCH • Continue with the Y-DNA Project • FOLLOW UP on STEVEN MORRISON’S CLUES • FOLLOW UP other leads as NEW INFORMATION becomes available ONLINE

41. ` FUTURE RESEARCH • Will these Inquires confirm the view that JOHN DONE of ALVECHURCH (the ‘cordwainer’) was the man who became THE DEACON? • Or will they DISPROVE this theory (and perhaps REPLACE IT with another)?

42. ` SUMMARY OF MY CONCLUSIONS • STEVEN MORRISON’S SUGGESTIONS are VERY HELPFUL • The possibility of a LINK between JOHN DONE and the COLONY’S FINANCIAL BACKERS is particularly interesting • This FITS IN WELL with the results of EARLIER RESEARCH I THINK WE HAVE FOUND OUR MAN (but we may never be 100% sure)

43. ` I am disappointed that our Y-DNA project has proved that I am not related to Deacon John But I have had a VERY INTERESTING time Good luck to whoever takes over as Committee Chair THE END Presentation given by Derek Done at the 52nd Reunion of the DFA (Plymouth, Massachusetts – July 2012)