Arnold Family: Amended

First Generation

1.  Nicholas Arnold¹ was born about 1550 in Northover, Somerset, England.^2–4 He signed a will on 18 Jan 1622 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁵ He died on 24 Jan 1622/3 at the age of 73 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁶ Nicholas was buried on 26 Jan 1622/3 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁴ He had his estate probated on 28 Jul 1623 in Wells, Somerset, England.⁵ Early research on the Arnold family relied on several documents: [1] NEHGS Register, Oct 1879, Vol. 33 [p. 427-433] Early Records of the Arnold Family by Edwin Hubbard and the accompanying Genealogy of the Arnold Family by Horatio Gates Somerby, [2] John Osborne Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island, [3] LDS Ancestral Files and IGI records, [4] Fred A. Arnold's Genealogies of Rhode Island Families.

Unfortunately, inexperience and a lack of knowledge of fraudulent genealogical research on the part of the author during the mid-1990s, led to compiling misinformation in the Arnold lineage. H.G. Somerby compiled numerous "creative genealogies" during his career. Utilizing the reliable sources and removing Somerby's Arnolds that were not documented elsewhere, led to the deletion of four generations and a possibly royal Welsh heritage for immigrant William Arnold. Deleted were (1) Roger Arnold and Joan Gamage, daughter of Sir Thomas, (2) Thomas Arnold and Agnes Warnsted, daughter of Richard, (3) Richard Arnold and Emmate Yong, daughter of Pearse, and (4) Richard Arnold and Jaquita.

The documented lineage of the Arnolds begins with Nicholas of Northover and Ilchester, Somerset, England. Fred A. Arnold's research uncovered proof the Nicholas Arnold was the father of William. However no records were discovered that identified Nicholas' parentage.

The following events concerning the Arnold family  were recorded in the parish registers of Ilchester:
5 Oct 1595 - married Thomas Hacker and Thomasine Arnoll
Oct 1595 - burial of Agnes, d. of Nicholas Arnoll
25 Apr 1596 - burial of Alice, W of Nicholas Arnoll, tailer
7 Apr 1616 - christening of Thomas, son of William Hopkins [son of Joanne Arnold]
22 Dec 1622 - baptism of Stephanus, son of William Arnold
26 Jan 1622/3 - burial of Nicholas Arnold

Nicholas Arnold's will is found in the Probate Registry of Wills, liber 43, folio 5, dated 18 January 1622. He identified himself as a tailor of Ilchester, Somerset. Nicholas mentioned his two daughters by Grace, but did not name them. He named his wife, Grace, executrix. Son William and Ambrose Chappell were appointed overseers of the will. Witnesses were John Raven and Thomas Arnold. Nicholas' will was proved at Wells, 28 July 1623.

Nicholas Arnold and Alice Gulley \ Gullay were married before 1571 in Northover, Somerset, England.⁴ Alice Gulley \ Gullay, daughter of John Gulley \ Gullay and Alice [Gulley \ Gullay], was born in Sep 1553 in Northover, Somerset, England.⁷ [based on baptismal date] She was baptized on 26 Sep 1553 in Northover, Somerset, England.⁷ She died before 25 Apr 1596 at the age of 42 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ Alice was buried on 25 Apr 1596 in Church of St. Mary Major, Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ She was also known as Alice Arnold.⁴

Nicholas Arnold and Alice Gulley \ Gullay had the following children:

              2              i.   Tamzen \ Thomasine Arnold, born c Jan 1571/2, Ilchester, Somerset, England, United Kingdom; married Robert Hacker, 5 Oct 1595, Ilchester, Somerset, England.

              3             ii.   Joanne Arnold, born Nov 1577, Ilchester, Somerset, England; married William Hopkins, bef 1613, Yeovilton, Somerset, England; died abt 10 Mar 1621/2, Yeovilton, Somerset, England.

              4            iii.   Margery Arnold, born Aug 1581, Ilchester, Somerset, England; married Thomas Burnard, 1603, Northover, Somerset, England.

              5            iv.   William Arnold, born 24 Jun 1587, Ilchester, Somerset, England; married Christian Peake, abt 1610, Ilchester, Somerset, England; died Jul 1675–Nov 1677, The Home of His Son, Stephen Arnold, Pawtuxet, Rhode Island, British America.

                             v.   Agnes Arnold was born in 1591–1595 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ She died in Oct 1595 at the age of 4 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ She was buried in Oct 1595 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ http://members.fortunecity.com/johnsongenealogy/id325.htm suggests Agnes was born in 1591. No source specified.

                            vi.   Robert Arnold was born in Oct 1593 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ [based on baptismal date] He was baptized on 18 Oct 1593 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ http://members.fortunecity.com/johnsongenealogy/id325.htm gives Robert's death on the same day as his baptism, without specific source cited..

                           vii.   Elizabeth Arnold⁷ was born in Apr 1596 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ [based on baptismal date] She was baptized on 9 Apr 1596 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ She died about 25 Apr 1596 at the age of 0 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ Elizabeth was buried on 25 Apr 1596 in Ilchester, Somerset, England, United Kingdom.⁷ Elizabeth and her mother may have died about the same time and been buried in a common grave..

Nicholas Arnold and Grace [Arnold] were married before 1599 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ Grace [Arnold] was born (date unknown).

Nicholas Arnold and Grace [Arnold] had the following children:

              6              i.   Thomas Arnold, born abt 1599, Ilchester, Somerset, England; married Jane [Arnold], abt 1624, Ilchester, Somerset, England; married Margaret [Arnold], bef 1623, Ilchester, Somerset, England.

                             ii.   [Daughter] Arnold⁵ was born before 1603 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁶ This daughter was referred to, but not named in her father's will.

                                iii.  Eleanor Arnold was born about 1603 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁷ [based on baptismal date] She was baptized on 31 Jul 1603 in Ilchester, Somerset, England.⁶