Biography
John Exley married Elizabeth Tonge in 1555. He is the critical linking figure in the Exley pedigree: his will names Robert and Francis as his sons, proving that Robert (who married Mary Lister and whose son Samuel founded the Rawdon branch) was the same Robert connected to the main Exley Hall line. Victor Exley describes this will as the key evidence connecting the two halves of the pedigree.
His son Robert married Mary Lister and founded the Rawdon line (leading to Lionel, then to Andrew). His other son Francis married Sybil Oates and started the Liversedge Hall line (leading to Victor Exley).
Evidence
- “I now have proof in the will of John Exley (who married Eliz. Tonge in 1555) that his third son Robert was the same Robert whose son Samuel founded the Rawdon branch” (Victor Exley Letter July 1990)
- “John’s will cites Robert & Francis as his sons” (Victor Exley Pedigree Sketch)
- “The couple common to both [Rawdon and Liversedge lines] is John Exley / Eliz. Tonge” (Victor Exley Letter Sept-Oct 1990)
- NZ pedigrees show John d.1566 m. Eliz. Tonge (Victor Exley Letter Sept-Oct 1990)
NZ Pedigree
The NZ Pedigree Sheets (Typed) identify this John as “John de S. d. 1566”, with a first marriage to Margaret and second marriage to Elizabeth Tonge in 1554 (one year earlier than Victor’s date of 1555). The NZ pedigree names his father as Thomas Exley (d. 1553) m. Pelagia (d. 1539), tracing descent through the Bankhouse/Wortley line via Richard. This differs from Victor’s pedigree, which names Francis Exley (c.1539) as his father, tracing through the William line. See Pedigree Connections.
The NZ pedigree also shows additional siblings: John (1539, d.y.), Richard (d. 1554), William (1540), Agnes (1543) m. Thomas Broadley, and Thomas de S. (1546) m. Sebell Palden.