Description
Handwritten letter from Victor Exley to the NZ family (2 pages). Undated, but likely c.1985-1990 based on context. Written in response to receiving the NZ pedigree papers. The letter is Victor’s emotional reaction to discovering that the NZ branch had independently traced the family back to Southowram.
Transcription
Page 1
[…] all difficulties & disappointments until I finally traced my family back to 1245 with William de Dewsbury at Exley Hall… Exley Bailey, Southowram.
I have spoken to many Exleys of various branches of the family but none have ever traced back beyond the late 1700s, until a few of them with a little help from me have managed to get back to Rawdon & then I’ve invited them, almost dared them to take their pedigree back to Southowram where all the Exleys ultimately originate.
So you can imagine that I was somewhat staggered when I received your offering!! It varies slightly from my work, but is essentially the same result, & has the same origin. I am therefore most intrigued to [continued on page 2]
Page 2
[…] Yorkshire with its origins at Ecclesley, Southowram & that when I have inserted the 1379, 1404, & 1420 Johns & the 1450 Robert with broken lines connecting them as having at the time been not proven, I am now doubly at ease that family continuity must be accepted and that all the present Exley branches, wherever they are now, all are descended from the first Exley, William son of William de Dewsbury.
Having got all that off my chest, let me say how delighted I am to have discovered you and what I do hope you will write soon so that we can make contact & compare notes.
With kindest regards, Victor Exley
Key Information
- Victor traced his family back to 1245 with William de Dewsbury at Exley Hall, Southowram
- He had spoken to “many Exleys” but none had traced back beyond the late 1700s without his help
- The NZ pedigree “varies slightly from my work but is essentially the same result, & has the same origin”
- Victor had inserted the 1379, 1404, 1420 Johns and the 1450 Robert “with broken lines” as provisional connections
- He is “now doubly at ease that family continuity must be accepted”
- His conviction: “all the present Exley branches, wherever they are now, all are descended from the first Exley, William son of William de Dewsbury”
Significance
- Provides insight into Victor’s emotional response to discovering the NZ branch’s independent research
- Confirms he had treated the 1379-1450 connections as provisional until the NZ pedigree corroborated them
- Key statement of the single-origin thesis for the Exley family