Bridgettine Brothers

The brothers were full members of the convent, but since they are not nuns they are listed separately. The community moved to Rouen in 1580 because of dangerous conditions in Flanders. However Rouen was troubled by the negative impact of the wars of religion and the community decided to move to Lisbon, at that time under Spanish rule. They arrived at the end of May 1594 remaining there until driven out in 1809 to escape the effects of the Peninsula campaign.

Sources

The main sources for this list are the MS Chantress' Book, now deposited at Exeter University Library which contains lists of members but is to be used with caution. One conventual archivists comments on the fly leaf that there are many inaccuracies and inconsistencies over dates. Canon J R Fletcher's research in the 1920s and 1930s for his History resulted in a substantial collection of notebooks (35) also held at the Special Collections Library at Exeter University. The recent interpretive chapter by Peter Cunich provides a substantive overview of the work and the importance of the brothers. See; 'The Brothers of Syon, 1420-1695', in eds. Jones, E A and Alexandra Walsham, Syon Abbey and its Books: Reading, Writing and Religion c.1400-1700, Woodbridge, The Boydell Press, 2010.

The Note: the last brother died in 1696

Barrowes/Barras, Nicholas, Co Durham, priest
Educated at the English College, Rheims
Professed Rouen 1585 Aug
Died 1621 7 Oct: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Blunt /Bluntte, Jerome, priest
Educated at the English College, Lisbon
Son of Francis Blunt of Staffs
Died 1694 17 Aug: Lisbon, aged 72
Sources: Annals in box28/Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Carlton, Robert of St Barbara, priest
Professed 1689
Died 1693
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Consul, Peter Lay brother
Died 1634 10 Dec: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Dimock, Charles, 14th Confessor General 1647-59, priest
Professed 1619
Died 1659 17 Sep: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Aungier/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Foster, Seth, aka Joseph Foster
Elected Confessor General (12th) in Rouen 1584
Son of John Foster of Earswick, Yorks and Anne Lascelles
Educated English College, Rheims
Led the move from Rouen to Lisbon
Died 1628 24 May: Lisbon, aged 71
'Came to Lisbon with us suffered greatly for his faith: & was our faithfull friend & protector, in all our afflictions & dangers, both by sea & land.'
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Godbolt, Henry
Lay brother
Died 1650 21 Feb: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book

Gore/Gower, Thomas
Lay brother
Professed Rouen 1585 Aug
Died 1614 29 Jun: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Griffin, George, 17th Confessor General.
Son of Edward Griffin, Warwicks and Elizabeth Draycott
Attended English College, Lisbon: thrown out before finishing his studies because he could not pay the fees (according to Fletcher)
Procurator for 30 years
Died 1695 24 Jun: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Kemp, David, priest, of Cornwall
Son of William Kemp and Margaret Smith
Educated English College, Rheims
Professed Rouen 1589
Died 1615 28 Feb: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Marks, John, of Devon
Educated at St Omer and Wathen, joined the Jesuits
Went to Lisbon 1663 and joined the Bridgettines. According to Fletcher, left after a misunderstanding with the Abbess perhaps over her sale of the Brothers' Library to pay for building works.
Died 1697 4 Feb: left £200 to the community
Sources: Annals in box28/Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Marsh, John, priest
Educated English College, Rheims
Professed 1586 Rouen
Died 1601 18 Nov: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Marshall, Robert,
Scholar at Seville
Professed by Father Seth Foster in 1621
No death date given
Sources: Fletcher Notebook 12

Mason, Lawrence
Lay brother
Died 1692 26 Jul: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Mease, Henry Name in religion: Stephen of the Conception, priest
Professed 1621
Translator of the Lives of the Saints in 2 vols
Died 1662 18 Jul: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Mell, Stephen
Died 1665 18 Jul: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book

Mydleton, Clemens
Lay brother
No dates given
Sources: Chantress book

Power Thomas
Lay brother
Died 1614 29 Jun: Lisbon
Sources: Fletcher Notebook 12

Robinson Richard
Died 1660 5 Dec: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Rokewood, Robert
Listed by Fletcher but no details given
Sources: Fletcher Notebook 12

Russell, William
Died 1646 9 Nov: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Slinne, Vincent
Professed 1598
Died: no date given
Sources: Chantress book

Smith, William, 13th Confessor General, 1628-47
Nephew of Seth Foster
Died 1647 12 Dec
Sources: Aungier/Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Sutton, William,
Educated English College, Lisbon
Sources: Chantress Book/ Peter Cunich, Brothers of Syon p75

Therall/Thoral, Francis, aka Benson, Francis, 16th Confessor General, priest
Studied at English College, Lisbon
Professed by William Smith
Died 1686 7 Jan: date also given as 1686 4 Feb
Sources: Aungier/Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Therwald/Thurwall, Robert, priest, 15th Confessor General 1659-62
Professed by William Smith
Died 1662 3 Jan
Sources: Aungier/Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Veale/Wells, Edward, priest, of Lancs
Educated at English College, Valladolid: expelled after leading one side in a quarrel (according to Fletcher)
Joined Bridgettines after 1637
Died 1647 12 Sep
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Vivian/Bibian, John, priest, of Cornwall
A convert: formerly a Calvinist minister
Educated English College, Rheims
Professed 1586 Aug Rouen
Compiled Lives of Saints in 2 vols.
Died 1624 10 Apr: Lisbon
Sources: Chantress book/ Fletcher Notebook 12

Whall/Whale/Hall, Peter
Lay brother
Died 1692 10 Oct
Sources: Fletcher Notebook 12