Guillaume Tonnelier
- b. : 1675, Plelan Le Grand, Ille-et Vilaine, France
- d.: Scarbrough, Yorkshire, England
- Guillaume's father : Thomas Tonnelier
- Guillaume's mother : Jacqueline Regnault
Family:
- Married : Abt 1700, France.
- William Tonnelier b. abt 1702 (on arriving in America 1730's, the surname changed to Tunnell).
- John Tonnelier b. abt. 1704
- James Tonnelier b. abt. 1706
The theory is that William, James and John eventually found their way to Derby in search of work. It can be seen from this document that William Tunnaley married Ann Bramford 27-12-1731 at St. Alkmunds Church Derby. The theory assumes that William then emigrated with his wife to America, americanising his surname to Tunnell in the process. It is noted that the Nottingham family appears to have been formerly spelt "Tunnelly".
Meanwhile a James Tunaley (Tunnaley)features strongly in the document. This James married Elizabeth 1-10-1755. To the author's knowledge, there are no records for James previous to this date. Therefore the theory assumes that James was first-born to an earlier marriage that took place involving the original James (m. abt. 1734) and named after the father, as was the norm at that time.
To this end, Paul Tunaley has obtained from the Nottinghamshire Family History Society documentary evidence, confirming statements in the Tunaley GEDCOM file, that a John Tunaley was attendant with his wife Elizabeth at the christening of their daughter Mary at St. Marys, Nottingham 18-8-1727. This John Tunaley would be the original John Tonnelier, according to the theory. Likewise, William Tunnaley, mentioned above, would be the original William Tonnelier and his wife, Ann Bramford, the "Lady Ann Howard".
With regard to the original Thomas Tunaley, married to Katherine, it is possible the name originates from Guillaume's father Thomas (or grandfather according to certain records). In any event,it can be assumed that Thomas Tunaley was born early 1720's and Thomas could equally have been the son of John or James.
The strength (or weakness) of the theory would lie in the consistency or otherwise of the names and dates in which case one might expect the original Thomas to have married Katherine at least five years later than appears to have been the case.
Indeed the document detailed above shows James "Tunnaley" or "Tunaly" marrying 1755.
Research continues and any suggestions/contributions would be welcomed.
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The theory is based on Guillaume Tonnelier being a Huguenot refugee to England following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes 1685 by Louis XIV and subsequent Huguenot persecution. Much is documented about William Tunnell after he reportedly arrived in America between 1731 and 1736 but the "facts" depend on which document is read - details can be found simply by entering William Tunnell or Guillaume Tonnelier into any search engine or click here. What is currently unknown are the events that took place between his date of birth (either in Scarborough, England or in Normandy)and date of emigration to America 30 years later. Nor does anyone, it seems, know what became of his brothers John and James born abt. 1704 and 1706. What is agreed is that "Tunnell" was not William's original surname (it was Tonnelier) and that his wife "Lady Ann Howard" wasn't an ennobled Lady nor was she a member of the celebrated Howard family.