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Pope's 'History of Wargrave'

As far as I am aware the only other attempt to trace the family history (in any detail) [apart from the work undertaken by Michael Ford of Yateley (Hampshire), 4th cousin to the A'Bears, from 1979 onwards] was that carried out by Mr. Ernest Pope in 1929, the full results of which can be read In his “History of Wargrave“. Pope, a retired clergyman, was at that date considered a relative newcomer to the village, but his descendants still live there, and his book was written and produced with the co-operation (and financial backing) of many local people. Although the A'Bears, had moved from Wargrave in the previous year one of the people he came to consult was Hr. John A'Bear of Aldsworth (Gloucestershire). At this visit, which some of John A'Bears's children can still remember, Pope was shown the contents of the family deed box. In recognition of their help Pope later gave the family a “History of Wargrave“ (copy number 2). Sadly, this particular copy is now lost, and I have recently discovered that many of the family documents which Pope must have studied in 1929 were destroyed in the Second World War. Fortunately Pope did make references to the most important of these documents.

Since 1982 with the formation of the Wargrave Local History Society people have become Increasingly aware of the shortcomings of Pope's book. But, as far as I have found, upon the subject of the A’Bear family his history needs only adding to rather than correcting. His Information was basically correct. The broad outlines and main characteristics of the family history as given by Pope I have quoted below.

A'Bear, Cotterell and Newberry all were landowners In very early days, but A'Bear is the first name one can find in old deeds, and they have. In this year of grace, 1929, at last left Wargrave without one of their name after 600 years. Their head was a prominent Wargrave man in 1340, and my letter to the last of their name here was returned to me marked “gone away“ (to New Zealand).

But the male line of A'Bear is by no means extinct, as it is represented by Hr. John A'Bear,  of Manor Farm, Aldsworth, Glos.. and his sons.

For hundreds of years A'Bears were the main fillers of the parish registers, and not content with this they signed them as churchwardens for centuries. It is about 40 years since they sold their Wargrave home and acres.

... they are almost unique in that for at least 600 years they have occupied a middle space in society; most families rise or fan in the social scale, but A'Bears seem to remain the sturdy yeoman through all time.

The coat of arms printed on this page is copied from an old parchment in the possession of Mr. A'Bear, and the family legend Is that they were allowed to use the feathers in their crest as their ancestor was the standard bearer at Crecy. I can find no confirmation of the arms or any arms to A'Bear unless “Bere of Oakingham“ (Wokingham) is of the same family, which is very probable as Billingbear originally ended “bere“ and was “At Oakingham“. [The family of Bere of Kent and Wokingham (Berks) are recorded in heraldic sources which would appear to be from where Pope took this reference. Their arms are completely different to that of the A'Bears of Wargrave.]

The earliest specific date mentioned by Pope in connection with the A'Bears is 1340. Although Pope does not specifically acknowledge this and although it is true that there existed no previous actual history of the A'Bears, it is likely that Pope took this date from an earlier “History of Wargrave“ written by Herbert J. Reid in 1885, Once again in this work the date of' 1340 is mentioned as the earliest provable date of the A'Bears' association with Wargrave, and indeed of their existence. The document to which both writers refer is the “Nonarum Inquisitionum“, a return of the value of ninths of wool, lambs, and corn in every parish in England in preparation for the taxes for the wars in France. The responsibility for carrying out these assessments fell upon each individual parish, and it was the parish which also provided the jurors who certified the returns as being correct in the list of jurors for the parish of Wargrave one “John atte Bere“ is mentioned. But also the Wargrave returns are interesting for the opportunity seized by the jurors to complain at the profits being made by their church:

John Atte Bere, John Atte Wydegate, Rob Wepestrode, John Dyton, John Atte Frythe, Philip Galant, of the Parish of Wargrave,

Sworn before the Prior of Walygford and his fellows say upon their oath that the ninth of the fleeces of the lambs, and of the sheaves (garbs) of the aforesaid Vill granted to the Lord the King are worth what they are valued at to the Church of Wargrave, that Is to say eighteen marks, and they do not exceed this because a great part of the lands of the parishioners of the said Vill lies uncultivated in consequence of the pauperisation of the aforesaid parishioners, and because there are great expenses in the autumn In collecting the sheaves, and because the land and wool and meadow and pasture belong to the Vicar, and also the small tithes which have to be offered, and the Mortuary fees. And the tythes of hay of the said vill amount per annum, to £10. which profits indeed run over the extent of the said church. In testimony whereof the aforesaid Prior and. the Aforesaid Jury have severally affixed their seals to the present indenture.

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