Transcript

of

Yonge

Devon Notes & Queries, vol. VII, (1912-1913), Exeter: James G. Commin. 1913, p. 272.

by

Alex. N. Radcliffe

Provided by Michael Steer

YONGE is one of the old English spellings of the adjective "young." It seems that in the 17th century a family dispute concerning religion led to one branch of the family adopting  the spelling "Young" and the other branch adopting "Yonge". Some of the "Youngs" became noted naval officers in the great age of sail. In the late 18th century one received £40,000 prize money from the capture of a Spanish treasure ship. The family has never been rich or famous, with some exceptions, but is typical of many country gentry families, living a comfortable life, sending their sons into the professions and the four corners of the Empire and marrying their daughters into similarly placed local gentry families. The Note’s author seeks connections between his mother’s family in Shropshire and the Yonge’s of Ashburton, The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 186. YONGE. - My mother was a Yonge of Moore and Caynton, in Salop, a well-known family there; her arms were or, 3 roses gules. In the pedigree of the family taken from the Visitation of Salop in 1623 I find that George Yonge, the younger brother of William Yonge, of Caynton, who was Sheriff for Salop 1548, is described as of Ashburton, Devon ; he had three sons, Christopher, Thomas and William. There is a note in the Harleian Society's copy of the pedigree as follows : "At this point a leaf has been cut out of the Shrewsbury MS. which no doubt contained George Yonge and his descendants as well as the arms and quarterings." I have been told there were some well-known Yonges or Youngs at Ashburton, but I fancy they were of the Puslinch family, and probably not related, as their arms are quite different. I find in Lyson's Magna Britannia, Devonshire, Part II., 1822, under the heading Widecombe-in-the-Moor, "Another Manor of Notsworthy . . . belongs to Fitz- william Young, Esq., of Ashburton." I should be very glad if any information could be given me as to George Yonge and his descendants, and also whether Fitzwilliam Yonge was one of the family. Alex. N. Radcliffe.