Constant Southworth Esq (1730 - 1813)

The Southworth Genealogical Research & DNA Study Project’s goal is to determine if Constant Southworth’s (b. about 1612) and Thomas Southworth’s (b. about 1617) ancestors descend from Samlesbury or Clarborough England. As Constant and Thomas Southworth’s potential royal descent has not been definitively proven, I hope that by combining new genealogical research, male Southworth descendant Y-DNA testing and analysis through a New England Historic Genealogical Society study project that Constant and Thomas Southworth’s descendancy will be resolved. Descendants of Sir John Southworth (b. 1526) and Mary Ashton will be identified for Y-DNA testing to compare DNA results against descendants of Thomas Southworth (b. c. 1548), Constant’s and Thomas’ grandfather. Additionally, this project will identify living male descendants of Richard Southworth (b. 1545) and his wife Imogene Aston of Clarborough, Nottinghamshire to compare DNA results. Contact me via private message for more project information.

Background: Earlier genealogical research was often accepted based on loose assumptions (See a discussion: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Cochoit_Working_3). Subsequently, Constant Southworth’s potential royal descent has not been definitively proven.

Additional Research and Analysis Since 1992: Under Gary Boyd Roberts, The Royal Descents of 900 Immigrants to the American Colonies, Quebec, or the United States (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2018), 1:708-709, Mr. Roberts first acknowledges the uncertainty of Edward’s origins: “Edward Southworth, probably [emphasis added] the Leyden Pilgrim…” (p. 708). He then addresses Sue Allan’s “In Search of Separatist Edward Southworth of Leiden” 2017 online monograph https://shop.americanancestors.org/products/in-search-of-separatist-edward-southworth-of-leiden-his-genealogical-origins-uncovered?pass-through=true argument against Leyden as Edward’s correct origin as Edward’s father, Thomas Southworth of Samelsbury, Lancashire was a Protestant, while Thomas’s father, Sir John Southworth, and two of Thomas’ brothers were “sometime ardent Catholics variously imprisoned.” Comment: My understanding is that during this period, most family members tended to practice the same faith, though there can be exceptions such as perhaps Thomas followed Protestantism to avoid being imprisoned.

Alternatively, Ms. Allan presents a circumstantial argument that Edward Southworth of Leyden was born 12 April 1585 at Clarborough, Nottinghamshire, son of Richard Southworth of Clarborough and Immyn Aston; and this Richard was son of Richard Southworth of Clarborough and Welham and Emma Levesey of Keeton (in Nottinghamshire).