HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE PAGRAMS

 

If you consult "The Historical Research Centre" a commercial organisation that provides data on family names - this is what they  say about the Pagrams:

I Quote:

" The English surname Pagram, and its variants Pigram, Peagram, Pegrum, Peagrim, Peggram and Pilgrim, is of nickname origin, that is, descriptive of some personal or physical characteristic of the initial bearer. In this case, the name is derived from the Old French "pelegrin', from the latin "peregrinum", which in Middle English became "pilgrim, pelgrim", meaning "pilgrim". This term was originally applied to a person who had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or to some seat of devotion in Europe such as Santiago de Compostella or Rome, or to one nearer home, for example the tomb of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury. Such pilgrimages were often imposed as penances, graver sins requiring more arduous journeys. Occasionally, Pagram is also of patronymic origin, indicating " son of Pagram or Pelegrin (pilgrim). The earliest record of this surname or a variant dates back to 1185 when Hugo Pilegrim from Warwickshire is mentioned in the "Records of the Templars in England in the Twelfth Century". Hugo Peregrinus and Hago le pelerin are listed as living in Suffolk between 1189-98. William Pegerim from Dorsetis also recorded as William Pegrum in the "Curia Regis Rolls" in 1200 and Eustace Pelrim was residing in Cambridgeshire in 1221. The "Rotuli Hundredorum" of Cambridgeshire contains a reference to one William Pegrim 1275 and Symon Pegrym is mentioned in the "Subsidy Rolls" of Suffolk in 1327. The marriage of Isaac Pegram and Martha Wyatt is registered in St. George Hannover Square in 1785.

BLAZON OF ARMS: Azure, three pilgrims' staves or. Translation: The pilgrims' staves are examples of canting and act as puns on the origin of the surname. Azure (blue) denotes Truth and Loyalty and or (gold) represents the Sun and indicates Power and Splendour. Crest: An escallop or. ORIGIN: England."   Unquote.

There is now clear evidence that the Pagrams in Australia were originally Pigrams. This happened around 1820 when our Ancestor Thomas Pigram married Mary Shildrick. When their children were born, they were recorded as Pagrams. Thomas's parents were William and Elizabeth Pigram Born 1760, his Grandparents: Richard and Elizabeth Pigram Born around 1708/1719 and his Great Grandparents : James and Sarah around 1678/1680.

RICKLING ESSEX ENGLAND

In a direct line of succession, James Pigram and Sarah Pigram (nee: Archer) bring this research to a halt. However, there are records of Baptisms (31) , Marriages (6) and Burials (19) at All Saints Church of England Rickling for Pigrams dating back to 27th February, 1559 with the Baptism of John Pigram.

James and Sarah Pigram were in Rickling where all of their children were born : their first was James in 1699 and their last was Elizabeth in 1710. Rickling is located in N/W Essex about 40 kilometres south of Cambridge. Its history dates back to at least 1115 where there is a record of Beatrice de Mandeville marrying Sir Hugh de Talbot. Hugh died and was buried in Walden Abbey Rickling Essex 19 April 1197.

In 1870, the following description of Rickling was recorded in the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales: - "Rickling, a parish in Saffron/Walden District , Essex. Near the river Stort and near the London and Cambridge Railway, 2 & half miles from the Newport Railway Station and 6 & three/quarters N by E of Bishop Stortford.

 

ALL SAINTS CHURCH RICKLING

 

Did you know that there is a village of "Pagram"? Yes there is. Surprisingly, it is not to be found in England. It is located on the autobahn that runs from Berlin to Frankfurt am Oder which is on the Polish border. Just ten kilometres back into Germany from Frankfurt am Oder is Dorf Pagram. I have a German friend who is a historian. He  has an interesting theory about the Pagrams. This is not proven, but plausible, and it makes a great story. We have visited this Village. There are about 200 villagers. There is one Pub and two churches. The farmland is mainly apple orchards. It's history goes back to the 1200"s. The land was controlled by the Catholic church and ruled as a Bishopdom. The land then was used for sheep farming. Anyway, this is my friend's theory. When the New World (North and South America) was being developed there was massive migration of peoples in Europe across the land mass to the ports with the promise of a better life as a Settler in America. If you wanted to migrate to the English colonies in Northern America, you needed to get to the English Ports.

We are looking at the 16th Century. Many people in Europe did not have formal surnames. So that a person from the Village of Pagram would say that his name was, eg, Jacob von Pagram (Jacob from Pagram). The von disappearing later on. Now, Jacob made it to England but fell in love with an English Beauty and settled in Essex. Thus the start of the Pagrams. I think that this is just a nice fairy tale!

The photo on the left is Pam and me at the entrance to the town. On the right is a photo of the only Pub.