Tilley

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Tilley Surname Origin

Tilley Lineage
John Tilley Sr 1571-1621, father of Elizabeth Tilley 1607-1687.

Elizabeth Tilley > Desire Howland > Shubael Gorham > Lydia Gorham > Thomas Worth > Barzillai Worth > Mary Worth > David Day > Phedora Alice Day > Lenore Inez Steger > Barbara Lou Tridle

Tilley Migration
Bedfordshire, England > Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts

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Elizabeth Tilley, Bill's 9th Great-Grandmother
30 August 1607 - 21 December 1687
b. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England
d. Swansea, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Ancient Little Neck Cemetery
East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island

Ancestry | Find a Grave | Google

Noteworthy

1. Mayflower passenger and one of the original settlers of Plymouth Colony. Orphaned during the first winter in the New World, she survived to marry fellow passenger John Howland and became the matriarch of a vast number of descendants, including two U.S. presidents and several actors. (Google AI)
2. Elizabeth and John Howland have millions of living descendants today, making them among the most documented Mayflower passengers. Notable descendants include Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, as well as actor Humphrey Bogart. (Google AI)
3. Tags: Immigrated_to_USA, Mayflower_Passenger

Parents:
John Tilley Sr 1571-1621
Joan Hurst 1568-1621

Maternal Lineage:
Rose Marshe 1634-1601, mother of Joan Hurst 1568-1621, mother of Elizabeth Tilley

Spouse: John Howland 1591-1672
Married: 1624
Children: 10

1. John Howland Jr 1627-1702
2. Desire Howland 1627-1683
3. Hope Howland 1629-1683
4. Elizabeth Howland 1631-1692
5. Lydia Howland 1633-1711
6. Hannah Howland 1637-1705
7. Joseph Howland 1640-1704
8. Jabez Howland 1644-1712
9. Ruth Howland 1646-1679
10. Isaac Howland 1649-1723

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John Tilley Sr, Bill's 10th Great-Grandfather
15 December 1571 - 11 January 1621
b. Bedfordshire, England
d. Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Coles Hill Burial Ground
Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Ancestry | Find a Grave  | Google

Noteworthy

1. A passenger on the Mayflower, a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and an English silk worker who died during the first winter in Plymouth Colony. He is a prominent ancestor for millions of modern Americans through his surviving daughter, Elizabeth. (Google AI)
2. Tags: Immigrated_to_USA, Mayflower_Passenger

Parents:
Robert Tilley 1540-1613
Elizabeth Elbourne 1544-1614 

Maternal Lineage:
Elizabeth Elbourne 1544-1614 

Spouse: Joan Hurst 1568-1621
Married: 20 September 1596 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England
Children: 4

1. Rose Tilley 1597-1601
2. John Tilley 1600-1636
3. Robert Tilley 1604-1639
4. Elizabeth Tilley 1607-1686

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Robert Tilley Sr, Bill's 11th Great-Grandfather
May 1540 - February 1613
b. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England
d. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

St Mary Churchyard
Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave  | Google

Noteworthy

1. Tags: Farmer_

Parents: 
William Tilley 1515-1579
Agnes Cooper TBD-1582

Maternal Lineage:
Agnes Cooper TBD-1582

Spouse: Elizabeth Elbourne 1544-1614
Married: 1570 in Henlow, England
Children: 

1. John Tilley Sr 1571-1621
2. Rose Tilley 1574-1621
3. George Tilley 1576-1612
4. Agnes Tilley 1579-1612
5. Elizabeth Tilley 1582-TBD
6. William Tilley 1585-1624
7. Edward Tilley 1588-1621
8. Alice Tilley 1590-1597

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William Tilley, Bill's 12th Great-Grandfather
1515 - January 1579
b. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England
d. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

St Mary Churchyard
Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave  | Google

Noteworthy

1. Tags: Farmer_

Parents: 
Thomas Tilley 1490-1556
Margaret Cunliffe 1488-1556

Maternal Lineage: 
Margaret Cunliffe 1488-1556

Spouse: Agnes Cooper TBD-1582
Married: 1534 in Henlow, England
Children: 

1. Elizabeth Tilley 1535-
2. Robert Tilley Sr 1540-1613
3. Alice Tilley 1550-1644
4. Agnes Tilley 1543-1551
5. Mary Tilley TBD-1585
6. Thomas Tilley TBD-1559

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Thomas Tilley, Bill's 13th Great-Grandfather
1490-1556 (65-66)
b. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England
d. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

St Mary Churchyard
Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave  | Google

Noteworthy

1. Tags: Farmer_

Parents: 
Henry Tilley 1465-1520
Johan Smallacombe 1468-1520

Maternal Lineage:
Johan Smallacombe 1468-1520

Spouse: Margaret Cunliffe 1488-1556
Married: 1509
Children: 

1. Agnes Tilley 1505-1569
2. Margaret Tilley 1510-1591
3. William Tilley 1515-1579
4. Hugonis Tilley 1522-1552
5. Joane Tilley 1530-1593

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Henry Tilley, Bill's 14th Great-Grandfather
1465 - 1 September 1520 (54-55)
b. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England
d. Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

St Mary Churchyard
Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestry | Find a Grave  | Google

Noteworthy

1. Tags: Farmer_

Parents & Maternal Lineage TBD

Spouse: Johan Smallacombe 1468-1520
Married: 1488 in Henlow, Bedfordshire, England
Children: 

1. Thomas Tilley 1490-1556
2. William Tilliey 1495-TBD

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Bibliography 

Ancestry ®. "Public Member Trees Database.” © 1997-2025 Ancestry®.  Ancestry.  ancestry.com/ Lawson-Robertson Family Tree. www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/10075800/family  User profile for William Harris Lawson, Jr., user Livingweb. Accessed 10 December 2025.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21561583/elizabeth-howland: accessed November 28, 2025), memorial page for Elizabeth Tilley Howland (30 Aug 1607–21 Dec 1686), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21561583, citing Ancient Little Neck Cemetery, East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA; Maintained by chamorroarkansan (contributor 51759366).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16539001/john-tilley: accessed November 28, 2025), memorial page for John Tilley (15 Dec 1571–11 Jan 1621), Find a Grave Memorial ID 16539001, citing Coles Hill Burial Ground, Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Kay Cynova (contributor 47064119).

Geneanet. "Public Member Database." © 1996. Geneanet. en.geneanet.org Accessed 28 November 2025.

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130604897/robert-tilley: accessed November 28, 2025), memorial page for Robert Tilley (May 1540–Feb 1613), Find a Grave Memorial ID 130604897, citing St Mary Churchyard, Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England; Maintained by tamara tillinghast haskett (contributor 47733136).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189043067/william-tilley: accessed November 28, 2025), memorial page for William Tilley (1515–Jan 1579), Find a Grave Memorial ID 189043067, citing St Mary Churchyard, Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England; Maintained by chasseur (contributor 48705606).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189043283/thomas-tilley: accessed November 28, 2025), memorial page for Thomas Tilley (1490–1556), Find a Grave Memorial ID 189043283, citing St Mary Churchyard, Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England; Maintained by chasseur (contributor 48705606).

---, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143430913/henry-tilley: accessed November 28, 2025), memorial page for Henry Tilley (1465–1 Sep 1520), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143430913, citing St Mary Churchyard, Henlow, Central Bedfordshire Unitary Authority, Bedfordshire, England; Maintained by Janet (contributor 48821323).

Google. "AI Overview." Search term: "Tilley Surname Origin." Google. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Tilley+Surname+Origin  Accessed 10 December 2025.

---. "Search Results." Search term: "Elizabeth Tilley 1607-1687" Google.  https://www.google.com/search?q=Elizabeth+Tilley+1607-1687  Accessed 10 December 2025.

---. "Search Results." Search term: "John Tilley 1571-1621" Google.  https://www.google.com/search?q=John+Tilley+1571-1621  Accessed 10 December 2025.

---. "Search Results." Search term: "Robert Tilley 1540-1613" Google.  https://www.google.com/search?q=Robert+Tilley+1540-1613  Accessed 10 December 2025.

---. "Search Results." Search term: "William Tilley 1515-1579" Google.  https://www.google.com/search?q=William+Tilley+1515-1579  Accessed 10 December 2025.

---. "Search Results." Search term: "Thomas Tilley 1490-1556" Google.  https://www.google.com/search?q=Thomas+Tilley+1490-1556  Accessed 10 December 2025.

---. "Search Results." Search term: "Henry Tilley 1465-1520" Google.  https://www.google.com/search?q=Henry+Tilley+1465-1520  Accessed 10 December 2025.

The Mayflower Society. "The Tilley Family Passenger Profile." The Mayflower Society. https://themayflowersociety.org/passenger-profile/passenger-profiles/the-tilley-family/ Accessed  10 December 2025.

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Miscellanea

Talking Kin™: Tilley

https://www.talkingkin.com/2025/10/tilley.html
© 2025 William H Lawson Jr

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