Moody, possibly originally from Modye or somesuch
Suffolk, England (c.1495-1635) -> Conneticut
Family Motto: Deus Nobiscum
As far as I can determine there is no know connection between these "Eastern English" Moody's (this line), and the various "Western English" Moody families.
This line traces back to a footman from Suffolk named Edmund Moody who was given arms and means in 1541 for saving the life of King Henry VIII. This status and wealth was put to good use by his son's - the eldest three to advance in the church, and the youngest to establish a respectable landed estate in western Suffolk, eastern Cambridge, and Huntington, centered around Moulton.
Possible connections between the various 'western' Moody linesThe various, what I'm calling, "Western English" Moody families are found in southern Gloucester and (mostly) Northern Wiltshire. These include a) the Chalford estate (Bisley, Bisley, Gloucester) Moody's - John and his son Edmund, fl. between 1469-1488. b) A John Moody at [Kingswood] Grange between Charlton & Tetbury (Tetbury, Longtree, Gloucester) who fl. 1544 (who perhaps might actualy be one of the John's from the Foxley Manor Moody's). c) The Moody family of Foxley Manor, (Foxley, Mamlesbury, Wiltshire as well as land at Chedglow, Crudwell, Mamlesbury, Wiltshire) - starting with John (fl. 1485) who may of originally been from Eldersfield, Worcestershire ; and continuing in direct line Edmund (d. 1509) who married an Elizabeth (might this John and Edmund father son be the same individuals as the Chalford Moody's?); John (d. 1549) ; & John (fl. 1586). and also d) the Garsdon line leading to the Moody Baronets of the manors of Garsdon, Lea and Cleverton, & Whitchurch-cum-Milbourne (all three in Mamlesbury Hundred of Wiltshire), namely (in direct line again) - Richard (fl. 1540s, d. 1550) who married a Catherine; Richard (d. 1612); Sir Henry Moody Knt. (Sheriff of Wiltshire 1618-9, M.P. 1625-6 & 1628-9, Made a Baronet in 1622) who's wife Deborah Dunch would later be known as "Dame/Lady Moody" of Gravesend, Long Island NY fame; and Sir Henry II, the 2nd & last Moody Baronet. If examined in the order I've listed them here, the power-base of each line is perhaps at most 5 miles distant (often less) from that of the preceeding one, indicating they are likely related. Then there is also a later (18th Century to 1911) line of prominent Moody's further south within Wiltshire (Manors of Great Bathampton & Hanging Langford of Steeple Langford, Branch and Dole Hundred, and also landholdings in Chicksgrove & Apshill of Tisbury, Dunworth Hundred) starting with a William (fl. 1764, d. 1774) possibly the same individual as William Moody a clothier in Wilton who was one of the one's to help start the Wilton Carpet industry in 1741; William (fl 1795, d. 1798); Reverend William Moody (d. 1827) rector of Little Langford (1798-1827) and Wylye (1792-1801) church's; Henry (d. 1827) who married a Felicia (she died 1888); & Henrietta (d. 1911). (Source's: the respective entries in the VCH books for Gloucester & Wiltshire)
Here are some quote's concerning the incident for which Edmund was rewarded. I do not have access to these source's so I can not confirm them.

""The ARMS and CREST of Edmund Moodye otherwise Moody of Bury St. Edmunds in the County of Suffolk, A Gentleman, granted by letters patent under the hand and seal of THOMAS HAWLEY, CLARENCEUX KING OF ARMS on the sixth day of October 1541 in the thirty second year of His Majesty KING HENRY VIII for miraculously saving his life at Hitchin, County of Herts, when leaping over a ditch with a pole which brake; that if the said Edmund, a footman in the King's retinue, had not leapt into ye water and lifted up the King's head, he had drowned; for which he was rewarded. "The Reward of Valor"

College of Arms London, Signature indecipherable, Windsor Hearld of Arms.

"If Will Somers had dared, he could probably have made his audience see the comic aspects of an accident that befell the King in 1525. But in fact this was no laughing matter, for, once again, Henry was nearly killed. When he was "following of his hawk" near Hitchin, he tried to pole-vault over a ditch, but the pole snapped and he landed headfirst in the muddy water. Stuck fast in the clay, he would have drowned had it not been for a footman, Edmund Mody, who leapt into the stream and hauled him out. This accident (or the one in the tiltyard a year before) might have accounted for the headaches he suffered later on, but its immediate effect was to bring home to the king, more forcibly than ever, the fact that the problem of the succession must be solved as a matter of urgency."

Weir, Alison. Henry VIII - The King And His Court, pg. 247; New York: Ballantine Books, 2002.

"In this yere the kyng folowyng of his hauke, lept over a diche beside Hychyn, with a polle and the polle brake, so that if one Edmond Mody, a foteman, had not lept into the water, and lift up his hed, whiche was fast in the clay, he had drowned: but God of his goodness preserved him."

Hall, Edward (1498-1547). King Henry VIII, pg. 38; London: 1542, 1548, 1550.
My 13th Great Grandfather possibly Thomas Moody
My 12th Great Grandfather, Edmund/Edmond Moody/Moodye/Moobye
Born circa 1495 in Suffolk, England. died 15 Sep 1562 in England.
Given a coat of arms and "The Reward of Valor" 6 Oct. 1541 and was granted a Groat a day for life. He was given these for saving the life of Henry VIII.
Some sources say born Abt. 1499
My 11th Great Grandfather, Richard Moody/Moodye
Born 1525 in Fryettes, Moulton, Suffolk, England. Died in Moulton, Suffolk, England and was buried 28 Apr 1574 in the Moulton Cemetery. Married on 4 Feb. 1548 to Anne (or Agnes) Panall (or Panell or Pannel) in St. Mary's, Bury St. Edmunds England (she died Mar. 1576/77 in Moulton, Suffolk, England, buried same on the 14th).
"Richard Moody, Gentleman of Moulton."
Yeoman
Some sources giv date of birth as about 1528 and marriage about 1552 and Death as 28 April 1574 and place of birth as Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Others give marriage date as 1548 or as 4 Feb 1547/8.
'Richard purchased land in Moulton in 1572, acquiring a considerable landed estate in Western Suffolk and lived in a house called Fryette's in Moulton, which he bought from the executors of Roger Fryette. He owned a flock of 400 sheep at Isleham, Cambridgeshire'.
When he died he left his '20 acres of arable land in Moulton ... were held of the Queen as of her Honour of Clare by knight's service' to George. His lands in Alconbury, Weston and Ellington, co. Hunts. were left to Robert, his leases of lands in Cavenham, Suffolk to John, and lands (6s worth) in Gazeley, Suffolk to Edmund.
My 10th Great Gradfather, George Moody
Born 28 Sep. 1560 in Moulton, Suffolk, England. Died 23 Aug 1607 and buried in Moulton, Suffolk, England. Married 1st circa 1580 to Margaret Chenery or Newce in West Parish, Wood Ditton, England. Married 2nd 5/6 Sep 1604 to Christian Cramp or Knapp or Cramb in Moulton, Suffolk, England.
Some source's say born in Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire, England and that first marriage was 12 Oct 1581 in Kennett, Cambridgeshire, England or in West Parrish, Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire. Other sources say the 28 Sep. 1560 was the baptisim date and the Knapp marriage was 19 Sep 1604. Some source's says born Sep. 1559 and some say in Wood Ditton. One source suggests that he maried Margery Bacon at All Saints, Sudbury, Suffolk on Jan 19, 1066/1 but that does not match what is known about Margaret.
Yeoman
Thomas Kilborne, his son-in-law, was executor of his will in which John was to receive L200 at the age of 24.
My 9th Great Grandmother, Frances Moody
Born 11 Oct 1584 in Moulton, Suffolk, England OR in Wood Ditton, Cambridge, England. Died 10 Nov 1650 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Conneticut Colony. Married 5 Sep. 1604 to Thomas Kilbourne in Moulton, Suffolk, England.
Some sources give: Date of death as 3 Dec. 1650 (Is this the burial date?) or as 1582. Baptism 11 Oct 1584. Marriage as 5/19 Sep 1604.
Her will from Nov 13, 1650 (note the date, 3 day's after her death- need to double check her death date) can be found in the J.P. Root book on page 507 (page 528 of the GoogleBooks .pdf version) with the confirmation and inventory of her estate (at £349/08/04) being on the 1st Thursday in June, 1651. The only individuals mentioned (other than wittnesses) are her son John, her daughters Lydia, Mary, & "Ffrancis", the three respective son-in-laws, and her grandchild Jonathan Law.
Go back to the Main Page or Ahnentafel Page.
Webmaster: Greg Weatherup
Last Update: Nov. 11th, 2010.