American visitors in Bungay to trace Throckmorton roots

American visitors inside Holy Trinity Church Bungay viewing different locations in the area associated with their ancestors, the Throckmorton family. (Image: © Archant 2015)

A group of American descendants of the Throckmorton family paid a nostalgic and emotional visit to their family roots in Bungay as part of a country-wide tour of places associated with their ancestors.

Many of the 25 visitors were from the central American states of Iowa, Idaho and Missouri, but all can trace their ancestry back more than 350 years to the 1640s when John Throckmorton sailed from Norwich to start a new life in New Jersey.

Mayor of Bungay Ollie Barnes welcomed the group while Chris Reeve, local historian and curator of Bungay Museum outlined the history of the Throckmortons in Bungay and the local area.

The group visited Holy Trinity Church, where one of their descendants is buried, before heading to Earsham Hall, once owned by the Throckmortons.

Carol Throckmorton, from Iowa City, Iowa, said: 'It is an experience very few people ever have.

'When we were here last time in 2006 at Holy Trinity Church I was sitting in the front pew and the vicar was talking about its history and pointed to where I was sitting and said that was Throckmorton's pew – I was tingling all over, I felt so surrounded by his spirit.

'I had that same sensation today because I remembered that experience.'

John Gray, who now lives in Tennessee, organised the itinerary for the visit, and his great-great-grandmother was Elizabeth Throckmorton.

He said: 'I wanted to make sure we came here to talk about John Throckmorton, who sailed from Norwich in the 1640s and today has been the most important day of our trip so far.

'It tied everything together for us. We saw the place where the Throckmorton DNA started and we followed the family east for the American Throckmorton descended from John of Norwich.'

For Rich Mooney, of Toledo, Ohio, the most important thing was seeing the brass plaque to Lionel Throckmorton in Holy Trinity Church and seeing the spot where he was buried.

He said: 'We have been lucky to get into local churches and people have been very friendly and very generous with their time.'

Chris Reeve said he felt it had been a successful and enjoyable visit for everyone.

'It went very well. Despite the weather it was a good day and I think the Throckmortons got a lot out of it.

'We were very well looked after at Earsham Hall. There was a lot to tell them about Lionel Throckmorton – he is probably one of the most prominent of their ancestors.'

Have you got a story for Bungay? Email lynn.crombie@archant.co.uk or call 01502 712060.