Summary of Mayo Research- Charlie Mayo and Nancy Bishop

Summarization back from about 2001 on the Mayo research that Charlie and I had done:
From Charlie:
A wonderful "summary" letter I received from Charlie Mayo commenting on the accomplishements he and I had made in researching this difficult family: (this was dated back in 2001, or 2002, just before I started to "fall out of the loop" so to speak, at that time)
We have found that the Mayo’s came about the time William the Conqueror took Englaqnd and King Herald at the battle of Hastings in about 1066. A few Mayo’s are mentioned in those early times and one in particular, Herbert La Fitz Mayhu is in the Norman records and was slain in a battle by the Welsh, (indicating that he was not Welsh) near the battle of Morgan Cam.
The original Mayo of England must have been of close service to William because, heraldry was betowed on the Mayo’s from early on and passed down through the family as evident from the coat of arms for many families. Which just means that the original Mayo was a Gentry and his family not only carried that title, but also was in a position to gain more Heraldry as time went on. The Arms are somewhat different for the various families, but all seem to be uniquely Mayo, of three’s based around a chevron. Simon Mayo of Denton seems to be the family still in the Gentry class as late as 1500’s.
We have also learned that the Mayo’s probobly began as a nucleus in the area of Wales, possibly in Cornwall and spread northward up that peninsula to Wiltshire, Berkshire, etc. They were probobly assigned a large estate when the Norman’s took over, but even Royalty becomes diluted when so many are descended. So, a few of them came to the colonies early on. Everything we know of our early Mayo’s, point to the northern part off Whales. Rev. John Mayo of Barnstable, Mass., William of Isle of Wight, Edward of Barbados and North Carolina, and the later William and Joseph Mayo also through Barbados, as well as, John Mayo of Roxbury Mass hailing from the Wiltshire, Berksshire area. All of these seem to be from the northern area of Wiltshire or surrounding area. Even our line is quoted in early records such as the Bible of William James Mayo as coming from Wiltshire. They all migrated around the same time. If one member of a family is successful, others tend to chime in. That’s the way Wilde beasts cross a stream, settlers go west, etc. It is the nature of things. Further, we have learned that the name was given the Cornish owe ending and as it spread north, the e was dropped. Around the area of Wiltshire and Berkshire it was not all together proper to have that Cornish "owe" ending, so it was dropped altogether. Except after gaining the "Y", it did not sound right without keeping the O. So, Mathew became Mayhew to the Norse, which became Mayhowe to the Cornish, which became Mayho to the middle area of Dorset and Mayo of the northern part of Wales. I would venture to say that those who left Cornwall early dropped the owe altogether and became May. So the fact that all of our colonial immigrants were Mayo, points to a northern descent. A third indication of origin is the given names. All of our Colonial progenitor Mayo’s of apparent North Wales have names like William and John for sure, because all Mayo’s even in England are named for William the Conqueror or John the Baptist, but we also have Joseph which is common to progenitors. James is unique to William of Isle of Wight, and Valentine. Which may indicate a further refinement our of Joseph. But looking in England, only one family has these names of Joseph , James, John, Sarah, Elizabeth, etc., That is the family of Poulshot, Wiltshire England who we know sent us William and Joseph the surveyors our of Joseph Sr. We did not find one other Joseph Mayo in England! Further, Joseph had a brother named John, one named Walter, and probobly many more. We do not have their descent, but we are probobly them through John of Middlesex, Va. I would say that John of Middlesex, Va; William of Isle of Wight, Joseph of Barbados, and Edward of Barbados and North Carooina are either brothers out of William Jr. (1613) and Jane of Poultshot or are first cousins out of William Sr. (1579) and Joan. This conclusion is based on the not so coincidence of proximity, surname spelling, documented places of origin, chronological similarity of migration, given name patterns, and gut feelings. We have evidence that William Mayowe sailed on the Looe ship Mayflower with a Virginia Master in 1626. Or at least he had dealings with the Virginia Colony.
The Cornish person who wrote it down since Looe Habor is in Cornwall could have spelled his name. We see other evidence of Early Mayo’s such as Samuel at age 10 out of London in 1635. Samuel being also a child of Rev John Mayo. We see other names that are not in our line like David Mayo.
Now we come to Valentine, who is too old to be the son of James and Mary Valentine, but may be a brother or more likely a first cousin who could be named after his possible mother "Jane Valentine" sister of Mary. Hey, not as absurd as two of Joseph’s (1750) daughters marrying his brother’s sons! Joseph and his brother even married two Richardson sisters, but my Julius Richardson Mayo is named after not Robert Mayo and Sally Richardson, but Joseph Mayo and Jean Richardson. They have their own Richardson Mayo.
Not to mention the fact that John Mayo was right there in Middlesex County and died in the Christ parish church with Valentine, God, and all the other non Mayo onlookers. He can not be ignored just because there is not a notarized birth certificate for Valentine. He IS Valentine’s father and was probobly married to a Valentine woman.
Now, clues for further research is in order. Valentine was a sailmaker and taylor. I could be wrong, but sailmaking does not seem to fit with Middlesex County. The fact that someone knew him and counted him as an import in Essex County may suggest that he met his wife there and moved. This would at least put them closer to the "uncle" in Isle of wight who could be the son of William Mayowe who was on that ship in 1626. A study of that guys recruits would be interesting, along with Claphams. The William Mayowe 1626 may not be a passenger, but a person dealing with the colonies since it said Christmas of 1626 and 1627. Maybe Valentine learned sailmaking from him?
In general conclusion, I have developed a common sense gut feeling about all the research I have seen. I think it is like we are in the living room with our relatives, but can’t quite pair the brothers and daddies and grandpa is sitting there with that aged smile of wisdom saying it is all very simple. You have all the grandchildren; you just don’t have a few missing parents.
It may never be solved, but I have a comfort and satisfaction that William de Poultshot is my grandfather. Any sort of serious study should be of his children and grandchildren, I think we know most of them.
Charlie Mayo