pg 3.
From the Introductory Note:

    Many years ago the subject of ancestry began to attract attention. The compiler of these records became interested in it along his Travis line, during a long illness. He had known some of his relatives bearing the name of Travis, brothers and sisters of his mother’s mother, but all, with one exception, had passed off the stage ere this inquiry began; so but very little information could be had from the immediate family as to their ancestors, beyond their uncles and aunts. By much patient research and travel, extending over eighteen years, and a large expenditure of money, the results here recorded have been gained, and gratification is had in tracing the line unbroken from Henry Travers who arrived from London, England, in the Ship “Mary and John” at Agawam, now Ipswich, in 1634, down to the present time, and to find representatives of the family showing their love on country in every emergency requiring patriotic service, from King Philip’s war to the war of the Rebellion. The descendants of Henry Travers have thus had part and parcel in the development of our beloved New England from its infancy.

NATHAN HAGAR DANIELS.

pg 5-7.
TRAVERS, from Trevieres between Bayeux and Caen, Normandy. The name continued in Normandy, where Ranulph de Clinchamp, after 1138, assumed the name of Travers. In the time of the Conqueror, Robert de Travers or d’Estrivers, Baron of Burgh-upon-Sands, married the daughter of Ranulphe de Meschines, Lord of Cumberland, and sister of Ranulph Bricasard, who succeeded his cousin Richard d’Abrincis, as Earl of Chester, in 1119. He received in fee from his father-in-law the office of Hereditary Forester of Inglewood, which passed through his only child Ibria to Ralph de Engayne, and from the Engaynes to the Morvilles, who transmitted it to the Multons and Dacres. The badge of this office, the jagged branch, is over and over introduced in the Chapel of Naworth Castle, which is so rich with arms and cognizances.
(Hist. of Battle Abbey Roll, Vol. III, pages 204-3.)

“The forestership of Inglewood was so honorable and grand, so great a command, there is no wonder that the family should hold its claim as perfect.”
 (Hutchinson’s Cumberland.)

The name of Roger de Travers occurs in Buckinghamshire and in Bedfordshire, in 1202.
(Rot. Cancllarii.)

In Yorkshire the family was clearly of considerable importance. When Robert de Lacy was expelled the realm, the Honour of Pontefract was bestowed by Henry I, on “Henry Traverse, who being shortly mortally wounded by one Pain, a Servant of his own, caused himself to be shorn a Monk, and so died within three days.”
(Dugdale.)

Two of the name, John and Laurence, were pardoned as adherents of the Earl of Lancaster in 1318. John was twice Commissioner of Array of the Honour of Pontefract, and superintended the equipment of the levies in 1316 and 1323. Laurence, in the latter year, was one of the Subcustodes of the peace in the Wapentake of Aimunderness, and a burgess returned for Preston in 1727.
(Palgrave’s Parliamentary Writs.)

Dalton-Travers, about half a mile south of Newsham, in the North Riding, “traxit appellationem suam a familia de Travers, ejus olim per plures annos domini, licet corum jam memoria diu obsoleverit.”
 (Gale’s Richmondshire.)

Robert, son of Robert, son of Warin de Travers (probably the Warin of the Pipe Roll of 1189), gave some land in Dalton to Marrick Priory.
(Mon. Ebor., 270.)

Another of the family, Thomas Travers, was one of the Conservators of the Peace for Lancashire in 1320.

pg 8.
TRAVERS OF HAMPSHIRE.

The earliest record of Travers in England is found in “Domesday” Book I, F. 52 b. :--
“Terra Willielmi filij Stur ---- In Bovecome Hund., Hanteschire. Isdem Willielmus tenet dimidiam hidam in Egrafel, et Travers tenet de Willielmo. Hanc tenuit Vluiet in paragio. Tunc et modo se defendit pro dimidia hida. Terra est I carucota; et ibi est in dominio cum uno bordario, et una acra prati, et dimidia. Valet 10 solidos.”

It does not appear that the early settler remained long in Hampshire; probably he went north, and obtaining land in Lancashire, founded the family of Travers of Notsby.

pg 9.
TRAVERS OF LANCASHIRE.

GALFRIDUS TRAVERS’ of Burscough, Co. Lancaster, temp. Henry II – Rich. I. Had an estate bordering on the land given by Robert FitzHenry, for the foundation of Burscough Priory.
His son:
HENRY TRAVERS (2) of Burscough, son and heir-witness to the foundation Charter of Burscough Priory, temp. Rich. I. (A.D. 1189-1199), gave Benedict, Prior of Burscough, and his monks, a piece of land near Burscough Mill, temp. Hen. III.
HENRY TRAVERS (3) of Burscough, son and heir of Henry Travers (2), gave to the Priory, etc., of Burscough, a brook running towards the Priory, through the midst of his land, in pursuance of an agreement entered into the life-time of his father; s.a. (temp. Hen. III.)

HENRY TRAVERS (1) of Whiston, Co. Lancaster, gave to Cokersand Abbey for the health of his soul and that of Richard, his son, two shillings per annum, to be paid from his mill at Whiston; s.a. (temp. Hen. III)
His son and heir:
RICHARD TRAVERS (2) of Whiston, witness to grant of land in Bold, Sutton, etc., 36 Hen. III, A.D. 1251-52; one of the jury at an assize at Lancaster, 30 Aug., A.D. 1270.
Henry Travers’s other son:
ADAM TRAVERS (2), confirmed the grant of Henry Travers, his father of the said two shillings etc., temp. Hen. III.
RICHARD TRAVERS (2) of Whiston, had son ROBERT (3), of Whiston. He held the Manors of Whiston and “Rainforth” (under William de Dacre), 4 Edw. II, A.D. 1311. Paid 6s. (a fifteenth and a tenth) for his lands of Whiston, 6 Edw. III, A.D. 1332-3.
His son:
JOHN TRAVERS (4) of Whiston, son and heir, Presented by the foresters for having taken game in Toxteth Park, circa 8 Sept., 23 Edw. III, A.D. 1349; conveyed land in Liverpool, 6 Rich. II, A.D. 1382-3: m. Beatrix, dau. and co-heir of Hugh de Staynulfe, by Joane, dau. and heir of William Blundell of Ince, Co. Lancaster. Joined her husband in conveyance of land in Liverpool, 6 Rich. II, A.D. 1382-3.
Their son:
RICHARD TRAVERS (5) of Whiston, son and heir, married A.D. 1407-8, 9 Hen. IV, Katharine, dau. of John Bold, of Bold, Co. Lancaster, living 16 Hen. VI, A.D. 1437-8.
His brother:
WILLIAM TRAVERS (5) of Hardshaw, living 6 Hen. VI, A.D. 1427.
THOMAS TRAVERS (6), son of Richard (5) of Whiston, living 26 Hen. VI, A.D. 1447-8. Had son John Travers (7) of Whiston. Sold the Manor of Whiston to Margaret Ogle, widow of John Ogle, and Roger Ogle, her son; ante 21 Hen. VII, A.D. 1505-6.
JOHN TRAVERS (7) had a sister, Elena Travers, who marrid Henry Travers of Ditton. Had a grant of land in Ditton from Richard Blundell, Crosbey, 26 Hen. VI, A.D. 1447-8.
THOMAS TRAVERS (8) (son of John (7)) of Whiston, confirmed the grant of Whiston Manor lately made to the Ogles by his father and him, 11 Mar., 21 Hen. VII, A.D. 1506.
His son:
HENRY TRAVERS (9) of Rudgate in Whiston, Hardshaw, etc., 1 Hen. VIII, A.D. 1509. Paid 12s. for his lands in Whiston (rated at £6), toward the subsidy for Lancaster, 1 Mar., 35 Hen. VII, A.D. 1544.
His son:
JOHN TRAVERS (10) of Rudgate, etc., in Whiston, died 18 Oct., 25 Eliz., A.D. 1583, seized of the Manor of Rudgate, in Whiston, and messuages and lands in Hardshaw, “Raynford,” etc. Inq. post mortem held 6 Sept., 27 Eliz., A.D. 1585.
His children:
JOHN TRAVERS (11), son and heir et. 25, 6 Sept., 1585. Implicated in the Babington conspiracy; tried 15 Sept., 28 Eliz., A.D. 1586; condemned and executed on the 20 Sept., following; s. p.
His brother:
WILLIAM TRAVERS (11) of Rudgate, etc., died 16 Mar., 33 Eliz., A.D. 1591, seized of the Manor of Rudgate, lands, mills, etc., in Rudgate, Hardshaw, and “Rainforth.” Inq. Post mortem taken 8 Jan., 36 Eliz., A.D. 1594, s.p.
His brother:
HENRY TRAVERS (11) of Rudgate, Hardshaw, etc., brother and heir, et. 21 years and 1 month, 8 Jan., 1594.

------------------------------------

JOHN TRAVERS (1) of Woodhouse, parish of Ashton-Under-Lyne, Co. Lancaster, yeoman, died between 31 Aug., and 29 Oct., A.D. 1602. Will proved at Chester. Married Isabel --------. Viv. 1602.
Children:

1.James (2) of age ante 1602.

2.John, b. ------, viv. 1602.

3.Richard, b. ------, viv. 1602.

4.Harry, b. ------, viv. 1602.

5.William, b. ------, viv. 1602.

6.George, b. ------, viv. 1602.

7.Anne, b. ------, viv. 1602.

8.Ellen, b. ------, viv. 1602.

9.Isabel, b. ------, viv. 1602.

JOHN TRAVERS of Woodhouse, mentions his nephew “Harry Travesse,” who also witnessed his will, together with James, sen., Nicholas Newton and John Morres, Curate of Ashton-under-Lyne.

------ TRAVERS of Bold, Co. Lancaster, married Elizabeth, dau. of Thurston Birtchall, widow in 1609. Will dated Bold, 23 Dec., 1609; Inventory, 3 Jan., 1609-10. Buried at Farnworth Church.
Children:

1.Henry Travers, b. ------, viv. 1609.

2.John Travers, b. ------, viv. 1609.

The will of John Travers of Bold, yeoman, was proved at Chester, 4 July, 1636, by Katharine Travers, relict.
The following wills are preserved at Chester: -- Elizabeth Travers of Bold, 1614; James Travers of Bold, yeoman, 1708, and Peter Travers of Bold, yeoman, 1717.

HENRY TRAVERS of Failesworth, parish of Manchester, Co. Lancaster, yeoman; died between 21 July and 12 Aug., A.D. 1612; buried in Manchester Church. Will proved at Chester; married Alice Hale, dau. of Katharine Hale; viv. 1612.
Children:

1.John Travers, eldest son, of age 1612.

2.James Travers, b. ------, viv. 1612.

3.George Travers, b. ------, viv. 1612.

4.Henry Travers, b. ------ viv. 1612.

5.Adam Travers, b. ------, viv. 1612.

6.Matthew Travers, b. ------, viv. 1612.

7.Anne Travers, b. ------, viv. 1612.

In the Inventory of his effects, drawn up after his decease, Henry Travers of Failesworth is styled “Henry Travers, late of Clayton Mill, the parish of Manchester.”

If you have information that may assist in this research or any question or comments about the website please email: mike@traverslancashire.net.