Overview
Thomas Gatchell and Susan Peach of Somerset County, England are
probably the parents of John and Samuel Gatchell/Getchell, the two
brothers who left England for North America in 1635. Of their
generation, and prior, only John and Samuel seem to have emigrated
to Amerca. The rest stayed in England. Later Gatchell generations
emigrated to Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.
Thomas Gatchell’s brother Henry Gatchell was the sheriff of
Somerset County. John Gatchell/Getchell named his two yougest
children Thomas and Henry.
Samuel Gatchell/Getchell’s wife Dorcas Woodin was probably
born in England, too. Salisbury, Massachusetts records show
activity for John Woodin, who was from England, and possibly the
brother to Dorcas. Some researchers have speculated that the
spelling of her last name was Wooden, but early Salisbury/Amesbury
records only show Woodin, not Wooden. The same records show various
spellings for Sam Gatchell/Getchell: five instances of Getchell,
one of Gatchell (Sam II) and one of Gechel.
According to researcher Curt Fredrikson, the West Monkton, Somerset
County parish records were lost in a 1710 fire. He and researcher Ben Getchell
also note from first-hand observation that the gravestones in the
area are too worn to be readable. However, some records can be
found in Somerset and Dorset counties. Presumably, as more records
are transcribed, more connections will be made.
Somerset County is located in the England’s West Country
(southwestern England). It is directly south of Wales and two
counties east of Cornwall. See map of England. In 878, Somerset served as a refuge
for Alfred the Great when the Danes almost overtook England. His
stay in Somerset gave King Alfred an opportunity to regroup and
drive the Danes to northeastern England.
Gatchell House
See photos
of Gatchell Meadow, Gatchell House and historical records about the
400-year old house King’s Gatchell, all in Trull, Somerset
County. The photos were taken by Ben Getchell on his 2002 trip to
England.
English Connection Notes
See Curt Fredrikson
appendix, bottom of page
See Dean
Newhouse notes on Samuel Gatchell, middle of page