Canford Magna Church

The Warlands of Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Canford Magna, Kinson

Warlands are found in the Canford Magna area, including Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Kinson and Hampreston from the early 1600s; Warland graves can be found in grounds of the church at Canford Magna, Dorset, confirming the connection with the area from that period. It is assumed that the Warland ancestors lived on land that was originally described as 'warland' in the Domesday Book, similar to people with the same or similar surname to the north-east in Oxfordshire and around Cambridgeshire.

Early Warland gravestones are located with others in the Canford Magna church grounds.

The Manor of Canford Magna

Canford Magna was recorded as 'Cheneford' in the Domesday Book of 1086. Names listed in relation to Cheneford in the Book included: Aelfstan; Aethelric; Almaer; Alweald; Alweard; Ansfrid; Beorhtmaer; Beorhtwig; Beorhtwine; Bernard; Burgess of Wareham; Dachelin; Dodda; Eadric; Edward of Salisbury; Ernulf de Hesdin; Hugh; King Edward as landholder; King Edward as monarch; King William as monarch; Ralph de Limesy; Ranulph; Reeve of King Edward; Robert; Robert fitzGerald; Tholf; Toli; Toxus the priest; Turstin fitzRolf; Urse; Wada; William; William Bellet; William de Eu; Wulfgeat; Wulfweard; Wulfwynn.

Cheneford (Keneford (1181), Kaneford (1195), Caneford (1200), Canford (with variations, from 1307), Great Canford (1612) and finally Canford Magna (1774)), on the banks of the river Stour, was granted to the Eureux family by William I (Domesday Book). At the time, the manor was recorded as extending as far as Poole, Hamworthy, Longfleet and Parkstone, and included the extensive Canford Heath. Canford was passed down to the Monteacute family (the Earls of Salisbury). The words 'Great' and 'Magna' signify the original importance of the manor.

The manor became the property of Ela, Countess of Salisbury, when she was orphaned by the death of the 2nd Earl of Salisbury and became a ward of King Richard I ('the Lionheart'). She also became Sherriff of Wiltshire. In time, she married the famous knight William Longespee (Longsword), the half brother of King John, who thus became the 3rd Earl of Salisbury and served three monarchs; Richard I, King John and Henry III.

Poole was granted its first charter in 1248 by William Longespée. It paid 70 marks to enable William Longespée to go on crusade to the Holy Land where he was killed in 1249. In return, Poole received a great measure of independence from the manor to which it had previously belonged; the right to appoint a 'Port Reeve' (or Mayor); the right to hold its own court rather than be subject to the manorial court of Canford Magna; and the exemption from certain tolls and customs duties on goods shipped from the Port.

The present school house was commenced by the architect who designed Abbotsford for Sir Walter Scott and completed by Sir Charles Barry who designed the Houses of Parliament. The new building was attached to the medieval house which was built in the 12th century and to which King John often came. One wing of the house is known as John of Gaunt's Kitchen although there is no evidence that John of Gaunt ever came to the place. Many historic folk did however, including the Black Prince, Margaret Beaufort, Henry VII and Henry VIII. The oldest part of the wing dates from the 14th century and the remainder is Tudor.

The manor was held (and no doubt visited) by a number of influential families, the Beauforts, Fitzroys, Montagues, Mountjoys and Salisburys before reverting to the crown. Henry VII gave the house to Margaret Beaufort, his mother, and she held it for nearly a quarter of a century. Henry VIII (reigned from 1509 to 1547) held it himself for more than 20 years.

At some point after Henry VIII's reign, Canford Magna Manor was granted to the Webbe (or Webb) family. The Webb (also Webbe) family had a long connection with the monarchy and Parliament - William Webbe (abt 1499 - 1554), the Lord of the Odstock Manor from 1540, a wealthy man and Parliamentarian (under Henry VIII in 1529 and Edward VI in 1536), actually lent the king money in 1542. William Webbe's son John Webb (1530 - 1571) was granted property on the succession of Elizabeth I. His son, also John Webb (1556 - 1625) acquired the manor known as Langford and may have also acquired Canford Magna during his life. (The Cracrofts peerage website contained details of the Webb/Webbe line). John's son, also John Webb (1597 - 1680), may have been the first Lord of the Canford Magna Manor. He was admitted to Gray's Inn and became a General in the army. He was made a Baronet of Oldstocke (Odstock) and Great Canford on 2 April 1644 'as a reward of his family having both shed their blood in the King's cause and contribute, as far as they were able, with their purses, in his defence'. Two more Webbs, Sir John Webb (1630 - 1700) and his son Sir John Webb (1670 - 1745) retained the Lordship. John Webb (died 1745) had a only one son Sir Thomas Webb.

Canford House

The Parish church stands close to the entrance of the park. Originally Saxon and Norman, it has been much restored. The monuments, brasses and windows are all reminders of the Guests who restored the church and rebuilt the house.

The map below shows the area in which most of the Dorset Warlands lived from the late 1500s, including Wimborne Minster, Corfe Mullen, Canford Magna, and Hampreston. Other 'Warland' locations such as Almer, Spetisbury, and Winterborne Anderson are further to the west, while Poole is on the coast to the south.

From 1605 - Who was William Warland of Wimborne

William Warland, probably born around 1605 - 1610, married Jane Weare in 1639 at Wimborne. Jane subsequently re-married Thomas CLARKE. It is not known if there were any children from this marriage.

A William and Mary Warland had a son named William Warland who was baptised at Canford Magna on 18 June 1735.

Another William Warland, probably born around 1620 - 1625 (based on the dates below) had the following children from an unknown mother. It is not impossible, given the dates, that this William is the same as the one above, married for the second time probably around 1650/51 given the birth dates of the children shown below. The mother's name is not known.

1620 - Death of William Warland of Corfe Mullen

The Warland line had a very long connection with Corfe Mullen.

William Warland, husbandman of Corfe Mullen left the following will dated 15 April 1620.

William Warland's will.

In the name of God, Amen. I William Warland of Corfe Mullen in the county of Dorset husbandman, hath made and ordayned this to be my last will and testament in manner and form followinge. First for my soule that I bequeath into the hands of Jesus Christ my redeemer. And my body I committ into the earth in hope of a joyful resurrection to be buried in fro() of Corfe Mullen aforesaid. And my goods I (thus?) dispose. In primus I give to John Beale () () shillings fewer pence. Item I give to (Jo) () - three shillings fewer pence. Item I give to the rest of the poor of Corfe aforesaid five shillings. Item I give to poor of Greate Canford tenne shillings. Item I give to my sister Alice Harward twentie shillings. Item To Thomas Harward three shillings fewer pence. Item To Henry Harward (three) shillings fewer pence. Item To Katheryne Harward three shillings and fewer pence sonnes and daughter(s) of the aforesaid Alice Harwood. Item to Philippe Pottle and Thomas Pottle my servants a wether lamb apiece. Item to my servant Katherine Bugby three shillings fewer pence. Item - I give to my (sonne) William Warland thirty four pounds. But if the sayde William Warland should happen to dye before he comes of age of one and twenty years, then the sayde thirty four pounds shall () to Joan Warland his sister. And this to be payable when the sayde William Warland shall come of to the age of one and twenty years. Item - I give to Joan Warland my daughter thirty four pounds to be payable when she comes for the age of one and twenty years. But if shee shall happen to take to her an husband then the sayde thirty four pounds shall be payable at the first day of her marriage. If the said Joan Warland shall happen to dye before the age of 21 years if not married that then the sayde thirty four pounds her portion shall () for William Warland her brother. Item - All of the () of my goods, moveable and immoveable I give to Isabell my wife whom I make my sole Executrix of this my last will and testament. Wm Warland his mark. (Prob?) to (Isabelle) Warland (relief?)()()() Robert Paynter and Willaim (Fforde?). () Thos (Browne?) Edmund, Mary, (), Thos (King?) his mark. (Source: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D901362)

The will raises the question of whether the Warlands of Wimborne and Canford Magna - described below - are related to the William Warland in this will, in particular his son also called William Warland.

From the will we can see that William was married to Isabelle and had a sister named Alice who married into the Harward (or Harwood) family. Her husband may be the Thomas Harward mentioned. We also see Henry and Katheryne Harward, possibly his sister's children. William's children are named as William and Joan. It is also interesting to see Philippe and Thomas Pottle mentioned, as an Elizabeth Pottle married a William Dean (1723 - 1760) on 30 July 1741 at West Parley Dorset. Perhaps a connection.

From the mid 1600s - Warlands of Kinson linked with Canford Magna

The town of Kinson is only a couple of miles to the south east of Wimborne and Canford Magna.

A Nicholas Warland (? - 1662) married and had a son also named Nicholas Warland probably born around 1675. This Nicholas Warland married Jane Corban at Canford Magna on 28 January 1697.

Nicholas Warland (?1675 - ?) and Jane Warland may have had a son by the name of Abraham Warland born around 1694 and buried on 3 December 1765, Canford Magna. Nicholas Warland (junior) died in 1721.

From 1650 - John Warland of Canford Magna

The earliest recorded Warland in Dorset known to be connected with Warlands in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, was John Warland (abt 1620/1626 - abt 1673) who married Mary (surname not known)(? - abt 1683) probably before 1650 in Canford Magna. It is not known if this man was connected with the William whose will is noted above in 1620.

John and Mary Warland had the following children:

From 1679 - John Warland marries Mary Henslow

John Warland (1650 - 1730) married Mary Henslow (1660 - 28 November 1753, Lake, Dorset) on 4 December 1679 in Saint Thomas, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. They had the following children:

From 1721 - William Warland marries Mary Lannon

John and Mary Warland's son William Warland (1689 - 1746) married Mary Lannon (or Lannen) on 29 February 1721. They had the following children.

William Warland is believed to have re-married another Mary around 1735 and had the following children:

No other details are yet known of these children.

From 1725 - Abraham Warland marries Jane King in Kinson

Abraham Warland may be the Abraham Warland who married Jane King ( - 1748) in Kinson on 12 August 1725. Could Jane King be related to Ann King (1701 - 1784), the daughter of Christopher King, who married Robert Warland in 1724?

Abraham and Jane Warland had the following children:

The Kinson Birth registers record the birth or baptism on 14 August 1726 of Mary Warland, daughter of James and Margaret Warland. This suggests James and Margaret were born around 1705 but they are not registered in baptisms. No other Warland births are recorded in Kinson from 1680 to 1790, suggesting the marriages from 1725 were to outsider (non-resident) Warlands.

From 1748 - Abraham Warland marries Sarah Ware

Abraham Warland (1726 - 1803) married Sarah Ware, from Knighton Parish in Kinson on 7 September 1748. Abraham and Sarah had the following children, all baptised at Canford Magna:

Lydia Warland (possibly the daughter of Abraham and Jane Warland above) married Henry Hookey on 28 March 1751 .

James Warland (c. 1698 - ?) married Margaret (details not known). They had the following children.

From 1748 - Burials in Kinson

The following burials are recorded in the Kinson Burials registers.


Page created 2008, updated 17 July 2022. Copyright © Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)