Neame family

Elizabeth Neame was my 6x Great Grandmother  born circa 1731in Waltham, Kent. She married William Combes circa 1758. Tracing back to her through the Dodd part of the family was somewhat complicated as two John Dodd's, who were cousins both married a Sarah. Through careful checking at the Canterbury Archives and matching the facts to people It was clear that my links were correct.

The Neame family have some interesting history, some chronicled on other sites such as www.neamefamily.com. It would appear that our ancestral name is first recorded in Kent circa 1400 when Thomas Neame seems to have acquired land. The various descendents are well recorded and some are listed in a 1959 book of Landed Gentry. . The family were very well known and respected in Birchington, Thanet, Canterbury, Goodnestone, Woodnesborough, and other surrounding areas and townships of Kent.

Members of the family still farm in Kent but branches are all around the world. My branch have moved from the upper classes to lower classes. They do say that most can achieve riches to rags in a generation or two.

Going back to 1400 it has been suggested that Thomas Neame originally came from Neamestown in County Wexford, Ireland. John Neame, tanner and merchant adventuer was tried in the English High Court for Piracy. I quite like the idea of being related to a pirate operating in the waters off Ireland. It has a sort of romantic adventurous quality to it but I suspect the reality was very different.

It is possible that Thomas was an Irishman and may have been in service to the King and having achieved some financial success through his military services came to Kent to settle.

The other interesting area of history linked to the family name concerns beer and brewing. Shepherd Neame is a famous Kent Brewery and the family have the obvious link to it. There is a lot of information on the history of the brewery and its founders on the internet and books are also available detailing the Neame involvement. In summary I enjoy the thought of my swashbuckling, beer guzzling ancestors and as an ale fan will always partake of a pint when in Kent, or anywhere else for that matter.