Castle Cary:
The Village: Castle Cary, a bustling, mediaeval market town, little
changed in 100 years, is 130 miles west of London in Somerset. This is
the land of King Arthur, his knights, and the Round Table (within 15
miles of Castle Cary). The town is of Saxon origen and developed
initially as a fortified setlement. The detailed local map shows
Castle Cary, River Cary, South Cary Lane, Cary Moor Drove, and close
by, "Lytes Cary" (whatever that is--perhaps a church or chapel).
The Castle: William Gouel de Percival became Lord of Kary in 1121. The
castle was built in 1137. It is thought the castle gradually fell into
decay around the 13th Century. In 1307-1327 the name was changed to
Castle Cary. The Celtic words Careg or Carag and the Welsh Caer
signify a rock or fortress. (There is no "castle" today).
The Cary Family: Adam de Kari was Lord of Castle Kari in 1198. He was
born in 1170;
married Ann, daughter of Sir William
Trevet, Knight.
John de Kary of Castle Kary, son of
Adam, born 1200
William de Kary of Castle Kary,
son of John, born 1230
John de Kary of Castle
Kary, son of William, born 1270
Sir William Kary, son
of John, born 1300
*This information was included in "Castle Cary Guide", a booklet for
tourists. (The dates of birth, above, seem to be rounded off
estimates!) Anyone wanting more details, the booklet is about 20
pages; I will make copy; send snail-mail address off-list to
pnoel(a)Whidbey.net
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As I recall, Stonehenge is near by. Driving from London to Castle
Cary, we stopped by Stonhenge enroute. There is a small local museum
in Castle Cary. When I inquired about genealogy materials they broke
out a well thumbed photo copy of a Cary family history book (John Cary
of Plymouth?) published in the USA. For someone who wants to get away
from the traditional tourist routes, Castle Cary is a wonderful,
friendly village with scads of walking trails to nearby churches,
manors, and castles. Paul Noel