Eacotts and their Occupations

As yeomen English, the early Eacotts made their farming count. They met the rules of their lord and early on involved themselves in the wool trade both as farmer and merchant. The records of the 14^th and 15^th centuries with reference to the name all deal with these issues. The evidence shows they prospered and perhaps had above average wealth at times, sometimes marrying into solid families as indicated by connections to Henry VIII’s exchequer, and Cromwell’s Lord Mayor of London. Some were goldsmiths, as were Samuel and Berkeley, a most prestigious trade. There was a long tradition of religious connection.

The Church

The earliest is associated with the church at North Cerney where Johannes Eycot was assistant minister in 1465. Later Thomas Eycott was Churchwarden in 1572. At Bagendon an Eycott was often churchwarden.

It was in later times however that Eacotts undertook the ministry. The most interesting line descends from John, then Abraham, who lived at Yew Tree in Berkshire in the 1700's. Abrahams son James1805 -1882 seemed to have raised his children in a devoted manner. He was the Rev. James buried at Leicester born at Yew Tree. In 1836 he went to the West Indies as a Wesleyan missionary. His 3 sons, Caleb 1844-1911, James W. 1839-1923 , Jabez 1843-1906 all became Methodist ministers while his daughters Isabel and Brena served as missionaries in India and China respectively. In addition the Rev William Eacott ministered from 1870 until 1907 with the Methodist Church. James W. was buried at Barnard Castle, Durham. Caleb graduated from University College Durham with an MA in 1870. He served as vicar of King’s Norton and was curate of the Chapel St church at Bottesford, Leicester.

Another person Robert Eckett was also a Methodist born Scarborough in Yorkshire 1797 but was raised in London He. Died 1862. Robert was a leading Wesleyan reformist and took an active role in the Leeds organ dispute. He agitated for the establishment of the Theological Institute in 1834 but was expelled from the church and joined the Wesleyan Methodist Association in 1839. He planned its foundation and deed in 1840 emphasizing democracy in governance. He played a leading role in the United Methodist Free Church serving 3 times as president. Although he also lived in the north of England and was a Methodist his connection with the Yew Tree branch is not known.

The grandson of James, from his son James, who migrated to Canada, became involved with the Salvation Army. Col. James Clinton b. 1899 d 1981 He served in China with the Overseas Mission, as did his daughter Amy (Homewood). Clinton also worked for a long time with prison inmates in Canada. After retiring he completed his MA in theology from University of Western Ontario, London at the age of 78. His sister Brigadier Emily was also a life long Salvationist joining the social services department in 1929 She spent many years with Faith Haven home for unwed mothers in Windsor Ontario. She celebrated her 100^th birthday in 2001. Another Brother, Frances, was also a life long Salvation Army officer.

Anglican Eacott’s include Rev. Henry Eacott who was canon of St. Wilfrids Church in Kibworth, Leicester from 1934 to 1943. This church of 1200 was partially renovated, and a war memorial created during his time, and after his untimely death, a lecturn was dedicated to him.

In Australia, Rev. Len Eacott, was ordained an Anglican priest in 1983 in Brisbane. He joined the military reserves and was sent in 1993 to Cambodia as part of the UN forces there. In 1999 he was the Senior UN chaplain and involved with the exhumation of persons killed in mass murders. He was made Archdeacon of the armed forces of Australia in November 2002.

The Military

A number of Eacotts have military backgrounds. This is the record as much as has been gathered.

The first mention of possible military service apart from duties as a medieval knight was the listing of Thomas Coots (likely a spelling error) in 1608 as being fit for the militia.

At the time of the fear of invasion by Napoleon, 1797 Henry Eacott was appointed an officer at Gloucester of the Troop of Gentlemen and Yeoman Cavalry.

Charles Eacott of Ontario Canada was a private of the West Kent Militia, Kent County under Captain William Kerry in 1838. He signed his name as Charles Ecot. This group was formed to put down any effort to foment rebellion as had happened the previous year. His pay was 1 pound, 17 shillings and 4 pence. Charles was a pioneer settler of Ontario in1830 from Wiltshire.

At the time of the Civil War in America, William Henry Eacott was living in Butler County, SW Ohio. He was involved in the reserve militia and wrote in July 1861 requesting that his men wished to become a volunteer regiment. As 2^nd Lt. Of Company B, 35^th Ohio Regiment he tendered his resignation on June 30, 1863. What ever became of that is not known because at age 27 on Aug 12 1864 his service ended. He would have been in the Union forces at Chickamauga among other places.

Also serving in the Union Army from New York was William Eacott Hilliker a private from Dexter NY who was at the siege of Petersburg. Signed up Jan 21 1864 discharged 1865.

Serving with the Confederate army in the 2^nd Missouri Cavalry Company C was Thomas Eacott. He joined August 1862 and first saw battle at Iuka Mississippi on Sept 19 1862 as part of Armstrong’s Cavalry Army of West Tennessee and also with McCulloch’s Cavalry under Lee and Forrest. He surrendered May 4 1865 in Alabama.

In 1881 aboard the HMS Asia was able bodied seaman, unmarried, Henry J. Eacott born 1860 at Warminster Wilts.

The First and Second World War service records include a considerable number of persons. Included here is the Debt of Honour Register for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

At first glance it looks like just a list but there are some interesting aspects bearing observation.

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             Surname Rank Service Date of Death Age Regiment Nationality - Comment

EACOTT, A J Private 46767 1 November 1918 32 The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.) United Kingdom-died Calais Fr. Age 32, John /mary Ann Bethnel Green London

EACOTT, Charles A rthur Private 6987 20 September 1917 24 Australian Infantry, A.I.F

Age 24 parents William James/Mary Ellen of Long Warry Victoria

EACOTT, Edward Walter Serjeant 18831 7 September 1918 44 Welsh Regiment United Kingdom D. Somme age 44 wife Kate of Larkhall Bethnel Green

EACOTT, Frederick Serjeant 6472308 10 September 1943 29 Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.) United Kingdom d. Salerno Italy age29 Alfred/alice Rosina wife Irene Margaret

EACOTT, Florence Mary Civilian 1 February 1945 Civilian War Dead United Kingdom

London wife of Walter of Chingford Essex age 42 .....possible buzz bomb fatality

EACOTT, Frederick R Private 10/3114 29 June 1921 40 Canadian Forestry Corps Canadian

died Vancouver, age 40 son of late Robert/Mary of Huntly Glos

EACOTT, Francis Thomas Private 2168 4 January 1917 27 Australian Infantry, A.I.F Australian d. Somme age 27 Joseph Charles/Georgina Longwarry Victoria

EACOTT, George Stoker 1st Class D/K 16489 17 September 1939 47 Royal Navy United Kingdom age 47 abord HMS Courageous ....died at sea at start of the war

EACOTT, Henry Varney Lance Corporal G/7703 4 August 1917 20 The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) United Kingdom age 20 at Ypres William Arthur/Sarah Jane of Erith Kent

EACOTT, HenryWilliam Thomas Private 34958 26 October 1917 27 Royal Warwickshire Regiment United Kingdom age 27 MIA Belgium late Walter/Laura of Reading

EACOTT, J V Bombardier 352779 15 June 1917 32 Royal Garrison Artillery United Kingdom

at Ypres age 32 wife E.M.

EACOTT, Leonard Robert Driver 65011 27 February 1915 24 Royal Field Artillery United Kingdom age 24 of Scarlet Fever Aldershot john/Charlotte wife Alice Rebecca of Cromhall

EACOTT, R Lance Corporal 15059 1 October 1917 22 Leicestershire Regiment United Kingdom

EACOTT, Sidney Private G/6200 6 April 1916 21 Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) United Kingdom age 21 in Belgium AlbertCharles/Ellen was born in London

EACOTT, Thomas Charles Frank Corporal 6146902 18 May 1944 28 East Surrey Regiment United Kingdom at Monte Casino Italy age 28 Charles/Clara

EACOTT-HARRIS, George Henry Civilian 15 October 1940 65 Civilian War Dead United Kingdom age 65 51 Haverstock Rd London ...... blitz bombing casualty

Additional research has not been done on the following

ECOTT, A D Serjeant 1431738 23 July 1944 24 Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. United Kingdom ECOTT, F W Private 302321 21 June 1918 Royal Scots United Kingdom

ECOTT, J B  Private 147974 7 June 1940 25 Royal Army Service Corps United Kingdom

ECOTT, O M Gunner 11571 24 July 1917 Australian Field Artillery Australian

ECKETT, B J Sergeant 1376454 12 March 1943 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom

ECKETT, E L Serjeant 1630 12 May 1918 25 Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) United Kingdom

ECKETT, F C Able Seaman C/JX 198056 18 November 1942 22 Royal Navy United Kingdom ECKETT, F S Driver 522119 25 February 1919 Royal Engineers United Kingdom

ECKETT, L C Corporal 5391784 7 August 1946 24 Oxford. and Bucks Light Infantry United Kingdom

ECKETT, P Bandsman 7602 14 October 1915 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers United Kingdom ECKETT, S W Private 5745 11 February 1917 The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt.) United Kingdom

ECKETT, T W Flight Sergeant 1895942 27 May 1945 35 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom

ECKETT, U T M Lieutenant 21 February 1919 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve United Kingdom

ECKETT, V G Civilian 19 September 1942 45 Civilian War Dead United Kingdom

Canadian Expeditionary Force - World War I

All of the Eacotts and Acotts who joined in Canada were born in England! Frederick, Frederick Robert, Edwim James, and Samuel Eacott. John, Charles, Thomas Harold, William and William John Acott. Elgin Murphy whose mother was an Eacott was born in Canada and was killed in action.

United States

Military records from the USA are not as forthcoming. However these persons from this century have some documentation.

During the D-day invasion on June 8 1944. Lt. Allen Eacott, returning from a bombing run in his P-51B crashed into another aircraft flown by James F. Scott of 334 fighter squadron cutting off the tail of the other aircraft and caused it t o dive into the ground killing the pilot. Both were part of the 4^th fighter group USAF.

Correspondence in the Byroade papers at the University of Arkansas contain this reference: "Byroade papers contain a pamphlet copy of a secret memorial of General Tanaka of Japan regarding the impending World War, signed by Lt. Col. Eacott S. Miller, P.S.;"

Lt. Col. James Eacott Miller was A-1 or 5^th in Command of the IX Bomber Squadron which served in the Mediterranean and the European Theaters of War.This group was composed of B-26 bombers.

Miller, Eacott Berton, b. 09/09/1886, d. 02/08/1954, COL USA, RET, Plot: OS PL5, bur. 02/11/1954, * was buried in San Francisco National Cemetery.

First Lieutenant Eacott, a pilot with the US Army, was involved in a rescue action firefight during the Viet Nam war in 1969. Click here for an account of the action.

Other Professions

There appear to have been a number of educators among the Eacotts, some in various trades especially the building trades. Back in 1845 there was an Eacott’s Circulating Library established in Bristol. Also in Bristol were a cordwainer , a lady straw hat maker, and a husband and wife team who went to London and opened a private school for girls.

Construction Industry

Other than farmers and wool merchants, the first known Eacott trade was a 1630 Richard at North Cerney who was a rough mason. At Chippenham and Wooton Bassett in the 1770's Thomas and John Eacott were plumbers and glaziers. While at the same time William was a mason in Gloucester. There is a record of an Eacott being hired to repair the stone gates at Owl Pen after a riot in the 1700's. Later the 1881 -1901 census records show a number of bricklayers and stone masons carrying on this tradition. Charles who came to Canada in 1830 seems to have known something of making bricks and building with them. Having built one of the first brick houses in the area from a brickyard in which he had an involvement.

The Eacotts were not great landowners yet into the 20^th century there were still 7 Eacott farms in England. The other name variants were generally not farm owners.

See the census records and England after 1850 for more details.. Click here

Landmarks:

Eycott still exists on the topographic maps of England as noted elsewhere however other sites exist.

Somewhere along the line some Eacott must have been a geologist or held land the was geologically significant because in the Lake District of England there is a volcanic rock group known as the Eycott Volcanic Group, middle Ordovician, Caradoc volcanic succession continental near Keswick in Cumbria, Also in the Lake District is Eycott Hill. There is an Eycott farm on the edge of the Lake District Park, Penrith, Cumbria.

At Coventry Eacott’s are remembered by a street, Eacott’s Close.

In Lambton County Ontario there is an Eacott family cemetery plot.

Mandurah in Western Australia recognizes their pioneer Eacott with a park, a street and an historic home.