English Origins – Thomas Crosborough Henchman

By Robert Hinchman, Jr.

The origin, genealogy, history, and traditions of the Henchman, Hensman, Hinchman, and Hincksman families are known to many family members today, because of the research and dedication of Robert Hinchman, Jr. (1921-1996), of Dallas, Texas, the founder and first president of the Hinchman Heritage Society. It is from this beginning in England that we may someday find connections to The Hinchman Family in America. The following two paragraphs were written by Robert for the October 1992 Hinchman Heritage Week in England.

“Legend has it that Thomas Crosborough of Magna Doddington, Northamptonshire, saved the life of King Henry VII during a hunt. Upon being rescued from the tusks of a wild boar the King said to him: “Truly, thou art my veritable henchman.” Thomas thereupon, changed his name to Henchman, and thus, the family began. His great grandson, Thomas, was apprenticed at the age of 12 to William Cokayne, Master of the Skinners’ Guild, and subsequently became a prominent merchant and Freeman of the City of London during the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth I. Thomas was the father of Humfry who was instrumental in aiding Charles II escape to France during the English Civil War. Thus, two Henchmans have helped save the lives of two English kings.”

“The scions of Thomas Crosborough Henchman are the progenitors of the Henchman/Hinchman and Hensman Families of today. The variations in spellings began to stabilize during the reign of James I and by the time of the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the orthography had become almost set .. but as a Hinchman, you well know that confusion still exists. The family began its migration to New England in 1637, to Maryland in 1664, and to Australia in the 1860’s. And, of course, English members continued down to this day. Our generation, wherever we live, are descendants of Thomas Crosborough Henchman, his sons and grandsons. It is an adventure for each of us to discover our particular origins.”

The Henchman Family, published in England in 1868, is the major source of information about the family origins in Northamptonshire, England. The book relates the tradition about how Thomas Crosborough saved the life of King Henry VII and how the king exclaimed, “Thou art a veritable henchman!”