We are also related to a Constable of the Manor of Walthamstow who had sixteen children and lived to be 94 and was given a special award for saving someone's life in a dual.

This was in the l6th century. The Penns lived in Walthamstow for many years and one James Penn who was definitely a Great Great (not sure how many) uncle of Dad designed beer engines and water closets in Wood St., Walthamstow!! We even have a picture of one I think somewhere - we weren't sure if it was a beer engine or a WC!

There are several branches of the Penn family probably all related once. Many were bankers. William and Francis are very much family names. Admiral Penn's father was called Giles, and his son was called William which is funny really when you think of it.

Obviously they were Quakers and William Penn went to Pennsylvania (see internet). The reason we are sure that we are related is because the Will of William Penn was witnessed by the Lady Elizabeth Penn who lived in the same house as Will, but was not married to him as far as we know. He had two wives, one died, and was buried in Walthamstow churchyard. The Lady Elizabeth would seem to me to have given birth to the ancestor of Dad (and you, of course) but more than that I cannot recall. We have a file on it somewhere.

Grandpa Penn went to the George Monoux Grammer school which was the old style Grammar doing Latin, Greek etc. Several of William Penn's descendants were not just Quakers, but also teachers. There was still a Hannah Penn teaching in Walthamstow who was a direct descendant of his in l969. All the documents are in the Walthamstow County Library Archives.