FACTS CONCERNING SOURCE OF THE QUAIFE FAMILY HISTORY

Cousin Fannie Quaife visited Hastings, and also Nuneaton, birthplace of grandfather Stephen Quaife. Also information was given by many others of the family, especially by Olive Quaife Kendall. If any mistakes are found, please forgive them, and correct them.

We are proud to be of Norman blood; they were a great people, and made the most important contribution to the rise of both France and England. The leaders of all history of all times, in many fields of endeavors. Chivalry – knighthood – bravery – respect for womanhood – Christianity – arts (painting, music, poetry, writing). Many became doctors, lawyers, teachers and clergymen by ambition and hard work. No people on earth ever surpassed the Normans in character. The keynote is individual effort, personal responsibility.

Recorded history of the family begins, as we have noted, with the coming to England from Normandy of the some 700 ships with 50,000 warriors, landing on the coast of Kent.

In the distant pat the name “Quaife” was spelled “Coife”. Old French Coife means “head dress.” This consisted of a close fitting cap or hood. It was worn, usually, under a helmet by the knights. Cousin Fannie pointed out that our ancestor at Hastings Battlefield wore the hood without the helmet, thus giving rise to the name of “Coife.” We have the word ‘coiffeur’ today meaning hair dresser. In Webster’s dictionary we have in small print; “Coif” or (Quaife) head dress, a cap or hood.

A strong patriotism outcrops in the family shown by war service. Stephen Quaife’s grandfather was a captain of the English army in India where he died; grandfather Stephen was a fife major at the head of his drum corps at Pea Ridge, and Prairie Grove in the Civil War; Uncle Albert was a fifer in the Civil War; Ralph Sinclair was a bandsman in the AEF, France – WWI, so was Cecil Goodrich (131^st F. A. Band 36^th Div.)

In a Letter from Miss Fannie Quaife: “On the battlefield of Hastings, I found two Quaife headstones around 100 years old across the street from my hotel. These were in the churchyard. I entered the church and found a pew with the name of Charles Quaife on it; I also met him later.

Your great-grandfather John Quaife came from Kent but I can not find the name of his father. That is part of the reason I visited Kent and Sussex – for the Quaife’s have been there since the day of the Conqueror.”