"The surname Twining is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and signifies 'two meadows'. It is a place name and the family was seated in Gloucestershire, England, where, on the river Avon, a few miles from Tewksbury, there is a village of that name. It is claimed that members of the family emigrated to America from the section at the junction of the Severn and Avon rivers. John Twining appears as the Abbot of Winchicombe about the middle of the fifteenth century, and in the Scottish locality the name is said to be found on tombstones of at least as early a date. Families of the name are still in Scotland, Wales, in London, and elsewhere in Middlesex, and other parts of England. In Nova Scotia there is a branch of the family which came from Wales."

"The Twinings of Twining belonged to the race which was English before William the Conqueror arrived, and the home from which they sprang is in the county of Gloucester. Prior to the Saxon Invasion under Cuthwrin, in 577, there is no mention of the name, the origin of the patronymic originating at that time. Twining Manor dates from the time of King Edward 1., and from that day on we find the name spelled in some fourteen or fifteen different ways contained in the records, especially in Tewkesbury, Pershore and Evesham. Among the prominent members of the family was Richard, 1472, Monk of Tewkesbury Abbey, John, Lord Abbott of Wimcombe, 1474, Thomas, Monk of Kewkesbury, 1539, and from that day to the present a continuous line of leading and prominent ecclesiastics in the English church. In other branches of life, Daniel, 1777 to 1853, was rector of Stilton Hunts. His daughter, Elizabeth, 1805 to 1889, was a celebrated botanist and philanthropist. Frank Tweed Twining, 1848 to 1883, was a famous physician. The family is also prominent in Wales and Nova Scotia."

"William Twining, founder of the family in America, came over to this country before June 1, 1641, when his name, 'Mr. William Twining, Sr.,' is found in the court records of Plymouth Colony is a case of trespassing regarding certain lines. He was then a resident of Yarmouth, situated some thirty miles southeast of Plymouth, and incorporated as a town in 1639. His daughter Isabel was married there on the same date, and his first wife was then living. In 1643 he is included in the list of those able to bear arms at Yarmouth, and for the next two years the records rank him among the militia, consisting of fifty soldiers, to each of whom was given, on going forth, one pound of bullets and one pound of tobacco. In 1645 he was one of the five soldiers to be sent out against the Narrgansetts. Soon after this he removed to Nauset, now Eastham, Barnstable county, Massachusetts. In this latter place he was chosen constable, June 5, 1651. May 13, 1654, he was granted two acres of meadow, 'lying at head of Great Namshaket.' In 1655 his name is included in the list of twenty-nine legal voters of freemen in the town. The same records show that several parcels of land were granted to him at Rock Harbor, Poche, and other localities on the cape. He appears to have resided in Poche, on the east side of Town Cove, 'on the lot containing two and one-half acres, lying next the Cove.' He died here, April 15, 1659. That he was a man of more than ordinary character is shown by the titles of Mister he fixed to his name in the early records, a distinction given to but few men, even though they were men of substance."

"William Twining, the immigrant ancestor, was a freeholder at Yarmouth, Massachusetts, in 1643, and that year his name appears on a list of those able to bear arms. In 1645, he served against the Narragansetts, coming from Eastham, whither he had removed. He was admitted a freeman June 3, 1652, and was a townsman in 1655. He died in Eastham, April 15, 1659. He married (probably second), in 1652, Annie, probably a sister of Deacon Doane, who was born 1590, came from Wales to Plymouth, 1621, one of the founders of Eastham and assistant of Governor Prince in 1633. "

"William Twinning, the ancestor of the Cape family of the name, was in Yarmouth inn 1643, and went forth a soldier in 1645 against the Indians. The precise date of his removal to Eastham with his family, the Eastham records do not show, but he was there located before 1651, as that year he was constable of the place. His place of residence, it is understood, was on 'Poche Neck', now called East Orleand, but the particular spot is not known to the writer. He was a considerable land owner, though not of the class called 'Town-purchasers.' His days in Eastham were few. He passed away April 15, 1659. His wife, Anne, survived him, and died Feb. 27, 1680. His children are not all known. Some of them, doubtless, crossed the ocean with him."

"The name of 'Mr. William Twining, Sr,' first is found in the Plymouth court records June 1, 1641, in a case of trespass regarding certain lands. He was then a res. of Yarmouth, situated some 30 miles S.E. of Plymouth, incorporated 1639. How long he had been there up to this time is not known. His dau. Isabel was married here the same year, month and day, according to the same records. It should also be stated as an evident fact, that his first wife was then living. Decidedly unlikely is it that he would come over with two children in their teens, and remain a widower until 1652, some 12 or 15 years after his arrival. It is evident that she [first wife] must have died in Yarmouth or Eastham, and that he married again at the latter place in 1652, as the records have shown". Details to be entered.

"Mr. William Twining of Yarmouth, d. Estham 15 Apr 1659. He resided at Yarmouth by 1 June 1641, served in the Narragansett War (1645), was made freeman 3 June 1652, later removed to Eastham."

He is listed as one of the Dennis First Comers: "1645? Twining, William M[ayfair] N. of Weir River? R44"

"The names of the freemen in Eastham in 1655 were . . . William Twining . ."

"Of his nativity nothing is known to certainty. From whence he came, his paternity, life and traits of character, the vessel in which he took passage and its date of arrival in the New World, are questions which have been poindered over and the page of history examined that some ray of light may shed her pleasant beams and answer fully and satisfactorily. These questions may never be solved. . . We say that reliable information regarding our ancestor is wanting; family tradition, however, almost uniformly assert that he came from Wales. One that he came from Yorkshire, England, and one, an aged spinster living in the vicinity of Eastham, speaks of a 'taint of French blood.'

"His death occurred at E. April 15, 1659, and he was probably not more than 65 yrs. old, if we may approximate by contemporaneous and circumstantial evidence. That he was a member of the Congretational Church seems conclusive, yet no facts at all can be given in proof. No date is at hand regarding his first marriage and it is simply conjecture whether his wife died before he came to 'our shores' - probably soon after. Authorities from whom meagre light is drawn on the subject, had no certain knowledge of a second marriage, although Savage does say, 'it is not certain that she (Ann) was the mother of Wm. 2nd, as she may have been 2d wife of Wm. 1st.' There is no evidence of any children by this 2d marriage and nothing definitely known of the full fruits of first m. " More details to be entered.

"Willm Ttwineing" is listed in the List of those able to bear Arms in New Plymouth for "Yarmouth. 1643".

"He resided in Eastham near the Town Cove, probably coming there from Plymouth where he is of record as early as 1641, although at that time hemay have been living at Yarmouth, where he ws able to bear arms in 1643. He held minor town offices in Eastham."