'Currently, the descending pedigree starts with William Somes of Hardmead, Buckinghamshire, the father of Morris Somes of Hardmead, Buckinghamshire, and Gloucester, Massachusetts. Further research is needed to extend this line earlier than William.'
Parish register entries and wills are presented to support this conclusion.
'William Somes of Hardmead, co. Bedford, was buried there on 4 April 1617. His will, dated 20 March 1616[/7] and proved on 8 April 1617, does not mention his wife, who had apparently pre-deceased him.'
NOTE: It appears that the name of the county is incorrect here - it is given as Buckinghamshire in the paragraph above.