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Gilbert Townson (b. abt. 1772 Bentham) married twice. Firstly to Elizabeth Newton in Dec 1791 with whom he had (at least) 7 children between 1793 and 1805. His second marriage was to Ann Hully 28 Dec 1829. Gilbert was Ann's second husband - her first being Bullock (christian name not known). Alice Townson Bullock and Thomas Townson Bullock were born before their parents' marriage.

Hope this helps.

I now know that Ann Hully's first husband was James Bullock who was a shoemaker (b. abt. 1786) and they married 13/8/1807 in St James the Less, Tatham, Lancashire.

Phil.

Moira,

I've recently made some progress on George Fern & his family.

I now know that George was one of the children of Henry Fern and (I think) Sarah Toplis.

George was one of at least 7 children to Henry and Sarah. Their first two children were Sarah (abt 1794) and Henry 15/02/1799 and were born in Bonsall. The next five children were born at Longwaybank: Tamar 30/9/1801; Joseph 1/06/1805; George 23/04/1808; James 9/09/1809 & Peter 19/09/1812.

My breakthrough was in Ancestry's release of the Probate index. I always believed that Sarah ~1794 was related to George as one of George's children was with Sarah in 1851.

I found the Probate Calendar record for Sarah. She died in Denbighshire in 1876 and named brother, James, as executor. I knew nothing of James but on searching on Ancestry I found him in Oldham as James Fearn. (One of the many variations of my surname.) His age and birthplace matched with the birth and baptism of James, sibling of my George!


I now know something of three of George's siblings. Sarah who never married. James who married twice and died in 1882 in Oldham. Joseph who lived and died in Bonsall in 1871.

I'm sure that my Fern family from Bonsall must have connections with all the other Bonsall Ferns but now need to find out more about George's father, Henry and mother, Sarah Toplis.

Phil.

Hi 5th Cousin Deb,

There's a distinct possibilty that John Redmayne was born in 1711 in Arncliffe, Yorkshire (the son of Leonard Redmayne and Margaret Beck). John's first marriage was to Margaret Scott in Arncliffe 30/12/1738. Margaret died in Aug 1747 about 18 months before John's marriage to Jennet Dickson. (John's first two children were Margaret and Leonard which ties in nicely.)

Have a look at:
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/e/d/Tom-Redmayne-Lincolnshire/index.html

Cheers.
Phil Fern
Marple, Cheshire, UK

Thanks Moira,

A few more snippets that may help.

I suspect George may have had a sister, Sarah. In 1851 George's daughter, Ann, was a servant in the household of Robert Eaton Blackwall (of Wirksworth) in Manchester. Also a servant there was Sarah Fearn b. Bonsall abt 1795. (If not a sister of George - possibly an aunt or a cousin.)

In 1841 George was in Chorlton in Medlock, Manchester. The head of the household was Sarah Ferns b. abt 1768 not born in Lancashire. I think it's reasonable to suppose that she was his mother.

If it helps, George's children were (in dob order) Henry, Ann, John, Susannah. (There might have been an older son, William - he was, I suspect, an illegitimate child of George's wife, Sarah Gill but I have some inkling that George was his father.)

Many thanks again in anticipation.

Phil.

Hi,

I tried a search on Marthas b. abt 1841 in the Ancestry version of the FreeBMD index which is very quick - no likely hits I'm afraid. On Ancestry you can do wildcard searches so I tried Mar* & Tut* which would find Marthas Marys etc and Tutin, Tuthill etc. - again no likely hits.

Phil.