Hello Sante,
I too have many listings of Theophilus Hearsey etc. being London Merchants and later listed as "Orange Merchants" all references between 1751 -1800, I would love to sort it out!
Unfortunately I have found four Theophilus Hearsey's so it is almost impossible to say which information fits each one!
the first I have knowledge of is the one who fought at the battle of Culloden in 1745 he was a Cumberland squire and Jacobite
the second is the son of Theophilus above of whom I have no birth date but his brother Andrew died in Middelburg Holland 1752, I have these notes about this Theophilus
"Theophilus and his father were both present at Culloden and consequently attainted and their estates confiscated. They fled the country joining exiled court on the continent where his father eventually died, he remained until proceedings against Jacobites were relaxed and then returned to England, settled down as a merchant in the city of London and became rich and prosperous."
The third, the son of brother Andrew above although I have only found one reference of this one.
I do also have notes from "The Social Condition of the British Community in Bengal" 1757 - 1800 - by Suresh Chandra Ghosh (1970 pub. BRILL)The Development of the British Official Families page 46
The Hearsey's are an example of a typical family all of whose adult male members looked upon the Bengal Army as their right opening. Andrew Hearsey the Captain of an East Indiaman and the brother of Theophilus, an influential London Merchant, died in 1778 leaving one daughter (another Chritian Mary born around 1730) and one son, Andrew Wilson Hearsey who had obtained a cadetship on the Bengal establishment in 1765.
The forth was the son of Andrew Hearsey ( son of the Andrew Hearsey above) and Jane Cole (whom it would appear had 15 children) Theophilus born abt. 1754
One of the Theophilus Hearseys (probably the one above) must have married Sarah Garlick
Pallots Marriage entry for Theophilus Hearsey Residence St.Botolph Billingsgate - Parish St. Mary Le Bow married by License 1783 to Sarah Garlick (minor)
I just wish they had been more imaginative about their names and chosen something different to Theophilus and Andrew!
If you have any other details I would love to her them, I do not have any references to the wills you mention.
I have also included The Salmon's in my research due to Marion Hearsey's marriage - this side is still ongoing for me.
Crystal
