Francis Norris (male) born c 1760

[BORRI]

Hi Daisy Loo
I have tried Ancestry myself, it has helped me a lot in the past but not on this brick wall.
What I was hoping for was someone whilst doing their own family my recall seeing a Francis Norris.
I have been stuck for about 7 years and have looked in the usual places but I am looking for a lucky break.
I have read books on Oxford characters and villians and turned up 1 family member and I have done research for other people and stumbled across a couple of others, it's that sort of luck I'm looking for.
I've checked for settlement orders and many other documents from the parish chest and next I go to the Oxford record office I want to check Bawdy courts and quarter sessions, toni* suggestion of tax records is a good one, I suppose Manorial rolls might be another.
Keep up the good work I really appreciate the help.

[dravot]

Hello Borri! Looks like we have both been searching for the same man. I have been looking for probables since the early 1990s, and no success yet.
Hearth tax I have tried, they wont help, although, over the many years, there is one interesting connection, which I will go into later. The original marriage record is in the Oxford Archives, and shows both Francis and Ann (nee Stuart) signing (with an X), in 1787, and as you say prior to that the trail goes very cold.

[BORRI]

Hi Dravot
Good to hear from you.
I think Ann Stuart might be the daughter of (can't remember first name offhand) Steward from Woodstock.
Is the connection anything to do with the Earl of Abingdon?

[dravot]

It certainly is!
I have examined most of the records over the past 15 years, and there is one logical conclusion. The nearby gentry Lord Norris (and earlier Norreys), had a tradition of using the names Francis and Henry, it could be our man is an illegit off shoot. Something my grandmother also mentioned years ago, is that she recalled family at a large country house nearby, I think this was Weston manor. The seat of the Norris family. It is equally possible that Francis adopted teh surname of his landlord ofcourse.

[BORRI]

Hi Steve
Thought it was you!
You didn't say if I had sent you that Birth Certificate or not.
Christopher would be in your direct line I believe, I sent for it so that I could confirm his mothers maiden name, she of course died soon after the birth.
Christopher was baptised on the day of her funeral and died a week or two later, he was the son of Richard.
All the best, Pete.

[Lesanne]

oooo Need to . thread.... Hi Folks.. be back when I get chance.. Lesanne.

[BORRI]

Sounds good! I'm finished for tonight but will be back tomorrow night.

[Lesanne]

 Got all fingers and toes crossed, that I can travel to Oxford RO, next week....  I shall have my head deep in the Norris/Norres/Norreys family.
Please send me a list of any peeps you're with, just in case I come across them. 

    Lesanne

BTW... I shall be at Liverpool RO soon as well, doing the Lancashire 'branch'....

[BORRI]

Have a good day at the ORO, I haven't been there for about a year, must go soon.
All my Norris' are in Wolvercote/Woolvercott going back to about 1789 and I think they may have come from Hagbourne, Berks although Steve (Dravot) thinks along a different line.
If you find any mention of a male Francis Norris born c1760 I would be very interested, I know where he is from 1789 but where was he before that?
I have read some of your long running string over the last month or so but as yet have seen no overlap between our families.
I have seen Headington and Woodstock mentioned and I do have family members who moved to those areas in mid 1800's.
Good luck at the Archives. Borri.