St Helen-Bishopgate birth 1775 - COMPLETED.

[Emmeline]

Seeking help !

I know from the Harleian Society publications that : -

William Mason of Old Artillery Ground in ye Liberty of ye Tower of London , Batchelor and Ann Doxsey  of this parish, Spinster were married by Licence and from the IGI records that this was on the 8th September 1774 at St.Helens , Bishopgate.

I'm trying to prove that Rebecca Mason - born in 1775 was their daughter. Although this Rebecca was married at St.Mary Whitechapel ( and became Mrs. Buskin) she was buried at St.Helens Bishopgate in 1818...........does anyone have access to the Parish Registers of St.Helens ? Would be most grateful if anyone could find Rebecca's birth there.

Thank you.

[Eyesee]

According to the IGI Rebecca MASON married William BUSKIN, 30 May 1799, at St Stephen Wallbrook.

Can't find it at St Mary Whitechapel.

Ian C

[Valda]

Hi

The parish registers (baptisms and marriages) of St Helen Bishopsgate are indexed by the IGI

Hugh Wallis' website gives the dates and allows you to search on the parish registers (baptisms 1575-1874)

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers/CountyLondon_including_Middlesex_(A-M).htm#L

The images for the registers are also on Ancestry but unindexed before 1813

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1624

There are no Mason baptisms in the registers for the period (according to the IGI). By tradition a marriage occurred in the woman's parish and after the marriage where the parish was different you might expect the couple to move to the husband's parish. On marriage in 1799 Rebecca was of St Stephen Walbrook (where the marriage took place) and William Buskin was of St Mary Whitechapel (three weeks residency prior to the marriage) .

Your issue would be to prove Rebecca was even born in the London area since London constantly required new blood as it expanded, but also because the death rate was high in the city. Female servants were in constant demand and many women arrived in London 'sucked' in from the neighbouring counties.

The St Helen Bishopgate register (there were few burials between 1818-1826) but they seem common from outside the parish as in - from Shoreditch and Bethnal Green and in Rebecca's case Homerton (Hackney) as well as further afield. Do you know where Rebecca's husband was buried? Was she buried there to be with him? Have you searched the St Helen's burial register pre 1813?
Do you have the family after the 1806 baptism in Spitalfields (a Middlesex parish adjacent to the parish of St Helen's in the city)?


Regards

Valda

[Emmeline]

Thank you both Eyesee and Valda for your prompt replies.

Feel foolish at having put St.Mary, Whitechapel when of course I knew that William & Ann were married at St.Stephens, Walbrook. Sorry about that.

Well, I have a great many Masons to contend with and know quite a lot but this particular Rebecca Mason is my brick-wall.

I have a will proven 1760 for Thomas Mason - he was of the Old Artillery Ground - Citizen and Weaver of London. Also I have a will for his wife Rebecca Mason nee Hunt - proven 1795.

Their son Thomas Mason left a will proven 1802.

Their grandson Thomas Mason left a will proven 1835. He was the son of Robert Hunt Mason

Thomas and Rebecca had two other sons - William and James.

I have gleaned lots of information from the wills and know that the son William married an Ann but this is about  all I have on him.

Every other Rebecca Mason mentioned in the wills I have matched to their respective parents and spouses.

In the 1835 will mentioned above for  Thomas Mason Esq one of the executors named was " Henry Godfred Buskin - my cousin. "

I am working along the lines that if Rebecca was the daughter of William then she was his cousin and I guess Henry could have been termed cousin (second) too.

Have not been able to find a death for William Buskin but when Rebecca died - buried in 1818 at St.Helen, Bishopgate she was age 43 and a widow.
I have probate documents for her which show she kept a small retail shop in Homerton.

For the most part the Masons were a wealthy lot - spending their time between London, Wiltshire & Hampshire.

There is a memorandum to Rebecca Mason's will (proven 1795) in which she states in 1791 that her sons William & James Mason have died - she mentions William's wife Ann and the grandchildren but no names - alas, alack.............

I hope I havn't baffled you - I have found out so much but would dearly love to find a birth for the Rebecca Mason/Buskin.

Thanks for reading - look forward to your suggestions. Should I be looking at the parish registers for St.Stephen Walbrook do you think ??

Regards.

PS  Henry Godfred Buskin born 1802 was christened at Spitalfields Church in 1803.

[Valda]

Hi

That looks to be conclusive proof of a connection to the Masons of 'The Artillery Ground'.

Mason is a relatively common surname so there will be lots of them in London, but as a starting point have you eliminated this PCC will

Will of William Mason of Saint Mary Whitechapel , Middlesex 19 March 1782 PROB 11/1088

since the death falls between the 1774 marriage and the 1795 will of Rebecca and the Mason family had a tendency to leave PCC wills and William of the other two brothers was known to be married?


Have you also knowledge of these documents held by Somerset Record Office.

MASON FAMILY deeds.wills.etc.  DD\BR\pp/1  1760-1857
Deeds relating to the Mason family of Chichester and London, etc
1 bdle.
Contents:
Probate wills of Rebecca Coyde of Broughton Gifford, Wilts., wid., 1831, with accounts re.probate and burial certificate; Timothy Jordan of Edmonton, Middx., 1785, Thomas Mason, of Old Artillery Ground, Liberty of the Tower, London, weaver, 1760; Thomas Mason of Southampton, gent., 1802; John Plaisto of Chichester, Sussex, wine merchant, 1823; Peter Pousett of Greenwich, gent., 1810.
Marriage settlement of John Plaisto of Tower Hill, wine cooper, and Susanna Mason of Tottenham, Middx., 1775, and correspondence re. estate of Rebecca Walford neé Plaisto, 1857. Assignment of legacies to Thomas Mason of Chichester, 1813-1817. Assignment of legacy under will of Thomas Mason (1802) by assignees of Luke Evill, bankrupt, to James Hooper, of Bath, hatter.

MASON FAMILY deeds  DD\BR\pp/2  1810-1819
MASON FAMILY deeds, etc.  DD\BR\pp/3  1714-1817
MONCK FAMILY deeds  DD\BR\pp/4  1809-1824
PORTSEA (co.Hants.)  DD\BR\pp/5  1782-1812


Regards

Valda

[Emmeline]

Hello Valda

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I do have the William Mason will you mention but he does not appear to be the one.

According to his mother Rebecca's will William had a wife named Ann. This is what sent me on the trail of the William & Ann Doxsey marriage at St Helen Bishopgate  as the date seemed about right + The Old Artillery Ground fact and also  that Rebecca Mason (Buskin) was buried there later.

Thanks also for the information on what is held at the Somerset Record Office. I have over a period of time obtained copies of all the documents and most interesting they are too. I count myself fortunate to have found out so much - hopefully I shall find Rebecca - the last little piece of the puzzle (bar one) 

Kind regards - your help always appreciated.

[Valda]

Hi


St Helen Bishopgate burials 1783-1812

31st August 1806
William Buskin in the churchyard aged 31

So Rebecca's choice was to be buried in the same churchyard as her husband.


There were no Mason burials in the churchyard for that period.


However have you tried to prove the connection through the female line - the Doxseys?

In St Helen Bishopgate burials in the same time frame.

28th May 1790
Rose Doxsey in the void


Possible baptism for Ann Doxsey and siblings and her parents' marriage.

ANN DOXSEY 
Christening:  26 JAN 1752   St Ethelburga Bishops Gate, London
Father:  THOMAS DOXSEY   
Mother:  ROSE


THOMAS DOXSEY
Christening:  10 FEB 1742   Saint Helen Bishopsgate, London
Father:  THOMAS DOXSEY 
Mother:  ROSE 

MARY DOXSEY 
Christening:  01 JUL 1744   St Bartholomew Exchange, London
Father:  THOS. DOXSEY 
Mother:  ROSE 

SARAH DOXSEY   
Christening:  13 JUL 1746   St Bartholomew Exchange, London
Father:  THOMS. DOXSEY   
Mother:  ROSE 

ROSE DOXSEY
Christening:  19 MAR 1748   St Ethelburga Bishops Gate, London
Father:  THOMAS DOXSEY 
Mother:  ROSE

THOMAS DOXSEY
Birth:  14 NOV 1753   
Christening:  02 DEC 1753   Saint Helen Bishopsgate, London
Father:  THOMAS DOXSEY 
Mother:  ROSE 

THOS. DOXSEY
ROSE GIBSON 
Marriage:  29 MAY 1740   Saint Michael Bassishaw, London


I don't suppose conveniently he was Thomas Doxsey the cane maker who left a PCC will in 1783 but more likely the Thomas Doxsey who was a gold and silversmith? Have you eliminated the 1783 PCC will?

Will of Thomas Doxsey, Cane Merchant of Clements Lane , City of London 22 February 1783 PROB 11/1100


Thos Doxsey at ye Two Candlesticks and Key near Great St Helens, without Bishopsgate 1771


No other PCC will and nothing at the LMA, but the Commissary Court wills at the Guildhall (covering the City) are not indexed - see the help  guide 'A GUIDE TO WILLS IN THE LONDON AREA' at the top of the London and Middlesex boards for the list of Church courts covering London pre 1858.


The earlier Thomas Doxsey who left a PCC will would appear to have been buried at St Helen

3rd January 1758
Thomas Doxey buried in the void

Will of Thomas Doxsey, Cabinet Founder of Great Saint Helen , City of London 08 December 1758 PROB 11/842



Regards

Valda

[Emmeline]

Hello Valda

Thank you again for taking so much time and trouble over my enquiry.

Good thinking - go through the Doxsey line !

I shall look at all the information you have found for me and get to work.

Will let you know if sometime ( with your assistance) I solve Rebecca's parentage .

Regards.

 

[Emmeline]

Hello again Valda

Have just checked and a Sarah Doxsey was a witness at marriage of William Mason and Ann Doxsey.

Have a feeling you have sent me on the right track