William Winstanley from Holywell b. abt. 1778

[lhughes]

This is amazing, thank you so much Sarah.  I am starting to suspect that both William Winstanley and Sarah Bryce may have originally been from Preston.  I have found Sarah on the 1861 and 1871 Census, still living in Penybal, one census says she was from Holywell but the other says she was from Preston, Lancashire.  She took William's surname when he died and on both census' she is listed as Sarah Winstanley - Widow.

I suspect Preston as I know I have come across one of William's recorded birth details on Ancestry as Preston, Lancashire - but now I can't remember where I saw it - I dismissed it at the time as I thought he was born and bred in Holywell but now I find Sarah saying she was born in Preston maybe there is a link after all.  I am trying to find the original place where I saw William's birth recorded as Preston but can't remember it!

Winstanley doesn't appear to be a popular name in Holywell at that time at all and I suspect you may be right in that John was related to William, but I could really do with trying to pinpoint William's place of birth and maybe a baptism record to prove it. 

I think dinner will be late tonight as I can't seem to pull myself away from this again now as I had been so stuck on William for such a long time... might have to dig out the takeaway menu.. tut tut!!!
Linzi

[lhughes]

Hi maidmarion,
Thanks for your help but although I have now found out that my William was indeed married to Margaret (he had children with his much younger housekeeper - shame on him) he died in 1853 as I have the death certificate, so this cannot be my William.  But thank you so much for looking.
Linzi

[taidgazacaz]

NorthWalesBMD shows the death of a William Wood Winstanley in the same year as William Winstanley, i.e. 1853

Also found a Margaret Winstanley, married, age 75, with daughter Caroline, 40, and son John, 36, living in Blackburn in 1851. These all fit in with those name in the will. Puzzlingly, there's another daughter, Anne, 32. She's not mentioned in the will.

Sorry about your dinner, but unless you're a Cordon Bleu chef, this is more interesting.

Tecwyn  

[Rah1980]

The John Winstanley rather amazingly appears to still be alive and living in Whitford street Holywell with a Thomas Winstanley both watch makers John is 91 and Thomas 55 - in 1841

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece 1413; Book: 6; Civil Parish: Holywell; County: Flintshire; Enumeration District: 7A; Folio: 31; Page: 16; Line: 16; GSU roll: 464325.

[maidmarion]

Hi maidmarion,
Thanks for your help but although I have now found out that my William was indeed married to Margaret (he had children with his much younger housekeeper - shame on him) he died in 1853 as I have the death certificate, so this cannot be my William.  But thank you so much for looking.
Linzi

Hi
His wife was called Margaret and there is a death registered
Dec 1/4 1864 Holywell

This is the death of a Margaret Winstanley not William 

[Peterej]

Hi Linzi

I have had a look at www.lan-opc.org/indexp.html which is an excellent site for Lancashire which I use to help various friends.
There are many William Winstanleys but one is a marriage between a WW watch maket of this parish (Collegiate,Manchester) and a Sarah Eller on 20 Mar 1815.
Is this just a concidence I wonder?
There are several baptised around 1778.

Peter

[Rah1980]

Re what Tecwyn said it is possible that Anne died between 1851 and Williams death hence no mention in the will. I'd say the best course of action is to find his actual marriage to Margaret and/or baptisms for legit children. Since he made a will it is possible there would be info about him in local papers when he died which might shed more light but bearing in mind he was a naughty old man  it might have gone unmentioned. What is dropsy by the way?

Sarah

[taidgazacaz]

There are a couple (at least) of other interesting points about the will.

Firstly, when he refers to his wife Margaret, he says "if alive", which could suggest that they had lost contact. Against this the fact that the death of his son William Wood Winstanley is recorded in Holywell suggests otherwise.

Secondly, it took four years to prove the will. Was this normal, or does it suggest that there was a dispute, or maybe they couldn't find the first family?

Tecwyn.

[taidgazacaz]

Sarah,

Various definitions of dropsy given here:

http://www.encyclo.co.uk/define/dropsy

Tecwyn.