The Miller of Market Deeping

[roy47]

I am a direct descendant of William Hardwicke who was the miller of Market Deeping in the late 1700s. I live in New Zealand, so getting first-hand information is a problem, but you could possibly help me. My great uncle, Hardwicke Holderness, did a vast amount of family history research around the Bourne – Market Deeping area in the mid-1900s, but he was never able to locate the marriage entry of his great-great grandfather. However, he suspected that William, who was born in Bourne in 1746, was apprenticed to the miller of Market Deeping around his marriage date of about 1776 and may even have married the miller’s daughter. William Hardwicke became the next miller of Market Deeping, so it may be reasonable to suppose that he took over the previous miller’s business (and daughter). You may be able to suggest how I would be able to find the name of the miller incumbent in the mid 1700s, or even the marriage bond itself. The only clue to his wife is that she was named ‘Mary’ on her tombstone in St. Guthlac's church which was, when Hardy saw it, against the east wall of the North aisle. It reads “Mary, wife of William Hardwick, died May 8th 1793 in the 40th year of her age, also two sons and a daughter who died in their infancy”.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Big mystery - Mary who?

[Geoff-E]

Here is the Market Deeping burial register, perhaps you'll find something helpful there http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=724094&iid=358752

Also marriages http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=512505&iid=243404

[roy47]

Thanks, but the marriage banns for William Hardwicke and Mary, the miller's daughter do not appear in the Market Deeping register, so I really need the name of the previous miller of Market Deeping

[Geoff-E]

Did you happen to notice the marriage of a miller (marriage 175) in 1778? http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=512505&iid=243415

[DCB]

My family in Market Deeping had links to the millers and the Hardwickes of Market Deeping and Bourne, although more likely to have been associated than related.

The miller at that time was John Thorp (no 'e'). An inventory following his death was signed by John Thorpe (I have not been able to find out if he was related) and William Hardwicke.

His wife's (Mary Thorp) will was also signed by John Thorpe. William Hardwicke was the sole executor.

John Thorp had a son of the same name but died before his mother.

There is a gap in the history but another John Thorpe was the miller in the 1800s. The mill was called Thorpe's Mill but only the rebuilt house remains, now named Mill House. I have some recent pictures and one of the old mill from a book.

I have been away for a few days but will sort out what I have and get back to you.

Regards,

David

[DCB]

Further to my previous post, I have some photographs of Hardwicke graves in Bourne but none in Market Deeping.

The attached image is of the group of graves with William Hardwicke d 1838 at the back.
One of the two in front is for Robert and Mary Hardwick of Dyke d 1780 and 1781

see:-
http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=555586&iid=73009

http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/RecordDisplayTranscript.aspx?oid=555586&iid=73007

The other is for Robert and Sarah Hardwick d 1807 and 1808

The three small stones adjacent to the railings include Robert Hardwicke d 1663

http://www.lincstothepast.com/Inventory---Hardwicke--Robert--1663--------/1391333.record?pt=S

Images of the records are also available on http://www.findmypast.co.uk but need credits or a subscription

David

[roy47]

Thank you - you have been very helpful. It looks like you were right on the money with John Thorp, the miller. I have transcribed the Inventory which must have been done after John's death and attached to his will. I presume that the 'J. Thorpe' who sign it was a son of the miller. William Hardwicke co-signed.  I found the registration of John Thorp's burial in the January of 1767. The inventory is dated May '67 which was probably when the will was 'proved'. I still haven't managed to find the marriage certificate. William Hardwicke and Mary Thorp had four children, but only one, Mary, survived infancy. She married William Holderness of Wilsthorpe, my great-great grandfather. Their two eldest sons emigrated to New Zealand and Robert, the second son, founded the New Zealand branch of the Holderness family. Several of our family members have, or have had, the name 'Hardwicke' as either first or second names.

[DCB]

The person who signed the inventory and Mary Thorp's will was my ancestor John Thorpe. He was the schoolmaster in Market Deeping.

I am not sure how, or if, he was related to the miller's family but he wasn't the son of John and Mary. According to her will, their John had died intestate.

There is a death for John Thorp in 1765 and a will of John Thorp, miller, Market Deeping, for that year also. I looked at this in the Lincolnhire Archives but didn't order a copy. He was the husband of Mary.

The next death is in 1767 for John Thorp and the inventory states that he was the son of John Thorp. He and his mother had been the executors of his father's will.

I believe that I have the marriage of John and Mary, together with the births of their first two children. None of these took place in Market Deeping but I need to go back through my records.

Rgeards,

David

[Geoff-E]

A John THORPE (brother of an ancestor of mine) said in 1851 he was born c1801 Market Deeping.  At his 1850 (second) marriage he said his father was Nicholas THORPE (who was buried at Skirbeck, where John later lived). 

I've never been able to link Nicholas in with the Mkt Deeping THORPEs, perhaps he was the one from Hykeham, but it's a coincidence he seems to have been to Deeping, isn't it?