Thomas and Sarah Williams from Winchcombe

[cusdae]

I'm trying to gather any information about Thomas and Sarah Williams of Winchcombe.
I can see a baptism entry for the birth of their daughter Mary 24 Dec 1798. Mary grew up to marry Thomas Brydges and is buried with him in St Peter's. We found the grave last week! That states 'Daughter of Thomas Williams of The Abbey', but I think that means a private house, because Winchcombe Abbey was destroyed in 16the century.  Thomas Brydges was in the navy. His biography states 'Lieut Brydges married in 1827 the daughter of Thos. Williams Esq, an eminent solicitor'.

I'd like to discover birth records for Thomas & Sarah, and her maiden name. The trouble is this is a very common name, and I can't pin it down. 

 

[gc1]

Long shot on LDS

Thomas Williams and Sarah Harper
Marriage 02 Jul 1797 St. Paul's, Bristol, Gloucester, England

Would tie in with their daughter's birth in 1798.
Bristol is roughly 50 miles from Winchcombe according to the AA route finder 

[Capetown]

This seems very plausible....


From the Forest of Dean Family History Website

Gloucestershire Marriage Allegations 1747-1837 and Marriage Bonds 1730-1802

3 September 1796

Thomas WILLIAMS - age 25, Batchelor: Gentleman - residence: WINCHCOMB

Sarah SMITH - age 24, Spinster, residence: WINCHCOMB

Married by Licence:

He Signs

sworn before Thos RUDGE to marry at WINCHCOMB

---

By 'googling' on Google Books, Monthly Magazine : Oxford, Northamptonshire & Bedfordshire:
At Winchcomb, Mr Williams, Attorney and Mifs Sarah SMITH

---

Looking very quickly at the National Archives (and held at the Gloucester Records Office) and searching for Thomas WILLIAMS, Winchcomb - there is a number of items including

.....

Includes marriage settlement of Sarah SMITH, Winchcombe, spinster, and Thomas WILLIAMS - same Gent 1798 -  (Reference: D779/1)  - This Settlement is included in other documents.

and Leases and Title Deeds

The Abbey and Abbey House, with adjoining lands

Leases, 1756-1808 conveyed by Lord RIVERS to Thomas WILLIAMS (with other properties in Winchombe and Sudley) 1811-12 - Abbey House used as a parish workhouses - c1803-1812 - pulled down by 1818.

So there appears that many records are available.

The National Archives hold the Will dated 6 June 1832, of Thomas WILLIAMS, Gent, Winchcombe - which can be downloaded for £3.30  Reference: PROB 11/1802/79 (or available free to read at the National Archives)


(There are about 24 WILLIAMS residence: Winchcomb on the above Marriage Allegations/Licences)


---

Genuki has the Pigots Directory for Winchcomb 1830 - and lists Thomas WILLIAMS, Attorney

[cusdae]

Capetown.
  I am overwhelmed! That is an absolute treasure chest. It definitely looks to be what I'm looking for. Many thanks.

[Rob2]

Hi
It’s interesting to note that Thomas Williams obtained the licence to marry Sarah Smith on 3 September 1796, but the wedding didn’t take place until almost 18 months later, on 22 February 1798. One possible reason for that may be the time it took to draw up the marriage settlement, the copy (possibly a draft) in Gloucestershire Archives ref D779 / 29 being dated February 1798 but unsigned. It mentions that Sarah’s father (Samuel Smith, baker) was deceased by then and that his will (which can be seen on Ancestry) was dated 22 February 1787. Page one of Samuel Smith’s lengthy will mentions his wife Sarah, the mill in Winchcombe that he owned, his eldest son Thomas, his other sons Wm, Richard, Henry, Edmund & Samuel, and his daughters Ann, Elizth, Hester & Sarah. The writing at the end of page 4 of the will is faint but it looks as if it was proved on 16 April 1796.
The other interesting thing about Samuel’s will is that he bequeathed £70 to each of his children ‘to be paid within 12 calendar months after my wife’s decease’,  which may go some way to explaining why it was thought necessary for his daughter Sarah to need a marriage settlement.
Feel free to contact me by personal message.
ROB WHITE