Wilson Dunbrook, Longnor 1776-1861

[laurenbavin]

Ive spent a lot of hours researching this but Ive not come to a conclusion and Id love some help as to where I could get some confirmation.
My 6x G Grandfather David Wilson and his wife moved to Dunbrook before the birth of his second son in 1776. He lived there all his life and bought up his 9 (probably 10) children there until he died in 1795.
Skip forward to the 1841 census and living at Dunbrook is Simon Wilson. We havent confirmed he is Davids but Im pretty sure - not just for the fact that he is living there, but he names his children after David and Davids children.  By 1861 Davids son Isaac Wilson is living at Dunbrook. ( Simon and Isaac were both stone masons at various times in their lives.
Ive traced Dunbrook through all the censuses - there only appears one family living there until 1881 when there are 2 families - right up to the 1939 register - still 2 families.
Google maps mistakenly locates a place called Dunbrook cottage - instead of Daisy Knowl which is the next residence along - but beside that are Dunbrook house back from the road and Dunbrook Cottage in front. Both of these - according to various planning applications are 19th century buildings. - diagonally opposite Dunbrook Cottage is Poole Cottage - from the 1700s apparently. - This is the one we thought must be David Wilsons - but why 2 other properties - Im attaching various images and files - My query is - how can I confirm which house was Davids , Simons and Issacs



There are various planning applications for each place on the peak district planning website but none mention previous ownership -only that Dunbrook House is 19th Century - a real estate agent advert for poole cottage states it is from the 1700s

So any ideas how I can find out ??

[ciderdrinker]

Hello
Several possibilities here.
Let's start with Wills
Have you got Simon's Will of 1860 indexed as  Simeon  Willson  c £100.
The index just says of Dunbrook but it's possible the full thing gives more.There is death duty paid so again there might be more if you order up those records from the government probate website(Will £10) and  the National Archives at Kew( I think).
I can't see any earlier Wills for the family unfortunately.

The next thing you might try  are records of Longnor.
There is a tithe map and award for the village for 1848 at Staffordshire archives.If you look up Simpn Wilson it should give you the list of land and buildings he owned or tenanted by number and then you check them against the map. BA/15/570 and 199 .You may have to get a researcher to do that for you but it never hurts to ask direct.
There is also a land award for 1785 for enclosing the open fields which may give info Q/Rdc/6

The tithe maps are at Lichfield Record office and the other thing at Stafford.

To confirm the number of Wilson's in the village you could also try the Militia lists of who was eligible to be called up for the army to fight against the French.Or course these wom't give you details on the cottages.

This guy seems to have decided which of the buildings was David's and has a picture.
http://mypastwhispers.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/the-family-of-david-wilson-1747-1795.html

You could ask him for more info.
It seems a Thomas Salt a butcher and chapman  of Duns brook died in 2.6.1818 and left a Will.
So there were two cottages.His Will will be at Chester for some reason but again he may just say Dunbrook.

Your best bet would be the tithe records.
They will be at Lichfield or I believe the Genealogist  website has tithe maps but I've never had a sub for them.

(Apparently the tithe map and award is also at the National archives £8.25 plus photocopying fees but they may be a little quicker than Lichfield and cheaper than getting a researcher to do it.But then again some kind soul may be going to either and do it for free).

Ciderdrinker

[laurenbavin]

Thanks yes ive ordered Simon's will. and am waiting for it.  The blog is mine .  I wrote it then thought  further  and realised I could be wrong.
I have  all the  census returns for the area and no Salt surname appears. Most are there  through multiple census  returns.  Tithe map appears to be the  next option.  But the land award for  1785 seems the ideal next step as that covers  Davids time.  Sadly I'll have no time for research in records offices when I visit so I'll have to do it remotely   Thanks