Rattlesden - Allwood Family

[gralorn]

I have been trying along with other families to get further back than the marriage of James Allwood/Allard and Mary Potter in 1773 at All Saints, Wetheringsett. Playing around with the ChatGPT app it suggests that ‘just maybe’ Sarah & Joseph Allwood of Rattlesden may just have been James parents. Sarah was born in 1747 and Joseph baptised on the 2 Sept 1750. I have no knowledge of their marriage, or what children they may have had. Can anyone assist with anymore information on this couple as it just may be the break through after all these years. Any assistance would be most appreciated.

[LizzieL]

I have been trying along with other families to get further back than the marriage of James Allwood/Allard and Mary Potter in 1773 at All Saints, Wetheringsett. Playing around with the ChatGPT app it suggests that ‘just maybe’ Sarah & Joseph Allwood of Rattlesden may just have been James parents. Sarah was born in 1747 and Joseph baptised on the 2 Sept 1750. I have no knowledge of their marriage, or what children they may have had. Can anyone assist with anymore information on this couple as it just may be the break through after all these years. Any assistance would be most appreciated.

If James and Mary were married in 1773, you would expect them to be born about 1750ish. They had children from 1773 to 1794, so Mary at least would be likely to be in her early 20s at marriage. The couple you mention as possible parents you say were born in 1747 and 1750, so would be similar age to James of Wetheringsett, so cannot be his parents

[gralorn]

Very true, had not looked at it like that, but Sarah & Joseph marriage may just have James as a witness, and Joseph’s parents could be James parents as well. James and Joseph being brothers. What do you think?

[Greensleeves]

My family (the Pearle family) came from Rattlesden and I've traced them back to 1540.  I can't find any reference to Allwood/Allard in my family tree.  However, looking at Free Reg there are parish records on there for Wetheringsett where I found the marriage of James Allard and Mary Petter on 17 May 1773 at Wetheringsett.  On 2 December of the same year there are also records of two baptisms at the church: 
Child: John Allwood
Father: James Allwood
Mother: Mary Allwood
Note in Register:  Twin of James

Child: James Allwood
Father: James Allwood
Mother: Mary Allwood
Note in Register: Twin of John

Sadly on 17th Dec of that year there is a record of the burial of John Allwood. 

[jonwarrn]

Mary Allard of Wetheringsett (nee Potter) is mentioned in the will of Joseph Shepherd of Rickinghall Inferior.
Bottom right
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C39Z-R9PN-9

No idea why. Will was written in 1812, which is after her likely death.

[LizzieL]

The date of the will is a bit odd, but the will is a copy made at probate and there might have been an error in the year (the scribe accidentally putting current year), or the testator didn't know she had died or as this would be the last  will made by the testator he might have copied over a lot of text from a previous will without checking if she was still alive. Another possibility. Mary is mentioned with a group of people who all share a part of a bequest. The two people mentioned before her may be deceased as their share goes to their children, maybe the same was intended for Mary (i.e going to her children), but it was omitted either in the original or the probate copy.

[LizzieL]

Tracing some of the people in the will might be beneficial. The children of two people with the surname Blomfield (Daniel and Robert) are mentioned. There is a marriage of a Joseph Shepherd to an Elizabeth Blomfield in Gislingham on 08 Oct 1771. Could Daniel and Robert be Elizabeth's brothers, so the children are Joseph's nephews and nieces? As Mary is mentioned straight after as a beneficiary you would expect her relationship to Joseph to be reasonably close.

added
Joseph and Elizabeth both made their marks. Robert Brett (one executor of Joseph's will) is a witness

[LizzieL]

I have been trying along with other families to get further back than the marriage of James Allwood/Allard and Mary Potter in 1773 at All Saints, Wetheringsett.

A John SHEPPARD (signed) was witness to this marriage. (but he witnesses other marriages so may be Parish Clerk) Other witness Thomas Quinton (?) who made mark

[Greensleeves]

A Daniel Blo(o)mfield was my 7x gt grandfather and I have several Robert Blo(o)mfields in my tree.  I'll go through the Will and see if there's evidence that they are in my FT. 

Added:
I see what you mean about the bequest to Mary Allard as she was buried 10 Sept 1810 at Wetheringsett.  However there is another possible error in the transcription of the Will namely the line relating to the bequest to  'Robert Bloomfield of Gillingham' which I suspect should be Gislingham. 

I've been through the Will so now have a lot of Bloomfields to check out in my tree.  I may be gone for some time....