William Vant and Catherine Pearson

[Georgfriedrich]

Hello!
I wonder if anyone is able to shed some light on this couple.
William Vant may have been Dutch or perhaps French   
He was born in c.1753.  Married at Gillingham in 1776 Catherine Pearson who was born c.1757 apparently in Upchurch.
They both died at Halstow Lower in 1821 and 1841 respectively.
We know their children etc but are trying to find their parents if possible...
Thank you
Kirk

[casalguidi]

I couldn't actually see the marriage in Gillingham .......... only the banns?  Did I miss it?  I was wondering who the marriage witnesses were to see if there are any clues there.

Why do you think he may have been foreign?  Have you discounted the William VANT son of William and Sarah of Molash/Throwley area?  Do you have his will ............ just assuming that there are no cousins/nieces/nephews etc. mentioned?

Casalguidi

[Georgfriedrich]

Hello Casalguidi,
you are right, I was doing what Hercules Poirot warned against - I was presuming.  I have only seen the banns and not the wedding. 
I don't have his will and the possibility of him being from outside England came from another researcher sometime back (on another site) plus his grandson had fishing connections in Rotterdam but this could be coincidence...
Now I didn't know about the William Vant of whom you write.  I shall investigate and I shall also look at Wills.  Did this WV leave a Will?
Thank you
Kirk

[casalguidi]

Sorry, I forgot to answer you but William VANT does appear in the East Kent probate indexes (copy available from Canterbury Cathedral Archives or Centre for Kentish Studies at Maidstone http://www.kentarchaeology.ac/ekwills_a/series/ekp2_intro.html

Casalguidi

[Georgfriedrich]

Thank you Casaguidi,
I tried to find those wills on the National Archives but to no avail.  I found William Vant father and son as well as a Will for Luke Miles who is also an ancestor.  Now I have to look at how I can obtain a copy and have it sent to me here in Germany!  What a shame you can't just download them...
Kirk

[casalguidi]

Yes, they are not at the National Archives but in the Kent Record Offices at Maidstone and Canterbury where they are now available on microfilm.  Maybe you could try contacting them to see how much they would charge to print off and post a copy to you if you can't get anybody to do it on your behalf

Casalguidi

[Mrs T 6183]

 Hi Kirk
I have done extensive work on the Vant families for my One Name Study of the Vant Surname. Vant was my husband's mother's maiden name.  I have several different trees, three of which I have published on my husbands website at www.toll-familyhistory.org
They can be viewed on the site but you will need to set up a free account to do so [to deter the bots]. The one that is your family is Vants of Kent 2.  You may find the other two interesting also. Please remember that these are all works in progress and are not finished [if that is ever possible!]  Basically, there are three main Vant families [so far!], one in Yorkshire, and two in Kent - I am sure that the two Kent families are actually one but have not as yet made the connection - I will in due course, I am sure. Also, I am reasonably confident that the Kent and Yorkshire families share a common ancestor - yet to be found.  This is because in all three families VANT was originally spelt VAUNT in the records. Regards Jean Toll