Meppershall Manor, occupants or owners

[floatingboater]

Okay so George (Wateson) WAS the son of Frances Watson so it's very possible that he inherited The Manor being the eldest son. Yes you're right i need the will of Frances.
I'm now beginning to lean towards Charlotte being Georges daughter. He dies in 1742, Charlotte has her first son in 1742, names him George Watson Fullwood.
Depending on the outcome of Frances Will i think i need to look for Georges as well do you think?

[johnP-bedford]

Hello... I can go to Beds Archives in the week to look up these Watson wills if you want! Just let me know who & when

Cheers John

[bedfordshire boy]

Thanks for the offer John. The main one at the moment is Frances Watson, widow, of Ampthill ref 1701/47.

The only other Watson of Ampthill that I can see was in 1605, so a bit before the time period we're looking at.

David

[bedfordshire boy]

I'm now beginning to lean towards Charlotte being Georges daughter. He dies in 1742, Charlotte has her first son in 1742, names him George Watson Fullwood.

I don't! I think you may have already provided the clue yourself. The marriage of Charlotte Houlden in Warwicks to Thomas Fulwood (I think this IGI member submission entry may have been sourced from the BT as the PR for a 5 year period seems to be missing).

I reckon that Charlotte could well have been the daughter or, perhaps more likely, the granddaughter of Edward and Rebecca (née Watson, daughter of Frances) Holden, but I can't find a baptism in Ampthill. Edward and Rebecca married in 1673, Charlotte didn't marry until 1738 which is a long time if Charlotte then went on to have 10 children ie she wasn't a tough old bird when she married.

Rebecca Holden, widow, was buried in Ampthill on 4 Jul 1740. She only had one son who survived infancy that I can see, unless there were more children born after her husband moved to Derbyshire. Robert, 1678. Might he have been the father of Charlotte???

[johnP-bedford]

Highlights from Will of Frances Watteson, widow of Ampthill who was buried 13 Apr 1701 (as "Francis Watson, gent widow") most likely wife of John Watson, Esq who was buried 2 Mar 1688-89.

- to John Holden of Weston in Derbyshire & Charles Adderley of Derby in Derbyshire, Gent my manor at Meppershall..etc.. etc...
- to my daughter Holden....    (not named!)
- to my grand-daughter Christian Holden
- to my grand-daughter Frances Holden
- to my grand-daughter Rebecca Holden
- to my grand-son John Holden
- to grand-children George, Diana, Isabella & Elizabeth Holden; sons & daughters of my daughter Holden

- My son George Watson.... who is sole executor

Dated 3 May 1700

If you want it verbatum suggest you contact Beds Archives to do you a transcript

[johnP-bedford]

Highlights from Will of George Watson, clergyman of Amptill who was buried 9 Jun 1742

- ..... divided between two daughters of Rev Mr. Colvive ? minister of Sawley in Derbyshire, which he had by his wife Diana? Holden.

- to my niece Diana Darby, for her & her daughters
- to my niece Rebecca Holden
- to my niece Arabella Holden
- to Rev. Mr John Holden, rector of Weston-upon-Trent, Derbyshire
- to Mrs Frances Colvive, daughter of Richard Colvive, had my niece Mrs Frances Holden

Executor is Rev Mr Francis Colvive, Minister of Sawley in Derbyshie

Dated 16 June 1742
 

[johnP-bedford]

This may be coincidence but 3rd April 1673 Rebecca Watson married Edward Houlden in Ampthill, parents named John & Frances Watson, i can't link them yet.

From Ampthill PR transcript...

Edward Houlden, Rector of Ampthill was marryed to Mrs Rebecca Watson, daughter of John & Frances Watson of Little Park, near Ampthill, by his tutor Mr Morton, senior fellow at St.Johns College, Cambridge
 

[bedfordshire boy]

Thanks John, that's added a lot.

In Frances' will her daughter Holden was Rebecca (Watson) born 1656 who married Edward Holden . Her granddaughter Christian was born in Ampthill in 1677, the other grandchildren must have been born in Derbyshire. When the Holdens left Ampthill they only had two surviving children, Robert and Christian (3 others had died very young). I'd found a Robert baptising children in Weston upon Trent, and wondered if it was the right family. It looks as though it was!

But who was John Holden who was bequeathed Meppershall manor, and was it as trustee? Neither will casts much light on who Charlotte was though. We're getting closer though. George appears to have died unmarried and childless.

I've found what appears to be the marriage at St Dunstan in the West, City of London, on 21 Aug 1651 "John Wattson gent and Frances Archer were marryed"

[floatingboater]

JP. Thanks so much for looking at the will, i seem to be having trouble searching for it even though David provided the reference 1701/47. I just get zero results, not sure what i'm doing wrong. I've only just seen your results, i'll digest them tonight, thanks again.

David, yes Charlotte or Charlotta as i've seen her named elsewhere, had her 10th, and i think final, child Decima in 1768, Meppershall, so was probably born about 1720 give or take a few years. I've been looking for her birth/ bapt since we last spoke 5 years ago with no results but what you've discovered here looks very promising.