Thanks for all those bits of info on the Husons. I've done some more digging and although I haven't found Martha Huson's birth yet I do have a couple more puzzles. I know that her father Narcissus Huson had a brother called Richard and I have established that he was rector of Claverton and died there in 1749. He was born in Fifehead Magdalen in 1684 (the son of Rev.Richard Huson, vicar of the parish, and his wife Martha [nee Joyce]).
On 4 Feb 1716/17 he married [as Richard Huson of Comb Hay] Mary Flower of Comb Hay at either Comb Hay or Dunkerton [source: Marriage Allegation Bonds of the Bishop of Bath and Wells From Their Commencement To The Year 1755]. They had one daughter named Martha who was born in Comb Hay in 1717 and baptised on 2 August 1717. Mary herself died in October 1717 and was buried on 17 October 1717. Martha herself died in on Rogation Sunday in 1741 and was buried in Claverton on Holy Thursday 1741. The following comes from The History and Antiquities of Somerset Vol.1 (p149)
Martha eldest dau of Richard Hufson rector, by Mary his first wife.
She died age 23 was buried Holy Thursday 1741
According to the parish registers she was buried on 7 May 1741 [see below]
http://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/55107fb5e937907e5f33487f?search_id=57aa4085f4040b4ae5000e91This makes it clear that Richard was married twice as Martha was born to his 'first wife'. See the following link
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EosgAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=rev%20richard%20huson&source=bl&ots=D9tkFuVvx3&sig=e_parnY1qg6T0frAYdpGJulvGGk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBn_uon6POAhUMbRQKHXUdAdUQ6AEILTAB#v=onepage&q=rev%20richard%20huson&f=falseAs mentioned, Mary died was buried in October 1717 and Richard married secondly [this time as 'Richard Huson, Rector of Claverton'] Mary Nichols of Claverton on 24 November 1720 [in Claverton I presume] [same source]. From his second marriage Richard had a daughter named Mary who was born in in 1721 and baptised on 21 November 1721. Mary herself [wife of Richard] died in February 1729/30 and was buried on 17 February 1729/30 in Claverton [see link]
Both of these are recorded on the freereg.org website
As previously mentioned Narcissus Huson married Elizabeth Young in Witham Friary on 13 March 1716. Narcissus is described as 'of St Mary Magdalen, Fifehead, Dorsett' which is correct. The information I have comes from a transcription which states that the marriage was conducted by 'Mr Richard Huson, Curate of Comberly and Dunkerton'. It seems clear to me that 'Comberly' is the same place as Combhay which is clearly the same place as 'Comb Hay' mentioned in the above records.
What puzzles me is that I have found three different dates for the death of Richard.
According to the parish registers of Claverton he died on 26 May 1749 however the Bishop's Transcripts say he died on 14 October 1749. Both of these are on the freereg website. However the History and Antiquities of Somerset, Vol.I gives a completely different date. This is from p149 of the book:
On a brass plate on the floor
Rev. Richard Hufon, rector Of this place departed this life 25th May 1749 age 65
This can be seen on google books by searching for 'Richard Huson' and 'Claverton' in Google and selecting books.
So which date is correct? All say he died in 1749 but he appears to have died three times, in May on 25 or 26 according to the PR and the Antiquities, and then again in October according to the BT. Personally I am more inclined to go with the May date but why would the BT date be so different?
The main mystery I have though is that I still can't find the baptism for my Martha who would have been his niece. This is what I know about her at the moment though:
She married Richard Ryall of Soth Cadbury on 24 July 1742 in Fifehead Magdalen.
The main evidence I have for her parentage and date of birth comes from two sources. Her father died in 1769 and left no will, however I have a copy of the administration that was granted. The grant of anministration was granted to his daughter who is described in it as
"Martha wife of Richard Ryall of Fifehead Magdalen"
According to the parish registers she died on 10 November 1798 aged 81 [again this can be found on freereg.org.uk]
This makes her born c1717 but the only Martha I have found born between 1716-1718 was Richard Huson's daughter [she would be the niece of Narcissus Huson] and she died in 1741. I am currently trying to see if I can find a will or anything else for her father [Richard Huson] or anyone else in the family that might provide more clues. I'll add more info later but it would be good if anyone could help me find any records for the following:
1) The birth/baptism of Elizabeth Young probably between 1670 and 1700
2) The birth/baptism of Martha Joyce probably between 1650 and 1670 [possibly in Kingston Magna, Dorset]
Many thanks for the help so far. I'll post more info later.
Matt