Thank you, Trish, you have raised a number of questions which have also been concerning me!
But, first of all, a huge thank you to Willsy for the James Walker connection. Although I had known about this for quite a while, I had simply recorded it in case Ann BLAND later proved to be related to George Bland of Trinidad. Now that Trish has proved that she is his daughter, Willsy’s URL link has established George as Miles BLAND’s undisputed brother and, therefore, tracing back Miles’ parents is as valid as tracing back George’s parents. Willsy, by this proof, has also made me rethink George’s Trinidad history and corrected my false assumption that George was born into a family business in Trinidad, rather than a family in Sedbergh.
So to the question of William sending money home before his death. Hmmm! I hadn’t considered this but I wonder how feasible it would be. I can accept that letters would (eventually) arrive, but I have reservations about sending significant sums of money across country in the early 19th century. Sending money from Trinidad to Liverpool on a BLAND owned ship should be safe and delivering that to BLAND’s agent (W. CARLISLE?), should be fine, but its onward journey by coach along turnpike roads and carried by (even) mail coaches could be hazardous and would William want to risk significant sums? He might have sent sufficient money to buy food & clothes but my assumption (always a dangerous thing to do!), has been that the ‘fortune’ was tied up in the plantation and that it would be raised from the sale of that and added to any money he had put by for his return. What do others think?
On the other hand, I have seriously questioned Eliza’s plight after William’s death. There was a John SUGDEN, millwright, who married Hannah BLACKBERRY in Otley in 1792 and had a daughter called Elizabeth born in 1796, which would fit. Again I am guilty of guesswork here and have no proof that this is the case. However, as William BLAND was a millwright (marriage certificate), I thought that William might have worked for or with John SUGDEN or even have been apprenticed to him. Anyway my concern has been, why Eliza’s parents did not rally round to support her or why did William’s family help her out? That has puzzled me greatly. However, I think that Amy BLAND got this story from her father who might have exaggerated the hardships. Her grandmother, William’s widow, had died (choked on a cherry stone!), seven years before Amy was born.
Likely 1st MARRIAGE;
Same Church;
2 July 1751, Thomas BLAND to Margart GAWTHORP
I have looked at this, but not (so far) found any children, although there might have been. Perhaps someone else will have more luck with this! From what you gave me earlier it would seem that they were married for 33 years (1751-1784), so having no children is a surprise.
What happened to Elizabeth after William died? Did she remarry?
Elizabeth and her son John, my great grandfather, stayed together until she died in 1870. She never remarried and although when John married (twice), Elizabeth did not always live in the same house, she was never very far away (Source: Censuses 1851-1861 and various published Directories). However, I have found no trace of them from about 1825 until 1848. I have not found them in the 1841 census yet! I shall post Part 2 of Amy BLAND’s ‘History’ separately.
Do you have a rough idea when your William was born?
No! The marriage certificate states, “With parents’ consent”, which I believe means that one or both of them were under 21 on 16th September 1816. If I have the right Elizabeth SUGDEN above, it would mean that she was only 20 in 1816, but William could be over 21 of course. If I could prove that Elizabeth was over 21 it would narrow down William’s possible age considerably! Looking at baptisms for a William BLAND between 1780 & 1800 in West Yorkshire (where I thought he was probably born), produced:
William Bland b.18 Apr 1787 Baptism 8 Jul 1787 Addingham, St Peter Parents: James Bland, Ann
William Bland b.15 Jun 1790 Baptism 4 Jul 1790 Addingham, St Peter Parents: Thomas Bland, Margaret
William Bland b.4 Aug Baptism 11 Sep 1796 Leeds, St Peter (Parish Church) Father: John Bland
William Bland b.13 Aug Baptism 15 Aug 1796 Addingham, St Peter Parents:William Bland, Elizabeth
William Bland b.8 Sep Baptism 2 Oct 1796 Bingley Father: John Bland
William Bland Christening 6 Jun 1798 Bradford, St Peter (Bradford Cathedral) Father:John Bland
Of these, I favour the Addingham BLANDs because they were mostly mill owners, millwrights or weavers.
So, basically, you have plenty of questions to which I have no answers, but you have made me think carefully about what I know (or think I know) and that has been a very helpful exercise!
Thank you all very much for your continued interest and help. You are giving me renewed hope that I may, finally, break down the robust, long-standing brick wall… with your help & expertise!
Malcolm