Polite request for advice: Francis Roberts

[Thorgils]

Thanks solidrock I wondered how far they were apart.

Ruskie: Perhaps Francis had brothers and sisters which I have been unable to find named William or Mary? I must admit I haven't had many hits regarding siblings.

As a side note FR son JTR did name one child Maria and another William, along with Francis, Frances, John, James, Charles, Emily.

FR was a lifelong mariner going to see at 13 and spending most of his life at sea until he was made a custom house officer. He passed away 1859 St George East District.

Both his sons were also mariners with one jumping ship in the USA the other JTR was a captain of a vessel going to Australia who was eventually stranded due to the gold rush  and consequently how my family came to spend the last 4-5 generations down under.

So certainly the thread is intact regarding that link. Perhaps I should try and and look for baptisms around that time with parents William and Mary?

[solidrock]

Marriage..

William Roberts
Mary Lane          11 Nov 1787.  Plymouth, St Andrew.

Also could be sister to Francis..

Caroline Mary Roberts.  Baptised  02 Feb 1800. Plymouth, St Andrew.   Parents William and Mary.

[solidrock]

This could be HMS Ajax that Francis was serving on at the time of his marriage.

[Thorgils]

Marriage..

William Roberts
Mary Lane          11 Nov 1787.  Plymouth, St Andrew.

Also could be sister to Francis..

Caroline Mary Roberts.  Baptised  02 Feb 1800. Plymouth, St Andrew.   Parents William and Mary.

This could be HMS Ajax that Francis was serving on at the time of his marriage.

100% correct solidrock this is the same vessel that Francis served on. If these are the parents of Francis then Mary Lane was actually baptised in the same place.

Mary Lane baptised 29 Apr 1764 St Andrew Plymouth. Father Abraham mother Wilmot.

[solidrock]

Trying to find the right William, there are quite a few born in Stoke Damerel which is in Plymouth.

[Thorgils]

As Ruskie pointed out its odd that Francis doesn't have his fathers name. I can find no record of siblings for young Francis which have the Christian name William or Mary. At least five generations feature the name Francis yet his father was William (unless William father was Francis?). I'm not sure how popular Francis was in the 1700's.

Its also disappointing I cant find a connection to William being a mariner which the next two generation were and since they lived in Plymouth it seems possible that this would be his occupation. I wonder if I have barked up the wrong tree?

Did families move around much in the UK in 1700's? Would it be worthwhile broadening the search to include other areas not just Devon or Plymouth? Start searching migration records from the Channel islands? Any other resources that would be worth looking at?

[andrewalston]

It's possible that William was a second or subsequent boy in the family. If so the first would likely be a Franc

• is. Is there a Francis son of Francis Roberts who might be William's brother to help build the case?

The family could be anywhere, but are most likely to be in a place with a history of seafaring.

[Thorgils]

After some searching I found Francis son of Francis

occupation 'waterman' mother Sarah St George in the East, Stepney 2 Feb 1766
mother Ann St George Hanover Square Middlesex 13 June 1763
mother Ann St Clement Dane Middlesex 8 May 1757
mother Mary St Hilary, Cornwall, 21 Oct 1759
mother (No name) Kenwyn 21 Jun 1760
mother Mary St George in the East, Stepney 2 Aug 1758
mother Mary Marazion, Cornwall 21 Oct 1759
mother Mary St Hilary, Cornwall 21 Oct 1759
mother (no name) Kenwyn, Cornwall, 21 Jun 1760
mother Mary St George in the East, Stepney London, 2 Jun 1755
mother Sarah Chilton, Berkshire, 27 Feb 1754

There was also two interesting ones:

Francis son of William and Mary Melbourne, Derbyshire, England 6 Feb 1768

and

Francis Roberts married Grace Roberts Stoke Damerel, Devon 16 Jun 1781

I still feel as though I'm clutching at straws............

[janan]

To confuse things further...

Stoke Damerel Burials

Francis Roberts of Navy Row buried 17 May 1828 age 33