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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Staffordshire => Topic started by: SiCallear on Sunday 14 June 15 20:16 BST (UK)
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My gt-gt-gt-grandad is William Fynney Johnson (1818-1883).
I believe he had an uncle of the same name - I have found this referred to on an old indenture that relates to the sale of land.
I am trying to find details of the uncle. I believe he was possibly a mill owner from the Manchester area. He seems to have settled in Leek (a mill town). I have a 1838 map that shows he has owning two large plots of land (part of which feature in the afore mentioned indenture). A later map (dated 1862) shows the land in his name although he is referred to as being deceased.
Can anyone find a record of a William Fynney Johnson who died between 1838 and 1862 (the map dates)?
I certainly can't (despite an unusual name)- so it's time to call in the experts!!
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There is a Will for a William Fynney Johnson of Chatham Hill , Manchester, proved 23 Sep 1850.
It is a Prerogative Court of Canterbury Will.
I havent read it all, but scanning through it refers to his nephew William Fynney Johnson in Staffordshire.
It can be viewed on Ancestry. If you dont have a subscription you can probably see it at your local library if you are in the UK. Or I expect it can be downloaded from the National Archive site for a small fee.
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Thanks. Big shame the wills & probates website only goes back to 1858.
My next challenge is to uncover the missing father/brother that links the two.
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seems the chap in Manchester was a Glass manufacturer.
http://www.familydeeds.org/SD49.php
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A William Fynney Johnson b 1786 married Ann Dallas a widow in Manchester in 1807.
Marriage: 23 Jul 1807 St Mary, Manchester, Lancashire, England
William Fynney Johnson - Leather Cutter, this Parish and Town of Manchester
Ann Dallas - Widow, the same Parish
Witness Edward Nuttall
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there is a notice in the Blackburn Standard newspaper dated 26th June 1850 reporting the marriage of Thomas Fletcher and Mary Ann Johnson,,,daughter of Ralph Johnson Esq of Leek,Staffordshire......niece of the late William Finney Johnson Esq of Fountain Villa,Cheetham Hill.
So William Fynney Johnson brother was Ralph Johnson.
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Sensible deduction there.
But I guess he may have had more than one brother? Ralph , father of Mary Ann and ANOther, father of William Finney junior? Possible, anyway.
A full reading of the Will will probably give more info on the family. It wasnt short.
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Just looked at Will in a bit more detail
Mentions brother Ralph. And sister Esther, wife of Benjamin Kidd. Mentions nephew Ralph who is son of brother Ralph. Also mentions a neice, Maria Bennet and an Neice Esther Stanton (or some name like that). And nephew William Fynney Johnson of Leek Staffordshire is one of the executors.
You should get a copy, SiCallear
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How do I get a copy? It is too old to order via the government wills and probate website (which goes back to 1858 - will is 1850).
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As I said in reply#1, the whole Will cah be viewed on Ancestry. If you dont have a subscription yourself, but are in the UK, then most libraries have access to Ancestry. Or Local Record Offices usually do too.
Also, the PCC wills that are on Ancestry are usually from the National Archives site. I havent specifically checked to see if this one is there. But if it is, those Wills can be downloaded for a small fee. I used to do that on and off, before Ancestry obtained them. Not difficult or expensive.
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Here you are
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_fn=william+fynney&_ln=johnson&_occ=&_pl=&_q=&_sd=1849&_ed=1851&_cr1=PROB+11&_dt=W&_col=200&_hb=tna&image1.x=59&image1.y=14&image1=GO
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Now that I have a copy of the will, I just face the small challenge of reading it!! How spoilt we are in this "easy to read computer generated text" age.
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Thanks Gortonboy
Where have you seen the "notice in the Blackburn Standard newspaper dated 26th June 1850 reporting the marriage of Thomas Fletcher and Mary Ann Johnson,,,daughter of Ralph Johnson Esq of Leek,Staffordshire......niece of the late William Finney Johnson Esq of Fountain Villa,Cheetham Hill."?
I have finally managed to "officially" connect all of the people mentioned and this would a great addition to my research.
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I have the deed, I couldn't upload the images here
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Hi chequemate,
I have PM'd you
Thanks
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I couldn't even PM you back, some serious technical issues here, they should hire me lol.