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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: Sloe Gin on Tuesday 11 September 18 14:01 BST (UK)
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John WOOD was born in 1767 in Milstead. He married Mary WATSON in 1804 in Minster in Sheppey.
They are my 3x great grandparents.
John Wood of HMS Unicorn at Sheerness wid & Mary Watson of Minster Sheppey, (20, moth Eliz W wid), at M. 09 Oct 1804.
Book: Volume 34 Collection: Kent, Surrey, London: - Canterbury Marriage Licences, 1781-1809 (Marriage)
John was a widower when he married Mary, and what I am after is his first marriage.
As he was a seaman, that marriage could have been anywhere, but most likely the Sheppey area or somewhere like Greenwich or Deptford.
What I'm hoping to find is a marriage by licence like his second marriage as it might give some extra detail that might narrow it down for such a common name. I think I found the Watson marriage on Ancestry, but it was some time ago and I don't currently have a sub. So I'd appreciate it if someone could take a look and see if there are any more marriages by licence for a John Wood between c1785 and 1804. Or suggest where else I might look.
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It's such a common name. I remember looking for him before.
Have you looked at Colin Penney's site?
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A John Wood married Catherine Berry by licence in Minster on 20th March 1787.
Also one to Sarah Ann Brightman on 12th October 1800 by banns.
David
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"British Royal Navy Allotment Declarations 1795-1852" (FindMyPast)
There are 2 entries for "John Wood, Unicorn" allotting the payments to "Wife" (not named) from 1 Jan 1805, to be paid "Sittingbourne" until 16 Oct 1814. This would be allotment to Mary Watson. Sometimes the given name of the recipient (usually mother or wife) is included.
There are 47 entries for "John Wood" 1795-1804 but none for a "John Wood, Unicorn".
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From Colin's Penney's site
Baptisms HM Dockyard Church, Sheerness
28 Dec 1790 MARY ANN OF JOHN AND ESTHER WOOD
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There is a mystery in the 1841 census as there are two people I haven't traced (Luke aged 15 and William aged 7) and I thought they may be grandsons from a son of his first marriage. In particular William, as Mary would have been 50 when he was born. Luke is more likely to be hers as Luke is a name in her family, but I've never found a baptism for a Luke Wood anywhere in the right time frame.
Thanks, Bearkat, there's a possibility to follow up.
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A John Wood married Catherine Berry by licence in Minster on 20th March 1787.
Also one to Sarah Ann Brightman on 12th October 1800 by banns.
David
I've looked at these before and I think I was able to eliminate them. I've got the Berry entry and that John Wood was a victualler aged 28, so doesn't seem likely.
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"British Royal Navy Allotment Declarations 1795-1852" (FindMyPast)
There are 2 entries for "John Wood, Unicorn" allotting the payments to "Wife" (not named) from 1 Jan 1805, to be paid "Sittingbourne" until 16 Oct 1814. This would be allotment to Mary Watson. Sometimes the given name of the recipient (usually mother or wife) is included.
There are 47 entries for "John Wood" 1795-1804 but none for a "John Wood, Unicorn".
Thanks, yes I've looked through quite a lot of RN records. I did find a record of men entitled to the Naval General Service Medal which includes John Wood of the Unicorn for the battle of Basque Roads in 1809 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Basque_Roads) and specifies that he was a cook. That helped to eliminate some other John Woods.
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I would definitely look at Luke ( plus James, Matthew & William) to see how they fit into the family.
Luke is your best chance as he has the more unusual name.
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Is this Matthew's baptism at St Paul, Deptford
25 Apr 1819 son of John & Mary WOOD, Mariner, of Lower Rd
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James and Matthew are definitely sons of John Wood & Mary Watson.
The children I have for them are:
John Wood 1808 (my ancestor)
Sarah Brooks Wood 1810
Mary Wood 1813
James Wood 1815
Agnes Wood 1818
Matthew Wood 1819
The first four born in Milton-next-Sittingbourne, and Agnes & Matthew born Deptford.
John's parents were William and Agnes, so I would have expected him to name a son William.
I should say that I do have an Ancestry sub now, which I didn't when I made the first post.
Bearkat - posts crossed. Yes, I have all the baptisms except for the two mystery boys!
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I'm struggling to find out much about Luke but it looks like he joined the Merchant Navy,
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There doesn't seem to be much in the way of records for Milstead.
Looking at the KFHS records on CD - Queenborough marriages 1760 - 1798 are missing and may be others. If John married there you may never find out his bride. :-[
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There doesn't seem to be much in the way of records for Milstead.
Most of the family events seem to have been at Doddington. I've got John's baptism (he's the youngest) and a brother and sister at Milstead, but all the older siblings were bpt at Doddington. Both parents buried there too, with notes that they were from Milstead. I haven't traced father William Wood beyond that, but mother Agnes was from Doddington and they married there.
Looking at the KFHS records on CD - Queenborough marriages 1760 - 1798 are missing and may be others. If John married there you may never find out his bride. :-[
Yes, it's a slim hope as he could have married anywhere really, and details are scarce unless there's a bit of luck again with something like a marriage licence.
I'm struggling to find out much about Luke but it looks like he joined the Merchant Navy,
Interesting! Where did you find that?
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Try searching FindMyPast education & work records.
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That does sound promising. I don't have FindMyPast but will add it to my list of things to look at next time I manage to get a one month sub.
re little William, another possibility is that he was a nephew but as John was the youngest it's not likely as his brothers seem too old. His next youngest brother Matthew (b.1762) married Mary Watson's sister, and I've got their children accounted for.