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Everybody, thank you so much for your help on this... I certainly have a lot of work to do!

Regarding Anne (the daughter on the 1851 census not mentioned in William's will) I wonder if she was actually a daughter-in-law of Margaret as I notice on the census there are grandchildren recorded on the census and in 1844 I have found a marriage between William Wood Winstanley and possibly Anne Davies. (I say possibly as there are other names on there)... Just a thought. 

Frustratingly, I cannot find Margaret & William's marriage - or record of birth for the legit children but I shall persevere!  Thanks for the link to Lancs OPC Peter, I had not come across this site before and have possibly found Sarah Bryce's baptism record on there.

I am puzzled why, like Tecwyn has said it took 4 years for the will to be proven. 

As for dropsy, it can be caused by other organ disease but according to what I have read, it usually is explained further on the death certificate.  My certificate just says Dropsy which can suggest it is all over - which can apparently be a symptom of blood poisoning, which could be nothing - a lazy registrar maybe... or could be very exciting 

Maidmarion, thanks for pointing out it was Margaret's death - I hadn't really considered that! Oversight I guess... was stuck on William so much!! 

Linzi

This is amazing, thank you so much Sarah.  I am starting to suspect that both William Winstanley and Sarah Bryce may have originally been from Preston.  I have found Sarah on the 1861 and 1871 Census, still living in Penybal, one census says she was from Holywell but the other says she was from Preston, Lancashire.  She took William's surname when he died and on both census' she is listed as Sarah Winstanley - Widow.

I suspect Preston as I know I have come across one of William's recorded birth details on Ancestry as Preston, Lancashire - but now I can't remember where I saw it - I dismissed it at the time as I thought he was born and bred in Holywell but now I find Sarah saying she was born in Preston maybe there is a link after all.  I am trying to find the original place where I saw William's birth recorded as Preston but can't remember it!

Winstanley doesn't appear to be a popular name in Holywell at that time at all and I suspect you may be right in that John was related to William, but I could really do with trying to pinpoint William's place of birth and maybe a baptism record to prove it. 

I think dinner will be late tonight as I can't seem to pull myself away from this again now as I had been so stuck on William for such a long time... might have to dig out the takeaway menu.. tut tut!!!
Linzi

Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the reply.  Unfortunately I do not know his parents or siblings' names.  The information I have is from the 1851 Census, his death and his son (James Bryce Winstanley) birth certificate. 

He is recorded as a watch/clock maker born in Holywell around 1778.  His address is Penyball Street, Holywell.   He had three children: Edwin, James and Elizabeth and also a housekeeper living with him called Sarah Price (I actually believe this "house keeper" was his wife as when he died in Holywell in 1853 - the informant was Sarah Winstanley nee Bryce - wife and inmate of Penybal, Holywell)

His children were all born in Holywell according to the census, as was Sarah.   I suspect that possibly his birth year is inaccurate as his children were all born around 1845, and his wife Sarah was born around 1823 according to Census - or maybe he was just a lucky man 

I am kind of stuck with him now - as the information I have is very little.  Any help you can offer is appreciated.  Thanks, Linzi