Hello Nell:
I am getting confused - must be a senior moment - just turned 85, so would love to see and end to my years of searching. Yes, the name Lawrence and John are quite common among my Whistlers - trying to sort them out after such a long time is proving insurmountable. I am not even certain we have the right Lawrence or just a figment of my imagination? I am going to try numbering the Lawrence Whistlers to see if this will help.
LAWRENCE WHISTLER#1 c. at Cholsey 05 Sept 1641 - I have him married to a Bridget. They had the following children: Was he also buried at Heckfield?
1. Bridget c. 29 Aug 1661 at Aldermaston
2. Lawrence #2 c. 22 Feb 1662 at Aldermaston
3. Edward c. 27 Feb 1664 at Aldermaston
4. Ann c. 15 May 1665 at Cholsey - Why? Is she buried in Heckfield 17 July 1708?
5. Thomas c. 03 Aug 1671 at Shinfield
6. John c. 09 Apr 1674 at Shinfeld.
LAWRENCE WHISTLER #2 (see Lawrence above) c. 22 Feb 1662 at Aldermaston. Is he the one who died 02 May 1727 at Heckfield, is buried there and left the Will dated 12 July 1727? We don't know who he married, but she might be the one who died in Heckfield 23 June 1713. Children mentioned in his Will
1. Lawrence #3
2. Bridget
3. Dorothy
4. Mary c. 13 Nov 1676?
5. John
6. Elizabeth c. 29 Dec 1678 at Heckfield m. Simon Spire
Note: I know this is asking a lot, but could you lay the family relationships (as you see it) the way I have done above.
All of this would have been much simpler if John of Odiham had mentioned who his parents were when he married Maria Grover in 1730, but as you once told me marriage records at the date were sparse on detail - no parents were routinely recorded. Odiham records are not on line so cannot check to see if John was christened there. You also mentioned that he might have been born in Eversley, however, only his death is recorded there.
Perhaps I am looking in the wrong direction - it is so hard trying to work backwards! Another Whistler family of note is that of John Whistler and Elizabeth of Reading. They too, had a son John c. 24 Apr 1698 - possibly the one who married at Odiham - right date and on the same road to Odiham. What happened to this John? Of note Shinfield and Heckfield are also on the same route south, plus Eversley is nearby. You have done a superb job in trying to help me sort out our Whistler clan - I am indebted to you. Many thanks!
I would appreciate seeing you hang in there a while longer, however, it must be difficult for you to express your thoughts, such as this, on line. You have cleared up a number nagging problems.
Again many thanks,
Rod