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I was always told that my maternal grandmother claimed that her grandmother was Welsh. As a Welsh girl - born here, living and speaking the language it does irk me that I can't actually find any Welsh blood in my tree, just English plus a lump of German.

All I know about said Welsh great x2 grandmother is that she was small, dark and liked to cook Christmas puddings all year round... None of which really helps identify which grandmother could possibly be the Welsh one.

I have researched this branch of my tree fairly thoroughly and there are no Welsh birth places or residences in it no matter how far I go back
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One greatx2 grandmother has a maiden name of Smith and born in Birmingham. Her father had a middle name of Griffin but I can't work out where he acquired the middle name from but it gets used quite frequently for boys in the family. Can't take his line back too far because of Smith in Birmingham but his maternal grandmother was born in Bass Church, Shropshire which is as close to the Welsh border as the tree gets.

The other greatx2 grandmother was born in London with a maiden name of Weatherill. (Her mother in law has a maiden name of Jones but born Essex) . Her mother however had a  maiden name of Roberts, born London. The Roberts family, as far as I can trace them are Londoners but again common surname, large city so a reliable trail goes cold. Its possible my grandmother would have known this grandmother a little better but not necessarily.

So... what I'm trying to ask is could the Welsh link  be 4+ generations back? Would someone call themselves Welsh on the strength of the original link being that far back? Or should I just accept it's a mangled family tale with no truth to it and I should give up on a Welsh link? Does anyone think there's any clues here except plain old clutching at straws?

My husband is a screenwriter who is adapting a novel about Jonathan Wild (notorious thief taker in London in the early 1700s). He is trying to find out who his son and wife were. I'm working extra hours right now so really short of time at the moment to go on a hunt so I was wondering of any roots chatter could help.

Here is what we know about Jonathan's early pre-London life - all of this information is questionable so if you find contradictory evidence please say!

Born Wolverhampton or Boningale. Baptised St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton.
Died 1725. Born circa 1680s ish

Apprentice bucklemaker. Eldest of 5 - 3 sons, 2 daughters. Parents Jonathan Wild (carpenter) and a fruit seller.

1 son, possibly born 1700-1704.

If anyone can put meat on the bones of this or verify any of the above information I'd be very grateful

I think that the second son was already living in the house. The leftovers aren't really mentioned but I think implied with the house, grounds and appurtances. I'm wondering if as the author of the will was in at least his 80s (possibly 90s) that the second son was living in the house already. It does mention that which is 'already in his possession' in the same long phrase which includes bequeathing the house. I think one daughter must be married and well provided for and I suspect the one that receives the payment is a widow.

I bet the son that receives nothing yet gets to be executor was going to using the furniture bequested to his small children anyway!

Thank for the input, it's always useful to hear other people's take on something.

I have a 1681 will with bequests to children and grandchildren but I'm not sure if the manner in which the estate has been distributed is usual or a bit odd.

The oldest son (and my ancestor) gets a table, that's it. 2nd son gets house and grounds and to pass on to his son and heirs.

One daughter is to be paid a rent twice yearly and if the rent is unpaid to her then she can claim the house bequested to the second son as her own. She might be a  widow.

One son gets a shilling.

Another son gets an assortment of furniture.

One son is the sole executor of the will but gets nothing. His two children get bequests - beds to the boy and kitchenware for the girl - both aged 10 or under at the time of the will.

Does this all seem fairly standard - I've seen the bequeathing one shilling one in wills before but a executor related this closely getting nothing an the eldest son getting just furniture?? Mind you when the eldest son dies he is describes as a sojourner so maybe his father thought him not the best recipient of the house.