RootsChat.Com

Thanks Prue, you have been incredibly helpful. I have ordered a quote on the cost of receiving the records you suggested from the National Archives and will take your advice on the using the military forums. This week has been my first time using Roots chat and I have been blown away by how amazing a resource it is and how incredibly helpful all have been.

I have about another ten wills that I could use some help with, is it too much to post them all? I'm not sure of the etiquette and don't want to overuse peoples time.

On the subject of my first Thomas, I will have to wait until my scanner is back in action but would like to post Louisa's will, for all those who have shown such an interest in the sad story, I have been unable to find any!!! reference to Penelope Gale, which is a shame. I hoped that if I knew where she was from, the chances were that Thomas was born there also!

I will change this and the other Thomas' post to Completed and thank you and all others, again for your brilliant work.

Regards, Jo

Hi All,  I am hoping you can help me with, or point me in the right direction.The will is for Thomas Puplett. B1809 in London to Thomas Puplett (Lighterman) and Barbara Dunkes. The only other record I have for Thomas is a copy of his will from the National Archives that states that he was a Quartermaster on Her Majesty’s Steamer Ship the Phoenix. It was written at the Royal Naval Hospital in Malta and proved in London in November 1842. I am unable to fully decipher all of the will, only that his mother Barbara (Richardson, as she had remarried) was the executrix. I have been delighted at the quick response and excellent help offered by my last Thomas will and look forward to any response.
Regards, Jo
Also, where would I lokk for help on both the Phoenix and Thomas's military history? Although I can find references to the Phoenix, I am unable to pinpoint what it was doing in 1841/42, what troops were on board and why? So any ideas that you may have on where to look or who to contact would be great.

Thank you to all of you, I am glad to finally know Penelope's last name and hopefully can find out more about her. I too believe that she died before Louisa (19 Sept 1836) age 86, still living in Hampton Court. Louisa was the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bayly and the sister of Sir Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge. She married Thomas in Plas Newth, Angelsy, Wales on 6 Apr 1789. It must have been incredibly sad for her, to bury the man she loved and was married to for 20 years, knowing that he was still so utterly devoted to another woman! Although there are many references to Thomas in newspapers and books of the time (giving his opinion on the slave trade and also as a witness at the trial of Governor Joseph Wall!!) I have been unable to find any sort of hint as to his parentage. I would love to link him to my family tree and wondered if anyone has any advice as to how to trace his military history and whether or not that would hold any clues? The only possibilities that I can currently find are as follows: Thomas, s/o John Puplet, 10 May 1749, Banstead, Surrey. Thomas, s/o Francis Harvest, 9 Jan 1747, Banstead, Surrey. Thomas Puplett, s/0 William, 13 Jun 1732, Mitcham, Surrey. Thomas Puplet, s/o Thomas & Ann, 23 Nov 1732, Ewell, Surrey. Thomas Puplett, s/o Thomas & Mary, 4 Jul 1746, Hatfield Peverill, Essex. and Thomas Puplett, s/o Phillip & Margaret, 1747, Westminster. Any thoughts or suggestions would be hugely appreciated as the whole story behind the will is so sad and enthralling.
Regards, Jo.

Thanks Chris,
I really appreciate your effort on my behalf.
Kind Regards, Jo McDonald

I am trying to find any information on the circumstances regarding the death of Edmund Hudson. He died on the 12th of April, 1838, age 9 years, in Little Horsted. His death is listed as by a “gunshot wound”. His father Samuel Hudson was a gardener living in the gardeners lodge at the time. I live in Australia and I have tried looking through the newspaper articles that are online and have found no mention of this event. I am hoping that someone may be able to look up the newspapers in the area and find something for me. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. 
Many thanks, Jo