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Hi everyone,

I am really stuck. I am researching a William Williamson who was a Mariner and who was likely born 1770-1780. Now I know he married an Eleanor Gollin (spelling may be wrong) in St Botolphs in Boston in 1804 and they had a number of children all baptised in the same church. Now, on the Parish Record entry for the marriage, it describes William as being of “High Church Hull” and that William was a Widower. We know William was a Mariner as this is included as an occupation in the Baptisms of his children. I also believe that William had a brother Joseph, a Cabinet Maker (died aged 60 in Boston). William himself may have died in Boston in 1834 or in 1847.

Now, the question is, if William and Joseph were brothers, who were their parents? Also, if William Williamson was a Mariner, are there any records for Mariners I can use to find out more about him?

Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.

Keith

You should be a detective Lizzie. Just found out that the White Horse Inn in Middlemarsh  is now known as the Hunters Moon and has a big connection to the author Thomas Hardy (not helping me to find George and Elizabeth Fox in 1841 with any certainty but all very interesting eh?:

The essence of Hardy's novel 'The Woodlanders' revolves around a small rural community he calls the Hintocks centred on Middlemarsh. Just beyond 'The Hunter's Moon' the Dorchester road divides. To find Hardy's 'Revellers Inn', take the left hand fork for half a mile down the original old coaching turnpike and, set back, you will see the little changed Lower Revells Farmhouse. This was once a posting house of no mean size and is where Tim and Suke and the wedding party were bound after: 'Just walking round the parishes to show ourselves a bit'.
The present roadside frontage of the Hunter's Moon, with its three ground floor bay windows is unchanged since Hardy's day when his friend, pioneer photographer Herman Lea, described it as: 'a picturesque building of weatherworn brick; the tiled roof is laid to a pattern and the tiles themselves are moss-grown, the chimneys are massive and elaborated with dentil courses under the copings'. Much extended now - but with great sympathy - the comfortably welcoming beamed interior rambles around in several linked areas. A cosy, soft-lit relaxed intimacy is created with loads of bric-a-brac, open log fires and a great variety of tables, chairs and booths created from settles.

Dear all,
Thank you for your posts to date.

Liz- when I look in BMD for births in 1828, I don’t see the mothers Maiden Name. Would you mind advising me on where you found the name Fenton please. I am thinking this unnamed male Fox child in 1838, mother Fenton, may very well be a first child for George Fox and Elizabeth Fenton, born out of wedlock?

Regarding the Fenton’s I do believe we have confirmed the family group:

As well as Elizabeth, Samuel and Elizabeth Fox had a number of other children.
1   Mary Ann Fenton*   1814, Blandford Forum, Dorset
2   Elizabeth Fenton      4th April 1818, Salisbury, Wiltshire
3   Emma Fenton**      1st March 1824, Fordington, Dorset
4   Ann Fenton***      5th October 1826, Fordington, Dorset
5   Herbert Fenton****   15th January 1834, Dorchester, Dorset

Regarding the 1841 Census entry for Ann Fenton, aged 15, I think this def is Elizabeth’s sister who had been born in 1826 in Fordington.

Whether the 2 separate entries in the 1841 Census for:
Garden House/Sherborne Castle, Sherborne - George Fox 45 Agricultural Labourer - born in county
Newland Street, Sherborne - Eliza Fox 25 Female Servant – not born in County

..are George Fox and Elizabeth living separately, who know. For the George Fox entry, I just wish the occupation stated had been Basket Maker as opposed to Ag Labourer. Just wish I had found them together!

Thanks again, Keith

Agreed. I need both the 1950 Death Cert for George and also William G Fox Death Certs and maybe there will be some help there
Thanks again
Keith