Non Conformist church records ca 1800

[DerekB]

Thanks Valda, I will take your advice and get going on wills. There do not seem to be many other avenues to explore.
Regards
Derek

[Valda]

More information might open up other avenues. The National Archives in its catalogue is awash with Arrowsmith records for instance, but you can't tell whether they relate or not. The LMA also has wills but from a slightly earlier period (as well as a computerised index which might be worth looking at - at the LMA) and then there is the A2A website  ............   more information more possible records.
The limitation is relying just on parish registers (which usually let you down in London by the C18th) and censuses and only researching down the direct line and not branching out to try and get around any blockages - but then I would say that I'm a one namer.
You just need to pin the familys down a bit more.

If Elizabeth's will does prove useful then don't forget to look at the Death Duty registers (1795-1905) to track down the beneficiaries after the will was proved. A much overlooked but very useful set of records

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=107&j=1

and

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=245

Regards

Valda

[DerekB]

Elizabeth Arrowsmith seems to have been quite wealthy leaving over £1400 plus property, etc in 1799. Unfortunately it is left to 4 people Robert Crawford and James Stump (executors) and Ann Judd and nephew Jeremiah Arrowsmith. I'm afraid I don't know of any of them.
As you say lots of Arrowsmith mentions on the A2A but most are the north western Arrowsmiths where the name seems even more common than in London.
Regards
Derek

[Valda]

I really think you need a day at TNA working through possible wills not obtaining them individually because that is too much of an expensive risk.
Were any of the Guildhall fire insurnace records on A2A your family?

Regards

Valda

[DerekB]

The insurance records do not seem to be for anyone who is a known family member and none of the insured was a William.
As far as I know William Arrowsmith was a silk weaver, at least that is what is says on the 1851 census for the William Arrowsmith who is believed to be him. He died 1853.
There is one for a James Arrowsmith a Silk merchant who may be a brother or his father but it's a long shot. I have no information on who his father was or if he had any siblings.
There are a few other wills that may be worth checking when I get the time, maybe in a couple of weeks time.
Regards
Derek