I am playing catch up with this thread and there are some points posted here by different contributors that I would like to comment on:
" THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. SOMEWHERE" earlier in this thread, mentions the 1845 Will of Farmer "Gentleman" John Thurman died 1849 age 95 years. He was a relative of mine albeit I am not a direct decedent, indeed his obituary seen in a couple of newspapers described him as a "lifelong bachelor."
John Thurman owned land and buildings in different parts of Leicestershire and Wawickshire.
He left all his land and buildings to different members of the Coleman family, including the farmhouse now a hotel; Elms Farm Hotel and you can stay in the Thurman room there.
John Thurman lived here at time of 1841 Census and when he made his will in 1845 leaving Elms Farm to William Coleman another local farmer. He also owned land and buildings in Kingsbury, Warwickshire leaving this to William Cooper and another William Coleman. There was more land at Ratcliffe Culey (Leics) and at Grendon, Warwickshire left to Godson, John Thurwan Coleman born 1838 age 11 in 1849, who was to “Take the name Thurman”.
Now the farmhouse is known as Elms Farm Hotel 52 East End Long Clawson Leicestershire LE14 4NG
John Thurman was on Register of Voters in 1846 for the parish or Township of Hickling “Place of Abode House and Land Place of Abode Stonesby, Leicestershire.
The Coleman's inherited all land and buildings and a few Thurman's received money after John's death in 1849, including the children of my great, great, great grandfather Richard Thurman (born Appleby Magna) but had been working and living at Merrivale Hall (Nr Atherstone, Wawickshire) for the Dugdale family.
Stonesby is about 9 miles from Long Clawson and the Stonesby freehold house and land is not covered by his 1845 Will.
I am interested to know if there was an earlier generation marriage between Coleman - Thurman family given that John Thurman was a bachelor?
I found this which I cannot verrify with any marriage records?
Extract from “VILLAGE LIFE IN THE VALE OF BELVOIR. Social and Economic Change; 1851 – 1881.” By P. Anne Bosworth mentions that “William Coleman, father and son owned a substantial farm; their Leicestershire holding in 1874 was recorded as 320 acres. John Wilson records that their property was the result of the amalgamation by marriage of the earlier Thurman and Coleman estates