Just a rider here to say that I went and had a good look at the Kersey records at Bury St. Edmunds last Wednesday.
Remarkably, I found a "Bastardy Agreement" in the Parish Chest for Kersey which gave details of the events after the birth of the abovementioned William Vince Seager in 1803.
A John Vince, who did not deny he was William's father, was ordered by the local magistrates to pay maintenance of 40 shillings initially, and then one shilling and sixpence a week to Mary Seggar, the mother of his child, towards living expenses, etc.
Hence I suppose that William, b.1803, wanted to somehow perpetuate both his mother's and father's surnames amongst his children when he married Alice Smith in 1825 and had a generation of children by her.
It was amazing to handle a fragile document - over 200 years old - that referred to my 4-times-great grandparents, even though one of them had been so reluctant to admit his responsibility! I think this thread can now be safely closed, and thanks to everyone who made the effort to contribute.
Keith
