The Origins of Captain Edward Wills, mariner of Ratcliff ??

[JustinL]

I’m struggling to establish the origins of a mariner by the name of Edward WILLS.

Between 1718/19 and 1726, he and his wife, Sarah, had 5 children baptised in St. Dunstan’s Stepney (4 died in infancy!). In most of the entries he was named as ‘Captain Edward Wills, mariner of Ratcliff’, which would presumably suggest that he was over 30, if not older.

There was an older son named Edward, who became an apprentice grocer in 1728, meaning he was born in about 1715. I cannot find a record of his birth/baptism. He married Rebecca Waskett in 1740.

Tax records from the period show that Edward senior lived in Ratcliff Cross and later in Narrow Street. From 1736 to 1738, by which time his son had completed his apprenticeship, father and son shared the rent for a property in Narrow Street. From 1739 there is only one Edward Wills in Ratcliff, and this would appear to have been the son, who then died in December 1744. However, in May 1739, Edward senior signed the marriage bond for his only surviving daughter.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Justin

[miriamkinga]

Have you had a look at London Lives ?  www.londonlives.org

best of luck 

[JustinL]

Yes, I have thanks, and consequently downloaded the will of Edward Wills, Commander of the East India Company’s Ship Elizabeth, who was buried in Woolwich.

However, he made no mention of any children in his will, and my Edward's daughter, Sarah, was still very much alive into the 1760s.

[ShaunJ]

There was a Thomas Wills, mariner, of Ratcliff who married Mary Hooper at St Dunstans on 13 February 1714. A possible sibling?

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
There is a Will 24.9.1718 PPC Edward Wills London.
Wife Ann and sons Thomas and Edward which looks good.

Ciderdrinker

[ShaunJ]

Not sure about that 1718 will ... Sir Edward Wills ? It's possible I suppose.

[ShaunJ]

Sir Edward lived in Hackney .. only a couple of miles from Ratcliff

http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Publications-of-the-Oxford-Historical-Society-Remarks-and-Collections-of-Thomas-Hearne-1717-1719-Volume-6/442903/249

[ShaunJ]

Sir Edward Wills, widower aged 50 married Ann Cuddon spinster aged 18, in 1699 with the permission of her father Sir Thomas Cuddon.

[JustinL]

Thanks very much for looking into this enigmatic family.

The will of 1718 indicates that Sir Edward's sons were under 21. My Edward was already a father by 1715, and, more significantly, a ship's captain by 1718. I would speculate that my Edward was born in or before 1680.

The existence of the other contemporary mariner, Thomas Wills, is very interesting. My Edward was certainly determined to have a son named Thomas. But did the occupation of mariner run in families?

Can we establish the identity and origins of Thomas?