LEWIS in Sculthorpe - fresh ideas needed

[philipsearching]

I am struggling to sort out my LEWIS family.  I have searched the PR images on FamilySearch from 1600 to 1750.  There appear to be no missing pages, some entries are faded or blotchy but still legible.  Baptisms name both parents, burials of children name a parent, and burials of married women name the husband - how good is that!    I found the following:

Baptisms - parents Edward LEWIS and Dorothy:
Thomas 29 Mar 1651 (?bur 21 Mar 1697)
John 23 Jan 1653
Ann 12 Jul 1656
Edward 22 Jan 1659 (bur 10 Jun 1660)
Henry 15 May 1664
Robert 2 Feb 1667 (bur 20 Oct 1669)
Sarah 18 Feb 1671

Burial
19 Mar 1673 Dorothy wife of Edward LEWIS

Baptism - parents Edward LEWIS and Susan:
Elizabeth 16 May 1682

Baptisms - parents Edward LEWIS and Anne:
Edward 17 Feb 1694 (bur 20 Feb 1694)
Elizabeth 19 Jan 1695
Thomas 14 Feb 1696
Theodosia 25 Sep 1698 (bur 18 Jun 1712)
Susan 4 Feb 1699 (bur 17 Jun 1705)
Anne 1 Jun 1701 (bur 8 Apr 1702)
Edward 10 May 1702 (bur 17 May 1702)
Anne 1 Aug 1703 (bur 4 May 1704)
Alice 15 Apr 1705 (bur 8 Jul 1705)
Anne 19 May 1706
Mary 23 Mar 1707 (bur 7 Sep 1728)
Susan 5 Mar 1709 (bur 13 Nov 1713)
Alice 31 Mar 1712
Jane 20 Feb 1714 (bur 31 May 1715)
Sarah 19 Sep 1716 (bur 18 Oct 1716)
Susan 19 Sep 1716 (bur 30 Sep 1716)
Susan 2 Nov 1718 (bur 11 Oct 1729)

Burial
19 Nov 1727 Edward LEWIS


Apart from John LEWIS and Hannah who had three children baptised 1720-1723 (two died young, John died in 1731) I can find no other LEWIS entries in the PR.

I haven't found likely marriages in Norfolk for Edward on FamilySearch or FreeReg.
Apart from Dorothy, I haven't found burials for wives.
I have only found one burial for Edward.

It seems unlikely that one Edward was fathering children from 1651 to 1718 (no "blue pills" in those days!  )  So, did one Edward turn up in Sculthorpe with Dorothy, have children and die elsewhere?  Was it the same Edward who married Susan and if so, where?  Did another Edward turn up in Sculthorpe with wife Anne - and if so, where from?

I need to find the three marriages, but I'm stuck!

Philip

[amondg]

The Norfolk Record Office has the will of Edward Lewis of Sculthorpe, found under Lewis Edward

Ref 1727 ANF 1727-1730 folio 499 (1727 no. 121)

Bit of an expense but could help sort things

[philipsearching]

The Norfolk Record Office has the will of Edward Lewis of Sculthorpe, found under Lewis Edward

Ref 1727 ANF 1727-1730 folio 499 (1727 no. 121)

Bit of an expense but could help sort things

You are a star!  Thank you for this lead.  I will order the will and see who is named in it.

Philip

[The Yokel]

Hi Philip
If you have a Family History Center or a FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries near you, you will be able see the Will for free.


https://www.familysearch.org/locations/

Regd. copy wills, v. 67 1721-1730
Family History Library
British Film
167148
 8040815

yokel

[philipsearching]

Hi Philip
If you have a Family History Center or a FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries near you, you will be able see the Will for free.


https://www.familysearch.org/locations/

Regd. copy wills, v. 67 1721-1730
Family History Library
British Film
167148
 8040815

yokel

Unfortunately, there isn't a FHCentre near me and I don't drive, so the train fare would be more expensive than ordering a photocopy from NRO  - but thank you for the suggestion.

Philip

[philipsearching]

Edward's will arrived today.  Signed 2 February 1726, he was a tailor of Sculthorpe, with some property in Thursford and Tatterford.

The will names:
Anne (wife)
Mary LEWIS (daughter)
Alice LEWIS (daughter)
Daniel BILLING (son-in-law)

In 1726 Edward and Anne had (as far as I have found!) six children possibly or definitely still living:
Elizabeth (b1695)
Thomas (1696-1766)
Anne (b1706)
Mary (1707-1728, unmarried)
Alice (b 1712)
Susan (1718-1729)

Did Daniel BILLING marry Elizabeth or Anne?
Who is son John?  I haven't found a baptism for him (except the "highly unlikely" in 1653)

And I still haven't found marriages or burials as per my original post.

Any ideas gratefully received!

Philip

[jonw65]

Indexed on findmypast are a couple of baptisms in Thursford (don't think we can see them on FamilySearch)
Elezebeth Biling in 1726, parents Daniel + Elezebeth
possible in 1729? Donnoll Belle, parents Donnoll + Elezebeth

Have no more info, but the names of the children (if we include the 1729 baptism) possibly suggest them not being married for so very long?
A burial indexed in Thursford in 1731 of a Danyell Belling
There is an administration for Daniel Billing of Thurston, 1731, the bond can be found on FamilySearch. Difficult to read, but widow Elizabeth Billing is on it.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6S5S-LH3?i=573&cat=482770

[philipsearching]

Indexed on findmypast are a couple of baptisms in Thursford (don't think we can see them on FamilySearch)
Elezebeth Biling in 1726, parents Daniel + Elezebeth
possible in 1729? Donnoll Belle, parents Donnoll + Elezebeth

Have no more info, but the names of the children (if we include the 1729 baptism) possibly suggest them not being married for so very long?
A burial indexed in Thursford in 1731 of a Danyell Belling
There is an administration for Daniel Billing of Thurston, 1731, the bond can be found on FamilySearch. Difficult to read, but widow Elizabeth Billing is on it.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6S5S-LH3?i=573&cat=482770

Wow!  Thank you so much.

Elizabeth was a sister of my direct ancestor (Thomas LEWIS) so I won't spend too much time on hunting her children, but evidence that she married Daniel BILLING in or before 1726 and was alive in 1731 is more than I hoped to find.

Philip

[jonw65]

I am not finding a marriage for them though
One more thing! Thursford Churchwardens
1730
Paid Dan: Billing for a hook & a share.. continues next line I think. No good at reading this stuff!
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6D99-1FS?i=138&cat=1012739