Joseph Farrer (Farrar) who married Rebecca Fawcett in 1791

[patchwitch]

I am trying to find out more about Joseph, Rebecca and their family. They are my 5xGreat-Grandparents and I can pretty much trace the descendants of my 3xGreat-Grandfather (their Grandson and another Joseph) into the twentieth century and present day in some cases.

Joseph and Rebecca married in Greyrigg near Kendal in 1791 and died in 1843 (Mansergh)  and 1848 (Burton-in-Lonsdale) respectively. The Farrers were a well established Grayrigg family at this time.

This Joseph is NOT the son of Thomas the Quaker of Grayrigg but another man with the same name who was living in the same area. I say that because I have a copy of the will of Joseph son of Thomas the Quaker which implies this Joseph wasn't married and did not have children. The Josephs also had different death dates and occupations (and years of birth).

I also have a copy of the will of Thomas Farrer eldest son of "my" Joseph and my current project is to try to trace as many of his descendants down to the 1911 census as I can. This isn't my direct line but I am trying to be methodical in my research.

[patchwitch]

So the beneficiaries of the will of Thomas of Hebblethwaites are his sons Thomas (also executor) and Joseph (who continued to farm at Hebblethwaites), daughters Alice Chamley and Jane Skillorn (actually Skellorn but the spelling varies a great deal) plus son-in0law Thomas Allen. I have not found out how Thomas Allen is related to the Farrers - whether son-in-law means husband of a daughter or even a step-son as either could be correct.

[Annette7]

How do you know that 'your' Joseph is the son of a Thomas?

Annette

[patchwitch]

That is a very good point Louise. I don't actually think I said that "my" Joseph's father was Thomas, just that it wasn't the Thomas Farrer who married Margaret Harrison. This couple were Quakers and there is a lot of information about them in the Quaker records and also in the notebooks of William Farrer the historian who IS a direct descendant of Thomas and Margaret.

I found this note my file

"As at 12 Oct 2019 I do not know who Joseph's parents are. The Farrer Family Scroll incorrectly gives the parents as Thomas Farrer and Margaret Harrison." This note would date to my last search in Kendal.

"My" Joseph's first son was named Thomas and that appears to be the naming pattern to name the first son after the father's father but this is not always the case of course.

Joseph (1761 - 1843) married Rebecca Fawcett (1772 - 1848) in Grayrigg on 8 May 1791

I think they had 10 children

Thomas (1792 - 1876) I have his will and am researching his family now
Sarah (1793 - 1886) married Jacob Nelson and her parents lived next door to her (or even with her) before their deaths.
Richard (1795 - 1884) - my direct line
Rebecca 1799 -
Alice 1802 -
John 1804 - 1884
James 1806 -
Agnes 1808 -
George 1811 -
Joseph 1813 - 1876

Thomas farmed at Hebblethwaites near Sedbergh and his son Joseph continued to farm there after Thomas died. Thomas's older son (Joseph's older brother) was at High Oaks which I think is not far away.


On the 1841 "my" Joseph is Holme House Kirkby Lonsdale and he died there on 15 March 1843 with his daughter Sarah (now Sarah Nelson) being the informant.

[Annette7]

This Joseph is NOT the son of Thomas the Quaker of Grayrigg but another man with the same name who was living in the same area.
 

The above sentence implies his father was another Thomas in the same area hence my question.  (By the way, my name is Annette not Louise).

I note there are umpteen trees stating his parents as either Thomas and Margaret Harrison but none have a birth/baptism for him nor a date for this couples marriage (and I can't find one either) or parents as Thomas and Sarah Toppin who married 16/4/1748 Kendal. 

As you say, can't be son of Thomas and Margaret as they had 6 children baptised, youngest being a Joseph in 1772 who is too old for your man.

Thomas and Sarah only appear to have 2 children baptised, a John in 1750 and Agnes in 1752.

The only Joseph close to your mans given age is one baptised 14/8/1764 Kendal, son of John and Dorothy - only 2 earlier children to this couple, an Agnes in 1752 and Benjamin in 1754 but can't find a marriage for them either.

Annette
 

[patchwitch]

Sorry Annette, I have no idea where the Louise came from except that my husband was talking to a neighbour named Lousie as I was typing. I do apologise.

Re-reading my first message and I see why you should think that I had Thomas as a name for the father of both Josephs. It should read "but is another man named Joseph living ......" So two Joseph Farrers in the same area at the same time.

As I have come to a shuddering halt on Joseph's parentage (as you say a couple of possibles but nothing confirmed) I am now trying to trace the descendants. Joseph himself died at Holme Hall near Mansergh and his children and grandchilden appear to have settled in the immediate area "just over the hill" from Grayrigg. The Sedbergh registers have Farrers back into the 1600s so I may end up doing a local one name study at some point.

I am now concentrating on Joseph (1761 - 1843) and his children and grandchildren.

It's not the first time I have found a will that drives a horse and carriage through assumed family relationships and people don't always react well when you query their findings. Wills and Admons are (in my opinion only) a much under utilised resource - and very cheap to get post 1858 copies these days. If there is a will it really helps to pin down connections and can also raise other queries.

 

[Roger holmes]

Hi ladies my ancestors were Farrers I think Joseph Farrers father was Thomas who married Sarah Toppin their children were named after people in their family lots of them Thomas and Sarah had four children all named after family members  what do you think regards Roger Holmes