An update. All going well with the Hodges.
Still struggling with Dinah Parsons. I have made some progress and believe she may be connected to a Parsons family from High Ham, but still can't see where she fits in.
One of the executors of her Will is shown in her probate register entry as Samuel Hurd from 17, Ordnance Road, St. John's Wood, Middx. I have obtained a copy of her Will in case it contained any more clues, but unfortunately it doesn't.
However, a Samuel Hurd was born 1950/Q2/Langport/10/440 - and baptised 29th June at Somerton to Joseph & Ann Hurd, nee
Parsons. He appears in the 1891 census as a print compositor at the above address, born in Somerton
He is described in Dinah's Will as simply "a gentleman", with no indication of any family relationship.
Joseph Hurd married Ann Parsons 19th June 1835 at High Ham. Susan & James Parsons were witnesses at the wedding. She appears in 1851 Census as Ann Hurd age 36 and 1861 census age 46, suggesting she was born abt 1815.
Ann Parsons bap. 12 Feb 1815 at High Ham to William & Mary Parsons.
Joseph Hurd was a widower, prev. marr. Sophia Cox 14 Oct 1816 at Martock, Somerset. Sophia Cox bap. 18 Jan 1792 at Martock, to John & Betty Cox.
William Parsons married Mary Ann Larcombe 6 Aug 1804 at High Ham. Witnesses John Howe & James Parsons. I have discounted the obvious Mary Ann Larcombe, bap 1790 from Wiveliscombe - she would have been 13 on the date of marriage, and census entries indicate that both William & Mary were born abt. 1783.
I believe she was Mary Larcombe, bap. 10 Nov 1782 at St Marys, Shapwick, to James & Betty Larcombe, subsequent confirmation of Shapwick as her birthplace found in the 1851 census.
William Parsons bap. 28th Sep 1783 at High Ham, to James & Mary, possibly James Parsons & Mary Coliverd, who were married 12th Jan 1783 at High Ham. Was his father the James Parsons who was a witness at his wedding?
William & Mary appear to have had the following children: James (b.1807) William (1809) Ann (1815) and Susan (1817). Susan & James may have been the witnesses at Joseph Hurd & Ann's wedding.
Mary Parsons, witness at Dinah's wedding, could have been Mary Larcombe.
So it seems likely that Dinah may have been somehow related to William Parsons. She seems to have been somewhat flexible with her age throughout her life, but it was recorded as 91 in the death register and burial records in 1890, suggesting she was born abt. 1799. Other ages given put her birth anywhere between 1795 and 1809, but her marriage date makes the latter somewhat unlikely.
Perhaps William was her older brother? I have scoured digital copies of the baptism registers for both High Ham and Somerton parishes between 1890 and 1905, but can find no trace of her
