Francis Roberts B:1794 D:1859

[Thorgils]

Not sure if this is helpful:

I have noted also the there are a couple of entries in the UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811 for a Wm Roberts. "cabinet maker" and I cant make our the other profession Newke, Hewke, Heuke, Neuke?

Name
Wm Roberts
Payment Date
10 Feb 1792
Residence Location
Plymouth, Devon
Household - 2

Name
Wm Roberts
Payment Date
25 Apr 1788
Residence Location
Plymouth, Devon
Household - 2


UK directories 1680-1830 also show:

Name: William Roberts
Dates: 1776-1800
Location: Plymouth Dock
Occupation: Agent financial/brokering services
Gender: Male
Address:Plymouth Dock
Source Date:1784

[DOB7]

The 1788 apprenticeship is for William ROBERTS apprenticed to John MILLER a cabinetmaker. The 1792 apprenticeship is for a William ROBERTS apprenticed to Daniel WITHERALL a perukemaker (maker of wigs). I doubt either of these would be your William as they would likely have been young boys and too young to have Francis in 1795. There's also a 1767 apprenticeship for a Christopher HANDLEY, to William ROBERTS (master) a whitesmith in Stoke Damerel.

[Thorgils]

Thank you DOB7 a fountain of information as usual.

Wigmaker, I would never have worked that one out.

I assume a whitesmith is someone that predominantly work white metal? Tin or some-such?

So based I what we know we seem to be leaning towards the marriage highlighted in red. I have tried in vane to find sailor records for William Roberts due to the next 2 generations involved in seafaring however again I found little evidence.   

 18 Jun 1766 William ROBERTS married Mary GRILLS = Stoke Damerel, Devon, England
31 May 1773 William ROBERTS married Mary WOLLAND = Stoke Damerel, Devon, England
24 July 1774 William ROBERTS married Mary THOMAS = Stonehouse Devon.
18 May 1779 William ROBERTS (a shoemaker) = Mary LOYNES (of Tavistock) at Plymouth Charles
11 Nov 1787 William ROBERTS (a butcher) = Mary LANE at Plymouth St Andrew