William ROBERTS wool comber

[PJWELLS]

A William ROBERTS with wife Frances is detailed on a Quaker marriage entry from Norwich on 7th Jul 1761 as the parents of Thomas.
This post is specifically to enquire if there are any records of these ROBERTS, in Mildenhall that might tie up with this record, because Mildenhall is detailed as the abode of Thomas's parents. The information regarding Thomas's family in Norwich is already known. They had at least 6 children all with Quaker birth records, some of them even detailing the midwife. The names of the children might have some relevance when identifying siblings or marriage, they are John, Elizabeth, William, Mary, Susanna, and, Anne.
Thomas married a Susanna BREWER. Thomas was also a wool comber.
Son Thomas's age is unclear, the quaker marriage entry says with the consent of parents, whether this is a standard quaker phrase in their marriage entry is not understood. So he could have been born as late as 1750's, but could be much earlier.
Whether Thomas was born in Suffolk as well,  is unknown. The ROBERTS may have come from anywhere.

[QueenoftheWest]

From the Quaker burial registers of Bury St Edmunds:

Frances, wife of William Roberts of Mildenhall, departed this life the 19th of the second month, 1762. No age given, unfortunately.

So it appears the Roberts family attended the Bury St Edmunds Quaker meetings.

On the Quaker marriage record of Thomas to Susanna Brewer, 3 relations are mentioned:
- Frances Haws
- William Haws
- Mary Brewer (x)

On 20th January 1799, a 72-year-old Frances Haws, a widow, was buried in a Quaker burial in Bury St Edmunds, so it seems that the Haws must be relatives of Thomas Roberts, and members of the same congregation in Suffolk.

There is a Bury St Edmunds Quaker burial of William Roberts, wool comber, on the 9th March 1799, but his age is given as 69, which would make him born c.1730. Given that Thomas' wife, Susanna, had an estimated year of birth of 1739 (this coming from her 1781 burial record), William's birth year seems a little too early. I imagine Thomas was born around the same time as Susanna.

Queenie 

[PJWELLS]

Thank you Queenie, on the basis of the comment in 1761, with the consent of parents, it could put a different perspective on their ages.Williams age would probably need to be 3-5  years out.
,  and Susannas declared  may be right, it could be slightly wrong, and clouding the assumptions on life in the mid 18th century
Finding a marriage for a William and Frances, and or siblings of Thomas might also give further clues.
It does seem questionable but not impossible that this is the same family.
We have a quaker record, and a declared occupation.
Mildenhall to Bury St Edmunds...15 miles

[QueenoftheWest]

In 1776, William Roberts, widower, of Bury St Edmunds, wool comber, the son of William Roberts of Mildenhall married Mary Goodwin in a Quaker marriage in the same meeting house.

Mentioned amongst their relations is Frances Hawes, who also witnessed the births of their children.

I wonder whether this is actually Thomas' brother and the man who was buried in 1799? I wonder if Frances Hawes is actually a sister?

Perhaps there was:

William Roberts of Mildenhall m. Frances (?-1762)
- Frances (1727-1799) m. William (?) Hawes
- William (1730-1799)
- Thomas

Have you found a burial for Thomas? That would hopefully give an age at death and so an estimated birth year.

I cannot find a marriage for Frances to a William Hawes, nor a baptism for any of them. However, it is possible that their baptism entries were in a Quaker register that has either not survived or not been digitised. Perhaps they were not baptised at all.

Queenie 

P.S. I can't see how this isn't the right family; there can't possibly be any other Roberts families in Mildenhall/Bury St Edmunds who were Quaker wool combers!

[amondg]

Possible death for Mary wife of William at Ipswich Suffolk  (edited)

died 30th of 6th month 1824 Mary Roberts widow of William formerly of Bury. Buried Ipswich 4th of the 7th month 1824  age about 83.

[amondg]

Could Frances wife of William Roberts died  1762 Bury as found by QueenoftheWest be the wife of William senior?   who are the parents of Thomas
-----------

Could this be William junior and a possible brother to Thomas?

Elizabeth wife of William Roberts died 10th of the 9th month 1767 age about 21 at Bury

William widower then married Mary Goodwin 1776 who died 1824 about age 83 at Ipswich

Children  - father William is a Wool Comber
Eliza 1 March 1759
Easter 30 June 1761
Rachel 14 August 1777 
William 21 September 1779
Frances 13 February 1782  died 17 September 1782 age about 7 months
Thomas 25 April 1784

[amondg]

Cornelius Barritt of Guilford Surrey, son of Charles Barritt of Mildenhall Suffolk married

*Rachel Roberts daughter of William Roberts deceased of Bury Suffolk and Mary surviving at the Quaker

Meeting House Kelvedon Essex.   12 day of 5th month 1808 edited

[amondg]

William Roberts 1779 died 18 December 1871 buried 3 January 1872 Old Section Ipswich Cemetery

section V (Quaker) there is a photo of his gravestone on Global Gravestones, he was 92

He is buried with Rebecca who died 1865

William left a will - probate 4 March 1872 at Ipswich, executor  nephew James Barritt - (must be a son of his sister Rachel)
The contents might establish relationships


ADDED
1851 census College Street Ipswich
William Roberts  71  Coal Merchants Clerk - born Bury St Edmunds
Rebecca   70  born Moulton

1861 College Street #17
William Roberts 81  Banker Clerk  born Bury Suffolk
Rebecca 80   born Moulton near Mildenhall

[amondg]

Well William and Rachel brother and sister married a brother and sister.

William Roberts son of William and Mary Roberts both deceased of Bury Suffolk Woolcomber

To Rebecca Barritt daughter of Charles Barritt and his wife Hannah of Mildenhall Suffolk Yeoman

At Colchester Meeting House 14 December 1825.