Piecing Together Ann Williamson’s Family Tree Spofforth (Harrogate)

[Katesearch]

Hi all, I'm looking for help in determining the correct family line for Ann/Anne Williamson, as outlined below. A friend and I have done some research using Ancestry and FreeREG, and here’s what we have so far:

I haven’t been able to find a baptism record for Ann, with the nearest records being over 18 miles from Spofforth. However, I have identified two potential sets of parents for her:

1. John Williamson and Anne Newsome, who married on April 10, 1675, at Spofforth All Saints.


2. William Williamson and Mary Gowland, who married on June 21, 1685, at the same church.



Based on Ann's burial record and her husband’s birth year, I estimate she was born around 1685 or 1686. There’s a possibility that Anne Newsome could be her mother, given that naming daughters after their mothers and sons after their fathers was common in the 1600s. However, it’s also plausible that William Williamson's mother was named Anne, and Ann Williamson could have been named after her.

While Anne Newsome could be Ann's mother, the marriage year for William and Mary also aligns with her estimated birth year, suggesting they might be her parents. I’m seeking assistance in finding a baptism record or other evidence that could help confirm the correct family line.

Here’s what I know about Ann Williamson:

Marriage: She married George Deighton on May 22, 1711.

Burial: She was buried on January 30, 1747, at Spofforth.


To make progress, it would be useful to first establish the potential relationship between William and John Williamson. While it's possible they could be brothers from the information below , I find it more likely that they are cousins On FreeREG, I have found two baptisms for John Williamson using the Soundex search—one in 1625 and another in 1631—with fathers named James and William.

Here's what I have so far:

John Williamson: Baptized on 12 Dec 1687 at Spofforth, All Saints. Father: William.

Possible baptism for the above William:

William Williamson: Baptized on 4 Nov 1665 at Spofforth, All Saints. Father: William

[Katesearch]

I’ve had some messages suggesting that Ann Williamson’s parents might be Richard Williamson (b. 1664, Collingham, Yorkshire) and Rebecca Read, who married in 1694. While this is a possibility, I don’t believe it’s correct.

Richard was buried in Spofforth, which does make him a plausible candidate. However, some family trees trace Richard’s father as Thomas Williamson (b. 1634 in Durham, d. 1703 in Durham). This connection of Richard being Ann's Father seems less likely especially when we have two williamsons from Spofforth, such as John Williamson and William Williamson, who are more directly tied to the area.


I believe the suggestion of Richard Williamson as Ann’s father might stem from this baptism record found on Ancestry:

Ann Williamson

Baptized: 5 March 1692, Saint Sampson, York, York, England

Father listed: Richard Williamson


Instead, I think Ann’s parents could be one of the following couples:

1. John Williamson and Anne Newsome

Married: 10 April 1675, Spofforth All Saints


2. William Williamson and Mary Gowland

Married: 21 June 1685, Spofforth All Saints

I’m still in the process of connecting the dots to ensure the family line matches accurately. If anyone has access to additional records from Spofforth or relevant family trees, I’d be grateful for any insights to help confirm or rule out these connections.

[LizzieL]

There is a Richard Williamson marrying an Ann Wood at Spofforth on 17 Dec 1680. So Ann's father could be Richard but a different one to the one you mentioned.

added
Record has Gent after Richard's name. Image on FindMyPast

[LizzieL]

The Richard Williamson buried in 18 Oct 1692 was the son of Richard. Burial record says of Collingham.
Likely baptism for Richard at Collingham on 02 Jun 1685, no parents recorded. Looking at the image (which I think is the BT), the vicar was in the habit of recording just the baptisee's name but no parents.

[LizzieL]

There's an Ann Williamson buried in Spofforth in 1696 then in 1700 what looks like a second marriage for Richard of Collingham. The licence says he was 40. Then a baptism at Collingham for an Ann Williamson on 08 Mar 1703 d/o Richard. As this is too late to be your Ann, it would presumably rule out Richard as father - unless he named a second daughter Ann while the other was living which seems very unlikely.
There is an Ann Williamson d/o Ann baptised at Harewood (not far away) on 11 Jan 1688. A little later than expected, but may have been baptised as a 2/3 year old.

[ciderdrinker]

Hi
Probably not him but Richard Williamson did leave a Will 17.2.1713/14 at Wetherby.
It's a PCY Will available at the Borthwick Institute .He may be a relative or name others in the family.

His wife Sarah buried 27.7.1699 so there may be a mention of people in the wider family.

George and Ann Deighton had the following
Mary 1712
Grace and Thomas 1714
Thomas 1716
William 1718
Andrew 1721
John 1725 .

Could it be that Thomas and Grace were George's parents and Mary and William ,Ann's?
It does look like Grace wife of Thomas Deighton was buried 10.11.1694 so that would fit.

Ciderdrinker

[LizzieL]

Hi
Probably not him but Richard Williamson did leave a Will 17.2.1713/14 at Wetherby.
It's a PCY Will available at the Borthwick Institute .He may be a relative or name others in the family.

His wife Sarah buried 27.7.1699 so there may be a mention of people in the wider family.

Could well be him
 Richard W (Gent) buried Spofforth 16 Jan 1713/4

[LizzieL]

On George's baptism on 19 May 1686, only gives father's name (Thomas)

[Katesearch]

Hi LizzieL and Ciderdrinker for helping rule Richard out. I haven’t been able to find the marriage record for Richard Williamson and Ann Wood if you have a link to it, could you please inbox me? Also, do you think Richard, William, and John might be part of the same family?

Regarding Thomas and Grace, that does seem correct, but I haven’t been able find Grace’s surname to move forward. You mentioned finding a will record.Did it mention Ann? Additionally, are there any records that reference Ann and her connection to the Williamsons?

Thanks