Wilces of Ruardean

by joss, Friday, August 22, 2008, 15:49 (6008 days ago) @ grahamc

Hi Graham

Re your 10 points, looking at No 5 you say that there seems to be two John Wilces (or Willis) born c1726: one married Sarah Rudge, the other married Elizabeth Meek. But we only have one baptism, so who was the other one?

Starting way back with John Wilce bap 21 Jul 1678 Ruardean. He was right age to marry Mary Tailor in Walford 23 May 1700.

Let us assume they had two sons.

One is definite - Thomas bap 26 Jan 1706/7, parents John and Mary. Think he married Mary Mutloe 29 May 1727 in Walford and she was buried 15 Mar 1729 in Ruardean. Then he married Susannah Marfield 15 Oct 1730 Ruardean.

They had, amongst others, son John bap 26 Oct 1740 Ruardean, parents Thomas and Susannah

The other son of John and Mary is somewhat speculative. 'Maude Barrett' source (which is indeed full of all sorts of 'holes') gives a John Wilts or Wills, bapt 3/1/1702 Ruardean. I can’t find this, but let us assume it is right. At all events, this chap is the right age to marry Anne Evans in Awre (but both resident in Ruardean) on 7 Jun 1724.

This John and Ann had, amongst others, John bap 4 Dec 1726 Ruardean, parents John and Ann

So, we have two Johns. Not both born around 1726 admittedly, but one rather younger.

Then, as you say, we have two marriages.

One John marries Sarah Rudge on 25 Feb 1754 (and goes on to have children inc John bap 1 Jan 1757 who married E Blakeway)

The other marries Elizabeth Meek on 30 Dec 1757 and has a different lot of children.

Now it is not inconceivable that John b 1740 married in 1754 at age 14, but more likely that John b 1726, son of John and Ann married in 1754 to Sarah Rudge and John b 1740 son of Thomas and Susannah married in 1757 to Elizabeth Meek.

We also have some independent evidence for this hypothesis in the form of Pauline’s helpful marriage licence for the Rudge marriage, saying that John was 27.

The weakest link now, unless you can think of another, (and I'm sure you will!)is the dodgy bap of John 3 Jan 1702, but maybe like John and Sarah, the parents hopped off to Somewhere Else to tie the knot.

Comments?

Joss