Genealogy Forum UK

We have been frustrated a number of years trying to identify the parentage of Marie's ggg.grandfather Thomas Willetts.
There were a number of Thomas's born around 1812, probably not enough evidence to conclusively prove which is him.

Thomas Willetts married Bathsheba Hunt - 26 Jan 1835 - Oldswinford
They appear on 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, living in Lye.
From census, averaging his age he was born 1811-15. On 1861 & 1871 census says he was born in Halesowen. Bathsheba was born Bromsgrove abt 1816
Their first child, John, was baptised 27 Feb 1835 at Halesowen, four weeks after marriage in Oldswinford

On "ancestors.co.uk" & "Black Country Connections" folk have got our Thomas linked to either George Willetts & Sarah nee Harris or Samuel Willetts & Mary nee Crumpton or John Willetts & Elizabeth nee ??? Some have his death as 1907 but on 1891 census Bathsheba was a widow, we think he died 1883.

Is anyone on the Forum related to this family and can say which are Thomas parents or, at least, which they are not.

can someone post the link pls with this thomas on as I can't see one b 1811 married

there is this one parents John and Elizabeth ....no wife for Thomas
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... di=6247764

and this one parents Samuel and Mary no wife for thomas
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =219220961

Hi Marie and Bill, it is not Thomas son of George Willetts and Sarah Harris, he moved to Wednesbury and married a Phoebe Martin:-

http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/fa ... tts-Family

I have these notes which confirms the connection - Thomas and Phoebe were Witnesses to Thomas's brother Benjamin's Marriage to Eliza Crumpton. Witnesses to Thomas's Marriage to Phoebe were Thomas's sister Sarah Willetts and Phineas Parsons, Phineas was husband to Thomas's sister Fanny. Thomas and Phoebe gave their abode as Brunswick Street Wednesbury. Thomas was of full age and Phoebe was a Minor. Named Transcribed as Wittaker in 1871.

Living in Lye I wouldn't think it was the Thomas son of John and Elizabeth, from the Census they seemed to live in RR'

Could be Thomas son of Samuel Willetts and Mary Crumpton, but on the other hand he could be someone else, not baptised What were the names of your Thomas's children

Linell.

Just found a burial for Thomas born 1811 on the NBI, died 1853 Hayley Green, think he was the son of Samuel Willetts and Mary Crumpton from Hayley Green, so not him either. Have you checked the earlier Census, are there anymore Willetts living near your Thomas

Linell.

Thomas & Bathsheba's children

John - bapt 27 Jan 1835 Halesowen IGI
Jane - bapt 25 Mar 1838 Halesowen IGI
Caroline - b abt 1839 Lye
PHOEBE - b abt 1840 Lye
David - b abt 1844 Lye
Henry - b abt 1846 Lye
Edward - b abt 1849 Lye
Fanny - b abt 1856 Lye
Thomas - b abt 1860 Lye

only found baptisms for first 2 on IGI

do you have the marriage to Bathsheba?

what are the details?

Marriage to Bathsheba 26 Jan 1835 (before certificates) at Oldswinford
witnesses = John Hawkswood & Elizabeth Gough

I looked at a transcript for Halesowen and found the following

Baptisms 1835 February
27th John so Thomas and Bathsheba Willetts, Hayley Green, nailer

Baptisms 1836 January
3rd John so Thomas and Bathsheba Willetts, Hayley Green, nailer
3rd Stephen so James and Letitia Coley, Hayley Green, nailer, said to be born Jany 21st 1829
3rd John so James and Letitia Coley, Hayley Green, nailer, said to be born Nov 11th 1831
3rd Mary do James and Letitia Coley, Hayley Green, nailer

I presume that the first John died but he does not seem to be buried at Halesowen. There is just this one in the intervening years:

Burials 1835 September
4th Phoebe Willetts, Hayley Green, 44 years

James Coley married Letitia Willetts at St Thomas, Dudley 26th July 1824. She is on BCC
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/fa ... tts-Family
There is an unattached Thomas there too bpt 1811. Could he be yours?

Baptism at Halesowen
29th Oct 1797
Letty do samuel and Mary Willetts but was said to be born April 29th preceding

14th April 1811
Thos Willetts so Samuel and Mary Willetts

I wondered if the Phoebe Willetts who died was this one?
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/fa ... tts-Family

Is there any Hayley Green connection there Linell?
And is it the same William and Phoebe who had a bunch of chilren baptised at Halesowen or are the different? That William is down as a nailer fom Lutley, if that helps at all.

gardener wrote:I wondered if the Phoebe Willetts who died was this one?
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/fa ... tts-Family

Is there any Hayley Green connection there Linell?
And is it the same William and Phoebe who had a bunch of chilren baptised at Halesowen or are the different? That William is down as a nailer fom Lutley, if that helps at all.

OK, I see here http://www.halesowenroots.com/Descendan ... lletts.htm that this was a Phoebe Jones so not the same one.

An Ancestry tree says that both Thomas and Bathsheba are in Lye & Wollascote Cemetery Section E Grave 16E. Thomas died Sept 1883, & Bathsheba died Jan 1892.

Hi Kate, the Phoebe Willetts who died in 1835 Hayley Green was my Gt X 3 Grandmother. Thomas Willetts born about 1811 son of Samuel Willetts and Mary Crumpton died I believe in Hayley Green 1853 - source NBI. The other William Willetts and Phoebe Kendrick were from Cradley, they didn't have a son Thomas as far as I am aware. Hayley Green/Lutley are virtually the same place. I don't know who Marie and Bill's Thomas belonged to, will keep looking from Linell.

That looks good for Thomas who has sister letitia and son of Samuel and mary here
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =689155446

being your Thomas
esp if they bapt their kids same day

Samuel and Mary have a Jane too
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tr ... =689155446

and Thomas and bathsheba call dau Jane

linell wrote:Just found a burial for Thomas born 1811 on the NBI, died 1853 Hayley Green, think he was the son of Samuel Willetts and Mary Crumpton from Hayley Green, so not him either. Have you checked the earlier Census, are there anymore Willetts living near your Thomas

Linell.

A burial for him 20.11.1853 Thomas Willetts aged 41 Buried St John's Halesowen.

Linell.