Genealogy Forum UK

Have just realised that I have an ancestor, Elizabeth Bissell, who I have never really looked at, probably because I was looking at her husbands family at the time!

She married John Downing 18 Oct 1685 Rowley Regis.

Looking on BCC there aren't many Bissells - if you have any Bissells let me know!

A quick look at them suggests the family arrived in Rowley Regis in the first decade or two of the 1600s - I suspect from Halesowen, although they seem to have spread to Dudley/ Sedgley at the same time or soon after.

I am now sitting down with the parish register (I don't have the first volume of R Regis register if anyone can help or point me in the right direction : wish I had brought them years ago when they were offered!!!) - big roll of paper and a pen so this could take a while! - actually, at first glance there really aren't that many in Rowley Regis, and familiar names like Hingley, Sidaway, Downing, Willets, Tibbetts, Adams, Westwood, Coley, Parkes, Hadley, and this made me smile: 'Ackit' (Hackett!!) crop up among the marriages so I am sure there must be lots of connections.

As a point of interest there were only around 65 Bissell marriages between 1538-1812 so there really weren't that many of them.

Should have added:
There seem to be three successive generations of George Bissells - and the second two each had spouses named Mary!! - think I can sort them out, but they almost overlap. Also, there are two Johns born in the early 1720s who each married a Mary!! - apart from that think most of the rest can be sorted out.... Now where did I put that roll of wallpaper.....

There are some early ones in the Halesowen Commonwealth Period Steve:-

Banns 20.10.1654 Joyce Bissell daughter of Thomas Bissell Nailer of the Parish of Halesowen, she Married Thomas Wright.
Banns 10.2.1655 John Bissell of the Parish of Rowley Nailer and Mary da of Anne Stanley of Ludley (Lutley.)
Burial 14.12.1658 Mary Bissell of Oldbury
Marriage May 1663 Thomas Bissell and Elizabeth Smith
Burial 8.3.1663 George Bissell
Burial 14.3.1664 William Bissell

HTH Linell.

Thanks Linell - that already adds some details to what I have.

I wonder if that George is one of the earlier ones I have seen on the IGI - there was one b1618 whose father was also George, and two George's b1583/4 if my memory is correct: one of these earlier two might be a candidate for one of the first ones in Rowley Regis. One obviously lived on and had children in Halesowen, but the other possibly moved?? Need to look at this once I have sorted the Rowley families out.

Hi SP
I didn't realise there was so many on part 1
This will keep you busy for awhile..

RR 1539-1684
Baps
24 Jan 1607 Olyver, s of John Bissel
6 Jan 1610 John, s of Wm Bissell
10 Aug 1612 Roger, s of Rich Bissell
23 Nov 1612 Wm, s of Wm Bissell
11 Apr 1614 Isabill, d of Rich Bissell
17 (Sic) 1615 Tho, s of Wm Bissell (between end of Sept and beg of Oct)
15 Oct 1615 Joan, d of Ric Bissell
7 Sep 1616 Georg, s of Georg Bissel (Byssell)
6 Sep 1617 Mary, d of Ric Bissell
19 Oct 1617 Mary, d of Wm Bissell
26 Jul 1618 George, s of Georg Byssell
6 Sep 1618 Mary, d of George Bissell
29 Sep 1620 Ric, s of Wm Bissell
29 Sep 1620 John, s of George Bissell, of Portway
2 Jul 1621 John, s of Georg Bissell
24 Jun 1623 Briget, d of Wm Bissell
18 Apr 1624 Jane, d of George Bissell
2 Feb 1624 Eliz, d of Tho Nock & Elynor, d of Ric Bissell
13 Jan 1626 Willm, s of George Byssell
1 Apr 1628 Sara, d of George Byssell
11 May 1628 Thomas, s of Willm Byssell
2 Aug 1629 Ales, d of Richard Byssell
28 Jan 1630 Doritie, d of George Byssell
14 Aug 1631 Marie, d of George Byssell
12 Feb 1631 Christopher Byssell, s of Willm Byssell
15 Sep 1639 George, s of George Bissell
29 Mar 1640 John, s of John Bissell
6 May 1640 Richard, s of Wm Bissell
27 Nov 1642 Jane, d of John Bissell
5 Jan 1642 Mary, d of George Bissell
1 Oct 1643 William, s of William Bissell
26 Nov 1643 Thomas, s of John Bissell
10 Mar 1645 Thomas, s of George Bissell
10 Apr 1647 Mary, d of John Bissell & Mary
30 Apr 1648 William, s of Richard Bissell & Elinor
27 Jul 1650 Elizabeth, d of George Bissell & Mary
26 Apr 1651 Richard, s of Richard Bissell & Elinor
9 Feb 1651 William, s of William Bissell & Mary
2 Jun 1653 Jone, d of Richard Bissell & Elinor
7 Aug 1653 Jeremie, s of George Bissell & Mary
23 Oct 1655 Ann, d of John & Joyce Bissell
14 Nov 1655 Joseph, s of Richard & Elenor Bissell
9 Mary 1655 Elizabeth, d of George & Mary Bissell
3 Jul 1660 Margery, d of Richard & Elinor Bissell, chr July 21
10 Nov 1662 Elinor, d of George & Mary Bissell
28 Dec 1663 Margery, d of Rich & Elinor Bissell
17 Jan 1663 John, s of George & Mary Bissell
2 July 1666 Mary, d of Thomas & Elizabeth Bissell
9 Oct 1666 Mary, d of George & Mary Bissell
4 Sep 1667 Elinor, d of Richard Bissell
14 Jun 1668 John, s of Thomas Bissell
20 Jun 1668 John, s of Thomas & Elizabeth Bissell
13 Apr 1669 William, s of George & Mary Bissell
20 Apr 1669 Elder, d of Richard & Elizabeth Bissel
23 May 1670 Thomas, s of Thomas & Elizabeth Bisell
25 Nov 1670 Elizabeth, d of Thomas & Elizabeth Bisell
15 Jun 1671 Mary, d of Richard & Elizabeth Bissell
2 Jul 1671 Hana, d of John & Mary Bisell, of old bury
17 Dec 1671 Margery, d of George & Mary Bisell
11 May 1673 Judieth, d of Thomas & Elizth Bissell
18 May 1673 John, s of Richard & Ann Bissell
4 Jan 1673 William & John, sons of Richard & Elizabeth Bissell
3 Oct 1675 John, s of Thomas & Elizath Bissell
12 Dec 1675 Ann, d of Richard & Ann Bissell
14 May 1676 Mary, d of Jeremia & Jone Bissell
15 Nov 1676 Amy, d of Richard & Elizabeth Bissell
17 Jun 1677 John, s of John & Mari Bissell, of old buri
26 Jul 1677 Rebeckah, d of George & Mary Bissell
14 Oct 1677 Jone, d of Richard & Ann Bissell
2 Apr 1678 Thomas, s of Thomas & Elizth Bissell
16 Feb 1678 Jone, d of Jeremiah & Jone Bissell
8 Apr 1679 Thomas, s of Richard & Elizath Bissell
10 Aug 1679 Joseph, s of Richard & Ann Bissell
9 Mar 1679 Judieth, d of George & Mary Bissell
5 Apr 1681 Hanah, d of Thomas & Jone Bissell, borne Oct 20 1680
27 Nov 1681 Jeremiah, s of Jeremiah & Joane Bissell
19 Mar 1681 Samuel, s of Thomas & Joane Bissell - borne
26 Nov 1682 Joseph, s of Joseph & Mary Bissell
24 Dec 1682 Joseph & Benjamine, s of William & Joane Bissell
30 Dec 1683 Hanah, d of George & Mary Bissell
15 Jun 1684 Richard, s of Richard & Elizth Bissell
25 Jan 1684 George, s of Jeremiah & Joane Bissell

Marriage
28 Jan 1621 Robt Wright & Anne Bissell
24 Aug 1630 George Byssell & Elizabeth Careless
20 Feb 1640 Robert Batchlor & Isabell Bissell
4 Aug 1641 John Bissell & Jone Parckes
2 Nov 1641 John Parckes & Mary Bissell
17 May 1647 Richard Bissell & Elinor Smith
30 Aug 1674 Job, s of Thomas & Jone Bissell
6 Sep 1674 Elizabeth, d of George & Mary Bissell
24 Jan 1674 Mary, d of Richard & Ann Bissell

Married at Hemsted 4 Sep 1655
John Hadly, Nayler, s of Selman Hadly of the parish of Rowley, Naylor and
Alice, d of Richard Bissell, late of Rowley, aforesaid, deceased, was published
Aug 12th, 19th, 26th, 1655 without contradiction.

Married at Hampsted 16 Feb 1655
John Bissell, of Rowley, Nayler and Mary Stanley of the parish of Halesowen, Spinstress
published 13th, 20th, 27th 1655, without contra.

1656
Richard Dudley, of Rowley, Naylor, s of Richard Dudley, deceased, of Halesowen and
Ellenor Bissell, sp, d of William Bissell, of Rowley, deceased. published Jan 25th, Feb 1st & 8th, without contra.

Married at Hampsted 21 Apr 1657
John Wheeler, of Rowley, husbandman, s of William Wheeler, of Cradley, blacksmith
Bridgett Bissell, sp, d of William Bissell, late of Rowley, aforesaide, Nayler, deceased.
published Mar29th Apr 5th & 12th 1657, without contra.

9 Sep 1661 George Bissell & Mary Jukes
1 May 1666 Rich Bissell & Elizabeth Lea
23 May 1667 Thomas Bissell & Elizabeth Holliman
12 Jul 1668 John Ingesley & Joyes Bissell
7 Mar 1670 Thomas Bisell & Jone Silk, of Kilenworth
14 May 1671 Charles Addoms, of Halse parish, and Mary Bissell
2 Oct 1672 Richard Bissell & Ann Bach, of birmingham
20 Apr 1674 Jeremia Bissell & Jone Barnit, of halse parish
7 Feb 1681 Joseph Bissell and Mary Croley
7 May 1682 William Bissell & Joane Hill

Burial
11 Nov 1614 Nico. Bissell (torn away in paper book)
13 Jun 1629 Thomas, s of Willm Byssell
1 Sep 1631 Marie, d of George Byssell
15 Jun 1632 Christopher Byssell
21 Jun 1640 John Bissell, Shagg
28 Mar 1642 Richard Bissell
10 Oct 1643 Mary, d of Richard Bissell
4 May 1645 William Bissell & his grandchild
27 Jun 1645 Elizabeth, w of George Bissell, of Oldburie
9 Mar 1645 William Bissell
14 Jan 1647 John Bissell (?) Scarlet
19 May 1648 Thomas Bissell
4 Jun 1648 Margery Bissell, wid
1 Jan 1649 George Bissell & Robert, s of Robert Hunt
14 Dec 1651 William Bissell
16 Aug 1653 William, s of George Bissell
31 Aug 1655 Elizabeth, d of George Bissell
2 Jan 1655 Alice Bissell, Widdow
11 Aug 1662 William, s of Richard Bissell
7 Jan 1662 Elinor, d of George Bissell
5 Sep 1664 George Bissell
21 Feb 1664 Jane Bissell, widow
16 May 1666 Mary, w of John Bissell
10 Nov 1670 Elizabeth, w of Thomas Bisell
14 Apr 1672 Hana, d of Thomas & Jones Bissell
8 Nov 1673 John, s of Thomas Bissell
3 May 13674 John, s of Richard Bisell
28 Jan 1674 Mary, d of Richard Bissell
12 May 1674 John, s of Richard Bissell
7 Aug 1676 Hanah, d of Thomas Bissell
9 Jan 1682 Benjamine, s of William Bissell
18 May 1684 Joseph, s of William Bissell
2 Sep 1684 Joseph, s of Joseph Bissell
6 Nov 1684 William Chambers elis Sisell?? (poss alias)

Other
1650 John Bissell, Edward Hedger, Supervisors for the highwayes

Thank you Farside, that's brilliant.

Have nearly finished going through the first volume kindly posted above by Farside, and can just about tie most of the entries to one of three family lines.

It looks as though most of the Bissells in Rowley Regis descend from one of three people: William, Richard or George. The first records of these are when they start baptising children between 1610-16: there are no earlier Bissells in Rowley Regis.
This raises the suspicion that they may be one family (ie brothers) who moved there sometime just before 1610.
A quick glance at the IGI reveals some possibilities - does anyone have the Halesowen registers and would it be possible to post the Bissells from there for say 1570-1610??

Halesowen 1559-1643
Bap
xvth Dec 1580 Richard, s of Henry Bissell by Isabell his wife
xxixth Sep 1583 Willm, s of Willm Bissell by Ciceley his wiffe
xiijth Mar 1583 George, s of Henry Bissell
xijth Oct 1585 George Bissell was bap
xixth Jan 1589 Willm Bissell, s of George Bissel
xxvjth Mar 1592 Isabell Bissell
xvth May 1592 George Bissell
xvjth July 1618 George, s of George Bissell
11 May 1623 or 1624 Elioner, d of William Bissell (at Oldburie)
12 Feb 1624 John, s of William Bissell
xxvth Oct 1635 Thomas, s of Thomas Bissell & mary his wife (at Ouldbury)
xijth May 1637 Alice, d of Oliuer Bissell by Margery his wife
19 Apr 1640 William, s of Thomas Bissell and Mary his wife (Oldebury)

Marriage
9 Jan 1563 Thomas Granger & Mary Bissell
xvth Oct 1570 Thomas Bissell & ffelice meanley
xxvjth Nov 1570 Thomas Bissell & Alice meanlye
14 Oct 1576 Henry Bissell & Margery Vndrell
xxiijth July 1581 Willm Bissell & Ciceley Parkes
xxijth Apr 1589 George Bissell & Isabell Hadley
xxvth May 1589 Thomas Vndrell & Elienor Bissell
xvth Oct 1626 Guye Wight & Mary Bissell
viij July 1628 Edward Bissell & Joane Perkes
iiijth Sep 1628 Thomas Bissell & Mary Baker
iiijth May 1641 Willia Bissell & Anne Wildsmith

Burial
xvijth Jun 1573 Thomas Bissell
xxviijth Dec 1580 Richard, s of Henry Bissell by Isabell his wife
1 May 1588 John Bissell
xixth May 1588 Thomas Bissell
xijth Nov 1597 Henry Bissell
vth Mar 1615 George Bissell
14 May 1623 Marie, wife of George Bissell
14 Aug 1623 Alce, d of George Byssell
3 Jan 1626 William Bissell
xxth Jan 1637 John Bissell

Thank you once again Farside.
Very interesting - apart from Henry the same names occur in Rowley - there was even an Oliver bapt 1607 who might be that Oldbury one.
There seem to be some gaps though, which raise even more questions.
Which other churches were used by Halesowen parishioners during this period - have never had to do much research in Halesowen.

Nothing in the register St Edmund Dudley 1540-1646

Maybe helpful..
From an old ancestry disc In section called -:

Wills & Administrations in the court of the Bishop of Worcestershire, also Marriage Licences & Sequestrations
Wills & Administrations now preserved in the Probate Registry at Worcester

6 May 1541 William Byssell, Yardeley
1543 Robert Byssell, Yardley
1545 William Byssell, Yardley, I.
1551 Nicholas Byssell, Kingsnorton W.I.
11 Aug 1556 Nicholas Byssell, Wottom Wawen, adm.
11 Jul 1574 John Bissell, Yeardeley, Caveat
24 Mar 1593 Thomas Byssell, Yardley
30 Nov 1609 Margery Bissell, wydow, Kingsnorton

1565 John Byssell, Defford, W.I.
1571 Avis Bissell, Wotton Wawen, M. Bond
1571 Robert Byssell, M.A. Wooton, Warwick, W.I.
1592 John Bissell, M. Bond
1594 William Bissell, Wheelwright, Kingsnorton, W.I.
1595 Thomas Bissell, Yeoman, Kingsnorton, W.I.
1598 John Byssell, Yardley, M. Bond.
1598 William Byssell, Yeoman, Sarehole, Yardley, W.I.
1603 John Bissell, Yeoman, Yardley, Admon. and I.
1604 John Bissell, Yardley, Admon. and I.
1607 Thomas Bissell, Yeoman, Yardley, W.I.
1609 Henry Byssell, Yeoman, Hatton. W.I.
1612 William Bissell, Kingsnorton, W.I.
1615 George Bissell, Nayler, Halesowen W.I.
1626 William Byssell, sen, Yardley, W.I.
1634 Elizabeth Bissell, widow, Yardley, W.
1641 Thomas Bissell, gent, Worcester, Admon. & W.
1644 Thomas Bissell, Yardley, W.I.
1652 John Bissell, Defford, W.I.

St Michael-in-Bedwardine, Parish Reg 1546-1812
29 Apr 1664 William, s of Mr William Bissell & Jane
20 Jun 1665 Samuell, s of Mr William Bissell & Jane, borne 16 June 1665

Marriage
28 Oct 1637 Mr William Bissell & Ann Walker, widd

Death
29 Jun 1757 Elizabeth Bissell
28 Mar 1766 Judith wife of John Bissell
27 Jan 1788 Richard Bissell. Pr.

Shipston-on-Stour
12 Jun 1646 William Gregory & Jane Bissell

Sedgley register 1558-1684

5 Jun 1642 Elanor, d Roger & Mary Bissel
16 Feb 1644 John, s Roger & Mary Bissell
25 Mar 1646 John, s Roger & Mary Bissel
Thomas, s John & Jane Bissel, which childe William Hunt is bound to discharge the parish of 25 Apr 1651
28 Nov 1653 Judith, d Roger & Mary Bissel
19 Nov 1671 John, s John & Issabell Bissell, Coseley
28 Aug 1673 Jobe, s John Bissell, Coseley
15 Oct 1676 Mary, d John & Issabell Bissell of Coseley, Nailer
11 Aug 1678 Theodosia & Ruth, twins of John & Isabell Bissell, Cosely, Nayler
15 Oct 1682 Mary, d John & Isabell Bissell, Woodsetton, Nay


Marriage
19 Apr 1640 Roger Bissell of Dudley & Mary Parkshouse
20 Oct 1664 Rogier Bissell & Mary Price of Dudley
23 Jan 1793 William Hickmans & Sarah Bissel
28 Dec 1795 John Bissel & Sarah Cooper

Burial
9 May 1645 A son of Roger Bissel
18 May 1660 Mary, w Roger Bissel, Cosely
11 Oct 1678 Ruth, d of John & Isabell Bissell, Cosely, Nailer
19 Sep 1680 William, s of John & Isabell Bissell, Coseley, Nay
30 Nov 1681 Theodosia, d John & Isabell Bissell, Woodsetton, Limeman
6 Dec 1681 Mary, d John & Isabell Bissell, Woodsetton
20 Dec 1681 William, s John & Isabell Bissell, Woodsetton, Lymeman

Tipton register
25 Aug 1734 Mary, of Will & Mary Bissel, bap

It's looking increasingly like the biggest concentration of Bissells at the time were in Rowley Regis. The only ones locally before 1600 seem to be in Halesowen (was there a gap in the register, or are we looking at a few children then a gap until they start raising there own children?) wherever you find them there is always a George! I suspect we are looking at one family but doubt we will ever be able to prove it.

I will start adding the Rowley Regis ones from vol 1 to BCC later.
Vol 2 anyone (I have a PDF, but it's a pain in the neck to use!)
I think I can carry some of the lines down a bit further.

Have just added all of the descendants of George - just William and Richard to do!

William and Richards descendants now added to BCC.

This accounts for nearly all of the Bissells in Vol 1. The exceptions are a few Johns (as to be expected!) and two Thomas's each b around 1645 and each having spouse named Elizabeth - it looks like one of the Thomas's may have remarried but havent a clue which one.

Farside, do you by any chance have any of the later volumes?