john watts b c 1735/9, norfolk - died north walsham, norfolk

[frangelis]

|help|hi

does anyone have any info on this mystery chap? He married abt 1757/9. His wife was elizabeth and one of his sons was christopher b 1760, also john, mary, ellen, ann and thomas, all born in north walsham. I am happy to share info. Any help greatly appreciated:) cheers,

[Geoffers]

does anyone have any info on this mystery chap? He married abt 1757/9. His wife was elizabeth and one of his sons was christopher b 1760, also john, mary, ellen, ann and thomas, all born in north walsham. I am happy to share info. Any help greatly appreciated:) cheers,

The problem, as you will realise, is that WATTS occurs frequently in NE Norfolk.

It may be worth checking North Walsham manor records as there is mention of John + Elizth WATTS in 1757 (http://www.genealogy.doun.org/transcriptions/documents.php?district_id=2&document_id=25961)

There are several John WATTS who are born around the early/mid-1730s. Is the appoximate year of birth just a guess from other dates?

Several references exist to the name John WATTS in nearby parishes, e.g. Skeyton, Aylsham. A John WATTS of North Walsham was buried at Skeyton in 1758.

What sources have you tried so far in looking for this family? - Probate, NROCAT, registers/ATS, removals/settlements? How far have you expanded the search to other parishes?

[frangelis]

hi

i'm sorry keep crossing you with mails/postings - i mistakenly answered the john watts on john wiseman thread (I'm not very well at the moment). his birth date is approx as i have found two death dates for a john watts in north walsham - one on igi for 1799 which gives his birth date of circa 1735 and also another record for a john watts who died in 1796, nrth walsham, no age given, but a son john was listed on the death record. John did have a son john, but as you say, avery common name. I found a marriage record for john watts to an elizabeth symons in 1754 in Skeyton, which is the next parish to nrth walsham - i had a search done at the archives for nrth walsham, but no marr found. the archives suggested i look for a john watts born circa 1734 skeyton, but funds dont permit at the moment.

i have found a john watts marr elizabeth smith, 1754, bradeston,, also a john watts marr 1754, norwich to eliz culham and a john watts marr elizabeth daynes, hingham.

is NROCAT THE archives? have not tried probate - not sure how to do that, have tried freereg. i found the manor records transcription, thanks - i had been told by someone else about that, but didnt know it was on your website, although i've used that a lot in the past, many thanks. cant travel to norfolk at the moment to look up registers - live in the south. cheers, francie.

[frangelis]

john watts died after 1758 as his children were born between 1759 and 1770

[frangelis]

hi, needed a rest. have had a search done of archives for him for nrth walsham and worstead for between i think 1730-1747. i think i've answered all your queries - no reply as yet from jan white. cheers,:D

[Geoffers]

john watts.......his birth date is approx as i have found two death dates for a john watts in north walsham - one on igi for 1799 which gives his birth date of circa 1735

North Walsham ATs record:

1799 burials
"John WATTS married man, aged 64 years was buried Decr 23rd 1799. Certificate brought Decr 26th 1799"


and also another record for a john watts who died in 1796, nrth walsham, no age given, but a son john was listed on the death record.

North Walsham ATs merely record:

1796 - Burials
"John son of John WATTS buried April 7th."



John did have a son john, but as you say, avery common name. I found a marriage record for john watts to an elizabeth symons in 1754 in Skeyton, which is the next parish to nrth walsham

Skeyton ATs do not provide much helpful information, they merely record:

"John WATTS & Elizabeth SYMONDS were married February the 4th day 1754"

The original PR may give more information.


i had a search done at the archives for nrth walsham, but no marr found. the archives suggested i look for a john watts born circa 1734 skeyton, but funds dont permit at the moment.

Skeyton ATs record
1733 - Baptism
"John son of John + Eliz WATTS baptized June 24th 1733."

However, entries in 1732 appear to record:

"Christopher son of John and Anne WATTS was baptized March 26th 1732
John son of John and Anne WATTS was baptized March 26th 1732."


Could these last two entries relate to John WATTS the widower, who married Anna PAGE at Irstead in 1728?


is NROCAT THE archives?

Norfolk Record Office (http://www.archives.norfolk.gov.uk/nroindex.htm)has an online catalogue called NROCAT (http://nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk/Dserve/DServe.exe?dsqServer=128.60.0.31&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Index.tcl) which is a powerful search tool


have not tried probate - not sure how to do that

Probate records are indexed on NROCAT some wills (1800-1857) can be viewed for free at Norfolk Sources (http://www.norfolksources.norfolk.gov.uk/)


cant travel to norfolk at the moment to look up registers

Same here - I buy copies of registers and ATs on fiches and use them at home

Just to make sure that you are following the correct line and not wasting precious time chasing the wrong family - how have you traced back to John WATTS in North Walsham?

[frangelis]

hi
very many thanks for the records you have looked out. and also nrocat link, norfolk sources (i did not know abt norfolk sources - very useful on a quick look) and i will now have a good look at nrocat. I don't have a fiche machine, however, i am wondering if i can use the one in the local library, as it would be more cost effective than searching the archives as it is over £16 for half an hour. As to tracing back to john watts, i have most of his children's baptism records for nrth walsham and one of them on the census for 1841, however, john is too old for the 1841 census - is that what you meant? I will have a lokk into john watts and anna and it may take a visit to norfolk or find MI's on line or via NFHS to settle which of the 2 john watts is the right one. perhaps the john watts who died in 1758 from nrth walsham and buried in skeyton is one of them? I am wondering if the death for 1799, b c1735 is closer to 1733 than 1732!!! ha ha. the 1796 death is a puzzle unless i can find an age. anyway, i am now seeing Watts before my eyes as its getting late, thanks again, bye for now.

[Geoffers]

very many thanks for the records you have looked out. and also nrocat link, norfolk sources (i did not know abt norfolk sources - very useful on a quick look)

I've posted some messages with links to help Norfolk researchers
Beginning Norfolk research (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24425)
There are a few more here (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=757)
and here (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758)



I don't have a fiche machine, however, i am wondering if i can use the one in the local library

Before I had my own fiche reader, I found that my local library was only to happy to see this machine gathering dust in a corner, put to some use. The NRO will sell fiches in subsets - for example, Aylsham PRs take up 48 fiches and buying them all might be quite costly. The NRO will break this down and sell, for example, just the baptisms from 1813-1900, or marriages 1754-1836. If you are dealing with larger parishes this can save some money. Smaller parishes sometimes only take up 5/6 fiches and so it is just as easy to buy the full set. Once you have the records, they are yours to use.

An alternative is the mini-CD of transcribed records sold by the Parish Record Transcription Society via The Parish Chest (http://www.parishchest.com/shop/index.php?cmd=listlinkeditems&cat=D6031&supplier=&breadcrumb=Parish+Registers%3ANorfolk:Parish+Regis ter+Transcription+Society)
These are modern transcripts and do contain the odd error, they don't cover everything and don't include lots of the notes that occur in some registers - but at £20 for the coverage provided, it is still good value and a useful resource to have.


As to tracing back to john watts, i have most of his children's baptism records for nrth walsham and one of them on the census for 1841

Do you know if all the children were born in North Walsham, or were some neighbouring parishes. Give me names and years for the children for whom you do not have dates of baptism and 'll see if I can locate them for you.


however, john is too old for the 1841 census - is that what you meant?

Not quite. You mentioned a difficulty in accessing records for Norfolk. I just wanted to make sure that you had followed the correct line back to this ol'bor in Walsham and are happy that he is the right chap. It would be a shame to waste time and effort in pursuing him further if you had picked the wrong family. I was just double-checking.


perhaps the john watts who died in 1758 from nrth walsham and buried in skeyton is one of them? I am wondering if the death for 1799, b c1735 is closer to 1733 than 1732!!!

It is quite possible. Ages were frequently imprecise in parish registers.


the 1796 death is a puzzle unless i can find an age. anyway, i am now seeing Watts before my eyes as its getting late, thanks again, bye for now.

In my experience with Norfolk registers and ATs, reference to a john, son of John suggests that the one who had popped his clogs was not elderly. These are usually children or young adults.

Fare yer well tergether

[frangelis]

hi

many thanks again, you are very kind and generous to help so freely. I am an improver with family history and all the info you have posted will be of tremendous help.

the baptism records i am short of are: thomas - 1765, john 1762, ellen 1768 and ann 1770 - all baptised north walsham. cheers,

[Geoffers]

the baptism records i am short of are: thomas - 1765, john 1762, ellen 1768 and ann 1770 - all baptised north walsham. cheers,

North Walsham - parents John and Elizabeth; mother's maiden name not recorded. Dates of baptism.......

20th May 1762 - John
29th May 1765 - Thomas
25th Jan 1768 - Ellen
16th Sep 1770 - Ann

[frangelis]

many thanks again. I did not hear from jan, so i either had the wrong email address or something-else. i am now going to delve into all the websies, etc you have given me and have a good 'wallow' in Norfolk, until i can visit hopefully next year. Let me know if i can help you with anything in return, cheers and all good wishes,:)|jumphappy

[Geoffers]

many thanks again. I did not hear from jan, so i either had the wrong email address or something-else.

It may be worth persistign with trying to contact Jan as she had at one time collected a lot of information. There is a contact via her web-site (http://www.geocities.com/wisemanfamily_uk/)


When I have a moment, I'll look at your WISEMAN thread and see if there's owt I can come up with to assist.