Saturday, March 13, 2010

Surname Saturday - MARSHMAN (in Wiltshire)

On Surname Saturdays, I am posting family lines from my own ancestry. I am doing this in Ahnentafel order, and am up to number #41, who is Ann Marshman (1784?-1856).

My ancestral line back to Ann Marshman:

1. Randall J. Seaver

2. Frederick W. Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty V. Carringer (1919-2002)
4. Frederick W. Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)

10. Thomas Richmond (1848-1917)
11. Julia White (1848-1913)

20. James Richman (1821-1912)
21. Hannah Rich (1824-1911)

40. John Richman, born about 1788 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, ENGLAND; died 25 April 1867 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, ENGLAND. He married 08 February 1811 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, ENGLAND.
41. Ann Marshman, born about 1784 in Devizes, Wiltshire, ENGLAND; died 31 July 1856 in Hilperton, Wiltshire, ENGLAND.

82. Mr. Marshman I presume.
83. Mrs. Marshman (I presume)

As you can see, this is a brickwall problem here. Here is what I know about Ann Marshman:

From English census records, Ann was born between 1781 (age 59 in 1841 census) and 1784 (age 67 in 1851 census).

An Ann Marshman, daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Phipps) Marshman, was baptized at Southbroom Church in Devizes in Wiltshire on 20 June 1784. Another Ann Marshman was baptized 30 October 1780 there, daughter of Thomas and Ann (____) Marshman.

John and Ann (Marshman) Richman had children named (in order) Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Ann, James, Thomas, Mary and Mary.

If traditional English naming practices were followed by John and Ann (Marshman) Richman, then her parents were James and Elizabeth Marshman (second son named James, first daughter named Elizabeth). However, one cannot be sure that the traditional practices were followed. In fact, it is very likely that they were not in this family. On the other hand, they named their third son Thomas and third daughter Ann, and did not name any child Richard or Rebecca.

Another clue may be that a Thomas Marshman was a witness to Ann's wedding to John Richman in Hilperton in 1811. This might be Ann's father, brother, uncle or cousin.

That's all I know! The other descendants of this couple (I've corresponded with several distant cousins in England) have not been able to find any records for the parents of Ann Marshman either.

Does any reader share this Ann Marshman? If so, do you have any evidence of her parentage?

1 comment:

Martin said...

You should try to find a will or probate papers at this great web page. I used their service and it was great. http://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage/wills_search.php