The Ancestry of William John Nelson

These are genealogical notes by Andrew Lancaster, and so should be referred to with caution, as they may contain errors or misunderstandings. It is basically a work in progress, containing many notes, for example those from indexes, which should theoretically be cross-checked one day.
I want to thank my many sources including Eleanor and Rick Lancaster, Nance Curry, Tracey Moore, Lyn Nelson, Barbara Worthington, Narelle Nelson (and indirectly a source of hers, Elizabeth Hooper), Geoff Nelson, Narelle Illiffe, Judy Hoole, Jan Blackburn and Michael Debenham. As a person who does not reside in the UK, I have also done a lot of work over the years with Suffolk Record Office, who have been very helpful in searching the registers with me for lines I've worked on myself. 

William John Nelson was my great great grandfather. He was born 5 January 1855 in Kempsey on the Macleay River in northern New South Wales, but his parents came from Suffolk in England, in the area known traditionally as the Hundred of Thingoe, near the ancient town of Bury St Edmund. His wife was a third generation Australian, Rebecca Harriet Barber, who is the subject of another webpage. They married 7 November 1877 at the Methodist Church in West Kempsey. To quote Barbara Worthington (2005):
   

Shortly after their marriage, Harriet and her husband William lived for a year at Tinonee in the Manning River area before returning to Kempsey. They travelled from the Manning River on horseback and William carried their three-month-old baby on a cushion. The journey took three days.
William managed Hennessy's Mill for some years, he was building contractor for many years and he had farms at Clybucca and Warrell Creek. In 1917 Harriet and William built their home at Nambucca Heads, "Argylleshire", where they spent the remaining years of their lives. This house is still being occupied.
William John died on 14 July 1947 aged ninety-two years and six months.
He is buried in the Nambucca Heads Cemetery beside Harriet.
 

Children from this marriage were as follows (yes, all of them)...

Elizabeth Charlotte NELSON; b. 1878, 15954/1878 in Manning River; died on 31 Oct 1966 in (Lismore), Nsw, Aust aged 88, and was buried in Nambucca Heads Presbyt Cemetery, NSW, Aus

m. Robert Robertson (1876-1958) at the Independent Presbyterian Church, 471 Pitt Street, Sydney on 2 March 1899 (NSW BDM Marriage 442/1899 (Source Narelle Illiffe. Narelle Nelson has her marrying to a Charles J Ruprecht in 1898 at Wallsend NSW )

Euphemia (Effie) NELSON; b. 1880, 16962/1880 Macleay River, died in 1968 in (Penrith) Nsw Aust aged 88.

m. FREDERICK WILLIAM SANDERS 1900 in Kempsey NSW. 

Edith Anne (Annie) NELSON (1881- ); b. 1881, 19618/1881 Macleay River, died on 5 Sep 1975 aged 94, and was buried in Lismore Crematorium, NSW, Aust

m. J CARBINE

Hermon NELSON; b. 1883, 21970/1883 West Kempsey; d. 20 June 1965, Taree, NSW, Australia. Member of the 24th Berrima Guard in World War 1; Cremation: Beresfield Crematorium, NSW.

m. (1) MARY ANN JONES 9 May 1906 in Chatswood (4025/1906), daughter of GEORGE JONES and EMILY LANE.  She was born 1882 in St Leonards, and died 29 January 1956 in Taree, NSW, Australia.
m. (2) BEATRICE EMILY NELSON, daughter of GEORGE ROBERT NELSON and EMILY DENNIS.  She was born 1888 in Kempsey NSW, and died 15 June 1968 in Manning District Hospital, Taree (26844/1968). Beatrice was Hermon's first cousin. (George Robert Nelson appears below on this webpage.) Beatrice had previously married William LAYTON (16680/1928).

Arthur Henry NELSON; b. 1885, 24418/1885 in Kempsey; d. 1970, Taree, NSW, Australia; Military service: 1606, 1st Volunteer from the Clybucca region - 1st Battalion

m. JANE ELIZABETH (Janey) COOK, 1907, Kempsey, NSW.

Charles W NELSON; b. on 8 Apr 1887 , 25890/1887 in Kempsey

m. ANNIE E BROWN, 1915, Kempsey, NSW.

Minnie NELSON; b. 10/06/1889, 25401/1889 Kempsey, died on 21 Aug 1973 in (Macksville) NSW Aust aged 84, and was buried in Nambucca Heads Methodist Cemetery. (Some family trees show a middle initial S, but according to Jan Blackburn no middle name appears in the birth certificate.)

m. (1) Oscar Osmond Garner in 1908. Divorced in the 1930s according to Jan Blackburn.

m. (2) Reed Richmond Cousens in 1938 (information from Jan Blackburn, agreeing with info from Judy Hoole)

(There was also a marriage to a Minnie of WILLIAM K CUMMING, 1921, Kempsey, NSW, but this must be another Minnie Nelson.)

Eleanor (Lena) Debenham NELSON; b. 17 Oct 1891, (8781) Clybucca, Macleay River, NSW; died on 9 Mar 1978 aged 86, and was buried in Frederickton

m. Percy ROBINSON (1888-1974), son of George ROBINSON (1849-1923) and Emma BARNETT (1852-1931); m. 1910, Kempsey

Albert Ernest NELSON; b. 1893, 20809/1893 Nambucca; Enlisted 28 January 1915; d. btw. 6 and 9 August 1915, Gallipoli (killed in action).

Warrell Henry (Bob) NELSON; b. 1896, 4619/1896 Macksville; d. 4 February 1975, Macksville, NSW- Macksville District Hospital aged 79, and was buried in Nambucca Heads Cemetery

m. Minnie TILBROOK in 1918 in Macksville

Frank William NELSON; b. 1897, 22679/1897 Kempsey

m. MARGARET KILROY (Judy has Margaret K ROBERTS in 1925 in Waverley, NSW).

Meta Muriel NELSON; b. 1899, 28650/1899 Bellingen, died on 26 Mar 1980 in Concord, Nsw, Aust aged 81, and was buried in Nambucca Heads Methodist Cemetery

m. Arthur Oxley CROSSINGHAM, 1918, Macksville, NSW.

Madge Evelyn NELSON; b. 1902, 3918/1902 in Kempsey; died on 16 Feb 1966 in (Macksville) Nsw Aust aged 64.

m. MILTON JOHN CLARKE 1922 in Ashfield, NSW. 

Harry Macleay NELSON; b. 1904, 10390/1904 Bellingen; d. 1904 in Kempsey 9676/1904.
Harold Victor NELSON; b. 1905, 31419/1905 Bellingen; d. 1956, Burwood, NSW

m. OLLIE V PARRISH, 1929, Macksville, NSW.

There is said to have been a male child born who died. Because he does not appear on most family trees, I wonder if that was Harry M Nelson, whose 1904 birth and death registrations I found on the NSW BDM index online.

One generation back: William's parents and siblings

William John Nelson was the son of immigrants from Suffolk. Their names were Robert Nelson and Elizabeth, whose maiden name had been Debenham. Their Australian death certificates are perhaps the best starting point for going back to their generation.

Robert's death was 21 July 1898 in West Kempsey, and the certificate says that he was (by that time) a "Land Owner", 76 years old, born in Suffolk. It also said he had been in the colony 45 years, and had married at the age of 22 in Suffolk to Elizabeth Debenham. His living children were George R 53 years, Caroline 51, Catherine A 49, William J 43, Fanny MA 41, Sarah A 38, David H 37; and there had been one boy who had died. The informant of the death was George R Nelson, the eldest son, who was a resident of Euroka, Macleay River. The cause of death (registered by Dr Casement) was "Old age, heart failure, some weeks". He was buried at West Kempsey, 23 July 1898, by Francis J Curwood, Wesleyen Minister. Witnesses were B Bennett and G. T. Boyes.

Narelle Nelson writes that "The grave is situated in about the middle of the fifth row of graves from the Hospital Boundary. It is next to a round polished marble column. When Elizabeth Nelson died ten years later on August 6, 1908, she was buried there also."

Elizabeth Nelson died 6 August 1908 in West Kempsey, an 88 year old widow. Her place of birth was "Berry" (should be Bury) in England, and she'd been in NSW for 55 years. Her father was John Debenham "Captain in Imperial Army" and her mother was named Elizabeth. She had married at Berry at the age of 24 to Robert Nelson. Her living children were George R 64, Caroline E 62, Catherine 59, William J 53, Fanny M A, 51, Sarah A 48, David H 46, and again it was mentioned that there had been one more male child, deceased. The informant was William J Nelson, son, resident of Clybucca. Cause of death was "Senile decay, Cerebral apoplexy, Cardiac failure" this time registered by Dr Casement's colleague, and my great grandfather, L B Lancaster MB Ch M. Burial was 8 August 1908, Methodist Cemetery, West Kempsey.

45 years before 1898 and 55 years before 1908, Robert and Elizabeth made the long trip from Gravesend to Sydney on the Java, which arrived 24 April 1853. It was horrendous. A diary of one of the passengers is in the National Library of Australia Call No.: MS 3169. I found this copy on the web. There were an enormous number of deaths, particularly amongst the children. Obviously there was a severe diarrhoea and the food and medical attention available was terribly inadequate. Amongst the dead was John Nelson, the youngest of the four children in the Nelson family who was one year eight months old according to the shipping records.

The other English-born children mentioned in that earliest Australian record of this family were George (8), Caroline (6) and Catherine (4). Robert and Elizabeth were said to be 24 and 31. (Ages in shipping records are often wrong.) According to the shipping records, both Elizabeth and the eldest boy George could read and write (she had signed at her wedding also). Robert, called a "Farm Labourer," was illiterate, like many of his time, and so his place of birth is recorded in Australian records as "Austed" and "Heastead" (shipping records) for example. But it is not difficult to find his hometown and his baptism, as well as those of his first children. The parish was called Hawstead (sometimes once spelled Hawsted). This same family, without John, appears in the 1851 census of England, living at "Old Park Lane" in Hawstead. The ages are given as 28, 36, 6, 4, and 2.

In the 1841 census Robert was living at How Farm in Rougham (a couple of parishes to the northeast of Hawstead), a 15 year old "M.S." (man servant?) born in Suffolk. I think the farmer's name is Thomas Evred, which might be important because one of the Debenham's seems to have married an Evered. Elizabeth was living in Ousden (a few parishes to the West of Hawstead and Whepstead) on the Finch family's farm, a 15 year old "F.S." (farm servant), born in Suffolk.

Robert and Elizabeth married 1 February 1845 in "Hawsted", with their father's names registered as William Nelson and John Debenham, both labourers. They were both previously unmarried but under age they were just said to be of full age. I have not seen any original documents or transcriptions of the Hawstead baptisms or birth registrations of George Robert Nelson, Caroline E Nelson, and Catherine A Nelson, but we know roughly when they were born. We can summarise the children of Robert and Elizabeth as follows...

GEORGE ROBERT NELSON, b. abt. 1844, Hawstead, UK; d. 1926, Kempsey NSW. According to Judy Hoole, George was born 15 Nov 1844 (a few months before the wedding), and christened on 21 Nov 1844 in Chevington as a Debenham. He was baptized again as a Nelson in Hawstead, son of Robert of Hawstead, Labourer, and Betsy Nelson, 8 Jun 1845.

m. EMILY GEORGINA DENNIS

CAROLINE ELIZABETH NELSON, b. abt. 1847, baptized 8 Aug 1847 Hawstead, UK; d. 11 Aug 1908 soon after her mother in West Kempsey aged about 61, and was buried on 14 Aug 1908 in West Kempsey Methodist NSW Aust.

m. WILLIAM HENRY ROWE 23 Jul 1870 in Macleay River District

CATHERINE ANN (Kate) NELSON, b. abt. 1849 (perhaps second quarter 1849, 13.533 in Thingoe?), baptized 21 Oct 1849 Hawstead, UK; died 12 Apr 1938 in Frederickton, Kempsey district, NSW, aged about 89, and was buried on 13 Apr 1938 in Frederickton Methodist Cemetery, NSW, Aust.

m. SAMUEL CHARLES WEDLOCK 22 Jan 1874 in Macleay River district

JOHN NELSON, b. 1851, baptized 6 July 1851, Hawstead, UK; d. 1853, Aboard "Java" at age 2. See above.

WILLIAM JOHN NELSON, b. 5 January 1855, North Kempsey, NSW (Robert a farmer by now; I think the correct document is Port Macquarie, #V1855865?); d. 14 July 1947, aged 92 Macksville NSW and was buried on 16 Jul 1947 in Nambucca Heads Methodist Cemetery. See above.

m. HARRIET REBECCA BARBER 7 Nov 1877 in Macleay River district

FANNY MARY ANN NELSON, b. 1857, Euroka, Macleay River NSW 7768/1857; died on 6 Oct 1932 in (Kempsey) Nsw Aust aged 75, and was buried on 7 Oct 1932 in East Kempsey Methodist

m. GEORGE PIGGOTT, 13 Jul 1876 in Aldavilla NSW.

SARAH ANN NELSON, b. 1860, Macleay River NSW 8130/1860; died on 1 Dec 1933 in Waverley NSW Aust aged 73, and was buried in Waverley General Cemetery;

m. HENRY THORNTON, 19 Dec 1881 in West Kempsey NSW.

DAVID HENRY NELSON, b. 1861, Macleay River NSW 8768/1861. died on 25 Jul 1951 in Mildura NSW Aust aged 90, and was buried in Northern Suburbs Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery

m. PRISCILLA J. "Dolly" BARBER, 13 Jan 1886 in Kemsey. She was the sister of Harriet Rebecca Barber, who married William John Nelson, David's older brother.

From Narelle Nelson I know that Robert eventually came to reside at a property at Christmas Creek, which was also a place where my Lancasters lived. To own and improve land on this scale would have been close to impossible for an illiterate man in England, whose ancestors had apparently not owned land for several generations at least, as we'll see.

As one last comment concerning this generation we can mention that Elizabeth Debenham's sister also came to Kempsey. She had married Samuel Chapman in 1844 in Chevington Suffolk. According to Narelle Nelson she came on the Blenheim in 1855 - the same boat upon which my Willis ancestors arrived!

2 generations back.
The Nelson family.

The surname Nelson is very common all over Britain, but some say it originated in the north, perhaps in Yorkshire. It is a patronymic, meaning that it implies descent from someone who was a son of Nell: Neil or Nigel. The old versions of these two names (Irish Niall "champion" and Latin Nigellus "blacky") have different meanings, but were normally used by the same people. It appears that Nigellus was chosen by Latin writers to represent the Irish pagan name that had been spread around northern Europe by Viking bards. Northern England was indeed an area where Gaelic and Scandinavian culture met in many ways (not always violent). Everyone seems to agree that the original cause of the spreading of this name is the mysterious semi-mythical Irish king known as "Neil of the Nine Hostages" (Niall Noigiallach). It has been suggested by Irish geneticists that the DNA signature of this progenitor of dynasties can be reconstructed based upon Irish surnames which claim descent from him, but our Nelsons do not match that DNA signature.

Our Nelsons were from Suffolk, in the part of England known as East Anglia: the lowlands to the north of London which border on to the North Sea. It is popularly believed in Britain that the East Anglians are genetically most like the Frisians and other Northern peoples just across the North Sea who made up the "Anglo-Saxon" people that came to England in the Dark Ages. Our family have also long believed themselves to be relatives of Lord Nelson the famous admiral. While there is no chance that they are as closely related as they believed (all male lines descended from Nelson or even his brothers are known very well to have died out) there is a chance of a very ancient connection perhaps because Lord Nelson's own family were also East Anglian, from Norfolk, just to the north of Suffolk.

The Hawkshead baptismal register has an entry for Robert, son of William and Sarah, 25 Aug 1822. William Nelson of Welnetham married Sarah Billaman of Whepstead married at Whepstead on 07 Jul 1821. William Nelson and his family clearly spent time in Great Welnetham as well as Hawstead, as can be seen if we put together the baptisms of William and Sarah Nelson from this period:

ROBERT NELSON 25 AUG 1822 Hawstead, Suffolk, England
m. Elizabeth Debenham

SUSAN NELSON 23 JAN 1825 Hawstead, Suffolk, England
CATHARINE NELSON 01 MAY 1828 Great Welnetham, Suffolk, England
m. Peachey

WILLIAM NELSON 12 DEC 1830 Great Welnetham, Suffolk, England. Living with mother in 1851, a 20 year old agricultural labourer.
DAVID NELSON 27 OCT 1833 Hawstead, Suffolk, England. Living with mother in 1851, a 17 year old agricultural labourer.
FRANCES NELSON (known from censuses in 1841 and 1851, born about 1840)

Great Welnetham was the parish just east of Hawstead, Whepstead was just to the west. In 1841 the family of William and Sarah, without the oldest boy Robert (see above), was resident in Pinford End, Hawstead.

William died 13 Febraury 1847 in Hawstead aged 48 according to the death certificate. Alternatively the burial register of the parish gives 18 Feb 1847 in Hawstead age 50. He was a Labourer who died after an 8 month paralysis.

Sarah died long after her husband on 31 January 1888, in Hawstead, aged 92, according to the death certificate. The burial register says she was buried 3 February 1888 aged 94. So she was born about 1794-1796. She was the wide of William Nelson, Farm Labourer, and she died of Paralysis and Senile decay. Kate Peachey, a daughter, was present. She can also be traced through the various major censuses of her time, and not only the one in 1841 where she appeared with her husband and children.
1851. Bulls Green, Hawstead. Sarah was 55 (born about 1796), and her children present were William, 20, David, 14, and Fanny, 10. All were said to be born in Hawstead.
1861. Metcalfe Cottages, Hawstead. Sarah was 65, and a sister to her host William "Billimey" who was 54. This time she is said to have been born in Whepstead, as was her brother.
1871. In the Hawstead Alms House. 74 years old and born Whepstead.
1881. Again in the Hawstead Alms House on Great Green. 82 years old and born Whepstead.

The Debenham family.

Debenham is a Suffolk surname. There is a place called Debenham in Suffolk and it might be that all Debenhams have a common ancestor who used the name. I don't know of any DNA project for this surname, but there is a "One Name Study": http://www.debenham.org.uk/. The Debenhams who lived in the MacLeay Valley, it should perhaps be said, were not from our branch of the family. I understand from Tracey Moore that they were from Norfolk. Our group from the area to the south of Bury, are mentioned on the Debenham One Name Study webpage as one of the three main concentrations of Debenhams. For our family it must be mentioned that Tracey Moore has been a front runner in gathering information and much of it has been posted in various forms on the internet.

To start with, Elizabeth's shipping record identify her birthplace as Wepstead, Suffolk. Whepstead is just near Hawkshead, and the baptismal register contains an entry for her on 29 Nov 1819. However, like the Nelsons, the Debenhams appear to have had no land, and therefore no strong bond to one particular parish, apart from Whepstead and Hawstead the parish they were most in during this generation was Chevington, which borders Whepstead on the West.

As was mentioned above, Elizabeth Debenham reported in Australia to someone that her father John had been a captain in the Imperial Army. In that era, this implies that he had seen action against Napolean. There was doubt about this, but I managed to trace down his records. While we might not be cousins of Nelson, it appears our ancestor fought under Wellington in the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal, but he was not a captain. The reference for the discharge papers of John Debenham, born Chevington, Suffolk, is WO97/809/14. He served with the 68th Regiment of Foot, (8th Company 7), which was an infantry regiment known as the Durham Light Infantry. He served with them from the year 1810 to 1819, when he was discharged, aged 32 (having joined at 23). He had served 8 years and 299 days. A summary of his life can be made: The four battles which I link to Wikipedia are ones where he is confirmed by records as having been in action. (I believe that made him due for medals.)

Enlisted    24 Apr 1810 (age 23)    Newcastle upon Tyne, and sent to Hythe
Sep 1810 (age 23-24)    Little Hampton
Dec 1810 (age 24)    Lewes
Mar 1811 (age 24)    Pedragao, Portugal
Dec 1811 (age 25)    Castello Blanco
Jun 1812 (age 25)    Passas do Biaxo
July 12 1812 Battle of Salamanca.
June 21 1813 Battle of Vitoria.

July 1813 Battle of the Pyrenees.
February 27 1814 Battle of Orthez.
Sep 1812 (age 25-26)    Portugal
Jan 1813 (age 26)    Spain
Sep 1813 (age 26-27)    Clonnell, Ireland
Jul 1814 (age 27)    Belfast (where he apparently married)
Jan 1816 (age 29)    Castlebar, Ireland
Mar 1817 (age 30)    Dublin
Dec 1817 (age 31)    Fermoy
Mar 1818 (age 31)    Quebec
16 May 1818 (age 31)    Regimental Depot, Albany, Quebec
Aug 1818 (age 31)    hospital, as an orderly
Sep 1818 (age 31-32)    in hospital as patient
Between Nov 1818 and Dec 1818 (age 32)    Chatham, England
Discharged    Feb 1819 (age 32)    Cause: Ophthalima and a nebulous state of the cornea of the right eye. Five foot 6 inches, brown hair, hazel eyes, Fresh complexion
1841 Census. Age 45, agricultural labouer, born Suffolk. In Chevington, with Catherine (40y, born Ireland), William (15y), Maryann (15y) Address: Cottage
24 Feb 1848, Catherine Debenham, wife of John Debenham, Labouer, died in Chevington. She was said to be 57 years old and died of Cancer of the uterus.
1851 Census. Age 63, born Chevington, widower and farm labourer. In Chevington, with his brother William and his wife Sarah, along with their daughter Mary Ann Evered., a 55 year old dressmaker. Address: Church Road.
1861 Census. Age 74 in Chevington, widower, and agricultural labouer, born Chevington. With Mary A Evered (65 year old dressmaker), and the mother (of Mary Ann), Sarah (87y) Address: Church Green. His relationship is given as "brother".
1871 Census. Age 84 in Chevington, widower and pensioner, born Chevington, and lodging with family of George Newman, Licensed Hawker Address: 115 North Road
Death    27 Sep 1876. A 90 year old Army Pensioner.  Suffolk General Hospital, Bury St Edmunds. Cause: Bronchitis

It appears that John married and had his first children while stationed in Ireland. There is not much evidence to draw upon except that concerning those eldest children who were born in Antrim. The children were:

1. Robert Debenham? I only know of this son from Tracey Debenham. He is supposed to have been born about 1815?
2. John Debenham. In 1851 census appears with his brother William Debenham. He was born in Antrim.
3. Elizabeth Debenham. The eldest child born back in England. She was born 29 November 1819, baptised in Whepstead 12 DEC 1819. Her mother was registered there as Catharine "late Brownley"according to the VRI.
m. Robert Nelson
4. Bridget Debenham? I only know of this daughter from Tracey Moore. She is said to have been born in 1820?
5. William Debenham. Born 8 June 1821 and baptised 22 July 1821 in Whepstead, with mother registered as Katherine Brownley according to VRI. See 1841 census where he appears with his parents.
6. Mary Ann Debenham. See 1841 censuswhere she appears with her parents. According to the IGI she was born 12 August 1823, and baptised 31 August 1823 in Chevington and it appears her mother was named in the register as Catharine Brownley?
m. Samuel Chapman and later moved to Australia. (See above.)

3 generations back.
The Nelson family

William Nelson who married Sarah Billaman was actually the third in a line of Williams. From his death certificate, mentioned above, we know he was born about 1799. William Nelson married Christian (or Kitty) Hardy 2 Nov 1789 in Hawstead and these were their children. (I do not yet have exact dates for the siblings of William, having collected their information from relatives who worked on this long before me, and never cross checked it. I do know that several people have the same dates, but they all come from one researcher and I am not sure who. If anyone could help me out...)

GEORGE NELSON, b. 1790.
CHRISTIAN NELSON, b. 07 October 1792.
WILLIAM NELSON, b. 21 April 1797; d. 18 February 1847, Hawstead, UK.
EDWARD NELSON, b. 05 October 1789; m. MARY COOK, 07 November 1825.
JANE NELSON, b. 17 October 1802.
ANNE NELSON, b. 1805; Must have died young.
ANN NELSON, b. 1806.

William Nelson the father was buried in Hawstead, 16 February 1827, at the age of 60 years, meaning he was born about 1767. He was described as a labourer.

The Billaman family.

The surname Billaman seems to be a Suffolk surname. There are similar surnames around England and Scotland, normally just spelt "Bellman" (meaning town crier) but in Suffolk people consistently seemed to feel the need not to just write Bellman (although this is one of the common spellings). Just some of the variants I've seen in Suffolk records:

Intrusive "e":     Belleman, Beleman, Baleman, Billeman,
Intrusive "i"/"y":     Belliman, Billiman, Billyman, Billymey (1861 census Hawstead),
Intrusive "a":     Byllaman, Bellamin (Whepstead register)
Intrusive vowel plus "r":     Bellerman, Billerman, Ballerman,
No intrusive vowel:     Bellman, Billman, Ballman, Belman, Bilman, Balman

The number of variants for such an uncommon surname is impressive, in two ways: (a) the first vowel is often given as "i" or "a" so it was not clearly heard as a normal English "e"; (b) there is often (but certainly not always) a vowel between the "bell" and the "man". For this latter reason the Oxford Dictionary of Surnames proposes that the surname comes from Bellow-man, where Bellows was apparently pronounced Belly in the Middle Ages. There are other theories, for example involving "belle" meaning pretty, "bille" which was a kind of simple halberd, with billemen and archers being the two basic types of soldier before guns changed everything. "Billman" in this sense is a known word still appearing in the Oxford English Dictionary. Concerning both of the odd vowels it is interesting to compare to the way Dickens (who knew Suffolk well) portrayed Suffolk speech in David Copperfield for example. The intrusive "r" is a well-known phenomon, as is the fact that Suffolk vowels don't quite match those in standard English.

Putting aside the fact that they are very hard to search for given the unstable spelling, there clearly were not many Billamans in the Hawstead, Whepstead and Welnetham area, but there definitely were some. For example, in the 1851 census there was a James in Hawstead and a William in Whepstead. As mentioned above, we know William was Sarah's brother from the 1861 census.

The death certificate of Sarah Billaman, mentioned above implied that she was born around 1795, and the marriage certificate implied she was born in Whepstead. In April 1796 there was a "Billerman" baptism in Whepstead, but the name was Betsey. Betsey however, seems to have simply been named after her mother Elizabeth. This was the baptism of an illegitimate or "base" child. Perhaps it is important to note that there had been another such base baptism 9 years before, 25 September 1785: John the son of a Sarah Billerman. Many other parishes nearby have been searched without such promising results, and I wonder if Sarah was the same as the girl referred to as Betsey, her mother's name, in 1796. An Elizabeth, presumably the mother, was buried in Whesptead aged 35 on 24 April 1810 (so born about 1775).

Concerning Sarah's brother William however, we have even less to work with. There was a William born in Whepstead 16 August 1803, and baptised 9 September 1804, a son of Edward Billyman and Francis Banks. Could this be him? We can summarise what we know of him. (He was always described as an Agricultural Labourer by the way.)

1826? Probably William Billeman a resident of the nearby parish Lawshall who married Mary Wright at Hartest on 21 Mar 1826.
1841: Probably William Bilman 35, in Hawstead, with wife Mary, 45, and son George 15. (Burial for George 17 April 1850, at age 23, in Whepstead.)
1851: William Billiman. 46 and in Whepstead (Church Land Cottage) with wife Mary Ann. Said to be born Whepstead.
1861: William "Billimey" was 54 and in Hawstead with his sister. Again said to be born Whepstead.
1871? Appears to be a widowed labourer, "William Bellaman", lodging with many others at a Blacksmith's in Bowers Gifford, Essex. Said to be 57 and born Wepstead.
1874? William Bellman, born about 1810 (age 64), died in Billericay registration district in Essex, which includes Bowers Gifford (April quarter ref 4a.112).

Concerning James I find even less than for the other two by the way:

1835: James Billiman married Frances Salvage at Great Whelnetham on 11 Apr 1835
1841: 40 year old James Billerman (with the "r" inserted as an afterthrought) with Fanny (45) in Whepstead. Living with them was John Hardy (15).
1851: James Belleman, 50 year old Ag. Lab., in Hawstead with wife Frances (56, born Rushbrook). James is said to be born in Whepstead.
1851: Death seems to be James Bellimen. October quarter in Bury district (13.303).

On the National Archives server I also find reference to another possible relative:

WO 97/313/53 JOHN BALLIMAN Born WEBSTED, Suffolk Served in 10th Foot Regiment Discharged aged 35 1805-1824

It is tempting to suggest that the Whepstead Billamans were religious non-conformists, and not therefore registered in the local parish church. This will make it hard to trace further.

The Debenham family.

From censuses and military records, it appears clear that John Debenham was born in Chevington about 1788. This leads us to the family William Dedman or Debenham who married Anne Smith 13 Feb 1776 in Chevington, who were the only Debenhams having children there at that time. Internet users can most easily cross check with the Debenham Study webpages:

William Debenham. Baptised 28 April 1776.
Thomas Debenham. Baptised 16 August 1778.
John Debenham. Born 22 September 1786, baptised 4 October 1786.
James Debenham. Born 25 April 1790, baptised 23 May 1786. Died 1834 in Whepstead?
Robert Debenham. Born 13 March 1791/2, baptised 2 December. Buried 9 November 1796 in Chevington.

(I note that Tracey sometimes mentions another child named Bridget. The death date for James is from Tracey and I have not checked it.)

The Brownley family.

Brownley appears to be a southern Scottish name originally, named after a place there, and as with many such surnames there were certainly Brownleys in County Antrim in Ulster. On the other hand Catherine may have been part of a military family, as wives and children sometimes travelled with soldiers in these days. But if so it does not appear this family was in John's 68th regiment. Attempts have been made to link our Catherine to one of the families there in Ireland, but without success so far, presumably because many Irish records are missing. So here is our first "wall"!

4 generations back.
The Nelson family.

As mentioned above, William Nelson who was the husband of Catherine or Kitty Hardy must have been born about 1767. William Nelson, the father of the one who married Christian Hardy, had married Sarah Bass 18 July 1763, in Westley. Their children however were then baptised in Hawstead...

SARAH NELSON, b. May 1765, Hawstead, UK.
SUSAN NELSON, b. 30 March 1766, Hawstead, UK, possibly married George Head in Hawstead 29 Sep 1788.
WILLIAM NELSON, b. 06 March 1767, Hawstead, UK; d. 16 December 1827.
ELIZABETH NELSON, b. 13 May 1770, Hawstead, UK.
JOSHUA CHESSON NELSON, b. 21 March 1773, Hawstead, UK.
ANNE NELSON, b. 09 July 1774, Hawstead, UK.
ROBERT NELSON, b. 25 October 1778, Hawstead, UK.
MARY NELSON, b. 29 December 1781, Hawstead, UK.
JOHN NELSON, b. 09 April 1783, Hawstead, UK.

The Hardy family.

Kitty Nelson was buried 10 November 1831, 68 years old, and therefore born about 1763. She appears to have been baptised Christian Hardy in Whepstead, on Christmas day, 25 Dec 1763. Her parents where John and Christian, who appear to have married 9 Oct 1760 in Stanningfield, with Christian's maiden name being Newman. Stanningfield borders on both Hawstead and Great Welnetham, and is very close to Whepstead. The children, siblings of Christian Nelson and all baptised in Whepstead, seem to have been:

John Hardy. Baptised 23 August 1761). Probably he and his father are the two Whepstead burials16 Oct 1792 and 12 Apr 1795, but no age or other details were given.
Christian Hardy. Baptised 25 December 1763.
Ann Hardy. Baptised 12 January 1766.
William Hardy. Baptised 24 January 1768.
Thomas Hardy. Baptised 5 August 1770.
Luke. Baptised 3 July 1777.

The Billaman family.

Continuing from above, might Sarah have been the orphaned daughter of a single mother who was adopted by relatives, Edward and Frances? In any case, the burials of the latter seem to be in Whepstead:-

Edward Billaman 22 January 1831 aged 80. So born about 1751.
Frances Billaman 12 May 1829 aged 65. So born about 1764.

Given his age at death, Edward may be the same man who was having children baptised in the 1770s and 1780s with a wife named Elizabeth. One of these may be the single mother Elizabeth who we mentioned above, baptized May 18 1777. But there is no sign of James. Instead we find these baptisms:

Mary Bellamin. Baptised 2 January 1780. Possibly buried 4 April 1806 aged 24 in Whepstead (Mary Billaman).
Ann Bellamin. Baptised 22 September 1782.
John Billiman. Baptised 1st(?) May 1785.

There was also, as mentioned above, one more illegitimate child baptised the same year: John Billerman, son of Sarah, on 25 September. Either this John, or the one just mentioned, appears to have been buried 1833, aged 48,.in Whepstead (John Billaman). The burial is possibly the same man as the 10th regiment solider mentioned above.

For this family, we have some indications of who the ancestors were further back (see below), but strictly speaking we hit a "wall" in this generation!

The Debenham family.

William Debenham who married in Chevington in 1776 seems to be one of two baptisms about 20 years before in the area. One was in Alpheton, a son of Thomas Debenham and Mary Makin. The other was in Hartest, quite close to Whepstead and Chevington, in the family of William Debenham and Sharah Seelie. They had married 5 February 1755/6 in Hartest. They had the following children baptised there...

William Debenham. Baptised 15 April 1756 in Hartest, though Tracey mentions him as born in Alpheton/Hartest on 28 April 1756?
James Debenham. 11 December 1757.
Thomas Debenham. 18 April 1762.
Sharah Debenham. 10 April 1767.
Robert Debenham. 23 April 1769.
John Debenham. 26 April 1776.

The Smith family.

As mentioned above, William Dedman or Debenham who married Anne Smith 13 Feb 1776 in Chevington. I have not yet dared to try to track our Smith ancestors - scared off by the common surname! For the time being, this is our third "wall"!

5 generations back

In this generation, most of our lines hit a "wall", mostly because the records become more patchy.

The Nelson family.

William Nelson, the earliest Nelson we know in our family tree, was buried 22 Dec 1812 aged 82 in Hawstead, meaning he was born about 1730. He appears in records as a husbandman, and a pauper (at burial). A husbandman would normally be a more wealthy person than a labouer like his descendants, but what should we make of his pauper status then? As I understand it, people appearing in registers as paupers were people being exempted from certain church fees, so though they would never be very well-off, they are not always the poorest of the parish.

Where was he born? Extensive searches of surrounding parish registers have been carried out without any conclusion. There certainly were Nelsons in neighbouring parishes in the right time frame.

In Horringer (Horningheath) there was a well-off family which played various roles in the parish church over some generations. They used the name George several times. There appear to have been no Nelsons in Denham, Lawshall, Stanningfield, Whepstead, Nowton, Fornham All Saints, Fornham St Martin, Freckenham, Moulton, Risby, and Hartest. Perhaps the most likely baptism that has been found is in 1738 in Glemsford (William son of John and Jane) which is however 3 or 4 parishes south of Hawstead, and even further from Westley. William might just as likely have come from just about anywhere? This is the "wall" we have so far for our Nelsons.

Looking for further clues, we also take part in the Nelson DNA project, which seeks to go beyond the paper trails by looking for matches on the Y chromsome which passes from father to son. We are kit number 99172.

The Bass family.

Sarah Nelson née Bass was buried in Hawstead 11 Apr 1803, aged 64, so she must have been born about 1739, presumably in or near Westley where she was married in 1763. We can find her family where expected. Her parents were William and Elizabeth, who married 12 Oct 1729 in Westley. Elizabeth's maiden name was Balls. I found these first on a member submitted batch (8807831) on the IGI...

ELIZABETH BASSE Christening: 06 DEC 1730 Westley, Suffolk, England
MARY BASSE  Christening: 03 DEC 1732 Westley, Suffolk, England
JOHN BASSE Christening: 12 MAR 1737 Westley, Suffolk, England
WILLIAM BASSE Christening: 15 DEC 1734 Westley, Suffolk, England
SUSAN BASSE Christening: 03 NOV 1745 Westley, Suffolk, England
SARAH BASSE Christening: 19 DEC 1736 and Death: 13 NOV 1737, Westley, Suffolk, England
SARAH BASSE Christening: 25 NOV 1739 Westley, Suffolk, England
JOSEPH BASSE Christening: 22 MAY 1742 Westley, Suffolk, England

William, the father, seems to have been buried in Westley, 31 Jul 1759, and his wife Elizabeth 30 Sep 1778.

The Hardy family.

As mentioned above, John Hardy seems to have been buried in Whepstead, but no age was given in the register. While the name is relatively common, it is hard to exclude the theory that he moved from elsewhere. On the other hand, there are indications that Hardys lived in the neighbourhood, even though they do not appear in registers. For example, an Anthony Hardy, yeoman, made a PCC will in 1654, proved 1655, in Stanning. He had sons John (eldest), Thomas and Francis. Wife and daughter both named Alice. And a John Hardy was baptised in Denham 1729, father Luke. Wall.

The Newman family.

Christian Hardy nee Newman was buried in Whepstead 6 Nov 1806, aged 69, so she was born about 1737. We find her baptism just to the south of Stanningfield, where she was married, in Shimpling. The family is clear in the Shimpling registers, at least the baptismal register. Her parents Thomas and Christian Newman had the following children:

Robert Newman. Baptised 17 March 1720.
Christian Newman. Baptised 15 July 1722, and buried 27 January 1725.
Thomas Newman. Baptised 20 July 1724.
Christian Newman. Baptised 17 December 1726, and buried 22 October 1727.
Mary Newman. Baptised 5 May 1729, and buried 21 April 1732.
Sarah Newman. Baptised 13 November 1730, and buried 7 May 1731.
Susan Newman. Baptised 13 February 1731, and buried 9 April 1732.
Elizabeth Newman. Baptised 26 March 1733. She was possibly buried 20 April 1736, also this entry apparently did not specify the parents.
Sarah Newman. Baptised 20 April 1734 and buried 25 August 1734.
Mary Newman. Baptised 14 September 1735.
Ann Newman. Baptised 16 November 1736. Only the father was named in this entry.
Christian Newman. Baptised 23 April 1738.
John Newman. Baptised 25 May 1740. Only the father was named in this entry.
Henry Newman. Baptised 10 November 1742. Only the father was named in this entry.

At the same time as they were having children a couple named Robert and Mary Newman also were. This is our Newman wall.

The Billaman family.

We have nothing concrete, but it is perhaps worth mentioning that there was a Billman family in nearby Hartest having children in the 1740s to 1760s. The father's name was Edward, like the Edward in the next generation in Whepstead, and there is an Edward baptism at about the right time.

Ann Billman. Baptised 21 August 1748.
John Billman. Baptised 7 October 1750.
Edward Billman. Baptised 1753. (Exact date hard to read.)
Mary Billman. Baptised 14 December 1755.
Sarah Billman. Baptised 28 September 1758.
Christopher Billman. Baptised Christmas Day 1760. (Christmas baptisms appear to have been popular in Suffolk.)
Elizabeth Billman. Baptised 6 August 1769.

This family seems, one way or another, to be ancestral to Sarah Billerman in Whepstead, who married William Nelson. But we can go no further yet, so here is another wall.

The Debenham family.

William Debenham who married Sharah Seelie in Hartest in 1756, appears to have been born in Hartest himself. His father, also named William Debenham, seems to have married Ann Coe, 24 September 1724 in Boxted, Suffolk, daughter of Abraham Coe and Ann. They were both single and of the parish. They baptised the following children in Hartest:

William Debenham 22 September 1725., matching a burial in Hartest, 20 December 1799, age given as 74.
Ann Debenham 19 January 1726/7. Tracey says she married Thomas Bowers.
Mary Debenham. Baptised 1730 in Alpheton? My only source is Tracey Moore.

Tracey has William of 1725 dieing in 1726, and a new William born in 1736? Michael Debenham tells me that William Debenham who married Ann Coe "was effectively the patriarch of a line of Debenhams that flourished as Farmers and Yeomen in Suffolk, and there are many descendants of that line alive in many parts of the world today". His brother, Robert, to be discussed below, was in turn the patriarch from whom the Debenham Baronets descend. They descend from the founder of the chain of stores named Debenhams, and therefore from about this point on we are in well-researched territory. (Which does not mean we can't add to what has been researched.)

The Seelie family.

Sharah or Sarah Debenham née Seelie seems to have been buried in Hartest 29 November 1783, but no age is given. At this stage I have done no further work on this line, and I don't know of anyone who has.

6 generations back.

In this generation, at least concerning most of these family lines, the following is only speculative, given that many records have not come down to us.

The Bass family.

Concerning the origin of William Bass or Basse, after searching in registers around Westley I have not come up with any theory better than one based on the IGI. William Basse married Mary Fisher 27 Oct 1698 in Chedburgh, a parish or two south of Westley. They had (IGI batch 8727433):

Ann Basse. Baptised 3 NOV 1699.
Mary Basse. Baptised 19 JUL 1702.
William Basse. Baptised 24 OCT 1708.

The Balls family.

Concerning Elizabeth Balls, as with her husband, I have started with theories based on indexes based like the IGI and NBI and then not been able to better them. There was an Elizabeth Balls baptised 14 October 1709 in Fornham St Martin, north of Westley, to George and Mary. George and Mary appear to have been buried there 20 Sep 1751 and 3 Nov 1721. However there were also children in Bury St Edmunds itself, the nearby big town around which all the parishes we have been discussing are placed. All the following comes from LDS member-submitted entries and also transcription P012191 on the IGI.

GEORGE BALLS Christening: 26 JUL 1700 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
MARY BALLS Christening: 27 OCT 1701 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
SYMOND BALLS Christening: 16 APR 1703 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Buried 3 June 1703?
ISABELLA BALLS Christening: 11 JUL 1704 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
BALLS Christening: 18 AUG 1705 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
FRANCIS BALLS Christening: 23 MAY 1707 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
JERIMIAH BALLS Christening: 30 AUG 1708 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Buried 13 September 1708.
ELIZABETH BALLS Christening: 14 OCT 1709 Fornham Saint Martin, Suffolk, England
JOANNA BALLS Christening: 13 DEC 1710 Fornham Saint Martin, Suffolk, England

The only wedding I can propose, extremely tentatively, is quite far to the north in the parish of Eriswell. A George Balls married one Mary Pamant 6 Aug 1699.

The Debenham family.

According to Tracey Moore, William Debenham who married Ann Coe can be traced back to the area around Alpheton, Cockfield and Melford, where Robert Debenham and Margaret Clarke, who had married 17 July 1695 in Westley, had their children. The Debenham name study website of Michael Debenham says 18 July. However it gives the baptisms of different children as happening in Cockfield, while Tracey has different dates and places. I have double checked with Michael so far, and so am confident of his notes, but I'll still include some reference to what Tracey has...

Robert Debenham. Baptised 22 December 1696 in Cockfield. Tracey has 1697 in Alpheton. Buried in 1733 aged 36, in Alpheton. As mentioned above, this man is the ancestor of the Debenhams who founded the chain of stores of the same name, as well as the Debenham Baronets.
Ann Debenham. Baptised 11 October 1698 in Cockfield. Tracey has another Ann, much later in 1703. Apparently she married Thomas Milles in 1719.
William Debenham. Baptised 6 Dec 1700 in Cockfield. Tracey has another William, baptised 1701 in Alpheton, died 1743.
Thomas Debenham. Baptised 16 May 1704 in Cockfield. Tracey has an earlier Thomas, baptised 1699 in Alpheton. Died 15 June 1762 at Alpheton, buried 18 June. There is a Monumental Inscription in Alpheton churchyard.  Apparently the register says this Thomas was "of Melford".
Clarke Debenham. Baptised 4 January 1707 in Cockfield. Note that the first name is simply his mother's surname.
John Debenham. Baptised 12 July 1709 in Cockfield.
Henry Debenham. Baptised 12 June 1711 in Cockfield.

The Coe family.

As mentioned above, Ann Coe was the daughter of Abraham Coe and Ann (Hannah). They seem to have married 25 Jan 1681 in Alpheton (Suffolk Marriage Index). This index imples that Hannah was also a Coe. Abraham was apparently a resident of Melford, and Hannah of Alpheton.

They had another son, also named Abraham, baptised in Alpheton 22 Jan 1702. Ann, who married William Debenham on the other hand, seems to have been baptised 10 Apr 1701 in Hartest.

The name Abraham seems to have been quite a tradition amongst Coes for some centuries, a tradition which seems to have spread to the new world. Men by the name of Abraham Coe were buried in Alpheton 10 Dec 1731, and 8 Sep 1758; and in Hartest in 2 Sep 1787 (aged 25) and 29 Jul 1792 (aged 61); and in Long Melford in 8 May 1751. It would seem the Alpheton Abrahams match our line best.

An Ann Coe was buried in Alpheton (St Peter and St Paul) 9 Apr 1704. Another Anne Coe was buried in Alpheton in 14 Dec 1723. Under the name of Hannah Coe the NBI lists 3 in Alpheton in this period: 1 Jul 1698, 19 May 1705, and 16 May 1733. In Long Melford there is also a Hannah Coe burial 27 Dec 1757.

7 generations back.

Now getting very speculative...

The Bass family

If we continue to speculate that our Bass family originate in Chedburgh, which seems reasonable, then William above seems to fit in this family, children of George and Ann:

MARY BASSE  23 AUG 1666 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
ANN BASS 26 JUN 1668 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
WILLIAM BASSE 18 OCT 1672 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
DEBARIAH BASSE 22 DEC 1676 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
THOMAS BASSE 20 FEB 1679 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
JOHN BASS Christening: 11 DEC 1682 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England

IGI member-submitted batch 8730132 also seems to show the marriage of the parents: George Basse and Anne Canham, in Chedburgh, 9 NOV 1665.

The Fisher family.

Fisher is a common surname of course, but at this time in Suffolk it was most common, it seems, on the coast.

The Balls family.

If we descend from the Balls family of Bury, then it is probably as follows. George, mentioned above, seems to be one of the children of George and Frances...

GEORGE BALLS Christening: 16 SEP 1675 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England               
FRANCIS BALLS Christening: 11 JAN 1678 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England               
WILLIAM BALLS Christening: 30 DEC 1680 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England. Buried 15 April 1682?               
GAWIN BALLS Christening: 04 DEC 1682 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England   

The Pament family.

Although the marriage we found was quite far from Bury, the IGI gives the impression that both surnames, Balls and Pamment, were Bury names. An Isaac Pament or Pamant had a "Mary or Margret" baptised there 22 SEP 1652, who was then buried 03 JUN 1657. Then he had a Maria baptised 2 SEP 1666, with the mother in this case being indicated as Margarete. Isaac also had a son Thomas, born 9 SEP 1659 and baptised 25 DEC 1659.

The surname appears right back to the earliest Bury registers. It is unusual, and does not for example appear in the Oxford Dictionary of Surnames.

The Debenham family.

Once again leaning heavily on the work of Tracey Moore and Michael Debenham, Robert Debenham who married Margaret Clarke appears to have been born in nearby Thorpe Morieux. The mother's maiden name is never mentioned, it appears, but the father was another William Debenham. Michael reports that the "report of the Baronet’s researchers, deposited at the Society of Genealogists, suggests with good reason that Anne was Anne Humphrey, though neither they nor I have been able to find the marriage to substantiate this. My ongoing work will include keeping an eye open for this marriage should it turn up." Quoting the Baronet's report he explains that this "would account for her owning lands in Lavenham, as the Humphreys owned property there and at Thorpe Morieux, as is evident from the Humphrey Wills. These Wills show that there is a connection, for Stephen Humphrey of Thorpe Morieux, gentleman, refers to his kinswomen Rose and Elizabeth Debenham, the youngest daughters of William Debenham of Long Melford".
Again, as I have double checked this with Michael, I'll just include references to Tracey's work where it differs. The baptisms:

Thomas Debenham. Baptised 17 April 1662 in Thorpe Morieux. Buried Lavenham 16 October 1723.  Married Mary Clarke of Lavenham at Alpheton 30 Dec 1690. (Tracey says born 1663 in Alpheton, and died 1743 in Hartest. )
Anne Debenham. Baptised 4 June 1663 in Thorpe Morieux (Tracey says born much later in 1671, the same year as Rose, in Alpheton). Michael tells me that in her parents' wills her married name is Spark.
William Debenham. Baptised 5 December 1664 in Thorpe Morieux (Tracey says born 1665 in Melford or Alpheton). Buried 23 October 1719 in Melford.
Henry Debenham. Baptised 4 July 1667 in Thorpe Morieux. (Tracey also says born 1667 in Melford or Thorpe Morieux.) Buried 17 December 1704 at Long Melford. Michael tells me that he is thought to have been married and to have descendants.
Robert Debenham. Baptised 2 July 1669 in Thorpe Morieux. Tracey also says born 1669 in Melford or Thorpe Morieux, and "died September 13, 1737 in aged 68 Alpheton Melford Parke". Michael explains that "the MI at Alpheton states that he died on 13 September aged 68 at Alpheton Melford Parke, this being the name of the farm where he lived."
Rose Debenham. Baptised 28 June 1671 in Thorpe Morieux (Tracey says born 1673 in Melford or Alpheton, and died 1714). Buried Alpheton 27 November 1714.  Did not marry.
Elizabeth Debenham. Baptised 23 April 1674 in Thorpe Morieux. (Tracey says born 1675 in Melford or Alpheton). Married John Strange of Hadleigh 1711/12 in Hadleigh.

The Clarke family.

Clarke was a common surname and it seems unlikely that we'll ever find any more about this family.

8 generations back.

In this period there was civil war and enormous disruption to recording of births, deaths and marriages.

The Bass family.

The earliest Basse entries in batch 8727433 are children of John Basse in Chedburgh. Looking to batch 8730132 for marriages we find one between John Basse and Elizabeth Rambelow in Chedburgh, 17 FEB 1642. Here are the baptisms, but note that no George appears. I have included this information as a lead concerning what might be true only.

JAMES BASSE  Christening: 02 FEB 1643 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
ROSE BASSE Christening: 07 NOV 1647 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
ANN BASSE Christening: 23 FEB 1650 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England
ELIZABETH BASSE  Christening: 26 SEP 1645 Chedburgh, Suffolk, England

The Canham family.

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames, this surname comes from Cavenham, a place in Suffolk, which is just bordering on the north of our area. However, browsing around various indexes makes it clear that the name was already widespread in Suffolk by the time we are looking at.

The Balls family.

Continuing our speculative line of Georges, and keeping in mind that these rough-looking theories have been cross-checked to at least some extent by trying to find other possibilities in other registers which are not in the IGI, the George who fathered the last family we discussed could be one of the children of yet another George...

SUSAN BALLES Christening: 26 MAY 1640 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
ELIZABETH BALLS Christening: 16 JUN 1642 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
SUSAN BALLES Birth: 09 JAN 1645 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
MARY BALLES  Christening: 25 NOV 1646 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
GORGE BALLES Christening: 10 MAY 1647 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England
ANN BAALLS Christening: 10 MAY 1650 Saint James, Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk, England 

In the 1645 entry only, a mother is mentioned, named Susan. I have not been able to find any earlier George, but it is clear that there were Balls and Base families living in Bury from an early time.

The Debenham family.

Thomas Debenham and Elizabeth Crouch married in Great Welnetham 30 April 1622. Their children in Thorpe Morieux seem to include the William we are searching...

Thomas Debenham. Baptised in 1624. Lived at Bradfield St George and married Dorothea Syer of Beyton at Rushbrook on 6 October 1666. (Source is Michael Debenham.)
Ann Debenham. Baptised 14 December 1631.
"There is also thought to be a daughter called Elizabeth, dates unknown, who along with the other children is mentioned in the Will of Oliver Crouch, Elizabeth's sister." (Michael Debenham)
William Debenham. Baptised 19 November 1634.

9 generations back

The Rumbelow family.

Batch P012271 shows a Rumbelow family having children in Chevington. The parents names were "Thoms" and Elizabeth. One of the children is an Elizabeth, though perhaps too early to be ours.

ELIZABETH RUMBELOW Christening: 05 JUL 1612 Chevington, Suffolk, England
MARGARET RUMBELOW Christening: 02 OCT 1614 Chevington, Suffolk, England
ELLEN RUMBELOWE Christening: 06 DEC 1618 Chevington, Suffolk, England
SUSAN RUMBELOWE Christening: 19 MAR 1626 Chevington, Suffolk, England
ROBERT RUMBELOWE Christening: 12 FEB 1629 Chevington, Suffolk, England

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English Surnames, this surname comes from a placename. The authors mentioned three such places in the Midlands, but none in Suffolk, and then state "The Suffolk surname probably originated in Suffolk."

The Debenham family.

Robert Debneham and Mary Innold married 7 November 1588 in Little Welnetham. For the baptisms of their children in Little Welnetham I could sometimes also refer to some transcriptions available at ancestry.com...

John Debenham. Baptised 23 November 1589 "John sonne of Robert Debneham". Buried 15 December 1589.
John Debenham. Baptised 6 December 1590 "John sonne of Robert Debneham". According to Michael, quoting the Baronet's report, he was was buried at Bradfield St George on 2 September 1604.
Thomas Debenham. Baptised 15 October 1592. An online transcription for Little Welnetham gives"Thomas sonne of Robert Debneham" on the right date. But Tracey says born Thorpe Morieux? Michael explains that "Thomas was baptised at Little Welnetham, but lived at Thorpe Morieux."
Mary Debenham. Baptised 6 January 1600/1. (I can see from online sources that this entry read "Marye dau. of Robert & Mary Debnam") Michael Debenham says that "Mary was buried at Little Welnetham 16 January 1600/01."
Robert Debenham. Baptised 15 January 1605/6. "Robert sonn of Robert & Mary Debnam" Michael Debenham says that "Robert married a Mary (surname not known).  There were two children, Robert, baptised Little Welnetham 20 November 1638, and Mary, baptised Lawshall 24 September 1637, buried Lawshall 8 October 1637."

The Crouch family.

From the report of Baronet Debenham we know that Margaret Crouch had a brother named Oliver, who had a will. This seems a good place to do some future research!

10 generations back.

This takes us back to the very earliest parish registers. To go further is only possible if there are wills or other legal or historical documents applying to them.

The Debenham family.

It appears that we might be able to go one generation further on this family. In Little Welnetham, one John Debenham married an Anne in 1561/2. Another marriage - the same John "Debnam" or another - happened in Great Welnetham.4 September 1562. The wife in this case was Urselye Hunter. Tracey believed that the first John did remarry, but in Rushbrooke to a wife named Amye. Once more, for the time being, I put together notes from Tracey and Michael which do not match perfectly...

Robert Debenham. Baptised Bradfield St George 24 June 1563 (while Tracey says born in Little Welnetham).
Margaret Debenham. Baptised Bradfield St George 16 March 1564/5. Buried there 27 September 1568.
Thomas Debenham. Baptised Bradfield St George 15 January 1566/7.
William Debenham. Baptised Bradfield St George 14 February 1568/9.
Cycily Debenham. Baptised Bradfield St George 19 July 1571. Michael has the mother's name as Anne, while Tracey has this as the child of a second wife Amye. Indeed I find such a baptism in Rushbrooke using ancestry.com: "Siselie daughter of John Debnam & Amye his wyfe" with exactly the right date.

There was also a baptism for a John son of John in Bury 7 November 1566, which would fit into this family. Michael Debenham again comes to the rescue with some explanation:

Other researchers have suggested that John's second (third?) marriage was to Susan Candler at Bradfield St George on 4 November 1593, following the death of Anne (Amy?) in 1588/89.
The Baronet's researchers in their written report think that the marriage to Susan Candler was actually a marriage of John's son, also called John, maybe the John baptised at Bury St Edmunds on 7 November 1566, the one you mention yourself. This seems very likely to me. John (whether father or son) and Susan had a daughter Elizabeth who was baptised at Bradfield St George on 21 July 1594, and was also mentioned in William's [bap. 1568/9] Will.

Both Michael and Tracey say that John Debenham was born in Bradfield St George in 1531, although I understand that this is an extrapolation.

John the father of this family seems to have been buried 1598.

The Innold family.

The name Innold, also spelt, Inhold, Innolds, Innolde, Inholde, Inowld etc., may have died out now, but it was once found in the Bury area. I wonder if it is a version of a more well-known surname, Ingold, which comes from an ancient Anglo-Scandinavian personal name, was certainly found in Suffolk, and also has many spelling variations. Or it could it come from the occupational word Inn-holder (Inn keeper)?

Our Mary seems to be part of this group of baptisms in Little Welnetham, using ancestry.com's transcription...

18 Jan 1561 Mathew Innold.                 
28 Jan 1563 John sonne of William Innold. (Buried the same day.)           
10 Jul 1565 Mary dau. of William Innold.                 
25 Dec 1567 John Innold.                 
01 Apr 1571 William sonne of William Innold.  (Buried 26 February 1571/72).             
12 Apr 1573 Thomas sonne of William Innold.                 
11 Mar 1575 Thomas sonne of William Innold. 

Another John was buried during this period in 28 Jan 1564, which might conceivably be William's father. William himself seems to have been buried 9 August 1594.

The surname appears in pre-register records such as Hearth Tax records, which means that at least some of them owned their own land or house. For example in 1580-1, Robert and Thomas Innold both paid Hearth tax in Great Welnetham.