Thomas Bicknell [Bignell]

 This discovery starts with the Baptism of his son William.

Found by page turning the images of the document instead of using search or hints. Slower, but then I can pick up changes in spelling and/or transcription errors.

An extract of the Baptism register for Bishop's Sutton, Hampshire, England.

On 14th August 1814, William, son of Thomas and Lucy Bignell was baptised. They resided in Bishop's Sutton, and his father was a Labourer.

That gave me William's parents as being Thomas and Lucy Bignell. This Thomas and Lucy.

 From the Marriage Register of Bishop's Sutton

Another document found by page turning the images of the document instead of using search or hints, but this time in the Marriage register.

 The Banns of marriage between Thomas Bicknell and Lucy Deacon were duly published in this Church on three successive Sundays, viz June 9th - 14th and 20th, 1799

The abovenamed names in Thomas Bicknell, Widower, Labourer, and Lucy Deacon, Spinster, both of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns this twenty sixth day of June 1799 by me James Duncan, off Min??

Their marriage was solemnized between us, Thomas X Bicknell mark and Lucy X Deacon mark.

In the presence of Rebecca X Jobbs mark & Sarah X Banterds mark. ??

Thomas Smith

This is not in itself a full indication that this is the appropriate document. However, I it is a good possibility, and I am hoping to find more evidence.

 A very important part of this record, is that he was a Widower. I added another spouse to my Ancestry Tree, called unknown unknown, and started the search to find the real name. 

Having, added Thomas Bignell to my tree, I looked again at ThruLines on Ancestry. A service that tries to match your tree, and others, the the DNA results in it's database. Low and behold, there were two new matches, linked to Elizabeth Bignell, a daughter of Thomas and Lucy. But as soon as I added the first wife and their children, the route to the matches changed from Elizabeth to Mary. I have followed one down to a 5th Cousin. Another still to do. It does however add a word of caution to the use of ThruLines. Not all may be as it seems.

There are now 10 DNA matches showing up from Thomas Bignell, or at least, whoever should occupy that position on my Tree.

Now I need to start filling in the data sheet below.

Records, data, and general information about Thomas Bignell and his family

Baptism

Marriage

Marriage of Thomas Bignell and Mary Marshall

Married on 13 January 1783 at Whitchurch, Hampshire, England.

From an early page of the Marriage Register at Whitchurch.

Marriage by Licence is about twice as much as by Banns, in terms of fees, unless, publishing the Banns is 1 shilling each week as opposed to all three weeks. Having established that the book in the images was indeed the register for Whitchurch. It covered the period 

One the next page at the front of the register, is something interesting, albeit an aside.

Deed between Peter Beconshaw to Martin Tichborne found at the front of the Whitchurch register of Marriages and Banns, 1754 - 1790

 I found the first page of this interesting, especially the 'Reign of out Sovereign Lord James by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France, & Ireland Defender of the faith ve. viz. of England France and Ireland the seventh & of Scotland the two & fortienth.' Note King of France. 

<< James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625. >>

 <<The joining of the Countries, or joining of the Parliaments happened much later, in 1707 when England and Scotland united as “Great Britain” under Queen Anne. >>

<< James VII and II (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. >>

Apparently, the assertion re King of France was only dropped in 1801.

I am somewhat confused as to the date of this document, as both James I and James II predeceased the date at the bottom of the document of 31^st May 1784, unless that date refers only to the copy.

An article of the Hants Field Club about Earlstone Manor House,  Burghclere,  states that Peter Beconshaw, with a brother Benjamin Beconsawe [Beconshaw], died in 1641, which would have been in the reign of James II and VII.

The names of the parties change in spelling in parts of the document, as do some of the repeated words.

It was very much a case of I have started, so I will finish. It just kept going. On the reverse side of a page of Marriage Registry entries, on and on. The original can be seen on Ancestry, for those with an account.

On the left, a copy of the image, and on the right, my initial attempt at a transcription.

Peter Beconsawe shall not be charged with the said Annuity or Rent. In Witness whereof the Parties above named to xxx present Indentures Interchangably have set their Hands & Seals the day & year first above Written. ___

 [Signature of Peter Beconsawe]

Sealed & delivered in the presence of

Examined with the original Deed

remaining in the Office of the Governors

of the Bounty of Queen Ann & this 31st

of May 1784 by me Tho^s  Trufhit Clark to the Secretary

[Signatures of Hier Tychborn, Tho^s Knight & Geo Matehell ]

As far as I know the above people have no connection to my Family Tree, just included as an interesting piece of history.

Back to the registry entries. 

Marriage of Thomas Bignell and Lucy Deacon

 The marriage in the parish church (of St Nicholas) in the Parish of Bishop's Sutton, in the County of Southampton ( now known as the county of Hampshire)

 The Banns of marriage between Thomas Bicknell and Lucy Deacon were duly published in this Church on three successive Sundays, viz June 9th - 14th and 20th, 1799

The abovenamed names in Thomas Bicknell, Widower, Labourer, and Lucy Deacon, Spinster, both of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns this twenty sixth day of June 1799 by me James Duncan, off Min??

Their marriage was solemnized between us, Thomas X Bicknell mark and Lucy X Deacon mark.

In the presence of Rebecca X Jobbs mark & Sarah X Banterds mark. ??

Thomas Smith

St Nicholas, Bishop’s Sutton

Census and Voting Registers

 UK Census dates from 1911Census.org;

1841 Census Sunday 6th June 1841
1851 Census Sunday 30th March 1851
1861 Census Sunday 7th April 1861
1871 Census Sunday 2nd April 1871
1881 Census Sunday 3rd April 1881
1891 Census Sunday 5th April 1891
1901 Census Sunday 31st March 1901
1911 Census Sunday 2nd April 1911

Children

Mary Bignell nee Marshall and Thomas Bignell children's Baptism Records.

Scroll left or right along the tabs. There is a tab for each year of child bearing age following their marriage, which helps to indicate years when no children of William and Mary were born, or survived long enough to be baptised, or alternatively, where no record has yet been found.

tab-kidsTBMM title="1783" color="grey"}

 No record yet found

Lucy Bignell nee Decon and Thomas Bignell children's Baptism Records.

Scroll left or right along the tabs. There is a tab for each year of child bearing age following their marriage, which helps to indicate years when no children of William and Mary were born, or survived long enough to be baptised, or alternatively, where no record has yet been found.

Work and locations

Death

Conclusion

Key data about William Bignall and his family.

Tree