Thomas Bicknell [Bignell] 1762–1844
BIRTH 22 January 1762 • Micheldever, Hampshire, England
DEATH 1844 • Ovington, Hampshire, England
4th great-grandfather
Ancestry Synopsis at start.
Thomas Bignell was born on 22 January 1762 in Micheldever, Hampshire. He married Lucy Deacon on 26 June 1799 in Bishops Sutton, Hampshire. They had five children in 11 years. He died in 1844 having lived a long life of 82 years.
Introduction - Explanation
Discovery
I have decided to split the information about this person into two main sections. The first is discovery. Generally the first discovery is from Ancestry Trees and Hints. For the avoidance of repetition, I will not repeat that in the Discovery section for each person. Sometimes the lead maybe from MyHeritage, or other similar genealogy sites. Where that is the case, I will state so. Another lead could be DNA, including Ancestry's ThroughLines, again to be stated.
However, the main point of the discovery section is to create something of a story for the person and his or her life. A brief synopsis, sometimes over and above that created by Ancestry's AI.
Data Sheet
The next part is the Data Sheet. Designed to be the collection of all the records, and information found about the person. It can include records already shown in the Discovery Section, for completeness of the Data Sheet. However, although the template is structured for lots of possible information, I am sure that there will be times when there will be many gaps, which will be left so, just in case more information comes to light at a later time.
Structure
The structure of the family website is multifaceted. It depends of where you come into the site as to how transparent this is. The most simple page is that of a single person. More complicated is a single family, where there is a father and the articles within for associated people such as wife and children. The next level is multi-generation built around a hub, Articles within articles, generation after generation. With time it slowly grows. Each person within the growing mass, has a single focused article with a similar structure. This method, I think, gives structure to the reader, and to me.
This itself is a snippet which is frequently repeated, and not therefore specific.
Transcription of records is generally shown in this colour.
Discovery
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.
Data Sheet
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 31st 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.
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Copy of the Deed of 7o Jacobi from Peter Beconshaw to Martin Tichborne of the annuity at Earlstone. __ 6 July 7 Jac. 1. This Indenture made the sixte Day of July in the years of 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. Between Peter Beconshaw of Earlstone in the County of Southampton [Hampshire] Gent. on the one Partie & Martin Tychborne of Ufton in the County of Berks Gent on the other Partie Withesseth that whereas it was concluded & agreed the said Peter Beconsawe & Martyne Tychbore that the said Peter Beconshaw in Consideration of five hundred Pounds of lawful Money of England to be paid by the said Martyn Tychborne his Heirs & asigns one Annuity or yearly Rente Charge of thirty three pounds, six Shillings & eight Pence of good and lawful Money of England to be issuing out of the Manor and Lordship of Earlstone in the said County of Southampton [Hampshire] . And Whereas also it was further agreed betwixte the said Parties that the said Peter Beconsawe should cause & do to be levied one Fine by Him the said Peter Beconsawe Benjamin Beconsawe his Brother William Cornwaleis & Mary his Wife for the establishing & settling of a good & perfect Estates in Fee simple of the said Manor & Lordship with the appurtenances in the said Peter Beconsawe & his Heirs to the Intent & Purpose that He might be able to grant a good & perfect Rents Charge according to the said Agreement which was also done accordingly in the Term of Holy Trinity in the year abovesaid as by the said Fyne & by a Deed made betwixte the said Peter & Benjamin Beconsaw William Cornwalies & Mary his Wife on the one partie and Hieromie Tichborne & Thos. Harrys on the other partie for to xxxx & declare the Use of the said Fine it may more plainly at large appear __ NOW the said Peter Beconsawe for the full accomplishment of the said Conclusion & agreement & for & in Consideration of five hundred Pounds of good & lawfull Money of England well & truly before Hand satisfied contented and paid and {whereof and every} ... |
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whereof and every Part and Parcell thereof the said Peter Beconsawe doth clearly acquite & discharge the said Martyn Ticjborne his Heirs Executeors Administrators & Assigns by these presents hath given & granted, & by these Presents for Him, his Heirs & Assigns doth give & grant unto the said Martyn Tichbourne his Heirs and Assigns One Annuity or yearly Rent of thirty three pounds six Shillings & eight Pence of good & lawful Money of England to be Issuing rising & growing had levied & taken of & out of the said Mannor & Lordship of Earlstone with the Appurtenance in the said County of Southampton [Hampshire] & out of all singular Lands Tenements & Hereditaments unto the said Manor belonging or appertaining or reputed as part parcel or member thereof situate lying & being within the Townes Parishes & Hambletts or Fields of Borroughclere - Sydmanton or any of them To the only Use & behoof of the said Martyn & his Heirs for ever payable & yearly to be paid at the two most usual Feasts in the Year, that is to say the Feast of Annunciation of our Blessed Lady St Mary the Virgin [25th March, Lady Day] & St. Michael the Archangel [29th September, Michaelmas] by even & equal Portions or within fifteen Days after xxx of the said Feasts the first payment to begin at the said Feast of Annunciation of our Blessed Lady St Mary the Virgin next ensuing or within fifteen days after and if it shall happen the said Annuity or any part or parcell thereof to be behind & unpaid by the Space of fifteen days after any of the said Feasts that then & so often at all times after the said fifteen days expired _ it shall be lawful for the said Martyn Tichborne His Heirs & Assigns upon lawful Demand to be had & made of the said Annuity & yearly Rent & thereupon no full payment & Satisfaction had or made by the said Peter Beconsawe his Heirs ao Assignes to enter into the said Manor & Lordship of Earlstone & into all & singular the said Land Tenements & Hereditaments unto the said Manor of Lordship belonging or appertaining or reputed as part or Parcell or Member thereof & there {to distrain &}... |
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to distreyne & the Distresse or Distressess there to be had or taken to lead drive carry away imparte impound & detain untill the Arrears of the said annuity be fully satisfied contented and paid_ & if at any time or times it shall happen the said annuity or yearly Rent or any Part or Parcell thereof to be behine & unpaid by the space of forty Days after any of the said Feasts that then if upon lawful Demand of the said annuity or yearly Rent to be made by the said Martyn Tichborne his Heirs or assigns Default of payment shall covenante & grant for him his Heirs & assigns to forfeit forty Shillings of good and lawful Money of England in the name of a Payne and the like forfeiture of forty shillings to be remain & anure for every forty days as shall happen to pass during any such Default of Payment & that it shall be lawful for the said Martyn Tichborne his Heirs or Assigns to enter into the said Manor & Lordship of Earlston and all & singular the Premises & ther to distrain for the said Penalty or Penalties that shall hap so to be forfeited in like manner & form & with the like Priviledge and advantage as is before limitted & expressed touching & concerning the said Principal Rent AND the said Peter Becoonsawe doth farthee covenante for Him his Heirs Executors & administrators & Assigns to & with the said Martyne Tichborne his Heirs & assigns that the said Peter Beconsawe hath not done any act or Acts Thing or Things whereby the said Annuity may be defrauded or defeated & that the said Peter Beconsawe his Heirs & Assigns shall & will at any time during five years do & suffer to be done any further act or Acts for the maintaining & strengthening of the said Annuity as shall be reasonably advised or Devifed by the learned Council of the said Martyn Tichborne his Heirs or Assigns at the Costs in the xxx of the said Martyn his Heirs or assigns under the Covenants Considerations in there present contained and expressed__ Provided always that the person of the said {Peter}... |
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 Thos Trufhit Clark to the Secretary
[Signatures of Hier Tychborn, Thos 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
1841
1841 Census Sunday 6th June 1841
Living in the Parish of Bishop's Sutton, Hampshire, William Bignell, perhaps sometimes transcribed as Bignett, aged 25. An Agricultural Labourer, born in the same county.
Also, Mary Bignell, aged 15, with her new born son, Stephen, aged 2 months, both born in the same county.
Estimated year of birth, 1816, 1826, and April 1841, respectively.
Before we talk about Mary Bignell being 15 and already being married and having a son, lets look at the family living next door, circled in yellow. Headed by Isaac Butcher, with presumably two children Sarah aged 14, and David aged 10.
It does appear that Isaac Butcher was Mary's father and she was present at his death according to his Death Certificate.
So really a case of marrying the girl next door for William Bignell, albeit, in perhaps questionable circumstances.
1851
1851 Census Sunday 30th March 1851
After his death.
1861
1861 Census Sunday 7th April 1861
After his death.
1871
1871 Census Sunday 2nd April 1871
After his death.
1881
1881 Census Sunday 3rd April 1881
After his death.
1891
1891 Census Sunday 5th April 1891
After his death.
1901
1901 Census Sunday 31st March 1901
After his death.
1911
1911 Census Sunday 2nd April 1911
After his death.
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
1784
No record yet found
1785
No record yet found
1786 Ann
No record yet found
1787
No record yet found
1788 Thomas
No record yet found
1789
No record yet found
1790
No record yet found
1791
No record yet found
1792 Elizabeth
No record yet found
1793
No record yet found
1794
No record yet found
1795 Charlotte
No record yet found
1796
No record yet found
1797 William
No record yet found
1798
No record yet found
1799
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.
1800
No record yet found
1801
No record yet found
1802
No record yet found
1803 Ann
No record yet found
1804
No record yet found
1805 Thomas
No record yet found
1806
No record yet found
1807
No record yet found
1808
No record yet found
1809 Elizabeth
No record yet found
1810
No record yet found
1811
No record yet found
1812 Charlotte
No record yet found
1813
No record yet found
1814 William
No record yet found
1815
No record yet found
1816
No record yet found
1817
No record yet found
1818
No record yet found
1819
No record yet found
1820
No record yet found
1821
No record yet found
Work and locations
Work
Work in the 1851 Census was recorded as Labourer.
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Bishop's Sutton
Bishop's Sutton, near Alresford, Hampshire, England
New Alresford is less than 1 1/2 miles away from Bishop's Sutton. Old Alresford is on the Northern edge of of the above map, and Upton Park is further North, just off the map.
New Alresford was founded in the 12th/13th century, so isn't quite new any more.
Bishop's Sutton is located within the hundred of Bishop's Sutton.
Google Maps showing New Alresford, Bishops Sutton, Old Alresford, and Upton Park, containing Upton House.
I wonder if North Side later became North Street? No, there are entries in the records for both. North Side is probably Northside Farm on Northside Lane.
A move away from the OS 25" Maps to show the relative position of Northside Farm to Bishop's Sutton and New Alresford. Also, using information on the 1861 Census, which starts at Rampscombe (Farm), [now Ranscombe Farm], circled in red, moves on to a number of properties in the Sutton Wood area, circled in green, before arriving at William Bignell and his family at Northside, circled in blue.
Google Maps image of Northside Ln, Bishop's Sutton, Alresford SO24 9SR. Some of the old farm buildings in the background may go back as far as 1861, but I doubt it. I am confident that the farm house is not the original dwelling.
Death
Conclusion
Key data about William Bignall and his family.
Dates
Key Dates
| Name | Relationship | Birth | Baptism | Marriage | Death | Interval between children | Mothers age at birth |
| Elizabeth Eldridge | 23rd July 1826 | 19th August 1849 | (Marriage 25 y, 1 m, 29 d) | ||||
| James Hone | 19th August 1849 | ||||||
| Elizabeth Hone | 25th August 1850 | 24th November 1850 | (Marriage 2 y, 7 m, 28 d) | 27 years, 9 months, 26 days | |||
| 1 year, 1 month, 7 days | 28 years, 11 months, 1 day | ||||||
Data Sources / Evidence
Key Data Sources / Evidence
| Baptism | Census | ||||||||||||
| Name | Birth | Record |
Parish Image |
1841 |
1851 |
1861 |
1871 |
1881 |
1891 |
1901 |
1911 |
Death | |
| Elizabeth Eldridge | X | 25 | 45 | 53 | Charwoman | ||||||||
| James Hone | X | 25 | 45 | 55 | -- | -- | -- | Carman | |||||
| Elizabeth Hone | X | X | X | -- | 7 m | -- | ^^ | ^^ | |||||
| -- | -- | Greengrocer assistant, Dock labourer | |||||||||||
| -- | -- | Farrier, Fish Monger | |||||||||||
| -- | -- | Seaman, Dock labourer | |||||||||||
| -- | -- | Charwoman | |||||||||||
| -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| -- | -- | ||||||||||||
| -- | -- | ||||||||||||
Places of Interest
Places of Interest
| Place | Event | Date | Note |
| Birth | |||
| Baptism | |||
| . | Census 1841 | ||
| Christ Church With St Mary and St Stephen, Spitalfields, Tower Hamlets, Middlesex | Marriage | ||
| Marriage | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Census 1851 | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Census 1861 | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Baptism of | |||
| Baptism of | 13th February 1870 | ||
| Census 1871 | |||
| Census 1881 | |||
| Census 1891 | |||
| Death |
Tree
| his father | his mother | her farther | her mother | |||||||
| him | her | |||||||||
| child 1 | child 2 | child 3 | child 4 | child 5 | child 6 | child 7 | child 8 | child 9 | child 10 | |
| next ancestor | or next ancestor | |||||||||
| child 1 | child 2 | child 3 | child 4 | child 5 | child 6 | child 7 | child 8 | child 9 | child 10 | |
