William Arnold (1770 - 1855)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 24

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, Mary (unknown), Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, O'Ford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Shepherd, Sherwood, Elizabeth (unknown), Happerfield, Collins, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Lanham, unknown, Peck, Pincombe, Charley, Rowcliffe, Pearse, Rew, Moggridge, Siderfin, Kent, Gray, Hilton, Cobb, Sproxton, Routledge, Tweddle, Routledge, Routledge, (unknown) Buller, unknown, Beard, Hemsley, Welch, Brockhouse, Cheatle, Woodcock, unknown Taylor, unknown, Harborne, Lewis, Roberts, Croxall, Lawley, unknown

William Arnold is my 4x great grandfather. He married Elizabeth Molton 30 Aug 1793 at Milton Abbas. William was baptized 21 Feb 1770 at Milton Abbas the son of John Arnold and Hannah Norris who were themselves married 7 Jul 1751 at Milton Abbas. In my last challenge I talked about Jane O'Ford who was baptized at Milton Abbas and the coincidence of a child of hers Charles Butt marrying a daughter of William Arnold this week's challenge. That coupled with the surname O'Ford only really being found on Find My Past. It has occurred to me that I should check FreeReg but again did not found an O'Ford family but did find a Durnford family at Marnhull although no Jane baptized in the 1770s. I also wondered if there were any original records online at FMP for the O'Ford family just to see this visually but I was correct in my memory that they were all transcriptions. Carrying on with the Arnold family and the siblings of William can be found below.

John Arnold and Hannah Norris baptized eight children at Milton Abbas:

Mary baptized 8 Apr 1752; married Stephen Elford 27 Apr 1780 at Milton Abbas
John baptized 17 Mar 1754
Jane baptized 20 Oct 1756
Joseph baptized 24 Oct 1759; married Susanna Best 18 Jul 1781 at Milton Abbas
Hannah baptized 18 Aug 1762; married John Hooper 21 Mar 1791 at Milton Abbas
Susannah baptized 2 Oct 1765
William baptized 21 Feb 1770; married Elizabeth Molton 30 Aug 1793 at Milton Abbas
Ann Arnold (no record of baptism, circa 1773); married James Vacher 26 Jul 1796 at Milton Abbas

William Arnold and Elizabeth Molton baptized seven children at Winterborne Whitchurch and three at Winterborne Clenstone:

Thrysa baptized 25 Mar 1791; married Robert Tuffin 3 May 1814 at Winterborne Stickland
Abel baptized 11 Mar 1792; married Mary Lewis 6 Feb 1816 at Winterborne Clenstone
Charles baptized 1 Dec 1793
Hannah baptized 18 Jan 1795; married Charles Butt 26 Dec 1820 at Winterborne Clenstone
Jane baptized 10 Jul 1796
Mark baptized 25 Mar 1798
Sarah baptized 15 Sep[ 1799; married Joseph Butt 7 Jun 1824 at Winterborne Clenstone
Elim baptized 11 Jan 1801 at Winterborne Clenstone; married Mary Ann Cuff 24 Apr 1821 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Ann baptized 8 May 1802 at Winterborne Clenstone
Mark baptized 15 Jul 1821 at Winterborne Clenstone; married Emma Hook

John Arnold (father of William) was baptized 4 Aug 1725 at Milton Abbas son of John and Susannah Arnold.  John and Susannah baptized six children at Milton Abbas:

John baptized 4 Aug 1725; married Hannah Norris 7 Jul 1751 at Milton Abbas
James baptized 1 Feb 1726
Jane baptized 29 Jan 1728
Mary baptism not found, birth circa 1730
William baptized 26 Jan 1732; married Ann Riggs 4 May 1755 at Cheselbourne
Susannah baptized 19 Mar 1734
Thomas baptized 21 May 1737

John Arnold (father of John) was baptized 21 Apr 1702 at Milton Abbas the son of James Arnold and Mary Hardy (no proof of this but generally accepted that her surname was Hardy). They baptized six children at Milton Abbas and both left a will.

Mary baptized 8 Mar 1694; married William Lovell
James baptized 25 Feb 1697; married Honor Lovell 26 Jun 1721
John baptized 21 Apr 1702; married Susannah ?
Ann baptized 19 Oct 1704; married Peter Hause by 22 Mar 1722
Jane baptized 13 Apr 1712
Jane (Jinny) baptized 4 Mar 1714

Will of James Arnold - abstract only -  will of James ARNOLD of Milton Abbas dated 25 June 1742 Proved 8 August 1743 Mentions Wife: Mary ARNOLD Son: John ARNOLD Daughter: Mary wife of William Lovell Daughter: Ann wife of Peter House. Daughter: Jinny Appoints wife Mary as Executor

Will of Mary Arnold - abstract only - will of Mary ARNOLD (wife of the above) of Milton Abbas Mentions: son John ARNOLD Daughter: Mary wife of William Lovell Daughter: Ann wife of Peter House Grand daughter: Honor Daughter: Jinny executor

James (father of John) was baptized 4 Oct 1663 at Milton Abbas son of James and Sibyl Arnold. James and Sibyl baptized six children at Milton Abbas.

Henry baptized 4 Jan 1651
Mary baptized 12 Sep 1654
Baby baptized 18 Nov 1657 (born dead); buried 19 Nov 1657
Ann baptized 27 Mar 1661
James baptized 4 Oct 1663
John baptized 4 Oct 1663

The Protestation Returns (1641-42) for Milton Abbas have the following entries:

Henry Arnold, gent
Wm Arnold
David Arnold
Henry Arnold
John Arnold

Richard Arnold  - Constable

Given that the first son of James and Sibyl was named Henry then perhaps the father of James was Henry and there are two available in the correct time frame. However, I have not yet found information to link James to his father. That can be the object of my research today along with finding marriage dates that are missing and missing wife's surnames. From the records below it could also be that this family has come from Helton parish (I suspect this is Hilton which is just 2 miles from Milton Abbas) noting William Arnold is the father of a Henry who married 6 Apr 1655 Sara Vincent at Milton Abbas. Interesting but not conclusive results and one notes that there wasn't a James Arnold listed in the Protestation Returns. To be on the returns usually the individual was 18 years of age or older so born before 1624.

A few extraneous records gleaned reading the Parish Registers at Milton Abbas:

Henry Arnold was born son of Henry and Sara Arnold 12 Apr 1650; buried 11 Jun 1650
Richard Arnold, gent, was buried 11 Feb 1652
Davee Arnold was buried 27 Mar 1653
Tobias Painter and Alace Arnold were married 2 Oct 1654
Henry Arnold (helton parish, son of William Arnold) and Sara Vincent (daughter of William Vincent) banns published three times (March 1654) and married 6 Apr 1655
Unknown Arnold daughter of Henry and Sara Arnold born 10 Jan 1655; buried 1 Feb 1655
Henry Arnold was born son of Henry and Sara Arnold 12 Apr 1657; buried 11 Jun 1657
John Arnold son of Henry and Sara Arnold 9 Jul 1658; buried 23 Dec 1658
Jone Arnold wife of William Arnold was buried 17 May 1659
Sara Arnold was baptized daughter of Henry and Sara Arnold 27 December 1663
Sibbell Arnold wife of James Arnold was buried 28 Jul 1673
Mary Arnold was buried 22 Jun 1674
Robert Arnold of Ansty, gent, was buried 27 Mar 1677
Mary Arnold was baptized daughter of Henry and Margarett Arnold 13 Oct 1678
Ann Arnold was baptized daughter of Henry and Margarett Arnold 19 Oct 1680
Avice Arnold was buried  24 Oct 1680
Mary Arnold was buried 10 Nov 1682
Joseph Arnold and Mary Roger were married 18 Apr 1687
Ann Arnold was buried 13 Mar 1688
John Arnold was buried 14 Sep 1690
Henry Arnold was baptized son of Henry and Margarett Arnold 26 Dec 1690
Jame Arnold and Joane Arnold were married 1 Nov 1693
Jane Arnold was baptized daughter of James and Joane Arnold 6 Aug 1695
Robert Arnold was baptized son of Henry and Margarett Arnold 6 Dec 1696
Elizabeth Arnold was baptized daughter of James and Joane Arnold 11 Aug 1698
John Arnold and Jone Arnold his wife were buried 6 May 1700
Ann Arnold of Henton was buried 13 Aug 1718
Henry Arnold was buried 16 Nov 1721
Mary Arnold was baptized daughter of James and Honour Arnold 11 Oct 1722
Mary Arnold was baptized daughter of James and Mary Arnold 5 Nov 1723
Honour Arnold was baptized daughter of James and Honour Arnold 29 May 1724
Thomas Arnold was baptized son of James and Honour Arnold 31 Dec 1725
Robert Arnold was baptized son of James and Mary Arnold 21 Apr 1727
Margarett Arnold was buried 5 Nov 1727
Robert Arnold was baptized son of James and Honour Arnold 9 Nov 1727
Margaret Arnold was baptized daughter of James and Mary Arnold 11 Feb 1729


The registers for Hilton are on the OPC Dorset site:

Hugh Arnold was baptized 3 Nov 1626 son of John Arnold
Joane Arnold was baptized 8 Apr 1629 daughter of Mr John Arnold of Frome Aller
Agnes Arnold was baptized 6 Sep 1629 daughter of William Arnold of Aller
Ralph Arnold was baptized 11 Sep 1631 son of John Arnold of Twin Aller
Margaret Arnold was baptized 16 Feb 1631 daughter of William Arnold of Aller
Richard Arnold was baptized 16 Aug 1635 son of William Arnold of Aller
Elizabeth Arnold was baptized 9 Mar 1635 daughter of William Arnold of Ansty
Elizabeth Arnold buried 19 May 1638 daughter of William Arnold
John Arnold and Judith Keines married at Hilton both of Aller 17 Jan 1642
Abraham Arnold baptized 30 Jul 1643 son of John Arnold of Aller
Thomas Arnold of Pecke Mill buried 3 Dec 1645
William Arnold of Aller buried 6 Feb 1660
Elizabeth Arnold buried 21 Jul 1661
Alice Arnold widow of Newton buried 10 Feb 1662
Thomas Rogers of Ibberton and Margaret Arnold of Aller married 3 Nov 1663 at Hilton
Thomas Mathews of Tinckleton and Sarah Arnold of Milton married 17 Mar 1680 at Hilton
Mrs Margaret Arnold widow of Ansty buried 18 Nov 1684
John Arnold of MIlton Abbas and Jane Parsons married 16 May 1738 at Hilton

Still no sight of James Arnold but an overall search on the OPC Dorset site yielded 132 results for "James Arnold" but none of the results added to the available information thus far on James and his wife Sibbel. This was an interesting search through the records. Many of them have been added to greatly in the past couple of years. Although I did not add any new information, looking at the Arnold family at Milton Abbas and the O'Ford family also there has led to some rather interesting blogs!

The Protestation Returns for Hilton (spelled Helton in this return) have the following:

John Arnold
Robert Arnold
William Arnold junior

William Arnold overseer (possibly senior?)

Ancestry of William Arnold:

1. Elizabeth BLAKE
2. Ernest Edward George BLAKE (b 20 Aug 1904) - Eastleigh Hampshire England
3. Samuel George Blake (b 10 Feb 1875) - Upper Clatford Hampshire England
4. Maria Jane KNIGHT (b 27 Jan 1849) - Turnworth Dorset England
5. Louisa BUTT (b 27 Jan 1827) - Winterborne Stickland Dorset England
6. Hannah ARNOLD (b 13 Dec 1797) - Winterborne Stickland Dorset England
7. William ARNOLD (b 21 Feb 1770) - Milton Abbas Dorset England
8. John ARNOLD (b 4 Aug 1725) - Milton Abbas Dorset England
9. John ARNOLD (b 21 Apr 1702) - Milton Abbas Dorset England
10. James ARNOLD (b 4 Oct 1663) - Milton Abbas Dorset England
11 James ARNOLD

Arnold family Research Day

My Arnold family I mentioned earlier as Hannah Arnold married Charles Butt 26 Dec 1820 at Winterborne Clenstone. This is the beautiful Church of St Nicholas located in this very small rural village of Winterborne Clenstone, Dorset along the Winterborne. We visited St Nicholas Church and Graveyard the 20 April 2008 and the Winterborne was a small stream following under an old wooden bridge along by the graveyard which sat at the foot of the Knoll upon which the Church sat. The Church is still in use and part of the British Heritage Trust.

The Church was apparently rebuilt in 1840 by Mrs Michel and it is an edifice of flint and Portland stone in the Perpendicular style. The earlier Church was a large ancient structure. 

Hannah Arnold was the daughter of William Arnold and Elizabeth Molton and they married 30 Aug 1793 at Milton Abbas. They had ten children although there is some thought that the 10th son was actually the son of Sarah Arnold daughter of William Arnold and Elizabeth Molton. This is the Sarah Arnold who married Joseph Butt (brother to Charles Butt the husband of Hannah Arnold). 

Milton Abbas again is one of the Dorset parishes which is on Ancestry.  The marriage is found on page 29 No. 111 William Arnold of this parish and Elizabeth Molton of the Parish of Winterbourne Whitchurch married in this Church by Banns this Thirtieth day of August in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety by me John Richardson Curate. This marriage was solemnized between us William Arnold, Elizabeth Molton. In the Presence of The Mark of Jane Lovell and the Mark of William Arnol, Jethro Vacher. The priest has written what looks like Malton for Elizabeth's surname and it was a mystery to me for quite a while until I saw her original signature where she writes Molton. William was baptized 21 Feb 1770 at Milton Abbas and the son of John Arnold and Hannah/Ann Norris who were themselves married 5 Jul 1751 at Milton Abbas. John and Hannah had eight children of whom William was the seventh and the youngest son.

John Arnold was baptized 4 Aug 1725 at Milton Abbas and the son of John and Susannah Arnold. Their marriage has not yet been located. John Arnold (father of John) was baptized 21 Apr 1702 at Milton Abbas the son of James Arnold and Mary Hardy (Hardy according to some researchers not yet verified by me). This James was baptized 4 Oct 1663 at Milton Abbas and the son of James and Sibyl Arnold. Another researcher has their marriage as 20 Jul 1673 at Milton Abbas (the dates are somewhat peculiar). I would like to verify these dates and extract the Arnold entries from the Milton Abbas parish Registers. I am curious if it is possible to move further back as there are several Arnold males listed on the 1641-42 Protestation Returns for Milton Abbas: Henry Arnold (gent), Wm Arnold, David Arnold, Henry Arnold, John Arnold with Richard Arnold as Constable.

To facilitate this search I will extract the Arnold entries from the Milton Abbas parish registers beginning in 1812 and moving backwards to the beginning of the registers in 1560. It would be exciting to be able to take this family all the way back to the beginning of the Parish Registers. Milton Abbas is this amazing village in Dorset where it appears when you enter the town that all the houses have thatched roofs. Beautiful designs in the thatching and in fact Milton Abbas was the first planned village in England. Lord Milton, Earl of Dorchester, in 1780 rebuilt the village of Milton Abbey moving them to a new spot that didn't block the view from his home. It is a delightful village very spacious and the thatched roofs absolutely splendid as you drive in along the main road. 

Parish Registers for Milton Abbas

Burials

18 Dec 1810 Maria Arnold

17 Dec 1809 Mary Arnold

8 Dec 1805 Susanna Arnold

8 Feb 1805 John Arnold

3 Aug 1794 Jane Arnold

18 Dec 1789 Elizabeth Arnold

Baptisms

24 Jul 1811 Elias son of John and Sarah Arnold

12 May 1809 Henry son of John and Sarah Arnold 

19 Apr 1807 John son of John and Sarah Arnold

19 Dec 1804 Isabella daughter of John and Sarah Arnold

2 Jan 1803 Harriot daughter of John and Sarah Arnold

15 Jan 1801 James son of James and Ann Arnold

 17 Aug 1800 Maria daughter of Joseph and Susanna Arnold

22 Apr 1798 Kitty daughter of Joseph and Susanna Arnold

8 Nov 1792 Joseph son of Joseph and Susanna Arnold

1 Jul 1787 Henry son of Joseph and Susan Arnold

30 Jun 1782 John son of Joseph and Susanna Arnold

Marriages

No. 193. Joseph Arnold and Ann Kite both of this parish Married in this Church  by Banns published August 3, 10, 17 1806 this eighteenth Day of August in the Year One Thousand eight Hundred and six by me Gilb Langdon, Vicar. This marriage was solemnized between us Joseph Arnold , the mark of Ann Kite, in the presence of Wm Head, Jethro Vacher

John Arnold and Sarah Sturmy both of this parish married in this Church by Banns published March 21, 28, April 4, 1802 this twelfth day of April in the Year One thousand eight hundred and two by me Gilbt Langdon, Vicar, This marriage was solemnized between us John Arnold, Sarah Sturmy's mark, in the presence of Jethro Vacher, James Sturmy

James Vacher of this parish and Ann Arnold of the same were married in this Church by Banns this twenty sixth day of July in the Year one thousand seven hundred and ninety six by me Gilbt Langdon, Vicar, this marriage was solemnized between us: James Vacher his mark, Ann Arnold her mark, In the presence of Sarh Shep[ard, Jethro Vacher

No. 111 William Arnold of this parish and Elizabeth Molton of the Parish of Winterbourne Whitchurch married in this Church by Banns this Thirtieth day of August in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety by me John Richardson Curate. This marriage was solemnized between us William Arnold, Elizabeth Molton. In the Presence of The Mark of Jane Lovell and the Mark of William Arnol, Jethro Vacher. 

 No 78 Joseph Arnold of the Parish of Milton Abbas and Susanna Best of the same Parish were married in this Church by Banns published June 24, July 1, 8 this eighteenth day of July in the Year One thousand seven hundred and eighty one by me John Richardson Curate. This marriage was solemnized between us Joseph Arnold, Susanna Best, in the presence of Robert Norris, Sarah Style

Completed 1780 to 1812. Next research day to continue extraction of Arnold entries.

Arnold family of Winterborne Whitchurch and Milton Abbas, Dorset

Yesterday I spent some of my research time working on the Hampshire Blake family marriages. I am now in the process of matching up the marriage partners from Free BMD. I worked on 1910 and 1911 and will now go to the 1911 British Census to see if I am able to determine which of the possible partners is the correct one. It will be a slow process but aided greatly on occasion by Marriage Challenges that are undertaken by the Guild of One Name Studies. I will also begin work on the Andover Registration District Cardinal Points in case, at some point in the future, a member of the Guild takes on the Andover Registration District Marriage Challenge. I wish I could do it but from faraway Canada that is quite impractical except for the individual Churches in the Registration District for which I have the marriage fiche. Indeed I have quite a number and intend to eventually purchase all of them. The Blake family is found extensively in this Registration District (as well as many others).

Today, is the research day for the Arnold family. Hannah Arnold (baptized 18 Jan 1795 at Winterborne Whitchurch) was the daughter of William Arnold (baptized 21 Feb 1770 at Milton Abbas) and Elizabeth Molton (baptized 20 April 1766 at Winterborne Whitchurch) and married 30 Aug 1793 at Milton Abbas all of Dorset UK. Hannah married Charles Butt 26 Dec 1820 at Winterborne Clenstone and they had seven children Thurza (baptized 11 Mar 1821) married to Thomas Knight 10 Nov 1844 at Turnworth, Abel (baptized 15 Feb 1823 at Winterborne Stickland) and married to Martha Knight 8 Feb 1850 at Turnworth, Josiah (baptized 15 Jan 1826 and buried 24 Jan 1826 at Winterborne Stickland), Louisa (baptized 27 January 1827 at Winterborne Stickland) and married to Samuel Knight 7 Sep 1849 at Winterborne Stickland (my 2x great grandparents), John (bc 1830 Winterborne Stickland) and married to Jane Gumbleton 13 Apr 1857 at Winterborne Stickland, Arthur (baptized 5 Jan 1834 at Winterborne Stickland) and married to Jane Cross Sep quarter 1853 in Blandford RD, and Nehemiah Butt (baptized 15 May 1836 at Winterborne Stickland).

Children of  William Arnold and Elizabeth Molton:

Thrysa baptized 25 Jan 1791 at Winterborne Whitchurch married Robert Tuffin 3 May 1814 at Winterborne Stickland

Abel baptized 11 Mar 1792 Winterborne Whitchurch

Charles baptized 1 Dec 1793 at Winterborne Whitchurch

Hannah (as above)

Jane baptized 10 Jul 1796 at Winterborne Whitchurch

Mark baptized 25 Mar 1798 at Winterborne Whitchurch

Sarah baptized Winterborne Clenstone and married to Joseph Butt 7 Jun 1824 at Winterborne Clenstone

Elim baptized 11 Jan 1801 at Winterborne Clenstone and married to Mary Ann Cuff  24 Apr 1821 at Winterborne Whitchurch


Ann baptized 8 May 1802 at Winterborne Clenstone


Interestingly three children of the Charles Butt and Hannah Arnold family married three children of the same Knight family. Charles Butt was known to my grandfather and is my only link back in time for the Butt/Arnold family. My grandfather could remember visiting his great grandfather Charles Butt for his 80th birthday celebrations at least that is what my memory has left me with from the eight year old who listened eagerly to her grandpa talking about his ancestors in England. He did not know anything about the wife of Charles other than her name which I did not remember from long ago but did discover when I undertook my family genealogy beginning eight years ago. It was at Gene-O-Rama in 2003 that I first noticed the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. I thought about doing a course there in Methodology because my cousin George DeKay wanted me to do a Profile for the Pincombe family (my maternal line) for the Westminster Delaware History book (now published). Not really having any ideas on how to do English Research from Canada I felt that a course in Methodology would assist me. In two months of taking the course I had signed up for all the English Record Courses and just six months later I added all the Canadian Record Courses to my portfolio (I graduated in May 2007).

When we visited Milton Abbas (briefly as a drive through) in 2008, the village lived up to its name as one of the most beautiful in Dorset with all of its thatched roofs. We drove through on a somewhat misty day although quite visible and the village had a somewhat ethereal quality (probably mostly in my mind) that lingers still if I close my eyes and remember again coming round on the road and entering the village. The Arnold family were known to be at Milton Abbas back into the 1500s with there being six members of the Arnold family on the 1641-42 Protestation Returns:

Henry Arnold, gent
Richard Arnold, constable
William Arnold
David Arnold
Henry Arnold
John Arnold

Other researchers have looked extensively at the Arnold family but I have not yet found, what I consider, a clear path back to one of these earlier Arnold members. The parents of William Arnold (father of Hannah Arnold) were John Arnold (baptized 4 Aug 1725 at Milton Abbas) and Hannah (or Ann) Norris (baptized 5 Jan 1731 at Milton Abbas) and they were married 5 Jul 1751 at Milton Abbas. They had eight children with William being the seventh child and third son. Mary (bc 1752) married Stephen Elford 27 Apr 1780 at Milton Abbas, John (bc 1754), Jane (bc 1756), Joseph (bc 1759 at Milton Abbas) married Susanna Best 18 Jul 1781 at Milton Abbas), Hannah (bc 1762 at Milton Abbas) married John Hooper 21 Mar 1791 at Milton Abbas, Susannah (bc 1765 at Milton Abbas), William (as above) and Ann (bc 1773) married James Vacher 26 Jul 1796 at Milton Abbas. I decided to check and see if I could find any baptism details for the siblings of William as it is a while since I have looked at this family.

The OPC Dorset page is an excellent resource (I have put up the Winterborne Clenstone material) and I have found that the baptismal records are now available from the Bishops Transcripts for the above mentioned children:

Mary baptized 8 Apr 1752
John baptized 17 Mar 1754
Jane baptized 20 Oct 1756
Joseph baptized 24 Oct 1759
Hannah baptized 18 Aug 1762
Susannah baptized 2 Oct 1765
William baptized 21 Feb 1770 (a good verification for the material I received from an Arnold researcher)
Ann (no new information)

Burials are not yet available for the time period 1731 to 1812. http://www.opcdorset.org/Milton%20AbbasFiles/MiltonAbbas.htm  is the website for the opcDorset material. I verified the marriages and did find them all as written above including James Vacher married to Ann Arnold (by licence) with no parents listed. I wonder if the earlier researcher has connected Ann to the correct family since she is not listed in the baptisms.

Looking at the Norris family there was an Ann Norris baptized 5 Jan 1731 child of John and Mary Norris at Milton Abbas. One other child was baptized to this family namely Joseph baptized 30 Apr 1735 at Milton Abbas. There were members of the Norris family at Milton Abbas on the 1641-42 Protestation Returns namely Christopher Norris, William Norris, George Norris, and Leonard Norris. I shall explore the Norris family next time I work on the Arnold family.

The parents of John Arnold (baptized 4 Aug 1725 at Milton Abbas) were John (baptized 21 Apr 1702) and Susannah Arnold (bc early 1700s). I did not find a marriage for them on the OPC Dorset webpage. Checking the IGI does not reveal a marriage (old and beta searches). John and Susannah Arnold baptized six children at Milton Abbas namely John (as above), James baptized 1 Feb 1726/27, Jane baptized 29 Jan 1728/29 and possibly married to William Muckell 29 Jun 1745 at Milton Abbas, Mary bc 1730 and possibly married to Robert Davis 25 Dec 1749, William baptized 26 Jan 1732, and Thomas baptized 21 May 1737.

 Researchers tend to have the parents of John Arnold (baptized 21 Apr 1702) as James and Mary Arnold. A will for James Arnold MA/4 1742 (Dorset Record Office) is abstracted online (http://www.opcdorset.org/Miscellaneous/ArnoldWills.htm) and includes the following:

"the will of James ARNOLD of Milton Abbas dated 25 June 1742 Proved 8 August 1743 Mentions Wife: Mary ARNOLD Son: John ARNOLD Daughter: Mary wife of William Lovell Daughter: Ann wife of Peter House. Daughter: Jinny Appoints wife Mary as Executor"

and a will for Mary Arnold (wife of James Arnold) MA/3 1744 (Dorset Record Office)  and includes the following:

"the will of Mary ARNOLD (wife of the above) of Milton Abbas Mentions: son John ARNOLD Daughter: Mary wife of William Lovell Daughter: Ann wife of Peter House Grand daughter: Honor Daughter: Jinny executor"

Children of James and Mary Arnold:

Mary baptized 8 Mar 1694/95 and married to William Lovell with daughter Honor Lovell

James baptized 25 Feb 1697/98 and married to Honor Lovell 26 Jun 1721 with children Mary baptized 11 Oct 1722, Honour baptized 29 May 1724, James baptized 31 Dec 1725, Robert baptized 9 Nov 1727, Henry baptized 1 Apr 1730, Ann baptized 12 May 1732 and Catherine baptized 1 Jan 1735 all at Milton Abbas

John (as above)

Ann baptized 19 Oct 1704 and married to Peter Hause with son Peter baptized 26 Mar 1722 at Milton Abbas

Jane Arnold baptized  13 Apr 1712; buried 18 Aug 1712

Jinny Arnold (probably Jane) baptized 4 Mar 1714/15

The parents of James Arnold (married circa early 1690s) are unknown as is the surname of his wife Mary. I checked the IGI including the new Beta search.

There is a James Arnold baptized 4 Oct 1663 and son of James and Sibbell Arnold (twin of John baptized same date). Interestingly they also have a son Henry and one of their grandsons is named Henry. Henry Arnold at Milton Abbas was on the Protestation Returns.

The will of Henry Arnold, gent, exists as an abstract and he has sons Robert, Henry, Richard (possibly eldest son), William.

"The will of Henry ARNOLD (Gentleman) of Bagbere in Milton Abbas, Mentions: to be buried in Milton Abbas where his mother and father were buried left £5 to the Church of Milton. Mentions, Daughter Anne Goldsbough £20 and to her five children £20 to be paid to them when they are one and twenty years old, children of Robert Goldsbough, gave to the two daughters of his son Robert ARNOLD £200 equally divided. Mentions: Brother in law Mr Thomas Rose or Rofe, John Trogenwell for rent. Son: Henry ARNOLD Son:  Richard ARNOLD Mentions George Baker. Elizabeth and Thomas Domfret? (I think these were servants) My son-in-law John Coobes and Elizabeth his daughter, two daughters of my son Henry ARNOLD and William ARNOLD my son. Sampson Biles, my son Robert ARNOLD and his brother in law Thomas Rose/Rofe. Mentions his brother John Arnold of Alton (Gentlemen) son- in-law Richard Savidge (I am not sure if this is John of Alton’s son-in -law or his) Son Robert ARNOLD rector of Melcombe who I make and appoint (I think this means son of my brother John of Alton) This will was granted to Richard ARNOLD ( I think the oldest son)"

I do not get a sense from this will that he has any grandsons from his sons. The Arnolds at Milton Abbas in 1641-42 are:


Henry Arnold, gent
Richard Arnold, constable
William Arnold
David Arnold
Henry Arnold
John Arnold
 
Henry`s will was dated 1646 mentioning his sons Robert, Henry, Richard and William. That leaves John and David Arnold as different lines at Milton Abbas and perhaps my James descends from one of these other lines. There do not appear to be any wills of these lines (at least not mentioned on the Arnold wills site). Henry does mention a brother John at Alton.

At this point I will leave any more thoughts on the Arnold family until my next research day on this family which will include a look at  the Norris family.

Results of Research at Salt Lake City - 6 April 2008

I continued with the Milton Abbas Poor Law Records and learned a little about the Norris family (John Arnold married Hannah Norris 5 July 1751 at Milton Abbas). Hannah's father was John and definitely not mentioned on this Poor Law Record but the Poor Law Record of 1667 thus far in transcription lists Christopher Norris and the Protestation Returns of 1641-2 list Christopher Norris, George Norris, Leonard Norris and William Norris. A Francis Arnold is listed on the 1696 Poor Law Rate and the 1641-42 Protestation Return lists David Arnold, Henry Arnold Gent, Henry Arnold, John Arnold, Richard Arnold and William Arnold. The father of my John Arnold was also John Arnold and his father was likely James Arnold. But I have no idea who the father of this James (bc 1668) was. Nor do I know the father of John Norris (bc 1700). I was hoping to learn more about this family at Salt Lake City as the Parish Registers have never been filmed (only the Bishops Transcripts are available and they are limited). Thus far neither of these families appears on the disbursements which is unfortunate :) They were both farmers.

I continued working on DNA studies as well. My Hampshire study has now expanded to four members. This has the potential to be very popular and will eventually occupy a lot of time I suspect. The potential for interesting observations remains very high if enough people join that can trace their ancestry back into the 1500s or earlier on paper. I do not think that I will turn people away but will put them into an Unassigned category for the moment. If their family lore says Hampshire, they may one day prove the line. If the study becomes very large I will concentrate only on the individuals with a valid paper trail in my reporting. That would also encourage people to do the paper trail and not just wait for matches.