The ARNOLD family of Milton Abbas, Dorset

A flurry of emails back and forth discussing the Arnold family at Milton Abbas between myself and Jill Morley who has been collecting Arnold material for over 30 years. She runs an active Facebook group on the Arnold family.

Likely Jill and I are related but she is unable to find earlier material on her direct line.

My Arnold line has fallen neatly into place back into the 1600s at Milton Abbas but I am stuck there with James Arnold married to Sibyl unknown. Sibyl was buried at Milton Abbas 28 Jul 1673. This couple baptized six children at Milton Abbas.

Henry baptized 4 Jan 1651
Mary baptized 12 Sep 1654
unmamed baptized 18 Nov 1657; buried 19 Nov 1657
Ann baptized 27 Mar 1661
James baptized 4 Oct 1663 (married Mary Hardy 1 Nov 1694 at Milton Abbas)
John baptized 4 Oct 1663 (married Melionor Leave 17 Oct 1692 at Milton Abbas)

These two younger sons trace their line down at Milton Abbas with my line being James Arnold married to Mary Hardy. They baptized six children at Milton Abbas.

Mary baptized 8 Mar 1694
James baptized 25 Feb 1697 (married Honor Lovell 26 Jun 1721 at MIlton Abbas)
John baptized 21 Apr 1702 (married Susannah (unknown) circa 1725)
Ann baptized 19 Oct 1704 (married Peter Hause)
Jane baptized 13 Apr 1712; buried 18 Aug 1712 at Milton Abbas
Jinny (Jane) baptized 4 Mar 1714

MA/4 1742 = this is 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

MA/3 1744 = this is 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

http://www.dorset-opc.com/Miscellaneous/ArnoldWills.htm

My ancestor was John Arnold married to Susannah and they baptized seven children at Milton Abbas.

John baptized 4 Aug 1725 (married to Hannah Norris 7 Jul 1751 at Milton Abbas)
James baptized 1 Feb 1726
Jane baptized 29 Jan 1728
Mary born circa 1730 at MIlton Abbas
William baptized 26 Jan 1732 (married to Ann Riggs 4 May 1755 at Cheselbourne)
Susannah baptized 19 Mar 1734
Thomas baptized 21 May 1737

My line is John Arnold married to Hannah Norris and they baptized eight children at Milton Abbas.

Mary baptized 8 Apr 1752 (married to Stephen Elford 27 Apr 1780 at Milton Abbas)
John baptized 17 Mar 1754
Jane baptized 20 Oct 1756
Joseph baptized 24 Oct 1759 (married to Susanna Best 18 Jul 1781)
Hannah baptized 18 Aug 1762 (married to John Hooper 21 Mar 1791 at Milton Abbas)
Susannah baptized 2 Oct 1765
William baptized 21 Feb 1770 (married to Elizabeth Molton 30 Aug 1793 at Milton Abbas)
Ann born circa 1773 at Milton Abbas (married James Vacher 26 Jul 1796 at MIlton Abbas)

My line is William Arnold married to Elizabeth Molton and they baptized six children at Winterborne Whitchurch and three or four children at Winterborne Clenstone

Thyrsa 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 (married Mary Ann Cuff 24 Apr 1821 at Winterborne Whitchurch)
Ann baptized 8 May 1802

Mark baptized 15 Jul 1821 at Winterborne Clenstone (married Emma Hook)
This last baptism was said to be the son of William and Elizabeth Arnold but it is 19 years after the baptism of Ann. Not impossible Elizabeth would have been 55 years of age.

My line continues down from Charles Butt and Hannah Arnold. They baptized seven children at Winterborne Stickland.

Thurza baptized 11 Mar 1821 (married Thomas Knight 10 Nov 1844 at Turnworth)
Abel baptized 15 Feb 1823 (married Martha Knight 8 Feb 1850 at Turnworth)
Josiah baptized 15 Jan 1826; buried 24 Jan 1826 at Winterborne Stickland
Louisa baptized 27 Jan 1827 (married Samuel Knight 7 Sep 1849 at Winterborne Stickland)
John born circa 1830 at Winterborne Stickland (married Jane Gumbleton 13 Apr 1857 at Winterborne Stickland)
Arthur baptized 5 Jan 1834 (married Jane Cross sep quarter 1853 in Blandford RD)
Nehemiah baptized 15 May 1836

Samuel Knight and Louisa Butt are my ancestors. Interesting that three Knight siblings married three Butt siblings. Samuel and Louisa baptized eleven children at Turnworth including their eldest Maria Jane.

Maria Jane baptized 27 Jan 1850 (married Edward Blake 29 Oct 1870 at Upper Clatford)

This couple were my great grandparents and their son Samuel George Blake my grandfather. I have traced these lines down and only my grandfather and his younger brother Henry came to Canada with the rest of the family remaining in England. This family has kept in contact into the 2000s with my husband and I visiting the grandchildren of the youngest son of Edward Blake and Maria Jane Knight in 2008.

I did know from childhood that Charles Butt had married Hannah Arnold and that this family lived in the Winterborne area of Dorset. Going back from Hannah involved research on my part along with a cousin of mine Robert Arnold.

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

Elizabeth Molton (1766 - 1838)

52 Ancestor Challenge - Challenge 9

Blake, King, Coleman, Pearce, Farmer, unknown, Lambden, Sarah (unknown), Knight, Ellis, Knight, Vincent, Butt, Durnford, Arnold, Molton, Cotterel, Bartlett, Alderman, Ann (unknown), Sherwood, unknown, Habberfield, Collings, Rawlings, Tanner, Dove, Morgan, Lywood, Canham, 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

Elizabeth Molton, another of my 64 3x great grandparents, married William Arnold 30 Aug 1793 at Milton Abbas, Dorset. For a few years I had Elizabeth's surname as Malton from a trancription of their marriage lines but a cousin of mine checked the original documents in the Dorset Record Office and found the surname was Molton. That set us off on an interesting journey. We both had found the baptism of an Elizabeth Molton 20 Apr 1766 at Winterborne Whitchurch daughter of William and Sarah Molton (and it was known that her husband William Arnold had been baptized at Milton Abbas). We could now claim Elizabeth as our own which was a rather comfortable addition as Elizabeth had been quite brickwalled for ages for my cousin and for me from the beginning of my research time in 2004.

However, we could not find a marriage for William Molton and Sarah although did find the baptism of William 2 Aug 1743 at Winterborne Whitchurch and the burial of Sarah 13 Jan 1799 at Winterborne Whitchurch. They baptized six children at Winterborne Whitchurch namely:

Thomas baptized 11 Jun 1764 and buried 10 Feb 1765 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Elizabeth baptized 20 Apr 1766
Jane baptized 24 Jun 1769 and buried 20 Apr 1771 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Stephen baptized 12 Jan 1772
Jane baptized 1 May 1774
William baptized 7 Apr 1782

Searching through Find My Past for William Molton I came across an interesting marriage at Winterborne Clenston: William Malton married Sarah Seafear 5 Jan 1764 with witnesses James Masterman and Thomas Clerk. The witnesses were often to be found on marriages at this parish (I am the online parish clerk for Winterborne Clenston but had not noticed this marriage before).

There is also a baptism at Winterborne Whitechurch 2 Aug 1743 of William Molton son of John and Elizabeth Molton. This I had found earlier.

Other children baptized by John and Elizabeth Molton at Winterborne Whitechurch

Jane baptized 2 Jun 1749
Robert baptized 29 Nov 1753
John baptized 18 Jan 1756

Again a new marriage on Find My Past and it is at Turnworth with John Molton marrying Elizabeth Durden 12 Aug 1740. John is of Winterborn Kingston (at the time of his marriage) and Elizabeth of Winterborne Whitechurch. Turnworth is close to Winterborne Clenstone and Winterborne Whitechurch.  We visited all of these sites in 2008.I had found earlier the baptism of a John Molton 20 Jul 1714 at Winterborne Whitechurch son of John and Elizabeth Molton. There was a John Molton buried at Winterborne Whitechurch 24 Jul 1784 and an Elizabeth Molton buried 18 Jun 1781 at Winterborne Whitechurch wife of John aged 67 years.

There was also a John Molton (senior) buried 29 Apr 1747 at Winterborne Whitechurch aged 64 years and an Elizabeth Molton (widow of John) buried 14 Dec 1768 at Winterborne Whitechurch. The following children are baptized at Winterborne Whitechurch children of John and Elizabeth Molton (John Molton said to be of Milton, generally thought to refer to Milton Abbas but a website on abandoned communities is giving me second thought as there was a town of Milton midway between Dorchester and Blandford).

Mary baptized 2 Jan 1710
Thomas baptized 24 Aug 1712
John baptized 20 Jul 1714
Mary bpatized 24 Jul 1721
Betty baptized 30 Jan 1723

Although in terms of generations I have not added to the Molton family I have fleshed out a few more details which was the intent of my 52 ancestor challenge!

Ancestry of Elizabeth Molton

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. Elizabeth MOLTON (b 20 Apr 1766) - Winterborne Whitchurch Dorset England
8. William MOLTON (b 2 Aug 1743) - Winterborne Whitchurch Dorset England
9. John MOLTON (b 20 Jul 1714) - Winterborne Whitchurch Dorset England
10. John MOLTON (bc 1683)

I do not know anything about Elizabeth other than her parents at baptism, her marriage to William Arnold and the children that they had and her death date. She lived in Winterborne Whitchurch all of her life it would appear although they married at Milton Abbas (the home of William Arnold). I know that her great grandparents John and Elizabeth Molton were buried at Winterborne Whitechurch and baptized all of their children there but do not have a marriage for them nor do I know their parents or where they were baptized. These furtherest back in her line on the Molton side were my 7x great grandparents. I have learned her mother's maiden name of Seafear but nothing more about her mother.

William Arnold and Elizabeth Molton would have ten children although some list the youngest Mark born 19 years after the youngest as the son of Sarah (daughter of this couple). Her daughter Hannah was my 3x great grandmother and she married Charles Butt and my last challenge was John Butt the father of Charles. 

Number 5 Brick Wall

Brick Wall Number 5: Wife of William Molton

This brick wall seems a bit out of order but I created this order a couple of years ago and at that time I did not know for sure the parents of Hannah Arnold (my 3x great grandmother). I met an Arnold cousin online and he had been able to verify his family lore that Hannah Arnold was the daughter of William Arnold and Elizabeth Malton (online transcription of marriage). But we could not find the parents of Elizabeth Malton. The transcription of the original marriage register was incorrect and it wasn't until my cousin visited the Dorset Record Office that the correction was made to Molton and he discovered that Elizabeth Molton was the daughter of William and Sarah Molton but he could not find this marriage.

Elizabeth Molton was baptized 20 Apr 1766 at Winterborne Whitchurch as were her five siblings. Sarah (her mother) was buried 13 Jan 1799 at Winterborne Whitchurch and her father William was baptized 2 Aug 1743 at Winterborne Whitchurch son of John and Elizabeth Molton with John being baptized 20 Jul 1714 at Winterborne Whitchurch son of John and Elizabeth Molton. Elizabeth (wife of John baptized 1714) was buried 18 Jun 1781 at Winterborne Whitchurch and John was buried 24 Jul 1784 at Winterborne Whitchurch.  His parents were both buried at Winterborne Whitchurch - John buried 29 Apr 1747 (aged 64 years) and Elizabeth buried 14 Dec 1768. The children of both sets of John and Elizabeth were all baptized at Winterborne Whitchurch. My cousin still works in England and doesn't get down to Dorset often but hopefully on his next trip we might learn even more.

This remains a brick wall for me but I haven't really done any of the work on this line. The Dorset records are now on Ancestry so will search these out for a bit today. There isn't a marriage for William Molton to Sarah on Ancestry. I also checked Find My Past, Family Search and the Dorset OPC site. A mystery remains with regard to the surname of Sarah my 5x great grandmother. I really have not found anything about this family at Winterborne Whitchurch. Checking the census at Winterbourne Whitechurch in 1851 does not reveal any Molton families. There are Molton families at Bridport and Blandford. I have not traced all the lines down and perhaps one day will do that just out of curiosity.

Molton Family of Winterborne Whitchurch

The original transcription of the marriage of Elizabeth Molton and William Arnold had the spelling of her name as the priest had written it namely Malton. However, as I observed the signature and having received an email from another descendant of this family it became obvious that the surname of Elizabeth was Molton.

There is a baptism for Elizabeth Molton 20 Apr 1766 at Winterborne Whitchurch and the daughter of William and Sarah Molton. A marriage has not yet been found for William and Sarah and that would be my research theme to attempt to find a marriage for this couple. They baptized five children at Winterborne Whitchurch between 1764 and 1782 namely:

Thomas baptized 11 Jun 1764 and buried 10 Feb 1765
Elizabeth baptized 20 Apr 1766
Stephen baptized 12 Jan 1772
Jane baptized 1 May 1774
William baptized 7 Apr 1782

Stephen married Hannah (unknown) and they had one son William baptized 17 Apr 1803 at Winterborne Whitchurch.

Jane married George Cromey 21 Sep 1801 at Winterborne Whitchurch.

William married Mary Bolt 17 Oct 1802 at Winterborne Whitchurch.

 William (father of Elizabeth) was baptized 2 Aug 1743 at Winterborne Whitchurch. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Molton for whom I do not have any marriage information. John was baptized 20 Jul 1714 at Winterborne Whitchurch and he was buried there 24 Jul 1784. He and Elizabeth had four children baptized at Winterborne Whitchurch namely:

William baptized 2 Aug 1743
Jane baptized 2 Jun 1749
Robert baptized 29 Nov 1753
John baptized 18 Jan 1756

This John (father of John) was also married to an Elizabeth and they baptized five children at Winterborne Whitchurch namely:

Mary baptized 2 Jan 1709
Thomas baptized 24 Aug 1712
John baptized 20 Jul 1714
Mary baptized 24 Jul 1721
Betty baptized 30 Jan 1722

I would like to verify these entries obtained from my cousin and extract Molton entries from the Winterborne Whitchurch parish registers which are also on Ancestry. These registers run from 1590 to 1812. I will begin with 1812 and work backwards.

Burials

10 Mar 1811 Elizabeth Molton, Wife of John, 53 years, pleurisy and typhus fever
11 Jan 1811 Mary Molton daughter of John and Mary, 22 years, typhus fever
31 Dec 1803 William Molton son of Stephen infant
4 Mar 1801 William Molton son of Stephen
13 Jan 1799 Sarah Molton wife of William
14 Jul 1787 William Molton, 68 years, dropsy
27 Jul 1786 Anabella Molton, Milton, 4? years, consumption
20 Aug 1785 Mary Molton daughter of Thomas and Anabella Molton, 1 year, consumption
18 Jun 1781 Elizabeth wife of John Molton aged 67 years


Baptisms

17 Apr 1803 William son of Stephen and Hannah Molton
28 Feb 1794 Mary daughter of John and Elizabeth Molton
16 Jan 1792 Ann daughter of John and Elisabeth Molton
16 Jan 1791 Ann daughter of John and Mary Molton (maiden name Harvey)
24 Jan 1787 Robert son of John and Hannah Molton ?
9 Jul 1786 Jane daughter of John and Mary Molton
10 Jan 1783 Mary daughter of Thomas and Anna Molton (received into the church)
7 Apr 1782 Thomas son of William and Sarah Molton
13 Apr 1781 James son of Thomas and Annabella Molton
30 Sep 1723 Betty daughter of John Molton
1 May 1774 Jane daughter of William and Sarah Molton
12 Jan 1772 Stephen son of William and Sarah Molton
21 Apr 1771 Jane daughter of William and Sarah Molton
20 Apr 1771 Jane wife of William Molton, aft: made
24 Jun 1769 Jane daughter William Molton junior and Sarah his wife


Marriages

William Molton of this parish and Mary Bolt of the Town of Wareham (widow) married in this Church by Banns this seventeenth Day of October in the Year One thousand eight Hundred and Two by me James Dowland, Vicar, This marriage was solemnized between us, the mark of Wm Molton, The mark of Mary Bolt, In the presence of James Lovell, James Vivian

Thomas King of the Parish of Broadmain and Ann Molton of this Parish spinster married in this Church by Banns this twenty first day of September in the Year One thousand Eight hundred and two by me James Dowland, Vicar, This marriage was solemnized between us Thos King, Ann Molton, In the presence of Thomas Molton, The mark of Jane Crummey.

George Crummey of the Blandford St Mary and Jane Molton of this parish were married in this Church by Banns, twenty first day of September in the Year One thousand eight hundred and one by me James Dowland, Vicar, This marriage was solemnized between us George Cromey, the mark of Jean Molton In the presence of Thomas Molton, Ann Molton

No. 92 John Molton of this parish and Mary Harvey of the parish of Milton Abbas married in this Church by Banns this eleventh day of January in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty four by me James Dowland, Vicar. This marriage was solemnized between us, the mark of John Molton, the mark of Mary Harvey, in the presence of the mark of William Devol, William Shave

Azariah Keynes of the parish of MIlton Abbas and Mary Moulton of this parish were married in this Church by banns this eighteenth day of January in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine by me Geo Marsh, Curate, This marriage was solemnized between us the mark of Azariah Keynes, Mary Molton, in the presence of William Amey

No. 55, Henry Davies of this parish batchelor and Anne Molton spinster of this parish were married in this church by banns this fifteenth day of June in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy two by me George Marsh, minister, This marriage was solemnized between us, the mark of Henry Davies, the mark of Anne Molton in the presence of Wm Shave, mark of John Combe




Banns

1783, Banns of Marriage between John Molton and Mary Harvey (no dates given)

1772. Banns of marriage between Henry Davies Batchelor, and Ann Molton spinster both of this parish were published 24 May, 31 May, 7 Jun by George Marsh, Minister


Completed from 1770 to 1812.

Molton family of Winterborne Whitchurch, Dorset, UK

The Molton family is a relatively new family for me in that the spelling looked to be Malton originally until one of the Knight descendants was into the Dorset Registry Office at Dorchester and found that the correct spelling was Molton. That turned out to be most helpful as he then quickly found the baptism of Elizabeth Molton 20 April 1776 at Winterborne Whitchurch. Elizabeth Molton married William Arnold at Milton Abbas 30 Aug 1793 and the priest obligingly recorded that William was of Milton Abbas and Elizabeth of Winterborne Whitchurch. Milton Abbas and Winterborne Whitchurch  are only two miles apart but the countryside in the Winterborne Valley is absolutely gorgeous. Long graceful valleys with beautiful thatched cottages dotting the landscape. The Churches majestic and many of them quite ancient. Our trip through this area was so memorable that I can still close my eyes and see the countryside much as my grandfather had described it on one of his few trips to this area. He called it the Winterborne Valley where his mother's family had lived for centuries. The story that unites the Blake family of Upper Clatford with the Knight family of Turnworth is probably a very interesting one but I never asked my grandfather and to the best of my memory I do not think he told me although he might have and it simply didn't impinge on my eight year old brain at least the memory has not emerged to date.

Elizabeth Molton baptized 20 April 1766 and the daughter of William and Sarah Molton. I have not found any further information on their marriage or other children and that is my intent with these special research times (of about 1 to 2 hours) that I have allotted on a bimonthly basis. My correspondent felt strongly that William was baptized 2 August 1743 at Winterborne Whitchurch and that Sarah was buried 13 Jan 1799 at Winterborne Whitchurch. Possibly he felt that John was the son of John and Elizabeth Molton with John being baptized 20 Jul 1714 at Winterborne Whitchurch and buried 24 Jul 1784 at Winterborne Whitchurch. Elizabeth his wife was buried 18 Jun 1781 at Winterborne Whitchurch. Possibly this John's parents were also a John and Elizabeth Molton who married in 1740 at Winterborne Whitchurch and this John was buried 29 Apr 1747 at Winterborne Whitchurch and Elizabeth was buried 14 Dec 1768 at Winterborne Whitchurch. Now to discover if I can find any records to follow through on this information and perhaps add to it. Again I will go to the OPC Dorset website http://www.opcdorset.org/WinterborneFiles/W.Whitchurch/WWhitechurch.htm

David Foster is the OPC for Winterborne Whitchurch and has put quite a bit of his information on line.

I located a number of baptisms for parents William and Sarah Molton

Thomas baptized 11 Jun 1764; buried 10 Feb 1765 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Elizabeth (as above)

Stephen baptized 12 Jan 1772 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Jane baptized 1 May 1774 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Thomas William baptized 7 Apr 1782 at Winterborne Whitchurch

Searching the IGI revealed marriages:

Stephen Molton and Hannah baptized a son William 17 Apr 1803 at Winterborne Whitchurch
William Molton married Mary Bolt 17 Oct 1802 at Winterborne Whitchurch
Jane Molton married George Cromey 21 Sep 1801 at Winterborne Whitchurch

Looking at the Molton Records at Winterborne Whitchurch:

Baptisms
Children of John and Elizabeth Molton
William Molton baptized 2 August 1743
Jane Molton baptized 2 Jun 1749
Robert Molton baptized 29 Nov 1753
John Molton baptized 18 Jan 1756

Children of John Molton
Mary Molton baptized 2 Jan 1710
Thomas Molten baptized  24 Aug 1712
John Molton baptized 20 Jul  l714; buried 24 Jul 1784
Mary Molten baptized  24 Jul 1721
Betty Molton baptized 30 Jan 1723

John Molton senior was buried 29 April 1747 (64 years) and Elizabeth (his wife) was buried 14 Dec 1768 (86 years) at Winterborne Whitchurch

John Molton was buried 24 Jul 1784 (old age) and Elizabeth (his wife) was buried 18 Jun 1781 (67 years) at Winterborne Whitchurch.

The baptisms in 1710 and 1712 state that John Molton was of Milton (Abbas?).

I do not find any entries for the Molton/Molten family in the Milton Abbas register.

Having extracted all these entries for the Molton family I tried to find out more about them and did discover a Moulton Facebook family page which claimed that the Molton family name was a derivative of this family. It does open the area for looking and I shall keep that in mind.

FindMyPast does have some of the later Molton records for Winterborne Whitchurch but not the earlier marriages. World Connect does not appear to have this particular family included in their Molton families. Ancestry has one family chart but they are located in the United States in the 1700s which doesn't work with my lines!

I need to try and find the Protestation Returns for Winterborne Whitchurch which would tell me the family was there in 1641-42 although the earliest baptisms do say that John Molton/Molten was of Milton. There is a Thomas Mollet at Milton Abbas so I would need to look at the originals and I will check and see if I captured them when we visited Salt Lake City. Otherwise, it could be on my list for next time.

I shall search some of my Dorset records to see if I can find any further information on the family and that can be for the next Molton Research Day.

I completed from 1901 to 1911 the marriages for Blake in Hampshire (adding the marriage partner to my spreadsheet). I now need to work on locating the correct partner in the 1911 Census. A project for tomorrow. I also have a couple of other Blake projects to work on tomorrow.

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.

Exciting news - Elizabeth Molton

I was contacted about a month ago by a researcher looking at the Arnold family - he had found my webpage entries for Arnold (and possibly my blog I think was in the email). They were enquiring about my Arnold line which is always very interesting to hear.

Hannah Arnold (my 4x great grandmother) married Charles Butt and for awhile I had the parents of Hannah wrong but now know that her parents were William Arnold and Elizabeth Malten however it isn't Malten (that is a bad transcription likely) - her surname was Molton and she was the daughter of William and Sarah Molton baptized 20 Apr 1766 at Winterborne Whitchurch which is stated in her marriage lines (not her parents but her place of birth). I have been trying to solve the Malten mystery for a bit although not with much attention I must admit. I am just starting now to work on the 4x great grandparents and I hadn't quite reached her.

My correspondent found the Elizabeth Molton baptism and realized that it was just a simple spelling error and sent it on to me - much appreciated to receive any comments on my lines and hope that people benefit from my research online. As it turns out the Molton family were at Winterborne Whitchurch at least from the latter part of the 1600s on and so the line goes back several generations on the OPC Dorset website.

Speaking of OPC Dorset I have now taken on Turnworth as well and must get that material submitted. This is the home of my Knight family (Louisa Butt married Samuel Knight (my 2x great grandparents with Louisa being the grandaughter of Elizabeth Molten).

I am carrying on with the Andover Parish Register 4 and have now reached 5728 burials as of March 1702/3. I found the burial of Charles Blake which is quite interesting. I did not notice it when I read the fiche but it was written in a very fancy script and my eye didn't pick it up. That is the very reason that I like to transcribe the registers that I work with - I find everything that way :) Charles is interesting because I have now discovered his ancestry back - he married at Andover but I could not find a baptism for him but he is listed in his father's will. One of my Blake correspondents traces back to Charles Blake who married at Abbotts Ann in 1737 and I rather think this is his line but a little more proof would be nice. The Abbotts Ann registers are particularly difficult in this time period but I will be working on them one of these days - perhaps when I reach the mid 1700s with the Andover I will then switch.

Snow on the ground here now and likely to stay. The ground is frozen and it is a dark day today - perfect for transcribing. The long cold winters are good for research. Soon we will have our skis and snowshoes out.