Things do not seem to be getting any easier here
- in fact they seem to be getting more difficult!
I have added together the two lots of information from what you know of this Will to see if it might make things any more clear so let's see how we go.
Sister Sarah CURNOW, widowWe are off to a flying start here because we have her marriage and know a little about her.
It looks likely that her husband was the William Curnow buried at Towednack 13th August 1769 but that is still to be proved.)
Problem - I cannot find a burial for Sarah!
Niece Sarah CURNOWYoungest child of William and Sarah Curnow
Nephew Andrew CURNOWOnly surviving son of William and Sarah Curnow - he died in 1790.
Niece Sarah BARAGWANATHDaughter of Thomas' brother Richard James (m. Alice Row).
She married Michael BARAGWANATH at Towednack in 1761.
Margery wife of William CURNOWA definite problem!
Thomas MICHELL son of Matthew deceased and MargaretYoungest son of Thomas' sister Margaret who married Matthew Michell at Towednack in 1755.
Matthew Michell buried 7th December 1777 at Towednack and it looks like Margaret was buried 27th March 1792 at Towednack.
Niece Mary WILLIAMSAt this point in time - NO IDEA!
But two possibilities are the daughter of John James or the daughter of Gabriel James.
In either case I have not been able to find a marriage to a Williams.
There is also a third possibility.
Henry Williams married Sibella James at Towednack in 1740.
I do not know whether Sibella was another daughter of John and Sarah and I have also not been able to find a daughter Mary.
Elizabeth MICHELL daughter of MatthewShe would be the eldest daughter of Matthew and Margaret and therefore another niece to Thomas.
Thomas JAMES son of Gabriel JAMES nephewOne of those slightly confusing ones as it is actually Gabriel who is the nephew and Thomas the grand-nephew.
Gabriel James was son of Richard and Alice James and married Mary Trewhella at Towednack in 1758.
Zacharias JAMES son of Richard JAMES deceasedThe next problem - just where does Richard belong?
Zacharias' parents were Richard JAMES and Sibella HOLLA, sojourner, who married at Towednack 3rd February 1757.
I can find no baptism that would link Richard to the family of Thomas.
He cannot have been a son of Thomas' brother Richard as his wife Alice and son Richard were buried three months apart in 1735.
It is possible that it was a second marrige for Richard but, if so, then it was more then twenty years after he was widowed!
John JAMES son of Richard JAMES deceasedBrother to Zacharias above.
John JAMES son of Gabriel JAMESBrother to Thomas (above)
Matthew MICHELLThis is either a further mention of the deceased Matthew or it is his son of the same name.
But that then begs the question of why Christopher, Margaret and Jacob Michell were not mentioned.
Aunt? Margaret CURNOWThis one really is going to cause a dilemma!
If she were a 'living' aunt then I would expect her to be well into her 90s so it is another mention that will require the Document to sort out.
Brother John JAMES daughter MargaretYoungest daughter of John and the fact she is the only child of John specifically mentioned suggests either she is the only surviving child or that she is the only one left unmarried.
John James did not marry until 1760 and had five daughters. (Son John died age 1)
Elizabeth - see below
Sarah - married Francis Hickes at Towednack in 1788
Mary - see above re Mary Williams
Ann - see below
John CURGENVENAs you pointed out there was a marriage at Towednack in 1784 to Ann James.
The fact that John is mentioned on his own suggests the possibility that Ann had died and I have also been unable to find any children for them.
I think Ann was probably the daughter of John James junr.
John HILL grandson of brother John JAMESYet another problem!
- but see my notes below.
That is about what I know of all the players in this little game.
There is a burial at St Just for Sibella James, widow, 24th February 1782 - this may be the widow of Richard and mother of Zacharias.
To finish off I will explain what I have found regarding John HILL.
The scenario is unproven but looks like this:-
William HILL of Marazion married Mary GUBBS of Penzance 8th February 1799 at Madron by Licence
I can find no children anywhere for William and Mary.
Mary HILL buried 11th June 1779 at Madron
Not many mentions of the name Hill in the area so it appears probable this was the new wife of William.
William HILL, widower of St Hilary married Elizabeth JAMES 2nd November 1780 at Towednack
I can find no children for William and Mary or for William and Elizabeth Hill - particularly not a John.
However there is an interesting baptism at St Hilary.
John James Hill s/o William and Jane bp. 2nd September 1781
Guess what?? - I can find no marriage for William and Jane.
I suspect this is the John Hill mentioned in the Will of Thomas James.
But it complicates even further!
William Hill age 23 buried 2nd June 1782 at St Hilary
Very possibly the same William who married Elizabeth James.
And then we have
John HARRIS, yeoman of St Ives married ELIZABETH HILL by Licence 13th September 1785 at Towednack
There is no mention of her being a widow but I think this is most likely to be the widow of William.
The fact she is not menioned in the Will of Thomas (given she was still alive) is significant.
As there appears to have been only one child from her marriage it may be presumed that her husband had died - refer above burial.
So if she was a widow she would have surely been mentioned in the Will.
Having not been menioned then suggests that she remarried which brings in Mr Harris above.
Apart from William in 1781 I think this is the ONLY marriage of a HILL at Towednack at least up until 1812.
Now that I have given you something to play with
- go see what you can do with that lot! ;D
CT
It is 2.30am here. ) Will have another look tomorrow, Definately would like a look at the whole will.
