'His Majestie's Carpenter' - Genealogists' Forum

vita · #1 19-09-21, 12:00

Can't remember if i've mentioned this before but I recently came across the
will of John Hedland while going through sme of my late father's papers.
Dated 1609 it was three pages of white print on black paper, making it very difficult to read. While I was in hospital a friend transcribed it for me & I've been doing a bit of research on John & his family.
Seems he was carpenter to both Queen Elizabeth 1st & her successor King
James. His wife was named Gertrude & he had children Edward, George & Ann.I've also found another daughter Mary, who seems to have died young.
Ploughing through the registers of St.Olave, Hart St I've been able to trace baptisms for all the children except Edward, so perhaps the family was at a different address at he time of his birth.
I realise this family may have nothing to do with my Headlands & my
father may have have just been curious, but there again ........ it was the
only document relating to genealogy that he had & I would be thrilled if I
confirm there is indeed a connection.
If anyone can come up with any suggestions I'd be most grateful.

kiterunner · #2 19-09-21, 14:03

Can you remind us how far you have got back with your Headlands, please, Vita?

vita · #3 19-09-21, 15:52

Only as far as Isaac who m Sarah Trenley at St George Hanover Square 1776.All attempts to trace his origins have failed, I'm afraid.

kiterunner · #4 19-09-21, 16:03

Then you would need to trace several generations back from Isaac or forward from John to find out if they are connected. A bit obvious, I know. You could look to see whether anyone has them in public trees on Ancestry or elsewhere, though of course you would need to check any such info.

kiterunner · #5 19-09-21, 16:05

Perhaps I should add that my relatives found a Bristow family tree in my grandfather's papers which was completely unrelated to his family but had been drawn up by an American Bristow who maybe didn't realise how many people of the same name there are in the UK! Also my grandmother left a Glasscodine family tree but when I started work on it, I found that a few generations back it was totally wrong.

kiterunner · #6 19-09-21, 16:07

Oh, and my other Granny was convinced that two Friedrich brothers in Wisconsin (I think it was), who were reported to have left a fortune, were related to her, but sadly not.

Merry · #7 19-09-21, 16:14

Quote:

Dated 1609 it was three pages of white print on black paper, making it very difficult to read.

I guess it's far too late to say this will is on Ancestry and black on white so not so tricky to read!

Merry · #8 19-09-21, 16:24

Another child (it's a son, despite the spelling in the transcript!)?

Frances Hedland Burial 20 Aug 1593 St Olave, Hart Street, City of London, father John

kiterunner · #9 19-09-21, 17:00

I don't think there was a clear distinction between the spellings Frances and Francis at that time.

vita · #10 19-09-21, 17:49

Thanks, Kite & Merry. Do realise John is probably not one of mine,but you know what it's like once your curiosity
is aroused? I did realise the will was on line Merry, but I'd already handed the paper copy to my friend.He likes a challenge & was pleased to be doing something for me, so I didn't want to discourage him. Really don't know what more I can do re Isaac - he just appears from nowhere to marry Sarah.The Hedlands however could be more promising - there's mention of other carpenters of the same name later, and Isaac himself was a carpenter
- another coincidence?