FISHER

FISHER

NOTE - The Fisher surname and associated names are part of the PORTLER pedigree and do not pertain to the PORTER genealogy.

Associated Names - HARDY, TOWLER, WORTLEY and JAMES

There were Fishers in most of the large parishes of western Norfolk from earliest time. Edward Fisher had eight children baptised in Gayton Thorpe [FbL] from 1592 to 1608 and he was Church Warden there in 1605. John Fisher had children baptised in Weeting St. Mary form 1582.

William Fisher (born about 1745 in ............... 1) married on 21 January 1770 in Terrington St. Clements 2 to Ann Hardy 3. William is likely the Wm. Fisher who owned and occupied land in Terrington SC according to the 1798 Tax Assessment, and he may be the owner but not occupant of a parcel in Tilney St. Lawrence 4.

Ann Fisher died and was buried in Terrington SC 22 April 1796 5 and William, aged 64, died and was buried in Terrington SC 20 April 1809. His will, dated 7 August 1804, left his large landed estate in Terrington Saint Clement to his children Michael Fisher and Mary Portler.

William and Ann had at least 11 children, all baptised in Terrington Saint Clement, although at least 6 and possibly 9 died before reaching adulthood.

1. Charles, born 18 October 1770 but probably died before 1804.

2. Michael, born ____ 1772 and married 3 April 1794 to Mary Parlet of Clenchwarton in Clenchwarton. He died 1 August 1838 6 and had at least 3 children:

-William bapt 16 Aug. 1795 in Terrington SC married Catherine Jane Pattern 2 December 1824 in Terrington SC and died 24 October 1845 7 leaving his estate to his wife and son Michael William (bapt. 11 Mary 1836 in Terrington SC). In 1841 William Fisher was on a farm in Balsam Field, Terrington SC with Catherine and children Mary 15 and Michael 5. In 1851 Catherine Fisher, Widow, was in Terrington SC by herself as a landed proprietor and Michael William was in Kings Lynn at a school on Tower Street operated by Josiah Carver.

-Ann Atkinson bapt 2 Jan. 1797 in Terrington SC married Joseph Taylor 20 August 1835 in Terrington SC and had at least a son John Thomas William baptised there 3 Nov. 1839 and ....

-Michael baptised 28 May 1800 and died before the making of his father’s will in September of 1837.

 

3. Mary, baptised 4 September 1774, married John Portler 24 February 1797 in Terrington SC and, secondly to her cousin Thomas Fisher 17 October 1805 in Terrington Saint Clement 8 and died about February 1836 in West Winch and buried 20 February in Terrington SC. In addition to her children with John Portler, she had a daughter Phoebe Smith baptised in Terrington SC 29 March 1808 but the note says “her husband Thomas not cohabiting with her”.

4. Francis, born c. August 1776 and was buried 4 October 1776 9

5. Francis Hardy baptised 10 2 May 1777 and ....

6. Rebecca baptised 16 February 1778 and was buried 4 September 1778.

7. Hardy William baptised 22 11 January 1780 and was buried 5 12 June 1780.

8. Frances baptised 2 December and was buried 5 December 1782.

9. William baptised 29 13 February 1784 and was buried 16 14 October 1784.

10. Elizabeth born and baptised 19 November 1786 and ...

11. Hardy, a daughter, baptised 6 October 1788 and was buried 14 May 1796 15.

HARDY - Shouldham, Clackclose 100

Hardys 16 had been in Shouldham for generations with the earliest will at the NRO dated 1576.

Francis Hardinge married ____ in about 1547 and had at least the following children likely baptised in Shouldham:

1. Thomas who married Elizabeth (sese below);

and possibly the following:

2. Christopher (see below); and

3. Richard (see below).

Francis died in Shouldham in 1576 with a will 17 which left his house in Shouldham to his son Thomas and Thomas's wife Elizabeth, and provided gifts to Oliver the son of Christopher Hardinge, Samuel the son of Richard Hardinge, Christopher the son of Thomas Hardinge and Margaret Hardinge, who may all have been his grandchildren.

Thomas Hardinge, b.c. 1547, married Elizabeth ______ and had at least the following child likely baptised in Shouldham:

1. Christopher b.c. 1572 and referred to in the 1576 will of Francis Harding, likely his grandfather.

Christopher Hardie, b.c. 1549, married Elizabeth _____ and had at least the following children likely baptised in Shouldham:

1. Oliver b.c. 1574 and referred to in the 1576 will of Francis Harding, likely his grandfather; and

2. Elizabeth.

Christopher, a labourer, died in 1586 with a will 18 which provided for his wife and two children.

Richard Hardy, b.c. 1551, married Katherine _____ in about 1573 and had at least the following children likely baptised in Shouldham:

1. Samuel b.c. 1574 and referred to in the 1576 will of Francis Harding, likely his grandfather (see below);

2. Marion;

3. Elizabeth;

4. Cicely;

5. Agnes who married ___ Lane; and

6. Frances.

Richard, a taylor, died in 1599 with a will 19 which provided for his wife and five children.

Samuel Hardy, b.c. 1574, married Elizabeth _____ in about 1598 and had at least the following children likely baptised in Shouldham:

1. Richard;

2. Samuel

3. Joane;

4. Agnes; and

5. Eizabeth

Samuel, a taylor, died in 1624 with a will 20 which provided for his wife and five children.

There would appear to be a generation missing between Samuel Hardy and Richard Hardy, who follows.

Richard Hardy married Anne ___ in about 1642 and had at least the following children likely baptised in Shouldham:

1. *Francis born about 1644 (see below) and succeeded to his father's lands in Shouldham in 1667; and

2. Anne.

Richard Hardy appeared in the Shouldham Manor (Shouldham Priory) Manor Court Rolls from at least 1646 and was chosen Pinder several times

Richard Hardy died in 1661, according to the Manor Court Rolls, and Anne Hardy died in 1666, likely in Shouldham, with a will 21 which provided for her son Francis and daughter Anne.

On 5 Oct. 1677 Anne Hardye married William Spalden in Shouldham and had at least a son Barnaby Spaulding baptised there 11 June 1682.

A Francis Hardy was baptised 7 March 1624/5 to Thomas and Frances in West Dereham.

[FRANCIS?] HARDY & ANNE _____

[Francis?] Hardy married Anne ____ in about 1650 and they had at least the following:

1.*Francis born about 1654 (see below);

2. Anne born about 1656 and who may have been the Anne Hardy who married William Spalden 5 October 1677 in Shouldham and had at least a son Barnaby Spaulding baptised there 11 June 1682; and

3. William born before 1654 but buried in Shouldham in 1664 22.

Francis Hardy likely died sometime before 1666 but no probate documentation has yet been found.

Anne Hardy died in 1666 and her will 23 left bequests to her children Francis and Anne.

FRANCIS HARDY & 1. MARY ____

Francis Hardy was probably born about 1654 24, likely in Shouldham, and married Mary ___ in about 1667 and they had at least the following child baptised in Shouldham:

1. Mary 24 March 1668/9.

Mary Hardy likely died in about 1680.

FRANCIS HARDY & 2. ANNE _______

Francis Hardy was probably born about 1654, likely in Shouldham, and married, secondly, Anne____ before 1681 and they had at least the following child baptised in Shouldham:

2. Samuel 12 August 1682.

Anne the wife of Francis Hardy died and was buried in Shouldham 2_ December 1705.

FRANCIS HARDY & 3. ANNE TOWLER

Francis Hardy was probably born about 1654, likely in Shouldham, and married, thirdly, Anne Towler 24 March 1705/6 in Shouldham and they had at least the following child:

3. *Francis 19 November 1710.

Francis Hardy, senior, died and was buried in Shouldham 14 25 February 1715/6 26.

Anne Hardy, widow, married 28 May 1716 in Shouldham to James Breese and they had at least 4 children baptised in Shouldham - Mary 1717, Caleb 1718, James 1720 and Anne 1724 (although she died the next year). Anne Breeze the wife of James, died and was buried in Shouldham 12 December 1729. James Breese died and was buried in Shouldham 8 September 1733 with a will 27 providing for his 3 children (his son Caleb to be executor) and for Susan Fisher, widow of Marham.

Francis Hardy appeared in the Shouldham with Members Manor Court Rolls from at least 1680 (when Book 2 begins) until his death in 1716 28 either as a Juror on both the Capital Pledges and Homage Juries or in the list of capital pledges. He was appointed constable at the court of 26 October 1683. He appears to have sold his property in Shouldham shortly before his death, but after surrendering to his will, as the Manor Court of 11 October 1716 recorded the admission of Francis Jones, on the surrender of Francis Hardy on 1 March 1714/5, to a cottage and one rood of land on “The Street” in Shouldham between Leonard Erish and John Clarke, gent.

FRANCIS HARDY & MARY WORTLEY

Francis Hardy was likely born in Shouldham [CLK] and baptised there 19 November 1710 to Francis Hardy and Anne his wife. He married in Fincham (St. Michael) 7 September 1735 to Mary Wortly or Wortley 29. They had their first four children baptised in Tottenhill, just to the N.W. of Fincham (Shouldham intervening) from 1737 to 1746 and then moved slightly south to the parish of Runcton (Runcton Holm 30) where at least their next three children were baptised from 1749 to 1761. Finally, the family moved to Terrington Saint Clement, sometime before the burial there of their last child Rose in July of 1765.

Francis Hardy died in Terrington Saint Clement in 1776 31 and his will 32 gave his estate to his wife and 4 daughters, including Ann Fisher. Mary Hardy died...? 33

Francis and Mary had the following children:

1. John - baptised 28 August 1737 in Tottenhill and ...

2. Mary - baptised 4 June 1740 34 in Tottenhill and married in ? [before 1764] to Henry Norton and had at least a daughter Anne baptised 14 October 1764 in Wimbotsham. She died and was buried 30 March 1772 in Stow Bardolph and Henry remarried in Wimbotsham in 1772 to Elizabeth Wesh, a widow of Upwell.

3. Anne - baptised 15 July 1743 in Tottenhill but died before 1749.

4. Elizabeth - baptised 23 March 1746 in Tottenhill and married in Runcton Holme 16 October 1764 to Michael Goodale. They had at least four children baptised in Runcton Holme: Mary in 1765 (m. William Reeve), Ann in 1767 (m. Samuel West), Michael Hardy in 1770 and Hardy William in 1779, as well as a son (appointed executor of his father’s estate) Martin in ? and a daughter Elizabeth (m. William Fretwell). Michael Goodale died in ___ and provided for his son Martin, two daughters Elizabeth and Mary and the children of his deceased daughter Ann.

5. *Ann - baptised 24 June 1749 in Runcton Holme and married 21 January 1770 in Terrington St. Clement to William Fisher (see above).

6. Frances - born in 1751 and married to Hallage Howes or Howse 35 23 August and they had at least 8 children in Watlington: Hallage in 1775; William in 1778; John in 1780; Mary in 1781; Maria in 1785 but died in 1798; Elizabeth in 1787 but died in 1788; Francis Hardy born in ? but died in 1784; and Rebecca born in ? but died in 1794. Hallage Howes died intestate 1798-1801 in Watlington.

7. Thomas Wortly - born ___ 1755 in Runcton Holme but died and was buried in Runcton 18 July 1757.

8. Rose - baptised 12 April 1761 in Runcton Holme but died and was buried in Terrington St. Clement 18 July 1765.

A Francis Hardy was baptised 7 March 1624/5 to Thomas and Frances in West Dereham.

TOWLER

A Richard Towler was buried in New Buckenham in 1505.

Anne Towler was born about 1682 and married 1. Francis Hardy 24 March 1705/6 in Shouldham and after his death 2. James Breese 28 May 1716 in Shouldham. She died and was buried in Shouldham 12 December 1729. Her first five children with Francis and James were Francis, Mary, Caleb, James and Anne.

Robert Towler (b.c. 1664 if Robert was their first child or 1660 is Anne was their first child) and Anne his wife had the following children baptised in Shouldham 36:

1. Robert (as Toller) 2 Feb. 1688/9 but was buried in Shouldham as Robert Towler Jr. 21 Dec. 1708;

2. John 1 Feb. 1690/1;

3. Susan, twin with Thomas, 6 Sept. 1693; and

4. Thomas, twin with Susan, 8 Sept. 1693.

It is possible that Anne was an earlier child born elsewhere before the family arrived in Shouldham, where they were the first and only family of that name before 1700.

It is likely that Anne Towler the wife of Robert died sometime between the birth of her twins in 1693 and 1696 because

Robert Towler married Lydia _____ in about January of 1696 and they had the following children baptised in Shouldham:

5. Lydia 4 Oct. 1696;

6. Japhia - a son - 1 May 1698 but buried there 12 Jan. 1698/9;

7. Rose 28 July 1700; and

8. Nehemiah - a son - 8 Jan. 1702/3.

Richard Towlerby, a widower, married Mary Burges, single woman, in Croxton near Thetford 16 May 1623 and was likely the father of the following:

1. Abraham born in about 1630 and possibly married Elizabeth ___ who, as the wife of Abraham, was buried in Wilton 18 November 1654. Abraham then married Katherine (Pleasance?) and had two children baptised in Wilton Mary in 1656 and Pleasance 37 in 1664 and a daughter Elizabeth buried there in 1658;

2. John baptised 28 February 1635/6 in Wilton next Hockwold; and

3. Thomas born in about 1640 (see below).

Thomas Towler (b.c. 1640 38) married Martha _____ in about 1664 and had the following children baptised in Wilton next Hockwold:

1. Richard 21 May 1665;

2. Ambrose 1 March 1667 (n.s.);

3. Jeffrey 24 July 1670 but buried there 12 December 1670;

4. Mary 3 December 1671;

5. Elizabeth 9 August 1674 but buried there 28 July 1692;

6. John 20 May 1677;

7. Anne 13 April 1680, twin with Margaret, but buried there 29 April;

8. Margaret 13 April 1680, twin with Anne, but buried there 29 April;

9. *Anne 5 March 1681/2 who likely married Francis Hardy 24 March 1705/6 in Shouldham;

10. Isaac 9 June 1685 but buried there 6 March 1685/6;

11. Martha 27 February 1686/7 but likely died shortly thereafter; and

12. Martha 25 May 1689 but buried there 6 August 1694.

Martha Towler, the wife of Thomas, was likely the Martha Towler buried in Wilton 20 June 1689. Thomas was possibly the Thomas Towler, Senior, who was buried in Shouldham 22 April 1722.

An Anne Towler, widow, was buried in Methwold 1 January 1683/4, the first year for which there are Parish registers for Methwold.

John Towler married Jane ____ and had the following baptised in Hockwold:

1. John 1 March 1667/8; and

2. Thomas 23 October 1670.

Richard Towell [sic] married Margaret Reader 2 Feb. 1675/6 in Hockwold.

Robert and Katherine Towler had a son baptised and buried in Weeting St. Mary in 1597. Weeting is just above the river separating Norfolk and Suffolk and thus significantly south of Shouldham.

Robert Towler and Anne his wife had the following children baptised in Weeting AS:

1. Elizabeth - buried there in 1622;

2. Helen 1623;

3. Thomas 1624; and

4. William 1630 but buried there the same year.

Stephen Towler married Anne Bayly in Weeting AS in 1636.

Stephen Towler of Hillborough married Susan Beeton, widow, in Weeting St. Mary in 1702.

Solomon Towler married Mary Daines of Downham 18 Dec. 1716 in Stow Bardolph, by lic.

WORTLEY 39

Mary Wortley was born about 1712 and married in Fincham (St. Michael) 7 September 1735 to Francis Hardy. Her first daughter was named Mary Hardy and her second son was named Thomas Wortley Hardy, suggesting that her parents were Thomas and Mary Wortley.

An Anne Wortbelow [sic] was baptised in Shouldham __ April 1703 to John and Mary. A John Wortley, widower, married Elizabeth Merryweather, single, 30 December 1724 in Shouldham, both parties from Watlington.

There were also Wortleys in Methwold.

Thomas Wortley married Constance ___ and they were likely the parents of the Thomas who follows and

1. Thomas;

2. John; and

3. Richard baptised 1 September 1705 in Methwold 40.

Thomas Wortley Senior was buried in Methwold 41_____ with a will 42 which left his estate in Methwold and Feltwell to his wife Constance and sons Thomas and John.

Constance Wortley, widow, was buried in Methwold 17 March 1726/7.

Thomas Wortley married Mary James 7 July 1704 in Methwold, both were single persons of the parish, and they had at least the following children baptised in Methwold:

1. Thomas 7 April 1705 but likely died soon after;

2. Thomas 29 August 1707 and married Elizabeth Brunton in Methwold 5 April 1727 43;

3. Richard 17 April 1710 and married Elizabeth Munson in Methwold 31 October 1738;

4. John? born about 1712 44 and married Ann Falthorp in Methwold 5 April 1729;

5. *Mary 23 Jan. 1714/5 and possibly married Francis Hardy 7 September 1735 in Fincham 45;

6. William 16 Dec. 1716;

7. Anne 6 April 1718 but buried there 12 August 1718;

8. Anne 14 June 1719 who likely married William Elmer 3 Nov. 1740 (their first child born 3 months later was named Constantia but he died in 1749/50) and later she married Henry Learner;

9. Constantia 7 Feb. 1720/1 but buried there 13 Oct. 1740; and.

10 Jane born ? and married John Rolph in Methwold 7 July 1747.

Thomas Wortley Sr. was buried in Methwold 28 September 1757 with a will 46 which left his estate to his wife Mary and his sons Thomas, who received his lands in Methwold and Feltwell, and John, who received his land in Barton Bendish.

Mary Wortley, widow, was buried in Methwold 8 October 1765 with a will 47 which left her estate to her sons Thomas, Richard, John and William Wortley and daughters Jane Rolfe and Anne Learner but made no mention of her daughter Mary.

Thomas Wortley married Constance ____ and had at least the following children:

1. *Thomas born about 1682 and married Mary James 7 July 1704 in Methwold (see above);

2. John; and

2. Richard born ? but buried in Methwold 1 September 1705.

Thomas Wortley was buried in Methwold between 1706 and 1710 with a will 48 which left his land in Barton [Bendish] to his wife Constance for life and then to his son Thomas and his land in Methwold and Feltwell to his son John. Constance Wortley was buried in Methwold 17 March 1726/7.

Wortleys were well established in Wells from the 1650s.

JAMES

Mary James (b.c. 1680) married Thomas Wortley 7 July 1704 in Methwold, both single and of Methwold.

 

John James married Anne ___ before 1682, likely in Methwold, and had at least 49 the following children baptised there:

1. *Mary 3 Feb. 1683/4 and married Thomas Wortley 7 July 1704 (see above); and

2. Anne 28 Jan. 1685/6 and married William Scoting [?] 9 March 1710/11.

 

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