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Chapter 7
WILLIAM - The Fisherman
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Third born (but second surviving) son of James and Elizabeth (nee
Wells), William was one half of twins, for the Registers' record the
double baptism of William and Ann on 4 April 1765.
Of all the Christian names used from generation to generation, the
inclusion of Ann, suggests either a name transference from Elizabeth
(nee Wells)'s side of the family, or possibly a link with a different branch
of the Powditch family living several miles away, Whatever the reason
for naming her Ann, her name has eluded me so far when searching
for her marriage or death - (although it is just possible that she was
known / baptised with the additional Christian name of Elizabeth -
see Chapter 2, page 41 - "James and Elizabeth - The 'Wells'
Connection" for an explanation).
William, however, married Mary (or Helen) Allen, on 23 November
1774, at St. Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea; 1774 was the year
that saw Kentucky (America) first "settled". Witnesses to William
and Mary's marriage do not appear to be related to the couple, and
may well have been "officers" of the Church; - they were John Everett
and Wells Ringwood.
Both William and Mary had been single before their marriage, and
following Banns being called on 6, 13 and 20 November 1774, they
married 3 days later on the 23rd. Perhaps John Everett and Wells
Ringwood were present to sign the Register, for regrettably, both
William and Mary were only able to make their mark "X". Although
recorded as "Fisherman" at his death, the marriage Register states
that he was a "Cobleman" - which relates more to the type of vessel
from which he fished.
A "Coble" was a fishing-boat, used primarily in the "local to Wells"
area, although some were mentioned in documents as being further
afield. Parish Registers in Wells-next-the-Sea refer to them over a
period of approximately 200 years, from the 1580s onwards, and
appear to indicate a normal crew level of 3. Reference books and
documents etc, whilst stating the word "Coble", regrettably do not
furnish detailed descriptions or drawings of the vessel, other than the
comment that they "line-fished".
William would appear to have been aged 19½ at the time of his
marriage; unusual when the majority of (Powditch) weddings were
"of full age" (i.e. 21 years old) or older. However, in view of his
untimely death at the age of 32 years, perhaps his early marriage, and
the raising of a family, was not only of benefit to history, but hopefully
provided some form of comfort to his widow through their surviving
children.
William and Mary had five children; 1 girl and 4 boys,
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Although I haven't been able to confirm that the above Elizabeth
definitely married, I do have record of an Elizabeth who married
William Waller on 13 March 1809, Curate Ackroyd officiating.
Elizabeth would have then been aged 34 - which is a possibility, but
my uncertainty lies around the likelihood that another Elizabeth (i.e.
the daughter of James and Mary [nee Oldman] ) -- who was born
1789, and thus aged 20 in 1809, is another contender.
James, however, who was baptised on 12 January 1777, was
married by Curate J. Ackroyd, on 5 November 1801 to Margaret
Woods. Both James and Margaret signed their names, as did their
four witnesses; - Jameson Frost, Ann Haddon, Ann Woods (Sister?;
Mother?), and James Haddon.
The couple, were blessed with five children; 2 boys and 3 girls,
although one of the boys died within a couple of weeks of his baptism.
The children were; -
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When I first. came across this family, I was struck by the dates of James
and Margaret's marriage - 5 November - Guy Fawkes/Bonfire night;
Samuel's birthdate - 29 February, the only " Leap-year Powditch''
iscovered to date; and Mary Ann's birthdate - 1 May (May-Day).
hereas other "occasions" in different families have fallen on interesting
dates/events in history, this is the only family so far to bear so many
"Calendar dates".
Returning to William and Mary, their third child was William. Sad to
relate, he died whilst an infant, at the tender age of 2 years and (nearly)
10 months, (bp.19 April 1779; bu. 9 February 1782)
Samuel (or Samual) - dependant upon the spellings in different
Registers - married just before his 25th birthday, when, on 10 March
1806, he was wed to Ann Kendle (or Kendall, or Kindle), at a service
officiated by the Rev. Hill.
Both were single, and "of this Parish". Both however endorsed the
Register with their marks, "X", although their witnesses - Nathaniel
Woods, Marguerite (Margarite? or Margaret?) Powditch and Ann
Powditch, all signed their names.
For some reason, although Samuel and Ann both lived to their late 50s,
they only had one child - Samuel (or Samual). Through this one child
however, as we shall learn in a later Chapter, are descended (in 1989),
families living in Derbyshire, Australia, France, London, Sussex,
Coventry and Canada. Even in the mid-1800s one branch was
resident in India!
Last child of William and Mary's marriage, was William Allen. Bearing
as his second Christian name his Mother's maiden name, and baptised
on 10 January 1804, after Banns had been called. Both were single,
and although William Allen made his mark, "X", Sarah Ann signed the
Register, as did their witnesses; Mary Watson and Benjamin Easton.
William Allen and Sarah Ann had five children; - all daughters.
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Apart from Lydia Jane's marriage, no further details are known (to date)
of the outcome of her sisters, relating to their marriages or deaths.
Of William and Mary, the parents, William died aged 32, and was
buried at WelIs-next-the-Sea on 14 January 1787; Mary lived on
another 29 years before she too died, and was buried on 22 February
1816, aged 66.
Several mentions of their children or their wives, together with their
grandchildren, are made in the 1841 Census of Wells-next-the-Sea,
although only one set of descendants re-appear in the 1851 Census.
James (who married Margaret Woods) appears to have died before
1841, for, at the Census, his family was recorded as;
Samuel - who had married Ann Kendle - died just. 6 years before the
(1841) Census, and he was buried on 7 March 1835 aged 57.
Although obviously not mentioned on the 1841 Census, he was
nevertheless mentioned in the "Voters List for Wells" for the year of his
death - 1835 !
His widow, Ann - who didn't die until 1844, and then in Wells-next-the-
Sea, should therefore (in theory) appear on the 1841 Census. In fact,
there is an Ann Powditch of approximately the right age - living almost
next door to a Samuel Powditch and his family. If it is the correct Ann
and Samuel combination, then;
Finally, William and Mary's last child William, who married Sarah Ann
Fairweather, also appears on the 1841 Census.
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Ten years later, in 1851, William was still alive, although he must have
been away for the Census (possibly at sea?). The family are recorded
as;-
William and Sarah lived to a grand old age. William being aged 82,
when he "departed this life " on 22 March 1865; and Sarah Ann (his
wife), being aged 81, when she too passed away on 7 July 1864 - as
their decorative tombstone in St. Nicholas Churchyard, Wells-next-the-
Sea bears witness.
The family tree of William and Mary (or Helen) [nee Allen], together with
their descendants, appears on the next page.
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Acknowledgements