Notes for John THURTELL

Thurtell and Related Families Thurtell and Related Families

Notes for John THURTELL

Information received from Peter Murray in 1997 shows that John Thurtell, the father of the James Thurtell who married Winifred Nunn, was a barber in Trowse, Norfolk, England in the time before barbers and surgeons split into separate guilds in 1745. Afterwards he was a prosperous periwigmaker in Norwich and Trowse Newton, Norfolk, England. His properties in Norwich passed to the use of his widow and afterwards jointly to his children, while those in Trowse Newton, where he lived, passed to his eldest son John. He also held a part freehold and part copyhold property in Hempnall, Norfolk, which passed to his second son James. John and Elizabeth Thurtell had at least four children.

The IGI shows a John Thurtle christened February 20, 1705, the son of John Thurtle and Jane. It is possible that "Jane" is an error for "Alice," and this entry refers to this John Thurtell. The parish record itself has not yet been checked.

John Thurtell, son of John Thurtell the blacksmith, was mentioned in his father's will in 1729. He is also mentioned in the will of his mother Alice, in 1735, which clearly states he was her son. He figures also in the Admon of his brother Henry, in 1741, as John Thurtill of Trowse, a barber, although their relationship is not actually stated. There seems little doubt that this is the same man as the John Thurtell, wig maker of Norwich and Trowse Newton, who made his will in 1767 proved in 1769 or 1770, and had children by his wife Elizabeth. In 1729 he was bequeathed by his father's will a blue cloth wrapping coat, and in 1735 by his mother's will (Alice) the sum of one shilling.

The will of John Thurtell, of Trowse Newton, Norfolk, periwigmaker (i.e., wig maker), in the Norfolk Record Office, is dated September 7, 1767. The executors appointed in the will were sworn March 20, 1769, and so the testator had by then probably died. For some reason the will was examined again on September 4, 1784. This John Thurtell may also have made an earlier will, later revoked, since the entry in the index of wills gives the dates 1754-1770. In his will of 1767, bearing his own signature, John Thurtell disposed of property in Trowse Newton, Hempnall in Norfolk, and on Boarstreet in the city of Norwich. His wife Elizabeth, who he apparently married prior to 1731, was designated executrix by her husband in 1767 and 1769. Her husband bequeathed the Boarstreet property in Norwich for her use in her lifetime (the provision being that it would on her death pass in equal shares to their three children). She was also to receive the residue of his estate after bequests, as well as interest from the sum of fifty pounds as living expenses. Considering these provisions, we might guess that the further examination of her husband's will in 1784 could have occurred when she was dying, since she seems to have died soon afterwards. Elizabeth Thurtele was buried 18 Feb 1785 in Trowse Newton (archdeacon's transcript, which however does not give marital status or age which would confirm this is her).

The Court Roll of the Manor of Trowse Newton shows that at the Court of November 10, 1755, John Thurtell "the elder" (address not given) appeared as an executor of Alice Dobson to quitclaim any right he may have to her estate. He is not mentioned in the Court Roll of the Manor of Hempnall with the Members although there are mentions of a Thirkettle family that would appear not to be closely related. The will of Alice Dobson would be of interest if it can be found.

It is clear that this John Thurtell is the same person as the John Thurtle (signed John Thurtill) of Trowse in Norfolk County, barber, who appears with Ann Thurtle (signed Ann Thirtill), widow, in the administration bond dated October 8, 1741, following the death of her husband Henry Thurtle of Norwich St. Julian, blacksmith. John Thurtell of Trowse was almost certainly the brother of this Henry, and therefore like him a son of John Thurtell the blacksmith of Norwich St. Julian. A puzzling baptism is recorded, February 20, 1705, at Norwich St. Julian, for a John Thurtle son of John Thurtle and Jane (IGI entry). If it is the same John, then the mother's name in this entry must be an error, because John Thurtell, son of blacksmith John Thurtell of Norwich St. Julian and wife Alice (nee Balls), is specifically mentioned as their son in both their wills, 1729 and 1734 respectively, and from the sequence of children he would appear to have been born around 1705 or at most a year or two later.

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The WILL OF JOHN THURTELL OF TROWSE NEWTON, PERIWIGGMAKER
1754-70 Norwich Consistory Court, Norfolk [Will Register Copy].
Note: This John Thurtell (m. Elizabeth) is the father of John Thurtell (who m. Hannah) and James Thurtell (now identified as our James Thurtell who m. Winifred Nunn).
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124. This is the Last Will and Testament of me John Thurtell of Trowse Newton in the County of Norfolk Periwiggmaker. First I give and Devise to Elizabeth my Wife All these my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever situate lying and being in Boarstreet in the City of Norwich To Hold to her the said Elizabeth for and during the Term of her natural Life she keeping the same in good and Tenantable Repair and committing no Waste thereupon And from and immediately after her Decease I give and Devise the said Messuages, Lands Tenements Hereditaments & Premisses unto John, James, and Sarah my Children to be equally divided between them & their Heirs as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants. Item I give and devise to the said James my Son All and every my Messuages, Lands Tenements & Hereditaments whatsoever situate lying and being in Hempnall in the County of Norfolk aforesaid To Hold to him the said James my son and his Heirs forever Upon Condition nevertheless that the said James my Son & his Heirs do and shall well & truly pay or cause to be paid unto my said Son John or his Assignes for and during the Term of his natural Life one Moiety or half part of the Rents Assises[?] and Profits of the said mentioned Premises (after deducting all out goings and for the Repair of the said Premises) The same to be paid to the said John my Son or his Assigns by half Yearly payments, and I do hereby Authorize Inpower and Devise my Executrix and Executors herein afornamed and the survivor and survivors of them to Raise and take out of my personal Estate as soon as conveniently can be after my Decease the Sum of Fifty Pounds and just place and continue the same out of Interest for the Purposes hereinafter mentioned (upon such security as they shall think proper) And the Interest arising therefrom I will and Desire my said Wife to Receive and take to her own proper Use before and during her Natural Life And from and after her Decease It is my Will & Desire that the Survivor and Survivors of my said Executors shall expend and Pay out the Interest arising from the said Fifty Pounds in the Maintenance & bringing up of my Grandson John Bayner until he shall Arrive at his Age of Twenty one and when the said John Bayner shall attain his said Age of Twenty one years I Give and bequeath to him the said Sum of Fifty Pounds. Item all the rest residue[?] and remainder of my personal Estate of what nature or hindsoever[?] I give and bequeath to the said Elizabeth my Wife (She paying all my just Debts Funeral Expenses of the probate and execution of this my Will. Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint the said Elizabeth my Wife Executrix and my said Sons John and James Executors of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said John Thurtell have to this my last Will and Testament contained in Two Sheets of Paper to the first Sheet thereof set my Hand and to the last my Hand and Seal this seventh day of September In the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and sixty seven.
John Thurtell

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said John Thurtell as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our Names as Witnesses H.Machot, Samuel Pochoy[?], Wm.Foster Junr. Septr 4th 1784 Exd by me Wm [?signature illegible] Not.Publ.

March 20th 1769
Mr John Thurtell & Mr James Thurtell his two Executors within named (Power being reserved for the Executrix to be Sworn &c) were then Sworn in due form of Law before me
Frs.Frank LLB.
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END OF DOCUMENT

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS OF JOHN THURTELL, PERIWIG MAKER, 1767:

John Thurtell, of Trowse Newton, Norfolk, was a periwig maker (i.e., wig maker).
His will is dated 1767, and proved? 1769, prior will apparently 1754 since index entry gives dates 1754-1770.
He disposed of property in Trowse Newton (co.Norfolk), Hempnall (co.Norfolk), and on Boarstreet in the City of Norwich.
Wife: Elizabeth, mentioned 1767, 1769, and designated executrix, was bequeathed the use of the Boarstreet property in Norwich while she lived (after which it would pass in equal shares to his three children), the residue of the estate after bequests, and interest from the sum of fifty pounds as living expenses.
Children (not stated if Elizabeth was their mother):
John Thurtell, mentioned 1767, 1769, was left a share of the Norwich property (but was perhaps already in possession of the property in Trowse Newton since disposal of it is not stated in the will); he was also to obtain compensation for the property in Hempnall willed to James.
James Thurtell, mentioned 1767, 1769, was left a share of the Norwich property, and was left all of the Hempnall property subject to compensation to brother John).
Sarah, mentioned 1767 was left a share of the Norwich property.
Grandchildren:
John Bayner, was underage in 1767 (and was apparently to be in the care of the grandmother Elizabeth), but it is not stated if he was son of Sarah or some other daughter not named; Provision was made for his upkeep until reaching the age of 21 years.

Notes:
- Trowse Newton is just outside of Norwich to the south, and Hempnall is just a few miles farther south from Norwich. Lakenham, where our ancestors James & Winifred Thurtell farmed under Southwell, landlord, is immediately adjacent to Trowse Newton. The records of Trowse Newton, Lakenham and Hempnall have not yet been fully searched to prove a connection between our James Thurtell, cooper & farmer, and John Thurtell (the elder), periwig maker. Nevertheless, the James Thurtell mentioned in the above will can be none other than our ancestor James Thurtell who married Winifred Nunn and died in 1801. This is evidenced by the will proved 1801 for James Thurtell showing that he possessed property in Hempnall apparently corresponding to that conveyed in the above will of John Thurtell to his brother James.
- Hempnall Norfolk, where this John had property, had a Thirkettle family that left two wills:
Mary Thirkettle (wife of William), will dated 1784.
William Thirkettle, will date 1785-9.
But neither of these mention a James, and their family and property in Hemphall appear to be different from that in the above will.
- The connection between the John Thurtell of the above will and our earliest previously established ancestor James Thurtell, is also discussed in the notes to the will of the younger John Thurtell, peruch maker, 1772.

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