Notes for John THURTELL

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Notes for John THURTELL

The following information was received from Peter Murray in 1997.

John Thurtell was a blacksmith residing in the parish of St. Julian in the City of Norwich, Norfolk, England. He made his will on November 13, 1729, identifying his wife and various children as beneficiaries, being already apparently gravely ill and he must have died very soon afterwards, being buried December 2, 1729, at Norwich St. Etheldreda (register). His will was examined December 8, 1729; and the statement of the witnesses to the will was taken at that time. He must be the John Thurtle who married Alice Balls June 24, 1700, in Swannington, Norfolk (IGI entry). Alice, his widow in the parish of Norwich St. Julian, made her will in 1734 and signed by the executrix and witnesses on September 20, 1735. This was apparently just after she died since the burial of Alice Thurtel was recorded September 17, 1735, at Norwich St. Etheldreda (register). Her will was for some reason examined again January 21, 1768.

Conjectures as to possible parents of this John Thurtell are very uncertain: there is record (from IGI entries) of a John Thirkettel baptised March 22, 1680, at Norwich St. Peter Southgate (son of John Thirkettel, probably by wife Mary); and a John Thirtle baptised May 6, 1677, at Caister St. Edmund Norfolk (son of Robert Thirtle and Sarah). Caister St. Edmund is only a short distance south of Trowse Newton and Lakenham, all of which are just south of Norwich.
John and Alice Thurtell had eight children.

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WILL OF JOHN THURTELL OF NORWICH ST JULIAN, BLACKSMITH
1729 Norwich Consistory Court, Norfolk.
Note: This John Thurtell (m. Alice) had a son John born at about the right time to be the father (possibly John Thurtell, peruke maker m. Elizabeth) of our James Thurtell (m. Winifred Nunn) and other circumstances tend to confirm this relationship.
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In the Name of God Amen I John Thurtell of ye parish of St Julian in ye City of Norwich Blacksmith being in perfect mind and memory doe make and ordain this my last Will & Testament as follows, (that is to Say) first I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God hoping for Salvation thro' ye merits & mediaton of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and Redeemer and my Body I bequeath to ye Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a Christian like manner at ye discretion of my Extrix herein after to be named and as to my Worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bestow upon me in this Life I give & Dispose thereof in manner & form following viz Impris[?]. I give & bequeath to Robert Thurtell my eldest Son my best great Coat a double breasted Coat a fustian[?] Waist Coat and a pair of Buckskin Breeches. Item I give and bequeath to John Thurtell my Second Son my blue Cloth Wrapping Coat. Item I give & bequeath to my Son Henry Thurtell my best Sute of Wearing Cloaths and my best Buckskin Breeches. Item I give & bequeath unto my Son James Thurtell one Guinea of Gold. Item I give & bequeath to my youngest Son Jeremiah Thurtell one Guinea of Gold. Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Sarah the sum of one Guinea of Gold. Item I give & bequeath to my Daur Alice Thurtell one Feather Bed whereon She usually lieth with all the furniture belonging to ye same as it now standeth also I give to my said Daur Alice ye sume of five Shillings in money all ye sd legacys I will to be paid within Six Months next after my Decease Excepting only that bequeathed to my son Jeremiah wch I wish to be paid at ye Discreton of my Extrix hereafter named. Item all ye rest & residue of my Estates Goods Chattles moneys rights and dues wtsoever & Wheresoever I give & bequeath unto Alice my loving Wife for her to possess and Enjoy and Dispose of as She shall think fitt and I doe hereby make ordain nominate & appoint this said Alice my Wife to be ye only & sole Extrix of this my last Will and Testamt to pay my debts & legacys & to See this my Will fulfilled according to the true Intent & meaning of the same and I also hereby revoke disallow and make void all other wills legacys Exors & bequests by me at any time before named willed or bequeathed Ratifying allowing & Confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this Thirteenth Day of November in Third year of ye Reign of our Sovereign & Lord George the Second by ye Grace of God of Great Brittain France and Ireland King Defender of ye faith & xpand in ye Year of our Lord Christ 1729.
John Thurtell his mark.

Signed Sealed & Declared by your Testator John Thurtell to be his last Will & Testament in ye presence of us William Bollon[?] Thomas Murrell[?] his mark, Henry Masters.....
apud Nocvir[?] 8 Dec 1729. Jurat Extrin corain nigro[?] John Swift Clico Surro xc
Examined by Ian Colegs, Thos Coldwell.

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END OF DOCUMENT

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IN THE ABOVE WILL OF JOHN THURTELL 1729:

John Thurtell, blacksmith of the parish of Norwich St Julian, made his will in 1729.
Wife: Alice, named the executrix, to whom he left all of his estate with the exception of that designated to his children.
His children (not stated if Alice was mother):
Robert Thurtell, eldest son, to whom he left his best greatcoat, a double-breasted coat, a fustian(?) waistcoat, and a pair of buckskin breeches.
John Thurtell, second son, to whom he left a blue cloth wrapping coat.
Henry Thurtell, to whom he left his best suit of wearing clothes and his best buckskin breeches.
James Thurtell, to whom he left one guinea of gold.
Jeremiah Thurtell, youngest son, apparently underage in 1729, to whom he left one guinea of gold.
Sarah (no indication she was married), to whom he left one guinea of gold.
Alice Thurtell (evidently unmarried), to whom he left one feather bed on which she usually slept and all the furnishings belonging to it, and the sum of five shillings.
All of the above were living in 1729.

Notes:
- The following IGI entries may relate to this family:
- John Thurtle married Alice Balls, 24 June 1700 at Swannington Norfolk.
- Children of John Thurtle and Alice, christening dates:
Robert Thirtle, 20 Feb 1701, at Norwich St Peter Southgate.
Sara Theartill, 12 Feb 1703, at Norwich St Julian.
James Thurtle, 10 March 1711, at Norwich St Julian.
Susanna Thurtle, 15 Aug 1714, at Norwich St Julian.
- John Thurtle, chr.20 Feb 1705, son of John Thurtle and Jane. [could "Jane" here be an error for "Alice"?]
- Henry Thirtle married Anne Wright, 17 June 1734 at Smallburgh Norfolk.
- Henry Thurtle and Anne had at least 4 children christened at Norwich St Julian. [The will of Henry Thurtell of Norwich is dated 1740-41.]
- Alice Thurtle married Robt.Backamore, 16 Jul 1730 at Norwich St Julian.
- The will of Alice Thurtle of Norwich is dated 1735.
- The admon of Henry Thurtle, blacksmith of Norwich St Julian, included not only his wife Ann but also a John Thurtill of Trowse, barber, must almost certainly be the brother of this Henry.

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It is quite possible that this John Thurtell is the son John born in 1677 of Robert and Sarah Thirtle (so spelled) of Caistor St. Edmund with Markshall, a few miles south of Norwich. His wife Alice was perhaps from a Swannington Norfolk family. The fact that he named his eldest son Robert and his eldest daughter Sarah make this parentage very likely.

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