Essex wills – N

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Some wills have been transcribed in full, whereas others are a paraphrased transcription. If they are paraphrased, they contain the names of all those mentioned in the will, with the gist of what they were (or were not!) bequeathed, but to find the full details, such as the names of property, requests as to how they were to be buried etc., please contact the relevant archive. The wills are either from the Essex Record Office (ERO), the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), or the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA).

Wills:

Newcomb, Robert Squirrel, draper of St Osyth, 1843

  • I give the sum of Fifty Pounds sterling to the New Wesleyan Chapel, Harwich in the County of Essex. I give Fifty Pounds to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.
  • I give to my affectionate Brother William, all my Freehold Property in the Parish of Tendering in the County of Essex, consisting of Five Cottages, a Blacksmith’s Shop, and Building attached thereto – subject to a Mortgage of £240 held by Mr Brookes of Weeley And a Note of hand £75 held by John Bird of Tendering in the said County of Essex.
  • I give to my affectionate Brother James all my Freehold and Copyhold Estate in the Parish of St Osyth in the County of Essex, and with him to pay my beloved Mother Hannah Newcomb, out of the above Estate the sum of Twenty Pounds a year for the term of her natural life. I also give to my Brother James all my Property employed in the Business now carried on by the Firm of Robert Squirrel & James Newcomb in the Parish of St Osyth in the County of Essex.
  • I give to my beloved Sister Margery Cushion the sum of Twelve Pounds per annum for the term of her natural life, to be paid Quaterly by my Brother James Newcomb.
  • I give all my Books to be equally divided among my Brothers and Sisters.
  • I give to my affectionate Brother Joseph Newcomb the sum of Fifty Pounds as my Executor to be paid to him by my Brother James. I wish my Funeral expenses to be paid by my Brother James Newcomb.

Executors: brothers Joseph, James and William

Witnesses: W. Booth, Jas Dunnett.

Written 10 March 1843, probate 30 Jun 1843.

ERO ref: D/ABW 136/1/51

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Newcomb, Thomas, blacksmith of Tendring, 1762

  • First my intention is, and I do hereby Give and Bequeath to my two Grand Daughters Sarah Allen and Rebekah Allen, Daughters of my Daughter Sarah Gill, £50 each of them by my Executors as they shall severally and respectively attain their full age of 21 . And in case either of my Grand-Daughters above named shall die before She attains her full age of 21, that then the Share of her so Dying shall be paid to the surviving sister. Also in Case both them should die before they attain their full age that then the £100 shall be Divided equally among all those of my Daughter Gills children as shall at that time be living.
  • Item: I give and bequeath to my Grandson Thomas Newcomb £10 to be paid him by my Executors within one year next after my decease towards putting him Apprentice. But if not put Apprentice then to be paid him when he shall attain his full age of 21. And in case he shall die before that time, then the said £10 shall be equally divided among all those of my Son Thomas Newcomb’s Children as shall at that time be living.
  • Item: I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Gill and my Daughter-in-law Sarah Thompson each, the sum of one Shilling of Lawful money to be paid them by my Executors when demanded.
  • Also all my wearing apparel I Give and Bequeath to my son William for his particular use.
  • Item: I Order and Direct that all my Goods and Chattels shall be all sold immediately after my decease and the Monies from thence arising and all other my monies and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever (after my Just Debts and Legacies above mentioned are all fully paid and discharged) shall be divided equally among or between my sons Samuel Newcomb and William Newcomb share and share alike.
  • Item: I Give and Bequeath to my Son William Newcomb all the rents Issues profits and Income of all that my Messuage or Tenement Shop with their and every of their Appurtenances now in my own Occupation in Tendring aforesaid and during all the term of his Natural Life. But my Mind and Will is, and I do hereby impower my Executors to Lett the same Tenement and Receive the Rents of the said premises in Behalf and favour of my said son William and pay the same Rent to him at such times and in such manner as they shall Judge most convenient for him for his Real Good.
  • And further my will is that after the death of my said son William Newcomb I Order and Direct that all the abovesaid Tenement Shop and their appurtenances to the same belonging shall be Sold by my Executors for the best price they can get, and the monies from thence ariseing I Give and dispose as follows (that is) I give to my Son Samuel Newcomb £20, to my Grand Daughter Mary Littlewood £20, and to my Grandson Thomas Newcomb £20, all the Remainder of the said sale of the House shall be divided equally between Sarah Newcomb Joseph Newcomb and Rebekah Newcomb (Children of my Son Thomas Deceased) share and share alike to be paid to them within one month next after my Executors receive the same.
  • And lastly I constitute nominate and appoint my Friend Francis Wilson of Tendring aforesaid and my Friend Thomas Simpson of Beaumont in the County abovesaid to be joint Executors.

Witnesses: Daniel Chiles, Isabella Chiles, Joseph Newcomb.

Written: 18th Oct 1759, proved 11th December 1762

ERO

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Nichols, William of Wix, shopkeeper, 1821

  • I give and bequeath unto my Son George Nichols the sum of one Shilling
  • I give and bequeath unto my Cousin John Nichols of East Bergholt in the County of Suffolk Victualler and to Mr Thomas Scrivener of Manningtree in the said County of Essex Shopkeeper (whom I hereby appoint Executors of this my Will) £5 each
  • And subject to the payment of the aforesaid Legacies I give and bequeath All and singular my Household Goods and Furniture of Household plate Linen and China, Stock in Trade ready money, Securities for Money, and all and every other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature kind or Quality soever whereof
    or wherein for any person or persons In trust for me am is or are or shall or may at the time of my decease be possessed of interested in or intitled to, unto and to be divided between my two Daughters Elizabeth and Mary in equal Parts Shares and proportions.

Witnesses: Wm S Chapman Att at Law Manningtree, Jno Ham

Written 21 May 1813, proved 14 May 1821. William Nichols died 1 Feb 1821 in Wix.

ERO Ref: D/ACW 40/4/14

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Nicholson, William of Kirby, butcher, 1753

  • To daughter Elizabeth Nicholson: £150. When of age or on her marriage, to be paid by my wife (my executrix).
  • To daughters Elizabeth Nicholson and Martha Banes: lands, tenements and messuages in Kirby & my part of a tenement in Thorpe – a public house or inn called the Maid’s Head. To be equally divided between them.
  • To my wife Martha the above properties for her natural life

Witnesses: Thos. Nicholson, Chas. Manyon, Eliz. Mootam x

Written: 12th November 1753, proved 28th May 1754

ERO ref: D/APsW 1/138

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Nunn, Daniel, baker of Colchester St Mary’s, 1724

  • Wife Prudence, executor and only beneficiary

Written 10 April 1721, probate 14 Nov 1724

Witnesses: Henry Thurston [or Durston?], Ann Everitt, Jo. Newton

ERO

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Nunn, Edmund of Rivenhall, yeoman, 1759

  • To my wife Ann Nunn £160 to be paid as mentioned below. Until the sum is to be paid, she is to receive an annuity of £8 to be paid out of my personal estate.
  • Rest and residue of my personal estate (ready money, securities, stocks of my farm etc) to be equally divided between my sons and daughters: Ann Nunn, Margaret Newton Nunn, Joseph Nunn, Jeffery Nunn, Susanna Nunn, Jane Nunn.
  • My execs to continue the business of my farm for the benefit of my children until the youngest is 21. At that point, the rest and residue of my personal estate to be appraised and after payment of abovementioned £160, to be divided between my children then living.
  • If my wife remarries or chooses not to carry on the business of the farm until my youngest child’s majority, her yearly payment of £8 will cease, and the payment of £160 to be made to her within three months.
  • If any of my daughters marry before the youngest daughter reaches her majority, the daughter marrying will receive £35 (the amount to be taken out of her later share).
  • Execs: my son Joseph Nunn, my wife Ann Nunn (my son Jeffery Nunn to become joint exec if Ann remarries or decides not to carry on the business of the farm).

Witnesses: John French, Benj. Beart

Written: 7th June 1759, proved: 21st July 1759

ERO ref: D/ABW 99/3/54

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Nunn, Francis of Pebmarsh, yeoman, 1740

  • To my wife Mary Plum for her natural life: malting office, lands and buildings in Bures St. Mary’s, Suffolk (now in several tenures of Thomas Nunn, Hinds (widow) and Wass); tenement etc. recently rebuilt (late of John Dosly?) in Halstead, Essex (now in several tenures of Edward Cooper and Thomas Miller). After her death, to be sold by my executor Joseph Nunn, and the proceeds to be divided between my children (at the rate of £5 per son, £3 per daughter – children are not named except Henry, below).
  • Also to my wife Mary Plum: £20
  • To my son Henry Nunn: £10 over and above the portion given to the rest of my children, if I have not given it to him before my decease.
  • Executor and executrix to sell my cottage called Perches Garden in Halstead, now in occupation of John Godfrey and Frances Ellis (widow). To be paid as in same proportion as above to sons and daughters (after payment of legacies of £10 and £20 as above).
  • The legacies to my children (except Henry’s £10) to be put out at interest for the maintenance of my children until they reach 21.

Execs: wife Rose Plum, brother Joseph Nunn.

Witnesses: Geo. Brooke, Samuel Will, H. Godfrey.

Written: 6th February 1739/40, proved: 4th April 1740.

ERO ref: D/AMW 15/1/3

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Nunn, John, of Fingringhoe, 1654

  • Son John Nunn of Langenhoe
  • Granddaughter Martha Nunn, “my son’s daughter”
  • Daughter Elizabeth Inyfeere, wife of Griffin Inyfeere of Wivenhoe
  • Eldest daughter Grace Nunn
  • Daughter Mary Nunn
  • Wife Joane Nunn, executrix

Witnesses: Jonathan Tydson, John Whiting

Written 2 March 1654, probate 1654

PCC

Transcriber’s note: Griffin and Elizabeth were married at Abberton in 1649, and both were of Wivenhoe at the time. Griffin Inneffier was buried in Wivenhoe on 14 Jan 1668/69.

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Nun [Nunn], John, joiner of Dedham, 1657

  • Wife Joane, executrix
  • Elizabeth Nun and Sarah Nun, two youngest daughters by Joane my now wife, under 21
  • Two elder daughters: Mary wife of John Bangham, and Anne wife of Abraham Oram
  • Grandson John Bangham
  • Brother Robert Nun

Witnesses: Thomas Halston? (faded), John Knapp

Written 5 Feb 1656/7, probate 29 Jun 1657

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Anne and Abraham married at Dedham in 1648. The testator was buried in Dedham on 10 Feb 1656/57.

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Nunn, John, wine and brandy merchant, of St Peter’s, Colchester, 1808

  • wife Esther: house on North Hill where he now lives
  • children: John Nunn, Mary Ann Nunn, Joshua Nunn, Esther Nunn, William Nunn, Preston Nunn, Elizabeth Glassott Nunn

Execs: wife, and sons John and William

Witnesses: Robert Storry, Thomas Stoneham, J C Diss

Written 2 Sep 1807, probate 11 Jan 1808

ERO

Transcriber’s note: John was a son of Joshua Nunn and Mary Baker, and was born in Suffolk in 1750. See John Nunn of Colchester, 1750-1807, and his family.

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Nunn, Joseph of Bures Hamlet, 1758

  • All messuages etc in Bures Hamlet, where Thomas Webber and James Frost jnr now dwell to my nephew Joseph Nunn of Mistley Hall.
  • Executors to sell my farmhouse, freehold and copyhold lands etc in Chappell/Poulebright, now in the occupation of Thomas Brand, and all other my real estate not otherwise
    bequeath, farming stock, implements etc.
  • To Sarah Nunn, widow of my brother Philip Nunn: £100
  • To my brother Henry Nunn: £100
  • To Margaret Newton Nunn, daughter of my nephew Edmund Nunn: £20
  • To my cousin Susan Ward, daughter of James Ward: £5
  • Whereas I have heretofore given all my nephews and nieces £40 each to advance them in the world, except Rachel Smith who received £10, I therefore bequeath her a further sum of £30.
  • Executives to retain £60 from the sale to pay to my brother Robert Nunn in instalments. If he dies before all the instalments have been paid, then the remainder is to go into the residue of the estate.

Executives: my nephew Joseph Nunn of Mistley and my cousin George Turner of Pebmarsh, receiving £50 for their trouble.

Residue: to all such children living at the time of my death of my brothers: Edmund, Francis, Philip, Henry and Robert and my sister Rose Moore, and to Mary Nunn and Rose Nunn, daughters of my late nephew Philip Nunn, and to the children of Mr. Robert Ray by his former wife (the daughter of my said brother Robert Nunn).

Written: 17th March 1758. Proved: 17th May 1758

PCC

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Nunn, Joseph of Mistley, gentleman, 1782

  • To son Joseph Nunn: £500. “The reason why I do not given him an equal share with the rest of my sons is because his grandfather Henry Gardiner deceased hath amply provided for him and hath given the rest of my children nothing.”
  • To daughter Mary, wife of Samuel Risbee: £800
  • To daughter Elizabeth, wife of John Rogers of Manningtree: £800
  • To daughter Ann Nunn: £1,000
  • To son Henry Nunn: all copyhold messuage farm lands in Dovercourt, in occupation of William Chaser. £1,000.
  • To son Robert Nunn: copyhold messuage farm lands bought from Mr. Warren, containing 30 acres in Little Bentley, in his own occupation.
  • To son Thomas Nunn: all my freehold lands bought from Mr. Wass, containg 28 acres in Little Bentley, now in the occupation of my son Robert Nunn. Also all my tenements or cottages in the road between Manningtree and Mistley, now in the occupation of John Clarke, Robert Rose jnr and Benjamin Manning.
  • To son John Nunn: all messuage and farm with lands, hereditaments and copyhold in Wrabness and Wix, bought from John Warner, now in the occupation of Susan Richardson, widow (but charged with a payment of £500 to my son William Nunn).
  • To son William Nunn: messuage and farm in Little Clacton, free- and copyhold, now in the occupation of John Westbroome. All messuage tenements in Mistley bought from Ottway Jennings, now in the occupation of John Abbott jnr and Joseph Ely.
  • To cousin Joseph Nunn, Captain in the Navy: 10 guineas.
  • Rest and residue to be divided between my children.

Executors: sons Henry, Thomas and William Nunn.

Written: 20 Sep 1777.

Codicil: Son John has died since the 1777 will. The farmlands in Wix and Wrabness bequeathed to him are no longer in the occupation of Susan Richardson, but of son Thomas Nunn. This property now to be sold. From the sale of this property, £700 to go to son William. Rest and residue to be divided among my children.

Died at Mistley 6th April 1782. Proved: 26th April 1782

ERO ref: D/ABW 108/1/35

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Nunn, Joseph, farmer of Rivenhall, 1814

  • Daughter: Ann Nunn
  • Grandson: Joseph Nunn Lay, son of deceased daughter Rachel Lay
  • Granddaughters: Ann Lay and Susanna Lay, Rachel’s other children
  • son-in-law: Thomas Lay, Rachel’s widower
  • nephew and godson: Edward Higham
  • Three daughters (unnamed) of late niece Margaret Barnard (formerly Margaret Higham)
  • Niece: Jane wife of Daniel Harvy of Faulkbourn, farmer
  • Niece: Ann wife of John Grimwood of Kelvedon, farmer
  • Niece: Elizabeth wife of William Humphrey of Witham, farmer
  • Niece: Juliana wife of William Joslin of White Notley, innkeeper
  • Hannah Juniper, niece of late wife
  • James Ward, nephew of late wife
  • sister-in-law Jane wife of William Pegg of Buxhall, Suffolk
  • Brother-in-law: Joseph Ward of Ingatestone, gentleman
  • Godson Joseph Nunn Higham
  • Godson James Grimwood of Witham, maltster

Executors: daughter Ann Nunn, son-in-law Thomas Lay, brother-in-law Joseph Ward

Witnesses: Moses Ardley, William Raven, Ezekiel Wood junr

Codicil: adjusts Ann’s bequest so that she can dispose of as she pleases (original will states it would pass to testator’s Lay grandchildren)

Written 5 Aug 1811, probate 28 Feb 1814

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: The testator was the son of Edmund Nunn of Rivenhall (who left an ERO will) and his wife Ann, and was baptised there on 27 Feb 1734/5. He was one of two sons of the couple, the other being Jeffrey Nunn. Joseph married Rachel Ward in Rivenhall in 1769. Their daughter Rachael Nunn married Thomas Lay, also in Rivenhall, in 1802. The witnesses were Joseph Ward and Ann Nunn.

Testator’s wife died in 1811 and was buried in Cressing, and Joseph was buried there two years later on 11 July 1813, aged 78. Anne, their daughter, was also buried in Cressing, on 23 July 1834, aged 64.

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Nun [Nunn], Joshua, clerk of the parish of Ramsden Bellhouse, 1708

  • Samuel Lemon, butcher of Ramsden Bellhouse, an apprentice
  • The poor of Ramsden Bellhouse
  • Esther Wood
  • Mr Thomas Harvey, Rector of Downham, executor, and to be guardian of son Thomas
  • son Thomas: rest and residue
  • property in Layham, Suffolk

Witnesses: Mary Lynch, Thomas Wood, William Cole

Written 22 March 1704/5, probate 30 April 1708

ERO

Transcriber’s notes: Joshua Nunn was admitted to Queen’s College, Cambridge, in 1669, and was ordained at Norwich in 1675. He married Mary Rowles in Suffolk in 1688. He was rector of Ramsden Bellhouse 1686-1700, and of Mistley, 1693-1708. His son, Thomas Nunn, left a will (1713, Stratford, Suffolk), mentioning his Rowles cousins.

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Nunn, Joshua, yeoman of Bocking, 1782

  • Margaret Stebbing of Braintree, widow, his intended wife
  • brother Leonard Nunn of Chelmondiston, innholder
  • brother John Nunn of Colchester, innholder
  • brother William Nunn of Rumford [Romford], innholder
  • brother James of the City of London, stationer
  • sister Mary wife of Edward Gowland of Pater Noster Row, London, tobacconist
  • father-in-law William Pain
  • mother Mary Nunn, widow
  • son William Nunn, U21: to be raised by testator’s mother Mary

Executors: brothers John and William

Witnesses: William Low, George Paine

Written 28 Nov 1781, probate 18 March 1782

ERO

Transcriber’s notes: son of Joshua Nunn and Mary Baker. He was born in Suffolk.

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Nunn, Joshua, innkeeper of Witham, 1838

  • wife Sarah
  • “several children” (unnamed)

Witnesses: T. Tomkin, surgeon, Daniel Till, both of Witham

Written 26 Jan 1837, probate 25 Aug 1838. Died in Witham 27 May 1838

ERO

Transcriber’s note: Joshua Nunn of St Peter’s Colchester, bachelor, married Sarah Price of Witham, spinster, in Witham on 21 Dec 1818.

Joshua’s obituary reads “On the 27th ult., aged 47, Mr. Joshua Nunn of the Spread Eagle Inn, Witham.” [Bury and Norwich Post, 6 June 1838] He was buried at St Nicholas’, Witham, on 1 June 1838. He was born about 1791. Leonard Nunn of Chelmondiston fitted up the George Inn, Witham, in 1783, but he isn’t Leonard’s son Joshua, as he was born in about 1804.

When John Nunn died in Witham in 1845, his obituary in the Chelmsford Chronicle said he was the brother of the late Joshua Nunn of the Spread Eagle in Witham. John was 68, and born in about 1777. On the 1841 census, it says that he wasn’t born in Essex. The fact that Joshua was living in St Peter’s, Colchester, suggests he’s connected somehow to John Nunn, a publican in the same parish who died in 1807 (see will above). However, I can’t find baptisms for Joshua and John outside Essex (or in Essex!) where the years match up and they have the same parents. For instance, a Joshua Nunn, son of Joshua and Elizabeth, was baptised in Ipswich in 1791, but the parents are Joshua Nunn and Elizabeth Laws who married at Ipswich St Helen’s in 1790.

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Nunn, Leonard, of Mile End, Colchester, 1808

  • Daughter Elizabeth wife of Jeremiah Foaker of Thorpe-le-Soken
  • Son Leonard Nunn
  • Son John Nunn of Colchester, liquor merchant
  • Grandsons, the sons of son Leonard: Leonard, John, Joshua, Thomas
  • Grandsons Jeremiah Foaker and Leonard Foaker

Executors: Jeremiah Foaker, Mr John Bentfield, grandson Leonard Nunn

Witnesses: Thomas Chignell, William Chignell, William Cole

Written 30 Aug 1806, probate 9 June 1808. Died April 1808.

Thomas Maberley of Colchester, gent., and William Cole of Colchester, surveyor, swore that this will was Leonard’s.

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: Leonard was buried in Mile End on 14 April 1808. His obituary reads “Yesterday se’nnight died at Mile End, Colchester, aged 86, Mr. Leonard Nunn, formerly of Bradfield, in Essex.” [Ipswich Journal, 16 April 1808] He was born in about 1722. His daughter Elizabeth married Jeremiah Foaker in Bradfield in 1777 . His son Leonard, of Bradfield, married Sarah Frost in Beaumount-cum-Moze in 1779. His grandson Joshua Nunn was baptised “Joshua Frost Nunn”, and Leonard jnr’s children were baptised in Bradfield. The Foaker children were baptised in Thorpe-le-Soken. Jeremiah Foaker was buried in Thorpe-le-Soken on 14 June 1836, aged 84. His abode was Kirby-le-Soken, and he left a PCC will.

He was Leonard Nunn of St Botolph’s, Colchester, who married Elizabeth Church in Mile End, Colchester, on 27 Sep 1750. They had four children baptised in Bradfield: Elizabeth 1754, Leonard 1756, Mary 1757, and John 1760. His nephew (son of Joshua Nunn and Mary Baker) was John Nunn, wine and brandy merchant of Colchester, whose will is just below. This means there were two John Nunns working in Colchester as liquor merchants, at the same time – and they were first cousins. Joshua’s son John Nunn who died in 1807 married Esther Everett in 1776. Another John Nunn married another Esther – Esther Applewhite, in Ramsey in 1779. Again, this isn’t Leonard’s son but the son of a John Nunn, who was Leonard’s brother (John and Leonard both moved to Bradfield).

Testator’s parents: he was the son of Leonard Nunn and Mary Nunn, and was baptised in Wetheringsett in 1722.

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Nunn, Mary Ann, spinster of Colchester, 1847

  • sister Elizabeth Glassiott Chaplin, widow: property in North Hill, Colchester, and everything else

Executors: sister Elizabeth Glassiott Chaplin

Witnesses: Elizabeth Mary Nunn, Frederick H Newell, solicitor of Colchester

Written 6 May 1843, probate 12 May 1847. She died on 27 Feb 1847

ERO

Transcriber’s notes: the daughter of John Nunn who died in 1807. His will is above.

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Nunn, Robert, baker of Great Clacton, 1641

  • Property in Dovercourt and St Osyth
  • Wife Martha
  • Son John, to be apprenticed

Witnesses: Jos. Long, vicar of Great Clacton; John Anger

Written 1 March 1640/1, probate 16 Jun 1641 (at Feering?)

ERO

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Nunn, Thomas senior, yeoman of Great Oakley, 1716

  • Wife Christian
  • Son Thomas
  • Grandsons Thomas Nunn and Joseph Nunn
  • Granddaughter Sarah Nunn
  • Granddaughter Sarah Whitacre and “the other four children of my son-in-law William Whitacre”
  • Son Joseph Nunn
  • Son-in-law Richard Baker
  • Robert Nunn son of Joseph Nunn
  • Christian Nunn, daughter of my said son Joseph

Executors: son Thomas, son-in-law William Whitacre

Witnesses: John King, Jonathan Goffe, Jo. Wood

Written 4 Sep 1716, probate 13 Oct 1716

ERO

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Nunn, Thomas, butcher of Wivenhoe, 1742

  • Granddaughter Sarah Arthy
  • Daughter-in-law Hannah Nunn, widow
  • Nieces Hannah Nunn and Mary Nunn
  • Niece Anne Nunn
  • Aunt Sarah Whitley
  • Kinswoman Elizabeth Chapman, widow, and her daughter Elizabeth Chapman
  • Kinsman George Clark, and Mary Clark his sister
  • Sarah Blower, Martha Blower, Elizabeth Blower: children of Newton Blower
  • Nieces Elizabeth Nunn and Susan Nunn

Executors: son-in-law Thomas Arthy, and friend Samuel Roberts of Wivenhoe, butcher

Written 5 March 1741/2, probate 13 March 1741/2

ERO

Notes: It’s possible (as of writing in December 2021) that the testator was something to do with the Hadleigh Nunns. There was a Joshua Nunn in Hadleigh who was potentially old enough to be the testator’s father or grandfather, and the name Thomas is also connected with the Hadleigh Nunns. The testator’s daughter married a son of William Arthy of Groton – William was a bondsman when Thomas Nunn of Hadleigh (an uncle of the testator?) married Mary Gentry in Great Oakley in 1726, and William Arthy had a son called Nunn Arthy. I think William’s wife was originally a Nunn, a daughter of either Joshua or Thomas Nunn, born in Hadleigh. The Wades have an ancestor, Thomas Nunn of Ramsey and Great Oakley (his daughter Sarah became Sarah Whittaker on her marriage) and I think he’s connected with the Hadleigh Nunns too.

The testators wife, Mrs Sarah Nunn, was buried in Wivenhoe in January 1741/2. Their son Joshua (Hannah’s husband) died in 1741. Thomas and Sarah’s son Thomas died in 1721, and their daughter Mary in 1726/7. Their daughter Sarah married Thomas Arthy at St Mary’s-at-the-Walls in Colchester in 1738.

Newton Blower: he married a widow, Sarah Hull in 1732. He was single. They then had children: Sarah (1735), Martha (1738), Elizabeth (1740) in Wivenhoe, and a son, Newton, in Brightlingsea in 1745. Father and son were both buried in Brightlingsea in 1746.

Martha Blower married Isaac Downs, a blacksmith from Colchester, in 1758. William Whitley’s 1722 will names his son-in-law Jeremiah Downes. Jeremiah married Sarah Hull at Alresford in 1733 (the marriage was recorded in Wivenhoe’s register – Alresford’s for that period is lost). His previous wife, Susannah, died in Wivenhoe in 1722, and was presumably William Whitley’s daughter Susanna (William lists his five children’s names, but without giving their surnames, so it’s not clear whether his daughters were married at the time).

There is another Thomas Nunn to add to this mix – see his will (1784) just below.

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Nunn, Thomas, farmer of Wivenhoe, 1784

  • Wife Frances: property in Pebmarsh occupied by John Briant
  • Son Thomas: copyhold farm held of Great Bromley manor, purchased from Edward Blowers, occupied by Steward Hines, copyhold farm held of Great Bromley manor called Mayhouse, Moyses & Edens
  • Mayhouse Farm to be chargeable for £12 a year to Frances, for her life
  • Wife: all plate, household furniture, linen, and £5 for mourning. After her decease to son Thomas
  • Rest and residue to son Thomas

Executor: son Thomas

Witnesses: Mary Bayles x, WB Atkinson, Thomas Bayles

Written 14 Dec 1773, probate 10 April 1784

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: A marriage licence, dated 1 October 1745, says that Thomas Nunn, a 30-year-old bachelor who lived in Alresford, planned to marry Eleanor Hull, a 28-year-old spinster from Wivenhoe (Eleanor might a daughter of Sarah, mentioned above, who married Newton Blower as a widow. The two women must’ve been related somehow as it looks like the Nunns and Hulls were linked in the area). The marriage was to take place in Alresford. Although marriages from that parish have survived from 1743, their marriage isn’t record in the register. However, three children of Thomas and Eleanor were baptised in Alresford: Thomas in 1746, and several daughters called Eleanor.

Thomas’ wife died in 1759, so in 1760, he married Frances Bryant from Earls Colne – she appears to be the daughter of George and Frances Bryant, born in White Colne in 1724. George Bryant and Frances Brand were married in Pebmarsh in 1722. George died in 1752, and his ERO will mentions his wife Frances, his daughter Frances and Mary, and his son John, as well as property in Great Tey, but not property in Pebmarsh.

The executor’s son Thomas (and presumably, his only surviving) child, appears to have married Mary Wilkin in Frating on 13th August 1772 – their first child, Mary, was baptised in Alresford in December that same year.

The testator died in 1784, and was buried in Alresford on 13th March 1784. The question is, though, how does he fit in with all these other Nunns? He must do somehow, but it will be a challenge if the information is in the lost Alresford registers.

ERO holds a bundle of papers relating to property in Pebmarsh, including the 1786 will of Frances Nunn of Wivenhoe. This is presumably the testator’s widow, but I can’t find the will – is it a PCC will or an ERO will? Both draw a blank, and it doesn’t appear to be in the LMA either.

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Nunn, Thomas, gentleman of Frating Hall, 1807

  • wife Mary
  • daughter Elizabeth wife of John Smith of Frating, farmer
  • daughter Sarah Nunn
  • son William Nunn
  • son John Nunn, a minor
  • son Benjamin Nunn
  • son James Nunn
  • Rev Edward Frewen, Dr of Divinity
  • William Mason of Colchester, gent.
  • John Turtle of Newington Green
  • Benjamin Hull of Earls Colne, husbandman
  • John Cole of Frating, husbandman
  • Mr William Smith of Colchester, wine merchant
  • friend Joseph Archer of Frating, farmer
  • son George Nunn, under 19: rest and residue, including the lease of Frating Hall

Executors: wife, William Smith, Joseph Archer

Witnesses: J. Mason, Henry Spurling, William Death

Written 25 Nov 1806, codicil 11 May 1807 (no extra names), died Frating 15 June 1807, probate 1 Aug 1807

ERO

Transcriber’s notes: buried in Alresford 17 June 1807. Thomas Nunn of Alresford married Mary Wilkin of Frating at Frating in 1772. There are baptisms in Alresford between 1772 and 1782 for nine children of Thomas and Mary Nunn, before the family moved elsewhere and more children were born. His daughter Elizabeth married John Smith in Frating on 2 Oct 1805, with no less than five witnesses recorded.

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Nunn, William, innholder of Romford, 1792

  • mother Mary Nunn
  • brother Leonard Nunn
  • brother John Nunn
  • sister Mary Gowland
  • friend John Beckwith of Romford, victualler
  • friend Thomas Graves of Romford, gent.
  • brother James Nunn
  • wife Elizabeth Nunn
  • daughter Margaret Nunn
  • son Joshua Nunn, under 21

Executors: Thomas Graves and James Nunn

Witnesses: Jonah Beckwith, Thomas Bruce

Written 2 July 1792, probate 18 Sep 1792

PCC

Transcriber’s notes: the testator was a son of Joshua Nunn and Mary Baker.

Mary Nunn married Edward Gowland at St Andrew’s, Holborn, on 29 July 1777. The testator married Elizabeth Blyfield at St Dunstan’s in the East, London, on 21 Oct 1777, which was the parish where his brother James lived. James, and his future wife Sarah Embleton, were witnesses.

Joshua son of William and Elizabeth Nunn was baptised in Romford on 3 Sep 1784, and their daughter Margaret Elizabeth was born in Romford in 1782.

In 1786, the George Inn in Witham was to let. Particulars could be obtained from William Nunn of the White Hart Inn, Romford – the testator – and from John Nunn of the Three Cups Inn, Colchester (whose will is above) [Ipswich Journal, 25 Feb 1786]. John was William’s brother.

In 1792, Elizabeth published several adverts in local papers letting customers know she was now running the business, but in 1793, a Mr Gray had taken over the business.

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