Life of John Edgson - Burnham, Buckinghamshire. 1749-1814
John Edgson of Britwell Farm 1749-1814 Burnham, Buckinghamshire. Will proved 1814.
I am inclined to believe he is an ancestor, a Great X? Uncle?
Linking Burnham/Farnham Royal Wills, to my own branch (mentioned in my earlier posts on here) who resided in above areas, prior to my direct line migrating towards (Berkshire) and settling in the Eastend of London, between 1881-1884.
The link being formed through another Will (Anna/Anne Edgson spinster of Farnham Royal, Will proved 1818) which mentions Edgsons who are obviously from my direct line.
If that Will is not the connecting one (always room for doubt) I am still convinced the Edgsons in Burnham/Farnham Royal (and other areas of bucks) throughout that earlier time span, have connections to my own.
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John's Will mentions some of the people (relations, neighbours, employees) whom he mentioned in the book, published by Bucks Historians from two of his diaries, covering the years 1787-1791 and 1803-1808.
Called 'Both Teams At Plough' compiled from two volumes of John's farm/day diaries that survived the destructive deed of a descendant aunt from Emma Bayley's maternal line (who obviously did not approve). Emma Edgson Bayley was John Edgson and Francis (Fanny) Bayley's illegitimate daughter.
Daphne one of the Buck's historian (who contacted me after seeing my surname and data submitted to the Bucks FHS) had been handed the John Edgson diaries, discovered in a dusty old bag in an attic, by a present day descendant of the Bayley family, prior to it being published in 1992.
Also Emma's travel journals, as a married woman, were compiled and published by Bucks Historians, 'A Long Way From Burnham' (travels of a Buckinghamshire Woman).
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A summary of John's story.
John Edgson inherited the farm 'Britwell' from his Father John in 1787, aged 38 (there had been a 'Well' on the land, known as 'Brightwell' it provided water for Britwell Court. When the book was published 1992, the well was still there, preserved in a garden at Green Lane).
John's mother Elizabeth must have died earlier, no mention of her in son John's Will or book (only data is in parish records, found by Daphne and team).
I see from their family tree that John's neighbour Thomas Bayley's parents were Thomas Bayley and Sarah Goldwin.
As there are a Goldwin father & daughter, Ann (mentioned in an earlier Edgson, Burnham, Will) who married John's Edgson ancestor, he may well be related to Thomas Bayley and have known him prior to taking over his father's farming at Britwell (maybe earlier, had lived there or was living there in 1787 when he inherited it)?
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Notes:
Thomas Bayley was 31 when he died & John Edgson was 38 when he inherited Britwell (both occurring in same year, 1787).
Frances was 5 years younger than her hubby Thomas, they had been married since 1776 (11 years of marriage).
Her parents:
William Hoare and Francis (no other data relevant to them in the book).
There was some intermarrying (expected in a small place like Burnham)?
The Bayley family tree gives clues to support that.
Sarah Bayley nee Goldwin's second hubby was a Thomas Hoare.
Later in the Bayley tree they marry several times into the Webster family.
Fanny's second marriage was to John Webster).
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Story:
John Edgson had an affair with his neighbour, Francis (Fanny) Bayley nee Hoare (after her husband Thomas had died)resulting in their illegitimate daughter Emma.
Fanny gave birth to Emma in 1790 she lived for 94 years. Emma was sometimes known as Bayley/Edgson/or both, later as Wilson, her married name.
The affair happened between Fanny's two marriages, while she was a widow (second marriage to John Webster was nine years after her first husband Thomas Bayley had died and six years after Emma Edgson was born).
Fanny had three Bayley children, one Edgson daughter, Emma, & three Webster children before she sadly died, probably from child birth or related problems (same year as her last child).
John & Fanny never married, it is thought by Daphne and I(and certain from relevant dates).
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Note:
I have found a marriage date for them on IGI but we are sure it was submitted in error by a Bayley descendant? The name is wrong in one item, giving Ann as the name, Daphne had notified IGI and Bucks organisations but the incorrect data is still at large.
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Story:
No one knows the duration of Fanny and John Edgson's affair, due to the 'middle' diaries being destroyed.
Their affair had stopped prior to the birth of Emma.
Who knows what 'waves' that could have caused re Thomas Bayley (Senior) 'Will' instructions?!
I am certain the reason that Fanny never married John is down to finance?
Her first hubby Thomas Bayley (I had his Will) stipulates that Frances should not marry prior to their eldest son Thomas, attaining age of consent, so she and John Edgson had to be careful, I imagine.
Family and friends (and executors of Thomas' Will) must have been well aware of the situation as John was a frequent visitor/guest at Fanny's home, she also visited him at his farm occasionally.
Later those instructions were made invalid by the early death of the first son Thomas, who never attained the age of consent, by the poor boy drowning in Lammas pond aged 16 years old!
(Emma Edgson-Bayley would have been two years old when her half brother Thomas had died).
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Notes:
Fanny and Thomas Bayley's three children:
Thomas 1776-1792 (as mentioned, poor boy drowned in Lammas pond, age 16 years)
William Bayley 1779-1852 (middle, only surviving Bayley child by the time John Edgson had died) Mentioned in John's Will as an executor. He, his children & grandchildren, continued to farm Britwell.
Ann Bayley 1781-1804 (nicknamed Nan or Nanny in the book). Ann & (half sister) Emma Edgson Bayley (John's daughter) were very close, poor Ann died age 23, after what seemed to be an illness that she suffered for a while, I think she was living (certainly stayed) at John's house (with Emma) during her illness.
In her small Will (not quite a page) she mentions John (who probably treated her like a daughter)?
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Was having the child of another man considered compromising by her peers? Was there danger of Fanny being disinherited?
Maybe the fact that John never had 'power' over the Bayley estate was the key? The affair was tolerated by the executors, until Emma came along?
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Story:
When Fanny met John Webster there was nothing to stop her marrying him(it was four years after Thomas Junior had drowned).
They marry in 1796, have three children, Fanny dies in the same year as her last child.
Henry Webster 1797
Charles '' '' 1799
Laura'' '' 1801-1821.
After Fanny died John Webster remarried, had other children (I had his Will).
Never mentioned Emma (or William Bayley) in it? It a was a long time ago that I last read it, do not remember him mentioning the three children he had with Fanny either? Just his children from second marriage at the time.
Looks like John had taken on responsibility for Emma and her two half siblings after Fanny died (Emma was 11, Ann 20, and William was 22).
Was William managing his fathers farm at first? Or did that go with Fanny when she married to John Webster and had her later family?
William and his descendants ended up farming Britwell for John and Emma so what happened to Thomas Bayley's (his father's) property?
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John was a devoted father, provides for Emma well in his Will, he brings her up, she is mentioned often in the book. He died age 65 (had trouble with his eyes in later years, visited a doctor several times, do not like the sound of the medication used)! In 1810 he took an oath as acting magistrate.
One simple line in the book on 4/3/1788 refers to King George (commonly called 'Farmer George' by Bucks people)among farm comments in the diary.
To Mr Ride 600 small fa..ots <(the forum has decided this is an inappropriate word! So I will remove middle two letters. A clue - refers to small cuts of wood for burning, back to diary)> brought back two loads of dung from Mr Clodes.I was hunting with the King.
Both teams at Dungcart into Minicrofts. I took of Tom Webb £3=3s in part.
To Mr Harding two loads of Wheat. Bob was at plough in Barn close. I went to Farnham with Mr Feesey to hold a court and take up three estates for my brother, left to him by my father.
I believe his brother to be abroad, ref to a letter from Ned
(so would be Edward).
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Emma marries after her father John's death and has a good upper class life with her husband James Wilson, a Wine Importer, they travel and live in Portugal frequently.
After her husbands death Emma Edgson/Bayley/Wilson returns to live in Reading, becomes very fond of her great nephew and nieces whom she provides for in her Will, having had no children.
She is well respected as widely travelled woman, the children in her family called her, Mrs Wilson!
Is living in Reading as a Widow with her staff in 1881 census.
Died in 1884 aged 94.
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Some data from John's Will:
Executors: William Bayley, Yeoman, of Britwell (Emma's half brother, who continues to farm Britwell as do his children and grandchildren).
Mr Edmund Winter of Lake End, Burnham (I know him to be related by marriage).
Mr Joseph Millington of Burnham (I also know him to be related by marriage, had 'Wills' for both of them).
Mr S.......? Roper, gentleman of City of London
They were to administer the estate, using sufficient thereof towards maintenance and support of my daughter Emma, until she attains age of 25 (she was 19 when the Will was written).
Two cottages and a cottage called Nuts Court, buildings and lands (the real estate, personal estate, chattels and house hold goods).
Note: I know he bought Dividends in London, mentioned in the book.
If Emma departs this life with no heirs, the property goes to John Edgson of East Burnham (and his heirs) son of John and Sarah Edgson now living with his grandparents, Richard and Elizabeth Winter.
One of the cottages tenant is a Thomas Pizzey (or might mean Piercy).
The residue of my real estate I give to the children of my first cousin John Edgson, late of East Burnham, Brickmaker, deceased, except his wife Elizabeth (not sure if this includes or precludes her from his Will) equally to be divided between share and share alike as tenants, etc (some parts almost illegible).
The sum of £20 per year, for the term of her natural life, to his first cousin Ann Edgson, spinster of Farnham Royal.
I believe above to be the Anna, Spinster of Farnham Royal (also spelt Anne in some data) whose Will I have, she mentions Ephraim Edgson her grand nephew? (who is either, my Ephraim Snr, Gx3 grandfather, or, probably his son, the junior Ephraim) That is my link to my ancestors from John Edgson in this post.
Another Ann Edgson is mentioned, servant to Miss Grote of (Badgmoor?) near....? (note: Badgmoor could be name of house or town)? Left her £50.
To Mrs Millington, wife of Joseph Millington, five... (could be crowns)?
Money to Charlotte Cornish (painter) cousin? wife of William Cornish of Eton.
Mentions, Wife of John Pond of Burnham, Thomas Bolt or Scott?
Povey or Pouley?
A few other names, think it said his 'labourers'?
Mrs Wetherall or C..?therall,Richard Brown,...?... Almond, Thomas Siro or biro?
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I think that covers John and Emma Edgsons life, I do not have any stories on his ancestors, for which I will post 'Will' data later.
Daphne mentions in a letter to me of August/2003,"It is interesting to find so many Edgsons in the 1901 Census, and to see how the Bucks ones moved to Langley, Yiewsley, Slough, etc, all villages on the road to London".
Linda.
More Replies:
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Re: Life of John Edgson /Stupid error, prev' post, spell correction 'FRANCES' E
Linda Edgson 10/27/04