Thurtell and Related Families    

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Notes for James THURTELL

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The family tree done by Harriet Thurtell about 1900 and the History of
the Thurtell Family done by Susan Persia Thurtell about 1968, both in the
possession of Susan Persia Thurtell Miller, list James Thurtell as the
earliest known ancestor of our family.

See notes under James' son, John Thurtell. James is buried at
Blundeston, and his tomb shows James Thurtell, died 19th January 1801,
age 63 years.

Information received from Peter Murray in 1997 shows that James Thurtell
was the second son of John and Elizabeth Thurtell of Trowse Newton and
Norwich, Norfolk, England. James Thurtell was a cooper in Norwich and
farmed in Lakenham, Norfolk, apparently on the Crowe family's estate near
Norwich. His farming apparently was on the property in Lakenham later
farmed under Southwell, landlord, by his son Thomas Thurtell apparently
by Harford Bridge (according to the research of Eunice Wilson). In 1770
he inherited his father's property in Hempnall, Norfolk. The children of
James and Winifred Nunn Thurtell were christened in the Church of St.
Julian, Norwich, Norfolk, until at least 1772.

In about 1772, he acquired by lease a farm in Flixton, Suffolk, and
property in the Redeham Marsh, Norfolk, and relocated his family from the
parish of St. Julian, Norwich, to Flixton. From 1775 on his children
were christened at the Church of St. Mary, Blundeston, Suffolk, England.
He was afterwards a prominent parishioner in Blundeston-cum-Flixton and
lived at White House Farm (possibly leased from the Woods family). He
also continued to have a presence in the parish of St. Julian in Norwich
until at least 1781 since some of his children were buried in that parish
until at least that year. His first wife, Winifred, was the daughter of
Thomas Nunn, a Norwich worsted weaver. James and Winifred Thurtell had
nine children who survived childhood.

James Thurtell, son of John Thurtell and Elizabeth, appears in the will
of his father in 1767 and 1769 and that of his brother John in 1772,
being during that time "of the City of Norwich." His baptismal record
has not been found, probably because the Archdeacon's transcript for
Trowse Newton in the years beginning with 1736 do not survive and the
parish records are virtually unreadable due to flood damage. In his
father's will, in 1767, James Thurtell was bequeathed an equal share
(with his brother John and sister Sarah) of his father's property on
Boarstreet in the City of Norwich, this subject to use of it by his
mother during her lifetime. He was also to receive all of his father's
property in Hempnall, Norfolk, subject to compensation being paid to his
brother John for his part. He also appears as an executor in the will of
his brother John Thurtell, in 1772, in which he was charged with the sale
of his brother's property in Trowse Milgate, with the proceeds to go to
John's widow, Hannah. Where in Norwich this James Thurtell was living in
1767 is not stated, nor what became of the property in Hempnall that was
bequeathed to him, or even whether and when the property in Trowse
Milgate was in fact sold. However, the will of James Thurtell of
Flixton, Suffolk, dated 1799 and proved in 1801, shows him in possession
of a part freehold and part copyhold property in Hempnall, late in the
occupation of William King and "now" in occupation of Samuel Gilbert.
This is in addition to the property in his own occupation in Flixton,
Suffolk, and Redeham Marshes, Norfolk, which he held by lease. It is
therefore virtually certain that the James Thurtell who died in 1801 and
married successively Winifred Nunn (c1740-1795) and the widow Elizabeth
Atkinson (1748-1828) is in fact the son of John and Elizabeth Thurtell of
Trowse Newton. Soon after 1772 he appears to have moved from Norwich and
vicinity to Blundeston-cum-Flixton, Suffolk, where he first appears in
our family tradition.

Peter Murray's records also shows that the following information is
relevant:

James Thurtell married Winifred Nunn on December 7, 1758, at St.
Etheldreda, Norwich, Norfolk County, England. He was a single man of
St. Julian parish and she a single woman of St. Etheldreda parish, both
in Norwich. The witnesses were Mary Chandler and Sarah Thurtell, but
their relationships were not shown. James and Winifred Thurtell, before
moving to Flixton, Suffolk, farmed property at Lakenham Norfolk, which is
immediately adjacent to Trowse Newton.

A contemporary named James Thirtle married Mary Cook, 26 Dec 1762 at
Norwich St. John de Sepulchre [i.e., in the same parish as the Norwich
property of John Thurtell the peruch maker].

Other contemporaries of the name James are known, including James
Thurtell who married Esther Vout 30 May 1763 at Norwich St. Saviour, and
James Thirtle who married Susannah Berry 5 April 1752 at Norwich St.
Stephen.

James Thurtell of Flixton, Suffolk, in his will in 1799, proved in 1801,
disposed of property in Hempnall, Norfolk, which appears to correspond
with the property held in 1770 by James, brother of the above John
Thurtell. These two James must therefore be one and the same, which
means the other contemporaries also named James mentioned above must
belong to different family groups.
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WILL OF JAMES THURTELL OF FLIXTON SFK, FARMER, 1799/1801
Archdeaconry of Suffolk, England [Original File Copy]
(Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich Branch, file IC/AA1/221/7)
Note: This James Thurtell (m.1st Winifred Nunn; m.2nd Elizabeth
Atkinson) is the earliest ancestor remembered in our family tradition.
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[Seal affixed to top of page]

This is the Last Will and Testament of me James Thurtell of Flixton in
the County of Suffolk farmer - that is to say - Whereas I have given to
my three sons John Thomas and James and to my two daughters Sarah the
wife of Robert Browne and Elizabeth the wife of John Clarke several sums
of money mentioned and entered in a Book which I keep for that purpose
Now I give and bequeath to each of my said five children John Thomas
James Sarah and Elizabeth respectively so much more money as added to the
sums so respectively received will make to each of them the sum of Five
hundred pounds, and I direct the same to be paid within six calendar
months after my decease, but my meaning is that such sums of money which
I have lent to any of my said children on their note or other security in
order for repayment shall be by them accordingly accounted for and paid
to my executors hereafter named - Also I give and devise unto my son
George Thurtell and his heirs for ever All and every my messuages lands
tenements and hereditaments both freehold and copyhold with the rights
and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in Hempnall
in the County of Norfolk late in the occupation of William King his
assigns or undertenants and now in the occupation of Samuel Gilbert his
assigns or undertenants And also all other my messuages lands tenements
and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever Upon Trust nevertheless to
pay and apply all the net rents issues and profits thereof and of every
part thereof in manner and for the purposes hereafter mentioned until my
youngest daughter Sophia shall attain her age of twenty one years and
when and as soon as my said daughter Sophia shall have attained such age
or in case of her death under such age then when and so soon as I shall
have no child living under the age of twenty one years Upon trust for my
said son George or his heirs to sell and dispose of all my said Messuages
Lands Tenements hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances either
by a public sale by auction or by a provate sale and in such way and
manner as he or they shall please for the best price and most money that
can reasonably be had or gotten for the same and to convey surrender and
assure all the said hereditaments and premises to the purchaser or
purchasers thereof and to his her or their heirs or as he she or they
shall direct or appoint, And all the moneys to arise from such sale or
sales to pay and apply in manner hereafter mentioned and directed of and
concerning the same But my will and meaning is that the purchaser or
purchasers of my said Messuages hereditaments and premises or of any of
them or of any parts thereof shall not be answerable or accountable for
the misapplication of the purchase money or purchase moneys to be given
for the same And that the receipt or receipts of my said son George or
his heirs so selling and conveying the said premises as aforesaid shall
be a full and sufficient discharge for such purchase money or purchase
moneys or for so much money for which such receipt or receipts shall be
given Also I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my three sons
Thomas James and George and my daughters Ann and Charlotte to be
Executors and Executrix of this my last will and testament Also I desire
and direct my said Executors and Executrixes or such of them as shall
take upon them the Probate of this my will or the survivors or survivor
of them to raise as soon as they conveniently can after my decease from
my personal estate a Sum of Money sufficient when laid out and invested
in the three per cent Consolidated or reduced Bank annuities to produce
an annual or yearly interest or dividend of Forty pounds and I direct
them to invest the said Money so raised in one of the said funds or
securities accordingly And I give and direct my said Ececutors to pay to
Elizabeth my wife the said interest or divident of Forty pounds for the
term of her life In discharge and satisfaction of a Bond or other
security which upon my marriage with my said wife I entered into for
payment to her for her life in the event of her surviving me of a like
annuity and which provision is to be in bar lieu and satisfaction of all
dower and thirds which she my said wife may be intitled to out of and
from my real Estate And until the said money shall be so raised and
invested as aforesaid I direct my Executors to pay the said annuity to my
said wife from my personal Estate and also from the rents of my said real
estate till the same shall be sold and disposed of as aforesaid And I
also direct the said annuity to be paid on the several days and times
mentioned and provided in the said Bond or security for the payment
thereof And after my said wifes decease I give and bequeath all the said
principal Money so raised and invested as aforesaid to be paid and
applied in manner hereafter mentioned Also I give to my said Executors
and Executrixs All my farming stock and implements of farming All my
crops of corn grain and hay All my stock of horses and cattle All my
household goods and furniture plate and linen dairy and brewing utensils
All my ready money debts due or owing to me and securities for money and
all and singular other my goods chattels and personal Estate whatsoever
and wheresoever Upon Trust after paying thereout and therefrom all my
just debts funeral and testamentary expences and the several Sums of
money which I have hereinbefore given to my said sons John Thomas and
James and to my said daughters Sarah and Elizabeth and after also raising
therefrom the said Sum of money to be invested as aforesaid for obtaining
the said annuity of Forty pounds - To apply employ lay out invest and
dispose of all the rest and residue of my said Stock furniture monies and
personal estate in manner and for several purposes following that is to
say - to employ a sufficient part and portion thereof for carrying on my
farm at Flixton aforesaid and towns adjoining in my own occupation with
my Marshes at Redeham in the said County of Norfolk also in my own
occupation for the remainder of my Lease or Leases therein respectively
and for so long afterwards if it can be until my said son George and my
said daughters Ann Charlotte and Sophia shall have attained their
respective ages of twenty one years for their maintenance support and
education And I request my said sons Thomas and James to superintend
conduct and manage the said business and to retain annually or be paid
from the monies thence arising Twenty pounds for their care and trouble
in and about the same And as to so much of the residue of the said monies
and personal Estate as shall not be wanted for that purpose To put and
plan the same out at Interest on such security or securities real or
personal as my said Executors shall see fit but at the risk and hazard of
my Children who shall be entitled thereto by this my will And to apply
such interest for the maintenance support and education of my said son
George and my said daughters Ann Charlotte and Sophia Five hundred
pounds apiece to be paid to them as and when they shall severally attain
their age of twenty one years together with interest therefore at and
after the rate of Four pounds and ten shillings per Centum per annum to
be accounted from the time of my decease until the said Legacies
respectively shall become due and payable And I direct the said legacies
to be paid out of and from my personal Estate and from the monies to
arise as aforesaid from the sale of my said real Estate if there be
occasion to resort to that fund for payment thereof And when and so soon
as my said Children shall have attainded their ages of twenty one years
or before if my executors shall see fit I desire and direct them to sell
and convert into money All the said farming Stock and implements of
farming Stock houshold Goods and furniture plate linen and personal
Estate And the monies so arising together with the monies to be put and
placed out as aforesaid and all the residue of my said personal Estate
and savings And also the monies to arise from the sale of my said real
Estate after paying all lawful claims thereon and the said Legacies
herein before given to my said four Children George Ann Charlotte and
Sophia and Interest therefore as aforesaid to pay and apply and I give
the same to be equally divided among my said nine Children John Thomas
James George Sarah Elizabeth Ann Charlotte and Sophia share and share
alike And as to the principal money to be raised and invested as
aforesaid for payment of the said annuity of Forty pounds a year to my
said wife for her life I give the same after her decease or so much
thereof as shall not be wanted for the payment of any Legacy or Legacies
which I have herein before given, To be equally divided among my said
nine Children John Thomas James George Sarah Elizabeth Ann Charlotte and
Sophia share and share alike, Provided always and my meaning is that if
any loss should happen to my personal Estate from or by the carrying on
the said farming business as aforesaid that my Executors shall not be
answerable for any such loss or be subject or be liable to make good the
same or any part thereof, But in Case of any gains or savings thereby the
same after maintaining and educating my said four Children George Ann
Charlotte and Sophia as aforesaid shall be added to and taken as part of
my personal Estate to be applied and divided as aforesaid, Provided also
and my will is that my Executors shall not be charged or chargeable with
or accountable for any Sum or Sums of money whatsoever other than what
shall actually come to their respective hands and be received by them
respectively and not the one of them for the others or other of them or
the receipts payments acts or wilful defaults of the others or other of
them but each of them for himself and herself and for his and her own
acts receipts payments and wilful defaults only Nor for any loss or
losses which may happen without his her or their wilful default And
lastly I revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and I
declare this to be my last will and testament - In witness whereof I the
said James Thurtell the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
contained in four sheets of paper and affixed together at the tops to the
first second and third sheets thereof set my hand and to the fourth sheet
my hand and Seal this Thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand Seven hundred and ninety nine.-

James Thurtell [+ Seal]

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his
Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at
his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed
our names as Witnesses thereto
Robt Reeve
T Mallitt [these also signed ea page]
Robt Reeve Jun.

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[Seal affixed to top of page]

At Yarmouth the thirty first Day of January 1801. The within named
Executors Thomas Thurtell and James Thurtell were sworn in due form of
law before me

Thomas Baker Surrogate
to the Official

Personal Estate |
under L10,000 |
Power is reserved for George Thurtell, Ann
Thurtell and Charlotte Thurtell the other Executors within named to be
sworn and act
_________
23 Sheets

1804 Dec.7th The said Charlotte Thurtell (now the wife of Thomas Paine
of Lowestoft Gent./ one of the Executors was sworn in due form of Law
before the revd Barthw Ritson Clk Surr.

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[attached page]

Form of Oath to be administered to Charlotte Paine the Wife of
Thomas Paine of Lowestoft in the County of Suffolk Gentleman late
Charlotte Thurtell Spinster natural and lawful Daughter and one of the
Executors named in the last Will and Testament of James Thurtell late of
Flixton in the County and Archdeaconry of Suffolk Farmer deceased.

"You swear that the writing contained in certain forur Sheets of paper
together annexed bearing date the 30th day of May 1799 and purporting to
be the last Will and Testament of James Thurtell late of Flixton
aforesaid deceased now remaining in the registry of the Court of the said
Archdeaconry is as you verily believe the last Will and Testament of the
said deceased, that you are one of the Executrixes therein named, and
that you will well and faithfully perform that office by first paying the
debts of the said deceased and then the Legacies contained in the said
Will so far forth as the Goods Rights Chattels and Credits will extend
and as by Law you are bound that you will make and exhibit a true full
and perfect Inventory of all and singular the said Goods Rights Chattels
and Credits of the said deceased and render a just and true account of
your Executrixship when you shall be thereunto lawfully called"

The Seventh day of December 1804
The abovenamed Charlotte Paine was sworn in due form of Law,
before me,
Barthw Ritson Clk. Surrogate |
to the Archdeacon of Suffolk. |

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END OF DOCUMENT
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS OF JAMES THURTELL OF FLIXTON, FARMER, 1801

James Thurtell of Flixton was a farmer with property also at the Marsh at
Redeham Norfolk, and in Hempnall Norfolk. His will was dated 1799 and
the executors sworn 1801 when apparently he had died.
Wife: Elizabeth, whose maintenance is provided for in the will but she
was not named as an executor. Terms of their marriage bond are referred
to in the will.
His children (mother not stated):
John Thurtell
Thomas Thurtell
James Thurtell
George Thurtell
Sarah wife of Robert Browne
Elizabeth wife of John Clarke
Ann Thurtell
Charlotte Thurtell, afterwards wife of Thomas Paine
Sophia Thurtell
Siblings or other relatives: none mentioned.
All of the above were living in 1799 and 1801, and it is made clear that
these were all his children then living.

Provisions of the will (as interpreted by Peter Murray):
His 5 children who were not underage, John, Thomas, James, Sarah, and
Elizabeth, were to repay to the estate sums of money which he had
previously advanced to them.
Each of his 9 children were to be given 500 pounds of money, but only
upon reaching age 21 if underage.
His wife Elizabeth was to receive an annuity of 40 pounds, being earnings
from a portion of the estate to be set aside and invested for that
purpose.
His 4 underage children, George, Ann, Charlotte, and Sophia were to have
their maintenance and education provided from the revenues of his
properties in Hempnall, Flixton and Redeham Marshes etc.
His freehold and copyhold property in Hempnall Norfolk was to be
entrusted to his son George for his use and to provide family revenue
until he and all his siblings have reached the age of 21, upon which it
was to be sold by George and the proceeds divided equally among the 9
children.
His properties in Flixton Suffolk and the Marsh at Redeham Norfolk were
to be maintained and managed for the family benefit by his sons Thomas
and James, who were to be given an annuity of 20 pounds for their
trouble, for the remaining term of the lease or for as long as they
remained profitable, and if eventually sold, proceeds to be divided
equally among his nine children.
His other personal estate etc when eventually converted into money to be
equally divided among his 9 children.
He appointed as executors his children Thomas, James, George, Ann, and
Charlotte (power being reserved for the latter three, they being
underage).

Notes:
This is the James Thurtell (1737-1801), our ancestor, who married first
1758 to Winifred Woods (mother of all their children) and 2ndly 1797 to
Elizabeth Atkinson, a widow, who survived him.

The seal of James Thurtell affixed to the will needs to be examined in
case there is a crest or other insignia (not visible on the copy we
have). This can be compared with seals and insignia on other Thurtell
wills and documents before and after this time as clues to other
relationships and heraldic status.

Since our James Thurtell is shown here to have possessed property in
Hempnall Norfolk, he appears to be identical to the James Thurtell who
was bequeathed property in Hempnall by the will of his father John
Thurtell of Trowse Newton in 1770.

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