John Tenney of Downham Market, Norfolk, and his wife Watson

[ElizabethHerts]

I am transcribing the PCC will of John Tenney as above and note that his wife's Christian name was Watson.

I haven't been able to find their marriage. Can anyone find it, please?

They had a son, also John, and a daughter, Sarah or Sally, who married William Register.

[Merry]

What sort of date, Elizabeth?

[ElizabethHerts]

Sorry, Merry. He died in 1820 and had grandchildren then. His daughter Sarah married in 1808. I would think the marriage would be c. 1780.

[Merry]

Is she a step-mum?


First name(s) WATSON
Last name SAXBY
Marriage year 1802
Marriage date 12 AUG 1802
Place ST ANDREW, HOLBORN
Spouse's first name -
Spouse's last name -
County London
Banns or licence Licence
Groom's first name John
Groom's last name Tenney
Groom's age -
Groom's marital status Widower
Groom signed made mark
Groom's parish St Andrew, Holborn
Groom's parish as in register St Andrew, Holborn
Groom's county London
Groom's county as in register London
Groom's suffix/occupation /
Bride's first name Watson
Bride's last name Saxby
Bride's age -
Bride's marital status Widow
Bride signed Yes
Bride's parish St Andrew, Holborn
Bride's parish as in register St Andrew, Holborn
Bride's county London
Bride's county as in register London
Officiate's first name John
Officiate's last name Lake
Record set St Andrew's Holborn Marriage Index 1754-1812
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Marriages & divorces
Collections from Great Britain

[Merry]

The above is from fmp but the image is on ancestry with his surname as Jenney!

[Merry]

This might be her too:


Name: Watson Nickolson
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 11 May 1781
Marriage Place: Howden,York,England
Spouse: Thomas Saxby
FHL Film Number:
0844541 IT 5, 0844553 IT 4, 0844554 IT 5, 0844555 IT 3, 558355

[ElizabethHerts]

Oooh, it looks like it! Thanks, I was only looking in Norfolk.

I have found the marriage of William Register and Sarah/Sally Tenn(e)y transcribed as Jenny!

[ElizabethHerts]

The Nicholson name is used for one of the Registers' sons - Thomas Nicholson Register. There was also a Watson Tenney Register baptised in 1826 at Wisbech.

[ElizabethHerts]

So, who was the mother of John and Sarah/Sally and the first wife of John Tenney?

[ElizabethHerts]

Did they move about a lot?

Name: Sarah Tenney
Gender: Female
Baptism Date: 1 Oct 1788
Baptism Place: East Retford,Nottingham,England
Father: John Tenney
Mother: Sally
FHL Film Number: 503811, 504066, 504532

Name: John Tenney
Gender: Male
Baptism Date: 5 Apr 1787
Baptism Place: East Retford,Nottingham,England
Father: John Tenney
Mother: Sally
FHL Film Number: 503811, 504066, 504532

[ElizabethHerts]

With this mother/wife:


First name(s) John
Last name Tenney
Marriage year 1784
Marriage date 17 Aug 1784
Marriage place East Retford
Church St Swithun
Denomination Anglican
Spouse's first name(s) Sally
Spouse's last name Richardson
County Nottinghamshire
Country England
Record set Nottinghamshire marriages, 1528-1929

[Merry]

What was John's occupation?

[ElizabethHerts]

He was a Linen Draper in his will.

[ElizabethHerts]

The Retford baptisms seem to be correct.

Here is Sarah Register in 1851:

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbc%2f1851%2f0007720928

Born Retford, Northamptonshire.


Sarah Register Head Widow Female 65 1786 Tobacconist Retford, Nottinghamshire, England
Edward Register Son Unmarried Male 25 1826 Hairdresser Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

[Merry]

Oh that's good :)

[ElizabethHerts]

This is on FMP, but there doesn't appear to be a PCC will.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=bmd%2fd%2fdduty%2f1404346

First name(s) Watson
Last name Tenney
Death year 1830
Residence MITCHELL
County YORKSHIRE
Court Canterbury Prerogative Court
Record set Index to Death Duty Registers 1796-1903
National Archives reference IR27/39
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Wills & probate
Collections from Great Britain

[Merry]

I took the ref from the above (IR27/39) and, using the advanced search on TNA site entered it in the 'Any of these references' field. The result showed IR27/39 are administrations in the PCC for 1830.

Before FMP fully indexed the Death Duty Registers they were divided into different sections including separating various courts and the wills from administrations, so I don't know why they couldn't still include this info in the transcriptions now they are indexed?

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks for that, Merry. I knew there must be an answer somewhere! It seems silly that FMP can't provide the full information.

[Merry]

Sorry, Merry. He died in 1820 and had grandchildren then.

His burial entry (19 May 1820) says he was aged 60. (ancestry/Family Search)

[ElizabethHerts]

Thanks, Merry. I have the image from FMP.

He had four children with Sally (Richardson) at East Retford. His son John Tenney died there in 1861. He never married. He was a bookseller.