So. We don't know if Mary, mother of Mary Ann Breeze had a child in a previous marriage or had her illegitimately. In other words, who was Mary Anne's father? Which is who I meant when I asked earlier who was Mary's father.
No, yes....I'm confused now Yes, your post is correct. Who was Mary Ann's father. Did she have one? Although, when Mary her mother married it was under the name of Davies. Can't remember if when she marred Thomas James she was a widow or spinster.
I have found these baps to Henry and Mary in Hay:- Henry 20/8/1758, Edward 11/6/1763, Richard 27/12/1768 and Ann 13/6/1772 Scrolling back through the pages I found a marriage of Henry Davies to Mary Wat[l]key 18/9/1752 - but this does not appear as a transcription. I think it might be case of going through page by page to see if the missing baps are there but not transcribed.
It just says Mrs. Mary Breeze. I give and bequeath all those messuages or dwelling houses with the outbuildings yards gardens and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate lying and being in the said Town of Knighton and now in the tenure or occupation of myself and Evan Meredith unto my Niece Sarah James spinster her heirs and assigns for ever I also give and bequeath unto my Sister in Law Mrs Mary James the sum of ten pounds I also give and bequeath unto Mrs Mary Breeze her daughter the sum of twenty pounds I also give and bequeath unto my Nephew George James the sum of ten pounds I also give and bequeath unto my Niece Bridget James the sum of one hundred pounds I also give and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas James the sum of forty pounds all which legacies I do hereby order and direct to be paid within twelve months next after my decease all the rest and residue of my money goods chattels and effects of what nature or kind occur and wheresoever the same shall be at my decease I give devise and bequeath the same unto my Niece Sarah James and I do nominate constitute and appoint my said Niece the said Sarah James to be Executrix of this my last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four. The following children were the children of Thomas & Mary James (nee Davies) Niece -Sarah James, Nephew - George James (Mary Ann and her Husband Edward Breeze are buried with him.) Niece Bridget James (married Thomas Budgen) Nephew - Thomas James Mary Breeze is not named as a niece, she is just named as the daughter of Mary James. We know that Mary (Ann) Davies married Edward Breeze in 1815
A Thomas JAMES died in 1821 - Knighton. Executor to his will was a Mary JAMES. Wonder if we can find his will?
**PLEASE IGNORE THIS POST** Don't think she will be there. According to her tomb she died in 1866 aged 83, this would give a birth of 1783. A bit late to be of this brood.
We have his will. I Thomas James of the Town of Knighton in the County of Radnor cooper being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding praised be God for the same do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following. I give and devise unto my dear wife Mary all that messuage or dwelling house outbuildings yard and garden and also all that piece or parcel of meadow land called the Scrubs and a garden in the Cwm, situate in the parish of Knighton aforesaid to hold the same with the appurtenances unto my said wife for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease I give and devise the messuage or dwelling house Brewhouse Stable and Gardens belonging to such dwelling house unto my Son George James to his heirs and assigns for ever and respecting the piece of Meadow Land called the Scrubs and the Garden in the Cwm from and after the decease of my said wife I give and devise the same unto my son Thomas James his heirs and assigns for ever I also give and bequeath unto my said Wife the use and enjoyment of all my Household Goods and furniture Shop Goods and all other my personal Estates for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease I give and bequeath unto my said son George James one Bed Bedstead and Cloaths thereunto belonging and as to the rest and residue of my household goods and furniture and all other my personal Estate of what nature or kind soever and whatsoever the same shall be at the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the same in equal shares and proportions between my daughter Bridgett and my son Thomas and lastly I do hereby nominate institute and appoint my dear Wife Mary and my Son George joint Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament
Here is a post to amend what I said in post #210 (I got confused ) What I was meant to be saying is.... 14 July. The Will with a Codicil of Mary Ann Breeze late of the Town of Knighton in the County of Radnor Widow deceased who died 24 June 1866 at Knighton aforesaid was proved at Hereford by the oaths of the Reverend Edward Lutwyche Davies of Little Thurrock in the County of Essex Clerk In the actual will Mary Ann says that Edward Lutwyche Davies is her cousin. ELD was the son of James Davies (The will that Flook found) This would make Mary James (nee Davies) the mother of Mary Ann Breeze (nee Davies) a sister to James born 1761. Mary James (nee Davies) was buried in 1847 aged 87 this would give a birth of 1760 to recap James Davies and Mary James (nee Davies) would be siblings. Unless it was the second marriage for Mary Davies when she married Thomas James. But if it was her second marriage, who was her first husband? Was it one of James's brothers? I need a lay down
I'm afraid I lost the plot ages ago, but I'm still valiantly reading the posts as they appear. Having just seen some of the will transcriptions, would it help if I remind you that at that period, "sister-in-law" was sometimes used in the sense of stepsister? But not always.
I hate to put another spanner in the works, but sometimes 'cousin' was used as a term to denote any old sort of relative......(this is where I duck )