I'm again in the middle of a Family name muddle for Mary 'Fitness' Fitnes, 'Fines' who I know married my 6th G'Grand father Henry Tom[p]sett in Chiddingly Sussex in 1687. His father died in Chiddingly in 1678 & it appears his widow Parnell married again: Extract from the Sussex Marriage Index: Place: South Malling Peculiar Marriage Licence, Date: 4 Aug 1681: Subject: John FILTNESS Spouse: Parnell TOMPSETT, wid of Mayfield Extra Information: SRS 6 ................... Such similar surnames have been confusing my efforts for a very long time & due to some-one elses thoughts, I'd changed my files to read 'Fines'. I have not been able to find an almost positive birth baptism for Mary, & today when this one poppedup I did wonder if this may be her, not having any idea why she may have been born in Surrey. Can anyone please decipher the word after 'Ffitnes' in the snip for me please? Mary Fitnes Baptism Date: 22 Apr 1666 Baptism Place: St Olave, Bermondsey, Southwark, Surrey, England Father: John Fitnes Mother: Abigall Fitnes Register Type: Parish Register
Looking at the other entries on that page it would appear to be the father's trade. I'm tempted to say Grocer but that's only an initial guess.
Thanks Flook, I had hoped it may be a trade but I had no idea what. It's better than my initial 'Oxoxow'. not that I have any idea what trade I'd like him to have nor even how I'd get them to Sussex for Mary's marriage.
I think it is John's occupation - but what. Further down the page I can read draper. Is this the same word from a previous entry
Almost make an oarsman out of that one MM, a pity they had to jame marriages Bapts & Burials on the same line. strewth, just seen the time, must be gone from here for a while.
On the facing page, middle column, 6th March - Ann daughter of Tho: & Elizabeth Ditson(?) - Thomas would also appear to be a grocer (followed by 5 space filling strokes). What's dangerous of course is that we try to see a trade with which we're familiar when it could actually be some old/arcane trade we've never come across before.
Having just found George in the third column I agree the first letter is a 'G', so grocer looks good to me.
You're both doing well. would you like to sort out the rest of the family for me? Mind you I'm probably grasping at straw Fitnes Families here.
