A question for the Experts

Elsiesgirl said:
I've got a feeling that there were two Richard Massens in Kings Lynn. There was a death for a Richard Massen in 1830 but no indication of age
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This is very interesting - I might investigate it further to see if it is and adult Richard or an infant or child. Thanks.
 
Archie's Mum said:
I also had another thought that perhaps Richard and Amelia were married earlier in the Jewish faith but had their children baptised Christian then married again as Christian.
That part of Kings Lyn was a very Jewish area before 1800.
Just a thought.......
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I was having a similar thought. That they were of an unrecognized or unaccepted religion at the time. I am pretty sure that I have come across a website dedicated to the Jewish people in England. Years ago I came across a very unpleasant man from Canada who ranted on to me [over the internet] that I have the spelling of Massen wrong because all Massens were Roman Catholic!
 
Archie's Mum said:
I found the baptism for Edward on the Bishops Transcripts for 1816 on Family Search.
Edward son of Richard and Amelia 27 August 1816. Beside Amelia's name is a squiggle. Other names on the page, not all, have that same squiggle which appears to me at least, that it is a 'J'. ????
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I didn't notice the squiggle, perhaps I was getting a bit tired after trying to read them. I might have even seen the squiggle but disregarded it as a squiggle. I will go back and have another look. If it is a 'J' that might help solve the mistery. Thank you
 
Archie's Mum said:
One possible birth for a Milcah Taylor in 1774 Rushall, Stafford. Father John. Mother Ann.
Another who died in 1872 mother of William Taylor so not her and another who died in 1814...that's it. That I can find. Others may find more. Not a very common name at all.
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I found that birth record and I have kept in my records just in case it is my Milcah.
 
Archie's Mum said:
This is also possible. Amelia/Milcah was already married to another. Then again if she was 65 at death in 1839 then the Milcah Taylor born 1774 Rushall Stafford would fit. Post #18. Perfectly.
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Yes, I was thinking the same thing, but didn't want to add her to my tree until I was absolutely certain. But in this hobby/obsession I suppose that we always come to a point when we cannot be absolutely certain.
 
I have just gone back and had a look at the records and there is what appears to be a "J" next to Amelia's name. I also went backwards and forwards a few pages and there are quite a few "J" next to other baptisms.

I will now do some research on the Jewish population in the area.
 
Archie's Mum said:
Been looking around and found the old Jewish Burial Grounds 'Millfleet' in Kings Lyn. Kings Lyn was a haven for Dutch Jews and Maassen is a Dutch/North German name.
Not that it is what you are after but it was interesting.
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This is very interesting. There is an old family story that our Massen family originated in Russia, then traveled to Holland [where they changed their name to Massen], but it could very well have been Maassen. It was then said that they became mercenaries working with William of France and when he invaded England William gave them lands as a thank you for their help. Unfortunately none of this can be proved. Anyway, I still haven't been able to get past Richard Massen and his children which is the 18th and 19th century. I would like to travel back one step at a time and take no giant leaps. I am fascinated with the Jewish connection. My niece, from being a very little girl always wanted to go to Israel. We have no idea why but she was obsessed with it and has been to Israel many times.
 
Archie's Mum said:
I found the baptism for Edward on the Bishops Transcripts for 1816 on Family Search.
Edward son of Richard and Amelia 27 August 1816. Beside Amelia's name is a squiggle. Other names on the page, not all, have that same squiggle which appears to me at least, that it is a 'J'. ????
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I think it's just a rather fancy ampersand (&). On that double page spread, it seems to appear in all entries where two parents are named - sometimes on the first line after the father, and sometimes as here, on the second line just before the mother.
 
arthurk said:
I think it's just a rather fancy ampersand (&). On that double page spread, it seems to appear in all entries where two parents are named - sometimes on the first line after the father, and sometimes as here, on the second line just before the mother.
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That makes sense....
 
crazycatlady22 said:
It was then said that they became mercenaries working with William of France and when he invaded England William gave them lands as a thank you for their help. Unfortunately none of this can be proved.
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Just wondering if your Massens could be traced in the Doomsday book, all the landholders would be in it, might at least prove whether they were given land. I have a book containing the Doomsday records for Essex, it has the Latin version and the English interpretation, it not only lists who is holding the land at the time but also who held it before, the befores usually Saxons of course.

Just checked the index in my Essex Doomsday book, no Massens, or variants of, in there, so apparently they didn't get land in Essex.
 
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