Ancestry.co.uk is continually adding to its resources and the Canterbury Marriage Licences issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1679-1694 have recently gone on line. As a result we have the first important addition to our existing information since the publication of my book !
Among these Marriage Licences is one for 29 October 1681 for
Samuell Newman of Epsome, Surrey, bachelor, about 24, and Dorothy Wheeler, of the same, spinster, about 22, with consent of her mother, her father dead; alleged by Robert Newman, of Darkin, Surrey, gent; at Epsome, Hedly, or Darkin in sd coy.
We already know that III. Samuel and Dorothy were married on 1 November 1681 at Headley, Surrey.
What new things does this document tell us that we didn't know before?
1) An approximate birth year for Dorothy of 1659.
2) The fact that her father is dead. On page 37 of the book I suggest Dorothy's father was Abraham Wood of Epsom, gardener (died 1710) because he refers to Dorothy as his "daughter-in-law". Perhaps, however, Dorothy's widowed mother, Mrs. Wheeler had remarried Abraham Wood ? That would make Dorothy his step-daughter, which is the most likely explanation of the notoriously inaccurate meaning of "daughter-in-law".
3) We now know that Dorothy was a spinster and not a young widow, as I had suggested as an explanation of her relationship with Abraham Wood.
4) The will allegation was made by Robert Newman of Darkin (can't you hear how our ancestors pronounced Dorking in that phonetic spelling!) which is independent confirmation of Samuel being the son of Robert. It is additional proof that the Samuel Newman in Robert's 1682 will (see p. 404) is the same person as Samuel Newman, the blacksmith of Epsom.
This is our first post-publication new discovery. Let us hope there will be many more!
From Sylvan Surrey to Babylon
The Newman Family of Dorking, Epsom and London
