To: eng-somerset-l@rootsweb.com Subject: Mary Ann Hasell born Dundry or nearby about 1801 The origins of an ancestor, Mary Ann Hasell, are unclear. She married (1) Thomas Barn(e)s 27 Mar 1826 at Dundry. Her abode was given as Long Ashton. He died 27 April 1843 and was buried at Dundry on 3 May. The 1841 census Dundry H.O.107/ 938, f6, p4 finds Thomas Barnes 35 farmer, Mary 40, Thomas 12, Elizabeth 5, Ann 6 months, Martha Chard 12 F.S. At each of the baptisms of the 3 children their mother’s forenames were given as Mary Ann. By the 1851 census HO107/ 1938, f172, p38, s160: Mary Ann had remarried: KEW William 29 Farmer 54 Acres Wolton (Walton?) Mary 49 Dundry, Som. with her daughters Elizabeth Barnes 14 and Ann Barnes 10 both born Dundry In 1861 RG9/1768 E9 F113, p19, s101 William and Mary Ann were in Chewstoke aged 39 and 59 These ages point to a birth year close to 1801 for Mary Ann. However, in a search of FreeReg for baptisms of Hasell, Hazel, Hassell etc between 1780 and 1820 it found only one possible match, the baptism of a Mary Ann in 1826(!) as follows: Baptism Somerset, Chew Magna, St Andrew, Register Number 12 Mary Ann, Female, Date of Birth 09 May 1808, Baptism Date 03 Nov 1826 Father: blank, Mother: Mary Hasell, Occupation: single woman, Abode: Chew Magna There are other Mary Hasells (etc) baptised in the parishes near Dundry but none that imply a birthdate of about 1801 and no other likely Mary Ann Hasell baptisms, whereas in her first marriage, baptisms of 3 children, the 1861 census and death age 74 in 1876q2 (FreeBMD Clutton reg. distr.), the forenames Mary Ann were always used. So the above Mary Ann seems worth considering even though her birth year is given as 1808 rather than 1801-2 as implied by the censuses and age at death. It has occurred to me that Mary, her mother, might have been very young when Mary Ann was born, perhaps 13 or 14, hence the birth date of 8 May 1808 might be substantially later than the actual birthdate. Perhaps Mary Ann could not be baptised before she was in her mid-twenties because, if actually born 1801, she would seem obviously older than implied by the 1808 date. Of course all this is pure speculation. In addition to the above records I also have other information including names of witnesses and dates recorded in a prayer book, but this email is already rather long. Some of these seem to pint to descendants of John and Betty Hasell, whose children baptised at Dundry were Thomas 1760, Mary 1764, John 1767, William 1772 and James 1776. Can SKS provide any suggestions or comments regarding the origin of Mary Ann Hasell, particularly the identity of her Mother. Tom Barry

Tom, My suggestion is to purchase a certificate for Mary's second marriage to William KEW. Unlike her first marriage, this is post 1837, and will appear in civil registrations. This should give her father's name. Peter