From: "Bob" <efr54321@gmail.com> .......... I am looking for a listing of the > members of the family of an Edward Chitty who died in Croydon in January > of > 1796 and was entered in the parish burial register with a "P". This seems > to be the designation for a pauper so I believed it unlikely that any > property was owned or would be listed in any of the tax records. I was > hoping that some census type document may have survived or that some poor > law records might be available for the period that would list the family > names - beyond; "Mary and her two sons and three daughters". > > I have been through the parish registers and have a list of the births and > deaths of the children of Edward and Mary. One daughter was christened as > Fanny on 5 March, 1786 at St John and, apparently, wed as Mary in 1805 in > Stretham. I have a large amount of family, oral history that tells me > that > this is the person I want, but I was looking for a household record, circa > 1790 which may have used the Mary name to further establish the > connection. Well, just in case it should help at some point there is just one entry in the Land Tax index for Chittey (sic) and variant surname spelling listed for Croydon, and that is 'Widow Chittey in 1808'. There are many instances of people who to all intents and purposes are documented as "having nothing" but who still left a will. Even the humblest of folk left wills so well worth checking because they can be a wonderful source of information about family relationships. If really lucky you just might find one that talks of "Fanny otherwise known as Mary........". Obviously a long shot, but nothing ventured............ Wills for Croydon folk could, of course, be proved elsewhere eg PCC, but Croydon was itself a Peculiar and a will (if there is one) may be at Lambeth Palace Library rather than amongst the more usual Archdeaconry Court Wills. Copies of wills proved in the Peculiar of the Deanery of Croydon are on film at Surrey History Centre (and probably also on film at LMA). Poor Law material for Croydon is limited in comparison to the size of the town, although there are mentions of Chitty as overseers of the poor - not of obvious help. Croydon Local Studies Library may be able to help further as I seem to remember they have Vestry Minutes and other records (SHC probably have copies whereas Croydon LS have the originals). Maybe others will come up with something I've not yet thought of as this kind of puzzle is always one that really nags away until it can be solved. Such a great feeling when it eventually does all fall into place, though. Ann

Have you checked all the wills on the Surrey Wills Index web site? There are loads of Chitty ones. Jo in Leics jo.mason@swsmail.net holmested@one-name.org