Alexander Shelton (abt. 1727 - bef. 1807)

Born about 1727 in Norfolk, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 11 Jan 1807 before about age 80 in Downham Market, Norfolk, England

Biography

Alexander was married to Mary and they had at least three children baptised at Downham Market. Mary died in 1762 and Alexander married Elizabeth Dewson at St Mary, Denver on 21 April 1763 (but note that he was said to be single at the time).^[1]

Their first child was Mary who was baptised in 1764^[2], followed by John in 1766^[3]

Research Notes

Alexander Senior died in 1768 and was buried at St Edmund, Downham Market on 17 November.^[4] The following year Alexander, son of Alexander and Elisabeth, was buried at St Edmund.^[5]

Another Alexander, son of Alexander and Elisabeth, was baptised at St Edmund in 1773.^[6] This suggests that the Alexander who married Elizabeth was not Alexander Senior.

Exploring all records for Shelton from Downham Market: The earliest baptism was for William in 1746, parents Alexander and Mary, died 1754

Alexander was a witness at the marriage of Mary Shelton in 1762; presumably his sister.

Alexander's wife Mary died in 1762.

Mary and John, children of Alexander and Elisabeth, were born in 1764 and 1766, respectively.

Judith Shelton married in 1767.

In 1768 and 1769, respectively, Alexander Senior and Alexander, son of Alexander and Elizabeth, died.

Elizabeth and Alexander, children of Alexander and Elisabeth, were born in 1771 and 1773, respectively.

Joseph Shelton married in 1775. He would have been the son of Alexander and Mary born in 1749.

Several children of Joseph were baptised after 1775.

Sarah born 1775, died 1796 and Judith born 1778, daughters of Alexander and Elizabeth, were baptised in 1778.

Ann, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth, was born and died in 1781.

Alexander's wife Elizabeth died in 1783 at the age of 44.

Alexander, a widower, married Susan Poll, a widow, in 1788.

Alexander died in 1807 at the age of 80.

Susannah died in 1815 at the age of 67 (the late Susan Poll?).

There are some earlier records from Methwold, but nothing that directly links to the people who lived in Downham Market.

An examination of the images of the Downham Market register for 1720 to 1791 on Ancestry.com shows it to be in very good condition with very legible entries.

Timeline

~1727 Alexander was born <1746 Alexander married Mary; fits with a birth ~1727 1762 Mary died 1763 Alexander married Elizabeth 1768 Alexander Senior died 1769 Alexander, son of Alexander and Elizabeth, died 1781 The last child of Alexander and Elizabeth was born; Alexander would have been about 54, not totally out of the question 1783 Elizabeth died aged 44, implies a birth ~1738 1788 Alexander married Susan Poll 1807 Alexander died

Questions

Were there three or four Alexanders? Which of them married Mary? The one born ~1727 is the likely candidate. The Alexander who married Elizabeth was supposed to be a singleman; but he couldn't be a son of Alexander and Mary. Was Alexander Senior the husband of Mary?

Why are there so many missing parish records? Baptisms for all the Alexanders, Judith, marriage to Mary

Sources

1. ↑ freereg.org.uk
2. ↑ freereg.org.uk
3. ↑ freereg.org.uk
4. ↑ freereg.org.uk
5. ↑ freereg.org.uk
6. ↑ freereg.org.uk