Joshua Hewitt (1769 - bef. 1839)

Born 13 Apr 1769 in Eccleston in Prescot, Lancashire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Martha (Wainwright) Hewitt — married 5 Nov 1810 in St Peter's Church, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died before 28 Aug 1839 before age 70 in Eccleston in Prescot, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Biography

This profile is part of the St Helens, Lancashire One Place Study.

Joshua Hewitt was born on 13 Apr 1769, probably in or near Prescot, Lancashire. He was presumably the son of Joshua and Jane Hewitt - he is the last person named on the gravestone of the said Jane Hewitt and her children who died young, but his relationship with the others isn't stated, and there is a gap in the available christening records of children of Joshua and Jane between 1764 and 1770.

Joshua married Ann Rimmer on 10 Aug 1788 at Farnworth Chapel of Ease in the parish of Prescot, Lancashire. Both were of Farnworth near Prescot; Joshua was a watchmaker, Ann a spinster. The witnesses were Peter Shaw and John Starkey.

Their son Joshua was born on 24 Feb 1793, and christened on 24 Mar 1793 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. His father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Eccleston.

Their daughter Ann was born on 23 Aug 1795, and christened on 20 Sep 1795 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Eccleston.^[1] She died in 1796, and was buried on 30 Sep 1796 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. She was described as the daughter of Joshua Hewit (watchmaker of Eccleston), but no age was recorded.^[2]

Another daughter Ann was born on 8 Sep 1797, and christened on 6 Oct 1797 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her father's occupation was recorded as watchmaker, and the family's address as Whiston.^[3]

Ann died in 1800, and was buried on 21 Feb 1800 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. She was described as the wife of Joshua Hewit (watchmaker of Eccleston), but no age was recorded.^[4]

Joshua married Martha Leyland on 5 Nov 1810 at St Peter's Church in Liverpool, Lancashire, by licence. Both were of Liverpool; Joshua was a widowed watch maker, Martha was a widow. The witnesses were Richard Lloyd and Charles Merricks. Richard Lloyd (cow keeper of Liverpool) co-signed the marriage bond, which records that Joshua was aged 42 or more, and Martha was 26 or more.

Their son Thomas was born on 27 Dec 1810 in Prescot, Lancashire. He was christened on 27 Jan 1811 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot. His father's occupation was given as watchmaker, and the family's address as Prescot.

Martha died in 1834, and was buried on 21 Nov 1834 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. Her age was recorded as 63, and her address as Prescot.^[5]

Joshua died on 24 Aug 1839, aged 70. He was buried on 28 Aug 1839 at the church of St Mary the Virgin in Prescot, Lancashire. His address was recorded as Eccleston.

Research Notes

Possible Child

Joshua may have been the father of Ann Denton, born out of wedlock in about 1816, or it's possible his son was the Joshua Hewitt in question. A filiation and maintenance order was issued on 7 Jan 1817 against Joshua Hewitt, of Prescot, watchmaker, to pay for the care of Ann daughter of Mary Denton of Prescot, who was believed to be his daughter. He had to pay one pound fifteen shillings and six pence immediately, and thereafter one shilling and six pence weekly towards the maintenance of the child.^[6]

Memorial Inscription

  ... his second wife

  Children Peter died July

  2[1st?] 1784 Aged 7 Months

  and 1[4?] Days. Lidia died

  Mar[c]h 26th 1789 Aged

  16 Mon[ths] & .. Days

  the seco[nd] [Lidia] died

  N[ov]br 1.. [179]2 Aged 2

  Years and 10? Months

  Joshua Hewitt Born

  April 13th 1769, and

  departed this life on

  24th.Augt.1839, aged

  70 Years 4 Months

  and 11 Days.

The above is from a gravestone that appears to have belonged to Joshua's father. According to the FindAGrave entry for Jane Hewitt, Joshua's mother, the top part of the inscription names Jane Hewitt, wife of Joshua (watchmaker). The children who died young who are named in the inscription are all children of Joshua's father and his second wife Lydia, so Joshua's half-brother and sisters; and Joshua himself is named last but his relationship with the others on the memorial isn't made clear.

Sources

1. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Ann Hewit. Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 133, Entry 36. Source: LDS Film 1657583
2. ↑ Child's burial: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Ann Hewit. Register: Burials 1766 - 1809, Page 300, Entry 17. Source: LDS Film 1657583
3. ↑ Child's baptism: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Ann Hewit. Register: Baptisms 1766 - 1809, Page 142, Entry 32. Source: LDS Film 1657583
4. ↑ Wife (1)'s burial: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Ann Hewit. Register: Burials 1766 - 1809, Page 314, Entry 26. Source: LDS Film 1657583
5. ↑ Wife (2)'s burial: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Martha Hewitt. Register: Burials 1826 - 1836, Page 236, Entry 1881. Source: LDS Film 1657597
6. ↑ National Archives Catalogue - Reference: QSP/2716/73. Title: Prescot. Order of filiation and maintenance of Ann, bastard child of Joshua Hewitt, watchmaker, and Mary Denton, singlewoman. Date: 1817 7 Jan

• Marriage (1): listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Joshua Hewitt & Ann Rimmer. Register: Marriages 1781 - 1812, Page 50, Entry 957. Source: LDS Film 1655235 item 4

• Marriage (2): listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Joshua Hewitt & Martha Leyland. Register: Marriages 1809 - 1812, Page 1, Entry 559. Source: LDS Film 1656574

• Marriage (2) bond: "England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FBFR-XJV : 9 March 2018), Joshua Hewitt, 05 Nov 1810; citing Chester, Cheshire, England, item 2 cn 1989, Cheshire Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,886,173. Image links https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68X3-YZ?i=693&cc=1410775 and https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68XS-SL?i=694&cc=1410775

• Burial: listed on Lancashire Online Parish Clerk - Joshua Hewitt. Register: Burials 1836 - 1846, Page 74, Entry 589. Source: LDS Film 1657597

• Gravestone: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222463663/joshua-hewitt: accessed 18 October 2023), memorial page for Joshua Hewitt (13 Apr 1769–24 Aug 1839), Find a Grave Memorial ID 222463663, citing St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Prescot, Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England; Maintained by PoppyQueenViv (contributor 48562556).).