Josias Wren (abt. 1778 - 1845)

Born about 1778 in Devon, England

Husband of Sarah (Greening) Wren — married 13 Aug 1804 in Bideford, Devon, England

Died 11 Oct 1845 at about age 67 in Bideford, Devon, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Josias was born in about 1778. He was probably the son of Robert and Sarah Wren.

He was baptised on 2 August 1778 at Bideford, Devon^[1].

Josias and Sarah Greening obtained a marriage licence on 8 August 1804. They were both of parish of Bideford, Devon^[2].

They were subsequently married on 13 August 1804 at Bideford, Devon^[3]. The witnesses were Richard G. Wren and Joanna Kinsman.

They had at least one son.

England and Wales Census, 1841: Recorded in the household of Ann Stoneham and three other individuals at Belle Vue, Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Devon, England. Aged about 60. With him was his wife Sarah (also aged about 60).

In 1842 he was chosen as the Mayor of Bideford. He was the Chief Magistrate of Bideford and presided over many cases in the Court. A portrait of Josias can be found here[[1]].

He passed away in 1845 at the age of 67.

DEATHS.

Oct. 11, at Bideford, Devon, Josias Wren, Esq., aged 67, one of the Aldermen of the borough. ^[4]

He was buried on 17 November 1845 at the Church of St. Margaret, Northam, Devon, England. A Marble monument on the west wall reads as follows:

To the memory of Josias Wren who departed this life on the 11th day of November 1845, aged 67 years. Erected by his affectionate widow^[5].

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWP3-LNT : 11 December 2014), Josias Wren, 02 Aug 1778, Baptism; citing p. 31, Bideford, Devon, record group RG4, Public Record Office, London.
2. ↑ "England, Devon and Cornwall Marriages, 1660-1912," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGYS-HNTX : 24 April 2019), Sarah Greening in entry for Josias Wren, 8 Aug 1804; citing Marriage, Devon, England, United Kingdom, the Devon Record Office, Exeter.
3. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKTR-PTY : 13 March 2020), Sarah Greening in entry for Josias Wren, 1804.
4. ↑ Dorset County Chronicle 20 November 1845, Pg 4, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription).
5. ↑ https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DEV/Northam/ChurchMonuments

• "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZQ-Z7K8 : 19 April 2019), Josias Wren, Esq, Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom, 22 Nov 1845, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm .

Census Records

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQTT-9WS : 5 March 2021), Josias Wren in household of Ann Stoneham, Ilfracombe, Devon, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.