Anne (Wrench) Flacke (bef. 1713 - 1800)

Born before 25 Jan 1713 in Aylsham St Michael, Norfolk

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Flacke — married 24 Apr 1734 in Aylsham St Michael, Norfolk

Descendants

Died 12 Jul 1800 after age 87 in Briningham, Norfolk

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Biography

Birth and baptism

Her baptism can be found in her father's parish of Aylsham, by looking at the original scans on familysearch. Page 5, on the left of this register, we can see 25 Jan 1712/13 shows "Anne Daughter to Jonathan Wrench Vicar".

She must have been born not long before her mother died, as she was buried 11 Jan 1712/13 in Aylsham. Probably then, the mother died from complications.

Marriage

Thomas Flack married Anne Wrench in Aylsham St Michael 24 April 1734, (both single). The license is on page 134 on the relevant ANW scans at familysearch, and shows a James Martin of Watton, gentleman, vouched for Thomas. At that time Thomas was already a resident of Thornage, as shown also in the elector rolls, although he had not yet been appointed any position there. Flack was a cleric, and Anne Wrench's father and brother were also clerics. The wedding was in the parish of the bride's father.

Children

Here are the children of Thomas and Anne.

• Thomas Flacke, infant, was buried in Thornage 30 Nov 1735. He was one of several Thomases who died young, and it was clearly an unfulfilled aim to have a son named Thomas.
• Dorothy Flacke was baptised 19 Aug 1736 at Thornage, Norfolk, by parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. By 1780 (her father's will) her married surname was Barnes or Barns, and she had a "daughter Ann Barnes" still alive. She is also mentioned in her brother Richard's will of 1802.
• Thomas Flacke baptised 10 Nov 1737 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. Buried 25 May 1738 as an "infant".
• Jonathan Flacke baptised 22 Jan 1738/39 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. Buried March 1738/39 as an "infant". (There was also an earlier Thomas infant buried 30 Nov 1735.)
• Anne Flacke was baptised 25 Feb 1740/41 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. Was still alive in 1748 (see below) and apparently married Thomas Williams, widower, 21 May 1771, in Thornage, with witnesses Samuel Culley and Thomas Flacke. In the wills of her mother (made 1794) and brother Richard (1802) we see her referred to as Ann Bird, and in the will of her sister Mary (made 1816) she is "Ann Kelley (formerly Ann Bird)". It seems Thomas Williams was buried 16 May 1775 in Thornage, and they had William, who was baptised in Thornage 19 Sep 1772. Then "Ann Williams", widow, who married Edmund Bird, widower of Plumstead, 12 Jun 1781 in Thornage, was actually originally Ann Flacke. The witnesses are John Barnes and Eleanor Flacke. They had a son John in Plumstead, b.19 Jul 1782, bapt. 21 Jul 1782. Edmund Bird was then buried 10 Apr 1798 in Thornage. On the ANW Admon for Edmund Bird of Thornage in 1798, Ann Bird is widow and administrator, and William Williams and Elizabeth Green are guarantors. Open Question: It could be very useful to find out what happened to Ann, as she lived into the period where we do not know what happened to our family. But I have not tracked any marriage to a Kelley.
• Bridget Flacke was baptised 1 Mar 1740/41 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. She was still alive and single in 1780 when her father died. According to her brother Richard's will of 1802 she married George Bambridge and came to live in South Creak. The marriage was 20 Dec 1787 in Thornage, with witnesses Robert Brereton and Mary Flacke. George was a resident of Stody at that time, and appears to have been a cordwainer according to NRO documents such as NRS 22815, Z72. They apparently maintained a connection to this place, which the registers and will indexes seem to indicate as his family's home. Bridget's sister Mary's will calls Bridget a widow in 1816. Her husband George Bambridge had been buried in Stody 13 Apr 1815, but the register says he was a resident of South Creake. He was reported as being 72. His will confirms his wife's name: Bambridge, George, of South Creake 1815 ANF will register 1814-1815 fo. 414 (1815 no. 36). Bridget Bambridge was buried in Stody 17 December 1829, with the age given as 88, matching her baptism. This must be their son's will: Bambridge, George, yeoman, of Stody 1834 NCC will register Lane 823
• Thomas Flacke was baptised May 1742 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. He was buried 28 Jun 1742 as an "infant".
• Katherine Flacke was baptised 21 Apr 1744 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. She married Mr. Samuel Culley at Ludham, and died in 1808, in the 65th year of marriage. She is also Catherine Cully in her mother's 1801 will, and her marriage to Samuel Culley is mentioned in brother Richard's will of 1802. It appears in the Thornage register 23 Jun 1766, with witnesses Catherine Artley and Thomas Flacke.
• Richard Flacke, the only son who grew to adulthood, was baptised 5 May 1745 at Thornage, with parents Thomas Flacke and Anne. He died 20 Jan 1802, was buried at Briningham 2nd February 1802, a single man, 57 years old.^[1] The breakthrough which proved that we have the right Barnes family which married our Barwells came first with National Archives document IR 26/390/8, Abstract of Will of Richard Flacke, Gentleman of Briningham, Norfolk. Proved in August 10, 1802. Richard assigned William Williams of Thornage, a "nephew" as sole executor. This William must have been the son of his sister Ann. Richard left an annuity first to his housekeeper Sarah Colman until she married or died, then to go to his sister Bridget Bambridge, and after her decease, to be split 4 ways, between the other 2 remaining sisters, Anne Bird, Catherine Culley, "and the remaining part or share to be equally divided between Anne the wife of William Barwell, and Mary Locksmith (which said Ann Barwell and Mary Locksmith are the only surviving Children of my late sister Dorothy Barnes deceased)". For some reason, Richard is apparently interred with the Brereton family, a local family who appear as witnesses here and there. Probably it is because one of them (Shovell) became local cleric, an old Flack job. As we will see, there seems to have been a strong tradition, at least amongst these families, of incoming clerics becoming part of the family of the clerics they replaced.
• Thomas Flacke, infant, was buried in Thornage 5 Jan 1746/47.
• Mary Flack, was baptised 20 Dec 1747 at the neighbouring parish of Stody, with parents Thomas Flack and Anne. Newspaper adverts in 1749 also mention Thomas Flacke of Stody, when he was involved as a contact for some land being sold, and Stody is mentioned in a legal case, C 11/331/31, "Howes v Flacke" of 1748, to be discussed below, as the place where the family were living. So Stody seems to have been home for a few years. (Could this be because of the legal dispute?) In her brother's and sister's wills we see that she married Samuel Flacke of Filby, widower, by 1802.
• Rebecca Flacke was baptised 15 Jan 1749 at Briningham, Norfolk, parents being Rev. Thomas Flacke and Ann; and was buried 29 January 1750/51 Briningham.
• Thomas Flacke was buried 14 Sep 1751 at Briningham.
• Jonathon Flacke was baptised 25 Apr 1752 at Briningham with parents being Rev. Thomas Flacke and Ann. Buried 16 Jun 1752 Briningham.
• Rebecca Flacke was baptised 31 Aug 1753 at Briningham with parents being Rev. Thomas Flacke and Ann. Buried 24 Sep 1757 Briningham.
• Eleanor Flacke was baptised 27 Nov 1756 at Briningham with parents being Rev. Thomas Flacke and Ann. She was still alive and single in 1780 when her father died. Her will was made 23 Feb 1797 and published 2 days later, with the burial at Filby being 2 more days later, on the 27th in Filby, where her sister lived. The register says she was 37, and a spinster. The will describes her as being of Thornage but has a note to say that the testator lived and died at Filby. It left everything to her mother Anne Flacke and sister Mary Flacke, but the record shows that Anne recounced being executrix, and this responsibility went to her sister "Mary the wife of Samuel Flacke residuary legatee within named". A second confirmation of the Barwell link comes with the 25 February document to confirm this administration being warranted by "Samuel Flacke of Filby, Farmer", "William Barwell of the City of Norwich Wine Cooper" and "Francis Smith of the said city Cooper". (I discuss this lead in the Barwell section above.) Furthermore the 12 February [sic] renunciation document by Anne, the mother, is signed by Anne Barns and W Williams. Effects were apparently less than £100 according to a later note.

Death

Anne Flack née Wrench was buried 15 Jul 1800 at Briningham, Norfolk the wife of Rev. Thomas Flacke, 88 years old. The burial record does not mention her being a widow, but the will proved 1801, and made 16 Feb 1794, does mention it.

She intended that her executor would be her good friend Reverend Repps Browne of Fulmodestone, a cleric, and apparently she gave him the will in a sealed form. The will mentions married daughters "Ann Bird & Catherine Culley", and unmarried ones, "Mary Flacke and Eleanor Flacke". The records include a signed statement by Daniel Jones that he had helped draft this will in 1794, and confirmed that the sealed will produced by Reverend Repp at the funeral was the same. William Williams also signed this statement. Both Williams and Jones were gentlemen of Thornage. However just as Anne herself had done when her daughter Eleanor died (see below) the Reverend renounced the executorship meaning it went to her daughter Mary Flacke, the wife of Samuel Flacke. The said Samuel Flacke and William Williams signed as guarantors for Mary on the admon.

See Dew :^[2]

IN THE CHURCH.

1. Underneath this Marble are deposited the Remains of Thomas Flacke, A.B. Late Rector of Waterden in this County, and Impropriator and Curate of this Parish. He departed this Life in hopes of a better the 28th Day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1780, Aged 73 years. He was an honest upright Man, a diligent Pastor a good Christian and a sincere Friend to the Poor. Learn by his Example to go and do Likewise. Also Anne Flacke, Widow of the said Thomas Flacke, who departed this Life the 12th Day of July in the Year of Our Lord 1800, In the 85th Year of her Age.

The Briningham burial registers gives the 15th of July as the burial date, and her age as 88. It also mentions that she was the widow of the vicar Thomas Flacke.

Sources

1. ↑ For the memorial see Dew.
2. ↑ p.23 The monumental inscriptions in the hundred of Holt, collected by W.N. Dew, ed. by W. Rye

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