d.5. Samuel Eley, geb. 1753, oorl. 13/03/1818, Sheringford, Norfolk, Engeland, oorl. 13/03/1818, Skeyton, Norfolk, Engeland x 11/03/1812, Wicklewood, Norfolk, Engeland met Deborah AMIS, ged. 30/07/1775, Skeyton, Norfolk, Engeland, oorl. 24/02/1866, Norwich, Norfolk, Engeland, d.v. Henry Amys (Amiss) en Frances Eliza Wortley. Sy was sy suster se kind.
Samuel Eley was die seun van John Wortley en Deborah Pincher.
I was intrigued by the confused mixture of WORTLEY and AMIS names in the Trunch records - some even saying AMIS alias WORTLEY. I think the answer to this confusion has been discovered by Julie Collins from New Zealand who is researching the AMIES family. It seems that Samuel Wortley and Deborah Amis were uncle and niece. Samuel's sister Frances was Deborah's mother. Samuel was 23 years older than Deborah and marriage between an uncle and niece was, and still is, illegal. This explains why they did not marry at first and why their later marriage, 7 years before Samuel died, was in a village well away from where they were known. Presumably they did not disclose their relationship to the rector who married them. (https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
Deborah AMIS was born in 1775 in Skeyton. In 1796 she had an illegitimate son who was baptised in Sidestrand and then 5 more illegitimate children were baptised in Trunch. (https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
1809 Bury & Norwich Post 4 Jan Committed to the Castle Stephen COLMAN, charged with stealing a fat turkey and 3 geese from Mr Sam WORTLEY of Trunch, he also stands charged with stealing sundry articles from Mr C Etheridge of Swafield
1809 Norfolk Chronicle 11 Feb Subscribing to the Association for Apprehending and Convicting Horse Stealers - Mr William HOWES, Samuel WORTLEY.
On March 11th. 1811 she married Samuel WORTLEY in Wicklewood. They were both single and as they were married by banns, they were obviously both living in the parish. Wicklewood however is 11 miles west of Norwich and quite a way from Trunch. However two more children were born after the marriage and were baptised in Trunch, where the records state that Samuel was a farmer. (https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
1815 Norfolk Chronicle 18 Feb Horse Stealing Association Joseph ROBERTS, Samuel WORTLEY
1816 Norfolk Chronicle 10 Feb Horse Stealers Association Sam WORTLEY, Joseph ROBERTS.
It was the illegitimate children who used both Amis and Wortley as their surnames. Samuel died in 1818 and is buried in Skeyton but his will is fascinating, as the illegitimate children are referred to as "natural sons of my wife", but then in a codicil he says that they are his natural sons, and refers to children "legitimate or illegitimate" so it seems that he was the father all along. He was obviously wealthy, having land in Trunch, Knapton and Swafield and leaving cottages and quite large sums of money in his will. (https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
TRUNCH WILLS
From a general interest point of view the wills reveal the ways in which the more prosperous families in Trunch were linked through marriage. Although many of the wills are those of farmers, landowners, "gentlemen" and their rich widows, there are also 2 for butchers, 2 for carpenters and 1 for a shopkeeper. (https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
Samuel WORTLEY 1818: I Samuel WORTLEY of Trunch, farmer being of sound mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say - First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body I consign to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors herein after named and with as little expense as possible. Also I give and devise all those several inclosures and pieces of land be they freehold or copyhold or of any other tenure lying and being in Trunch aforesaid and in Knapton and Swafield in the said county which I purchased of Robert BUSHELL unto John AMISS the natural son of my wife Deborah WORTLEY and to his heirs and assigns for ever. Also I give and devise all my messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments be they freehold or copyhold or of any other tenure situate lying and being in Trunch and Swafield aforesaid or in any adjoining parish which I purchased of Mr. Richard BEALES and all that enclosure of land called the Marl Pit Close lying and being in Gimingham in the said county of Norfolk which I purchased of my late brother Robert WORTLEY unto Robert AMISS the natural son of my said wife and to his heirs and assigns for ever subject to the payment of all such sums and sums of money as shall or may be ? thereon at my decease and the interest due and to grow due for the same and also subject to and charged with the payment of the legacy or sum of £250 of lawful British money free of duty to my daughter Deborah WORTLEY to be paid her as and when she shall attain the age of 21 years. And also subject to and charged with the payment of one annuity on yearly sum of £40 of like lawful money to my said wife Deborah WORTLEY during the term of her natural life by equal half yearly payments. And the first half yearly payment of the said annuity to be made at the end of 6 calendar months after the said John AMISS the said natural son of my said wife shall attain the age of 21 years and if he should happen to die before 21 then the first payment to be made as if he was then living. And if default shall be made in the payment of the said legacy and annuity or either of them or any part thereof for the space of 20 days next after the same shall become due as aforesaid. Then it shall be lawful for my said daughter Deborah WORTLEY and my said wife or either of them or their assigns to enter upon the hereditaments and premises above charged with the payment thereof and hold and enjoy the same until such arrears and the ? of such entry shall be fully paid. And I give and devise all my messuages cottages lands tenements hereditaments be they freehold or copyhold or of any other tenure situate lying and being in Knapton aforesaid or in any adjoining parish which I purchased of John COOPER Esquire unto William AMISS the natural son of my said wife and to his heirs and assigns for ever subject to the payment of all such sum and sums of money as may be charges thereon at my decease and the interest due and to grow due for the same. And also subject to the payment of the legacy or sum of £250 of like lawful money to Samuel AMISS the natural son of my said wife. And also subject to the payment of the like legacy or sum of £250 of like lawful money to Alice WORTLEY my daughter to be paid him and her (free of duty?) at and when he and she attain the age of 21 years with the same power of entry as my said daughter Deborah WORTLEY has in case of non payment. And I give and devise all those lands and meadows called Pigneys? As well freehold as copyhold or of any other tenure with the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging lying and being in Knapton aforesaid or in any adjoining parish which were given and devised to me by the will of my late brother John WORTLEY unto the said William AMISS and to his heirs and assigns for ever. And I give and devise all that cottage or tenement with the yard garden and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in Trunch aforesaid which I purchased of bought of Mr Samuel CUTTING? Unto the said Deborah WORTLEY my wife and her assigns during her natural life she keeping the buildings in tenentable repair. And after decease I give and devise the said cottage yard garden and appurtenances in Trunch aforesaid unto the said Deborah WORTLEY my daughter her heirs and assigns for ever. And in case either of them the said Robert and William AMISS shall depart this life without attaining the age of 21 years then I give and devise the messuage lands tenements and hereditaments herein given and devised to him so dying unto the survivor of them and to his heirs and assigns for ever. And in case the said Robert and William AMISS shall die without either of them attaining the age of 21 years then I give and devise all my said messuages lands tenements and hereditaments and real estate whatsoever and wheresoever as well freehold as copyhold as of any other tenure with their appurtenances unto Elizabeth AMISS the natural daughter of my said wife, the said Samuel AMISS Deborah WORTLEY the said natural daughter of my said wife and Alice WORTLEY to be equally divided between them if more than one as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and if but one then wholly to that one and to his or her heirs and assigns for ever. Also I give to my said wife the legacy or sum of £100 of lawful British money. Also I give to the said Samuel AMISS the legacy or sum of £250 of like lawful money. Also I give to my said daughter Alice WORTLEY the like legacy or sum of £250 of like lawful money. Also I give to my nephew John AMISS the legacy or sum of £50 of like lawful money which said legacies I direct to be paid at the end of 6 calendar months next after my decease. And as to all the residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects of every kind and nature whatsoever (after payment thereout of all my just debts funeral and testamentary charges and the said last mentioned legacies) I direct my executors and executrix herein after named and the survivors or survivor of them his or her executors or administrators to place the same out at interest in their own names or government or real security or dispose of the same in any other way they he or she shall think most beneficial for the benefit and advancement of my said wife and the said John AMISS, Robert AMISS William AMISS Samuel AMISS Elizabeth AMISS and my said daughters Deborah & Alice WORTLEY during their minorities. And it is my will and I do hereby authorise and empower my said executors and executrix or the survivors or survivor of them his ir her executors and administrators to continue the same out at interest or dispose of the same as they shall think most beneficial and proper till the youngest child attains the age of 21 years. And immediately after he or she shall attain that age then I do give the whole of my said personal estate (subject aforesaid) to and among my said wife and the said John AMISS, Robert AMISS William AMISS Samuel AMISS Elizabeth AMISS and my said daughters Deborah & Alice WORTLEY equally and share and share alike. And I nominate and appoint my brother John WORTLEY Mr Thomas ANDREWS of Skeyton in the said county farmer and my said wife executor and executrix and execution of this my will and I do give them £10 each for their trouble. And I do hereby authorise and empower and direct my said executors and executrix or the survivors or survivor of them his or her executors and administrators to cultivate and manage the farms which I now hold in such manner as they he or she shall think proper for the benefit and advancement of my said wife and the said John Robert William Elizabeth and Samuel AMISS and my said daughters Deborah and Alice WORTLEY during their minorities.
19 April 1813
Witnesses John BAKER Martha CHALKER Robert CHALKER
CODICIL First I subject and charge the inclosures and pieces of land which I have in and by my said will given and devised to my natural son John AMISS his heirs and assigns to and with the payment of all such sum or sums of money as is or be charged thereupon by way of mortgage. And if it shall appear at my decease that the same are not charged with the payment of any sum or sums of money then I subject and change the same with the payment of the sum of £600 unto my executrix and executors in aid of my personal estate at the end of 12 calendar months next after my decease. And it is my will and I do hereby direct that the first half yearly payment of the annuity of £40 which I have in and by my said will given or made payable to my dear wife Deborah WORTLEY shall be paid to her at the end of 6 calendar months next after my decease. And I do hereby revoke and make void the bequest of the sum of £250 which I have in and by my said will given to make payable to my natural son Samuel AMISS and have thereby charged upon the messuages lands tenements and hereditaments which I have thereby ? to my natural son William AMISS his heirs and assigns for ever. And I also revoke and make void the bequest of the legacy and sum of £250 which I have in and by my said will to my said natural son Samuel AMISS out of my personal estate. And I do hereby give and bequeath unto my daughter Deborah WORTLEY the sum of £250 sterling to be paid to her at the age of 21 years out of my personal estate. And I do hereby give and bequeath unto my son Thomas WORTLEY (who has been born since the making and publishing of my said will) the sum of £800 sterling to be paid to him at his age of 21 years out of my personal estate. And I direct that the interest of the said sum of £800 shall be by my executrix and executor applied for the benefit of my said son Thomas WORTLEY or be suffered to accommodate for his benefit during his minority at the discretion of my said executrix and executors. And I nominate and appoint Joseph ROBERTS of Trunch farmer to be executor of my said will in the place and stead of my brother John WORTLEY who has departed this life since the making and publishing of my said will and to act with my said wife the executrix and Thomas ANDREWS the other executor named in my said will in the same manner as if the said Joseph ROBERTS had been named and appointed in and by my said will. And I give to the said Joseph ROBERTS the sum of £10 for his trouble in the said office. And I also nominate and appoint my said wife the said Joseph ROBERTS and the said Thomas ANDREWS guardian of all my children legitimate and illegitimate during their respective minorities.
6 March 1818 Codicil
Witnesses William REES John DEYNES John WOODROW
Will & codicil proved at North Walsham 25 June 1818
Norfolk Sources 32, 64-69
Deborah
meanwhile lived on in the Limes, Chapel Road with her unmarried son John Amis
Wortley, until she died in 1866, with her age given as 91. (https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
Witnesses John WORTLEY, Deborah WORTLEY & Elizabeth RICHES
Proved 30 Aug 1824 Personal under £1500
Norfolk Sources 42-45
(https://trunchhistory.weebly.com/wortley.html)
1831
Norwich Mercury 30 July Sarah GRIX aged 28 was charged with having feloniously
sent an anonymous letter to Samuel Baker of Knapton threatening to burn his
premises. Ann WATTS said she remembered a fire at Trunch, 25th
April, and know the prisoner, who she saw there. By the judge - the prisoner
took a child of a woman there that she might assist to quench the fire. On the
morning of the fire she passed Mr Baker’s house about a quarter after 10 in the
morning and his gate leading to North Walsham; the day after she had some
conversation with the prisoner who said she saw Watts with the boy. Mrs Watts
is a very unhealthy woman and the prisoner offered to sleep with her if she
liked. Mr Watts was absent, never saw the prisoner till last Feb. tearman saw
prisoner coming from Knapton where she passed Mr Bakers gate. The woman spoke
to her.
A Watts
lives in Knapton is a carter, recollects Mr Primrose’s fire the day after he
passed Mr Bakers gate a little before 11, about 12 yards from the gate he found
letter on footpath ..he carried it into the yard and gave it to Mr Baker, his
lad was with him at the time, he was taken up on suspicion. He met Mrs Wortley.
A boy was with Watts ….he saw Mrs Grix while his master was taken up, he was
going to N Walsham to speak to master, …she called him back and told him to say
I was going to run and pick it up and his master told him to keep it back; I
told her I should not say so but tell the truth…….
M Baker
lives in Knapton, is a farmer. He had on his farming premises a wheat stack,
barley both in straw and threshed, barns, outhouses and a granary. Alexander
Watts gave him a letter as he was standing at the stable door, which ha has had
in his possession ever since (produced). Prisoner came to his house on the
Tuesday following when she had curl papers in her hair, she gave him a paper in
consequence of conversation, she said she understood she was suspected of
writing that letter to him, he asked why she thought so and she replied,
because she understood that he wanted to see her handwriting and if I wished
she would write but she had not any paper…..she returned home to bring a letter
and show her handwriting. Peter Hall and Alexander Watts returned with
her…….(Paper was torn but paper in hair matched water marks)
Letter Mr Beaker look out, for on such time your premises will be on fire for my eye was on you yesterday. So I thought as Knapton farmers go sporting about with your hounds you ought to look upon the poor and hain ?? poor mens wages. You have had your own ways long enough. So look out as you have hung one of our gain you shall have folers? Anew to your heart desire for we mead just a beginning at Trunch and we men to stir up your Knapton gentlemen, young Robinson for one and Mister Atkson for another and we shall upon the round, there is 50 of us in the gain and you may catch us if you can. Not guilty
Deborah Wortley was a woman born in 1781. During the 1841 UK Census she was 60 years old and lived in Norfolk.
LAST NAME: Wortley
FIRST NAME: Deborah
MIDDLE NAME:
BIRTH YEAR: 1781
BIRTH PLACE: Norfolk
COUNTY: Norfolk
AGE: 60
GENDER: Female
RESIDENCE: 1104
Trunch, Norfolk
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS:
Deborah Wortley (60, Female)
John Wortley (40, Male)
Stamp Wortley (5, Male)
Doborah Wortley was a woman born in 1776 in Skeyton Norfolk Trunch . During the 1851 UK Census she was 75 years old and lived in Norfolk. She appears as the head of she house in the 1851 UK Census.
LAST NAME: Wortley
FIRST NAME: Doborah
MIDDLE NAME:
BIRTH YEAR: 1776
BIRTH PLACE: Skeyton Norfolk Trunch
COUNTY: Norfolk
AGE: 75
GENDER: Female
RESIDENCE: Wortleys Cottages
Trunch, Norfolk
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS:
Doborah Wortley (75, Female)
John Wortley (51, Male)
Stamp C Wortley (15, Male)
1866 Norfolk Chronicle 24 Feb death Deborah relict of the late Samuel WORTLEY in her 91st year.
1866 Bury & Norwich Post 27 Feb death notice Deborah Wortley at Trunch, 91, relict of the late Samuel Wortley.
