John Fulbrook – Wendy 1726

JOHN FULBROOK 1758-1848 born and died Odiham, Hampshire.  

Some of you are aware that I have a keen interest in genealogy.  It’s not just the fascination of tracing one’s own ancestry but also the insight gained into the lives and mores of the not so rich and famous; the latter more than adequately covered in history and biographies.  

Whilst the internet has undoubtedly  eased a great deal of research and increased the interest in genealogy, for me nothing beats the excitement of actually delving  through actual  parish records, or finding the wealth of information to be unearthed in wills/court cases or the anomalies thrown up by various census,  the latter can be found at the local records office.  

During one such visit to Winchester Records Office, the following caught my eye regarding my Fulbrook line of enquiry.

“4-7 January 1782:  “Bastardy examination of Sarah Linney of Ellisfield,  singlewoman, who charges John Fulbrook as the father of her unborn child with his settlement examination 7th January 1782 which refers to his marriage to S. Linney on 5th January 1782”.

4 January 1782: “The Parish Officers of Ellisfield complained she was with child and said child was likely to be born a bastard and to be chargeable to the said Parish of Ellisfield. Sarah Linney states she is halfway by her reckoning and John Fulbrook of Binstead is the father.  

7 January 1782:  Examination of John Fulbrook, born Odiham about 23 years ago.  He gives an account of his work over 8-9 years.  He states that he has a lawful wife to who he was married on Saturday morning last, the 5th instant at the Parish Church of Ellisfield aforesaid and further saith not”.  

Pleaded the 5th, eh, John?!

Intrigued I dug up the following:  24 January 1820. “Settlement Examination of John Fulbrook”.  (There was no explanation as to why he was being “examined” at this time).

“The examination of John Fulbrook touching his settlement taken on oath before me one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the aforesaid country this 24th day of January 1820. Who saith that he is fifty-six years of age and was born as he has heard and believes in the parish of Odiham in the said county where his father was a parishioner legally settled;  that he hath liveth in various parishes and about 40 years ago he was hired at Basingstoke fair to Mr. Atwood of Basingstoke for a year, that he duly served that year and hired himself for the ensuing year to the same master; that having some differences with his master left him in the spring when he hired himself to Farmer Dalman of Ellisfield in the same county with who he lived till the Michaelmas when he hired himself for a year to the son of Farmer Dalman who lived in the parish of Binstead & remained with him till the Michaelmas following when he was taken up by the parish officers of Ellisfield and married in the parish church there to Sarah Linney who died in childbirth about 3 months afterwards, the child also died at the same time and that about three days after his said marriage enlisted in the third Regt. Of Dragoon Guards in which he served three years (?) from which he was discharged at the conclusion of the American War”.     

Poor Sarah.                                                                                                                             

 The Parish Officers were a pretty tough bunch.  Although destitute widows/orphans were reluctantly cared for by the parish,  anyone on their  uppers (destitute) but  not of said parish, would be unceremoniously kicked out to be the responsibility of their original parish.   

There followed a very detailed account of his employment in various Hampshire parishes until 1820.  He either had an extraordinary memory or may have possessed roll calls of employment because it is doubtful if he could read or write – his will was signed with an X – the mark of John Fulbrook in lieu of a signature.  Usual for those times.    He must also have been a very diligent worker and or canny with his money as he left an amazing amount  (for most common people  let alone an agricultural worker)  of some £500 (about £20,000 today)to be distributed among various nephews and nieces and two of his brothers’ widows.  His will also gave a wealth of information.  

Without these documents John Fulbrook would simply  be an entry on my family chart.

John Fulbrook 1758-1848 married Jane Cook 23/4/1789 Odiham.  No issue.  End of story.

But he lived, worked and died during interesting times;  the reigns  of George III & George IV, the American War of Independence;  he was a reluctant husband (first time round) a reluctant soldier, he  led a hard manual working life (some  accounts of  searching for work are harrowing) but ultimately  had a long and successful marriage and life.  I’m rather fond of John Fulbrook.

PS – I don’t think he actually went to American with the Dragoons!!!!!

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