This is my original message with the CORRECT family title at the head of it !!!!

Hi folks,

I am trying to unravel the Ancestry of Ann Tyldesley (born 1737 and married Henry Corrin at Arbory 9 Feb 1766. Ann's father was Capt Richard Tyldesley of the Friary (1701-1781), but A W Moore and Brew differ drastically as to what happened before Richard of 1701. A W Moore says

"He died in 1643, and was succeeded by his son Richard, who was made Comptroller in that year. He was the last member of this family, except Stanley, who held a post in the Council. He married Isabella Norris and had issue Thurstan. Richard's son Thurstan, an M.H.K, followed him in 1679, Thurstan's son William in 1704, and William's son Richard in 1726. Richard married Ann Stanley"

The dates are the date of entry to the Friary.

If Moore is correct, and Comptroller Tyldelsey married Isabella Norris, the parish records show they had the following children

Thomas born 17-Aug 1658 ch 23 Aug 1658
Thurstan born 01 Aug 1659 ch 10 Aug 1659
Elizabeth born-- July 1661 ch 06 Aug 1661
William, born ----- ch 01 Oct 1663
Henry born 22 Jan 1665 ch 17 Feb 1665
(unk son born 07 Jan 1666 ch 14 Jan 1666

Isabell Tyldsley/Norris died in 1668 and her will survives. It ADDS three children who were of age (so at least 14) Richard, ISsable, and Mary, whilst Thomas and the unnamed son seem to have died.

Comptroller Tyldesley died in 1675 not 1686 as often stated.

Brew, in his fascinating manuscript account of Manx families does not name the Comptroller's wife, but lists his children as William, Thurstan, Richard and Kathrine. He claims that it was Comptroller Richard Tyldesley's SON, Richard that married Isabell Norris.

Can anyone clarify which of these two incompatible acounts is correct.

Brew claims the line is

1) Comptroller Richard T c1600 - 1686 (actually 1675
2) William c 1630-1726
3) William c1660-1726
4) Richard c1701-1781
5) Ann born 1737

At first sight, this is an attractive and plausible line, and if Brew is right that the Richard that married Isabell Norris was not the comptroller but his son, it could work out, but what is then surprising is the prominence given to their children in the parish register. For the Comptroller's children to be so distinguished is understandable but Richard, the son of the Comptroller, was not such an important figure.

A W Moore suggests

a) Comptroller Richard
b) Thurstan
C William
d) Richard
e) Ann

If A W Moore is right, that Comptroller Richard married Isabell Norris, then their children were born in the 1650s and 1660s. They include a Thurstan and a William.In theory, if the Thurstan who was born in 1659 married at 20, and had a son William immediately, that William of c1779 could have also married at 20 and had the son Richard in 1701, but this seems improbably, and the dates do not seem to match any other records. It also means that the Richard who appears in Issable Norris/Tyldesley's will must have died young so that Thurstan could inherit the Friary.

All in all, it is a MESS. I would welcome any suggestions, even if they demonstrate that EVERYTHING is wrong, as the elimination of a wrong lead may not get us very far, but it is a start.

The Stevensons also present some wonderful problems, but one nightmare is enough to be going on with at any one time !!!!!

If one of the "Great and the Good" in the net knows how to delete my original message with its gibberish title, then that will make things less confusing for everyone !!

Robert Hendry