Saturday, June 30, 2007

Edmund Bignell

When lived
Early 1800s

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great uncle (brother of George Bignell Sr.)

Parents
Richard and Elizabeth Bignell

Birth
Between Jan. 1-April 14, 1814; christened April 10, 1814, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Employment
NA

Marriage
g NA

Children
g NA

Interesting facts
NA

Died
NA

Friday, June 29, 2007

Martha Ann Rands (Bignell)

When lived
1820-1897

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great grandmother on father’s side (wife of George Bignell Sr.)

Parents
Robert Rands and Elizabeth Holton (Rands)

Birth
Born May 14, 1820, in England; baptized June 10, 1821, in Simpson (Simpson Parish), Buckinghamshire, England

Employment
In England, worked as a lacemaker/seamstress; in America as a homemaker

Marriage
g Married George Bignell Sr. on June 24, 1839, in Simpson Parish, Buckinghamshire, England; his last name is “Bignal” however in the parish records. Family legend says George Sr. was the son of a duke but disowned for marrying a seamstress (Martha), who was below his class. In 1993, a librarian from Newport-Pagnell, England, discounted (but did not disprove) the story.
g Married Josiah Hight (b. 1807 to Jacob Hight; d. Sep. 11, 1881), in 1857, following George’s death in Canada and her relocation to Wisconsin; took on the Hight surname

Children
With George Bignell Sr.:
g Ann (born 184o in Fenny Stratford, England)
g George Jr. (born 1841 in Fenny Stratford, England)
g Richard (born Feb. 14, 1843, in Simpson, or Newport-Pagnell, Buchinghamshire, England
g Robert (born March 16, 1847, Newport-Pagnell, Buchinghamshire, England)
g Edmund (sometimes spelled Edmond) (born Dec. 10, 1849, in Simpson, England, according to the 1851 English census
g Elizabeth (born 1850? in Newport Pagnell)
g Sarah (born 1852 in England)
With Josiah Hight:
g Susan Jane (m. Eli Louis Warren in 1876)
g Henry (m. Mary Mosher in 1882; their children include: Jacob Hight and John Hight; most "Heit" residents from Durand, Wis., are descended from Jacob and John)
g Josiah Jr. (b. 1859; m. Amelia Shimcusky; they had 9 children)
g John (b. 1860)
g Jacob

Interesting facts
g Josiah Hight had a previous wife and children from that marriage. His father, Jacob, a Lutheran Minister, moved from Hightstown, N.J., near Trenton, sometime between 1813-1815, to Jamestown, Campbell Co., Ky., coming down the Ohio River on a flatboat and stopping at Cincinnati to cross the waterway into Kentucky. A history of the Hight family exists, though it primarily looks at the descendants of Josiah's brother, Samuel. Family legend says Josiah was an Irishman (and perhaps his mother was Irish), but if related to Samuel, his ancestors came to North America from Alsace-Lorraine shortly before the Revolutionary War. Josiah's other brothers, according to the 1820 Clermont Co., Ohio, census, are Jacob Jr., Nicholas and Ellison/Allison Hight.
g Martha appears in the 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia as "Martha Bignall", living in the province of Canada West (Ontario), the district of Huron County (District Number: 16) in the sub-district of Morris and Hullett (Sub-District Number: 141,146), listed as 31 years old. This is evidence that the claim the Bignell family sailed from England to Canada in 1854 is incorrect. In any case, apparently the family was starving ont eh streets of London and so was given free passage to Canada
g The 1860 Pepin County, Wis., Census lists Josiah and Martha Hight. As living in the Town of Stockholm (pg 29; 242/209), Living in their household were: Josiah Hight, 45, bn Indiana; Martha, 40, b. Eng.; Susan Jane. 3 b. Wi (bn. Jan 28, 1858); Henry b. Wis.; George Bignell 16 b. Eng.; Robert Bignell 15 b. Eng; Richard Bignell 14 b. Eng.; Edmond Bignell 11 b. Eng.; Elizabeth Bignell 10 b. Eng.; Sarah Bignell 8 b. Eng.
g Martha’s brothers, James and John, fought in the Civil War, including the Battle of Pittsburgh Landing
g The 1870 Pepin County Census lists Josiah and Martha Hight as living in Waterville (pg 21; 145/156) with the following children: Susan, age 12; Henry, 10; Josiah Jr., 8; John, 6; Jacob, 4
g Martha is mentioned in the following published newspaper columns: Know your family's past — your future depends on it and Irish in America offer temperament for all to live by

Death
Martha outlived Josiah. She died June 30, 1897 (lived 77 yrs, 1 mo, 16 days), of dropsy (which she reportedly had for nearly 50 years), which resulted in heart failure, in Turtle Lake, Wis. She was buried July 1, 1897, in Mount Hope Cemetery, Barron County, Wis. (died as Martha Hight). Inscription on her tombstone reads: Martha Hight/Died June 30, 1897/Aged 77 years, 1 mo, 18 days/ Having finished Life’s Duty she now steadily rests. Martha’s burial records are available through the Barron County, Wis., Register of Deeds.

Get your book manuscript edited

Thursday, June 28, 2007

George Bignell Sr.

When lived
1811-1854?


How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great grandfather (father of George Bignell Jr.)


Parents
Richard Bignell and Elizabeth (Bignell)


Birth
Born Sept. 22, 1811, in Moulsoe, England (according to 1851 Buckinghamshire census), where there were several families with Bignell/Bignall name in 1851 census; this day also is listed as his christening date


Employment
Worked in England as an agricultural laborer


Marriage
Married Martha Rands on June 24, 1839, in Simpson Parish, Buckinghamshire, England; his last name is “Bignal” however in the parish records (see photo of marriage records). Family legend says George Sr. was the son of a duke but disowned for marrying a seamstress (Martha), who was below his class. In 1993, a librarian from Newport-Pagnell, England, discounted (but did not disprove) the story.


Children
g Ann Bignell (born 1840 in Simpson, England)
g George Bignell Jr. (born 1841 in Fenny Stratford, England)
g Richard Bignell (born Feb. 14, 1843, in Simpson, or Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England)
g Robert Bignell (born March 16, 1847, Newport-Pagnell)
g Edmund Bignell (sometimes spelled Edmond) (born Dec. 10, 1849, in Simpson, England, according to the 1851 English census.
g Elizabeth Bignell (born 1850? in Newport-Pagnell)
g Sarah Bignell (born 1852 in England, sometimes referred to as Susan)

Interesting facts
g On March 30, 1851, living in Abbey End, Newport-Pagnell
g The grandson of one of George’s brothers, Robert, sent Barry Heltne a handwritten story. He said that his grandfather would talk about the trip over via boat. They were starving in London, the king offered free passage to Canada if one would live and settle there. It took weeks and during storms the little children would be tied to the masts of the ship so they would not blow off the ship. George Bignell Sr., died somewhere in Canada between 1851 (he is in the English census in 1851). Barry has tried to find citizenship papers in Canada, but found out that if you were English you were already considered a citizen of Canada, so that route has been closed.
g Family legends says George was a duke but lost his title after marrying a commoner (Martha Rands). This story almost certainly is apocryphal.
g After George died, Martha and the children went to Frankfort Township, near Arkansaw, Wis., to live with her parents, Robert and Elizabeth Rands. They entered the United States through Detroit, Mich., though each three of the sons list separate dates of entry (Edmund, 1855; Richard, 1856; Robert, 1857); the general belief, however, is that they came together. In 1859, Martha had a son with her second husband, Josiah Hight.
g Three published columns mention George Sr.: Know your family's past — your future depends on it; Irish in America offer temperament for all to live by; and 'Connections': Returning home

Death
About 1854; died and buried in Canada, probably Huron area of Ontario, about two years after arriving in Canada

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Hannah Bignell

When lived
1782-1784

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great aunt (sister of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Thomas Bignall and Hannah Bryant (Bignall)

Birth
Aug. 8, 1782, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Interesting facts
NA

Died
Nov. 5, 1784, in Moulsoe

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Mary Bignell

When lived
1779

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great aunt (sister of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Thomas Bignall and Hannah Bryant (Bignall)

Birth
June 1, 1779, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Interesting facts
NA

Died
June 9, 1779

Monday, June 25, 2007

Thomas Bignell (2)

When lived
1778-1852

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great uncle (brother of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Thomas Bignell and Hannah Bryant (Bignell)

Birth
May 21, 1778, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England; c. June 4, 1778, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Employment
NA

Marriage
Alice Mitchell

Children
g NA

Interesting facts
NA

Died
Aug. 1852 in Moulsoe; bur. Aug. 29, 1852, in Moulsoe

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Suzannah Bignell

When lived
Late 1700s

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great aunt (sister of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Thomas Bignell and Hannah Bryant (Bignell)

Birth
Oct. 1, 1775, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England; c. April 26, 1776, in Moulsoe

Employment
NA

Marriage
g John Odell (b. abt. 1780 in Moulsoe) on April 1, 1804, in Moulsoe

Children
g NA

Interesting facts
NA

Died
NA

Saturday, June 23, 2007

William Bignell

When lived
Late 1700s

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great uncle (brother of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Thomas Bignall and Hannah Bryant (Bignell)

Birth
1774 in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England; c. March 27, 1774, in Moulsoe

Employment
NA

Marriage
g NA

Children
g NA

Interesting facts
NA

Died
NA

Friday, June 22, 2007

John Bignell

When lived
1772-NA

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great uncle (brother of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Thomas Bignall and Hannah Bryant (Bignall)

Birth
1772 in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England; c. April 26, 1772, in Moulsoe

Employment
NA

Marriage
g NA

Children
g NA

Interesting facts
NA

Died
NA

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Martha Bull (Bignal)

When lived
About 1786 to at least July 1851

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great step grandmother (stepmother of George Bignal Sr.)

Parents
NA

Birth
NA

Employment
NA

Marriage
g Richard Bignal on Aug. 1, 1820, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Children
g Matilda Bignal (b. about 1824 in Moulsoe)
g Charlotte Bignal (b. between Jan. 1-8, 1826; christened Jan. 8, 1826, in Moulsoe; last name sometimes spelled “Bignall”)
g Isabel Bignal (b. about 1831)
g Joel Bignal (b. about 1837)

Interesting facts
g In 1841, living with Richard, Matilda, Charlotte, Isabel and Joel in Moulsoe
g In 1851, living with Charlotte, Isabel, Joel and 1-year-old Jane Ann Bignal in Moulsoe; Jane presumably is the daughter of Matilda, Charlotte or Isabel

Died
NA

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Elizabeth Greenwood (Bignall)

When lived
1790 to at least 1814

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great grandmother (mother of George Bignell Sr.)

Parents
NA

Birth
1790

Employment
NA

Marriage
g Richard Bignall on Dec. 24, 1810, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Children
g George Bignell Sr. (b. 1811; christened Sept. 22, 1811, in Moulsoe; last names sometimes spelled “Bignall”)
g Edmund Bignell (b. 1814; christened April 10, 1814, in Moulsoe; last name sometimes spelled “Bignall”)

Interesting facts
NA

Died
Presumably between April 1814 and 1819

Read this blogger's books

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Richard Bignal

When lived
1786-1850

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great grandfather (father of George Bignal Sr.)

Parents
Thomas Bignall and Hannah Bryant (Bignall)

Birth
Jan. 31, 1786, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England; c. March 26, 1786, in Moulsoe

Employment
NA

Marriage
g Elizabeth Greenwood on Dec. 24, 1810, in Moulsoe
g Martha Bull (b. abt. 1797 in Moulsoe) on Aug. 1, 1820, in Moulsoe

Children
With Elizabeth:
g George Bignell Sr. (b. 1811; christened Sept. 22, 1811, in Moulsoe; last name sometimes spelled “Bignall”)
g Edmund Bignell (b. 1814; christened April 10, 1814, in Moulsoe; last name sometimes spelled “Bignall”)
With Martha:
g Matilda (b. about 1824 in Moulsoe)
g Charlotte (b. between Jan. 1-8, 1826; christened Jan. 8, 1826, in Moulsoe; last name sometimes spelled “Bignall”)
g Isabel (b. about 1831)
g Joel (b. about 1837)

Interesting facts
In 1841, living in Moulsoe with Matha, Matilda, Charlotte, Isabel and Joel

Died
Feb. 1850 in Moulsoe (sometime between Feb. 1-12); bur. Feb. 12, 1850, in Moulsoe

Read this blogger's books


.

Monday, June 18, 2007

John Bignol

When lived
Mid 1700s

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great-great uncle (brother of Thomas Bignall)

Parents
John and Susan Bignall

Birth
Sometime between Jan. 1-22, 1748; c. Jan. 22, 1748, in Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England

Employment
NA

Marriage
g NA

Children
g NA

Interesting facts
NA

Died
NA

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Hannah Bryant (Bignall)

When lived
1749 to at least 1782

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother (mother of Richard Bignell)

Parents
Richard Brien/Bryant and Judith Whitney (Brien/Bryant)

Birth
Between Jan. 1-June 22, 1749, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England; c. June 22, 1749, in Moulsoe

Employment
NA

Marriage
g Thomas Bignall on Feb. 19, 1770, in Moulsoe


Children
g John Bignell (b. 1772; c. April 26, 1772, in Moulsoe)
g William Bignell (b. 1774; c. March 27, 1774, in Moulsoe)
g Suzannah Bignell (b. Oct. 1, 1775; c. Oct. 8, 1775; m. John Odell on April 1, 1804; all in Moulsoe)
g Thomas Bignell (b. May 21, 1778; c. June 4, 1778; d. Aug. 1852; buried Aug. 29, 1852; all in Moulsoe)
g Mary Bignell (b. June 1, 1779, in Moulsoe; d. June 9, 1779)
g Hannah Bignell (b. Aug. 8, 1782; d. Nov. 5, 1784; both in Moulsoe)
g Richard Bignell (b. Jan. 31, 1786; c. March 26, 1786; d. Feb. 1850; b. Feb. 12, 1850; all occurred in Moulsoe)

Interesting facts
NA

Died
NA

Get your resume or book manuscript edited


.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Thomas Bignall

When lived
1749 to at least 1782

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather (father of Richard Bignell)

Parents
John and Susan NA (Bignal)

Birth
April 29, 1749, in Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England; c. May 28, 1749, in Newport-Pagnell

Employment
NA

Marriage
g Hannah Bryant on Feb. 19, 1770, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire, England

Children
g John Bignell (b. 1772; c. April 26, 1772, in Moulsoe)
g William Bignell (b. 1774; c. March 27, 1774, in Moulsoe)
g Suzannah Bignell (b. Oct. 1, 1775; c. Oct. 8, 1775, both in Moulsoe)
g Thomas Bignell (b. May 21, 1778; c. June 4, 1778; d. Aug. 1852; buried Aug. 29, 1852; all in Moulsoe)
g Mary Bignell (b. June 1, 1779, in Moulsoe; d. June 9, 1779)
g Hannah Bignell (b. Aug. 8, 1782; d. Nov. 5, 1784; both in Moulsoe)
g Richard Bignell (b. Jan. 31, 1786; c. March 26, 1786; d. Feb. 1850; b. Feb. 12, 1850; all occurred in Moulsoe)

Interesting facts
NA

Died
No earlier than 1782

Friday, June 15, 2007

Susan NA (Bignal)

When lived
1725 to at least mid 1700s

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother (mother of Thomas Bignall)

Parents
NA

Birth
1725 in Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England

Employment
NA

Marriage
g John Bignal in 1745 in Newport-Pagnell

Children
g John Bignol (c. Jan. 22, 1748, in Newport-Pagnell)
g Thomas Bignall (b. April 29, 1749, in Newport-Pagnell; m. Hannah Bryant on Feb. 19, 1770, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire)

Interesting facts
At least one record refers to her as “Susannah”

Died
NA

Get your resume or book manuscript edited


.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

John Bignal

When lived
1725-late 1700s

How related to Kieran
Great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather (father of Thomas Bignall)

Parents
NA

Birth
About 1725 in Newport-Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, England

Employment
NA

Marriage
g Susan in 1745 in Newport-Pagnell

Children
g John Bignol (c. Jan. 22, 1748, in Newport-Pagnell)
g Thomas Bignall (b. April 29, 1749, and c. Jan. 22, 1749, both in Newport-Pagnell; m. Hannah Bryant on Feb. 19, 1770, in Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire)

Interesting facts
g Last name sometimes is spelled “Bignal”
g This is NOT the John Bignall who went to Barbados that is listed in the U.K. National Archives.

Get your resume or book manuscript edited


.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Welcome to Kieran's Family Tree

This blog records the family tree of Kieran Edward Bignell, as it is being researched. Kieran is my son, born in February 2007, and this research in part is a legacy for him. But other families, as they reconstruct their family heritage, also may find information here useful. The blog will be frequently updated, including new information becomes available about previously entered family members.
So far, this blog includes infromation about the following surnames:
g Baker
g Bignell (also Bignal, Bignol)
g Booke (also Bokee, Boucquet)
g Brevoort
g Bryant
g Burns
g Colyer
g Davenport
g Dutcher (also De Duyscher, De Duyster, De Duijster, Van Hardeen)
g Hill
g Hopkins
g Killinghall
g Litchfield
g Mumford
g Place (also Plaise)
g Rands (also Rand)
g Rethrop (also Redrup, Rudroppe)
g Rosencrans (also Rosenkrans, Rosenkrantz)
g Scott
g Steere
g Vigne (also de la Vignes)
g Volkersen/De Noorman
g Walker
g Witney

In addition, it covers these "dead-end" maternal lines - meaning women with the following surnames married men with the above surnames, but no further information about any of the women's family line behind the marriage is available:
g Agache
g Andrjesse
g Bayes
g Collinson
g Cook
g Cornelisse
g Cuvelier
g Dirckzen
g Flemming
g Greenwood
g Griggs
g Holmes
g Holton
g Jacobs
g Jans
g Lovering
g Lyllewhite
g Martens
g Medcalfe
g Shaeffer
g Sherman
g Wickendon
g Wood

One note: Breaking with the standard, I've placed wives' married names in parentheses. So "Martha Rands" is listed as "Martha Rands (Bignell)" because she married a Bignell. Tradition is to place the maiden name in parentheses or "Martha (Rands) Bignell". My apologies if my practice drives you nuts, but I find tracking family lines easier when the wife's married name is in parentheses.

If you're related and have information, pictures or documents regarding any of the people listed, send me an email. I'd love to hear from you, to make this a more complete family history and to help you fill in your family tree.

Get your book manuscript edited



.