William Escott and Jane Bowden

Posted bypeternclarkPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , , , , , ,

William Escott and Jane Bowden of Axbridge, Somerset, were my 4 x great grandparents. They lived in Axbridge all their lives, as did my 3 x great grandfather, James Escott. Two of their sons moved to Llantwit Major, Glamorgan, Wales, though one later returned to Axbridge. Some other Escotts near Axbridge could be siblings of William. Most Escotts in Somerset are at the western end of the county, and I have not found any link with that main group.

William Escott (abt 1760-1848) and Jane Bowden (1772-1855) married in Axbridge on 9 June 1794 (witnesses Sally Griffen, William Vowles, John Vowles [?], John Persear [?]. Judging from the censuses, William was born around 1761 and Jane around 1771. William died on 12 January 1848 and was buried in Axbridge on the 20th. Jane was buried on 20 April 1855.

William Escott’s origins

I don’t have any clues as to William’s origin. The following might be siblings of his and are discussed below:

  • Hugh Escott, from Loxton then Compton Bishop
  • Henry Escott (1768-1828), Axbridge, origin unknown
  • Nancy Escott (1786-1859), Axbridge
  • John Escott (1757-1827, Axbridge)
  • Joan Escott (married John Tucker 1794 in Cheddar)

Jane Bowden’s origins

Jane Bowden was daughter of John Bowden and Mary Comer, who married in Axbridge on 12 July 1770. Jane was baptised in Axbridge on 7 August 1772. https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2022/07/26/transcript-of-a-register-page-for-axbridge

John Bowden (baptised 13 Nov 1751 in Axbridge) was son of Thomas Bowden and Ann. Mary Comer (baptised 8 Oct 1752 in Axbridge) was daughter of Thomas Comer and Mary Smith.

William and Jane’s children

William and Jane had the following children, who all stayed in Axbridge, unless otherwise indicated:

1841 census: William is an agricultural labourer, living in Moor Lane, Axbridge, with Jane. Neighbours included Jane’s unmarried sister Mary Bowden and widow Elizabeth Wear, who was probably another sister. https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/neighbours-of-william-bowden-and-jane-escott

1851 census: Jane Escott [nee Bowden], pauper, 84, is lodging in Moor Lane with widowed son-in-law James Parsons and 5 of his children.

Hugh Escott

Hugh Escott, farmer from Loxton, married Hannah Toogood in Loxton on 15 October 1766. Hannah was buried on 15 April 1768.

Hugh then married Ann Burrow in Winscombe (3 miles east of Loxton, 2 miles northwest of Axbridge) on 7 October 1768. They had several children baptised in Compton Bishop (2 miles west of Axbridge), including Henry (baptised 1787) who married Hester Vowles from Weare in 1810 in Wedmore. Perhaps Hester was related to the William Vowles and John Vowles who witnessed the wedding of William Escott and Jane Bowden.

Several of Henry and Hester’s children had descendants, particularly Robert (baptised 1815 in Winscombe) who farmed in Banwell (4 miles north of Axbridge) and had 13 children, including several who emigrated to America. https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2021/12/03/from-somerset-to-the-usa/ I have written about one of their children at https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2022/05/17/charles-escott-1853-1929-from-banwell-somerset-to-cardiff

Escotts in Compton Bishop

In Compton Bishop, John Escott and Elizabeth baptised 4 children from 1808-1818 (John, William, James, Anne). Twins John and William Escott were baptised in Compton Bishop in 1808. They both moved to Goathurst (20 miles southwest of Compton Bishop) and had several descendants.

Another John Escott and Sarah had 4 children in Compton Bishop between 1801 and 1810 (Ann, Mary, Betty, Sarah).

I don’t know who the two John Escotts are. Possibilities are

  • John, son of Hugh and Ann [Burrow], who was baptised 1785 in Winscombe (though a John Escott was also buried the same year in Winscombe)
  • John Escott, who married Ann Hole in Compton Bishop in 1780

Henry Escott (1768-1828)

Henry Escott born about 1768, died 1828 Axbridge, married Spraxy Bowden (1774-1838) 28 September 1794 in Axbridge, witnessess Susannah Bouden (born 1769, presumably Spraxy’s sister) and John Pendleton. Spraxy was the daughter of Samuel Bowden and Praxy Watts. Samuel was baptised on 12 January 1748 in Axbridge, son of Thomas Bowden and Ann and is presumably the brother of Jane Bowden (1772-1855).

Henry and Spraxey’s daughter Eliza married James Dovey of Axbridge. https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2023/07/30/a-bad-man-acquires-two-virtues/

Henry and Spraxey’s daughter Susannah Bouden Escott married Charles Criddle. https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2022/08/10/origins-of-escotts-in-axbridge/

Nancy Escott

1841 census: FS [female servant] West Street, within the borough. Also, Austin 15 Bakers15 Ap [?] [apprentice?] Richard Stokes 25 MS [male servant]

1851 census: West Street, Axbridge:

  • Nancy Escott, 65, unmarried, lodging house keeper, born Axbridge,
  • Mary Parsons [nee Escott], 54, Axbridge, visitor.
    This appears to be Mary Escott (1797-1878), who married Thomas Parsons in Axbridge in 1819. They then moved to Bedminster, near Bristol.
    One of their children was Elisabeth Priscilla Parsons. So it seems likely that this was the Mary who was daughter of John Escott (of Compton Bishop, born 1785) and Priscilla Isgar, who were married in Axbridge.
    Mary was baptised in Axbridge on 13 September, 1803 with sister Sarah. Their brother John was baptised there on 4 September of the same year.
    DNA matches suggests that there is a connection between my Escott ancestors and John Escott of Compton Bishop. https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2023/11/29/mary-ann-escott-who-married-james-merrifield-in-bristol-in-1820/
    I haven’t yet found a connection between this Thomas Parsons and the James Parsons who married Mary Escott (1805-1851)
  • Ann Rogers, 50, Portsmouth, lodger.

For more on Nancy Escott, Mary Parsons and Ann Rogers, please see https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2022/07/15/neighbours-of-william-bowden-and-jane-escott

John Escott

John Escott, died 28 January 1827, age 70, Axbridge

Joan Escott

Joan Escott married John Tucker in Cheddar (2 miles east of Axbridge) on 18 March, 1794. The witnesses were WIlliam Escott and Jane Bowden (who married each other later that year). Presumably William was Joan’s brother.

A Hester Tucker (1783-1853) was lodging with William and Ann Escott in Compton Bishop (town side, Axbridge) in 1851. Perhaps she was related to John Tucker.

Other Escotts in Somerset

For more on the (few) Escotts east of Axbridge, please see https://birdsofcressingham.wordpress.com/2020/12/10/escotts-in-axbridge-and-the-rest-of-somerset/

I haven’t been able to tie in the Escotts around Axbridge to the far more numerous other Escotts from the Western end of Somerset. They may have a completely different origin, or more likely are descended from some of the main group who migrated eastwards.

There is a great deal of census and parish register information about Escotts at http://richardswhanau.homestead.com/Escott.html

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