Hello everyone,

I am looking for help in answering these two questions:

1) Can anyone help me identify the d.o.b. and parents of a John Pettitt who was born in Ardleigh in the 1700's, married Mary Higbee in Aldham in 1763, and was a farmer in Ramsay? .He had four children with Mary: John Higbee Pettitt (b. 1768), Alexander Pettitt (b. 1775), Hugh Pettitt (b. 1777) and Henry Pettitt (b. 1779). Mary had a daughter out of wedlock in 1760 who she named Mary Higbee and who lived with the family. All four sons were baptised at St Mary at the Walls in Colchester in 1780.

2) In the 1841 census, there is reference to an Alexander Pettitt (b. abt 1774 in Essex) and a Hugh Pettitt (b. abt 1778 in Essex) who are both living in Bures Hamlet. I am also trying to ascertain whether Alexander and Hugh are John and Mary's sons and whether they moved to Bures Hamlet at some point. The Hugh Pettitt who was a son of John and Mary married a Mary Bennet in Ardleigh in 1803 and two of their sons were born in Greenstead so it may be there were two Hugh Pettitts born around the same time. Also, the Hugh Pettitt in Bures Hamlet is shown as living with a Delia Pettitt who was around the same age as him, which either indicates he married twice or that they are two different people.

Any help gratefully received.

Best wishes
Fiona