Pearson, John, of Bridgend in Ullock in Dean (1573-1650)

Background

Son of John Pearson and Agnes Wood. His parents married 07-08-1569, and they were buried together 20-02-1598/9.

John was baptised 20-10-1573. He married 10-08-1599 to Isabel Wood of Calva in Dean, some eight months after the demise of his parents.

Isabel was the daughter of Thomas Wood of Calva (died 1621) and his wife Agnes. Agnes made a bequest to John in her 1638 will, describing him as her son-in-law.

Children

John and Agnes had at least six children: Annas, William (1605-), John (1603-1606), Ellen (1607-1610), Janet (1612-) and Matthew (1615-1619). The dates listed are taken from BMD records.

The mortality rate is quite high: John's parents buried on the same day, three of his children buried as infants.

One can't help wondering whether industrialisation was a cause. We know from the will of John's brother, Christopher, that Ullock had weavers - and the farm directly south of Ullock may have been used for dyeing. The River Marron ran northwards through Ullock and so may have carried pollutants.

His daughter, Annas or Agnes

His daughter Annas/Agnes (probably his oldest child) had an illegitimate son, Henry [Henry Towerson als Pearson], by a Henry Towerson of Ullock; and then married Thomas Marshall of Branthwaite Edge.

His son William

His son William isn't mentioned in his will and was clearly dead by that time. John's grandson Christopher inherited Bridgend, but whether William was the father is impossible to say - it is nevertheless likely as William is the only recorded surviving son of John..

It is quite possible that William was a casualty of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.

Churchwarden

It is likely that John was a Churchwarden. This position was usually, though not necessarily, filled by the more powerful yeoman families of the parish.

The Protestation Return for Dean in 1641/2 lists the church officials in the preamble, but their names are not repeated in the body of the list. A John Pearson was named as churchwarden in the preamble, and there are two more of the same name in the body. Why should we think that John Pearson of Ullock was the churchwarden? There are no place identifiers, but the list does seems to be ordered according to place.

The other possible candidates for churchwarden were John Pearson of Whitekeld and John Pearson of Branthwaite. The two John Pearsons (at positions 56 and 61) are listed with other Whitekeld and Branthwaite residents. There isn't a John Pearson among the Ullock group. Hence, the assumption that John Pearson of Ullock was the churchwarden.