The marriage licence between Joseph Linton and Ann Tyzack dated 14 Oct 1709 has survived and it raises some intriguing questions. It is clear that Joseph Linton is the son of Thomas Linton of Bilston and he is the father of Joseph Linton (jun) bap 18 Jun 1713 in St Leonard’s Bilston. But who exactly was the bride and mother Ann Tyzack?
The Tyzacks were one of a number of Huguenot families who had come to the Stourbridge area in around 1600 – specifically to Amblecote. They were glass makers from Lorraine and brought both expertise and capital, establishing a new vibrant industry in the area, but also in Kent and Newcastle upon Tyne.
The marriage licence states in Latin that Joseph is 38 years of age and his bride is 18. In fact Joseph’s baptism would indicate he was at least 41 years old. The most likely baptism of Ann Tyzack in Old Swinford is dated 1 Nov 1692. Given the disparity of age it might not be surprising that the two are erring in the description of their respective ages merely in order to diminish that gap.
The transcript in Latin is as follows.
Apud Swinford Regis Oct 14, 1709
Fiat Licentia matrimonialis inter Josephum Linton de Bilston Com Stafford celebaem, aetatis 38 et Annam Tyzack nuper (ie formerly) de Pattingham nunc de Amblecoat, solutam, aetatis 18
Ministro de Swinford Regis, vel Himley (?) vel Sedgley. Obligantur Joseph Linton de Bilston, Com Staff, Gent et Zacharius Tyzack de Amblecoat in eadem Comitatu, Glassman
Postulating that Ann’s 1692 baptism entry is correct, we can see that her parents are William Tyzack and his wife Elizabeth.
This takes us to the Hartlebury register 31 Jan 1685/86 where there is a marriage between “William Tyzack and Elizabeth Rogers of Amblecote in the parish of Old Swinford” This out-of-parish marriage is followed in the very next entry when Edward Tyzack marries Mary Hill on 14 Feb 1685/86. Edward, we presume, is William’s brother.
The Rogers family were another glass maker family with connections to Huguenots. Thomas Rogers married Ann Tittery in Sedgley in 1652 and left a PCC will in 1680. However, it is clear that Elizabeth Rogers is not a daughter of that marriage. Her exact relationship to this main line is not clear but one feels must be not too far distant.
William Tyzack was baptised in Old Swinford on 26 Apr 1659, son of Zachary Tyzack and his wife Elizabeth, who in turn was the son of Zachary Tyzack, baptised in 1621. William Tyzack had an older brother Zachary Tyzack (will 1687) and a son Zachary Tyzack (bap 1689) – the latter being the one who, by deduction, signed the marriage licence (above) – indicating that William had probably already died by 1709,
The will of Elizabeth Tyzack (Worcester 1714) would appear to be that of Elizabeth Rogers, William’s widow and therefore Ann’s mother. It would seem to provide the clinching piece of evidence that this is the correct line of ascent for Ann. However, her use of the words grandchildren as opposed to godchildren has to be interpreted loosely to get everything to fit,
Four of these grandchildren (ie godchildren?) are called Elizabeth which would indicate that they were probably named after her. Most significantly there is a grandchild Elizabeth Lyndon (sic) who we can guess might be a daughter of Joseph and her daughter Ann. (or maybe not see below)
Joseph and Ann’s children as listed in the St Leonard’s register are below. There is no baptism of an Elizabeth and no room for a baptism in the right time slot either.-
- John Linton – bap 9 Sep 1710 – dies Intestate, wife Esther – Lichfield Inventory 1749/50
- Thomas Linton – bap 8 Feb 1711/12
- Joseph Linton – bap 18 Jun 1713 – Father-in-law to Edward Cheshire – died 1771
- Benjamin Linton – bap 6 Nov 1714
- Zachary Linton – bap 22 Feb 1715/16 – married Alice Lees 1737 – killed in sawpit 1754
- Edward Linton – bap 7 Dec 1717
- Mary Linton – bap 23 Mar 1718/19 – buried 1725
- Samuel Linton – bap 26 Oct 1721
- William Linton – bap 28 Apr 1724
- George Linton – bap 26 Apr 1726
Only one infant burial is recorded, that of the sole daughter Mary. This represents apparently ten children in sixteen years, and it would seem to have taken its toll. No further mention can be found of Ann after George’s baptism and she probably died within the decade after that.
Her husband Joseph Linton, 24 years her senior, described here as a yeoman, was buried 31 Aug 1728 in St Leonard’s Bilston.
Souces and Notes
- Marriage Licence original from Lichfield Marriage Bonds and Allegations 1636-1893 (FMP)
- There is no Parish Register entry in Kingswinford or elsewhere of this marriage
- H Sydney Grazebrook:,Collections for a Genealogy of the Noble Families of Henzey, Tyttery, and Tyzack
- Abstract of the Will of Zachary Tyzack 1678 (Uncle)
- Abstract of the Will of Elizabeth Tyzack, 1714 (Mother) – (Grazebrook says Grandmother)
- Various Parish registers and extrapolated information
- Marriages in Hartlebury may be occasioned by the fact the Bishop of Worcester had a palace and residence in Hartlebury Castle. A marriage licence could apparently be obtained directly from there. Note also that James II acceded to the throne on 6 Feb 1685/86.
- Is the 1714 will Ann’s mother or her grandmother?
- The reference to William Hallen as a ‘great grandson’ in the 1714 will of Elizabeth Tyzack is problematic. We know from Hallen genealogy that Cornelius Hallen (1673-1744) married an Ann Tyzack. But for a son of that marriage, ie William Hallen to be a great grandson would have to make Elizabeth Tyzack a lot older. William’s mother Elizabeth Tyzack reputedly died in 1795, according to the probate of her husband, but Grazebrook states she, the older Elizabeth, is the unlikely testatrix.
- Another point of note is that there is a Tisaac Lindon (sic) baptized in Wolverhampton in 1715. He is the son of James Lindon, probably married to Elizabeth Holmes (Lichfield 12 Apr 1711). It so happens, Judith Tyzack, Ann’s aunt marries a Mr John Holmes in Old Swinford 18 Aug 1681. James Lindon’s wife therefore could be, Elizabeth Lindon, granddaughter to Elizabeth Tyzack. She would be a first cousin to Ann Linton and of her generation. This, though, hangs on a highly conjectural link to Holmes in Lichfield!?
- If we then add in the fact that Ann Linton is too busy producing other children to have an Elizabeth perhaps the 1714 will is indeed that of a ninety year old grandmother.