In 1798, John lived in Hoxne, Suffolk County, England. Two other Aldous men also resided in this parish. They were first cousins. Could John also be their cousin?

John Aldous

Born: 1738 in Denham St John, Suffolk County, England

Father: Unknown
Mother: Unknown

Spouse: Hannah Fuller (1745 to 1785)

Married: 13 OCT 1766 in Denham, Suffolk County, England

Children:

William Aldous (1767 to 1852)
Rebecca Aldous (1768 to 1842)
Elisha Aldous (1770 to 1854)
John Aldous (1782 to 1863)

Died: 1809 in Denham St John, Suffolk County, England

Burial: St John the Baptist Churchyard

Timeline:

1766 Marriage to Hannah
1767 Birth of son, William
1768 Birth of daughter, Rebecca
1770 Birth of son, Elisha
1782 Birth of son, John
1785 Death of wife, Hannah
1798 Hoxne, Suffolk County, England
1809 Death and Burial

Occupation: unknown

Records:

England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973
UK, Land Tax Redemption, 1798
England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991
UK and Ireland, Find A Grave Index, 1300s-Current

Variations of Surname: Aldis

Vital Statistics:

From the England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991:

John was estimated to be 71 years old when he died. That would mean he was born around the year 1738.

From the England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973:

John would have been 28 years old when he married Hannah.

John’s Connection to the Aldous Family:

From the UK, Land Tax Redemption, 1798, three Aldous men were living in Hoxne. None were living in Denham St John at that time.

James Aldous, tenant of John Stollery
Robert Aldis, tenant of Thomas Maynard, Esquire
John Aldous, tenant of Charles Tyler

The parish of Denham St John is 2.5 miles southeast of Hoxne. With this proximity, I believe these three men were related. I decided to search my Aldous family tree to find the connection:

To avoid repetition, I have omitted the words “Suffolk County, England” from the next entries.

James Aldous: He was born in 1739 in Fressingfield. He died in 1810 in Hoxne. His father was James Aldous who was born in 1710 in Fressingfield and died in 1785 in Denham St John.

Robert Aldous: He was born in 1750 in Fressingfield. He died in 1819 in Stradbroke. His father was Samuel Aldous who was born in 1705 in Fressingfield and died in 1771 in Fressingfield.

James and Samuel’s father was Stephen Aldous. He was born in 1678 in Fressingfield and died in 1735 in Fressingfield.

This meant that James and Robert were first cousins. Did that also mean that John was their cousin?

In fact, Stephen Aldous had another son:

John Aldous was born in 1710 in Fressingfield.

This man could be John’s father.

Spouse:

Hannah Fuller:

Hannah was born in 1745 in Eye, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1785 in Denham St John, Suffolk County, England.

A baptism record lists Hannah’s parents as William Fuller and Ann.

Daughter:

Rebecca Aldous:

Rebecca was born in 1768 in Denham St John, Suffolk County, England. I do not know if Rebecca married or when she died.

Rebecca had one child out of wedlock:

Hannah Aldous was born in 1794 in Denham St John, Suffolk County, England. She died between 1825 and 1828 in Hoxne, Suffolk County, England.

Hannah married John Bridges on 7 JAN 1817 in Hoxne, Suffolk County, England. Two known children were born to this marriage:

Ezra Bridges (1823)
William Bridges (1825)

John Bridges was born in 1791 in Athelington, Suffolk County, England. He died in 1865 in Hoxne, Suffolk County, England.

After Hannah’s death, John married Clarissa Collins on 23 JAN 1829 in Hoxne, Suffolk County, England. Twelve known children were born to this marriage, all were born in Hoxne:

Honor Sarah Bridges (1829)
Nathan Bridges (1831)
Benjamin Bridges (1832)
Ann Bridges (1833 to 1842))
Mary Bridges (1834)
Rhoda Bridges (1835)
Sarah Bridges (1837)
Israel Bridges (1838)
Frances Bridges (1840)
Katherine Bridges (1842 to 1844)
Catherine Bridges (1846)
Ann Bridges (1849)

Clarissa Collins was born in 1797 in Laxfield, Suffolk County, England. She died in 1872 in Hoxne, Suffolk County, England.

Notes:

Here are some links to websites that helped with my Aldous family research:

Aldous.net (Aldous family history and family tree)
Ancestors of Tim Farr, Descendants of Stephen Farr (family tree)
Reid-Schroeder Genealogies (family tree)
The Tree of Us (family tree)
Family Search (family tree website)
The Internet Surname Database (surname meaning and origins)
House of Names (coat of arms)

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Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for vital records.

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