2. Thomas Barnett - the second generation

[Last amended: December 30, 2004]

Thomas was born in Remenham and baptised on 21 January, 1759 in St Nicholas, Remenham. He was the second child born to Thomas Barnett and Anne Newbury. He died on December 28, 1815 at the age of 57 and was buried alongside his parents on January 3, 1816. His headstone reads:

Sacred to the memory Thomas Barnett who departed this life December 28, 1815 Aged 57 years [text]

His abode was given as Aston in the burial register. Aston lies a very short distance from Remenham.

Thomas married Sarah Williams on October 10, 1780 at Remenham.

Thomas and Sarah had nine children. Unusual for the times, all lived to reach adulthood. A note against the baptism entry for their eighth child, William, in the Parish Register in 1793 comments on this unusual occurrence:

“Son of Thos of this parish and Sarah (Williams) of Henley. They have 3 sons and 5 daughters living”.

Thomas, like his father, was obviously involved in local affairs. Both Thomas senior and junior signed the parish accounts relating to the repair of the church. The document date was April 14, 1800.

The family continued to be involved in church affairs. Joseph, the son of Thomas junior, was a member of the parish vestry and signed the accounts in 1827, 1828 and 1829 as a parish overseer.

Thomas' Will signed on December 14, 1815 was a long document contained on eight sheets of paper. A Codicil was attached on December 27 of that month. The Will made provision for a number of trusts and the disposal of Thomas' freehold and leasehold messuages (dwelling-house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use, tenements (real property possibly without a dwelling), heredits (these appear to be the freehold and leaseholdings that he inherited), farms, land and like as well as his personal estate.

In the Will Thomas makes mention of his Wife Sarah Barnett for whom a trust was defined, his daughter Sarah who was deaf and dumb was also provided for with a trust, plus his other children: sons Thomas, George, William and Joseph and daughters Mary, Caroline, Julia and Ann. His son in law Thomas Deane, husband of his daughter Ann, was named as one of his Executors and Trustees.

During his lifetime Thomas had obviously assisted his family to get on in life. He had advanced money to George and Ann and other family members were placed on and working various farms.

Properties mentioned in the Will included the farm at Aston in Rememham, Roc[k]all End Farm in Hambleden which was leased, real estate in Henley and at Sonning and in Sonning Eye. All in all this covered three counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Provision was made for the continuance and management of the various farms for "the benefit of my family" and Sarah, his wife, was given the controlling rights to determine whether the home property as Aston would continue to be farmed or otherwise disposed of.

The four sons were to be given the opportunity to buy the real estate held by Thomas with them being able to be considered in order of seniority.

All the residuary personal estate, basically all the money once all his estate was sold, was to be devided equally between his children with the exception of daughter Sarah who had been generously provided for through a trust.

In the Will was a surprise inclusion. Provisions were made for Elizabeth Wenman who was occupying one of Thomas' farms in Sonning Eye. Where she fits in and why she was generously provided for in his Will is a mystery.

Sarah Williams was born in 1758, daughter of John Williams and Mary Derham. She was baptised at St Mary the Virgin, Henley, Oxon, on November 26, 1758. She died on May 7, 1835 at the age of 76 and was buried alongside her husband, Thomas, on May 13, 1835, in the churchyard at Remenham, Berks. Her abode was also given as Aston in the burial register.

The monumental inscription reads:

Sacred to the memory of Sarah Barnett wife of Thomas Barnett who departed this life May 7th 1835 aged 76 years [text]

Barnett graves in the church yard of St Nicholas, Remenham

Of interest is one of the witnesses to Sarah’s parents marriage: Edward Mussage Bradford. Emily Barnett, a granddaughter of Sarah and Thomas, married a Bradford (see 2.1.8).

Sarah, too, left a Will. In the Codicil to her Will written on July 14, 1832, Sarah names her children thus: Thomas Barnett William Barnett Joseph Barnett Caroline Barnett Mary Barnett Ann the wife of Thomas Deane. She confirmed provisions for her daughter Sarah Barnett and noted that her son George Barnett was now deceased. This implies that Caroline was unmarried at that time.

The children of Thomas Barnett and Sarah Williams:

Map of the Henley-on-Thames area:

Map showing where the Barnett family lived in the area surrounding Henley-on-Thames, Oxon:

• Hambleden and Mill End, Bucks
• Remenham and Aston, Berks
• Shiplake, Harpsden and Rotherfield Greys, Oxon

Remenham is a very old parish situated on the bank of the River Thames, on the Berkshire side a short distance from Henley-on-Thames. It comprises several small, scattered dwellings, and the hamlet of Aston.