2.8 William Barnett

[Last amended: July 18, 2003]

William Barnett, the eighth child and third son of Thomas Barnett and Sarah Williams, was born in Remenham, Berkshire, on August 17, 1793 and was baptised there on October 6th of that year. In the parish register against his baptism is a note stating "Son of Thos of this parish and Saran (Williams) of Henley. They have 3 sons and 5 daughters living".

William's wife was Ann Matthews. When and where he married is unknown, however the first of his children was born in 1826. In 1826 and 1828, entries in the Hambleden parish register state that William was a farmer of Rockwell End, Hambleden. By 1834 he had moved to Saunderton, also in Bucks, where his later four children were born.

The census records show William, his wife Ann and various children residing in Saunderton. In 1841 William was 46 and his abode was Saunderton Grange. In 1851 his age was given as 57, correctly, he was a farmer of 220 acres employing 8 labourers and his abode was Grange Farm. In 1861 he was 67, still a farmer, and living at Saunderton Green. By 1871 he was back at Saunderton Grange, although it is possible that he had never moved - just the description of his abode had changed across the years, he was 77 and described as a farmer of 220 acres employing 5 men and 3 boys. He was, by then, a widower.

William died on November 14, 1875. The probate index stated that he was late of Saunderton Grange, Saunderton, in the County of Buckingham and he was a farmer. His Will and Codicil was proved at Oxford on June 23, 1876 by Thomas Barnett of Truro, Cornwell, Surveyor of Taxes, the son, one of the Executors.

William's wife, Ann Matthews was the daughter of Joseph and Ann Matthews of Coscomb. She was baptised at Didbrook, Gloucestershire, On July 15, 1796. She had died on December 27, 1870 at Grange Farm, Saunderton, aged 72 accoding to the death registration however her actual age was most probably 74. Cause of death was bronchitis.

The children of William Barnett and Ann Matthews: