Robert Elliot, of this Parish, Batchelor (sic) and Ann Bland, spinster, of the same, were Married in this Church by Banns this Sixteenth Day of January in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Four by me John Priddon...This Marriage was solemnized between Us Robert Elliot Ann Bland In the Presence of William Pontifex, Stephn Bland, Mary Elliot, John Pontifex.
It's exciting to see actual signatures. I believe that Stephen Bland was Ann's father. Mary Elliot is probably Robert's sister, but who are William and John?
Here is a marriage record between a Daniel Pontifex and a Harriot Bland, the year previous, again at St. Bride Fleet Street Church. Stephen and Ann Bland are witnesses--the signatures match. The Pontifex and Bland families seem to be related. In fact, Ann and Harriot are sisters, as I found out when I saw a copy of the will of their father Stephen Bland. He leaves two copyhold houses to Ann which appear to be rented out, and two "houses or tenements in short laws" to Harriot "wife of Daniel Pontifex silversmith of St. John's Square in the parish of St. James Clerkenwell". The will also lists several brothers: a son, "John Thomas Bland son of my first wife Elizabeth Bland" (who also gets two houses "in short laws", one of whom is occupied by his brother James, who is not, Stephen instructs in his will, to be turned out of it), Edward Bland, and James Bland. Everyone gets two houses. Stephen Bland was obviously quite prosperous. The will was proved in January 1811, so Ann would have received her inheritance around that time. I wonder what happened to the land once she and Robert moved to Canada?
I have found two baptismal records for Harriot and Daniel's children: Julia, born May 7 and baptized June 4, 1809, and Robert, born June 15 and baptized August 21, 1811, both at St. James, Clerkenwell, Middlesex.
Ann Bland and Harriet Bland were first cousins. Harriet was married to Daniel Pontifex. William and John Pontifex were Daniel's brothers. William Pontifex was married to Mary Bailey who was the daughter of Edmund Bailey, brother of Lydia Bailey married to Charles Elliot. Robert Elliot was the son of Charles Elliot and Lydia Bailey and he married Ann Bland. The 4 families - Elliot, Bland, Bailey and Pontifex were related many ways!
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