7^th Great Grandfather - FFFFMFMMF¹

Hugh Connick was the father of Mary Connick who married John Stratton my 6^th great grandfather. I have not found out much about Hugh Connick, but he did leave a will, where he left the Malthouse later called The Strattons to his grandson Hugh Stratton who leased it to my 4^th great granduncle Robert Nurse. Robert’s nephew Robert Nurse, my 3^rd great grandfather married Sarah Couch who was Hugh’s great-great granddaughter.

In the late 17^th century Hugh was living in Brislington, where 3 children were registered, Hew or Hugh, the eldest, was born on 16^th December 1685, John on 20^th March 1689 and Obediah on 20^th Mar 1691². It is interesting to note that all three children were registered as born not baptised, and all of them were registered on the same page. It is possible that all of them were baptised on the same day and as they were not infants, their birthdays were entered, but it is not clear what happened.

I have searched the register of St Luke’s and found no other reference to Connick, so I have not been able to find a baptism for the other two children Mary and William.

Apparently Hugh moved to Bitton as he is mentioned in the 1714 Poll Book for Gloucestershire³. In the early 18^th century, you had to have a considerable amount of property to be eligible to vote, so Hugh was quite well off.

Hugh died in 1729. I have found no record of his burial, but his will was proved on 16^th October 1729⁴. He only mentions his sons Obediah and William in his will so the other sons, Hugh and John had probably died by then.

Interestingly, his son William tried to get Administration of his Estate by claiming his father died Intestate and he was the rightful heir, as there is a copy of his affadavit made on 23^rd August 1729⁵. As the Prerogative Court of Canterbury was the highest probate court of the land, and there was a will proved making Cornelius Stratton and Richard Williams Executors, this would have taken precedence.

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