{genealogy} Durham/Derham ancestry part 4 - William Derham

William Derham

Heather’s 4th great grandfather

When William Derham was born in 1768, his father, Henry, was 31 and his mother, Ann, was 29. He married Elizabeth "Betty" Bowyer in 1797 in North Curry, Somerset, England. They had 6 children for which I have found baptismal records, and possibly 3 other children, for a total of 9 children in 17 years. He died in 1819 at the age of 51, and was buried in North Curry, Somerset, England.

North Curry is here:

As an adult, William would go on to name 3 of his sons Henry (2 died young), and 2 of his daughters Ann (one died young). This helps give us evidence that we are on the right track in naming his parents Henry and Ann.

Here is a baptismal record from 1768 in North Curry. It is difficult to read, but it says that “Wm. Son of Henery + Ann Derham” was baptized 18 Sep 1768.

Luckily, here is the printed transcript, since I wouldn’t trust my eyes to read that.

A similar transcript shows that William Derham married Betty Bowyer in North Curry in 1797. William’s birth date is not shown, so we are assuming this is the same William Derham who was baptized in 1768.

We have a burial record showing William Derham, age 51, was buried in May 1819 in North Curry. He’s the bottom row. The age would put his birth as 1768, which matches the baptism record we have.

Elizabeth Derham, who we assume to be Mrs. Betty Bowyer Derham, is buried 14 Nov 1828 in North Curry.

A transcription of the Derham burial monument helps to put all the parties together on the same page, though it’s still not proof that Betty Bowyer is the same as Mrs. Elizabeth Derham. The transcript reads as follows, but note the * where the transcriber indicated a discrepancy from burial records, details in the screenshot : Headstone – Sacred to the memory of John Derham, son of Henry and Ann Derham, who departed this life May 10^th, 1792, aged 27 years. Also in memory of Henry Derham who departed this life March 25^th, 1804, aged 65 years*. Also in memory of Ann Derham, wife of Henry Derham, who departed this life October 2x, 1811, aged 72 years.* Also in memory of William Derham, son of Henry and Ann Derham, who departed this life May 11, 1819, aged 51 years. Also in memory of Elizabeth Derham, wife of William Derham, who departed this x, x, 1828, ag x.