William Smith Stokes (*1760) and Nancy Freeman Keelinge (* abt 1752)

The information below is taken from Kim Simmonds' genealogy (the author allows this on the web page).

Christening index Tettenhall, Staffordshire
William Smith Stokes baptism February 11 1760, parents Francis and Catherine Stokes.
 
From the catalogue of the National Archives:
Contents: Articles of agreement
1. William Stokes of Roughton in the parish of Worfield gentleman
2. John Keelinge of Summerhill in the parish of Kingswinford co. Staffs esq. and Nancy Freeman of same, spinster.
 
A marriage is intended between Stokes and Nancy Freeman Agreement that Stokes shall at his own cost convey a messuage at Roughton (Stokes) and tenements (William Bright and - Nicholls), a meadow called Nicholls meadow, kiln acre, Long meadow, 3½ doles in Town meadow, Cow Pasture, Farther Cow Pasture, Terns croft, Alder tree piece, the farther Backnell, Esthers Flatt, Foxhill, Birch Furlong, Dipdale, Genterhill, and little field now in one piece called the Flatt, Big Nettle gate, Cebriel, the Urn, Wainhouse yard, all at Roughton (Stokes, Bright, Nicholls and - Bell); another messuage with barns stable orchard etc in the parish of Totnell co. Staffs at a place called the Dippens with lands (named) in app 145 acres 1r 18p, to use of Stokes for life after to use of Nancy for life, then to use of his heirs by her, or persons appointed by his will, or his right heirs.
Keelinge agrees at Stokes request and his own cost to convey a messuage in the Cooken Street, Worcester (-Yarnold spinster), a messuage in Alveley with barns, stables, foldyards etc and enclosures called Birchfield, Crossway field, barn piece, Long close, Calves close, House close, Sheep close orchard, Ryegrass peices, little close, The Dingle, over dingles, and Burneyes (John Brookes), all being known as the High Barn or High Barn farm; a messuage etc (John Reynolds) and closes called the Smock Skirt, barn peuce, the meadow next upper Swiborn, Swiborn, Birchfield, Dackin's Quarry leasow, Long Leasow, Calves close, Brickiln piece, and next Rogers close, the Acre and 3 closes late in the holding of Thomas Edwards where on a house formerly stood called Edwards, and all pools and ponds of water on the premises called Swiborns, to use of Stokes for life, after Nancy for life, after death of survivor to use of younger children as they shall direct, in default of appointment equally, Nancy by Stokes, in default of issue, to right heirs of John Keelinge.

 
Signatures of W Stokes, John Keelinge
Witness: Ann Dovey
Produced in Exchequer case, 1788

 

In the January to March 1838 death index Nancy Stokes, Bridgenorth, Shropshire, volume 18, page 32.
 
From the Gentleman's Magazine January to June 1838 Feb 10:
 
At her family residence of Roughton, in Worfield, co. Salop, aged 86 Nancy the relict of as well of the late William Smith Stokes, as of William Stokes, first cousins, and both of that place.
She was the daughter of John Keeling, esquire, of Summerhill in Kingswinford, co. Stafford. She had no issue by her first husband William Stokes, to whom she married on 12th January 1781, who survived his marriage but by very few years, dying at Roughton on 25th July 1784, aged 30. He was the only son of William Stokes. ... Upon the death of William Stokes, his five sisters became his co-heiresses, and disposed of the family estates, late of the Bell family there, to their first cousin William Smith Stokes, who on the 27th May 1786, had married their brother's widow, the subject of this memoir. ...

 
William Smith Stokes had, by Nancy his wife, three sons who lived to years maturity and three daughters who married.
- James Marshall the eldest was a Lieutenant in the army died Badajos, Spain April 6, 1812 age 23.
- William Smith Lieutenant in the Navy, battle of Trafalger, died 9th December 1826 age 36.   [From the Gentleman's Magazine 1827, Feb., p.182: He had gone young into the Royal Navy, was at age 15 in the Battle of Trafalgar. Spring 1812 he landed in Spain and saw his brother fall. After the war he retired to his mothers residence. He died after protracted illness.]
- Michael Smith Stokes resident at the mansion in Roughton.
- [ Three unnamed (!) daughters.]

Back to the family tree page of William S Stokes and Nancy F Keelinge.

(2021.08.02)   rm553m.html   begun Jan. 2021