Woolfitt Ancestors

Martha Woolfitt was born in about 1742 of Bolton, Lancashire, England. She married Thomas Bentley 5 August 1763 in St. Peter, Bolton. No christening record has been found for Martha in Lancashire.

Woolfitt is a fairly rare surname in England. It is primarily found in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The origins of the name are explained at www.surnamedb.com: "Recorded in several spellings as shown below, this surname represents the rare survival of an Olde English pre-7th century personal name "Wulfgeat". Few native given names were retained after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when a large number of Continental personal names were introduced and subsequently became very popular, either from choice or expediency. "Wulfgeat" is composed of the elements "wulf", meaning wolf, and the ethnic name "Geat". This refers to the original Scandinavian people to which the legendary 'Beowulf' belonged. 'Wulfgeat' is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 in a variety of forms including Wluiet, Wluiat, and Vlfiet. Not surprisingly the name generated a number of surnames including Wolfit, Woolfit(t), Woffit, Woolfoot, Woolvett, Woollett, Woolatt, and Ullett, Ulyet, Ulyatt, and Ullyott." The name is show in Bolton parish records as Woolfit, Wollfit, Woolfet, Woolfett, Wolfet, Wollfit, Wolfeild, Wolfoote, Wollfinn, Woulfeld, Woolfate, and Woollfete.

There are not a lot of Woolfits in Bolton. Only one Woolfitt family is found in Bolton and nearby parishes in the right time period, and are most likely Martha's parents. This is the family of James and Mary Woolfitt.

James Woolfitt was born 11 September 1704, and christened 17 September 1704 in St Peter, Bolton, the son of Roger Woolfitt and Anne Tailor of Little Bolton.

James married Mary. Mary died and was buried 7 September 1750 in St. Peter, Bolton.

James died and was buried 11 April 1767 in Bolton. He was listed as being of Turton Chapel.

1. Jane, born in about 1740 of Bolton; married William Liptrott 3 December 1766 in St. Peter, Bolton.

*2. Martha, born in about 1742 of Bolton; married Thomas Bentley 5 August 1763 in St. Peter, Bolton.

After James' death and the marriages of Jane and Martha, only one Woolfit is found in Bolton parish records: Mary Woolfitt, buried 4 May 1772 in Bolton. This may be another daughter for James and Mary.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
ROGER WOOLFITT AND
ANNE TAILOR

Roger Woolfitt was born in about 1670 of Bolton. His occupation was a "plaisterer" or plasterer of Little Bolton. Roger married Anne Tailor 20 July 1694 in Deane, Lancashire.

Marriage record for Roger Woolfit and Anne Tailor in Deane:"20 - Rogerus Woolfit paroch de Bolton & Anna Taylor paroch de Dean"

Anne was likely the daughter of Daniel Taylor and Ellen Smith of Deane, and was christened 28 March 1669 in Deane.

Roger of Little Bolton died and was buried 15 February 1716/17 in St. Peter's churchyard in Bolton.

Burial record for Roger Woolfitt in Bolton;
"Roger Woolfit of L. Bolton - 15"

He left a will, proven in 1718 in the Court of Chester. The will mentions wife Ann and children Peter, James, John, and Elizabeth. Roger's will mentions "being at present visited with sickness but of perfect mind and memory". Roger leaves five cottages or dwelling houses to his children, along with a loom house. Roger's inventory lists tools and household goods, including three spinning wheels. His wife, Anne is one of his executors for the will.

In the name of God, amen, I Roger Woolfitt of Little Bolton in the County of Lanc, plaisterer, being at present visited with sickness but of perfect mind and memory praysed be God for the same do make this my last will and testament as followeth – first it is my mind and will that my _____ ____ funeral expenses and probate of my will to be paid and discharged out of my whole estate both real and personall, and the remainder of my personall estate (if any) I do hereby give and devise to Ann my wife for and during her naturall life if she keep herself sole chaste and unmarried, but if she marry again after my decease then it is my mind and will that after such marriage or death which shall first happen I do hereby give all the said remainder of my personall estate unto Peter Woolfitt, James Woolfitt, John Woolfitt, my sons, and Elizabeth Woolfitt my daughter, to be equally divided amongst them, share and share like. If any of my said children should happen to die in the life time of my said wife then it is my mind that my said personall estate shall be divided among the survivors and ____ of my said children share and share like. Item – I give and devise all those cottages or dwelling houses with the appurtenances situate lying and being in Bolton in le Moores in the said county of Lanc. unto Ann my wife during her naturall life if she keep her self sole and unmarried. And from and after her death or marrying again which shall first happen it is my mind and will and I hereby give and devise all my cottages or dwelling houses as followeth, viz. I give and devise one of my said cottages or dwelling houses now in the possession of Jane Davenport unto my daughter Elizabeth for and during her naturall life. Item – I do give and devise two of my cottages or dwelling houses now in the possession of Alice Sweat and Ann Long as also the said cottage or dwelling house after the decease of my said daughter unto my said son Peter his heirs and assigns forever. Item – I do give and devise two more of the said cottages or dwelling houses now in the several possessions of William Brooks and Robert Smith unto my said son James his heir and assigns forever. Item – I do give and devise the loom house adjoyning to the said cottages as also that piece of land where I design two bays of building unto my said son John his heirs and assignes for ever. And it is my mind that all my said children and their respective tenants or assignes shall have equal liberty to make use of and enjoy the house of office as the same is enjoyed by my respective tenants with all ____ watertroughs priveleges and advantages to each and every of my said cottages. Item – I give and devise all my messuages and or dwelling house and three crofts or fields situate lying and being in Little Bolton aforesaid unto my said wife Ann during her naturall life if she keep her self sole and unmarried. And the lease or estate by which I hold and enjoy the same shall to long continue. And from and after her death or marrying again which shall first happen it is my mind and will and I do give and devise my said messuage and crofts as followeth, viz. I do give and devise that part of the said dwelling house containing the two bays of building now in the possession of John Morris, and also the said three crofts unto my said son Peter and his assignes during all my estates terms interest and tenantright therein. Item – I give and devise that part of the said messuage containing one bay of building and where I now dwell unto my said son John and his assignes during all my estates terms interest and tenantright therein. Item – I give and devise those two bays of building at the East end of the said messuages unto my said son James during all my estates terms interest and tenantright therein. And it is my mind and will that my said son Peter shall pay one shilling yearly of the Lords rent referred in the said lease and my said son James and John each of them six pence and that they and each of them shall have equal liberty and privileges to the house of office and ______. And of this my last will and testament I do constitute and make Ann my said wife and John Mosropp of Little Bolton aforesaid executors in witness thereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the twelfth day of February Anno (1717)

An inventory of the goods and chattels, rights and ____ of Roger Woolfitt late of Little Bolton in the county of Lanc. plaisterer. Valued and appraised the second day of April Anno Dom 1718
In the house one clock
Three chairs and five stools
A brass pott and a posuet
A ffrying pan A ffall board A box
A smoothing iron and two heater Three toasting irons
Fire iron tongs A salt pip
A brass spoon
Three candlesticks, four spoons, three spades
One bedstead, two ruggs, two blankets, one sheet, A chase bed
A feather bolster
Three spinning wheels
In the new rooms
A pair of wood stakes, A churn and slasse
Three piggins, and one ashin, a bluing bowl
A land and two shelves, a wood bason, rolling pin and batterill
One bodfled matt and cord, a chase bed, a stockk bolster, one blankett
One sheet and two ruggs
Two boxes, a tub, a stoole, an old tub, a saw
A baskett, chair, a ladder, a strike
In the buttery,
A cupboard, shelves, Aparell of radhings
In John Morris possession, a cupboard, ffire iron, bedstead and curtain
Three cows
Workstools, one creves, and one riddle, seventeen trowells, two picks
A paving hamer, A mattock, two ____, a saw
A stock knife, a dryeing iron, two pair of looms
A parcell of wood
_____
__ and apparel

1. Edward, christened 16 June 1695 in St. Peter, Bolton.

2. Ellen, christened December 1698 in St. Peter, Bolton; buried 11 May 1714 in St. Peter, Bolton.

3. Peter, christened 16 March 1701 in St. Peter, Bolton; occupation: plaisterer; married Elizabeth; buried 25 February 1723 in Bolton. His daughter, Anne was christened less than a month after his death and died before age two.

4. Roger, christened 18 April 1703 in St. Peter, Bolton.

*5. James, born 11 September 1704; christened 17 September 1704 in St. Peter, Bolton.

James Woolfitt baptism

Christening record for James Woolfit in Bolton: "James s: of Roger & Ann Woollfit, of Little Bolton - 11- 17"

6. John, christened 4 January 1707 in Bolton; "of L. Bolton"; mentioned in father's will; buried 12 June 1734 in Bolton.

7. Elizabeth, mentioned in father's will.

SOURCE: Bolton parish register; www.ancestry.co.uk; www.familysearch.org; www.findmypast.co.uk, citing Boyd's Marriage Index; Deane parish register; will of Roger Woolfit, plaisterer of Bolton, proven 1715 in the Court of Chester.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH WOOLFITT

William Woolfitt was christened 11 February 1640 in Deane, the son of William Woolfitt. He married Elizabeth. They were the only Woolfitt family in Bolton in the right time period, and are the likely parents of Roger Woolfitt.

William and Elizabeth had the following children:

1. Edward, born in about 1663 in Bolton; married Alice Brooks 26 January 1688 in Bolton; occupation: plaisterer of Little Bolton; left a will proven 1715 in the Court of Chester. The will mentions wife Alice, and children Roger, William, and daughter Rachel Brooks. William was overseas, and Edward left him a bequest: "if ever he comes again unto Great Brittain, he being att present travilling and beyond the seas if alive".

*2. Roger, born in about 1670 of Bolton; married Anne Tailor 1694 in Deane; occupation: plaisterer; buried 15 February 1716/17 in Bolton.

3. Rachel, born in about 1680 of Bolton; married James Crook 31 December 1706 in Bolton; buried 9 August 1743 in Bolton.

4. Thomas, christened 30 December 1683 in St. Peter, Bolton.

SOURCE: Bolton parish register; Deane parish register; www.ancestry.co.uk; www.familysearch.org; will of Edward Woolfit, plaister, proven 1715.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
WILLIAM WOOLFITT

William Woolfitt was born in about 1612 of Bolton, and is most likely the son of Edmund Woolfit and Margaret Guest. He married 1) Margery Landsdale 25 July 1637 in Bolton.

Marriage record for William Woolfit and Margery Landsdale in Bolton:
"July 1637 12 - Willyam Wollfeild Margerey Landsdale} this pish"

Margery was christened 29 February 1619 in Wigan, the daughter of Thomas Landsdale. Margery died and was buried 20 January 1638/9. William then married Ellin Cooke 5 May 1643 in Bolton.

William and Margery had the following children:

1. Margaret, christened 6 May 1638 in Bolton, "of Great Bolton".

The next child was christened after Margery's death, and was the only child christened outside of Bolton parish. Possibly he was Margery's child, but christened at one year old.

*2. William, christened 11 February 1640 in Deane, son of "William Woolfoote of Bolton". There is no record of the mother's name.

William Woolfoote baptism 1640

Christening record for William Woolfitt in Deane: "Gulielmus filius Gulielmi Woolfoote de Boulton"

William and Ellin had the following children:

3. Edward, christened 19 February 1644 in St. Peter, Bolton; married Ann Ashley 27 December 1666 in Bolton.

4. Arthur, christened 9 August 1647 in St. Peter, Bolton; buried 15 February 1659 in Bolton.

SOURCE: Bolton parish register; Deane parish register; www.ancestry.co.uk; www.familysearch.org.

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
EDMUND WOOLFITT AND
MARGARET GUEST

Edmund Woolfitt (Woolfoote) was christened 30 May 1573 in Bolton, the son of William Woolfoote. He married Margaret (Margreatt) Guest 12 June 1603 in Bolton.

Marriage record for Edmund Woolfitt and Margare Guest in Bolton:
"Edmund Woofell, Margreatt Guest, both of this pish - 12 of June"

Margaret died and was buried on 9 July 1617 in Bolton, three days after the birth of her last child.

1. Susannah, christened 8 September 1605 in Bolton; married Edmund Radley 27 December 1633 in Bolton.

2. Arthur, born in about 1607 in Bolton; married Elizabeth Pendelton 29 July 1627 in Bolton. They had two children christened in the parish: Timothy (1630) and Edward (buried 1633). Elizabeth died and was buried 7 September 1635. Arthur was killed, and was buried 28 May 1644 in Bolton with a large number of other men, "all these 78 of Bolton slayne on the 28 May 1644". This was during the English Civil War, and Arthur and the other men died during the Bolton Massacre: "The Bolton Massacre, sometimes recorded as the Storming of Bolton, was an episode of the English Civil War, on 28 May 1644. The strongly Parliamentarian town was stormed and captured by Royalist forces..The storming was a particularly brutal episode in the Civil War...As fighting took place in the streets of the town, the citizens would have been caught up in the fighting, and because the battle took place at night and in heavy rain, it would have been difficult to distinguish between citizens and armed combatants. The Royalist soldiers were allowed to plunder the town after the fighting as a reward, and citizens may have died during the ensuing rapine." (www.wikipedia.com)

Burial record for Arthur Woolfit in Bolton (fourth column, seventh down) following the Bolton Massacre

3. (Male), christened 14 August 1608 in Bolton. This may be Arthur or another male child.

*5. William, born in about 1612 of Bolton; married 1) Margery Landsdale 25 July 1637 in Bolton; 2) Ellin Cooke 5 May 1643 in Bolton.

SOURCE: Bolton parish register; www.ancestry.co.uk; www.familysearch.org; www.wikipedia.com.

One other Woolfitt is found in the early parish register: Edmonde Woollfete, who was buried 26 September 1573 in Bolton. This may be William's father.