Thomas Wootton (1750-1817)
Mary Thompson (1757-1799)

Thomas Wootton and Mary Thompson are my 5th Great-Grandparents on the Wootton family line.  Thomas was baptised on the 24th March 1750 in Diseworth, Leicestershire, the first of my Wootton line not to be born in Wymeswold. It is noted that Thomas is the Son of John Wootton & Mary his wife Baptiz'd March 24th. In 1750 the current Monarch at this time is George II. On the 8th February an earthquake is felt in London and a further more powerful earthquake took place on the 8th March. On the 11th April Jack Slack, a butcher from Norwich, defeats Jack Broughton to become bare-knuckle boxing Champion of England. On the 24th June the Iron Act which has been passed by Parliament comes into effect, restricting manufacture of iron products in the American colonies. On the 18th November Westminster Bridge is officially opened for the general public to use, the only fixed crossing of the River Thames between London Bridge and Putney.

The village of Diseworth is set within an agricultural landscape and occupies a shallow valley created by the Diseworth brook as it flows eastward.  It was inhabited during the Roman, Saxon and Viking periods. The naming of roads such as Lady Gate, Hall Gate, Clements Gate and Grimes Gate have their origins in Viking times. The various spellings of Diseworth that end with the suffix 'worth' describe an enclosed settlement.  The famous astrologer and occultist, William Lilly was born in Diseworth on the 1st May 1602.

The church dates from the 11th century, but the majority of the fabric is from the 13th century with the tower dating from the early 14th century. In 1885 a humorous incident occurred with a cow getting into the church, which was recorded in the Coleshill Chronicle of 18th July 1885. It may be interesting to some of your readers to hear of a humorous incident which occurred on Sunday, the 5th, during morning service at the village church of Diseworth. Owing to the heat both doors of the church were left open, and in the middle of a most touching prayer we were roused by the presence and terrified by the bellowing of a good sized heifer, which had entered the church by the back entrance, and was standing bellowing in the middle of the church. The congregation were in fits of laughter, and the worth vicar himself had difficulty in keeping his gravity. With a little difficulty the clerk persuaded the beast to go out, and again, when we had forgotten the incident, and just as the vicar was ascending the pulpit steps, we heard our noisy friend in the church porch, but it did not get in this time, as the clerk stopped its further progress, and after a good sermon this morning service closed.

Thomas's future Wife, Mary Thompson, was baptised on the 10th April 1757  in the nearby village of Wymeswold, Leicestershire.  Her parents are William and Mary Thompson.  Noted as Mary, Da of William & Mary Thompson, April 10.  Thomas meeting Mary Thompson is probably the reason we see the Wootton family tree move from Diseworth to Wymeswold.  The year 1757 was marked by significant military and political events in England. This year was pivotal in establishing Britain's colonial empire, particularly in India, and set the stage for future conflicts and territorial expansions.  A key event in 1757 was the Seven Years War, this global conflict saw Britain engaged in battles against France and its allies. In January, the British East India Company, under the command of Robert Clive, captured Calcutta, a pivotal moment that established British dominance in India.  On June 23rd the Battle of Plassey took place where British forces led by Clive defeated the army of Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. This victory secured British control over Bengal, significantly enhancing the East India Company's power and influence in India. The year also saw political turmoil back in Britain. William Pitt the Elder, a key figure in British politics, was dismissed from his position as Secretary of State in April but returned to power in June, forming a coalition government that would lead Britain through the war. 

Thomas married Mary Thompson on the 9th March 1774, this particular record was found listed in Wymeswold Marriages, Phillimore Marriage Registers (1531-1913), wrongly noted as 1794 and also in the Parish Records  for Wymeswold St Mary's Church 1774, noted as Thomas Wootton of this parish and Mary also of this parish were married in this Church by Banns this ninth day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy four by me Thos' Green Vicar. The marriage was solemnised between us Thomas Wootton and Mary Tompson. In the preference of Will'mn Wootton and  Thomas Horsley.  

They had at least four children, all born in Wymeswold. The first was a Son called Thomas, my 4th Great-Grandfather, born in 1776. Then they had three Daughters, Ann in 1779,  Elizabeth in 1786 and finally Hannah in 1792. Sometime after Thomas and Mary  married in the parish church they moved over to the Baptist faith, as many Woottons and Sheppards would do in Wymeswold. Wymeswold had a strong Baptist congregation and Thomas plus Mary would have worshipped in the fairly new Wysall Lane Chapel. An Indenture of land sale on which the General Baptist chapel was built was drawn up and in 1781-82  the Wymeswold Baptists were able to build their new chapel in Wysall Lane. In a 1832 census of Sunday schools, the General Baptists had 140 scholars with the largest Sabbath school in the village. In 1838, the chapel purchased a licence so it could celebrate marriages and by 1851, the General Baptists had the largest congregation of the four Wymeswold churches, with 200 morning attendees on census day. You can read more on this in the dedicated page for the Wysall Lane Baptist Church.

Thomas's Wife Mary passed away on October 15th 1799 and Thomas died on the 21st September 1817. They are both buried together at the Wysall Lane Baptist Chapel, the headstone reads In Memory of Thomas Wootton and his Wife Mary, she died October 15th 1799 Aged 42 years and he Sept the 21st 1817 Aged 64. Their Daughters Hannah and Ann are also both buried at the chapel.  If you wish to view the chapel headstones see the Headstones page.

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Thomas Wootton (1750-1817)

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Born c1750 Diseworth, Leicestershire.

Baptism 24th March 1750 in Diseworth, Leicestershire.
Thomas is the Son of John Wootton & Mary his wife Baptiz'd March 24th.

Marriage 9 Mar 1774 St Mary's Church, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Thomas Wootton to Mary Thompson.

Died 21 September 1817 aged 64.

Burial Baptist Chapel, Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
In Memory of Thomas Wootton and his Wife Mary.
She died October 15th 1799 Aged 42 years and he Sept the 21st 1817 Aged 64.

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Mary Thompson (1757-1799)

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Born c1757 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Baptism Mary Thompson
10 Apr 1757 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Mary, Da of William & Mary Thompson, April 10

Marriage 9 Mar 1774 St Mary's Church, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
Thomas Wootton to Mary Thompson.

Died 15 October 1799 aged 42.

Burial Baptist Chapel, Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
In Memory of Thomas Wootton and his Wife Mary.
She died October 15th 1799 Aged 42 years and he Sept the 21st 1817 Aged 64.

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 Notes on Children :

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Thomas Wootton (1776-1862)

Born c1776 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Marriage 25 Dec 1798  Thos.Wootton to Sarah Cooper.  

Died 6 July 1862  Wymeswold, Leicestershire. Aged 86 years.

*see direct descendant page {Thomas Wootton 1776}

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Ann Wootton (1779-1839)

Born c1779 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Marriage  Robert Gibson to Ann Wootton

Died 8 May 1839 Wymeswold, Leicestershire. Aged 60 years.

Burial Baptist Chapel, Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
In Memory of Ann the Wife of Robert Gibson and Daughter of Thomas & Mary Wootton who died May 8th 1839 in the 60th year of her age also of Hannah Daughter of T. and M. Wootton who died Sep 30th 1826 in the 34th year of her age.

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Elizabeth Wootton (1786-)

Born c1786 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Baptism 25 Apr 1786  Wimeswold, Leicestershire.
Elizth the Dau of Thomas & Mary Wootton Apr 25 1786

Married 14 Dec 1806 to Richard Archer. Wimeswold, Leicestershire.

Children - Ann Archer(1810), Elizabeth Archer(1811)

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Hannah Wootton (1792-1826)

Born c1792 Wymeswold, Leicestershire.

Died 30 September 1826, Wymeswold, Leicestershire. Aged 34 years.

Burial Baptist Chapel, Wysall Lane, Wymeswold, Leicestershire.
In Memory of Ann the Wife of Robert Gibson and Daughter of Thomas & Mary Wootton who died May 8th 1839 in the 60th year of her age also of Hannah Daughter of T. and M. Wootton who died Sep 30th 1826 in the 34th year of her age.

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