1768 Moses FRANKCOMBE, Brassworker, Bitton
Ref:
Date: 1768 Nov 9
Transcribed by Lee Paltridge
County of Gloucester
The Examination of Moses FRANKCOMBE Brassworker now residing in the hamlet of Bitton in the said county taken on oath this 9th day of November 1768 before us two officers of this Majesty's Justices of the Bar in the said County.
Who says that he was born in the Parish of Keynsham in the County of Somerset as he has been informed. That this Examinant has not been an Apprentice or a hired servant for a Year or done any Act to his knowledge to gain a Settlement of himself. That he this Examinant is the son of Joseph FRANKCOMBE of Siston in the said County of Gloucester Brassworker who was likewise born in the said Parish of Keynsham and was the son of Walter FRANKCOMBE who was born in the Hamlet of Bitton aforesaid and was the Son of Walter FRANKCOMBE of the said Hamlet of Bitton who was a legal Parishioner in the said Hamlet of Bitton and dy'd in the Poor House there as this Examinant has been informed
And this Examinant says that his said father Joseph FRANKCOMBE had not and his said grandfather Walter FRANKCOMBE did not gain an Settlement of themselves as he has been informed. That about two years and half ago he was married to his present wife Mary CRYER in the Parish Church of Bitton by whom he has no issue living.
Sworn before Cha: Bragge, Hen: Crecwicke...... [Signed] Moses FRANCOM.
Notes
This makes it clear that the Frankhams of Keynsham, despite all the history books, were not part of the group of Dutch brassworkers who were brought in to help with the new mill in Keynsham soon after 1700, but were the descendants of Walter Frankham, son of John, baptised in Bitton in 1657, more that 40 years before the brassworks opened.
Thus by 1768, the Keynsham family was scattered - though not very far. Walter Frankham born 1720 and most of his children were in Bitton, Joseph born 1722 was in Siston, and John born 1724, from whom I am descended, remained in Keynsham.