William Fynn (1801- c.1860)

(If it's in red and underlined then it's a link to more information)

William, the eldest child of John and Sarah Fynn was baptised at St Mary the Less, Cambridge on 3rd September 1801.

William married a Susan Haselgrove on 12.01.1826 at St Giles. The ‘informant’ on John Fynn’s Death Certificate (1849) is a William Fynn of 23 Green Street, Cambridge and was present at the death. This is no doubt one and the same. 

William and Susan appear on the 1841 Census; (see Extracts of 1841 Census) living in the parish of St Michael. Their ages were given then as 35 and 40 respectively. They were still living in the same parish at the 1851 census; (see Extracts of 1851 Census) their ages then being given as 49 and 55 which in William’s case was correct. (See the census extracts for the age discrepancies due to ‘rounding down’ in the 1841 census.)

To see another's view of Mr and Mrs Fynn go to Which Fynns are these?

 Susan died in the June quarter of 1851. William Fynn then married a Mrs Sarah Briggs (formerly Gilbert) in Cambridge in 1852. A Samuel Fynn, son of another William Fynn, married a Briggs in 1864!! To confirm my suggestion and to add to the confusion, I have found a Will of a Sarah Fynn who died 14^th July 1868. She is described as "wife of William Fynn, late of Cambridge." She left not far short of £1500 which is about £150K now. The Will was proved at Peterborough following statements on oath by the executors, George Hugginson Wilson (Gent.) of Milnthorpe, in the County of Westmoreland and John Brown of Cambridge, Tailor and Robe maker. Probate was granted "under certain limitations." Maybe the ‘limitations’ looked after children of this second marriage? Where did he get his money from? Kelly’s Directory for Cambridge 1846, refers to a William Finn, a lodging house keeper at 23 Green Street, Cambridge. The 1858 Kelly’s lists a William Fynn, tobacconist at 23 Green Street, Cambridge. I have not found a death record for him yet. Pre-1878 you did not need a death certificate to bury someone. A letter from a Doctor would suffice. Therefore many people died and were never acknowledged in official records.  23 Green Street, Cambridge is now (July 2003) a ladies hairdressing salon. But to give an up-to-date (2010) idea of the street go to 23 Green Street. Use your "Back" button to return

But...

I have received an email from a David Rodwell which I re-print below:

Good morning,

I was interested to read your family history, as we have a common link in William Fynn (1801-1877), who moved to London after the death of his second wife in 1868. My great-great-great- greatgrandmother, Sarah Rolfe (nee Pilgrim), who was born in Barnet in 1812, was married to William on 29th May 1870 at St Mary's church in Lambeth. He is entered as a Gentleman, and his deceased father John as a Hall Porter. In the following year's census, William, now a Grocer,and Sarah are living at 1 New Street in Brixton.  I hope this is of interest - please let me know if you need anything more. 
with best wishes,

David Rodwell

So where the Will above described William Fynn as "late of Cambridge" he was not "late" as in dead but "late" as in no longer there.  There had been life in the old.. yet and he had moved to London and pastures and wives anew.  That means that Sarah died with her own fortune.  Now that was unusual...

I have not specifically found any children of William.  I am fairly certain that Susan did not have any but it may be that some of the children listed on Unknown parentage... could be William and Sarah's.  But now maybe not...

If anyone (bona fide family historian) wants to get in touch with David Rodwell, get back to me by email...

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Page last updated 2nd June 2010